The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 2 · Chapter 8 · Section 4 (2 of 4)
But here I know well enough they will object and say;Object. that it is jeopardy, lest sedition might be raysed up against those Bishops and Prelates of the Church.
Loe I make answer,Answ. Shall the Word of God (I beseech you) for this your fained objection be neglected, and shall therefore the whole people perish? And is it (I pray you) right and convenient, that all soules should perpetually perish and be slaine,Note this. that the temporall and most vaine pompe of such men might be preserved and maintained, and might endure and continue in her peace and quietnesse? Nay, it were better (for spirituall harmes are most to be weighed) that sixe hundred times all the Bishops should perish for ever in their pride and dignity, and that all the Churches collegiate, and al Monasteries were plucked up by the rootes, were overthrowne and utterly destroyed, (so it were done by the authority of the higher powers) th…n that one soule should perish: Because I will not in the meane season say, that infinite soules; yea, that all soules shall perish for any thing that such as they doe. I pray you tell me, what profit commeth of many of the Bishops that now are, or wherefore serve they, but onelyonly to live in voluptuousnesse and pleasures, and to play the rioters and wantons of other mens labour and sweat, and in the meane season with much grievo…s threatnings, and with dreadfull feares to condemne, to hisse out, to cast out and to warre against the Word of God? Good men, they take exceeding great thought and care for themselves,The profit that commeth of our Bishops. and with marvellous great unquietnesse of minde, feare and dread seditions in the temporall common-wealth; but as for the death of soules, being thereof all carelesse and without any manner of fea…e, or unquietnesse of minde, they doe neglect and passe nothing upon it, I beseech thee good Reader, are not these goodly, wise and exceeding bold and manly heardsmen of the Church? If they did receive the Word of God and of truth, and did principally search for the life and safeguard of soules, then the God… (as the Apostle saith) of patience and of Comfort and hope would be with them, 2 Cor. 1.that they should not neede to feare any seditions or risings of the people, which is but their crafty cloaked excuse to blind the eyes of the Princes;Psal. 57. Deafe Serpents. But in as much as they like deafe Serpents stopping their eares will not heare the Word of God, but (such is their fury and madnesse) doe rage against it with excommunications, cursings, imprisonments, with the sword, and finally with fire; I beseech you what other thing doe they, as concerning their part, with this their extreame woodnesse, then (which God defend) even willingly provoke that there should rise up a very great sedition, and that some certaine tempest and storme should violently and suddenly come upon them which should rid them at once out of the world: And surely if any such thing did chance unto them, yet were they nought else but to be laughed and scorned, as Wisedome saith in Proverbs 1. Because I have called and you have refused to come, I have stretched forth my hand and there was none of you that would looke to me, and you have despised all my counsell, and have set at nought my rebukings, I also will laugh in your destruction, and I will mocke and scorne when that thing which you did feare shall be chanced and come unto you.
They that resist the Word of God be sedi…ious persons.The Word of God doth not stirre or raise up seditions and strifes, but the stubborne aud obstinate disobedience of them which doe rage against it, is the cause that trouble and sedition is stirred up among the people, and that then by such seditions that thing should happen unto them which they had deserved through their owne unbeleefe and frowardnesse and wicked blindnesse; for whosoever receiveth the Word of God, that man raiseth up no manner of seditions at all, albeit that he doth no longer feare those vaine …ugges, neither doth worship those Episcopall Puppets, now since that he doth know the Word of God, and because that men doe not feare and reverence their vaine imaginations, as heretofore they have done, that same is the thing (if I be not beguiled) which they doe call seditions;What the Bishops call …edition. and this is the thing that those persons doe so greatly feare, which have hitherto suffered themselves to be worshipped and feared like Gods, as though they had beene true Bishops or true Hear…smen of the Church. After which he addes; S. Pe…er saith of these, The Lord knoweth how to keepe the unrighteous persons unto to the day of judgement for to be punished; Namely, such as following the flesh, doe walke in the concupiscence and lust of uncleannesse, and doe despise the Governors, and Rulers; being presump…uous, stubborne, and which doe no… feare to raise and speake evill words on them which are in high authority. Our delicate Bishops doe …ot beleeve that this was spoken of them. But I beseech thee good Read…r marke here, how well the words of Peter doe agree with Paul, when he describeth their filthy and uncleane life: For where he saith presumptious, stubborne; there are scantly any men to whom those words doe sooner agree. For it is they which of all men doe most set by themselves, insomuch that they doe despise all worldly Rulers and Officers, and whatsoever other person is of high dignity and authority in the world in comparison of themselves, and doe also rayle upon them and speake opprobrious words against them: For the Pope hath many yeares agoe taken this monstrous tyrannie unto himselfe,The tyranny of the Pope. that hee hath not beene afraid to tread Kings and Princes under his feete, to depose them, to excommunicate them, to curse them unto the 4.5. and 6. Generation, and after their owne pleasure to exercise all things which any manner of way whatsoever it may belong and helpe unto extreame and wonderfull tyranny, none otherwise than if the Princes and Governours were Swine or else Dogges, notwithstanding that the Scripture willeth all men, to …e subject and obedient unto the Princes and Governours of the publicke peace and tranquillity of this life… Namely, forasmuch a… they … and ordained to serve the divine Ordinance as Ministers of the sword: And yet neverthelesse there are found some Kings and Princes so faint-hearted, and of so little manfulnesse, and courage, that they doe feare these harmelesse thunders, and vain… curs…g, and doe humbly beseech and obtaine the ex…reame and …termost foolishnesse and insen…ibility, that they may be blessed againe (for so they call it) of the Pope I wo… n…t with what charmes or conjurations and words appointed for the same purpose onelyonly, that is to wit, to the end that that cruell p…sumption, and that wonderfull tyranny of his (a… though he were not m…d enough of his owne Swing) might by the reason hereof the sooner gather power and strength, and with those most vaine decei…es of cursings might deceive all the whole world.
Besides this, the Bishops d…e stoutly and man…lly helpe the Pope, and so all the great L…rds belonging to the Pope, and they be in very deede the dispisers of all Rulers and Potestates which will in no wise be subject to any manner of high power, neither in body nor in goods, but onelyonly they being presumptuous and stubborne and more than Wood doe on every side make businesse, and rage to excommunicate and curse all Kings and Princes and others which are in authority. Tell me I beseech you, hath not our Peter here largely and plainely touched our most delicate and tender Bishops? I pray you of what other persons may these words be understood, that they are not subject nor obedient unto the Rulers, that they speake evill of Kings and Princes; briefely, that being presumptuous and stubborne they doe feare no man? The sloathfulnesse and reachlesnesse of Bishops.Is it not knowne openly to the world who they be that commit these lewd deedes? Why then should I be affraid to touch and rebuke these coloured and painted Bishops, which by the tyranny of the Pope, by the favours of men, and by holy gold have invaded Bishoprickes, without the Commandment either of God or men? But for as much as these delicate and tender Bishops have foreheads of Iron, and neckes of brasse, as it is sayd in the Prophets, and will not feare, they cannot be perswaded, and they runne forth on according to their owne madnesse, their owne course, and their owne swing; and whereas they ought to spend their blood and their life (I meane not in any worldly fight) for the maintenance of the Word of God against the doctrines of men; They sleepe all carelesse, and give their mindes altogether to pleasures and to fare well, and the soules of which they boast themselves to be the Pastours and feeders, they doe most sloathfully neglect, and nothing care for. But such is their negligence: they doe onelyonly thinke and study how they may bring in the dreadfull wrath of God upon men, and draw soules unto the deepe pit of hell, and that they may at the last carry the Consciences of men cleane overthwart from the Word of God into lyes and devillish Errours, and the doctrines of men; wherefore wee ought here so much the more diligently to take good heede and to looke well about, that we may shew and utter unto the world these so cruell and so bloody wolves, which doe lye hid under forked Miters, set with pearles and precious …tones: I doe therefore exhort all Christian men in our Lord, that they will here con…ider and ponder the wrath of God. And therefore likewise as you would doe with a visible Idoll, even so do now with the Bulls of these Romish Balaam, the tormentor and slayer o… soules. Consider, how pleasant a thing you shall doe unto God, if you doe breake and dash in peeces (with the Word of God, and not with the sword) these Idolls, and doe sanctifie his glorious name, and doe deliver it from the filthy abomination of Idolatry. After which he addes, That a Bishop ought to abhorre and to be farre a way from filthy Lucre, but the Bishop of Rome and his Clients, and other Bishops of their complexion, have infinite crafts, and most shamefull meanes of getting money. And here it is not unknowne to me what they doe object.Object…
I… i… not enough, not sufficient for a Prince (say they) to have meate, drinke, and cloathing, except he have also sufficiently whereof he may keepe and maintaine a guard, or band of men, according to the condition and estate of a Prince?
What Princes doe in this place object and alleadge for themselves of the Princely state,Answ. and of Princes Courts advise them, the Apostle speaketh not of Princes, but of Bishops, As for these Princely Bishops and Bishoply Princes he utterly knoweth nothing of, which doe beguile the world with the name of Bishop, and with the most vaine colours of Ceremonies and gloves and Miters. But therefore Paul and the Spirit of God which spake in him, shall not change their words, neither attemper themselves un…o these Princes, but these Princelike Bishops shall be faine to attemper and apply themselves in their living according to the minde of S. Paul, and his word… or else they shall not be Bishops, nor Pastours, but meere puppets and v…surs. I cannot here refraine (although I list not now greatly to bourd in the rehearsall of these things) but I must rehearse a pleasant and merry History. It happened upon a time that a certaine Princely Bishop, (of Colen in Germany, An History … Narration.) did ride with a Royall Pompe and goodly company of horsemen (as commonly such Bishops are wont to shew themselves set forth gayly and gorgeously,*Fulg…sus Collect. lib. …. even above any worldly or temporall Princes) through the fields that lay neere unto a certaine Village, whom when a certaine shepheard had haply espied, as he rode over the fields, he left his flocke, and did run unto him, and staring and gazing upon him, as it had beene one amazed, he marvelled greatly at the riches, pompe, and gorgeousnesse which he saw about him. The Bishop seeing him so gazing, sayd unto him; What dost thou see here, that thou dost marvell so greatly? Then he, as he was an homely rusticall fellow, made to him this plaine answer. I mervaile (said he) whether*The Patron of Col…n. S. Martin did use this same Pomp or like gorgeousnesse and superfluity. To whom the Bishop said, Forsooth, thou art a starke foole, and takest thy marke amisse, for S. Martin was scarcely one of the vile and rascall people: but I am also a Prince of high and Noble birth. Then sayd the shepheard againe, I beseech you my Lord, will you give me leave to speake a word? yea marry sayd the Bishop… I give thee good leave, demand what thou wilt. Then said the Shepheard, what if the Devill should take and beare away the Prince shall there remaine any thing of the Bishop? At these words that good Princely Bishop being confounded and ashamed, depar…ed from the man, and rode his way. So the Apostle Paul in comparison of those Dukes and Nimrods, was a plaine simple craftsman, living by the worke of his owne hands. And therefore he went sometime on his feete and preached the Gospell all abroad, he could play the Apostle; but such a poore and lewd person as he was, could never have played the royall and Princely Bishop after this fashion. Let no man thinke it is to be sayd or done against the heads and governours of Christs Church: whatsoever is sayd or done against these sloathfull, idle and sluggish beasts, given all to the belly. For they are not Bishops, but plaine Idols and dumbe Images, idle Puppets, visurs, blockes, shadowes, disguised game players, which doe not so much as know what this word Episcopus, that is to say, Bishop doth signifie: so farre off they be from knowing what is the Office or duty of a Bishop. Wilt thou… that I tell thee at one word what they are?A true Character of Lordly Prel…t…. Wolves they are, tyrants, traytors, manquellers, monsters of the world, burdens of the earth, the Apostles of Antichrist, graven and made to corrupt and destroy the Gospell. And to utter at once what I thinke. Loe I will here play the Bedell or common Cryer. Be it knowne to all men, that the Bishops of Rome with their clients Bishops, which doe now exercise tyranny upon so many Cities in most ample and large dominion, are not Bishops by the Ordination of God, but by Errour and by …he seduction of the Devill, and by the traditions of men, wherefore without doubt they are the messengers and Vicars of Satan. If I doe not shew and prove this, by so evident testimonies, that mine enemies shall be constrained to confesse this verity, and that even themselves (so that they doe meanely repent and waxe wise) cannot deny it, then let them be Bishops, then let me be thought to doe injury unto them. First, Paul writeth unto *Titus 1.5.7.Titus, That he should constitute and ordaine Presbyters in every Towne. Here I suppose that no man can deny, that all one thing is signified by this word Preshyter, Presbyter.and by this word Episcopus, in Saint Pauls writings; for as much as he doth bid Titus, that he should in every City constitute Presbyters. And because a Bishop ought to be unreproveable, therefore he calleth him Presbyterum. It is evident therefore what Paul doth signifie and meane by this word Episcopus, Episcopus.Bishop; that is to say, A man excellently good and vertuous, of ripe age, which also hath a chaste wife and children, obedient in the feare of the Lord. And the Apostle will that he should have the oversight and government of the Congregation, in the Ministery of the Word and the Administration of the Sacraments. All men whosoever they be, which by all honest and lawfull meanes, doe spend and bestow their goods, honour, blood and life, to the end that these Bishoprickes so pompous and Courtly, so farre unlike and contrary to all the office and duty of an Apostle, namely to the ministration of the Word, and that all this devillish Kingdome of the Bishop of Rome may be overthrowne and destroyed, or if they cannot in very deede destroy it… doe cry against it, doe dispraise and condemne it, and doe avoyde it as abhomination… all those persons that so doe, are the sonnes of God, and true Christian men fighting and helping the Faith of the Gospell in spirituall barraile against the gates of Hell; Contrariwise whosoever doe favour the Kingdome of the Popes Bishops so wicked, and that so tyrannous and devillish cruelty, and doe willingly and gladly submit themselves and obey unto it, those persons are the ministers of the Devill, fighting as enemies against the Words, the Lawes, and Ordinances of God. This sentence of mine, nay rather of Gods Judgement, I prove with strong effectuall arguments in this wise. The Apostle Paul commandeth Titus, Titu… 1.….…That he should Ordaine and constitute a Bishop in every City, such one as was the husband of one wife, a man vertuous and unreproveable, &c. This is the Word, this is the will and sentence of God. Against this sayd Will of God these men doe now strive, which have taken quite away all true Bishops ou… of all Cities, and insteed of true Bishops have constituted shops or worke-houses of most cold Ceremonies, Monasteries and Churches Collegiate, and have brought in themselves in their steed, that by this meanes they might be made Bishops or Over-seers of many Cities, and also of many Provinces. Now the sentence of Paul, or rather the Words of the Holy Ghost doth continue firme, stable, and not able to be moved or stirred of the gates of hell, and doth stand as stiffe as a brasen wall, which saith plainely and evidently, That in every City there ought to be constituted and Ordained one Bishop, and these then shal be every one of them of equal power with the other. For Paul speaketh plainly of every City, & he giveth to every Bishop full power & authority in his own City. Go to therforenow ye worldly Bishops. Why doe ye not here rise? Why do ye not boldly & manfully resist? Why do ye not break forth all of you together? Here you have to doe not with me, but with the Apostle Paul. Here you resist (that I may say with the holy Martyr Stephen) not me,Acts 7. but the Holy Ghost, which likewise againe of his part doth mightily resist you. …oe to then, what will you say here, I beseech you? Will you all hold your peace, and say nothing at all? Loe your sentence is given and pronounced against you, you have the matter judged, that is to wit, that unto all Christian men it belongeth of their part (with the Word of God) againe to destroy, to plucke up by the rootes, and utterly to extinct both you and your Kingdome, which you doe tyrannously exercise, to extinct and destroy the Gospell; you have heard now that they be in the indignation of God, whosoever favoureth you, and on the otherside that they are in the favour of God, whosoever overthroweth and destroyeth you. But I will not in any wise these words which I doe speake of the destruction and utter subversion of the Kingdome of false Bishops, so to be understood or taken, as though it ought to be done with the hand, or with sword, or with violence, or bodily invasion of them, for with this destruction of the men, we shall be nothing further in this so great a matter,Ye se… here that the Preachers of the Gospel t…ach no sedition, shedding of blood, or fighting with the hand. that is to wit, Gods cause or businesse: But as Daniel prophecied in the 8. chapter, The Kingdome of Antichrist is to be broken all to peeces without any hand of man. Saint Peters words, you are a regall Priesthood and a Priestly Kingdome, are meant of Spirituall Bishops, who are all the Preachers of the Word of God in Cities, Townes, and Villages, although they doe neither buy Pall nor Gowne, nor yet any other Garment of those bawdes the Romanists: the Corporall Bishops are you which bearing …orked Miters on your heads under the apparell of Aaron, doe in very deede play the very Tyrants, and are fellowes unto Nero and Caligula, riding upon fat and well fed Pal…ries and sleeke Mules, and afterwards with your rings onelyonly, and your Gloves, and your silver Sheephooke (if God be pleased) you doe play the Bishops. And here againe I guesse what they will object.Object. For all that (say they) oftentimes many Saints have beene Bishops, not onelyonly of one City, but of many Cities. I make answere,Answ. As many as have beene …oly Bishops in very deede, and called Pastours by the calling of God, all those for the most part were the Bishops of one City alone, as Cyprian, Note this.Hilary, Ambrose, Augustine, Ireneus, and these observed the tradition of the Apostles; it is found in deede in His…oriographers, that there have beene certaine (such was holy Boniface, Boniface.and such also Tite Tit….unto Paul) which did after their own judgement constitute other Bishops in the Cities, as Titus did, but yet w…re they not therefore the Bishops of many Cities;Note this. and albeit that such manner of example could be shewed of the Saints,The Examples of holy men may not be perjudiciall to Gods holy Word. shall the examples of holy men be prejudiciall to the Word of God? Is not God greater than all Saints? how oftentimes doe we finde that holy men have sinned & erred?For all men may erre. God saved Daniel in a Dungeon of Lyons,God saved Daniel in the Dungeon of Lyons. Dan. 6. Dan. 3. and he saved Ananias, Azarias and Misael in the flaming Furnance of Babylon. Is the hand or power of God now shortned and minished? Is it any doubt but that be might preserve and keepe his elect and chosen persons, if it should happen them by any meanes to be seduced, and led out of the right way (as Christ prophecied) even in the middest of mens Ordinations and traditions, and of the errours of the Devill?Note. we ought not to put confidence in any ensample, deed, or word of Saints, but our Consciences ought to leane, and to be grounded onelyonly upon the Word of God, which onelyonly is he (as Paul saith) that cannot lye. But let us furthermore heare Paul, what he saith of this Ordinance of God, for in this wise Luke writeth of him in the 20. Chap. of the Acts, And sending messengers from Miletum to Ephesus, he sent for Priests of the Church, which when they were come to him, he sayd unto them, Take heede to your selves and to all the flocke in which the holy Ghost hath set or ordained you Bishops to governe the Church of God, which he hath purchased and gotten with his owne blood. Goe to now, is here any new thing? Is Paul a foole, and doth he not know what he doth? Ephesus was but one City alone, and Paul calleth openly all the Priests or Elders by one common name Episcopos, Bishops. But peradventure Paul had not read those bookes, and those Apologies wretchedly patched together of Papists, nor the holy Decretals. For how would he have bin bold else to make many Bishops overseers to one City, & to call al the Priests of one City Bishops,All the Priests of one City be called of Paul, Bishops. in as much as they were not all Princes, neither kept a gard of men, and goodly Palfries, but were certaine rascall persons, and of the most abject and vile sort of men, after the worldly estimation. For Paul peradventure was ignorant of that, which is growne in use now in our time, that no man can be a great Bishop in very deed, unlesse he doe (as the Poet saith) keepe an hundred Horses in goodly stables, unlesse he have a gorgeous house full of royall Pompe, unlesse he have many royall titles of Lordships. For this alone is sufficient now in our time, to that that Knights and Princes (be they never so much unlearned and foolish, yea and though their minds other whiles doe stand nothing towards it) may by the commendations of their parents and kinsfolkes, and otherwhiles by gifts and rewards be suddainely made Bishops. But in good sadnesse thou seest plainly that the Apostle Paul doth call these onelyonly Bishops, which doe Preach the Gospell unto the people, and doe minister unto them the Sacraments, as now in our time be the Parish Priests and the Preachers.All true Preachers been Bi…hops. Wherefore I doe not doubt but these, although they doe Preach the Gospell, but to very little Villages and Granges, and if they be the faithfull and true ministers of the Word: I doe not doubt (I say) that they have by good right the Title and name of a Bishop. Contrariwise, those valiant horsemen a…d tyrannous Bishops have no point of the Office of a Bishop, saving onelyonly those bare goodly titles, and certaine disguised apparell, in like manner as those Bishops which are painted on a Wall, have indeed the shape and likenesse of Bishops, but they are without life and speech: For even such dead and idle stockes and blockes are the Popes Bishops in every point: albeit that then they are evermore strong and quick when they doe exercise tyrannous cruelty against the very Pastours, which doe busily governe Cities in the ministration of the Word of God, and by more than devillish tyranny doe forbid them holy Wedlocke, and to the open slander of the Church doe winke at the keeping of Whores, doe blaspheme the Gospell, doe extinct the Word of God, and under the pretence and colour of vertue and godlinesse, doe with incredible woodnesse exercise continually extreame tyranny upon the silly poore people. By the reason whereof we doe see in the Courts and Palaces of some Bishops, likewise as in the fountaine of all vice and mischiefe in the Court of Rome, The Court of Rome.not so much as one crum, not so much as the least shadow to bee found of Christian manners: we see also all the Cities of Priests, and namely those Noble …eates of Priests to be nothing else but schooles of uncleanelinesse and bodily plesures, Ware-houses of vices, so much that in comparison of their houses the Courts of their secular Princes may be accounted Monasteries and holy schooles of vertue and godlinesse, yea and Sodome and Gomorrah in comparison of them, may seeme temperate, measurable and thrifty.Note. For out of their Courts or houses commeth forth neither the Gospell, nor any other holy Doctrine, but onelyonly Citations, Excommunications, Exactions, Interdictions, Citations (I say) in very deed peremptory, that is to say, slayers both of goods and of soules. For such as the Bishops are themselves, such also is their Doctrin.Proverbs. And though thou do never so much cloath an Asse with a Lyons skin, yet he continueth still an Asse; and an Ape is still an Ape although he be clad in purple. Besides this, S. Paul writeth to the Philippians in this wise:Philippi. Paul and Timothy the Servants of Iesus Christ, to all the Saints in Christ Iesu which are in the City of Philippi, and to the Bishops also and the Deacons, &c. Lo… Philippi was but onelyonly one City, and yet S. Paul saluteth all them that beleeveth, together with the Bishops… undoubtedly the Bishops whom he meaneth there, were the Priests, likewise as he was wont to constitute and ordaine in all the other Cities. This is now the third place of Paul, in which wee doe see, what God and the holy Ghost hath constituted and ordained, that is to wit, that they onelyonly are called Bishops in very deede, and by right, which doe take and beare the charge of the people in the Administration of Gods Word, in caring for the poore …locke in the Administration of the Sacraments; as are now in our dayes the Christian Cu…ates or Parish Priests,…ura…es or Parish Priests. if they might be suffered for those Mi…red Horsemen. And that this belongeth to the Office of a Bishop, the very Word it selfe doth very well declare; for this Word Episcopu…, Episcopus.is derived of two Gre…ke words, Epi, and Scopin, which signifie, to give attendance, to Oversee, to give diligence, to play the Keeper or watchmen over the people, in like manner as watchmen doe keepe watch upon the walls of a Citie, or as Shepheards doe keepe watch upon their sheepe. And Episcopos in Greeke doth properly signifie in English an Overseer, and in the Hebrew it signifieth a Visi…our, that is to say, one which visiteth men at their owne house, and doth diligently enquire and search the condition of them, and the state of their life, being readily and indifferently to helpe and comfort all men. So Christ saith in the nineteenth Chapter of Matthew, Because thou hast not knowne the time of thy visitation. That which is there called time of Visitation, we call the time of thy Bishopricke. But ou… Papisticall Bishops have found and devised a certaine new proofe and declaration of that Episcopall Office, seemely for such as they are, that is, to set themselves a high in a chaire guilded, clad in purple, with Cushions of cloath of …issue under their buttockes and their el…owes, having abundance and plenty of all manner of delights and pleasures, as much as any King can have, and in the meane season to offer and set forth the men belonging to their governance, to be pilled, tormented and slaine of their officials, to whom they make their flockes subjects; men for the most part wicked, ungodly, and which doe thinke that there is no God,Bishops Officials what kinde of men. which then may also with their Commandements at their owne pleasure by compulsion cause to appeare at those …heir holy Consistories, persons that dwell very farre off, not without dammage and hurt both in goods, and in their soules, and may exercise and use all manner of extreame tyranny upon them. For as much then as now it is evident & open of these three places of the Apostle, that those Bishops, which are so far away from ministration of Gods Word, and be negligent about their duety, are not onelyonly no true Bishops, but rather the people of malediction before God, as the men which have setled their minds against the Statutes and Ordinances of God to extinct the gospell, and doe exalt themselves to destroy soules. It is every Christian mans duty by all lawfull a…d honest meanes that he may, to procure that their tyrannous and sinfull traditions may once be utterly contemned and come to confusion: It belongeth (I say) to every Christian mans duty manfully, and with great confidence, and boldnesse, where charity will suffer, without offending the weake, to endeavour himselfe to doe all things which are contrary to their traditions, none otherwise than he would doe against the Devill himselfe. And also to treade under the feete and utterly despise the obedience of them by which they desire to have their owne traditions greatly regarded and observed, the Word of God neglected and nothing set by, even as they would tread under their feete the very Devill himselfe.Note. All we therefore (if it be so that we have pitty of so many soules which doe perish for ever; if we be earnestly moved and stirred with the Word of God) owe (pray ma…ke this passage well) with our uttermost diligence to goe about and with very great contentation and strayning of our selves to labour about this, that there may againe according to the institution of the Apostle, very Bishops and Shepheards be constituted every where in Cities, which be men pure and vertuous, and well learned in holy Scripture, and in spirituall things, which have chaste wives, and children obedient (as the Apostle saith) in the feare of the Lord. Wherefore seeing that the Bishops and Pastours every where in the Cities, which are now adayes, have hitherto rather obeyed the Devill than God,Bishops wer… in those dayes deemed intollerable greevances fit to be removed. banded themselves against the Scripture, to this wicked vow of living single, or sole, (if there be any point of Christian breast or minde in us) we ought to give diligence and bestow labours, for a reformation of the same to be had by the King our onelyonly supreame head of the Church, in whom onelyonly the reformation lyeth, so that once such a reformation had, the poore captive soules may boldly, to contempt of the Devill and his Papisticall …aditions, revoke those vowes, as being through errour made with the Devill, and with the very gates of hell, and that they may according to the Word of God wed wives, or rather to be willing (according to the institution of S. Paul) to be good married men in the sight of God, then for the pleasure of those bauds the Romanists to be Adulterers and whore-keepers. Fo… the very time it selfe doth now in so great revelation of the Gospell require that once at the last the holy ordination of the Spirit of God, which can…not be but very good, should be restored and set up against those prophane and abominable traditions of men.The Decree of the Author. Loe this is my decree against those proud puffed Bulls of the Devill, and of the Devillish Romanists and their factors. Neither doe they heare and obey me, but they heare and obey God, and the Spirit of God, whosoever doe heare and obey this. And therefore I can also in very deede promise both everlasting life, and also the favour of God to all those, whatsoever they be, that doe in faith observe and keepe it. And because this shall not bee judged the ordination of Paul alone (for it is reported that the Deane and Canons of a certaine Cathedrall Church, did say after a blasphemous manner and fashion, openly to a Preacher, whom they did expulse for the Gospell sake, What of Paul, what of Paul? The Pope hath received more power of Christ than ever Paul did: and for the pleasure of those so swee…e and gentle men, and excellently devillish Priests, let us see what Peter and what Christ himselfe did say concerning this matter. In the fifth Chapter of …he first Epistle of Peter it is thus written,P…esbyters. The Priests that are among you I beseech (which am also my selfe a Priest, and a record of the afflictions of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory, which shall be shewed) feede, as much as lyeth in you to doe, the flocke of Christ, taking the charge and oversight of them not by compulsion, but willingly, not for the desire of filthy lucre, but of a good favourable and loving mind, neither as men exercising dominion in their inheritances, but that you may be your selves ensamples to the flocke, and when the head shepheard shall appeare, you shall receive an incorruptible crowne of glory. Here thou seest that Peter even likewise as Paul did, doth use these two words Presbyter and Episcopus, both for one thing, that is to wit, that they are Episcopi, which doe teach the people, and doe preach the Word of God… and he maketh them all of equall power one with another, and he fo…biddeth them to behave themselves so, as if they were Lo…ds or had dominions over those whom they have charge of. He calleth himselfe a fellow Priest, (that I may so say) by these words evidently declaring and proving, that all Parish Priests and Bishops of Cities are of equall power among themselves;Note. and as touching the Authority of a Bishop, that one is nothing superiour to another, and that he himselfe also is fellow Priest with them, and hath no more power & authority in his own City, then have the other or every one of them in their owne Congregation… Loe Peter maketh himselfe equall and not superiour to the Bishops, what I beseech you will those beasts alleadge here against these things, which doe not cease nor onelyonly to be Lords and have dominion, but also to exercise most cruell tyranny upon our soules and our goods; which also doe never cease with exceeding mad brawlings and suites to contend and strive among themselves about the difference, and degrees of power and authority. And that I may once make an end, Christ himselfe in the 22. chapter Luke saith, The Princes of the Paynims are Lords over them, and they which have power and authority over them, are called beneficiall and gracious; Note.but it shall not be so among you, but he that is eldest among you, let him be made as youngest. Hereunto hearken and give good attendance you pompous and Lordly Bishops; Loe all the holy Christian people require of you a reason and cause of your domination and Lordship, which you have hitherto with so many titles, and also with so many tyrannous deedes taken, violently usurped, and challenged unto your selves: Loe, I say, the Christian world requireth a cause of this your doing, for this you cannot deny which is so open and evident afore the eyes of all men, that your Kingdome is an outward and a worldly Kingdome, yea and that more worldly, than the Kingdome of any worldly Prince. For you play the Lords openly both upon the bodies, and also the minds, and that not by the Word of God, but by exteriour pompe, by exteriour and worldly tyranny, as other Princes and Rulers of the heathen people doe: I say, goe to therefore now and tell me, how those Words of Christ, vos autem non sic, that is,Vos non sic. but so shal not you doe, how do t…ey agree with that your Kingdome? Goe to now, because you shall not (as you are very slippery) slip from me, let us ensearch and ponder well the signification of the words. What is the meaning of these words: But you not so? for here undoubtedly is rebuked your Kingdome… & your condition & state, for this ought not to be such a one as it is, if it were a Christian state. Now let it be whatsoever manner one you will, yet for all that Christ speaking of the domination of those worldly Princes saith plainely unto you (for you will seeme to be Bishops) But ye shall not doe so. Which words hee largely prosecutes, and afterwards proceedes thus. You doe …eede and nourish your selves most delicately and …enderly in riot and pleasures with the blood and sweate of poore men… besides impoverishing and beggering the world with your gu…es and deceipts; you doe with your Excommunications and Interdictions vex and tosse all things up and downe,Not… this old and new practise of Prelates. afflicting and tormenting poore men both in soule, in body, and in their goods; you doe extinct and destroy the Gospell, and not onelyonly your selves doe no manner of worke belonging to the Office of a Bishop, but also you will not suffer any other men to preach the Word of God; you doe pursue the Preachers from City to City, as it was prophesied in Matth. 24. and you do expulse them as knaves, and vild wretches out of all your dominions, and yet in the meane season your selves are nothing else in comparison, but vipers, whom as unprofitable burthens of the earth the world can no longer beare nor suffer, unlesse you do waxe wise and amend. Wherefore here labour and apply your selves lustily and stoutly, that you do not please the people overmuch, increase your benefits and good deeds, give diligence lustily, that there may not neede any great businesse to destroy your tyranny, whiles you do shake out your owne selves, and do your owne selves wilfully runne forth to your owne confusion …nd dest…ction … I verily (to give you good and faithfull counsell) would advertise you, that you should purchase and get unto your selves the favour and love of the people with mildnesse, with mercifulnesse, with softnesse, with patience and Apostolicall sincerity, that is to wit, with those vertues, with those holy means, which S Paul did use; goe forth and hold on as you have begun, this is even the right and next way to undoubted destruction, whereunto you do so greatly make haste; for even so did your Fathers the Iewes, into whose hypocrisie you are succeeded, who when they had slaine the Lord and author of life Jesu… Christ, and had by degrees promulged, and published the Gospell to be for bidden, yet could they not rest untill they had provoked the Romans, and so had sought their owne undoubted mischiefe, which said Romans at the last setting violently upon them, slew them, and utterly destroyed them; for how could you better observe and fulfill that which becommeth your personages to do, than if you do goe about and endeavour to prove, and shew your selves the very right and true sonnes and heires of such manner of Parents; But here (I see) they will put upon them all the whole Episcopall armour, that is to say, a purple pall, and a forked Miter upon their heads, their gloves and their rings with precious stones to fence both their hands withall, they s…all also have their feet shod, not with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, but of the sandall of vanity, and a silver Crosse, hanging downe to the midst of their breast, and if I be not deceived, a Roman Pall also covering their shoulders, and a shepheards staffe to measure their pace, and so then having this armour upon them, with a stately and solemne gate, they shall come forth, &c. Who hath commanded that Bishops should so play the gallants, and use such pompe and gorgeousnesse of the Court? Christ did openly forbid them to be as the Kings and Princes of the Gentiles, where …ee dot… by expresse and open words separate and divide t…em from Princes of the World, a…d saith, The Kings and R…lers of the Gentiles are Lords over them, but you shall not do soe: These words, that Prince of Princes, and King of Kings, and that Lord of Majesty will not revoke; hee will not abolish them, nor suffer them to be thrust out of place and made void for thy peevish excuses wherewith thou dost in thy conscience coldly and faintly com…ort thy selfe, Why dost thou not rather forsake thy Lordly Port be it never so pleasant? if thou ca…st not e…ecute and fulfill the offi…e of a Bishop, why dost thou for transitory and most vild honour forget thine owne health and salvation? yea moreover wittingly, and willingly dost cast away thine owne soule for the most deceitfull pleasure of this life? Why dost thou (I say) wittingly a…d wilfully perish? Even those men are scantly saved at the last, which with couragious faith continually wrestling and fighting with their flesh and the Devill do live in a good and a vertuous kind of life: why dost thou then hope in vaine, …hat thou shalt be saved among so many je…pardies, among so many voluptuous plaasures? What doth it profit (saith Christ himselfe) if hee do possesse all the World, and all the Kingdomes, and do cast away his owne soule?
But whereof, or which way (will some say) should Kings,Object. Princes, Earles, Barons, Knights, briefely all the Nobles of the world provide for their younger children, if these Bishopricks, if those Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches were not?
And therein first we may openly see the exceedinge foolishnesse and blindnesse of all Christendome,Answer. which hitherto have bought commonly of the Romanists, the Benefices and Prebends founded by themselves with the blood of their Children. Loe here I doe speake unto thee whosoever thou art, who dost wittingly so cast away thy children, If any Ploughman or Smith did wound or kill thy Sonne or did defile thy daughter, or thy Sister, thou wouldst for anger goe about to doe the uttermost mischiefe that thou couldst to overthrow and destroy even whole Cities, whole Provinces, for the revenging thereof would seeme but a small matter unto thee, thou wouldst thinke in thy minde it to be so high and so hainous an offence that was done unto thee:Note. but I beseech thee here open the eyes of thy minde, and looke whether there can be a more sure Homicide and murtherer of thy children, any more grievous and more cruell enemie unto them than thou art thine owne selfe, advancing and promoting them to a Bishopricke, or thrusting them downe into such a Church (as they doe call it) for thou makest thy sonne a Bishop, Note.which state, as it is now far away from the ministration of the word and from all godlinesse, thou knowest undoubtedly to be a devillish state, in which thy sonne can in no wise be saved. Sith it is so, that thou dost know this, tell me I beseech thee whether thou dost not more sore rage and use more cruelty against him than if thou cut him into gobbets and didst throw his flesh unto dogs to be devoured; if thy sonne through his owne mis-understanding, ignorance or error had stumbled, and falne into such a certaine kind and manner of living, thou oughtst with all diligence, and with all thy power to labour and goe about (if there were any wisedome, or any point of a Christian mind in thee) to rid him out of it, although thou hadst but onelyonly one loafe of bread to live on thy selfe, whereof thou shouldst be faine to give him the one halfe: but here I beseech thee looke upon thy selfe somewhat more neere, and more narrowly, whosoever thou art which dost cast downe thy children headlong into these kindes and manners of living, and consider what manner of father thou art, onelyonly to keepe thy Dominion, and thy riches upright, and from decay, onelyonly lest thy gold and silver should be diminished if it were divided among many heires: thou dost thrust downe, & willingly cast headlong thy Sons, and kinsmen into the deep dungeon of hell; neither doth it move or stirre thee any whit to see thine owne blood supped and swallowed up in the throate of the Devill, and perpetually to perish, so that thou be not compelled to diminish or debate any thing of thy superfluity, or any parcell of thy pompe and royalty. Lo this most ungracious opinion, this custome is crept in and used in many places, that as oftentimes as any great mans Sonne, being meete rather for any other thing than for a Bishopricke, is chosen and …lected Bishop, or is brought into the Temple; then with solemne pompe, and a solemne company set in their array, are madde cries and loud shouts, as it were in a triumph; then all the Halls and Courts doe sound and ring with the noise of trumps, with trumpets, with …bre…s… then are in every place lighted tapers and torches; then that solemne Song, Te Dewn laudamus is thundered out, so that these triumphs do plainly represent unto us the image of those foolish Kings of Israel which did burne up their sonnes and daugh…ers for a Sacrifice in the honour of the Idol Molo…, and with the divers loud sounds of trumps did bring to passe, that the lamentable crying ou… and wayling of them, that were in the midst of the fire, could not be heard. The author of this booke hath many such like passages against Bishops. And as for Cathedrall Churches, hee stiles them: Stewes, and the Gates of hell, a certaine unsatiable bottomlesse whirle poole which swallowes up the riches of Kings, of Princes, of Dukes, of Earles, of the Common people, and of all the world. But I passe from this old Treatise.
About the same time there was a Treatise expressing the causes of the Divisions betweene the Spiritualty,The causes of the Division betweene the Spiritualty and the Commonalty. and the Temporalty. Printed, Londini in aedibus Thom… Bartheleti, prope aquagium sitis sub intersignio Lucretiae Romanae, excus. Cum Privilegio. I shall transcribe no passages out of this Treatise, but onelyonly the Table of the Chapters at the end thereof, wherein the causes of the division betweene the Spiritualty and the Temporalty are summarily expressed.
Chap. 1. That the Division among spirituall men themselves, hath beene one cause of the Division that is now betweene the spiritualty and temporalty in this Realme.
Chap. 2. That the omitting of divers good lawes, with certain defalts & disorders in men of the Church, which among others be recited, and declared by John Gerson, have been another occasion of this division. Among these he numbers the neglect of these two Canons. That Bishops should have poore apparell, lodging, and table, and should not strive for transitory things: And the Clerkes shall not take upon them the acts or procurations of spirituall men.
Chap. 3. That certaine Lawes made by the Church, wherein it is recited, Quod Laici sunt Clericis infesti: That is to say, That Lay men be cruell to Clerkes, hath beene another cause of this division.
Chap. 4. That the extreme Lawes made by the Church for laying violent hands upon Clerkes have beene another cause of this Division.
Chap. 5. That the disordering of the generall sentence of excommunication, hath beene another occasion of the said division; which (saith hee) will never be appe…sed, till the heads spirituall will reforme themselves, and shew a fatherly affection to the people, and not extend the sentence o… the Church upon so light causes, and upon such partiality, as they have done in times past.
Chap. 6. That another occasion of this division hath partly risen by temporall men through disordering of their Chaplaines and Chauntry Priests.
Chap. 7. That suits taken in the Spirituall Courts (Ex officio) have beene another occasion of this Division: which suits together with Oathes Ex officio, whereby a man shall be condemned, and not know the names of them that be causes thereof; he termes a sore law, and much declaimes against them.
Chap. 8. Though after the determination of Doctors, a man is not an hereticke, for that onelyonly that hee erreth, but for that hee opinatively defendeth his errour: and that neverthelesse the spiritualty as a common voyce goeth among the people, have in time past punished many for heresie upon light causes and offences, whereupon many people have grudged, and that grudge hath beene another occasion of this Division.
Chap. 9. That the partiality that hath beene shewed upon suits taken in the Spirituall Court by spirituall men, hath beene another cause of this Division.
Chap. 10. That the extreme and covetous demeanour of some Curates with their Parishioners, hath beene another cause of this Division.
Chap. 11. That the granting of pardons for money, as it were to some Charitable use, that hath not after followed, hath raised another grudge among the people, which hath beene another occasion of this Division.
Chap. 12. That making of Lawes by the Church which they had no authority to make, hath beene another occasion of this Division. In which Chapter he cites divers Lawes made by the Clergie, and executed contrary to the Lawes of the Realme, touching Tythes of wood, exemption of Clerkes from secular jurisdiction, and the like: which lawes while spirituall men, sticke fast to, and stifly maintaine, temporall men by reason of common use and custome that they have seene to the contrary, have resisted them, whereupon have risen great strife, and variances, and expences in the spirituall Law.
Chap. 13. The lacke of good visitations hath beene another occasion of this Division: wherein hee shewes that Bishops keepe their visitations onelyonly to gaine money, and procurations, not to refraine vices.
Chap. 14. That the great multitude of Licenses, and dispensations made by the spiritualty for money, upon light suggestions, hath beene another cause of this division.
Chap. 15. That the great laxenesse and worldly pleasures of religious persons, whereby the people hath beene greatly offended, hath beene another occasion of this Division.
Chap. 16. Then for a conclusion of this Treatise, it is somewhat touched, how good it is to have a zeale of Soules, and how perilous it is to do any thing whereby they might be hurt: And that if zeale of Soules, pitty, good doctrine, and devout prayer were abundantly in this world, mist specially in Prelates and spirituall Rulers, that then a new light of grace, and tractability would shortly shew and shine among the people.
The summe of the whole Treatise is to prove; that the Bishops and Prelates, are the authors of much division, trouble and dissention both in Church and State, and that by their Episcopall practises and unjust usurpations, lawes and proceedings.
William Wraughton, William Wraughton, alias Turne….who wrote about the same time, In his Rescuing of the Romish Fox, Dedicated to King Henry the 8. writes thus: Wee have put downe some of your orders of the world, there remaine yet two orders of the world in England: That is, the order of pompous and Popish bishops: and Gray Fryers. Which if they were put downe as well as the other put downe before, I reckon that there should be no Kingdome wherein Christ should more raigne than in England. And there hee proves at large, the Canon Law to be the Popes law, and that as long as the Bishops maintaine it in England, they maintaine the Pope in his soveraignty and Legislative power in England, and that the reading of this Law makes men papists.
Roderick… …ors, Rodericke… Mors.sometimes a Gray Fryer, in his Complaint to the Parliament house of England, about the 37. yeare of King Henry the eight Chap. 23, 24. writes thus of our Prelates. No doubt one Bishop, one Deane, one Colledge, or House of Canons, hath ever done more mischiefe against Gods Word, and sought more the hinderance of the same, than tenne houses of Monkes, Fryers, Canons, or Nunnes. The Kings Grace began well to weed the Garden of England: but yet hath he lest standing (the more pitty) the most fowlest, and stinking weedes, which had most need to be first plucked up by the rootes, that is to say, the pricking thistles, and stinging nettles; which still standing, what helpeth the deposing of the petty members of the Pope, and to leave his whole body behind, which are the pompous Bishops, Canons o… Colledges, Deanes, and such other? Surely it helpeth as much as to say, I will goe kill all the Foxes in Saint Iohns wood, because I would have no more Foxes breed in England Which well pondered, wee may say and lye not, that the Pope remaineth wholly still in England, save onelyonly that his name is banished. For why his body (which be Bishops and o…her shavellings) do…h not onelyonly remaine, but also his tayle, which be his fil…hy Traditions, wicked Lawes, and beggerly ceremonies (as Saint Paul calleth them) yea and the whole body of his pestiferous Canon Law, according to which judgement is given throughout the Realme… So that we be still in Eg…pt, and remain in cap…ivity, most grievously laden by observing and walking in his most …ilhy drosse aforesaid, which is a mistie and endlesse maze. And so long as yee walke in those wicked lawes of Antichrist the Pope, and maintaine his Knights the Bishops in such inordinate riches, and unlawfull authority: so long say I, Note well what …nsueth.yee shall never bani… that monstrous beast the Pope out of England… yea and it shall be a meanes, in processe of time to bring us into temporall bondage also againe, to have him raigne as he hat… done, like a God, and that know our forked caps right well, which thing maketh …hem so boldly, and shamelesly to right in their gods quarrell against Christ and his Word, &c. The Bishops by their subtil…es, and most crafty wiles make the people to abhor…e the name of the Pope of Rome for a face, and compell them to walke in all his wicked lawes; and the Word of God which wee say we have received, is not, nor cannot be suffered to be preached a… …aught purely and sincerely, without mixing it with their inv…nted traditions and service. Wherefore to open the conclusion o… this little lamentation: …f …ee will banish for ever the Antichrist, the Pope out of this Realme; yee must fell downe to the ground those rotten poasts the Bishops, which be clouds withou… moysture… and utterly abandon all and every of his ungodly Lawes, traditions and ceremonies. Now will I speake no further against the particular Pope, for as much as every Bishop is now a Pope, and yee may plainly see by all the premises, that the proud Prelates (the Bishops I meane) be very Antichrists, as is their Father of Rome. So he, and much more.
Henry Stalbridg.Henry Stalbridge, in his Exho…tatory Epistle to his deerly beloved Country of England, against the pompous Popish Bishops thereof, as yet the true members of their filthy Father the great Antichrist of Rome. Printed at Basill in King Henry the eighth his dayes, thus seconds him. I say yet once againe, and that in the seale of the Lord, as hee is my Judge, I wish (if his gracious pleasure so were) that first the Kings Majesty, and so forth all those to whom God hath given power and authority upon earth under him, may throughly see and perceive… how that no… onelyonly the bloody Beare-Wolfe of Rome, but also the most part of the other Bishops, and stout sturdy Canons of Cathedrall Churches… with other petty pronlers and prestigious Priests of Baal … his malignant members, in all Realmes of Christendome (especialle here in England) doth yet roare abroad like hungry Lyons… fre… like angry Beares, and bite as they dare like cruell wolves, clustering together in corners, like a swarme of Adders in a dunghill, or most wily subtill serpents; to uphold and preserve their filthy Father of Rome, the head of their bawdy brood… if it may be. No lesse do I iudge it, than a bounden duty of all faithfull ministers to manifest their mischiefes to the universall world… eve…y man according to his Talent given of God, some with pen, and some with tongue; so bringing them out of their old estimation, lest they should still raigne in the peoples consciences to their soules destruction: An evident example have they of Christ thus to do, which openly rebuked their filthy forefathers, the Scribes, Lawyers, Phari…ees, Doctors, Priests, Bishops, and Hypocrites, for making Gods commandements of no effec… to support their owne traditions. Mark… 8. Luk. 12. Paul also admonisheth us, that after his departure should enter in among us such ravenuing wolves as should no… spare the flocke. These spirituall manhunters are the very off-spring of Cain, children of Caiphas … and successors of Simon Magus, as their doctrine …nd living declareth, needing no f…rther probation: most cruell enemies have they beene in a lages to the verity of God, ever since the Law was first given, and most fierce persecutours of Christ and his Church (which hee there proves at large by severall examples…)… No where could the verity be taught, but these glorious gluttons were ever at hand to resist it. Marvell not yee Bishop… and Prelates, th…ugh I thus in the zeale of Helias and P…ineas stomacke against your …urdie stormes of stubbornenesse, for never was any tyranny ministred upon Christ… and his mysticall members, but by your procurements, and now in our dayes, where are any of the Lords true Servants burned, or otherwise murthered for true preaching, writing, glossing, or interpretting the Gospell, but it is by your cruell calling upon &c. If you be not most wicked workers against God and his verity, and most spitefull Traytors to the King, and his Realme, I cannot thinke there be any living upon the earth. Be this onelyonly spoken to you that maintaine such mysteries of madnesse; never sent Christ such bloody Apostles, nor two horned warriours, but the Devils Vicar Antichrist, which is the deadly destroyer of faithfull Beleevers. What Christian blood hath been shed betweene Empire and Empire, Kingdome and Kingdome, as between Constantinople and Almaine, England and France, Italy and Spaine …or the Bishops of Rome? and how many cruell watres of their Priests calling on, were too much either to write, or to speake: Alwayes have they beene working mischiefe in their idle Generation to obscure the verity of God. I say yet once againe, that it were very necessary for the Kings worthy Majestie with earnest eyes to marke how God hath gratiously vouchsa…ed to deliver both him and his people from your troublesome Termagaunt of Rome, which afore made all Christian Kings his common slaves, and to beware of you hollow hearted Traytors, his spirituall promoters, considering that your proud predecessours have alwayes so wickedly used his Graces noble Progenitors, the worthy Kings of this Realme, since the Conquest, and a…ore. Who overthrew King Herald, subduing all his land to the Normans? Who procured the death of King William Rufus, and caused King Stephen to be throwne in prison? Who troubled King Henry the First, and most cruelly vexed King Henry the second? Who subdued and poysoned Kings Iohn? Who murthered King Edward the second, and famished King Richard the second most unseemingly? Besides that hath been wrought against the other Kings also To him that shall read, and throughly marke the religious acts of Robert the Archbishop of Canterbury of old, Egelwinus, Anselmus, Randolfe of Durham, Ralfe of Chichester, Alexander of Lincolne, Nigelus of Ely, Roger of Salisbury, Thomas Becket, Stephen Langhton, Walter Stapleton, Robert Baldocke, Richard Scrope, Henry Spencer, Thomas Arundell, and a great sort more of your anointed Antecessors, Pontificiall Prelates, mit…ed mummers, mad mastry workers, ringed ru…lers, rocheted rutters, shorne sawcy swilbols, it will evidently appeare, that your wicked generation hath done all that, and many other mischiefes more. By these your filthy …orefathers, and such o…her, hath this Realme beene alwayes in most miserable captivity, either of the Romans or Danes, Saxons or Normans, and now last of all, under the most blasphemous Behemoth, your Romish Pop…, the great Antichrist of Europe, and most mighty maintainer of Sodome and Gomorrah: How unchristianly your said Predecessors have used the Rulers of all other Christian Realms, it were too long to write. I reckon it therefore high time for all those Christian Princes, which pretend to receive the Gospell of salvation, and accordingly after that to live in mutuall peace and tranquillity, for ever to cast you out of their privy councels, and utterly to seclude you from all administrations, till such time as they find you no longer wolves, but faithfull feeders; no destroyers, but gentle teachers. For as Saint Peter doth say, 1 Pet. 5. Yee ought to be no Lords over the people of your Diocesse, but examples of Christian meeknesse. Who seeth not that in these daies your bloody Bishops of England, Italy, Cycell, France, Spaine, Portugall, Scotland, and Ireland,*See the 5, & 6. part of the Hom. against wilfull rebellion. And the 2. part of th… Homely on Whitsunday. be the ground and originall foundation of all controversies, schismes, variances & wars betwixt Realme and Realme at this present &c. Consider your beginning… never came yee in with your Miters, Robes, and Rings by the doore, as did the poore Apostles, but by the window unrequired, like Robbers, Theeves, and manquellers, with Simon Magus, Marcion, and Menander, never was your proud Pontificall power of the heavenly Fathers planting, and therefore it must at the last up by the rootes, yee must in the end be destroyed without hands Dan. 8. &c. *Ibid. fol. 18. & 22. to 31.I thinke …he devils in hell are not of a more perverse mind, nor seek no more wayes to the soules destruction than you. Yee play Pharaoh, Caiphas, Nero, Trajanus, with all tyrants parts besides: Oh abominable scorners and theeves, which practise nothing else but the utter destruction of soules. If any thing under the Heavens hath need of Reformation, let them thinke this to be one which minded any godlinesse for never did cruell Pharaoh hold the people of Israel in so wicked captivity, as doth …his superstitious sort idle Sodomites, the most deerly redeemed heritage of the Lord. If they be no spirituall theeves, soule murtherers, heretickes of and schismatickes… Church-robbers, rebels, and traytors to God, and to man, where are any to be looked for in all the world? Another thing yet there is, which causeth mee sore to lament, the inconveniences thereupon considered: And that is this, although the Scriptures, Chronicles, Canons, Constitutions, Councels, and private hystories, with your manifest acts in our time,Note. doth declare your Fore…athers, and you such Heretickes, Thee…es, and Traytors to the Christian Commonwealth, as hath not beene upon the earth, but you, yet you are still taken into the privy councels both of Emperour and King.
But what a plague it is, or miserable yoke to that Christian Realme, whereas yee beare the swinge, I thinke it truly unspeakable, though it be not seene.
O eternall Fa…her, for thy infinite merciemercy sake graunt thy most faithfull servant the Kings Majestie, our most worthy Soveraigne Lord and Governour under thee, cleerly to cast out of his privie Coun…ell House these …echerous Locusts of Egypt, and daily upholders of Sodome and Gomorrah, the Popes cruell cattle, tokened with his owne proper marke, to the universall health of his people, as thou hast now constituted him an whole compleate King, and the first since the Conquest. For never shall hee have of them, but deceitfull workemen, and hollow hearted Gentlemen, and not onelyonly that (good Lord) but also deprive them of their usurped authority and power, restoring againe hereunto his temporall Majestra…es, whom their proud Pope hath hitherto most tyrannously thereof deprived. Finally, to take from them their inordinate pompe and *See a supplication to King Henry the 8. An. 1544. accordingly.riches, and more godly to bestow them, that is to say, to the aide of his pove…ty, as for an example the noble the noble Germans have graciously done before him. After a farre other sort defended the Apostles, the spirituall Kingdome of Christ then they: their armour was righteousnesse, poverty, patience, m…eknesse, tribulation, contempt of the world and continuall suffering of wrongs; their strong shield was faith; and their sword the Word o… God, Eph. 6. Wi…h the Gospell preaching drove they down all superstitions, as you by your Lordlinesse have raised up againe in the glorious Church of Antichrist. The Kingdome that hee …orlooke Ioh. 6. and the Lord…hip, that hee so straitly forbad you, Luke 22. have …ou received of the devill, with that ambitious raigne of covetousnesse which hee left behind him on the high Mountaine, Matth. 4. What ruinous deca…es hath chanced to all Christian Region…, and their Babylonish b…ood, it we…e much to write… It shall be therefore necessary for our most wor…h… King to looke upon in time, and both to diminish you authority and riches, lest yee hereafter put all his godly enterp…ises in hazard. For nothing else can yee doe of your spiritual na…ure, but worke da…ly mischiefe. As well may yee be spared in the Commonwealth, as may Kites, Crowes, and Buzzards, P…l…ats, Wesels, and Rats, O…ters, Wolves, and Foxes, Bodilice, Fleas, and Fleshflies, with other devouring and noysome verm…ne; for a… unprofitable are yee unto it as they, and as li…le have yee in the word of God to uphold you in these vaine offices of Papistry as they. This uncommodious commodity hath En…land had of you alwayes, when yee have beene of the Kings privie Councell, and I thinke hath now at this present hower, that whatsoever godly enterprize is there in doing, be …hey never so privily handled, yet shall the Popish Prelates of I…aly, Spaine, France, Flanders, and Scotland have sure knowledgde thereof by your secret Messengers, and you againe their crafty compassings to deface it if may be. *M. Tindals practise of Prelates accordingly.Neither shall th…se …ealmes con…inue long after without wa…e, special…y if an earnest reformation of your s…ainefull abuses be sought there, and never shall the originall grounds of that warre be known but other causes shall be laid to …olour it with; as that the King seekes his rig…, his Princely honour, the maintenance of his titles, or the Realmes Commonwealth, …e…g nothing lesse in the end, but an upholding of you in your mischiefes. So long as you beare rule in Parliament Ho…se, …e Gospell shall be kept under, and Christ persecuted in his …aith…ull members. So that no godly Acts shall come out from …hen…e to the glory o… God, and Christian Commonwealth, but you will so sawce them with your Romish Sorceries; that they be ready to serve your turne. Although the Kings Majestie ha…h pe…mitted us the Scriptures, yet must the true Ministers thereof at your most cruell appointment either suffer most tyrannous death, or else with open mouth deny Christs veri…y, which is worse than death Thus give ye strength to his lawe…, & nourish up his Kingdome, whom ye say with your lips yee have refused, your pestilent Pope of Rome. Ye play altogether Hick-s…o…ne… under the figure of Ironia. That yee say, yee hate, yee lov…, and that yee say, yee love, yee hate. Late all faithfull men beware of such double day dreamers, and hollow hearted Traytors, and thinke, whereas they beare the rule, nothing shall come rightly forward either in faith or Commonwealth. What other workes can come from the Devills working tooles than commeth from the hands of his owne malignant mischiefe? who can deny the Bishops to be the instruments of satan, understanding the Scriptures, and beholding their daily doings? Thinke yee …here can be a greater plague to a Christian Realme than to have such Ghostly Fathers of the Kings Privie councell? If wise men do judge it any other than a just plague for our sinnes, and a yoke laid upon us for our unreverent receiving of that heavenly treasure, the eternall Testament of Christ, to have such hypocrites, theeves, and traytors to raigne over us, truly they judge not aright. If wee would earnestly therefore repent of our former being, and un…ainedly turne to our everliving God, as wee find in the Testament, I would not doubt it, to jeopard both my body and soule, that wee should in short space bee delivered of this Popish vermine rising out of this bottomlesse pit; Apoc. 9. which eateth up all that is greene upon earth, or hath taken any strength of the living word of the Lord: for the heart of a King is alwayes in the hands of God, and at … his pleasure hee may evermore turne it, Prov. 21. Take mee not here that I condemne any Bishop or Priest that is godly, doing those holy offices that the Scripture hath commanded them, as preaching the Gospell, providing for the poore, and ministring the Sacraments right; but against the bloody butchers, that murther up Gods People, a…d daily make havocke of Christs congregation to maintaine the Jewes Ceremonies, and the Pagans Superstititions in the Christian Church. Those are not Bishops, but Bite-sheepes, Tyrants, Tormenters, Termagaunts, and the Devils slaughter men. Christ left no such Disciples behind him to sit with cruell Caiphas at the Sessions upon life and death, of his innocent members, but such as in poverty preached the Gospell, rebuking the wicked world for Idolatry, hypocri…ie, and false doctrine. Episcopus is as much to say, as an overseer, or Superintendent, whose office was in the Primitive Church, purely to instruct the multitude in the wayes of God, and to see that they were not beastly ignorant in the holy Scripture, as the most part of them are now adayes. Presbyter is as much to say, as a Senior or Elder, whose office was also in godly Doctrine and examples of living to guide the Christian Congregation, and to suffer no manner of superstition of Jew nor Gentile to raigne among them. And these two offices were alone in those dayes, and commonly executed of one severall person. They which were thus appointed to these spirituall offices did *Buce…us de Regn… Christi, l. 2. c. 12.nothing else but preach and teach the Gospell, having assistants unto them, inferiour officers called Deacons, Act. 6. 1 Cor. 1. Rom. 3. No godly man can despise these offices, neither yet condemne those that truly execute them: not onelyonly are they worthy to have a competent living, 1 Cor. 9. but also double honour after the doctrine of Saint Paul, 1 Tim. 5. *Note. See the Supplication to King Henry the eight. An. 1544.But from inordinate excesse of riches, ought they of all men to be sequestred, considering that the most wicked nature of Mammon is alwayes to corrupt, yea the very Elect, if God were not the more mercifull, Matth. 6. which might be an admonition to our Lordly Bishops when they be in their worldly pompe, that they are not Gods servants beleeved they his sayings, as they do nothing lesse.
Master Fish… in his Supplication of Beggers, Mr FISH.thus complaines to King Henry the Eight of the inconveniency of the Prelates greatnesse and sway,Fox Acts and Monum. p. 926.927. both to himselfe, and his subjects, worthy his Majesties most serious consideration; Oh the grievous shipw…acke of the Common-wealth, which in ancient time before the comming of these ravenous wolves, were so prosperous, &c. What remedy? Make Lawes against them? I am in doubt whether yee be able. Are they not stronger in your owne Parliament house than your selfe, what a number of Bishops, Abbots, and Priors, are Lords of your Parliament?The fruits of Prelates greatnesse sitting in Parliament. Are not all the learned men of your Realme in see with them, to speake in the Parliament house for them, against your Crowne, dignity and Common-wealth of your Realme, a few of your owne learned Counsell onelyonly excepted? What Law can be made against them that they may be availeable? Who is hee (though hee be grieved never so sore) that for the murther of his ancester, ravishment of his wife, of his daughter, robbery, trespasse, maihme, debt, or any other offence, dare lay it to their charge by way of Action? and if hee doe, then is he by and by, by their *Now they bring such into the High Commission, & there ruine them, or force them to give over their actionswilinesse accused of heresie, yea they will so handle him ere hee passe, that except he will beare a faggot at their pleasure, he shall be excommunicated, and then be all his Actions dashed. So captive are your Lawes unto them, that no man whom they list to excommunicate may be admitted to sue any action in any of your Courts. If any man in your Sessions dare be so hardy to indite a Priest of any such crime, hee hath ere the yeare goe about such a yoake of heresie layd in his necke, that it mak…th him wish he had not done it. Your Grace may see what a worke there is in London, how the B…shop rageth for indi…ing certaine Curates of extortion, and incontinency the last yeare in the Ward-mote Quest. Had not Richard Hunne Commenced action of Premunire against a Priest, hee had yet beene alive… and no hereticke a… all, but an honest man.Note the danger that accrews by making Clergymen chiefe Temporall officers. And …his is by reason that the chiefe instrument of your Law, yea the chiefe of your Counsell, and hee which hath your sword in his hand, to whom also all the other instruments are obedient, is alwaies a spirituall man, which hath ever such an inordinate love unto his owne kingdome, that hee will maintaine that, though all the temporall Kingdomes and Common-wealths of the world should therefore utterly be undone: After which he s…wes the intolerable exacti…ns of the Prelates on the people, and how much wealth and money they extort from their post…rity.