The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 2 · Chapter 9

The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy · Part 2 · Chapter 9

p. 479CHAP. IX. Comprising an Answer to the Principall Objections alleadged by the Prelates in defence of the Divine pretended Institution, and for the continuance of their Episcopacy in our Church.

HAving thus given you a taste what our owne Authors ancient and Mode…ne, Protestants and Papists, Martyrs, and Prelates have formerly written touching the pretended Divine Jurisdiction, the Treasons, Conspiracies, Seditions, Antimonarchicall practises, Lordlinesse, secular imployments, courtship, and great Temporall possessions of our prelates, I shall onelyonly Answere two A…guments, or rather bare Allegation… now principally insisted on, for the maintenance of Episcopall Superiority by a Divine right, with three more Objections for the continuance of Episcopacy still in our Church, and so conclude.

The first Allegation for Episcopacies Divine institution;Allegation. I. For the Divine right of Episcopacy. is taken 1…rom the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, whom (a)(a)An humble Remonstrance.p. 27. Defence of the humble Remonstrance. p. 103. to 127. and in his former Bookes for Episcopacy.B…shop Hall, (b)(b)The judgement of Doctor Rai…olds, &c. more largely confirmed out of antiquity by Iames Bishop of Armagh.Bishop Vsher (c)(c)Willi…m …Bishop of R…chester Se…m. 1. at Hampton Court. Sept. 21. 1606.and Sir Thomas Astons brie…e Relation of Episcopacy, Sect. 2. p. 6.7.others will ne…d…s have …o be a Bishop Superiour in Authority and Jurisdiction to other Ministers, because he writes onelyonly in the singular number to the Angel, not to the Angels of that Church, which say …hey implies a Sup…riority of one speciall Minister in that Church, to whom this Epistle is principally directed, over the other Presbyters not once mentioned in this Epistle.

To which I answere: First, that …his word Angel is but a metaphoricall Title, proper onelyonly to the heavenly Spirits in p. 480strictnesse of speech, and in a large sense, as it signifies a **Angelus nomen est Offici…, non naturae, &c. A…ge…us enim Graco vocabulo, L…tine dicitur nuntius, si qua…s nomen naturae, spiritus est; si officium Ang… l…s: ex eo quod subsistit s…iritus est; ex eo quod mittitur Angelus. Remigius Explan in Epist. ad Heb…aeos, c. 1.Messenger, or Servant, it may as aptly deno…e a Minister or Presbyter, as a Bishop. The Ti…le therefore of it selfe, as it is used by S. Iohn, makes nothing …or Episcopacy, since ordinary Presbyters are in Scripture sometimes stiled **1. Cor. 11.10. Rev. 1.20. c. 2.1.8.12.18. c. 3.1.7.14.1 Cor 11:10Rev 1:20Angels, but Bishops (distinct …rom Presbyters) are never so named there.

Secondly, our Bishops themselves if not the whole Church of England with our late famous King Iames, in the Contents annexed by them to the Bibles of the last Translation, now onelyonly used & permitted in our Churches, in expresse Termes, expound the Angels of …he 7. Churches to be the Ministers of them, the Contents of the second Chap. of the Revelation running thus. What is commanded to be written to the ANGELS, that is, The Ministers of the Churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thiatyra, &c. had these Angels beene such as you now call Bishops, you would have rendred the Contents thus, What is written to the Angels, that is, to the Bishops of Ephesus, &c. But since you expound Angels thus, to be the Ministers of these Churches, who in vulgar appellation and acception are distinct from Bishops, and as you hold inferiour to them; you must now either renounce your owne and our Churches exposition, or your Episcopacy: For if the Angels of these Churches be the most eminent persons and rulers in them, as you argue; and these, as the Contents testifie, be not Bishops, but Minister…, it followes infallibly, that Ordinary Ministers and Presbyters, are superiour to Bishops, not Bishops to them. And that these Angels were the Ministers of these Chur…hes, is evident by the expresse resolution of our owne learned Iames Pilkington, late Bishop of Durham, in his Exposition upon the Prophet Aggeus. cap. 1. v. 13. London. 1562. where he writes thus: That more worshipfull names are given to the Preaching Minister, than to any sort of men. This name Angell, is given to the Preachers for the heavenly comfort that they bring to man from God, whose Messengers they be. In the Revel. of S. Iohn, he writes to the 7. Angels, …. to the 7. Ministers (not Bishops) of the 7. Congregations or Churches in Asia. By this Bishops resolution then, and by **Saepe sacram Scripturam praedicatores Ecclesiae pr… eo quod Patris gloriam annunciant Angelor, nomine solere designare; & hinc est quod Joannes in Apocalypsi septem Eccles…s, scribens, Angel…s Ecclesiarum loq…tur, id est, Praedicatoribus popul…rum … Moraliuml. 34. in Job c. 4.Job 4Pope Gregory the firsts too, these seven Angels are seven Preaching Ministers, not Lordly Non-Preaching Prelates. And Master Fox in his Meditations on Apoc. c. 2, p. 27.28. concurres with them; averri…g, That by the seven Angels, is meant either the Ministers p. 481of the seven Churches, or the Churches themselves; which exposition is as ancient as (f)(f)Lib. 1. c. 1.2.9.10.Aretas, (g)(g)In Apoc. c. 2. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 6. pars. 1. p. 523.Rev 2Primasius, and(h)(h)Lib. 2. in Apoc. Ambrosius Ansbertus, who in their Commentaries on Apocalypsis, write thus. Septem stellae Angeli sunt septem Ecclesiarum. Nec putandum est quod hoc loco Angeli singuli singulis deputentur hominibus, quod incongrue ab aliquibus aestimatur, sed potius Angeli Eccles. hic intelligendi sunt rectores populi, qui singulis Ecclesiis praesidentes, verbum vitae cunctis annunciant. Nam & Angeli nomen, nuncius interpretatum dicitur. Et Angelo Ecclesiae Ephesi scribe. Darivo hic casu Angelo posuit, non genitivo. Ac si diceret, Scribe Angelo huic Ecclesiae, ut non tam Angelum & Ecclesiam separatim videatur dixisse, quam quis Angelus exponere voluisset, unam videlicet faciens Angeli Ecclesiaeque personam. Quamvi… enim Sacramenti dispensatione praeponatur, compaginis tamen unitate connectitur. Nam hanc regulam a principio servans, non septem Angelis, sed Septem Ecclesiis scripsisset; Iohannes, inquiens, Septem Ecclesiis quae sunt in Asia, & dominus quem vidit; Scribe, inquit, in libro quae vidisti, & mitte septem Ecclesiis. Postea tamen Angelis jubet scribi, ut ostenderet, unum esse. Sed etiam siqua singulis partiliter Ecclesiis praedicat, universam generaliter conven…re docetur Ecclesiam. Neque enim dicit, Quid spiritus dicat Ecclesiae, sed Ecclesiis. Angelum ergo Ecclesiam significans, duas in eo partes ostendit, dum & laudat & increpat. In consequentibus autem manifestatur non eandem increpare, quam laudat, sic ut Dominus in Evanglio omne praepositorum corpus, Luc. 12. Mat. 24.Luke 12Matt 24unum servum dixit beatum & nequam, quem veniens Dominus ipse dividet, & non tantum servum sed partem, inquit, ejus cum hypocritis ponet: Yea, Ludovicus ab Alcasar a late Iesuite, in his Commentary on the Apocalyps. **See Gersomus Bucerus de Gubern. Ecclesiae. p. 205.393.408.419.422.433.Antu. 1614. Proem. in c. 2. K 3. Notatio. 1. p. 250.251. writes, That Andreas, Aretas, Ansbertus, Anselmus, Pererius, Victorinus, Ticinius, Ambrosius, Haymo & Beda are of this opinion. Augelarum & stellarum nomine designari Ecclesias ipsas; That by the name of Angels the C…urches themselves are signified; not the Lordly Prelates in them, not one ancient Commentator on this that I finde, and few moderne expounding these Angels to bee Bishops, as our Prelates against all sense will make them: yea, Andreas Cesariensis, Comment. in Ioan… Apoc. c. 3. p. 8. writes, Probabile fit per 7. Angelos totius universi gubernationem, quae in dextera Christi, sicut omnes qu…que terrae fines, sita est, hoc loco significari. Since …hen by Angels is here meant either the Ministers of the Church of Ephesus, or the whole Church it selfe, or p. 482Christs government over the Universe, as these Authors a v…re; this Text makes nothing at all for our Prelates Hi…rarchy.

3Thirdly, it is observable that Saint Iohn neither in his Gospel nor Epistle, nor in his Booke of …he Revelation, doth so much as once use the name or word Bishop, but the name of Elder, or Presbyter very often, both in his Epistle, and in the Apocalyps. I then appeale to any reasonable Creature, whether it is not more probable, that Saint Iohn by this word Angell, should rather meane the Elders or Presbyters of those Churches; (a Title which he gives himselfe, 2 Iohn 1. 3 Iohn 1.) and which Title and Office he so (c)(c)Rev. 4.10. c. 5.5.8.11.14. c. … 11.13. c. 11.16. c. 19.4. c. 14.….Rev 4:10frequently mentions in the 4. and 5. and 7. (k)(k)Rev. 4.4. c. 5.11. c. 7.11.Rev 4:4Chapters of the Apocalyps next ensuing, rather than the Lordly Bishops of those Churches superiour to Presbyters, whose office (for ought appeares) he never knew, and whose Title he never useth in his writings?

4Fourthly, it is rem…ke…ble, that S. Iohn doth …ever place the 24. Elders, sitting on so many seates, next unto the throne of Christ himselfe; and the Angels standing further off from the Throne without the Elders. If then by the Elders (as is generally agreed by all) be meant the Presbyters or Ministers of the Church, and by Angels as you pretend, be meant Bishops; then the Presbyters must needes be more honourable by divine institution than Bishops, because they are next to the Throne of Christ, and (l)(l)Rev. 4.4. c. 11.16.Rev 4:4sit on seates or chaires whiles the Angels (m)(m)Rev. 7.11.Rev 7:11stand about them. Adde to this, that these Elders are still introduced by S. Iohn in this booke, (n)(n)Rev. 4.10.11. c. 5.8.9. c. 11 16.17.18.Rev 4:10Rev 4:11Worshipping and adoring God and Christ, and giving thankes, honour, praise, and glory unto them: That they onelyonly are sayd to have Rev. 4.4.10Rev 4:4Rev 4:10Crownes of gold upon their heads (the badge of Soveraignty and Superioriority) and (p)(p)Rev. 5.8.9.Rev 5:8Rev 5:9harpes … Golden Vials in their hands, full of Odours, which are the prayers of Saints: That they (q)(q)Rev. 5.9.Rev 5:9sing the new Song; And among other passages prayse Christ for this in speciall manner. Rev. 5.10. And hast made VSUS (not Bishops) unto our God KINGS and PRIESTS, and we shall raigne on the Earth. There…ore Presbyters doubtlesse are the chiefe and principall Ministers and Priests in the Church of Christ by divine institution; and being thus made Kings and Priests, and adorned with Crownes, to the end that they may raigne upon the Earth; no Prelates or Lord Bishops ought to rule over them, or climbe Paramount them, as they doe. Besides, these Elders no… Bishops p. 483informed S. Iohn himselfe and instructed him in the things hee doubted of Revel. 5.4.5. c. 7.13.14.15.16. Therefore these Elders must certainely be the better, the most emin…nt Scient men, and so Paramount the Angel-Bishops.

Fifthly, though the Angel be here put in the singular number, 5yet the Elders are still mentioned in the Plurall. And as for the Church of Ephesus in those dayes, it is most certaine by Acts 20.17.28. 1 Tim. 5.17. That there were divers Elders, of equall authority …uling in it, whom the holy Ghost expressely not onelyonly calleth, but made Bishops and Overseers of that Church, both to Rule and Feede it. To make therefore one speciall Bishop and Superintendent in this Church, superiour to all the rest, and he onelyonly graced by the name of an Angel, is but a crazie conceipt of a proud Episcopall braine, contrary to apparent Texts.

Sixthly, This Angel is not sayd to have any Jurisdiction or 6Superiority over other Ministers or Presbyters in the Church of Ephesus, nor to be the supreame or generall Superintendent Prelate of that Church, neither is there any thing spoken of him with reference to any other Minister of Ephesus: What then can this poore title make for Episcopall priority and Jurisdiction? The Spirit writes to the Angell of the Church of Ephesus: Ergo this Angell was a Bishop, and sup…riour to all other Ministers of Ephesus, is a strange non sequitur, and yet this is all this …ext affords you.

Seventhly, Bishop Hall and other contenders for Episcopacy, grant that there were divers particular Churches & Congregations 7in and about Ephesus, every one of which had its severall Minister or Presbyter to instruct them; else they could prove no Episcopacy or Diocaesan superintendency from one particular Congregation. This being granted by him and his party: Let them then tell me seriously, whether this Angell, (which they will not have taken collectively and Plurally, for the whole Presbytery and Ministery of that Church as many ancient and moderne Commentators expound it, but individually for one particular person) should not rather be one particular Pastor of one of the Churches of Ephesus onelyonly, who had lost his first love, and therefore was worthily reprehended, then a Diocaesan Bishop or Arch-bishop of that Church to whose Jurisdiction all other Presbyters and Bishops of that Nationall p. 484Church were subordinate; for which there is no ground in Scripture.

8Eighthly, our **Downham, Hall, Vsher, and others.Prelates all plead very hard, That Timothy was ordained the first Bishop of Ephesus, and dyed Bishop of that See: which if I admit (though I thinke untrue) then it is cleare that this Angel of Ephesus, who lost his first love, was famous and zealous, Timothy not dead when this Epistle was written, as (r)(r)In Apoc. c. 2. Disp. 2.Rev 2Pererius and (s)(s)Com. in Apoc in c. 2.3. Notatio 1. p. 251. where he cites Lyra and Ribera to this effect.Alcazar both Jesuites, with Lyra, Ribera, (t)(t)N…t. in vita Polycarp. c. 7.P. Halloix, and others confesse. And who dare be so presumptuous as to thinke Timothy a man so eminent, famous, zealous, and so much applauded in Scripture, would prove an Apostate or backeslider; and lose his first love? Either therefore you must deny Timothy, or this Angell to be the Bishop of this Church.

9Ninthly, grant this Angell to be a Bishop, yet it was onelyonly such a Bishop as was all one and the same with Presbyters,(u)(u)Centur. Magd 1. l. 2. …. 10. col. 626… Nic…ph. l. 3. c. 71. Vinc…ntius. spec. Hist. l. 38. c. 10. Fasciculus Temporum. and of which there were many in one Church (no… one over many Churches) according to the holy Ghosts and the Apostles owne institution as appeares by Act. 20.17.28. Phil. 1.1. Tit. 1.5.7. compared with the 1 Pet. 5.2.3. Iam. 5.14. Act. 14.23. 1 Tim. 5.17. which maketh nothing for, but directly against that Episcopacy, you contend for.

10Tenthly, and finally, grant him such a Bishop as you would make him; yet at the best he was an Apostate, who had fallen from, and lost his first love, by being made a Lord Bp: And it will be but little credit for our Prelates, to found their Hierarchy upon an Apostate: And if I conjecture not amisse, this may bee one probable reason, why so many Ministers prove turne-coates, and Apostates, losing their first love and zeale to God when they are made Lord Bishops, because they have an Apostate Angel, both for their foundation, and imitation; Happy man be their dole; let them make the best of this Apostate; I will not hinder but rather pitty them in this folly.

2The second Allegation for the divine right of Episcopacy is,Allegation. that Timothy and Titus were Bishops (such as our Lordly Prelates now are, the one of Ephesus, the other of Crete) which (v)(v)Preface to his Treatise of …he Sabbath.Bishop White, and others endevour to prove, especially by the Post-script of the second Epistle to Timothy. The second Epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero p. 485the second time: And by this Postscript to the Epistle to Titus: It was wri…ten to Titus, ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians, f…om Nicopolis of Macedonia; which Post-scripts they say are very ancient, if not Canonicall and irrefragable.

I shall not here enter into a large discourse to prove Timothy neither a Bishop… Answ.nor first, nor sole, nor any Bishop at all of Ephesus (who as some say preached the Gospell in our Island of Britaine, whiles our Prelates would crea…e him the Apost…ate Angel residing in the Church of Ephesus to whom Christ writ an Epistle by S. Iohn Rev. 2.1.2.) or to disprove Titus to be Lord Bishop, or rather Lord Arch-bishop of Crete, Mercat…rs Atla… London. 1635. p. 812.which had an hundred Cities in it in Homers dayes, and no lesse than 4. Arch-bishops, and 21. Bishops in former times; since I have sufficiently manifested this long since, in The Vnbishopping of Timothy and Titus, not hitherto answered. And indeede were there no other Arguments but two,

First, that though Paul in his Epistles, mentions Timothy 1and Titus more frequently than any other persons; yet we never finde him so much as once stiling them Bishops, no not in the Epistles to them.

Secondly, that Paul doth never write to them in the Ordinary 2stile of our Lordly Prelates (which it seemes he was not then acquainted with, and so not with their Office) viz. To the Right Reverend Father in God, Timothy, Lord Bishop of Ephesus: To the Most Reverend Father in God Titus, Lord Arch-bishop of Crete his Grace, Primate and Metropolitan of all that Island; which doubtlesse he would have done had they beene such Bishops as ours are, and this stile had beene due or fitting for them; but onelyonly: To Timothy my owne sonne, or dearely beloved sonne in the faith. To Titus mine owne sonne after …he common …aith, &c. these were sufficient to satisfie any indifferent man, that neither of them was a Bishop or Arch-bishop of these places; or at least, that they were no such Lordly Prelates as ours now are, who may well be ashamed of these pompous swelling Titles, which no Apostle nor Apostolicall Bishop ever usurped. But the onelyonly thing I shall here insist on, shall be to take away …he grounds of this false Allegation, to wit, the pretended Authority and Antiquity of these two Post-scripts, wi…h which the world hath beene much abused.

p. 4861For their Authority, It is confessed by all: First, that they are no part of the Text or Canonicall Scripture.

Secondly, that they are not of infallible truth, many of 2them being dubious, others directly false as Baronius, the Rhemists, Estius, Mr. Beza, Mr. Perkins, and sundry others prove.

3Thirdly, that they were not added to the Epistles Paul b… himself, when he writ the Epistles, as some have dreamed, but by some third pe…son since, as the whole frame of the words, running on…ly in the third person imports. For their Antiquity, when, and by whom they were first added? will be the sole question. To cleare this doubt, I shall have recourse to the Post-script of the first Epistle to Timothy, which runnes thus: The first to Timothy, was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefe City of Phrygia Pacatiana. This Post-script of the first Epistle, no doubt was written either before, or at the same time when the Post-script of the Second Epistle was penned, and that must needes be after Phrygia was commonly stiled Pacatiana, since it is thus named in this Post-script. Now we shall not finde Phrygia so stiled in any Authors, till about 340. yeares after Christ, in the reigne of Constantine the great, at which time it begun to be called Pacatiana, and that as some conjecture from Pacatianus, who (as the Code of Theodosius, Cambdens, Brit. p. 75. Speeds Historry. p. 159.M. Cambden and Speede affirme) was Vicegerent of Brittaine some 330. yeares a…ter Christ. Who it was who first annexed these Post-scripts to Pauls Epistles onelyonly […or the other Apostles Epistles have none] will be the greatest question. For resolution whereof, I take it somewhat cleare, that Theodoret was the man, who flourished about the y…are of our Lord .430. For I finde these Post-scripts added to his Commentarie upon Pauls Epistles, and in no other Commentator before nor in any after him till Oecumenius, his Ape, and transcriber, who lived about the yeare 1050. Theodoret then being the first in whom Post-scripts are extant, and Oecumenius his follower,Operum Tom. 2. Parisis 1608. p. 645.646. the next, it is probable that he was the first Author of them. And that which puts it out of doubt is this, that Theodoret in his Preface to his Commentaries on Pauls Epistles, is the first who doth modestly undertake (with scriptum esse existimo onelyonly) to shew both the time when, and the place from whence Paul writ his severall Epistles, which Preface fully accords with the Post-scripts placed, not after the text it selfe, but after the end of his Commentaries on every Epistle. p. 487Since then this Preface and Post-scripts both accord: and see…ng there are no Post-scripts in any Ancient Latine Authors or Coppies of the new Testament, nor in any Greeke ones, but those who followed Theodoret, and no Post-scripts added to any but Pauls Epistles on which hee onelyonly Commented, not to Peters or Iohns which he interpreted not, I presume I may safely conclude, that Theodore… was the Originall Author of these Post-scripts. But then I pray take notice of these materiall observations.

First, that these Post-sc…ipts were added to Pauls Epistles at 1least 430. yeares after Christ and not before.

Secondly, that they are extant onelyonly in Theodore…, and not 2found in any Commentator or ancient Coppy of the new Testament succeeding him till Oecumenius time, Anno. 1050.

Thirdly, that these Post-scripts both in him, and Oecumenius 3are placed, not immediately after the Originall text, as now they are in our Bibles, and some late Commentators; but after the end of their Commentaries, as a part thereof, and no part or appurtenance of the text it selfe.

Fourthly, that these clauses (ordained the first Bishop of the 4Ephesians, and ordained the first Bishop of the Cretians) whereon our Prelates found the Episcopacy of Timothy and Titu…, and their owne Hierarchy too, are not extant in Theodorets Post-scrips to the Epistles of Timothy and Titus: which runne onelyonly thus, The second to Timothy was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the Roman Emperour the second time. The Epistle to Titus was written from Nicopolis:S…cunda ad Timotheu… scripta est Romae, quando ad, Neronem adductus; est Romano…un… Caesarem. Epistola ad Titum Cretensis Ecclesiae scripta est Nicopoliopp…d… Macedoniae. his Post-scripts therefore will no wayes ayde but confound their cause, since I may well argue, neither Paul in his Epistles, nor Theodoret in his Post-scripts terme Timothy or Titus Bishops of Ephesus or Crete, therefore they were no Bishops of these places, un…sse better proofe than these Epistles and Post-scripts be produced to evidence it. The rare Ancient Manuscript Parchment Coppy of the Greeke Bible, sent to his Majesty by Cyrillus late Patriarch of Constantinople, remaining in his Majesties Library at Saint Iames, supposed by some to be as Ancient as Tecla: but undoubtedly one of the ancientest Copies this day extant; hath no other Post-script to the first Epistle to Timothy, but this; foreign A. foreign: No other to the second to Timothy, but this; foreign B. foreign: not from Rome: p. 488And no other Post-script to Titus but, foreign (all written in Capitals) with which the Syriac Coppies accord. So that all the residue is but a late spurious addition. The first man I finde these additionall clauses (ordained first Bishop of th… Ephesians, and ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians) extant in, is Oecumenius, who flourished not till the yeare 1050. being a patcher together onelyonly of other mens Commentaries and none of the Orthodoxest writ…rs. And withall, this is observable,

1First, that Oecumenius placeth these Postscripts after his Commentaries, as a part of them, not immediately after the Text as a Part, or appendant thereof.

2Secondly, that he first cites his owne additions to these Post-scripts after his Commentaries in one distinct line, and then placeth Theodorets Post-script in another different line some good distance under it, in this manner,

foreign.

foreign.

foreign.

foreign.

Thirdly, from Oecumenius till about 450. yeares after that those 3Additionall clauses are not extant in any Commentators or Translations of the Epistles into any other Language, and but in few greeke Coppies, and those taken out of Oecumenius. Therefore doubtlesse he was the first Author of them. And so they are of no great Antiquity or credit.

Now that you may more clearely discerne what a sandy foundation these Post-scripts are to build the weighty Hierarchy of our Lordly Prelates on, give me leave to informe you of some observable particulars touching these Post-scripts upon mine owne search and observation.

1First, that Athanasius, Ambrose, Ierome, Sedullus, Chrysostome, p. 489Primasius, Remig…us, Beda, Raba…us Maurus, Haymo, Hugo Cardinalis, Bruno, Aquinas, Nicholaus de Lyra, Ghorran, Dionysius Carthusianus, Iohn Salesbury, Anselme, and Peter Lombard, the ancientest Commentators on the Epistles of Paul, have no postscripts at all extant in them, neither after the text, nor after their Commentaries; no nor yet Erasmus, Melancton, Zuinglius, Zanchius, Alfonsus Salmeron, Benedictus Iustinianus, Ambrosius Caterinus, Cornelius a Lapide, Claudius Espencaeus, Antonius Scaynus, Estius, Hemingius, Ioannis Arboreus, Sotto Major, nor any other Commentator almost, whether Protestant or Papist.

Secondly, That in sundry ancient English and Latine Manuscripts, 2New Testaments and Bibles which I have seene; in the Printed New Testament, set forth in Greeke and Latine by Franciscus Xemenez, in Academia Complutensi; in the Bible of Isiodor Clarius Venetiis, 1557. in all the Latine vulgar Bibles, attributed to Saint Ierome; In the New Testament, set forth by Erasmus; in the Latine Bible Printed at Rome by command of Pope Sixtus the fifth, Anno 1592. In the New Testament, comprising the Latine vulgar translation, that of Guido Fabricius out of the Syriacke, that of Arias Montanus and Erasmus, set forth altogether by Laurentius Bierlinke An…werpiae, 1616. In the New Testament set forth by Miles Coverdale in Latine and English, Anno. 1536. in Master Tyndalls English Bible, and in the English Translation, which Doctor Fulke followes in his answer to the Rhemish Testament, and in many ancient Greeke Coppies, there is no Postscript at all to be found.

Thirdly, That in the Latine Bible, set forth and Printed by 3Robert Stephen, Parisiis 1532. And in the Latine Bible of Ioannis Benedictus, Parisiis 1558, the Postscripts are thrust out and put into the Margin, as nor worthy to stand under the Text, and being of small or no account.

Fourthly, That in the Latine Bible set forth by Robert Stephen 4Parisiis 1532. In the Latine and Greeke Bibles of Philip Melanctons Edition Tiguri 1543. and Basileae 1545. In Sebastian Castalio his Edition of the Bible, Basileae. 1551. In the Translations of the New Testament out of the Syriacke both by Guido Fabritius, and Emanuell Tremelius, in the Dutch Bible set forth by David Walderus, Hamburgae 1596. In the Frenc… Bible set out by the Doctors of Louvaine a Paris 1616. In the Latine Bible of Ioannis Benedictus, Parisiis, 1558. In the Bible translated into English p. 490by Thomas Matthew. Anno. 1537. In …he English Bible set forth by diverse excellent Learned men, Printed Cum privilegio, by Thomas Petit and Robert Redman. London 1540. In the English Bible appointed to be read in Churches, Printed at London, 1568… And in sundry other Bibles and New Testaments which I have seene, these clauses (Ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians, and ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians) are not to be found in the Postscripts to the Epistles to Timothy and Titus; And indeed, you shall seldome finde them in any but Master Beza, and in those that follow his Edition, (as Master Calvin and some few others doe in their Commentaries) whereas both he and they are professed Enemies to Episcopacy, and disclaime those Postscripts as false and spurious.

5Fi…thly, Master Beza, and the …et…ers forth of the Greeke Bible, Printed by the Heires of Andrew, Francofurti. 1597. passe this sentence upon these Postscripts: and this clause, Ordained the first Bishops of Ephesus, or, of the Church of the Ephesians. Non exta… in quibusdam vetustis Codi…ibus, & sane supposttum fuisse pu…o. And Guilielmus Estius, a famous Roman Doctor, in his Commentary on 2 Tim. 1.4. writes thus of the Postscript to it. Grae…a subscriptio post finem Epistolae sic habet; Scriptae Roma ad Timotheum secunda, cum Paulus iterum sisteretur Caesari Neroni, (where he omits this addition Ephesiorum Ecclesiae primus Episcopus) and then passeth this verdict upon it, Sed hujusmodi Graecae subscriptiones, ut incerti sunt authoris, ITA NON Magnae authoritatis. And Thom…s de vio Cajetanus, Andreas Hyperius, Estius with others, de… the subscription to Titus; That this Epistle was written from Nicopolis of Macedonia; and the Con…. Mag. 2. …ol. 597.Century writers with others, that the Second to Timothy was written from Rome a… Pauls second appearing before Nero, a meere falshood and mistake: All which considered, I wonder our great learned Prelates, B… shop Downeham, Bishop White, and Bishop Hall, and especially our great Antiquary, The judgement of Dr. Reinolds touching the originall of Episcopacy, more largely confirmed out of antiquity by Iames Archbishop of Armagh. p. 5.Bishop Vsher, should so much insist upon these spurious false postscripts, and draw a maine Argument from, to prove their Episcopacy of Divine Institution; when Bellarmine and those Papists, who write most eagerly for the Prelates Hierarchy, are ashamed to produce such a false and impotent proofe for their groundlesse Episcopall jurisdiction. If these Answers satisfy not this Objection from these Postscripts, p. 491you may receive more full satisfaction and further Answers to it in my Vnbishoping of Timothy and Titus. p. 52. to 58.Object. 1. To which I shall remit the Reader.

From these two Arguments for the pretended Divine right of Episcopacy, I shall next proceed to answer the most considerable reasons produced for the continuing of Lordly Prelates in our Church.

The first, for order and moment, is the Antiquity of Lordly Bishops in our Church, who (if we credit aaEpiscopacy by divine right, 2. part. p. 110, 111, 113. His humble Remonstrance, and defence of the humble Remonstrance, p 40.Bishop Hall, and bbSir Thom. Aston his remonst. epistle to the Reader, & briefe review of Episcopacy, sect. 1, 2 3, 4. and the conclusion.others) are not onelyonly of Divine institution, but their Episcopall Government hath continued in this our Island, ever since the first plantation of the Gospell, without contradiction: Therefore, it will be neither decent, nor expedient, but dangerous and inconvenient to remove them now.

To this I answer; first, that though Bishops have been very ancient in our Church,Answ. 1. yet how ancient, and what kinde of Bishops these were, will be the question. ccDe Pe… & Paulo ad diem 29 Ianuarii Bar…nius annal. …om. 1. ann. 61. sect. 4. Hen…. Spelman Concilia. p. 4, 5.Metraphrastes writes, that Saint Peter continued long in Britaine, constituted Churches, and ordained Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, and then returned to Rome, the 12 yeare of Nero Caesar. But as this Authour is very fabulous in other things, so without doubt he is false and singular i… this, as I could easily manifest, did not Bishop ddDe Brit. Eccle. Prim…r. c. 1. p. 7.Vshers, siquidem Symeoni Metaphrastae credimus; and eeAnnal. E…cles. t…m. 1. ann. 44. p. 371. Godwins discourse of the conversion of Britaine p. 3.Baronius his sicut in aliis multis ibi a se positis errare Metaphrastum certum est, ita in his hallucinatum esse constat, ffHistory l. 6. c. 9. p. 74.Iohn Speed his, For a dreame we leave it, &c. and Francis Godwin Bishop of Landaffe, in his Discourse of the first conversion of this Island of Britaine unto Christian Religion, p. 3, 4, 5, 6. (where he largely and professedly proves against this Impostor, That Peter was never in Britaine) ease me of this Labour, and sufficiently refute the vaine confidence of ggSee a Romanstrance against Presbytery, Epi. to the Reader.those, who have lately produced this branded Authority to derive the Antiquity of our Lordly Prelates from the Apostles themselves, as if they had first planted them in our Church.

That which is likewise alledged out of the Greeke Martyrologe and Dorotheus his Synopsis, hhSee Bishop VsUs…er de Brit. eccles. primer. c. 1. p. 9. and Sir Thomas Astons Epistle to the read.That Aristobulus was ordained Bishop of the Britaines by Paul, and by him sent Bishop into England; seemes to be of the same stampe with the former in iiA discourse of the convers…on of Brit. c. 2. p. 8.Bishop Godwins judgement, who rejects it as fabulous, because none of our owne Authors or Histories so much as once mention his so memorable p. 492labour and martyrdome among us. But grant it true, ye… since the word Bishop, is here used onelyonly for an ordinary Minister or Preacher of the Gospell, and Aristobulus (sent onelyonly to convert our Nation being Pagans) had no Bishopricke or Diocesse here, nor any Inferiour Presbyters under him for ought appeares, over whom to play the Lord, as our Lordly Prelates have, this Authority will stand those in small steed, who with more confidence then judgement have objected it in defence of our Lordly Bishops, which by the common consent of all our Writers, began not till King Lucius his raigne, about the yeare of Christ 179. So that from the Preaching of the Gospell in our Island kkBishop Vsher. de Britan. Eccles. Primor. c. 1. p. 1. to 17. and p. 1072. to 1078. Godwins discourse of the Conversion of Britaine. c. 1, 2, 3 Antiquit. Eccle. Brit. Speeds Hist. l. 6. c. 9. p. 73. …t…. Henr. Spelm. Concil. Tom. 1. p. 1. to 16. Balaeus Cent. 1. p. 23, 24.by Iacobus Zebedeus, Anno Christi 41. of Simon Zelotes, Anno 47. of Ioseph of Ara…at…aea, Anno 48. of Saint Paul Anno 60. of Philip the Apostle and his twelve associates. Anno 63. till Lucius erected Bishops and Bishoprickes; to wit, for the space of about one hundred and forty yeares after the first Preaching of the Gospell here, our Church of Britaine had no Bishops at all to governe it, but onelyonly Presbyters, for ought app…ares by any credible Authour, the Christian faith all this while continuing un-extinguished among us at Glastenbury, and in some other places; as our Antiquaries manifest. If then that rule of Tertullian be infallible, llDe Praescript. advers. haeretic.That is best and truest which is first: and that of mmAd Evagrium & Comment, in Tit. c. 1. See cha. 8. throughout.Titus 1Hierome most certaine: That the Church of God, immediately after the Apostles times, before the erection of Lord Bishops, was governed by a common Councell of Presbyters, not by Bishops; and our Church, as is probable, and the Church of Scotland (as nnIohn Fordon Scotch. in. l. 3. c. 8. Iohn Major de Gestis Scotorum, l. 21. c. 3. Bishop Vsher de Brit. … cle. Primor. p. 800some Authors write for certaine) was governed in this manner by Presbyters, for above an hundred yeares, together; it will rather follow, that our Lord Bishops should now be totally suppressed, and a Presbyteriall government re-erected in our Church, because it is ancienter than that of Bishops, and planted among us by the Apostles when our Island first received the Gospell; then that the government of our Lordly Prelates should be perpetua…ed among us, because ancient onelyonly, yet not so old as that of Presbyters, by above one hundred yeares.

The Originall of Bishops in our Church.Touching the first erection of Arch-bishops, Bishops, and Bishoprickes among us, there is great variance, obscurity and incertaine…y in Writers; yet this is the generall verdict, both of our owne and forraigne Authours; That in King Lucius his p. 493time, before the conversion of our Island to Christianity, there were in it 28 **Some write but 25.Flamines and three Arch Flamines, to whom the other Iudges of manners and Priests were subject; that upon the conversion of King Lucius and his people to the Christian Faith, by Fagan and De…wan, they by command from Pope Eleutherius, with the Kings consent, placed Bishops where there were Flamines, and three Archbishops where there were Arch Flamines, turning the three Arch…flamines Sees in the three chiefe Cities, into Arch-bishoprickes, and the 28. Flamines Sees into 28 Bishoprickes. This is punctually averred for Truth by Geofry Monmoth: Histor. Brit. l. 2. c. 1. Edit. Ascent, & l. 4. c. 19. Edit. Heidelb. by Gild…s in his Booke, De victoria Aurelii Ambrosii, by Gervasius Tilburiensis, de Otiis Imperialibus ad Othonem Imperatorem, Historiolae Wintoniensis Ecclesiae, Alphredus Beuer lacensis, Radulphus de Diceto, Bartholomaeus de Cotton, Gerardus Cornubiensis Ranulphus Cestrensis, the Authors of the History of Rochester, of the Chronicles of Hales, and Dunstaple, of the Booke of Abingdon, of the Geneologicall Chronicle of the Monastery of Hales, and of the Abbreviated Chronicle of the Britaines, Thomas Rudburne, Thomas Stubs, Thomas Harfield, Ponticus Virunnius, Polydor Virgil, Martinus Polonus, P…olomaeus Lucensis Tuscus, cited by Ioannis Leydensis in Chronico Belgico, l. 2. c. 1. Ioannis B…ptista Platina, in vita Eleutherii, Iacobus Philippus Bergomiensis. Suppl. Chron. l. 8. Nauclerus. vol. 1. Chronograph. gen. 30. & Vol. 2. Gen. 6. Tritemius compend. l. 1. Pope Leo the ninth Epist. 4. Guilielmus Durandus, Rationale… l. 2. c. 1. n. 21, 22. Polydorus Virgilius, de Jnvent… rerum… l. 4. c. 11. All quoted to my hand by that excellent learned Antiquary, Bishop Vsher. De Britannicarum Ecclesiarum primordiis. c. 5. p. 56, 57, 58, 59.99.100. To whom I might adde Matthew Parker his Antiquitates. Ecclesiae, Brit. p. 7. Iohn F…x his Acts and Monuments: Edit ult. Vol. 1. p. 138, 139. Iohn Speed in his History of Great Britaine, p. 132. Richard Grafton in his Chronicle, part 7. p. 83. William Harrison in his Description of England. l. 2. c. 1, 2. With many more of our owne Writers, and generally all the Canonists and Glossers on Gratian, Dictinctio 80. and the Schoolemen on Peter Lombard, sent. l. 4. distinct. 24, who concu…re in this opinion. For in Gratian distinct. 80. f. 130. I find these two decrees cited; the one of Pope Lucinus with this Rubricke prefixed. In what places Primates and Patriarches ought to be ordained. The Cities and places p. 494wherein Primates ought to preside, were not ordained by moderne times, but long before the comming of Christ, to whose Primates even the Gentiles did appeale for their greater businesses; In those very Cities after the comming of Christ, the Apostles and their Successors placed Patriarches and Primates to whom the businesses of Bishops (yet saving the Apostolicall authority in all things) and the greater causes after the Apostolike See are to be referred. On which Iohn Thierry and others make this glosse. Primates are constituted there, where heretofore the proto-Flamines of the Gentiles were placed, Arch-Bishops, where there were Arch-Flamines, Bishops where their Flamines were, and this for the most part (if wee may credite them) was done by Saint Peters appointment. The second is this Decree of Pope Clemens, which warrants this glosse. In those Cities wherein heretofore among the Ethnickes, their chiefe Flamines and prime Doctors of the Law were placed, Saint Peter commanded (but God knowes when and where) Primates or Patriarches of Bishops to be placed, who should agitate the causes of the rest of the Bishops, and the greater businesses in Faith. But in those Cities in which in times past among the foresaid Ethnickes, their arch-Flamines were, whom yet they held to be lesse than their foresaid Primates, he commanded Arch-bishops to be iustituted; but in every other particular City… he commanded one sole Bishop and not many to be ordained, who should onelyonly …btaine the name of Bishops, because among the Apostles themselves, there was the like institution, sed unus praefuit omnibus, but one had authority over the rest, (which is most false:) On which the glosse thus descants. The Gentiles had three Orders of Priests: to wit proto-Flamines, arch-Flamines, and Flamines. In the place of the proto-Flamines, Peter commanded Patriarches to be placed, who should take conusance of the greater causes of other Bishops; in the place of arch-Flamines, Arch-bishops, in the place of Flamines, Bishops, of whom there ought to be but one in every City. Which Grai…an himselfe thus backes in his 21 Distinction. There is a certaine distinction observed among Priests, whence others are called simply Priests, others arch-Priests, others chorall Bishops, others Bishops, oth…rs Arch-bishops or Metropolitanes, others Primates, others chiefe Priests; Horum discretio a Gentibus maxime introducta est; The distinction of these was principally int…oduced by the Gentiles, who called their Flamines, some simply Flamines, others Arch-flamines, others Proto-flamines. All which Peter p. 495Lombard the Father of the Schoolemen affirming after Gratian in his lib. 4. Senten…iarum Dist. 24. made this to passe as an undubitable verity among all the Canonists and Schoolemen. There is onelyonly one thing needs explanation in these Popes d… crees, and that is what is meant by Saint Peter, who is made the Author of this Institution? For this we need resort no further then to the Decree of Pope Nicholas recorded by the same Gratian: Distinct, 22. c. Omnes f. 33. Omnes sive Patriarchae cujuslibet apicem, sive Metropoleon primatus, Episcopatuum cathedras, vel Ecclesiarum, sive cujuscunque ordinis dignitatem instituit Romana Ecclesia. By which it is evident, that by Saint Peter, is meant the Church and Popes of Rome, who stile themselves oft times Peter, in their bulls and writings, as well as his successors. By all these Authorities compared together, it is evident, that our Arch-bishops and Bishops had their Originall Institution from the Church and Popes of Rome, and that not out of their imitation of any divine patterne, or forme of government prescribed by Christ in Scripture, and setled in those primitive Churches of the Gen…iles, which the Apostles planted, and to whom they directed their Epistles, but out of an apish imitation of the Heathenish Hierarchicall government of the Idolatrous Proto-Flamines, Arch Flamines, and Flamines used among the Pagan Gentiles, and Britaines before their conversion to the Christian Faith, in whose very places, Sees, and forme of government they succeeded; Eleuther…us instituting and ordaining, that all, or the most part of the Arch-Flamines, which is to meane Arch-bishops, and Bishops of the Pagan Law, which at that day were in number, three Arch Flamines, and 28 Flamines should be made Arch bishops and Bishops of the Church of Christ, as ooPart. 7. p. 83.Graf…on and others write in positive termes: which if it be true, (as this cloud of witnesses averre) it will thence necessarily follow, that our Arch…bishops and Bishops are not of divine and Apostolicall, but rather of Papall and E…hnicall institution, and a meere continuance of the Diabolicall, heathenish Hierarchy, exercised among the Idolatrous Priests in times of Paganisme, within our I…land; and so by necessary consequence they and their government, are rather to be utterly extirpated then perpetuated in our Christian reformed Church, which ought pp2 Cor. 6.14c 15, 16, 17. Deut. 12.30, 31, 32. Jer. 10, 2, 3. 1 Cor. 10.19.20, 21.2 Cor 6:14Deut 12:30Deut 12:31Deut 12:32Jer 10:2Jer 10:31 Cor 10:191 Cor 10:201 Cor 10:21wholly to abandon all Reliques of Idolatry, and to have no fellowship nor communion with Infidels and unbeleavers in their discipline or Church government. p. 496Wherefore to avoid this dangerous rocke and necessary consequence, some of our Prelates (as qqDefence of the Apolog. part. 2. c. 4. divis. 2.Bishop Iuell, Bishop rrA discourse of the Conversion of Brit. p. 26, 27, 28.Godwin, ssDe Brit. Eccles. primor. p 57, 58 92, 99, 100.Bishop Vsher, together with Doctor ttSubversion of F. persons, 3. conversions.Sutcliffe, and that learned Knight, Sir vvConcilia. Tom. 1. p. 13.14.Henry Spelman, reject this originall of our Archbishops, Bishops, and Bishoprickes as false and fabulous, informing us:

First, that Roger de Wendover, Matthew Paris, Matthew Westmin. William of Mal…esbury, the Poet under the name of Gildas, Giraldus Cambrensis and Radulphus Niger (to whom I may adde William Caxton in his Chronicle. part. 4. in the life of King Lucie) omit this figment of the Arch Flamines and Flamines, (which they say, was first invented wi…hout any ground by Galfridus Monu…etensis …) and relate onelyonly that Lucius erected 28 Bishops and three Arch bishops among us, but record not that it was done in imitation of the Arch Flamines or Flamines, or that they were substituted in their places, and enjoyed their Lands, and Sees, as the former Historians write. But this is no argument to disprove the premised Authours, farre more in number, since these few Historians silence of what sundry others record expressely, is no conviction of their falshood, seeing one may relate, what another pretermits, either out of brevity, ignorance, or negligence.

Wherefore in the Second place xxA di…course of the Conversion of Brit. p. 26, 27, 28, 29,Bishop Godwin affirmes; that there is nothing more absurd in this History, then the imagination of …itting the Sees of Bishops and Arch bishops, according to the place and number of Flamines for sooth, and arch Flamines of the Pagans. A devise (writes he) so childish and ridiculous as I cannot but wonder, that any man of learning and judgement should approve it, and yet I perceive not (saith he) any that have gainsaid it before Master Sutcliffe, but contrariwise dive…s, both ancient and learned are to be found, that have partly broached and partly applauded the same; among whom he reckons up two, especially; Fenestella de Sacrif. Rom. c. 5. and Gratian Distinct. 21. & 80. To confute whose mistakes he produceth these two Reasons.

1First, That not so much as the name of proto Flamin, or Arch Flamine is to be found in any authour or monument of credit, before Gratians time.

2Secondly, that it is manifest, that divers Cities had many Colledges of Priests and consequently many Flamines, which he proves at large. Therefore it is not possible that there should be any manner p. 497of proportion at all, betweene our Bishops and their Flamines, they having divers Flamines to almost every towne, and we one Bishop not so much as for every whole shire. To which Sir (y)(y)Concil. Tom. 1 p. 13.14.Henry Spelman addes in the third place: That the Flamines were no other but ordinary Priests among the Romanes, so called, a filo, quasi Filamines, or a pilo, quasi Pilamines: that every one of them received his name from the God hee served, as Flamen Dialis, Flamen Martialis, Flamen Quirinalis, Vulcanalis, Floralis, Volturnalis, Pomalis, Furinalis, Falacer, Caesaris Flamen, and the like. That none of these had any Priestly Jurisdiction over any certaine Province, or did solely administer in any one cure, but that every cure or Parish had two Flamines at least set over it. Neither were these subject to any superiour Flamin who from thence might be called an Arch-Flamin or Proto-Flamin, (whose names are no where to bee found among the ancients unlesse it be in Fenestella, which Author he proves to be spurious) Sed toti Pontificum Collegio, but to the whole Colledge of Pontifs, and to the chiefe Priest that governed it, not to an Arch-Flamin: and though some Flamines were called greater, others lesser, yet this (writes he) was not from their power, but from their Antiquity, the three first being instituted by Numa and the Senators, the others afterwards by the people. Admit then these their reasons true, that the Flamines were but ordinary Priests among the Pagans, and not in nature of Arch-bishops or Bishops: that they were all of equall authority and had no Jurisdiction one over another: that there were many of them in every City, and not one of them set over an whole City, much lesse a Diocesse; and that they were subject onelyonly to the whole Colledge of Priests, and not to any Arch-Flamin, or Proto-Flamin: I… our Arch-bishops and Bishops bee derived from them, and successors to them in our Island, as the first recited Authors affirme; this quite overturnes their Archiepiscopall and Episcopall, pretended Jurisdiction over other Ministers, and their sole Episcopacy and Jurisdiction in or over one City and Province; since the Flamines were all equall, and many in each Parish and City; and directly proves, that there ought to be a parity betweene Arch-bishops, Bishops and our Ministers now, and no disparity, because there was none among the Flamines, & that no Ministers ought to be subject to our Arch-bishops and Bishops but onelyonly to the whole Synod or Convocation of Presbyters, because the Flamines were so: p. 498and that there ought to be not one sole, but many Bishops of equall Authority in every City, because it was so among the Flamines their Predecessor…, yea in the first Christian Churches, (planted by the Apostles) as appeares by Act. 14.23. c. 20.17.28. Phil. 1.1. Tit. 1.5.7. 1 Tim. 5.17, Jam. 5.14. with other Texts. If they be not these Arch-Flamines and Flamines Successors, as these last Authors testifie, then I feare our Prelates can hardly derive their pedegree as high as King Lucius, nor yet certainely define at what time, or by whom Arch-bishops and Bishops were first erected in our Island: For A discourse of the Conversion of Brit. p. 23.24.25.Bishop Godwin, (who rejects the conceipt of King Lucius his erecting of Arch-bishops and Bishops in steede of Arch-Flamines and Flamines) gives these three very probable Reasons against his erecting of three Arch-bishoprickes, and 28. Bishoprickes in this Isle, or any Bishoprickes at all.

1First, because he saith and proves by Histories, that Lucius was never King of all Britaine, but rather some petty King, or King happily of some principall part thereof; therefore hee could not erect Archbishoprickes and Bishoprickes throughout the Island, as the recited Authors Fable.

2Secondly, because the multitude of Bishops and Bishoprickes sayd to be ordained at that time, seemeth unlikely, and that they had any fixed Sees: For in the Councell of Arles in the yeare 325. mention is made of one Restitutus a British Bishop, not intituled to any certaine See, but onelyonly called Bri…anniarum Episcopus; and even so likewise after him Fastidius, is mentioned by Gennadius by the same stile, which being considered (saith he) together with the rare and seldome mention that we finde of Brittish Bishops, whose Antiquities I have hun…ed a…ter with all diligence, I cannot but rest perswaded, that our Brittaines had very few Bishops untill the comming over of Germanus and Lupus to suppresse the Pelagian Heresie; which after they had rooted out, the History of Landaff saith, they Consecrated Bishops in many places of Brittaine, and over all the Brittaines dwelling on the right side of Brittaine, they consecrated for Arch-bishop, Saint Dubritius who was chosen for the Supreame Doctor by the King and all the Diocesse: which dignity being bestowed upon him by Germanus and Lupus, they with the consent of Maurice the King, the Nobility, Clergie and people, appointed his See to be at the manner of Lantani, and founded his See p. 499there… This was about the yeare of Christ 430. about which time also, or somewhat later, Palladius, did first appoint Bishops and ordaine Bishoprickes in Scotland, as Buchanan hath delivered. Upon these testimonies, I reason thus: If before these times we had so many Bishops, and Bishoprickes, how commeth it to passe, that in no Monument whatsoever, wee finde any name or mention of any Bishop of this Land, saving some few that (as we say) had their See at London? and if so many Sees had beene furnished before, what occasion had Germanus and Lupus to consecrate so many Bishops (and erect new Bishoprickes too) as is before mentioned in the History of Landaff? Thus Bishop Godwin argues, against the pretended first erection of our Bishoprickes and Arch-bishoprickes, most of which now extant, (London onelyonly excepted) were erected long after King Lucius reigne, (a)(a)See Antiquitates Ecclesiae, Brit. p. 19. to 29. William Harrison Description of England l. 2. c. 1.2. Godwin Catalogue of Bishops. 33. H. …. c. 31.31. H. 8. c. 8.34. & 35. H. c. 17. Eadmerus Hist. Noverum l. 4 p. 95.96.165.166.167.168.above 600. yeares after Christ, and five of them in King Henry the 8. his raigne; so that William of Malmesbury one of our most juditious writers, and the most diligent searcher out of the Antiquities of our Bishops Sees, who writ the History of our Bishop… and their Sees above 500. yeares since could finde no Arch-bishops See in our Island ancienter than Canterbury (erected (b)(b)See. part. 1. p. 153.about the the yeare of Christ 600. or 602.) and determines positively (c)(c)…n Prologo ad. l 1. De Gesti… Pontif. p. 195.Ibi Prima sedes Archiepiscopi habteur, qui est totius Angliae Primas & Patriarcha. Caeterum ubi fuerit Archi-Episcopa…us (if there were any such) tempore Britonum, cognitio l…hat, quia vetustas consumpsit nostri seculi memoriam; Whence our most diligent Antiquary (d)(d)Concil. Tom. 1. p. 16.Sir Henry Spelman concludes thus, concerning the Originall of our Arch-bishops and Bishops, (the certaine time of whose Primitive institution among us he cannot determine) Sufficit quidem, &c. Truely it is sufficient that we had many Bishops here, and some Metropolitans; either under Lucius himselfe, or soone after his age, licet de ipsorum sedibus a…que numero lucide satis non constiterir; although their Sees and number doe not plainely enough appeare. So that upon the whole matter, when all things are throughly scanned, we can finde no undoubted Bishops at all in our British Church till Restitutus his time, who was present at the Councell of Arles about the yeare of Christ 325. and hee a Bishop without any particular See or Diocesse knowne onelyonly by the name of Britanniarum Episcopus, as Godwin writes (though (e)(e)Spel. Concil. Tom. 1. p. 24.others stile him Civitate Londinensi Restitutus Episcopus) p. 500who for ought we finde had no Presbyters at all under his Jurisdiction, and was no more than an ordinary Minister as the Bishops in the Apostles time were. Act. 20.17.28. Phi. 1.1. Tit. 1.5.7. And so by this computation, our Church after the first preaching of the Gospell among us continued without Lord Bishops and Archbishops, about 280. yeares or more. And if she remained and flourished without Bishops for so many yeares then, why may she not without any great Soloecisme or prejudice remove, and flourish without them now? yea, why should she not (by the Objecters owne argument from antiquity) now quite abandon them, and set up a Presbyteriall government without any scruple, since Presbyters by some hundred… of yeares, are the ancientest, and those by which our Church, and the Church of Scotland were first governed, for so long a space before any Lord Bishops were instituted in them?

Answ. 2.Secondly, grant our Bishops as ancient as King Lucius, yet these ancient Bishops, no doubt, were farre different from ours.

1For first, I conceive it cannot be proved, that they had any Diocesse, Parishes or Presbyters under them: for there was no division of Parishes made in England (f)(f)Spelm. Concil. Tom. 1. p. 152.till Archbishop Theodores time, who first divided the Province of Canterbury into Parishes about the yeare of Christ 670. And for ought appeares they were no more than ordinary Presbyters.

2Secondly, they had no great but very small revenues, as appeares by three of the British Bishops present at the Councell of Ariminum, under Constantius, Anno 379. who were so poore (g)(g)Sulpitius Severus, Hist. Sacr. l. 2. Vss…rius de Brit. Eccles. Primord. p. 196.that they were maintained at the Emperours cost, inopia proprii publico usi sunt, cum collatam a caeteris collationem respuissent, sanctius putantes fiscum gravare, quam singulos. By the Bishopricke of Rochester, (h)(h)Godwins Ca…. p. 392.393.Putta and Quichelmus the 6. and 7. Bishops of this See, being forced to leave it through want and poverty; and by other 3of our ancientest Bishops, who lived commonly upon Almes, or contribution, and had no temporall Lands or possessions.

Thirdly, they had no stately Palaces and Cathedralls, as is evident by the first Bishops of Yorke and Lindisfarne, who lived in iiSee Godwin in the life of Paulinus A…dan and Fian, p. 435.495. Spel. Concil. Tom. 1. p. 5.11.poore Cottages, and had either no Cathedralls a… all, or some built onelyonly of wattle or boords, and covered over with reede; stately stone Churches being not in use among the Britaines, Scots, or Irish, for many hundred yeares, as (k)(k)De Brit. Eccl. Primordi…s, p. 114.661.736.737.13.14.Bishop p. 501Vsher proves out of Beda, Eccles. Hist l. 3 cap. 4.5. and S. Bernard in the life of Malachy. Therefore stone Altars (no doubt) were not then in use, when as the very walls of their 4Churches were but wattle or Timber.

Fourthly, they had no stately Coaches and Palfryes as our Lord Bishops have, neither were they unpreaching, or rare-preaching Prelates, but they went about the Country on foote from place to place (as (l)(l)Mat. 10.5. to 15 …9.35. Mar. 6.6. Act. 20.13. Luk. 13.22.Matt 10:5–15Mark 6:6Acts 20:13Luke 13:22Christ and his Apostles did at first) and Preached the Gospell to the people day by day: Witnesse Aidan the first Bishop of Lindisfarne (now Durham and a Count Palatine) who purposely avoyding the Pompe and frequency of Yorke chose the little Island of Lindisfarne for his See, and for 15. yeares space together travelled up and downe the Country …, even (m)(m)Discur…ere per cuncta urbana & rusti…a loca non equorum dors…, sed pedum incessu vectus, nisi si m…ra forte nec…ssitas compuliss…t, solebat. Beda Eccles. Hist. l. 3. c. 5. Godwins Catalogue. p. 495.on foote, to preach the Gospell to the people, not seeking nor having any thing in this world, and giving whatsoever he could get unto the poore: So (n)(n)Godwins Catalogue. Malmes. de Gestis, Pontif. A…gl. l. 3. Beda Eccles. Hist. l. 2. c. 14.Paulinus, the first Arch-Bishop of Yorke for 36. dayes together never rested one moment, but either instructed the people by preaching that flocked continually about him, or else imparted Christ unto them in Baptisme, and that in the open field… and Rivers, there being then no Churches built.

Fifthly, they intermedled not with any secular affaires; and when some began to tamper with them they made this Canon 5in the (o)(o)Spel. Concil. Tom. 1. p. 246.Councell of Cloueshow under Cuthbert Anno. 747. That Bishops should follow their pastorall cure with their uttermost indeavour, and instruct the people with wholesome doctrine, and not addict themselves to secular affaires more than to Gods s…rvice, as most of our Lordly Prelates doe now.

Sixthly, Bishops in those dayes were not reputed very necessary 6nor usefull in the Church: for after the death of (p)(p)Godwins Catalogue. p. 435.136.Paulinus the first Bishop of Yorke, that See continued voyd of a Bishop 30. yeares. So after the translation of Mellitus to Canterbury, Anno. 617. that See continued voyd neere 40 yeares: and how these and other Bishoprickes have continued voyd in severall ages, 2.3.4.6.10.15.20. and 30. yeares together without any prejudice, I have (q)(q)A Catalogue, &c. p. 16.17.18.elsewhere manifested more at large. If then our Bishoprickes may want Bishops for so many yeares space without any inconvenience to our Church (when as no Parish Church by our (r)(r)Rastall Advouson 1.2. Conci. Later a…ens…. 2. Can. 29. Summa Angelica, Beneficium; 31. Summa Rosella. Beneficium… 1.Common, and the Canon Lawes, ought to be voyd above sixe moneths at most) I presume by the selfe-same reason, our Church may well subsist without p. 502for all future times, especially now when there are so many complaints and petitions against them, and so many Bishoprickes voyde of Prelates already.

Finally, in those primitive times, Bishops were not so great but that some of them, were subject unto Presbyters: For our venerable (s)(s)L. 3. de Gestis, c. 3. Spelm Concil. Tom. 1. p. 118.Beda informes us of an Island in Ireland, which in those dayes had an Abbot Presbyter for its governour, to whose jurisdiction the whole Province, Et etiam Episcopi sunt subjecti, and even Bishops themselves were subject, according to the example of the first Teacher thereof, who was no Bishop, but a Presbyter and a Monke. So the Abbot of **Henrici Spel. Concil. Tom. 1. p. 229.Glastonbury exempt from all Episcopall Jurisdiction, had a kinde of superiority above the Bishop of Bath and Wells, which Bishop by the Charter of King Ina, was bound with his Clerkes at Wells every yeare, Ipsam matrem suam Glastoniensem Ecclesiam feria secunda post ascensionem Domini cum Litania recognoscere, to doe his homage to his mother Church of Glastonbury with a Letany; quod si superbia inflatus distulerit, and if he refused to doe it out of pride, then hee was to forfeite two houses which this King gave him. And in the (t)(t)Hen. Spelm. Concil. Tom. 1. p. 261.263.Excerptions of Egbert Archbishop of Yorke, Anno. 750. I finde these Canons of the fourth Councell of Carthage revived here among us, as Ecclesiasticall Lawes, That Bishops and Presbyters should have Hospitiolum, a little Cottage (not a Lordly Palace) neare the Church. That the Bishop in the Church by the consent of the Presbyters should set somewhat above them, but within the house, Collegam Presbyterorum se esse cognoscat, should know himselfe to be the Colleague (or Companion) of the Presbyters. That a Bishop should not ordaine Clerkes without a Councell of his Presbyters. That a Bishop should heare no mans cause without the presence of his Clerkes, except the cause of confession, because a decree cannot be firme which shall not seeme to have the consent of many. All which considered, it is evident, that our Bishops in those dayes had no Lordly Jurisdiction over other Ministers, no such sole power of Ordination and judicature as our present Lord Bishops now claime and exercise as their peculiar right. Therefore their Antiquity and Episcopacy, can be no warrant at all for the lawfulnesse or continuance of our Lordly Prelacy.

Thirdly, admit our Bishops as ancient as King Lucius dayes, or there abouts, yet this is no good Plea for their continuance.

First, because our Abbots, Priors, Monkes could make as p. 503good if not a better prescription for themselves as our Lordly Prelates, who can alleadge nothing for their continuance but what these either did or might have done when they were suppressed.

For first our Monkes, Abbots, Priors and their Abbeyes were every way as ancient, if not elder then our Lordly Bishops and Bishoprickes, the Monkes and Abbey of (v)(v)See Iacobus Vsserius de Brit. Eccles. Primordiis c. 2.6 8. Guilielmus Malmesb. de Antiqu. Ecclesiae Glaston Camden in Sommersetshire. p. 164. &c. Henrici Spelmans Concil. p. 4. to 22.Glastonbury deriving their pedegree from Ioseph of Aramathea (which Church and Abbey our writers call, Prima Ecclesia; fons & Origo totius Religionis, &c. the first Church, the fountaine and Originall of all our Religion.) And many other of our other Abbies [as that of Winchester, S. Albans, Westminster with others] being ancienter than all or most of our Bishoprickes.

Secondly, Most of them were confirmed by more Acts of Parliament, 228.229.427.483. to 489. See Speed…s Catalogue p. 1058. to 1060.Bulls of Popes, and Charters of our Kings, endowed with greater priviledges than any of our Bishoprickes whatsoever, as is evident by the (x)(x)See the Authors in (v) Sir Edward Cooke his Preface to the 9. Report, & Mat. Westminster, Mat. Paris, Heveden, Ingulply, and Wil. Malmes. sparsim, Spelmanns Glossarium, & Concil. Tom. 1. Mr. Seldens Titles of Honour, and Spicilegium in Eadmerum.Charters, Bulls, and exemptions, granted to Glastonbury, Saint Albans, Berry, Redding, Westminster, Saint Augustine, 3of Canterbury, Abingdon and W…ster.

Thirdly, many of our Abbots and Priors, (sometimes above an hundred) were mitred, had Episcopall Iurisdiction, and sate in (y)(y)See Mr. Seldens, Tit. Hon. p. 700. to 736. Henrici Spel. Concil. Tom. 1.347. & Glossarium, Tit. Abbas Cowel Interpret. Tit. Abbot.Parliament as Barons and Peers of the Realme as well as Bishops; yet notwithstanding they were all (z)(z)See Rastall Tit. Monasteries.suppressed by Acts of Parliament even in time of Popery, though double in number to our Bishops; therefore our Bishops and Bishoprickes being now found by long experience not onelyonly unprofitable, but pernitious to our Kings and State, as here I have manifested, and to our Church, our Religion, as our Booke of Martyrs largely demonstrates, may lawfully be extirpated, notwithstanding this Plea of Antiquity, as well as they.

Fourthly, the Bishops in other reformed Churches, could and did plead as large Antiquity and prescription for their continuance, 4as our Prelates doe: yet that could not secure them from dissolution, but these Churches wholly suppressed them: therefore it is no good Plea for us to continue our Prelates; yea, in my weake judgement it is an argument not for, but against our Bishops continuance, that they have beene tolerated so long, since evils and grievances [as our Lordly Prelates have ever beene to our Church and Kingdome] are so much the more speedily and carefully to be suppressed, by how much the more p. 504inveterate and lasting they have beene. In a word, the government of our Church by a Presbytery hath beene more ancient, more profitable, and lesse prejudiciall to our State, Kings, Church, than the Government of our Lordly Prelacy: therefore it is most reasonable that it should be revived, reestablished, and the Prelacy suppressed. All which I hope, may suffice in Answere to the first part of this grand objection, which hath stumbled many.

To the second branch of it, touching the danger and inconvenience of this change in suppressing Episcopacy.Answ. 2.

I answer: First, that there can bee no danger or inconvenience 1at all therein, because the people generally most earnestly desire, pray for, expect it, and have preferred many Petitions to the High Court of Parliament to effect it.

2Secondly, because all things are now prepared for this alteration, the wickednesse, misdemeanors, prophanenesse, superstition, oppression of our present Prelates, with the great troubles and combustions they have raised in our Church, our State, to their intolerable charge and molestation, deserve and call for this alteration; the present constitution of our Church, State, people: yea our correspondency with Scotland, with other reformed Churches requires it: the divisions and distractions in our Church (which in many wise mens apprehensions cannot be reconciled, nor any unity or uniformity in Gods worship established among us without it;) call for it Episcopacy being now growne such a roote of bitternesse, and wall of partition, as there is little hope of any unity, peace, or harmony in our Church if it continue.

3Thirdly, admit some petty inconveniences may arise by such an alteration and extirpation of Episcopacy, yet these are nothing comparable for weight or number to those mischiefes which will certainely accrue by its continuance: Since therefore of two evils the lesse is ever to be elected, it will bee farre more expedient to our Church and State totally and finally to suppresse, then to support our Lordly Prelacy. And thus much for this Capitall Objection.Object. 2.

The second Allegation for the continuance of Episcopacy is this, (a)(a)See Bishop Halls. 3. last Bookes, the Oxford Petition. Sir Tho. Astons Petition and booke.that if Bishops be taken away, we shall have nothing but Sects, Schismes, and divisions in our Church, and almost as many Religions as men.

p. 505To this I answere.Answ. 1. First; that the tyranny, Lordlinesse, prophanenesse, Superstition and Innovations of our Prelates both in Ceremones, Doctrine, Worship, have beene the Originall, Principall, if not onelyonly cause of all those Sects, divisions, and Separations lately sprung up in our Church; for proofe of which I appeale onelyonly to every mans conscience and experience, it being a most knowne undubitable truth: the removing therefore of our Bishops (the (b)(b)Sublata causa tollitur effectus, Kickerman.cause of all our Schismes and devisions) must needes be a meanes of future peace and unity, not cause of Schismes, or divisions in Religion, as is vainely suggested.

Secondly, Episcopacy it selfe is now a (c)(c)See all the Seperatists late Pamplets and Bookes.maine ground of 2Separation from our Church, the great stumbling blocke which causeth many dayly to fall off from us, and hinders others from closing with us; all other grounds of Separation and division depending on, or arising from Episcopacy. And unlesse this be removed, in my poore apprehension, there can be no hopes at all of any reconciliation of those who are fallen off from us, or keeping others from separation, but the rent will still grow greater, what ever course else be taken to effect a Union. Therefore questionlesse the abolishing of Episcopacy cannot be a meanes of increasing Schismes or divisions, but the best, and readiest way to remedy and prevent them.

Thirdly, Saint (d)(d)Hierome, & sedulius Com. in Tit. 1. with others who follow them.Titus 1Ierome and others informe us, that Episcopacy 3was first instituted to prevent and extirpate Schismes; but it hath beene so farre from effecting this, that it hath on the contrary occasioned all or most of those (e)(e)See Ioannis Marius, Zabarella, and Theodericus a Niem de Schismate. Centur. Magd. Cent. 3.5.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13. 6.10.Schismes and divisions that ever happened in the Church of God since its first institution, both at home and abroad, as is evident by all Ecclesiasticall Histories, by the severall Schismes of the Popes and other Prelates in forraigne parts; of Canterbury, Yorke, and other Lordly Prelates at home, which if God send life and opportunity, I shall irrefragably manifest in a peculiar Treatise of that Subject, if there be occasion. It cannot be then, but that their suppression should rather remedy than procure Sects and Schismes.

Fourthly, in the reformed Churches of France, and Geneva, 4where there are no Bishops, there are no Sects, or Schismes at all, or at least not so many as where there are Bishops. And though im Germany and the Netherlands there bee many Sects, p. 506yet this is not through want of Bishops, but by reason of the connivance of the temporall Magistrates who permit them, and wil neither suppresse them themselves, nor suffer their Presbyteries to doe it, out of I know not what State policy, permitting all Religions and Sects.

5Fifthly, our Bishops ever since the Reformation, and before, have beene the greatest opposers and hinderers of the reformation of those abuses and fooleries, the introducers and maintainers of those Ceremonies and Superstitions which have beene the grand occasions of Schismes and Separation. How often have Pluralities, Non-residence, abuses of Excommunication, Ex Officio Oathes and proceedings, Visitation, Fees and extortions, abuses of Ecclesiasticall Courts and processes, Selling of Orders, of licenses to preach, keepe Schoole, and the like, commutations of penance, admission of prophane and scandalous persons to the Sacrament, toleration of scandalous, superstitious, lasie, non-preaching, rare-preaching and insufficient Ministers, Altars, Images, Tapers, Cathedrall chaunting and musicke, bowing at Altars, and to the name Jesus, with those Superfluous Ceremonies of the Crosse, Ring, Surplesse, and kneeling at the Sacrament, which scandalize many, and may be better omitted than retained, beene complained against from time to time in Parliament and elsewhere, without any the least redresse or reformation; and all by reason of our Prelates obstinacy, who peremptorily maintaine, and will not suffer them to be either amended or removed to the glory of God, the honour of our Religion, the satisfying of tender Consciences, the peace of our Church and State; and doe they not now in this present Parliament, which threatens ruine to their Lordly chaires, oppose with all their might… the reformation of all or most of those corruptions which are the occasions of our Schismes and distractions? Yea did they not in their late new Canons, in affront of the whole Parliament and Kingdome, not onelyonly justifie, but establish as much as in them lay, and that for perpetuity, all those Innovations, extravagances and grievances which were chiefe occasions of our late unhappy divisions, and of many thousands separations from our Church? This being then an experimentall knowne …ruth, the removing of these incorrigible Prelates, who will neither refo…me themselves, nor suffer any abuses in our p. 507Church to be redressed, must of necessity be the onelyonly cure of our ren…s and divisions for the present, and the best meanes to prevent them for the future.

Sixthly, I appeale to all indifferent men, whether Schismes 6and diversities in matters of Religion may not be better prevented, suppressed by good Lawes, by godly Magistrates and Ministers, specially authorized to suppresse them, than by a company of corrupt Prelates and their Officers, who for their owne private Lucre (as experience manifests) will bee content to tolerate, and connive at any erronious doctrines, Sects and Schismes (especially Papists and Arminians, the chiefe patriots and supporters of their Hierarchy) but those who directly oppose their Prelacy and corruptions, as …hose they nickename Puritanes doe, who shall be sure to smart and feele the Bishops severity to the uttermost, how ever others scape. If so; then I hope there is no neede at all to continue our Lordly Prelates to suppresse these mischiefes, which may be better reformed, and suppressed by others, than by our Bishops and their Officers. I shall conclude this point with the words of learned **R…sp…nsi… ad Turriani Sophismata, par…. 2. L… ctio. 18.Antonie Sadeel, in his answere to Turrian the Jesuite, who made the same objection for the defence and continuance of Bishops, as our Prelates doe here. I answere in few words, That this superiour degree of Bishops is an ancien…, but yet ONELYONLY a humane Institution, whereby the pious Ancients intended to prevent Schismes. And although perchance considering those times, this remedy was not unusefull, yet experience hath taught us, that these good Fathers while they desired to shun… Charybdis, fell into Scylla. For the ambition of Prelates which followed soone after, was no lesse pernicious to the Church than those Schismes. And to speake truely: THIS WAS THE MOST PERNICIOVS SCHISME OF ALL OTHERS, when a Divorce was made from the parity and true doctrine of the Gospell, and the Spirituall Discipline of the Church changed into a kinde of Regall Authority, and terrene power. This I hope will abundantly answere this second Objection for Episcopacy.

The last Objection is this.Object. 3. That by the Statute of 16. R. 2. cap. 5. (f)(f)Sir Thomas Aston, Briefe review of Episcopacy. p. 54. to 78Bishops are declared to be profitable and necessary to our Lord the King and to all his Realme, and that by the removall of them the Realme should be destitute of Counsell. That they are (g)(g)8. El…z. c… 1.one of the greatest States of the Land… setled by many Acts p. 508of Parliament, which cannot well be held without them. That the removall of them will breede a great confusion both in the Common and Statute Law; and that the King is sworne to defend and protect them to his power: Therefore it must needes be dangerous and inconvenient to remove them.

Answ.This Objection consists of severall heads, to all which I shall give a particular answer, with as much brevity as may bee.

1First, for the words of the Statute of Richard the 2^d. I doubt not but they were inserted into that Act by the Bishops themselves, or by their procurement, who ought not to be Trumpeters of their owne prayses, nor witnesses in their owne cause.

2Secondly, I hope the premised Histories of their Treasons, Rebellions, Oppressions, and desperate Counsells in all times, will manifestly declare the contrary to this Act, That Bishops are neither necessary, nor profitable to the King, nor to all his Realme, but pernicious to both, and that the Kingdome will be no wayes destitute of Counsell if they should …e removed, especially in our dayes when there are so many learned Lords, Lawyers, and Gentlemen of all sorts, to Counsell and advise his Majestie in all State affaires.

3Thirdly, The Prelates in this very King Ricard the second his time, were so farre from being profitable and necessary to him, as their Lord and King, and to all his Realme, that some of them were the chiefe men that miscounselled him, as appeares by the Statut… of 11. R. 2. c. 1…5.6. which recites; that for cause of great and horrible mischiefes and perills, which were fallen by evill Governance which was about the Kings person by all his time before, by Alexander late Arch-Bishop of Yorke, Thomas Bishop of Chichester and other their adhaerents, thereby the King and all his Realme were very nigh to have beene wholly undone and destroyed, for which cause these Prelates were attainted, removed from the King, and their lands confiscated by this Act. And the residue of them were the principle agents that opposed, deprived, and thrust him (as they did King Edward the second before him) from his Crowne and royall dignity, as appeares by the premises. Now if this were to be profitable and necessary to our Soveraigne Lord the King, let all men judge. How necessary they were to all the Kingdome in his time, let the Histories of this Kings life, and the Treasons of Arch-Bishop Arundell, fore related declare. How well they used the people and their p. 509tenants, you may see by a Commission granted about this time, to enquire of …he Bishop of Winchesters oppressions and abuses of the Kings people, recorded in the Register of Writs,See Part 1. p. 72 73. part. 2 f. 125. b. **De audiendo & termina…do contra Epis…opum Winton…en semballivos, constabulari…s & ministr…s su….Rex Vicecomiti salutem. Ex clamosis quer…mon…is diversorum hominum de comitatu tuo ad nostium saepius pervenit auditum, quod A Episcopus Wintoniensis, nec no… ballivi, c…nstabulari… & alii ministri & servientes ipsius Episcopi, plu…imas & diversas oppressiones, extortiones, duritias, damna, excessus, & gravamina intolerabilia, dictis …ominibus in diversis partibus Comita…us praedicti, tam infra liber…ates quam extra multipliciter & diversimode intulerunt, & de die in diem inferre non desistunt, plures de dictis hominibus vi & armis multotiens verberando, vulnerando, eosque capiendo, imprisonando, & in prisona forti & dura super terram nudam & absque alimento, fame, frigore, & nuditate fere ad mortem cruciando, & eos in prisona …ujusmodi, donec fines & redemptiones ad voluntatem suam fecerint, null… modo deliberari permittendo, nec non domos quorundam hominum hujusmodi vi armata, & bona & catalla sua capiendo & asportando, eosdemque uxores & servientes suos verberando, vulnerando, & male trac…ando, & hominibus super hujusmodi duri…iis conqueri volentibus in tantum comminando, quod iidem homines in hundredis & aliis curiis dicti Episcopi vel alibi negocia sua inde prosequi metu mortis non sunt ausi, & alia hujusmodi mala, damna, & excessus inhumaniter indies perpetrando, in nostri dedecus & contemptum, & populi nostri partium praedictarum destructionem & depressionem manifestam, unde plurimum conturbamur, Nos oppressiones, dur…ias damna & excessus ac gravamina praedicta, si perpetrata fuerint nolente… relinquere impunita, volentesque salvationi & quieti dicti populi nostri in hac parte prospicere ut tenemur, assignavimus dilectis & fidelibus nostris, &c. sciri poterit, de oppressionibus, exto…tionibus, duritiis, damnis & gravaminibus praedictis, per dictos episcopum, ballivos, constabularios, ministros & servientes suos & alios quoscunque de confederatione sua in hac parte existentes qualitercunque perpetratis, & de praemissis omnibus & singulis plenius veritatem, & ad querelas omnium & singulorum pro nobis vel prose ipsi… inde conqueri & prosequi volentium, nec non ad praemissa omnia & singula tam ad sectam nostram quam aliorum quorumcunque audiendum & terminandum secundum legem & consuetudinem regni nostri Angliae, Et ideo ti…i praecipimus quod ad certos &c. quos, &c. tibi scire facias, venire facias coram, &c. tot & tales probos & p. 510legales homines de balliva tua tam infra libertates quam extra, per quos rei ver…tas in praemissis melius sciri poterit & inquiri, Et habeas, &c. For their profitablenesse and necessary use in our Church in that Kings raigne, let the Statute of 5. R. 2. c. 5. **See Part 1. p. 73. &c.surreptitiously procured by t…e Prelates, and complained against by the Commons the next Parliament, and with severall bloody persecutions of the true Christians… in that age under the name of Lollards by William Caurtney, Thomas Arundell and other our Prelates (related at large by Master Fox in his Acts and Monuments) testifie to the world. For mine owne part I could never yet finde any good at all that our Lordly Prelates ever did in our Church or State, quatenus Prelates. If any o… them have done any good by their preaching and writing (as some of them have, which is rare,) I answere, that the most of them who have done any good in this kind, did it not as, or whiles they were P…elates, but as, or whiles they were Private men, their Episcopacy making none of them to preach, or write more than otherwise they would have done, but lesse, as experience manifests. So that their Bishoprickes made them not to doe more good, but rather hindred them to doe so much good as they would have done, had they still continued private Ministers onelyonly.

2For the second, that they are one of the greatest States of the Land, setled by many Acts of Parliament, and necessary members of the Parliament, which cannot well be held without them.

Answ. 1.I answere, first, that our Lord Abbots and Priors might and did pleade this as well as Bishops, yet this was held no Plea at all, no not in times of Popery, and shall we allow it now in times of clearer light?

2Secondly, the wohle body of Popery it selfe, together with the Pope, his Popish Clergie, Orders and Ceremonies were all setled among us by sundry Acts of Parliament, and the Statutes of Magna Charta, c. 1. with all (g)(g)1… Rich. 2. c. 1.3. R. 2. c. 1.5. R. 2. c. 1.6. R. 2. c. 1.7. R. 2. c. 1.9. R. 2. c. 1.12. R. 2. c. 1.21. R. 2. c. 1.4. H. 4. c. 1… 2. H. 4. c. 1.4. H. 4. c. 1.7. H. 4. c. 1.9. H. 4. c. 1.13. H. 4. c. 1.3. H. 5. c. 1 2. H. 6. c. 1.other Acts of Parliament since, enacting, that holy Church, (or the Church of England) Bishops and Churchmen shall enjoy… all their …ranchises, Rights, Liberties, Priviledges, &c… are meant onelyonly of our Popish Prelates, Abbots, Priors, Monks Nunnes, Masse-Priests; and of exemption from secular Jurisdiction, Sanctuaries, with other Anti-Monarchicall priviledges p. 511granted to them by Kings, Popes, or Parliaments in times of Popery? shall then our Popish Recusants or any other argue thence, therefore it is fit that Popery, with all Popish orders, Bishops, Sanctuaries, and exemptions should be now revived and perpetuated among us, because established by so many Lawes? If this be no argument for the continuance of Popery, or Popish Prelates, who were principally established by these objected Lawes, then certainely it can be no good Plea for the continuance of such of our Prelates who are true Protestants, whom most of these Acts never established, nor intended to continue.

Thirdly, It is a rule in Philosophy and Law, Eodem modo 3quo quid constituitur, dissolvitur: Since therefore our Lordly Bishops were first erected and constituted such Bishops and States of the Land by Acts of Parliament onelyonly, not by any divine institution, which prohibits them all such secular Lordly Soveraignty, and dominion, as I have largely manifested in the premises, They may lawfully without any injury or inconvenience, by an Act of Parliament, be unbishopped, unlorded againe, and thrust out of our Church as well as the Pope, Abbots, Priors, Monkes and Masse-Priests were, upon the reformation of Religion, both at home and in forraine parts. As for our Prelates necessity of sitting in Parliament; I answer.

First, that though they have beene anciently admitted to …it in Parliament, yet there is no necessity of their sitting there, 1seeing it hath beene long since resolved, and Bishop Iuell, with Bishop Bilson, confesse and prove at large, that a Parliament may be, and some Parliaments have beene kept without Bishops, as I have hhpage 458. to 465. Cromptons Jurisdiction of Courts. f… 19. b.formerly demonstrated.

Secondly, many …imes all, some, or a great part of our Bishops have beene secluded the Parliament, and yet this hath beene 2no impeachment to the proceedings there. In the Parliament … iiSee Hus. p. 449, 460.Saint Edmonds-bury, Anno 1296. all the Bishops were brought in a Premunire, and secluded the House. In King Edward the sixt his time, kkFox Acts, and Monuments, olddest Edition. p. 748.902.907.927. b. 1708. b… 1717. b. Martins History. p. 450 to 454. Speed. p. 1156.Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester, and Bonner Bishop of London were sequestred and kept out of the House: In the first yeare of Q…eene Mary all the Married Protestant Bishops; and in the first of Queene Elizabeth, many of the Popish Prelates were secluded and thrust out of the Parliament. yea, many Parliaments have beene held when one, or both the p. 512Arch-Bishoprickes, with many other Bi…hoprickes have beene voyd, and no Proxies admitted to supply their places: All which proves, that there is no necessity of their Session there, and that all of them may be excluded thence at all times as well 3as all of them at sotimes, and most of them at others.

Thirdly, our Bishops sit not in the Parliament, quatenus Bishops … but as they a…e (l)(l)A…tiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 299.300. Here pars. 1. pag. 71.72. Crompton Iurisdiction. p. 12 19. Ke…lwayes Reports. f. 184. Stamfords Pl…. f. 153. Mr. S…ldens Titles of honour p. 690. to 736.Barons, and hold by Barony, as is cleere both by our Histories, Law Bookes, and their owne confessions: Now most of them at this day are no Barons, nor hold of the King by Barony; therefore they have no legall Right to sit there, being no Peers of the Realme nor yet to be tryed by their Peers in case of Treason or Felony, but onelyonly by an Ordinary Jury, as hath been adjudged in our Law Bookes, & practised in point of experience.

Fourthly, (m)(m)Henr…c… Spelmani Glossarium. Tit. Abbas. Mr. Seldons Tit. Hon. p. 700. to 735. Cowels Interpreter Abbot.Abbots and Priors who were spirituall Lords 4of Parliament as well as Bishops, and more than treble in number to them, have beene long since suppressed and cast out of the house without any prejudice: Therefore Bishops by the same reason may be suppressed and put out of Parliament without any inconvenience, being sewer in number …han they.

Fifthly, In cases of(n)(n)Antiq. Eccle. Brit. p. 299.300, See Part. 1. p, 71 72.10. E. 4. F. 6. Stamford Plee…. ….3. c, 1… f. 153. Felony and Treason, the Bishops by their owne Lawes and practise neither are nor ought to be present in the 5House, nor to give any vote at all but onelyonly the Temporall Lords; And in cases of Lands and possessions, or in passing of Lawes for the Civill Government of the Realme, they have no judiciary nor Legislative power at all, as Bishop Bilson and others(o)(o)See. p. 459. … 465. forecited prove at large; therefore their Session in Parliament is not necessary nor expedient by way of vote.

6Sixthly, the Temporall Lords and Prelates make but one house,Br. Co…one 153. Walsingham. Hist. Anglia, An. 1.3.9.7. p. 392. Ypodigna Neustria, p. 151. and if all the Bishops be dead or absent, or if present, if all the Temporall Lords vote one way, and the Bishops, the lesser number, another: the vote is good. Therefore their presence and votes in Parliament are nor simply necessary, and may be spared withou… any mischiefe or inconvenience.

7Seventhly, if reason might determine this con…roversie, I suppose every man will grant, that it is farre more necessary, reasonable, and expedient, that the Judges, Sergeants, and Kings Councell, learned in the Lawes of the Realme, and best able to descide all legall controversies, and to make good Lawes to redresse all mischiefes, should have votes in Parliament p. 513than Bishops; yet we know they have no votes at all by way of descition, because no Barons nor Peers of the Realm, but onelyonly by way of direction and advice, when their Judgements are demanded. Why then our Bishops (especially those who are no Barons, as few or none of them are) should not now be ranked in equipage with the Judges, and have no other but a directive, not voting, descitive or Legislative voyce in Parliament, I thinke no reason can be given; and indeede many thinke there is little reason why they should have any votes at all, since ancient, that I say not present, experience manifests, that they crosse or oppose all, or most good Bills, and motions, for the advancement of religion and reformation of Ecclesiasticall abuses; and for the most part vote with the Popish Lords, or worser side against the better; and so by Pope (p)(p)Gratian. Caus. 11. qu. 2.Gregory his owne rule, approved by (q)(q)Bishop. Iewel Reply to Harding, Artic. 4. divis. 53. p. 234.Bishop Iewel, ought to lose their priviledge of voting: Quia Privilegium meretur amittere, qui abutitur potestate.

Now whereas some Object that if the Bishops were put out of the Upper House of Parliament,Object. the Clergie could not grant subsidies to the King.

I answere,Answ. it is a most grosse mistake, for the Clergie ever grant their subsidies in the Convocation, not in the Lords house, and if the Major part of the Clerkes in Convocation grant subsidies without the Bishops, and then send their Bill by which they grant them, to the Commons and Lords House to be confirmed, (as they usually doe) if the Commons and Temporall Lords, without the Bishops passe it, this, with the Kings Royall assent, will binde all the Clergie and Bishops too. So as their presence and votes in Parliament is no wayes necessary for the granting of Subsidies. Wherefore they may be thence excluded without any prejudice to the King or Subject, if not with great benefit unto both.

For the third clause of the Objection; that the removall of them will breede a great confusion in the Common and Statute 3Law.

I answere, first, that the same Objection might have beene 1made for the continuance of the Pope, and Popery; yea against the severall Statutes for Creating estate Tayles, levying of Fines, Vses, Devises, Ioyntures, and the like, which bred greater alterations in the Common and former Statute Lawes, than p. 514the removing of Bishops can doe.

2Secondly, that one Act of Parliament, …nabling certaine Commissioners to execute all those Legall Acts which Bishops usually did, will prevent all this pretended confusion; so that this part of the Objection is scarce worthy answere.

4For the fourth clause, that the King by his Coronation Oath, is sworne to preserve to the Bishops and their Churches all their Canonicall priviledges, and to protect and defend to his power the Bishops and Churches under his government.

1I answere, First, that this Oath was at first cunningly devised and imposed on our Kings by our Bishops themselves, out of a policy to engage our Princes to maintaine them in their usurped authority; possessions, and Jurisdictions, which had no foundation in the Scripture, and to captivate our Kings to their pleasures, as the Popes by such a kind of Oath enthralled the Emperours to their Vassallage.

2Secondly, that this Oath was first invented by Popish Prelates, and meant onelyonly of them and their Popish Church and Priviledges, and so cannot properly extend to our Prelates if Protestants.

3Thirdly, this Oath doth no way engage the King to defend and maintaine our Bishops, if the Parliament see good cause to extirpate them. For as the King and Judges who are obliged by their Oathes to maintaine and execute all the Lawes of the Realme, are not bound by their Oath to continue former inconvenient Lawes from alteration, or repeale, or to execute them when repealed, for then all ill Lawes should be unalterable and irrepealeable: So the King by this his Oath, is no wayes obleiged to defend, protect, and preserve the Bishops, if there be good cause in point of piety and policy to suppresse them, especially when any of them prove delinquents: For as Bishops and other Subjects by their misdemeanours may (r)(r)See Brooke Fi…z herbert, and Ra…all. Title … re… Cookes I…stitutes, …. 12….130.put themselves out of the Kings Protection, and forfeite both their goods, lives, and estates, notwithstanding this Coronation Oath; So by the same reason when Bishops (and Bishoprickes, by their misdemeanours) prove intolerable grievances both to Church and State (as now they have done) they have thereby deprived themselves of the Kings Protection and de…ence specified in this Oath… and thereupon may be justly suppressed by the King and State, without the least p. 515violation of this most solemne Oath, as Abbots, Monkes, and Sanctuaries were. Having thus removed all the principall Objections for the continuance of our Lordly Prelates; I shall in the last place answere one Evasion Evasion.whereby our present Lord Bishops thinke to shift off this Antipathy from themselves, as having no relation at all to them; They (s)(s)Bishop Hall defence of the humble Remonstrance. p. 163.164.165.say, that those Prelates whose Treasons, Rebellions, Seditions, Oppressions, and Antimonarchicall practises, I have here collected, were Popish Bishops, Limbes of that body whose head they all abjure; the fault of their wickednesse was in the Popery, not in the Episcopacy, in the men, not the calling; and so utterly unconcerneth them, and haveth no reflection at all on them, who are generally taxed for being excessive royalists, and siding too much with the King and Court.

To this I answere,Answ. 1. first, that most of all the premised rebellious, disloyall, seditious, extravagant actions of our Bishops have proceeded from them onelyonly as Lordly, not Popish Prelates, and issued from their Episcopacy, not their Popery, their Prelaticall functions, not personall corruptions, as the Histories themselves sufficiently demonstrate.

Secondly, I answer, that some of the recited Bishops were 2no Papists but Protestants, who were no limbes of that body of Rome, whose head our Bishops say they have abjured therefore it is evident, that their Episcopall function, not their Religion, was the ground both of their disloyalties and extravagancies.

Thirdly, I suppose our Prelates will not renounce Arch-Bishop 3Laud, Bishop Wren, Peirce, Mountague, and other of their fellow Bishops yet alive, or lately dead, as Popish Prelates, and members of the Church of Rome, as some account them: yet their impious, seditious, oppressive, prophane, not trayterly Actions, equall or exceede many of our Popish Arch-Bishops and Bishops, as he that will but compare them may easily discerne. It is not then the leaven of Popery, but of the Lordly Prelacy it selfe which infected our Bishops, and made them so treacherous and impious in all ages. It is true indeed, that Popery (some of whose (t)(t)See King Iam…s his Proclamation, for banishing Jesuites, June 10. 1606. & June 2. 1610. Iohn Whit… his Defence of the Way. ch. 6. and 10.positions are treasonable; and seditious) and dependency upon the Pope, hath made some of our Bishops more disloyall and Rebellious than otherwise they would have beene, as is evident by the first proceeding of Stephen Langhton and his confederates against King Iohn;(v)(v)See par…. 1. p. 33. to 41. but yet afterward when the Pope sided with King Iohn and Henry p. 516the third, against Langton, and the other Bishops, who stirred up the Barons Warres, these Bishops continued as trayterous and rebellious to these Kings as ever they were before whiles they adhered to the Pope, and the Pope to them; therefore their Hierarchy (the cause of all these stirs) not their Popery was the ground worke of their Treachery and enormities. Now because our present Prelates boast so much of their loyalty to his Majestie, whose absolute Civill Royall prerogative, they have lately overmuch courted and endeavored to extend beyond due limits to the impeachment of the Lawes and Subjects hereditary liberties, not out of any zeale to his Majesties service, but onelyonly to advance their owne Episcopall power and Jurisdiction, and to usurpe a more than Royall or Papall authority over all his Majesties Subjects for the present, and over himselfe at last; I shall make bold to present them with some particular instances, whereby I shall demonstrate, that all or most of our present Lordly Bishops have beene more seditious, contumacious, disloyall and injurious to his Majesties royall prerogative, more oppressive to his Loyall Subjects, and more destructive to the fundamentall Lawes of the Realme, and liberties of the Subject, than all other professions of men whatsoever.

1For first, they have presumed to keepe Consistories, Visitations, Synods, and exercise all manner of Episcopall Jurisdiction in their Diocesse without his Majesties speciall Letters Patents, or Commissions under the great Seale of England, authorizing them to doe it, contrary to the Statutes of 26. Hen. 8. c. 1.37. Hen. 8. c. 17. 1 Ed. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. c. 1.5 Eliz. c. 1. and 8. Eliz. c. 1.

2Secondly, they have dared to make out all their Processes, Citations, Excommunications, Suspensions, Sentences, Probates of Wills, Letters of Administation, Writs of Iure Patronatus, accounts of Executors, and the like in their owne names and Stiles, and under their owne Seales alone, not the Kings, as if they were the onelyonly Kings, the Supreame Ecclesiasticall heads and Governours of the Church of England, not his Majesty, contrary to the Statutes of 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1 Ed. 6. c. 2. 1 Eliz. c. 1. 1 Jac. c. 25.

Thirdly, they have presumed in (x)(x)The Arch-Bishop in his speech in Starre-Chamber. Dr. H…ylin, and D…w, in their Answers to Mr. Bur…n.Printed Bookes to justifie 3these proceedings to be Lawfull; and not content herewith, p. 517they have most audaciously caused all the Judges of England to resolve, and moved his Majestie to d…clare and proclaime these their disloyall unjust usurpations on his Crowne to be just and legall; when as I dare make good the contrary, against all the Prela…es and Lawyers of England, and have done it in part, in my Breviate of the Prelates intolerable incroachments upon the Kings Prerogative royall and the Subjects Liberties. This resolution of …he Judges against the Kings Prerogative the Prelates have caused to be (y)(y)See a new Discovery of the Prelates Tyranny. p. 33. to. 38.…nrolled both in the High Commission at Lambeth and Yorke and in all their Ecclesiasticall Courts throughout England in perpetuam rei memoriam, the Arch-bishop of Canterbury keeping the Originall certificate of the Judges among the records of his Court, as a good evidence against his Majesty and his successors.

Fourthly, they have pillored, stigmatized, banished, close 4imprisoned, and cut off the eares of those who have opposed these their encroachments upon his Majesties Prerogative Royall, according to their Oath and duty, to deterre all others from defending his Majesties Title.

Fifthly, they have taken upon them to make, Print and publish 5in their owne names, by their owne authorities, without his Majesties or the Parliaments speciall License, new Visitation Oathes, Articles, Injunctions, Canons, Ordinances, Rites, and Ceremonies; enforced them on Ministers, Church Wardens, Sidemen and others, and excommunicated, suspended, silenced, f…ned, imprisoned and persecuted his Majesties faithfull, and loyalest Subjects for not submitting to them, contrary to the Statutes of 25. H. 8. c. 19.21.27. H. 8. c. 15.3 Ed. 6. c. 10.11. 1 Eliz. c. 2.13 Eliz. c. 12. Magna Charta, c. 29. and the Petition of Right.

Sixthly, they have presumed to grant Licenses to marry 6without banes, and to eate flesh on fasting dayes in their owne names; a Prerogative peculiar to the King alone; who onelyonly can dispense with penall Lawes, and the booke of Common Prayer, which (z)(z)2. & 3. Ed. 6. c. 21.5. & 6. Ed. 6. c. 12. and the Rubrick before Matrimonyenjoyne no marriages to be solemnized, unlesse the Banes be first thrice asked in the Church.

Seventhly, they have adventured to hold plea of divers cases in their Consistories of which the Conusance belongs onelyonly 7to the Kings temporall Courts; which the formes of Pro…ibitions, and Ad Iura Regia in the (a)(a)Pars 2. …ol. 36. to 66.Register, determine, to be a p. 518dis-inheriting of the Kings Crowne and Royall dignity, a contempt, derogation, and grievous prejudice to his Royall authority, and intolerable rebellion, affront, disloyalty and contu…acy to his Soveraigne Iurisdiction.

8Eighthly, they have stopped the current of the Kings owne Prohibitions to their Ecclesiasticall spitefull Courts, in cases where they have beene usually granted in former ages, even in times of Popery, and of the most domineering Prelates; and oft questioned, threatned, convented the Kings Judge… before the King and Lords of the Councell for granting them. An insolency and affront to Soveraigne Justice, which no former ages can Parallell.

9Ninthly, they have disobeyed his Majesties Prohibitions, proceeded in contempt and despite of them; yea they have committed divers to prison who have sued for, and delivered Prohibitions in a faire dutifull manner in the High Commission Court, and Articled against one Mr. Iohn Clobery in the High Commission, onelyonly for suing out of a Prohibition to that Court, as if it were a Capitall o…fence. For which contum…cy and Rebellion their temporalities might bee justly seised into the Kings hands, and themselves attainted in a Pre…unire Adde to this, that the now Archbishop of Canterbury hath many times openly protested in Court; that he would breake both the necke and backe of Prohibitions. (b)(b)See the Articles of his Impeachment.And Matthew Wren whilst Bishop of Norwich, in the 14. yeare of his M…jesties reigne, procured his Majestie to declare under his Highnesse great Seale of England, his royall pleasure; That if any person within the sayd City of Norwhich should refuse to pay according to the rate of two shillings the pound in lieu of the Tithes of Houses, unto the Minister of any Parish within the sayd City, that the same should be heard in the Court of Chancery, or in the Consistory of the Bishop of Norwich. And that in such Case no Prohibition should be granted against the said Bishop of Norwich their Chancellors, or Commissaries in the sayd Courts of Consistory.

10Tenthly, they h…ve disobeyed and contemned his Majesties just and lawfull-commands, in a most p…remptory and insolent manner, of which I shall give onelyonly one memorable instance. His Majesty about the yeare of our Lord 1629. taking notice of the Bishops Non-residence from their Bishoprickes, and how they lived for the most part idlely in London, hunting after p. 519new prefe…ments, to the ill example of the in…erior Cl…rgi…, the delapidation and ruine of their mansion houses, the decay of Hospitality, the impairing of their woods and temporalties, the increase of Popery and decrease of Religion; was pleased to send a letter to Doctor Abbot, then Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for the redresse of the sayd inconveniences, commanding him in his Royall name, to enjoyne every Bishop then residing about London, upon his Canonicall Obedience, under paine of his Majesties displeasure forthwith to repaire to his Bishopricke, and no longer to abide about London. The Arch-Bishop hereupon, sends his Secretary with this his Majesties Letter, to the Bishops then in London and Westminster; charging them upon their Canonical Obedience, according to this Letter, presently to depart to their several Bishoprickes. His Secretary repaired with this Letter and the Arch-bishops instructions to Dr Howson, the Bp of Durham lodging on Snowhill, neare Sepulchers Church, and required him in the Arch-bishops name by vertue of his Canonicall obedience, to repaire to his Bishoprick according to his Majesties command. He hereupon in a great rage giving the Secretary some harsh words, told him plainly, that he neither would nor could obey this mandate, for he had many great suits in Law with Sr Henry Martyn, and others, of w^ch be would …ee an end ere he departed London; besides he had not as yet furnished his house at Durham, for his entertainment, that it was a great way to Durham, the wayes somewhat foule, the weather cold, and …imself aged; wherefore he neither would nor could goe out of Towne till the next Summer, if then, come what would: and bid him returne this answere to the Arch-bishop. Neither could the Secretary (who perswaded him to send a milder answere, and to sue to his Majestie for License to abide in Towne) obtaine any other resolution from this Cholericke Prelate. From him he repaired to Doctor Buckeridge, Bishop of Ely, at Ely house in Holburne, acquainting him with this his Majesties Letter, and commanding him by his Majesties Order upon his Canonicall obedience, to repaire forthwith to his Bishopricke, according to his Majesties command. But this dutifull Prelategrew more Cholericke than the former, answering him to this effect: Let who would obey this Command, yet he would not: what, sayd he, have I lately bestowed almost 500. l. in repairing and furnishing my house, here in London, to make it fit for my habitation, and must I now be Commanded to depart from it, and sent into the cold wa…y p. 520rotten fens of Ely, to impaire my health and kill me up quite? I will not be so served nor abused. And therefore tell your Lord from me, that I take it ill …e should send me such a Command, and that I will not goe from my house to Ely for his or any other mans pleasure. The Secretary thereupon desired his Lordship to take notice, that it was his Majesties pleasure he should depart to his Bishopricke, as well as the Arch-bishops, who did no more than he was enjoyned by the King, whose mandate hee hoped his Lordship would obey, however he neglected or disobeyed the Arch-bishops Command, which yet was not to be slighted, being his Metropolitan. In conclusion, the Bishop told him plainely, he would obey neither the one nor other, and that he would not stirre out of London all the winter till the spring, if then. The Secretary wondring at these two Bishops strange disobedience, and contumacy both in words and deeds, departes from them to Bishop Harsnet, and Bishop Field, with his Letter and instructions, who gave him the like answers in effect, though in calmer Termes, not one of them stirring from London, either upon the Kings Letter, or Arch-bishops Command, for all their Oath of Allegiance to the King, and of Canonicall obedience to the Arch-Bishop. If then these late Prelates have beene so Rebellious, so contumacious, both against his Majesties and their Metropolitanes commands, when they required them onelyonly to reside on their Bishoprickes, as the Law of God, the Statutes of the Realme, the Canons of the Church in all ages, yea the very Canon Law it selfe, enjoyne them to doe, under paine of mortall sinne; What Rebels, and disobedient Varlets would they have proved, thinke you, in matters and commands lesse reasonable?

11Eleventhly, our Prelates have beene strangely Rebellious, contumacious, and disloyall above all other Subjects, in slighting, vilifying, affronting the Kings owne Letters Patents, and frustrating his Subjects of the benefit of them. Thus Doctor Young Deane of Winchester was put by the Mastership of Saint Crosses, though granted him by Patent, that Doctor Lewis, who left his Provostship in Oriel Colledge in Oxford with other preferment, and fled into France for buggery as was reported; might be thrust in. So Doctor Manwering, publickely censured in Parliament for a Seditious Sermon, and made uncapable of any preferment, by the sentence of the House, was p. 521immediately after the Parliament ended, thrust into a living of three hundred pound per annum, by our Prelates; and hee who had the grant of the next advowson by Patent put by. Thus divers others have beene thrust by such places as the King himselfe hath granted them by Patent by our Omnipotent Prelates, to advance those of their own saction, yea one of them hath not stucke to say, that had the King himselfe granted a Patent for the Execution of Writs of Capias Excommunicatum to some who had long sued for it, that he would make the King recall it, or in case he would not, he would withstand and not obey it. Nay, we know, that though the Lord Majors of London, by Patent, and prescription time out of minde, as the Kings Leiutenants and Vicegerents, have used to carry up their swords before them in Pauls Church-yard and Church, yet a proud ambitious Prelate, not long since… questioned him for doing it before the Lords of the Privie Councell, as if the Kings sword of Iustice, had nothing to doe within that Precinct but onelyonly the Bishops Crosier. Neither hath the City of Yorke scaped Scotfree: for the Bishops and Pre…ends of that City have contested with the Citizens of Yorke, even in his Majesties presence, about those Liberties which both his Majestie himselfe but five yeares before, and his royall Ancestors had anciently granted to them, by severall Charters in expresse words; endeavouring to nullifie and repeale their Patent, and caused the Major of Yorke not to beare his sword within the close, as he and his predecessors had usually done, (and that by speciall Charter) from Richard the seconds time, till of late. Since that the now Arch-bishop of Canterbury hath had contests with the University of Cambridge touching their Charters and Priviledges which must all stop to adore his greatnesse, contesting even before the King and Lords with that Universitie and Oxford too, whether he as Arch-bishop, or his Majestie as King, should be their Visitor. Now what greater affront almost can there be to royall Majestie, than thus publikely to nullifie, oppose and spurne under feete the Kings owne Charters and Patents, as things of no value or moment.

Twelfthly, they have most contemptuously affron…ed his 12Majesties owne late royall Declarations to all his Loyall Subjects, both before the 39. Articles of Religion, & concerning the dissolution of the last Parliament, in the very highest degree, and that,

p. 5221First, in their Court Sermons before his Majesties face.

2Secondly, In bookes lately written, or publickely authorized by them and their Chaplaines for the Presse.

3Thirdly, By their Visitation Oathes and Articles.

4Fourthly, by their late Injunctions, Censures, Orders and instructions, by, and in all which they have notoriously oppugned, innovated, altered both the established Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England sundry wayes, caused an apparent back…liding to Arminianisme, Popery, Superstition, Schisme, oppressed and grieved his Majesties good Subjects, and deprived many of them both of their livings, liberties, and freedome of their Consciences, contrary to the expresse Provision, Letter and purport of these his Majesties Royall Decla…ions, as hath beene lately manifested in sundry new Printed bookes, and voted by the Present Parliament.

13Thi…teenthly, They have caused some grand Juries, and the Judge himselfe as well as the prosecutor, to be Pursevanred into the High Commission, onelyonly for finding a verdict upon an Indictment for the King… against Innovating Clergie men, as they were bound to doe both in Law and Conscience. Witnesse the Case of Master Aske, late Recorder of Colchester, Mr. Burroughs, and the grand Jury of that Towne, who were thus vexed for finding an Indictment against Par…on Newcoman, for refusing to deliver the Sacrament to those who came not up to his new raile. And no doubt the Bishops secret Commands and Instructions, were the Originall cause that moved Sir **Articles of Accusation against the Judges, p. 7.8.9.Robert Berkely Knight, one of the Judges of the Kings Bench at the Generall Sessions at Har…ford in Ianuary 7. 1638. to fine Mr. Henry Browne, one of the grand Jury men at that Sessions, and lay him in Irons one night, onelyonly for finding an Indictment for rayling in the Communion Table at Hartford Altarwise, which indictment he caused the said Brown openly to teare & trample under his feete, and one tha… stayed other indictments of this nature, in high affront bo…h o… Law and Justice, onelyonly to please the Prela…es, whose commands, threates, and persecutions, have beene the Originall causes of most of the Judges irregular proceedings.

Fourteenthly, They have not onelyonly cited, but censured some of his Majesties Officers in the High-Commission, for executing his Lawes according to their Oath and duty, as the p. 523Major of Arundell for punishing a drumken Minister: and likewise ci…ed Mr. Staple a Justice of peace in Sussex into the High-Co…mission for giving in charge at the quarter Sessions his … against Innovations, and deaucht Clergie men.

Fift…n…hly… …hey have most unjustly caused some Posters to be …opped af…r …dicts …ound for the plaintiffes and dammages 15given by …he Jury upon …ul… hearing, for Actions justly bro…ght agai…s… … of …h…ir Officers, for dafamations, and other …, so that the Plaintiffes could never get judgement… w…nesse …he case of Master Bayton, against Doctor Martyn Com…ssary of Tomes and others.

Sixtee…hly, they hauehave caused some Solliciters, Atturnies 16and Pla…n…iffes to be imprisoned, untill they gave over such just actions as they had commenced and prosecuted against their Office…s, for Extortions, Opressions, and unjust Excommuni…ations, witnesse the case of Ferdinando Adams, whose Atturny Master Letchford was committed to the Kings Bench, by Judge Iones and some other Judges, only for bringing an Action of the Case, against Dade the the Bishop of Norwich, Commissary at Ipswich for Excommunicating him maliciously and unjustly, because he re…used to blot out this Text of Scripture written over the Commissaries Court in Saint Maries Church in Ipswich, Mark. 11.17. Mat. 21.13. Luk 19.56. Isa. 56.7.Mark 11:17Matt 21:13Luke 19:56Isa 56:7It is written, My house shall be called an house of Prayer of all Nations, but ye have made it a den of theeves: detaining him in prison till he gave over the prosecution and discontinued the suite: sundry others having since beene served in this kinde, by the Prelates sollicitation.

Seventeenthly, They have beene the Originall occasions of 17the late unhappy warre and differences betweene Scotland and England, which they stiled Bellum Episcopale, the Bishops warre, to which they liberally contributed themselves, and enforced others to do the like, when these differences were comprimised, and this warre happily concluded in peace, they were the chiefe Authors of the breach of the pacifica…ion formerly made, and of a second warre, to the great danger, trouble, and unsupportable charge o… his Majesties three kingdomes.

Eighteenthly, they have beene the prime causes of all, or 18most of the grievances, pressures, distractions, Schismes in our Church and Common-weale, and chiefe instruments of the duplicate page duplicate page p. 524unhappy breaches of our former Parliaments, to the infinite prejudice both of King and Subject.

19Ninteenthly, when as they had caused the last Parliament but this to be dissolved, to manifest their omnipotency, disloyalty and tyranny, they caused a new Convocation to be immediately assembled without a Parliament, wherein they compiled and prescribed New Canons, with an &c. Oath, tending highly to the derogation of his Majesties prerogative royall in Ecclesiasticall matters, the subversion of the …undamentall Lawes of the Realme and Liberties of the Subject, the affront of Parliaments, the suppression of all faithfull ministers, and ayming onelyonly at the perpetuating of their owne Episcopall Lordly power, and Popish Innovations. And as if this were not sufficient, they tooke upon them to grant sundry subsidies without a Parliament, for the maintenance of a new war against the Scots, and enjoyned all Ministers to pay these Subsidies peremptorily at the dayes assigned by them, under paine of present deprivation for the first default, Omni Appellatione semota, without any benefit of appeale, one of the highest straines of tyranny and injustice, that ever I have met with. For which Canons Oath, and Subsidies, they now stand impeached by the whole house of Commons, as delinquents in a high nature, and are like ere long to receive condigne punishment.

Twentiethly, it is very suspicious, that they or some of them, 20had a hand in the late dangerous Treason and Conspiracie, since the **See the Report of the Conspira…y to the house of Commons June the 17. 1641. p. 2.3. and Mr. Henry Piercies Letter, p. 3. The Declaration of Colonell Go…ing. p. 2…first clause of the Oath of Se…recy administred to the Conspirators was, To maintaine the Bishops in their functions, and votes in Parliament, and the Clergie would at their owne charge (as Serjant Major Wallis confesseth in his examination) maintaine a thousand horse to promote this Trayterous designe, and have now (as some report) an hundred thousand pound ready for such a service.

In the twentieth one place, they have oppressed and ruined divers of his Majesties Loyall Subjects, Ministers and others, 21both in their bodies, estates, credits, families; caused many thousands of them to forsake the Realme, and to transport their families into forraine parts, to the great decay of trade, and impoverishing of the Realme. In which they have done his Majestie great dis-service, whose Honour and safety consists in the multitude and wealth of his people, …rov. 14.2…and his destruction in want of people.

p. 525In the twenty second ranke, they have most undutifully and 22disloyally cast the odium of all their late Innovations in Religion, their new Canons and tyrannicall exorbitant proceedings, on his Majestie, proclaiming it openly to the people, that all they did, was onelyonly by his Majesties speciall direction and command, of purpose to alienate the hearts of the people from his Majestie, as much as in them lay.

In the twenty third place, they and their Officers have 23sorely fleeced and impoverished his Majesties Subjects in such sort by exacted Fees, and vexatio…s suites in their Visitations, High-Commissions, and other Ecclesiasticall Courts, and by putting them to unnecessary costs for raising and rayling in Comm…nion Tables, and new adorning their Churches, that they are unable to supply his Majesties and the Kingdomes necessities in that liberall proportion as they have formerly done; the late Subsidies scarce amounting to halfe that summe, as they did in former times.

Finally, in their last High-Commission Pa…ent they obtained 24this strange Non-obstante (which robs the King of his Supremacy, and the Subjects of their Lawes and Liberties) namely, That their Lordships in all Ecclesiasticall causes specified in that Commission might proceede in a meere arbitrary manner, as they list themselves, Notwithstanding any Appellation, provocation, priviledge, or exemption, in that behalfe to be had, made, pretended or alleadged, by ANY PERSON OR PERSONS (therefore by Lords and Peeres as well as others) resident or dwelling in any place or places, exempt or not exempt within the Realmes of England and Ireland and Principality of Wales (for no les…er circuite would content them) and all Lawes, Statutes, Proclamations, or other grants Priviledges, or Ordinances, which be or may seeme contrary to the premises notwithstanding. What **Hist. Anglia p. 694. See p. 68….784.905.Matthew Paris writes of the Popes Non-obstantees in his Bulls, which first begar them, Per illud verbum & adjectionem detestabilem Non Obstante, omnem …xtinguit justitiam praehabitam: I may more truely affirme of this, that it extinguisheth all Iustice; yea his Majesties Supremacy, our fundamentall Lawes, Statutes, and the Subjects Liberties, since it robs the King of the Regall right of **25. H. 8. c. 19.21.24. H. 8. c. 12.receiving appeales as supreame head of the Church of England, for releese of his oppressed Subjects, and of the honour of his Royall Lawes, Proclamations, grants, exemptions, which must all stoope to p. 526the Prelates pleasures; and strips the Subjects naked of the benefit and protection of all Lawes, Statutes, Proclamations, and other grants, priviledges, Ordinances or exemptions whatsoever, which might shelter them from the Prelates tyranny and oppressions. So that you have here the very height of Treason, Conspiracy, and Contumacy, against his Majestie, the Lawes of the Realme and hereditary liberties of the people.

In all these respects (to omit other particulars) our Prelates if they be not direct Traytors to his Majestie and the Realme, so farre as to incurre a Capitall Censure, as is more than probable, or at least a Praemunire, of which there is no question; yet I dare averre they are the most notorious Rebels, the obstinatest contemners, enemies and oppugners of his Majesties Royall Prerogative, the Fundamentall Lawes of the Realme, and just Liberties of the Subject, this day breathing; inferiour to none of their predecessors in contumacy and disobedience to their Soveraigne and our Lawes (what ever they prete…d) and exceeding them in many particulars.

Having thus I hope sufficiently answered all our Prelates Arguments for the supportation, and continuance of their Lordly Prelacy in our Church, and their Evasions to shift off this Antipathy as no way pertinent unto them; give me leave onelyonly to observe these sixe remarkeable Circumstances in our Prelats premised Treason, Conspiracies and Rebellions, which highly aggravate their offences, and make them farre more execrable Traytors, Rebels, and delinquents, than all other rankes of men; and then I shall conclude.

1First, they have presumed to justifie their Treasons and Rebellions, against their Soveraignes, as pious, religious, holy and commendable actions, and to Canonize these Episcopall Arch-Traytors and Rebells, not onelyonly for chiefe pillars, patriots and defenders of the Churches Liberties, but even for holy Saints and Martyrs, as appeares by the examples of **See Capg…ave, Surius, Ribadeneira, and others, de vitis Sanctorum, Baronius his Martyriologe, & our Common Popish Primers, Calenders, and Almanackes.Dunstan, Anselme, Becket, Edmund of Canterbury, Hugh of Lincolne, S. Germain …, Richard Scroope of Yorke, with others: no Laymen having yet beene so happy, as for their Treasons and Rebellions onel…, or especially, to bee Sainted and adored, as many Bishops and Clergie men have beene. Hence Doctor Barnes in his Supplication to King Henry the 8. p. 190. writes thus, I would not speake how damnable it is to institute Masses, for a p. 527willing Traytor, and murtherer, there was never no learning that could allow this. But there is no remedy, he that dyes against his King, and for the maintaining of your Treason, must needes be a Saint, if Masses, blessings, and miracles will helpe; for all these bee at your Commandment, to give where your list. So that we poore men, must be accused of insurrection and Treason, and we must beare all the blame, we must be driven out of the Realme, we must be burned for it, when as God knowes there is no people under heaven, that more abhorreth and with earnester …eart resisteth, and more diligently doth preach against disobedience than we doe: yea, I dare say boldly, let all your bookes be searched, tha… were written this 500. yeares, and all they shall not declare the authority of a Prince, and the true obedience toward him, as one of our little bookes shall doe, that be condemned by you for heresie, and all this will not helpe us. But as for you, you may preach, you may write, you may doe, you may sweare against your Princes, and also assoile all other men of their obedience towards their Princes, you may compell Princes to be sworne to you, and yet are you children of obedience and good Christian men. And if ye dye for this doctrine then is there no remedy, but you must be Saints, and rather than faile ye shall doe miracles: which he proves by the example of Thomas Becket & of Germane formerly cited, who was made a Saint for deposing King Vortiger, and making his Neat-heard King in his steed. These shamefull and abominable things doe ye prayse and allow, and in the meane time condemne us for heretickes and Traytors.

Secondly, in interceding for, saving, rescuing, protecting, 2rewarding Trayterous and Rebellious Bishops, after their Treasons and Rebellions committed, and warding off the sword of Justice from their Mitred Pates (though worthy of ten thousand deaths) when as all others Peeres or Commons whom they have drawne into their Treasons, Rebellions, and Conspiracies have beene sure to suffer the rigor of Justice, without any mitigation or pardon; this most of the premised instances witnesse, especially that of Adam de Tarlton, Part. 1. p 54.55.56.57.265.266.

Thirdly, in mincing, extenuating, excusing, and patronizing 3the Treasons, Conspiracies and Rebellions of Prelates, and referring them to the Pope or their owne Ecclesiastical-Tribunalls, that so they might scape unpunished… a priviledge and tricke of Episcopall Leger-de-maine, that no Layman p. 528was capable of, but onelyonly Bishops and Clerkes.

4Fourthly, in slandering, reviling, censuring, excommunicating their Princes, together with …heir Judges and Officers, for the execution of Justice on Bishops, who have beene Arch-Rebells, Traytors and Conspirators; as appeares by the examples of **See Part. 1. p. 193. to 196.Richard Scroope and others: which story of Scroope Doctor Barnes thus descants on in his Supplication to King Henry the 8. p. 188.189. Doe you not remember, how that in the dayes of Henry the fourth, a captaine of your Church, called Richard Scroope Archbishop of York, did gather an Host of men, and waged battle against his King? but God the Defendor of his Ruler, gave the King the victory, which caused the Traytor to be beheaded. And then your fore-fathers with their devillish cra…t, made the people beleeve by their false Chronicle, that at every stroke that was given at the Bishops necke, the King received another of God in his necke. And whereas the King was afterward stricken with a sickenesse, you made him and all his Subjects beleeve, that it was Gods punishment, because he had killed the Bishop: and not thus content, but you fained after his death, that he did miracles. Is not this too much, both to be Traytors to your King, and also to faine God to be displeased with your King for punishing of Treason? Finally, to make him a Saint, and also that God had done miracles to the defending of his Treason? How is it possible to invent a more pestilent Doctrine than this is? Here is Gods Ruler despised, and hereby is open Treason maintained: Thinke you that God will shew miracles to fortifie these things? But no doubt the Proverbe is true, Such lippes, such Lettuce, such Saints, such miracles.

5Fifthly, in persisting most peremptorily in Treasons, Rebellions, contests and Conspiracies against their Princes, without yeelding or intermission till they had obtained their demaunds and desires of them insteed of craving pardon of them, all which the premises evidence to the full in Anselme, Becket, Langton, Stafford and others.

6Sixthly, in enforcing their Soveraignes against whom they conspired, rebelled, and practised divers horrid Treasons and Contumacies, to submit, nay seeke to them for pardon, and to undergoe such sharpe censures, such …orbid, infamous, harsh punishments, covenants and conditions, as are inconsistent with p. 529Monarchy, honour, Soveraignty, as in the case of Henry the se…cond, King Iohn and others. In these sixe respects, our Lordly Bishops have transcended all other Traytors, Rebels, Conspirators, and Seditious persons whatsoever; as also in Censuring Loyalty **See Aventine. Annal. B…iorum. l. 6. & 7.for Heresie, true Subjects to their Princes for Heretickes; and Canonizing High Treason, Rebellion against Emperours, Kings, Princes, for Orthodox faith; notorious Traytors and Rebels, for good Christians and true beleevers; as appeares in the Case of Hildebrand and his Hellish crew of Bishops, who branded Henry the Emperour and those who sided with him, for Heretickes, and their Loyalty for Heresie, in the Case of Henry the second and King Iohn in their difference with Anselme, Becket, and Langhton. In imitation of whom our present Prelates now slander those who oppugne a…d withstand their encroachments upon the Kings prerogative Royall, with odious termes of Puritans, Novellers, Seditious persons, Schismatickes, Rebels, and brand Loyalty, and true allegiance to the King, with the termes of Faction, Schisme, Sedition, Novelty, and Rebellion.

You have seene now a large Anatomy of our Lordly Prelates desperate Treasons, Conspiracies, Rebellions, Contumacies, Warres, disloyall oppressive practises in all ages against our Kings, Kingdomes, Lawes, Liberties: which duly pondered, we may easily conclude, there is little cause any longer to tolerate them in our Church or State, but great ground eternally to extirpate them out of both. It is storyed of the people of**Generall History of Spaine, l. 22. Heylins Geogr. p. 55. Biscany in Spaine, That they have such a naturall enmity against Bishops, that they will admit no Bishops to come among them, and that when Fe…dinand the Catholicke came in Progresse into Biscany, accompanyed with the Bishop of Pampilone, the people rose up in Armes, drove backe the Bishop out of their Coast, and gathering up all the dust they thought he or his Mule had trod on, threw it into the Sea with curses and imprecations. I dare not say, that our people should rise up in Armes like these Biscaners, and drive out our Bishops, God forbid any such Tumultuous, or Seditious practise: but this I dare confidently averre, that his Majestie and our High Court of Parliament, have farre greater reason to drive, and extirpate them out of our Realme and Church, even with curses and execrations, and to subvert their Sees in an orderly, just, and legall way, than these Biscaners had to p. 530repulse this Bishop, who entered thus into their Country, onelyonly to accompany Ferdinand in his progresse, not to play the Lord Bishop among them.

I shall close up all with the words of Musculus, a Learned forraigne Protestant Divine; who after he had largely proved by Scriptures and Fathers, That Bishops and Presbyters by Divine right are both one, and of equall authority, and that the difference betweene them was onelyonly a humane institution to prevent Schismes, concludes thus. **Musculus. Loc… Communes, Basil…a. 1560. p. 246.Whether o… no this Counsell hath profited the Church of God, whereby such Bishops who should be greater than Presbyters were introduced, rather our of Custome (that I may use the words of Hierome) than out of the truth of the Lords institution, is better declared in after ages, than when this custome was first brought in; to which we owe all that insolency, opulency and tyranny of Princely and Lordly Bishops; imo omnem corruptionem Ecclesiarum Christi; yea all the corruption of the Churches of Christ; which if Hierome should now perceive, without doubt he would acknowledge this, not to be the Counsell of the Holy-Ghost, to take away Schismes, as was pretended; but of the **Nota.Devill himselfe, to waste and destroy the ancient Offices of feeding the Lords …locke; by which it comes to passe, that the Church hath not true Pastors, Doctors, Elders, and Bi…hops, but Idle bellies, and magnificent Princes under the vizors of these names, who not onelyonly neglect to feede the people of the Lord in proper person with wholesome and Apostolicall doctrine, but also by most wicked violence take speciall care, that no man else may doe it. This verily was done by the **Nota.Counsell of Satan, that the Church in stead of Bishops should have powerfull Lords and P…inces, elected for the greatest part out of the Order of the Nobles and Princes of the world, (as they are in Germany) who under-propped with their owne and their kindreds power, may domineer over the flocke of Christ at their pleas…re. And with the complaint of the Emperour Lewis the fourth, and the German Princes against the Italian and German Lordly Prelates, which I may justly accomodate to ours. **Aventinus Annali… B…i…rum. l. 7. p. 546.547.577.Flamines isti Babyloniae soli regnare cupiunt; ferre parem n…n possunt; non desistent, donec omnia pedibus suis conculcaverint, atque in Templo Dei s…deant, ext…llanturque supra omne p. 531id quod colitur. Sub Pontificis titulo, pastoris pelle, lupum saevissimum, nisi caeci sumus, sentimus. Cum nostri servi sint, ipsi dominari contra jus gentium, adversus leges, auspicia & Oracula divina, Dominos, sibi servire volunt. Caesarem Italia, Roma, Christum terris exclusere: illi coelum quidem permittunt, inferos atque terras sibi asseruere.

Bernard Epist. 158.

Quid spirituali gladio, quid censurae Ecclesiasticae, quid Christianae legi & Disciplinae, quid denique divino timori relinquitur, si metu potentiae secularis nullus mu…ire jam audeat contra insolentiam Praelatorum?

FINIS.