Dialogue Between a Soldier and a Chaplain, Dialogue · Floating text
¶ An hundred pointes of Poperie, yet remayning, which deforme the Engliſhe reformation.
1 FIrſte, the Popiſhe names and offices. The Archebiſhop, or Primate of Englande, whoſe office ſtādeth not ſo much in preaching, as in graunting of Licenſes and Diſpenſations, according to the common lawe, &c.
2 Secōdlie, that he is called Lords grace, or, Gratious Lorde, contrarie to the commaūdement of Chriſt, Luc. 22. 25.
3 Thirdlie, that the other Biſhoppes, are called Lords, hauehave dominatiō, and exerciſe authoritie ouer their Brethren, contrarie to the commaundement of our Sauiour Chriſt, Mat. 20. 25. 1. Pet. 5. verſ. 4.
4 That they hauehave the honours of Countie Palatines, &c. contrarie to the example of the Apoſtles, and the Apoſto like preachers, both of olde times, and of our times, in al reformed churches.
5 The glorious Chauncelor, & his craftie courtes.
6 The proude Deane, and his office.
7 The Subdeane with his.
8 The Chaunter.
9 The Cannon.
10 The pettie Canon.
11 The Virgerer.
12 Rector Chori.
13 The Epiſtler, that doeth reade ſome patche of the Epiſtle.
14 The Goſpellar, that doth read ſome peece of the Goſpell.
15 The Queriſter.
16 The Quier or Cage, wherein they do ſeparate them ſelues from the Congregation, and cauſe the worde not to be vnderſtood of the people.
17 The ſinging Clearkes.
18 The Organiſte.
19 The Organ Blower.
20 The Commiſſarie and his court.
21 The Summoner or Apparitor.
22 The Parſon.
23 The Vicar.
24 The Chapleyne.
25 The idle Reader
26 The Pariſh Prieſt.
27 The Prebendarie ſtipendaries, Pencioners that ſell benefices.
28 The Beadmen at burialles, and afterwarde.
29 The hired Mourners, in their mourning garments, &c. So that here is nothing taken of Chriſte, nor his Apoſtles, neyther concerning names, nor office, but onlie of the Pope, that Romane Antichriſte.
The Court of Faculties.
1 LIcenſes to marie in tymes forbidden, as in Lent.
2 In Aduent.
3 In Gange weeke.
4 In Imbring dayes
5 Item, Licences for mariage to perſons forbiddē, which cōteineth many points
6 Licenſes to marie in places exempt.
7 Popiſh diuorcements licenſed.
8 Diſpenſations to eate fleſhe.
9 And thoſe writinges hauehave this poynte of Poperie, Sana conſcientia, as though they had authoritie ouer mennes conſciences.
10 And all this for money, and ſuche a ſumme of money, as the poore men cā not reache vntounto.
11 Diſpenſations for boyes and doltes, to hauehave benefices.
12 Diſpenſation for non Reſidentes.
13 Diſpenſations with them, that doe not preache.
14 Dualities.
15 Trialities.
16 Tollerations.
17 Pluralities.
18 Tot quots.
19 A Lordſhippe ouer the whole Cleargie, and all their Courtes.
20 Excōmunication for fees not paide.
21 A ſale of Abſolutions for money.
22 Both the Phiſitions ſpirituall & corporall, muſt be conſulted withall, before you may hauehave licenſe to eate fleſh. Which high poynte of Diuinitie, was learned forth of Boſton pardon.
23 Buying and ſelling of aduowſons.
24 The abſolution of one man for another.
25 Full power to diſpenſe with all cauſes, that the Biſhoppe of Rome coulde diſpēſe with, the Prince excepted, whiche cōprehendeth manifolde poyntes of poyſonfull Poperie.
26 Brieflie, the popiſhe enormities, and deformities of this Courte, are innumerable. Wherefore we will labor no longer to account them.
The Commiſſarie his Courte.
1 THis robbeth the Church of hir gouernement, vſed both in the olde and newe Teſtament.
2 Secondlie, this is contrarie to Chriſtes commaundement, Dic Eccleſiae, and to the example and doctrine of Paule, to excommunicate alone.
3 Thirdlie, to abſolue alone.
4 To ſitt in iudgement alone.
5 To retract the ſentence, that with the inuocatiō of the name of God he hath pronounced.
6 And to do this for money.
7 To excommunicate for money matters, and for trifles.
8 To abſolue without manifeſt repentaunce.
9 To pole ſomethinge of euerie pariſhe.
10 The poling of the Prieſtes.
11 The light puniſhement of adulterie.
12 The open, knowne, and continuall periurie, of the Churchwardens, committed in that Court.
13 The committing of penaunce, the Congregation not being ſatisfied.
14 Diſpenſations for the tymes of Mariage forbidden, and for not aſ king in the church.
15 The poling of the Proctors.
16 Of the Regiſters.
17 Of the Apparitors.
18 Of the Clearkes, for writinge of Billes.
19 Of the briberie in ſelling of bookes.
20 The Prieſte muſte be ſworne to his Ordinarie.
21 The newe come Prieſte muſte paye tenne ſhillings, for the ſight of his letters of orders.
22 All ſentences, for the moſte parte, are to be giuen by popiſhe Canon lawes, whiche are intricate and infinite.
So that he that will wade further herein, ſhall enter into a ſea of poperie, and ſhall ſee the decaye of Religion & godlineſſe, creepe in by this Courte, and that this is nothinge, but a packe of poperie, and a pudle of corruption.
Groſſe pointes of poperie, euident to all men.
1 OLde Monkes, and Friars, and olde popiſhe prieſtes, notorious idolatrers, openlie periured perſones, haltinge hypocrites, manifeſt Apoſtates, are allowed in place of true and faithfull Paſtors.
2 An other ſorte of vagabounde miniſters of no place.
3 Thirdlie, the running and ridinge to be made Prieſtes, and to prole for benefices.
4 The common Symonie of the prieſtes many wayes.
5 The ſpoyle of benefices by Patrones.
6 Impropriations.
7 The Parſon robbeth the Pariſh, & the poore Vicar muſte ſerue the cure, and do the duetie.
8 The Parſon may lie abroade without checke, and do no duetie to the pariſh. But hee that doeth the duetie, ſhall be bounde to the Popiſh attire, and what ſoeuer it pleaſeth the ordinarie.
9 Miniſters made, neither in electiō, vocation, nor approbation agreeable to Gods worde.
10 Boyes, papiſtes, drunckardes, idiots, Idolles, as Zachariah calleth them, Zachar. 11.
11 Eleuenthlie, learned Miniſters maye not preache, without newe licenſes, although in the ordeyning of them, they are commaunded to preache the goſpell.
12 Some may preache, and not miniſter the Sacramentes.
13 Deacons made to other purpoſes, than Scripture appoynteth.
14 They may miniſter Baptiſme, but not the Communion: they may miniſter the Cuppe, not the bread.
15 The Images of the Trinitie, & many other monuments of ſuperſtition, generally in al church windowes.
16 The holie Sacramentes, mixed with mens traditions.
17 The wante of examination, before the receiuing of the Lords Supper.
18 In manie places it is vſed like a Maſſe.
19 The wante of true Diſcipline for the whole congregation.
20 The popiſhe apparaile of the Archebiſhop and Biſhop, the blacke Chimere or ſleeueles coate, put vppon the fine white rotchet.
21 The great wide ſleeued gowne, commaūded to the Miniſters, & the charge to weare thoſe ſleeues vpō the armes, be the weather neuer ſo hote.
22 The horned cappe.
23 The Tippet.
24 The Surpleſſe in litle churches.
25 The Cope in great churches.
26 The Lordlie power of the Biſhoppes and their Princelie Parkes and Palaces.
27 Their riches gathered togeather by popiſhe meanes, Procurations, Synodalles. &c.
28 Their pompous trayne of proud idle ſwingebreeches, in the ſteede of Preachers & Schollers.
29 Their temporall offices.
30 Their wante of exerciſe in learning.
31 The wante of Diſcipline in the miniſterie.
32 Furred hoodes in Sommer of their great Doctors.
33 Silken hoodes in their quiers, vponupon a Surpleſſe.
34 The gray amiſe with cattes tayles.
35 The Organes playing away halfe of the pſalmes.
36 To ſweare by a booke in their cōmon courtes.
37 To ſaue a theefe if he can reade latin, becauſe he is one of them, Legit vt Clericus.
38 The commō ſwearing by our Ladie, not reproued.
39 And the obſeruing of the Ladies daies, & Ladies feaſtes, which are cōfirmations to ſuch othes and ſwearers.
40 Faires & markets vponupon the Sabaoth dayes. Lewd playes on the ſame daies.
41 Putting of the caps at the name Ieſus
42 Croſsing the corps with linnen cloathes, and ſuch like.
43 Ringing of handbels in many places.
44 Croſsing of thēſelues in their prayers.
45 Ringing of Bells in the place of preaching, when the Prieſtes take poſſeſsion of their benefices.
46 Ringing of Curfewe vppon hallowe euens.
47 Ringing three peales at the burialls.
48 The viſitacions of the Biſhoppes and others, onelyonly for money.
49 Diſpenſations with the rich men for all things: but not with poore menne that hauehave no money.
50 Offerings at burialles, & the offering of the woman at hir churching.
The church ſeruice, and chiefe ſhewe of holines.
1 FIrſt, the only reading in the place of feding, by the applying of the word to the conſcience, is rather an Engliſhe poperie, than a true chriſtiā miniſterie. Chriſt commaundeth his to feede. So doeth Peter exhorte his fellowe miniſters. Paule cōmaundeth to chuſe ſuch & none other.
2 The whole forme of the church ſeruice is borowed from the Papiſtes, peeced and patched without reaſon or order of edification.
3 In the cōmon prayers the prieſt prayeth for the Queene, & the people anſweare of another matter.
4 They pray alſo that all men may be ſaued without exception: and that al trauailing by ſea and by land, may be preſerued, Turkes and traytors not excepted. &c.
5 They praye to be deliuered frō lightening & tempeſt, when there is no daū ger of it. &c.
6 All theſe church prayers & Sacramēts, are tyed to a popiſhe Surpleſſe.
7 Their Saints dayes, and their preſcript ſeruice.
8 Their wakes and idolatrous bankettes
9 Their Lent ſtill obſerued in the ſame time and manner.
10 The Imbring dayes.
11 The hallowe Euens.
12 The Fridrayes and Saterdayes.
13 All their fiſhe faſtes.
14 The croſsing in Baptiſme.
15 That the godfathers & godmothers ſhall promiſe, that the childe doeth beleeue, and doth forſake the Deuill.
16 The neceſsitie of Baptiſme.
17 The Lords Supper in time of neceſsitie, to be miniſtred to one alone.
18 The priuate Baptiſme.
19 The Ring in mariage.
20 The Churching of women with this Pſalme, that the Sunne nor Moone ſhal not burne them.
12 The confirmation of childrē, by laying on of the handes of the Biſhop, to certifie them of Gods fauour, by this ſigne of mans inuention.
22 The making of the Miniſters, by laying on of the handes, and ſaying, Take the holy Ghoſt.
23 The miniſtration in a Wafer cake.
24 The kneeling before the Cake.
Ber.
Peace, here be to many. But mee thincke Miles, that there be ſome pointes here reckoned, that are ſmallie to be accoū ted of, and are but verie trifles.
Mil.
That is true, for all poperie is but trifles. But what hath Chriſtes Church to do, wt the poyſonfull leauē of popiſh trifles? Chriſt wt Antichriſt? A litle leauen corrupteth ye whole lūpe. A litle poyſon, ye whole pottage. And manie ſmall make a great heape. And how can we accounte it a good reformation, where ſo many pointes of poperie do remaine? Or why ſhoulde men in payne of priſonment, or loſſe of liuing, bee bounde to ſubſcribe and allowe all theſe pointes of poperie? But becauſe thou and thy fellowes ſhould not quarell, aboute the ſmaleſt trifles, I do giuegive thee ſeuen ſcore to the hundred. And wherfore is the glorious glaſſe of the Goſpell, by Gods merciemercy ſet before our eyes? but that we ſhoulde wipe away, all theſe popiſh blemiſhes, from the face of our Engliſh Churche, in the which we do boaſt of a reformation. God for his merciemercy graūt, that we may once ſee a right reformation in this church, to the glorie of his name here in Englād, AMEN.
1. Corinth. 4.
The fire ſhal trie euerie mans work, of what ſorte it is, whether it be golde or ſiluer, tymber, ſtrawe, or ſtubble.
¶ Note that the Annotations and Cotations in this booke, were not put too of the Authour, nor the Table following.