Of the Prelates Intolerable Usurpations, Part (4 of 4)

Of the Prelates Intolerable Usurpations · Part (4 of 4)

p. 260To draw towards a conclusion in a few words of exhortation.

1. I shall here First of all desire every of his Majesties faithfull and true hearted Subjects, according to their oathes, duty, and allegiance, to take notice of all the Prelates, and their underlings severall encroachments upon his Majesties Prerogative Royall, and then to withstand to oppugne them by all just and lawfull meanes, to the uttermost of their skill and power, without conniving at or submitting to them in the least degree; not giving over their endeavours against them, till they are quite reformed; and then in the next place to take notice of their usurpations, oppressions, and exactions on themselves, their just and ancient Liberties, and to shake them off with all speed and care, not suffering the Prelates, (raised for the most part from the dunghill and the depth of poverty, which makes them so harsh, proud, and ungentile, both in their carriage and proceedings) to Lord it and triumph over them, (yea even Nobles, Peeres, and Iudges themselves,) in a Pontificall proude, domineering tyrannicall maner; contrary both to their ancient Liberties, the Lawes and Customes of the Realme, nor to impose what Ceremonies, Canons, Articles, Rites; Constitutions, Errors, false Doctrines, Superstitions, and Innovations each of them shall severally please, without the King and Parliaments Consent; or to erect a new Papacy or Spanish Inquisition in the Realme, as some of them have endeavoured;nnGal. 5.1.Gal 5:1 but to stand fast in the Liberty, wherewith Christ himselfe, the Lawes Liberties and Customes of the Realme have made them free, and p. 261not to intangle themselves againe in these their unjust heavy yoakes of Bondage; which they ought to prevent and cast off by all honest legall and Christian meanes: And in the next place, I shall beseech all Prelates now at last, even seriously to consider and lay to heart, all their severall usurpations, encroachments, oppressions, and exactions, both upon their dread Soveraignes Crowne and Dignity, by whose grace alone they were first raised to their Episcopall dignities, which may stand or fall to ground in a moment at his good pleasure,) and upon your Brethrens and other Subject just undoubted Liberties, and then to recount with themselves, what a heavy reckoning they must one day make for them, before Gods and Christs tribunall in the sight of all the world, at the great day of judgement, and to what great dangers, hazards, censures, troubles, losses and perils they may now upon all occasions expose their persons, states, and fortunes, even in his Majesties Courts of Iustice, which they have no assurance to escape; and how execrably odious they now render them everywhere, both to God and man. And when they have thus taken a serious servay of them, with those severall dangers which attend them, let them forth with abate their pride, and tyranny, fall downe upon the knees of their soules and bodies, both to God, his Majesty, and the people, whom they have thus grossely injured and oppresse…, craving both their joynt and severall pardons with bleeding hearts and spirits for these their crying trespasses, giving good and competent satisfaction to the uttermost of their power, to all those they have injured and oppressed; And when they have done thus, let ooIohn. 5.14.John 5:14goe away and sinne no more, least some worse thing happen to them. Let them lay aside their Pompe, their Pride, State, Lordlines, Idlenes, Luxury, Tyranny, Bribery, Symony, good fellowship, persecutions of goodnes, grace, truth, and all good men; their secular offices, imployments, and pluralities; their malice, envy, hatred, emulation, contention, ambition, voluptuosnesse, backbitinge, false accusing, fines, imprisonments, Pursevants, Iaylors, unwarrantable Excommunications, p. 262fees, exactions, impieties, ungodlines, prophanes, swearing, cursing, prophaning of Gods most sacred day, both by life, and doctrine, their non-preaching, rare-preaching, rare-praying, their frequent carding, dicing, bowling, dauncing, hunting, hauking, that I say not whoring, with all other their Episcopall vices, betaking themselves wholly in a pious, studious, holy, temperate, sober, humble, chast, unspotted, exemplary, heavenly, fruithfull, gratious preaching, charitable, pittifull, just, and upright life;ppPhil. 2.15 Matth. 5.14.15.16.Phil 2:15Matt 5:14Matt 5:15Matt 5:16 shining forth like so many glorious burning lights of the world, in the middest of a crooked and perverse generation. Let them remember that they are (at leastwise ought to be) not Lords, but servants; not Bitesheeps, but Bishops; not Pilates, but Prelates; not imposters, but Pastors; not loyterers, but labourers; not Kings, but Subjects; not sleepers, but Watchmen; not blinde Bedels, but Seers; not fleecers, but feeders; not butchers, but shepheards; not Preyers, but Preachers; not destroyers, but instructors; not Tyrants, but Fathers; not dumbe-dogges, but cryers; not theeves, but keepers; not Wolves, but Guardians; not seducers, but leaders; guides and examples to the Flock and Sheepe of Christ, alwayes carying themselves like such in all places, companies and conditions whatsoever,qq1. Iohn. 2.6.1 John 2:6 walking even as Christ, the rrHebr. 13.20. 1. Pet. 5 4.Heb 13:201 Pet 5:4Great Sheepheard of the sheepe hath done before them, ss1. Pet. 2.21.1 Pet 2:21leaving them an example, that they should follow his steps.

If any of them are so presumptuous as to thinke they may still Lord it, and tyrannize over Gods people, inheritance, and their fellow-Brethren, ruling them with boysterous force, violence, or with a rod of Iron, as they have hitherto done; let all such Lucisers and domineering spirits, (who strive to engrosse into their hands the very sway of Kingdomes and of the world it selfe, as many of them now conspire and endeavoure,) remember these three Lessons, which our Saviour, and Sant Peter have left behind them; w…ich they had need well learne themselves, before they can ever duely rule, instruct or tutor others.

p. 2631. The first of them is this of Matthew 20.20. to 29. Marke the 10.35. to 46. Luke 22.24. to 28. where our Saviour, when James and John the Sonnes of Zebedee came unto him with this request, saying: Master grant unto us that wee may sit one at thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand in thy Kingdome, (whereupon there arose a st…ife betweene the other Disciples and them, which of them should be accounted the greatest;) called them all unto h m and sayd; yee know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise Dominion or Eldership over them, and they that are great, exercise authority upon them; but it shall not be so with you, but whosoever will be great among you, let him be (saith Matth.) shall be (saith Marke,) your servant, or M…nister; and whosoever will be cheife, cheifest (saith Marke,) let him be your servant, (saith Matth.) shall be servant of all; (writes Marke.) Even as (so Matthew,) for even (so Marke,) the sonne of man came not to be ministred unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransome for many. Which S. Luke thus renders: The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them, and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactours. But yee shall not be so, but hee that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and hee that is cheife, as hee that doth serve: For whether is greater, hee that sitteth at meat, or hee that serveth? is not hee that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as hee that serveth.

2. The second is the 1. Pet. 5.1.2.3.5. The Elders, which are among you, I exhort, who am also an Elder, and a witnes of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory, that shall be revealed: Feed the flocke of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready minde; Neither as being Lords over Gods heritage; but being ensamples to the flock. And when the cheife Shepheard shall appeare, yee shall receive a Crowne of glory, that fadeth not away. Likewise yee younger, submit your selves unto the Elder; yea all of you be subject one to another, and be cloathed with humility, for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. p. 264On which text Sant Paul thus comments: 2. Cor. 1.24. Not that wee have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith yee stand; And Phil. 2.3. Let nothing be done through strife or vaine glory, but in lowlines of mind, let each esteeme other better then themselves.

3. The third is Matth. 11.19. Take my yoake upon you, and learne of me, for I am meeke and lowly in heart: and yee shall finde rest unto your soules. Which Sant Paul thus illustrates: Col. 3.12.13. Put on therefore (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) bowels of mercies, kindnes, humblenes of minde, meekenes, long suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiuing one another, if any man have a quarrell against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also doe yee. From these 3. Scriptures**See the Epistle Dedicatory, & the Fathers, and Commentators on these Texts. Divines both old and new have deduced these three Conclusions.

1. First, That all Bishops and Ministers by Christs institution are of equall authority and Iurisdiction, and that one of them ought not to Lord it, or domineere over the other, as all Bishops now every where doe, both over their fellow-brethren and the people: and that Bishops and Ministers by Gods Law are of equall degree, dignity, power, and Iurisdiction.

2. Secondly, That Bishops and Ministers ought to be patternes of humility, meeknes, charity, compassion, brotherly kindnes, and forgivenes unto all others: and yet who so swolne with Antichristian pride, ambition, envy, hatred, malice, slander; so revengefull, implacable mercilesse as they, as the common proverbe, (as proud, as malicious as a Prelate,) witnesseth.

3. Thirdly, ‡‡This is excellently and largely prooved by Marsilius Patavinus, Defensoris pacis pars 2. c. 4. 5. 6. &c. Mr. Tyndall his Practise of Popish Prelates in the beginning. The Supplic. to K. Henry the 8. and others.That no Bishops or Clergymen ought to turne Magistrates or temporall Lords and Officers, nor yet to exercise any civill power, Dominion or Iurisdiction over their Brethren, and fellow Ministers, or any of Gods people, nor yet to inflict any fines, imprisonments, or temporall censures on p. 265them, either by their owne inherent power, or any derivative Authority or Commission from the Prince or civill Magistrate.

Hence Origen, in his 31. Hom. upon Matthew, writes thus: Verily that Bishop sinneth whomsoever hee be, who doth not minister like a servant to his fellow-servants, but like a Lord, yea, very often domineering by violence even like a bitter Lord, being made like the Egyptians, who afflicted the life of the children of Israel with force: therefore they ought to be mindefull of the words of Christ: The Princes of the Gentiles domineere over them, &c. But among you it shall not be so. Hence Prosper Aquitanicus, complaines thus of the Prelates in his time, De Vita Contemplativa, lib. 1. c. 21. Wee are made potent onelyonly for this end, that wee may purchase, and usurpe to our selves a tyrannicall Domination over those who are under our charge, not that we might defend the afflicted against the violence of great men, who rage against them like wild beasts. Wee delight onelyonly in things present, seeke onelyonly whilest wee are in this life, our owne profits and honours, hastening not that wee may be better but richer, not that we may be holier, but that wee may be more honourable and greater then others: neither doe wee minde the floock of the Lord, which is committed to us, to be fed and defended, but wee carnally thinke of our owne pleasures, Dominion, and other worldly allurements. We will needs be called pastors, and yet wee strive not to become such, wee shunne the labor of our office, and yet desire the dignity thereof. Hence alsottAd Clerum Sermo in Concilio Rhemensi. Sant Bernard complaines of the Prelates in his age, in this sort: They are not Pastors, but betrayers; they are called Shepheards, when as in truth they are but theives. Alas wee have but few Pastors, and yet many Excommunicators, (as wee also have now too many even upon no occasion.) And would to God the wooll and the milke would suffice you, for yee even thirst after the very blood of the sheepe. And inuuDe Consid. ad Eugenium lib. 2. c. 6. another place hee thus writes to Pope Eugenius (asxxFox Acts & Monuments p. 412. Master Fox records in his Booke of Martyrs,) who claimed a kinde of Dominion and Lordship over his fellow-Brethren: Thou hast nothing in thy greatnes that may flatter thee, but a greater sollicitude: True it is, thou art advaunced, but p. 266thou oughtest by all meanes to consider, to what purpose; not to domineere, as I conceave; for even the Prophet, when hee was in like maner advaunced heard, yyIer. 1.Jer 1that thou mayest pluck up and destroy; and that thou mayest build and plant. Which of these sounds of pride: rather a spirituall labor is expressed under the scheme of rustick sweat: And wee therefore although wee may thinke highly of our selves, shall perceive a ministration imposed on us, and not a Dominion given to us, I am not greater then the Prophet, and if perchance I am equall to him in power, yet there is no comparison betweene us in respect of merits. These things speake thou to thy selfe, and teach thou thy selfe, who teachest others; reckon thy selfe but as some one of the Prophets. Is not this sufficient to thee? yea too much: But by the grace of God, thou art what thou art. What? Be thou, that which a Prophet is: art thou any thing more then a Prophet? If thou art wise thou wilt be content with the measure that God hath meated to thee, for that which is more, is from the evill one: learne from the Prophets example how to beare rule, not so much to commaund, as diligently to performe what Christ requires; learne that thou needest a weeding hooke, not a scepter, that thou mayest doe the worke of a Prophet: And verily hee ascended not as one about to raigne, but to extirpate: Thinkest thou that thou mayest not finde some worke to be done in the feild of thy Lord? yea very much: the Prophets could not plainly cleanse it all, they have left some things to their sonnes the Apostles to doe; yea thy very parents have left some thing to thee, neither mayest thou thy selfe suffice to doe every thing; verily thou shalt leave some thing to thy Successor, and hee to others, and they to others unto the end. Finally, about the 11.zzLuke 10.Luke 10 hower the workemen are reprooved of idlenesse, and sent into the vineyard; the Apostles thy predecessors have heard, that the harvest verily is great, but the labourers are few, challenge to thy selfe thy Fathers inheritance. aaGal. 4.Gal 4For if thou art a Sonne, then an heire: that thou mayest proove an heire, give attendance to thy cure, and thou mayest not waxe idle, unlesse it be also said to thee, WhybbMath. 20.Matt 20 standest thou idle all the day? much lesse oughtst thou to be found either dissolute with delights or effeminate with pompes. p. 267Thy testators writing assigneth nothing of these to thee: But what? If thou art content with their tenure, thou shalt rather inherit care and labor, then glory and riches, doth thy chaire flatter thee? It is no Watch Tower: Finally, thou overseest from thence, sounding to thy selfe, in the name of a Bishop, not a Dominion, but an office: Why shouldest thou not be placed in an eminent place, whence thou mayest overlooke all things, who art constitute a watchman over all things? for truly this prospect begets readines, not idlenes. How canst thou take pleasure to glory, where it is not lawfull for thee to be idle? neither is there any roome for idlenes, where a sedulous solicitude of all Churches oppresseth. For what else hath the holy Apostle demised to thee? That which I have, said hee, that give I unto thee: What is that? One thing I know, it is not gold nor silver, seeing himselfe saith, ccActs. 4.Acts 4Silver nor gold have I none, if thou chance to have any, use it not according to the lust, but as the time requires; be thou such a one using them, as if thou usest them not. These things verily so farre as appertaines to the good of the minde, are neither good nor ill, yet their use is good, their abuse evill, their desire or care worse, their lucre more dishonest; But be it so, that thou mayest challenge it unto thee, by any other meanes whatsoever, yet truly by any Apostolicall right thou canst not so doe, for how could hee give unto thee that which hee hath not himselfe? That which hee had, that hath hee given, the care over the Churches, as I have said. But hath hee given thee any Lordship? Hearke: what hee saith, not bearing rule, saith hee, as Lords in the Cleargy, but behaving your selves as example to the flock: And because thou shalt not thinke it to be spoken onelyonly in humility, and not also in verity, marke the voyce of the Lord himselfe in the Gospell: ddLuke. 22.Luke 22But you shall not doe so: Here Lordship and Dominion is plainely forbidden to the Apostles, and darest thou then usurpe the same? If thou wilt be a Lord, thou shalt loose thine Apostle-ship, or if thou wilt be an Apostle, thou shalt loose thine Lordship. Goe thou then and presume to usurpe to thy selfe, either an Apostle-ship being a Lord, or a Lordship being an Apostle. Verily thou art prohibited and must depart from one of them; if thou wouldest have both, thou shalt loose both, or else p. 268thinkest thy selfe to be in the number of those, of whom God doth so greatly complaine, saying: eeHos. 8.Hos 8They have raigned, but not through me, they are become Princes, and I have not knowne it. Now if it doth suffice thee, to rule without the Lord, thou hast thy glory, but not with God; But if wee will keepe that which is forbidden us, let us heare what is said: Hee that is the greatest among you, (saith Christ,) shall be made as the least among you, and hee which is Highest, shall be as the Minister, and for example set a child in the middest of them: So this then is the true forme and institution of the Apostles trade, Lordship and rule is forbidden, Ministration and service commaunded; which is likewise commended by the example of the Law-giver himselfe, who subjoynes: But I am in the middest of you, as one that ministreth. How now may any thinke himselfe inglorious with the Title, wherewith the Lord of glory hath before him dignified himselfe? Deservedly Paul glories in it, saying: ff2. Cor. 11.2 Cor 11Are they the servants of Christ? So am I; and hee addes, I speake as a foole, I am more; in labours more often, in imprisonments more aboundant, in stripes above measure, in deaths more frequent. O excellent ministry! Is not this more glorious then any principality; &c. After which hee thus proceeds, against the pride, pompe, Lordship, and secular power of the Prelates:ggDe Consideratione, l. 4. If I durst be bould to speake, these things are rather the food of Devils, then of Sheep: What? Did Peter doe thus? Did Paul thus play the vice? Seest thou not, how all their Ecclesiasticall zeale is fervent, onelyonly to defend their dignity? all is attributed to dignity, nothing or very litle to holines. If cause requiring, thou shalt attempt to doe somewhat more submisly, or to shew thy selfe more sociable, they say God forbid; it becomes thee not; it agrees not to the time, it is not suitable to thy Majesty, consider the person which thou bearest. Of the pleasure of God there is no mention at all, no delay for the losse of salvation. Wee may call nothing wholsome, but that which is sublime, and that onelyonly just, which savours of glory: Thus all humility is esteemed a reproach among the Prelates. So that thou mayest more easily finde, one who desires to be, then to appeare humble: The feare of the Lord they repute p. 269simplicity, that I say not folly. A circumspect man and a freind of his owne Conscience, they calumniate for an hypocrite. Here, here I spare thee not, that God may spare thee: shew thy selfe to this people a Pastor verily, or deny thy selfe to be one. Thou wilt not deny it, least hee, whose seate thou possessest deny thee to be his Heire; Hee is Peter, who was never knowne to have gone abroad at any time, either adorned with Jewels, or silkes, or covered with gold, or carried on a white Palfery, or guarded with souldiers, or invironed with servants, making a noyse round about him, yet notwithstanding hee beleived that this sacred mandate, hhIohn. 21.John 21If thou lovest me, feede my sheepe, might be sufficiently discharged without these things. In these thou hast succeeded not Peter, but Constantine. I counsaile, that they are to be tollerated in respect of the time, not to be affected as of due. I rather incite thee to these things, of which I know thee to be a debter. And although thou goest clad in purple, although in gold, yet thou mayest not abhorre either Pastorall labor or care, being the Heire of a Sheepheard; thou mayest not be ashamed to preach the Ghospell; for verily if thou doe it willingly, thou shalt have glory among the Apostles. To preach the Ghospell is to feede. Doe the worke of an Euangelist, and thou hast fullfilled the worke of a Pastor. Thou sayest, you admonish me to feede Dragons, and Scorpions, not sheepe. For this cause rather set upon them, but yet with the word, not with the sword; Why doest thou attempt againe to usurpe the sword which thou hast beene once commaunded to put up into the scabheard? which notwithstanding hee who shall deny to be thine, seemes to me not sufficiently to have considered the word of the Lord, saying thus: Put up thy sword into its sheath: therefore it also is thine, perchance at thy commaund, although not to be unsheathed with thy hand. Both swords therefore are the Churches, as well the spirituall as materiall; but that verily is to be exercised for the Church, but the other by the Church; that by the hand of the Preist; this, of the Souldier, but yet at the beck of the Preist, and the commaund of the Emperour. And in his 23. Sermon upon the Canticles hee concludes: Let the Prelates heare this, who will be alwayes a terror to those committed to their p. 270charge, seldome a benefit. Be instructed, ye who judge the earth: learne, that ye ought to be the mothers of your Subjects, not their Lords; Study rather to be beloved then feared: and if at any time there be use of severity, let it be fatherly, not tyrannicall: shew your selves mothers by fostering, fathers by reprehending, waxe meeke, lay aside your feircenes, suspend your stripes, produce your duggs: Let your brest wax fat with milke, not swell with pride: why doe you make your yoake heavy upon such, whose burthens ye ought rather to sustaine? Why doth a litle one bitten by the Serpent, flie from the Conscience of the Preist, to whom hee ought rather to have recourse, as to the bosome of his mother. If ye be spirituall, instruct such a one with the spirit of meekenes, considering every one himselfe least hee also be tempted. Thus this devout Father: yet notwithstanding our Saviours owne inhibition, and these Fathers complaints and declamations, our Lordly Prelates, both of present andiiSocrates Schol. Hist. Eccles. lib. 2. c. 27. 28. 42. l. 4. c. 36. l. 7. c. 7. 11. Mathew Westminster Flores Hist. An. 1247. p. 217. 28. Haddon and Fox contra Hieronym. Osorium. l. 3. f. 234. to 254. Doctor Barnes his Supplication to King Henry the 8. Thomas Beacon his Supplication, and his Reports of certaine men. ancient times, have intruded themselves into all temporall offices, and usurped both the temporall and spirituall sword into their hands, exercising not onelyonly all maner of Ecclesiasticall, but likewise of civill Lordship, and dominion over the Ministers and Flock of Christ; and that with such tyranny, cruelty, pride, oppression, injustice, and more then barbarous inhumanity, (transcending all patternes of pagan Princes, and Tyrants,) that their very Acts and Monuments of this kinde, have surfeited all Ecclesiasticall Stories, and swolne into many folio volumes. Witnes, the French and English Bookes of Martyrs, the Magdeburge Centuries, Catalogus testium veritatis, Theodoricus a Niem, and others De Scismate, Abbas Ʋspergensis, Sant Bridgets revelations, Mathew Paris, Alvarius Pelagius de planctu Ecclesiae, Avintine, Guiciardine, Nicolaus de Clemangiis, Onus Ecclesiae, Morney his Historia Paparus, Marsilius Patavinus Defensoris Pacis, Master Tyndals practise of Popish Prelates, Roderick Mors his supplication to the Parliament, p. 271William Wraughton, aliàs Turner his Hunting of the Romish Fox and Wolfe, John Bale his Acts of English Votaries, his Centuries, and lifes of the Pope, Henry Stalbridge his Exhortatory Epistle; and generally all others, who have written against the usurpation, tyranny, Iurisdiction, pride, and Lordlines, both of the Popish and of our English Prelates; In so much that Pope kkPastoral. pars 2. c. 6. & 8. Hom. 17. in Euangelia. f. 320.Gregory the first, hath long since given this true character of them; that under a pretence of Discipline, Ministerium regiminis vertunt in usum Dominationis; & cum regiminis jura suscipiunt ad Lacerandos subditos inardescunt. Terrorem potestatis exhibent, & quibus prodesse debuerant, nocent. Et quia charitatis viscera non habent, domini videri appetunt, patres se esse minimè recognoscunt: humilitatis locum in elationis dominationem immutant: Etsi quandò extrinsecus blandiuntur intrinsecus autem sunt lupi rapaces. Pulvinos his exhibent, à quibus se noceri posse in studio gloriae temporalis timent. Quos verò contrà se nil valere conspiciunt, hos nimirum asperitate rigidae semper invectionis premunt, nunquam clementer admonent, sed pastoralis mansuetudinis obliti, jure dominationis terrent. Quos rectè per Prophetam divina vox increpat, dicens: Vos autem cum austeritate Imperabitis ijs, & cum pot…ntia: Plus enim de suo authore diligentes, jactancèr erga subditos se erigunt, nec quid agere debeant, sed quid valeant, attendunt. Nil de subsequenti judicio, metuunt, qui improbe de temporali potestate gloriantur. Libet ut licentur & illicita faci…n, & subditorum nemò contradicat. (A true Character of our present Prelates;) It isllSocrates Scholast Eccles. Hist. l. 4. c. 36. storied of one Moses, a Monke, whom Queene Mavia and the Saracens p. 272under her chose to be their Bishop upon their embracing of the Christian faith; that when Lucius Bishop of Alexandria would have given him orders, hee refused to receive orders at his hands, reasoning with him in this sort: I thinke my selfe unworthy of the Preistly order, yet if it it be for the profit of the Common-weale, that I be called unto the function, truly thou Lucius shalt never lay hand upon my head. For thy right hand is imbrued with slaughter and bloodshed. When Lucius said againe, that it became him not so contumeliously to revile him, but rather to learne of him the precepts of the Christian Religion: Moses answered: I am not come now to reason of matters of Religion, but sure I am of this, that thy horrible practises against the Brethren proove thee be altogether voyd of the true principles of Christian Religion: For the true Christian striketh no man, revileth no man, fighteth with no man: For the servant of God should be no fighter: But thy deeds in exiling of some, throwing of others to wilde beasts, burning of some others, doe cry out against thee. And doe not our Prelates Ex Officio Oathes and Proceedings; their Excommunications, Deprivations, Suspentions, degradations, heavy fines, and imprisonments, their casting of the best and painefullest Ministers out of their freeholds, benefices, functions; their violent breaking open and ransacking of mens howses, studies, writings, upon small or no occasion; their committing of men close prisoners, and making havack of Christs Flock in every place; their suppressing Lectures, preaching and all private Christian exercises, cry out against them, as much as ever Lucius his cruelties did against him.mmIn Ioan. c. 10. See Bishop Bilson his true difference betweene Christian Subjection and Vnchristian Rebell. p. 114.John 10 Albertus Magnus: gives this description of the Prelates in his age. Those which now rule in the Church, be for the most part theives and murtherers, rather oppressors then feeders, rather spoylers then tutors, rather killers then keepers, rather perverters then teachers, rather seducers then leaders. These be the Messengers of Antichrist, and underminers of the flock of Christ: And may not wee verifie the like of many Bishops now?nnA…nalium Bonorum. lib. 6. praefat. Aventinus p. 273writes thus of the Bishops in his time: I am ashamed to say what maner of Bishops we have, with the revenues of the poore, they feed houndes, horses, I need not say whores; they quaffe, they make love, and flee all learning (preaching, grace, and holines) as infection. Such is the misery of these times, wee may not speake that wee thinke, nor thinke that wee speake. As for the sheepe committed to their charge, to sheere them, strip them, kill them, as every man list, under a pretence of devotion, is now an ancient Custome. And is not this Custome still continued? What remedy therefore may be now prescribed for this old Malady, or punishment for these excesses? I read thatooSocrates Scholast. Eccl. Hist. l. 2. c. 42. in the Greeke 33. in the English. Basilius otherwise Basillas, Bishop of Ancyra, was deprived of his Bishopricke, for that hee cruelly tormented and imprisoned a certaine man, (as our Prelates have many score) forged slaunders, and disquieted divers persons thereby, and molested the quiet estate of the Churches in Africke. And I finde it resolved by theppHostiensis, l. 5. f. 464. Canonists in their Titles De Excessibus Praelatorum; (A Title very ancient and copious,) That if a Prelate exceeds measure in correcting his Subjects, or be over-tyrannicall and severe, hee ought to be deposed for it: yea qqSumma Angelica, Irregularitas, 21.if hee thrust any person under his Jurisdiction into prison, so as hee dieth by reason of his vexation within a short time, (as many have thus died under our Ptelates hands, not onelyonly in Queene Maries dayes, but since, even in our times, hee thereby becomes irregular, as having his hand in blood, and may be therefore deprived even by the Canon Law. Our Prelates therefore as they are irregular for their cruell oppressions, imprisonments, excesses, and tyrannicall proceedings, (yea ipso facto Excommunicated for making, printing, and publishing, Visitation Articles, without the Kings authority, and causing his Majesties Subjects to submit unto them, by the expresse provision of their owne 12. Canon, and so rrGratian Causa 9. Quaest. 1. Causa 11. Quaest. 3. Hostiensis, l. 5. De Sententia Excommunicationis. Summa Angelica & Summa Rosella. Tit. Irregularitas & Excommunicationis, and other Canonists in those Titles.unable to exercise any Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction whatsoever p. 274all their proceedings and Censures being now in this regard, (if not their orders too, meere nullities in point of Law, and their very company to be abandoned by all, as being both irregular and excommunicated;) so they very justly demerit to be deprived of their Bishoprickes, and made all Quondams for the same:ss31. H. 8. c. 10. 37. H. 8. c. 17. Fox Acts & Monuments p. 999. 1000. Antiquitates Eccles. Brit. p. 386. 388 389. King Henry the 8. to vindicate his Prerogative in causes Ecclesiasticall from the Popes and Prelates usurpations; and to manifest to the Prelates, that all Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction, was originally vested in, and to be derived onelyonly from him, and that hee might at his pleasure take it from his Prelates, who enjoyed it meerely by his Grace, and delegate it to whom hee pleased, though meere Laymen: created a meere Lay-man, to wit, Thomas Lord Crumwell, Lord Privy Seale, his Vice-gerent for the due administration of Justice to be had in all cases, & cases touching the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction; to overtop the proud ambitious Bishops, inquire after, visit, and correct their excesses, and exorbitant misdemeanors, and overlooke their actions, lives, proceedings, to keepe them in good order and within their bounds, and for the Godly reformation and redresse of Errors, Haeresies, and abuses in the Church of England. And the Statute of 31. H. 8. c. 10. yet in force, enacts, That the said Lord Crumwell, having the said office of Vicegerent, and all other persons, which hereafter shall have the said office of Vicegerent, of the grant of the Kings Highnes, his Heires or Successors, shall sit and be placed aswell in this present Parliament, as in all Parliaments to be holden hereafter, on the right side of the Parliament chamber, and upon the same forme that the Archbishop of Canterbury sitteth on, and above the same Archbishop and his Successors, and shall have voyce in every Parliament to assent or dissent, as other Lords of Parliament. The Lord Crumwell vested with this Ecclesiasticall Authority, both by tt31. H. 8. c. 10. Fox Acts and Monuments p. 999. 1000. 1001. 1005. Antiquit. Eccl. Brit. p. 389. 399.Letters Patents from the King and this Act of Parliament, held a generall Visitation in all Diocesses of the Realme over the Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacons themselves, as well as over the Laity, inquiring after and correcting their abuses, prescribing Injunctions, Rules and Orders to them, both for the Reformation of Religion, the abolishing of Superstition p. 275and Idolatry, the correction of their exorbitant proceedings, excesses, lives and maners, appointing uu37. H. 8. c. 17.Laymen by Letters Patents under the Kings great Seale, to be the Kings Ecclesiasticall Judges, Visitors, Vicars Generall, Commissaries, Chauncellours, Officials, Scribes, and Registers, (not the Bishops,) and to exercise all maner of Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction and Censures in every Diocesse, from, by and under his Majesty, and by his authority; as his immediate officers not the B…shops; (whom hee discharged from this trouble both to curbe their ambitious domineering humors, and to make them more diligent in preaching and instructing the people, the cheife end for which they were ordained Bishops, xxChristianae Reipublicae non minus necessaria est Praedicatio Euangelij, quàm Lectio; ET HOC EST PRAECIPVVM EPICOPORVM MVNVS. Sessio 5. De Reformatione, c. 2.even by the Councell of Trents resolution, and the maine part of their Episcopall function.) And with all, hee kept a speciall Visitation, An. 1538. of all the Abbies, Priories and religious houses throughout the Realme, enquiring most strictly into their lives, and vices, discovering in them such horrible detestable Sodomy, Buggery, Adultery, Whoredome, Luxury, beastlinesse, and sinck of all maner of sinne, both by their owne confessions, and witnesses, as would make all modest, chaste and pious Christians, yea morrall Pagans to stand amazed; as the inquisitions themselves and their owne confessions in the Exchequer Records, mentioned by John yyBalaeus Scriptorum Brit. Cent. 8. c. 75. Appendix, p. 665. Speeds History of great Brittaine, p. 1042. 1043. 1044. Henry Steven his Apology for Herodotus, c. 21. f. 183. Iohn Weever his ancient funerall Monuments Lond. 1631.Bale, Bishop Osyris, and John Speed, and transcribed lately by Master Weever, among other ancient Monuments, record to all posterity, to their perpetuall infamy. Whereupon these cages of uncleannes, and infernall Stewes were fortwith dissolved by Act of Parliament, and these monstrous Sodomities, and Devils incarnate, in the shapes of men, thrust out and punished, according to their deserts. zzFox Acts and Monuments, p. 1181. 1182. 1187. 1192. 1193. 1209. 1233. Queene Elizabeths Injunctions, and the Articles of inquiry printed with them. Bishop Iewels life before his workes, Sect. 25. Speeds Hist. p. 1156. Antiquit. Eccles. Brit. p. 386. 388. 389. 398.King Edward the 6. and Queene Elizabeth, p. 276treading in this their Royall Fathers footesteps, appointed and constituted Vicegerents and Visitors under their great Seales, the cheife whereof were Laymen, to visit both the Bishops Clergy and Laity in every Diocesse, within the Realme, w…th both the Ʋniversities of Oxford and Cambridge, and to correct, redresse and reforme all maner of Errors, Haeresies, Schismes, abuses, offences, contempts, enormities, sinnes and vices whatsoever, punishable by any Ecclesiasticall Law, and to setle all things both in po…nt of Doctrine and Discipline, according to the Articles of Religion established, and their Royall Injuctions; published under their great Seales, by the advise of their Councell, and aa32. H. 8. 26. 1. Ed. 6. c. 1. 3. & 4. Ed. 6. c. 10. 11. 12. 5. & 6. Ed. 6. c. 1. 5. 2. & 3 E. 6. c. 1. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 2. 5. Eli. c. 1 8. Eliz. c. 1.Authority of Parliament enabling them to publish such Injunctions; these their Visitors having Authority Ecclesiasticall in every Diocesse paramount the Bishops themselves, by vertue of their Commissions and Letters Patents. A cleare evidence, that the power of keeping visitations, is a cheife part, of the Kings Ecclesiasticall Prerogative specially united to the Crowne, by severall Acts of Parliament, that no Prelate or person, may or ought to usurpe and exercise it, (as the Archbishop of Canterbury hath lately done, and pleaded that hee ought of right to visit, not onelyonly his Province, but both Universities in his owne inherent Archiepiscopall right, and name, not as his Majesties Visitor, and in his name and right alone, which they were content at first, hee should doe,) by bb26. H. 8. c. 1. 31. H. 8 c. 10. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. E. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 8. Eliz. c. 1.speciall Letters Patents, under the great Seale, by, from, and under his Majesty, as his visitors and vicegerents onelyonly, and in his name and right alone; and that, as no Archbishop, Bishop, or other Ecclesiasticall person, may or ought by Law to visit any of the Kings free-chaples, Donatives, Hospitals, Abbyes, or Peculiars, though within his Diocesse, and precincts, (and by consequence the Universities and severall Colledges in them, many of them being of Kings foundations, all of them having speciall Visitors appointed them by the founders, by speciall Patent from the King) but by a speciall Commission from the King under his great Seale, without incurring both an Attachment and Praemunire, and as the King by his Royall Prerogative may exempt any place or person at his pleasure p. 277from all Episcopall Jurisdictions and visitations, as many cc8. Ass. 29. m. 16. E. 3. Fitz Breife. 660. 20. E. 3. Fitz. Excom. 9. 21. E. 3. 60. 27. E. 3. 85. a. Register pars 2. f. 40. 41. 43 Fitz. Nat. Brev. 42. a. 50. l. Cromptons Iurisdiction of Courts. f. 97. a. Dyer. 273. a. Cooke 5. Report. Cawdries case. f. 9. 10. 15. 11. Report f. 91. Institutes on Litleton. f. 96. a. 344 a. Sir Iohn Davis his Irish Reports 42. 46. 47. 48. Brooke Praemunire. 21. Hil. 2. Iac. B. R. Gayard and Fairechilds case 2. H. 5. c. 1. 25. H. 8. c. 21. 14. Eliz. c. 5. Sta…ford. l. 3. c. 38. f. 111. 1. H. 7. 23. 25.Law Bookes, ddEadmerus Hist Nov l. 1. p. 6. and Master Seldens Notes ibid. p. 165. 166. Antiquit. Eccles. Brit. p. 386. 388. 389. 398. 399.Histories, yea and the eeSumma Angelica & Summa Rosell Tit. Exemptus. 3. 4. 5. Mauritius de Alcedo De Praecellentia Episcopalis dignitatis. l. 2. c. 2. n. 50. p. 190. Fuscus de Visitatione. l. 2. n. 21. Azorius, Instit. Moral. pars 2. l. 1. c. 90. qu. 10. Franciscus Leo, in Thesauro, pars 2. c. 2. n. ult. Perez de Capellanis, l. 2. c. 1. n. 49. Barbosa Allegatio. 75. n. 2. 16.Canonists themselves, together with the ffSessio. 22. de Reformatione, c. ….Councell of Trent expresly resolve; So likewise that no Bishop may, can or ought by Law to keepe a visitation within his Diocesse, without a speciall Patent from the King, (as appeares by Bishop Ridlies, Coverdales, Scories, Ponets and many other ancient Bishop Patents, the Statutes of 31. H. 8. c. 10. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 8. Eliz. c. 1. and other statutes,) the King being as absolute a Monarch, King, Governour, in and over all Ecclesiasticall persons and causes in every Bishops Diocesse, as in and over his owne frank-chaples, Donatives and Peculiars; which no Prelates dare or can deny; since in the very Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance, (which the Archbishops are the first men, enjoyned to take as likewise to instruct,) they make this profession and solemne protestation, I doe vtterly testifie and declare in my Conscience, that the Kings Highnes is the only supreame Governour of this Realme, & all other of his Heighnes Dominions and Countries, (therefore in and of their Diocesse,) as well in all spirituall, or Ecclesiasticall things or causes, as temporall. Seeing therefore our Prelates are lately growen so insolent, as to claime and exercise all their Ecclesiasticall Episcopall Iurisdiction, and the power of visitation to, by a divine right and Title onelyonly, not by any power, Patent or Commission from the King; seeing they have made so many p. 278grosse encroachments, both upon the Kings Prerogative Royall, the Lawes, the Customes of the Realme, and the Subjects Rights and Liberties, which they everywhere trample under their feete: And since they are growne so exorbitant, irregular, tyrannicall, oppressive, vindictive; so onerous and intollerable to the Subjects, both in their Consistories and visitations, but especially in their High-Commissions, where they make the Kings Commission and Authority a meere engine and stratageme to erect and inlarge their owne meere Papall Antichristian Iurisdictions and usurpations, which they challenge by a Divine (but in truth a Papall) right, thereby chrushing and questioning all such, who out of conscience towards God, or Loyalty to their Soveraigne, dare make any just or legall opposition against the same, or refuse to submit thereto; And since the Statute of 31. H. 8. c. 10. authorizeth both the King his Heires and Successors, to make a Vice-gerent generall in causes Ecclesiasticall, though a meere Layman, to take place of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and all other Prelates of the Realme, and their Successors, both in Parliament, and elsewhere, to curbe and restraine their exorbitant usurpations both upon the Kings Prerogative, Lawes and Subjects Liberties; to overlooke their actions, maners, lives, proceedings; to correct their severall misdemeanors, encroachments, excesses, tyrannies, oppressions, exactions, abuses, and to visit these great Lords and Visitors themselves: Whether it will not be meet and expedient for his Majesty both in point of Honor, Iustice and Policy, to constitute such a Lay Vice-gerent generall, by his speciall Letters Patents, to checke the insolency and domineering humor of our present Lordly Prelates, and to visite, inquire out, punish, redresse all their forementioned disloyall encroachments, both upon the King and Subject, for the better preservation of the Prerogative of the one, the Liberties of the other, the releife of all oppressed Subjects, the better execution of Iustice in all Ecclesiasticall Courts and causes, and the exemption of the Prela…es from all unnccessary cares and toubles; which now so take them up, that they have neither time p. 279nor Will, diligently to teach and instruct the people in matters of salvation, asggTract. 9. 12. 16. 20. 21. 27. 29. 35. 37. 38. 50. in Ioan. Tract. 1. 4. 6. 10. in 1. Epist. Ioan. De verbis Domini in Euangelia. Serm. 15. 21. De verbis Apostoli. Serm. 5. 6. 7 Sant Augustine, Sant hhDe Sacram. l. 4. c. 6. l. 5. c. 1.Ambrose, iiCatech. Oratio. 7. 14. Catech. Mystago. 2.Cy…ill, kkHomil. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 9. 10. 13. 28. 33. 44. to 62. on Genesis.Chrysostome, llHomil. 10. in Genes. Hom. 9. in Isai. & contra Celsum. lib. 8. Necephorus, Eccles Hist. l. 12. c. 34.Origen, and other Fathers of old, and Bishop mmFox Acts and Monuments, p. 1115. 1559. 1579. 956. 1366. 1153. 428. Bishop Hoopers Protestation of his faith to King Edward the 6. and the wh…le house of Parliament, Anno 1550.Hooper, Bishop Latimer, Bishop Ridly, with other of our Martyrs and Godly Prelates of later times have done, who …eached every day in the weeke and yeare at least once, or twice, …ithout faile, as the marginall authorities evidence, whereas nnBishop Latymers Sermon of the Plough.our Prelates thinke it much to preach once or twice a yeare, and then not …o the people of their Diocesse, (which halfe of them have not done,) (but at the Court alone;) they being of the Bishop ooFox Acts and Monuments, p. 1153.of Dunkeldens mind, that they were not ordained to preach, but to be Lordly Loyterers, beare rule, and keepe off other painefull Ministers from diligent frequent preaching, for feare their paines should proove their shame, and make the people beleive, that were bound to preach as much, or more then other Ministers, because they have better hire. I here humbly referre to his Majesties pious care and Princely wisdome, who may now justly and safely follow the Royall steps of his Famous Progenitors in this particular, without any scandall, offence, or innovation, to the releife and joy of all his Loyall and oppressed Subjects.

I shall begin to close up this Breviate with the words of Nicholas de Clemangiis, in his excellent Booke, De corrupto Ecclesiae statu, chap. 14. to 20. where hee thus paints out in lively coulours. the maners, practises, oppressions, designes, and lives of the Prelates and their Officers in his age, and ours too: Those who at this day are promoted to the dignity of a Bishop, according to the maner of their professions, with great earnestnes on p. 280every side, greedily gape after gaine, not verily of soules, but of purses rather, the gaine whereof they seeke out every where: they burne after gaine, they repute gaine godlines, they doe nothing at all but that which they beleive, way sufferagate to collect many upon any occasion; for which they wrangle, contend, chide, goe to Law, taking the losse of ten thousand soules more patiently, then of 10. or 12. But I justly reprehend my selfe who said, more patiently, when as they take the losse of soules with no motion or perturbation of mind, of which there is not onelyonly with them no care, but not so much as any thought; yet they undergoe even the smallest losses of any part of their estate, almost with a furious and distracted mind. Moreover, if peradventure any Bishop or Pastor shall arise, who will not walke after this maner, or who contemnes money or damnes covetousnes, who finally will not every way, whether just or unjust, extort money from his Subjects, or study to gaine soules by wholsome exhortation or preaching, and meditates more in the Lawes of the Lord, then in the Lawes of men, presently all their teeth are set on edge to bite him: they **Now they cry out on him as a Puritan besides.will cry him up to be altogether an unfit man, not worthy of the Preisthood; because hee being ignorant of Humane Lawes, is not fit to defend his rights: knoweth not how to governe, punish, and restraine his Subjects by Canonicall Censures, and hath learned nothing else, but to give himselfe even to a Laysie idlenes, or to preaching which they openly affirme, to be the office of Mendicants, enjoyning no temporall care, or administration, which may possesse their minds with a more profitable occupation. Therefore now the studies of (he sacred Scriptures, with their professors are turned into laughter, and a mocking stock with all men; and which is most prodigious, especially towards Prelates, who preferre their owne traditions farre before Gods Commaundements. That egregious and most excellent office of preaching, attributed onelyonly to Pastors or Bishops in times past, and principally due to them, hath now **And is it not so with our Prelates now, some of them having not preached one Sermon in 12. yeares space and most of them but one Sermon or two at most in a yeare.waxed so vile with them, that they thinke nothing more unworthy or dishonourable to their dignity then it. But loe, whilest I consider the proper sicknesses of the Court of Rome, I am fallen upon those vices, which are common with them, even to other Prelates: Which yet I will p. 281handle more particularly in a succinct relation, because I have a fit place. First it ought not to seeme strange or a wonder unto any, if our Prelates principally study, to scrape together moneyes on every side, if being thinne, leane, and empty, they study to fat themselves with the juice, wooll, and milke of their sheepe, of whom it appeares, they were made Pastours at so deare a rate. For flies (as the proverbe is,) pined with leannes bite more sharply. Likewise all living Creatures consumed with famine, are carried more greedily to the prey. For although before the undertaking of their Episcopall cure, they were very wealthy; (neither are indigent men wont to be admitted thereunto,) yet by the Ministry conferred on them, they ought at least to empty their purses for the most part. Wherefore justly and not without cause, they make it their cheifest labour to replenish them againe. And by the Example of a wise husbandman, that they may gather the seed, they have sowed with increase and great returne, and againe recover and diligently enlarge their deminished Substance, like most vigilant tradesmen, they expose all their wares to sale to all who need them. If any Clerke among them for theft, for Homicide, for rape, or sacriledge, or any other enormious crime be cast into prison and adjudged to the dungeon there, to eate bread and water, hee shall so long be liable to punishment, and suffer for his offences as a guilty person, untill hee shall pay the money demaunded of him, according to the measure of his revenues or goods. But when hee shall doe this hee is set at large, and suffered to goe away like an innocent, every Error, all wickednesses, although they are capitall, are released and blotted out by money. For what shall I speake of the exercise of this Jurisdiction, which is so **Thus is it now.violently and tyrannically governed, that at this day men rather choose to undergoe the Judgements of the most cruell tyrants, then of the Church. It cannot be expressed how great evils those wicked Inquisitors of crimes which be called promotors or Apparators, doe unto the people. **Thus our Bishops Apparitors serve his Majesties Subjects at this day.They oft times call simple and poore husbandmen, living, an harmlesse life in their cottages, and ignorant of the Cities fraud, into their Courts, for a thing of naught, they diligently feine causes and crimes against them, vexe, terrifie, threaten them; p. 282and so by these meanes compell them to compound and agree with them. Which if they refuse to doe, they dayly serve and infest them out of measure with frequent Citations; and if once hindred by any occasion, they shall faile to appeare, presently they are struck with the Sentence of Excommunication as Rebels and contumacious. But if they shall continue to appeare at the day as oft as they shall be called; they will hinder their audience at the Judges tribunals, they will lay hold of delayes and subte…fugies, of imparlances, and interlocutions, which are very easily obtained from Ecclesiasticall Courts; that so being tyred out with long delay, and great losse of their time, they may be compelled to redeeme their future vexation, and expenses, with a Summe of money, least they should incurre a heape of infinite expences, for a small or no offence, or for a litle debt. Now I pray, what a thing is this, that in most Diocesse Rectors of parishes doe everywhere keepe Concubines at a certaine rate and hire, which they agree for with their Prelates? That all excesses and vices of Subjects, and all offices, even in Court of Judicature, are publikely sold by them? But to those of which wee have spoken, and shall speake, these things are good. But how is this to be endured, that no man comes to a Clerkeship, **It is not so now with our Prelates.or to a sacred order, or to any Eccesiasticall degree, but by reward? that none bestow sacramentall grace, or imposition of hands, unlesse hee shall give a certaine price before hand? that they make all Confessions, Absolutions, Dispensations veniall? that if any benefices are devolued to their disposition, they bestow them for gaine, or give them to their bastards, or to stage players? Now if any man peradventure shall object that Euangelicall saying to them: Freely ye have received, freely give: they want not what they may presently answere; that they did not freely receive, therefore they are not bound by the Text, freely to give. Finally, they say, that those Bishops onelyonly are bound by this sentence, who have obtained their Pastorall office, without any disbursement at all. Therefore no man (but hee who strayes farre from the truth,) may expect, that grace should be thus sold by equity, for how is it grace, if it be not freely given? unlesse wee will deeme it false, that that pestiferous Sorcerer was reprehended by Peter, with a direfull p. 283malediction, who thought that the gift of God might be purchased with money. Now from this fountaine that copious multitude of vile and most unworthy Preists hath issued. For that they might receive greater gaine by conferring Orders, they admit all as many as shall come with none or litle difference, to those titles which they shall aske, (unlesse perchance there be some so oppressed with poverty, that they are not able to pay for orders:) there is no examination of their forepast life, no question of their maners. Concerning their Letters and learning what bootes it to speake, when as wee see that almost all Preistes can scarce reade, and that waywardly, and by sillables, without any understanding of the things or words. What fruite therefore, what audience shall they obtaine by their prayers, either to themselves or others, to whom that, which they pray is barbarous? How shall they reconcile God by their prayers unto others, whom they have made offended with themselves with their ignorance, their filthines of life, and by their ministry? If any man at this day be idle; if any abhorring labour, if any be willing to riot in idlenes, hee flies to the Ministry; which having obtained hee forthwith associates himselfe to the other Preists, who are followers of pleasures; **And doe not many of the Clergy now a dayes doe this.Who living more after Epicures then after Christ, and diligently frequenting Alehouses consume all their time in drinking, revelling, pransing, feasting, playing at tables and at ball. And being surfeted and drunken, they fight, they warre, they make a tumult, they curse the name of God and of his Saints, with their most polluted lips. And thus composed, at last, they come from the very embracements of their harlots to the divine Altar. But I returne to our Bishops, who being educated in all lubricity from their youth, they introduce such witnesses, that I may soo speake, Ministers, into the Church, whose acts are memorable, this ought not to be pretermitted by me; that many of those who have obtained the top of a Pastorall dignity, and have enjoyed the same for many yeares, **Some of our Prelates too are guilty of this, that they never saw some of their Diocesse, yet they have fleeced them by their Deputy Visitors.have never entred into their Cities, have never seene their Churches, have never visit their places or Diocesse, have never knowne the faces of their flockes, heard their voyce, felt their woundes, unlesse perchance those woundes which themselves have inflicted on them with p. 284their rich spoyles by strangers, and hirelings. I have said strangers, because even they themselves are hirelings, who seeke not the custody, safety or profit of their flocke, but onelyonly the retribution of a temporall reward. Therefore they themselves are hirelings, having onelyonly the name of a Bishop, because the thing signified by the name is farre from them. For the name of a Bishop signifieth a Watchman or Superintendent: Behold (saith the Prophet) I have made thee a Watchman to the house of Israell. But these verily watch not at all over the flock, they oversee nothing, they looke to nothing: they take the care of their owne body, they feed themselves and not their sheepe, not greatly weiging what accident may happen to the sheepe, whether they die consumed, either with sicknes or famine, so as themselves may gaine any thing by their death. **A good excuse for our Prelates, who are more temporall then spirituall, more deeply occupied in State then Church, in earthly then heavenly affaires.But peradventure some man will say, that they may justly be pardoned: if they seldome goe to their Diocesse, or more slowly visit their litle flockes; because being sent for to be Princes Counsels, they handle the great affaires of the Kingdome, & governe, defend, support the Common-wealth, which rests upon their shoulders, and would otherwise most greivously fall to ruine; which seemes to be more Laud-worthy, then to consult their owne private affaires. First I will by no meanes grant them this, that they are willingly called out by Princes of their owne accord to be Consellers of state, but they obtaine it with great suite, costs and intercessions of freinds; **Note this well.not verily out of any zeale or care of the Republike, of which they have no love or charity at all; but for the stipends and large gifts which accure unto them from thence, that living upon other mens costs they may treasure up the revenues of their owne Churches. Finally what profit bring they to the languishing yea almost dying, and now well nighburied Common-weale? Would to God they brought no destruction thereunto! What I pray you? doe they profit in this thing, that they invend **Note well. So Master Tyndall in his Obedience of a Christian man. p. 116 writes thus of Bishops. I passe over with silence how they teach Princes in every land to lade new exactions and tyranny on their Subjects more and more dayly, neither for what purpose they doe it say I. God I trust shall shortly disclose their jugling, and bring their falshood too light, and lay a medicine to them, to make their scab breake out.all the burthens of taxes, and tributes, with which the people p. 285are at this day charged, by their subtility and suggestions, and that being invented, they heape them one upon another, and cause them to last for so long a time? whence even long agoe there hath beene a Custome in this Kingdome (France hee meanes, which is now true of England likewise,) that some Bishops are set over such exactions, and determine the causes and complaints concerning them. Whether doe they herein profit the Republike, that being called to the Counsell and commaunded to speake their opinions, they perswade those things which they know, will rather please the Prince, then profit the Commonwealth? that oft time being led with bribes, oft times with favour, oft times with hatred, oft times also with feare they suggest to the eares of their Lords, not just, not true, not sincere things, but perverse and hurtfull things, covered over with fallacie? Furthermore, doe they helpe the Commonwealth in this thing, that they oft privily inculcate, that greater allowance is to be contributed to those Rectors who administer it, and more then the common allowance? For what themselves doe it is likely, that being consulted, … they likewise exhort others to doe, least their words and astions should filthily disagree and fight betweene themselves. **A good question to be put to our Prelates.Finally, which of them is a Defender of the poore, a comforter of the afflicted, a releiver of the oppressed, who a patron for the fatherlesse, who a protector to the poore widdowe against the false accuser? Yea verily who is more estranged from the compassionating and commiserating of any distressed poore people then they, and truly too, doth the Prophet I say speake under the Image of the Princes of the Synagogue, of whom these, although they are their Successors in wickednesses, in respect of time, yet peradventure they may be rightly termed their predecessors in vilenesse; Thy Princes are treacherous and companions of theives, every one loveth guiftes, and followeth after rewards, they judge not the fatherlesse, neither doth the cause of the widdowe come unto them. But it is a wonderfull thing what that meanes, that now almost every Bishop receives yearely almost sixe, seaven, or ten thousand Crownes from the Church, of which hee is p. 286president, but not above one thousand Crownes from the King for his stipend, and **Note this well.yet hee leaves the care of his Church, and of the fold committed to him for the service of the Kingdome. Ought hee not at least like an hireling to serve him who giveth the greatest wages? But their answere to these things is at hand. For although that be more, which the Church giveth them, than what the Prince, yet that office joyned to the greater, makes the summe the bigger, and too good things are better then one. Further the fruits that are given them by the King, they know they shall not receive, unlesse they waite at the Kings elbow; but those which accure unto them from their Churches they know shall be given them, though they be farre off, and free from service. What and if they impute no doubt their promotion made at the instance of the King, to the King himselve, and not to God, nor to the Church? Therefore like gratefull men, no wayes forgetfull of him by whome they have obtained grace they deservedly according to the vicissitude of obedience more willingly referre their service and obedience unto them. **The Prelates Court Lesson.What and if they have learned to serve Kings, and not God, nor the Church? What and if they have sought their Miter, not with an intention of of exercising any office in the Church, but of obtaining quietnes and case in greater aboundance? What and if by reason of their accustomed wages they helpe to obtaine many small things openly, yea and many small things openly by importunity, which serving in their Churches they could not obtaine? But at least thou wilt say, they there helpe their owne Churches, that they be not burthered or oppressed, **Note his.yea they themselves oppresse both their owne and others, whiles they lay taxes upon them, at the will of the secular powers. For lest they should be reprooved by the Noblemen, whose busenesses they agitate, and whose Counsels they frequent, that they favour their Churches more then is meet, as oft as it shall happen that any thing is in agitation concerning the Church, they insult more grievously against it, then any of the Layty. Rarely happens there any affliction to these calamitous Churches, which may not derive its originall from these their proper sonnes. But why doe wee so greatly accuse their absence from their Sees? when as if they were there personally p. 287present, they might in all likelyhood doe more hurt then good For what, I pray, doe they profit, who in the revolution of the whole yeare tuter their Church but twice or thrice? who spend whole dayes … hauking, and hunting, in playes and wrestling? who passe over whole nights without sleepe in most accurate banquets, in claping of hands and daunces, being likewise effeminate with maydens: who by their filthy example lead their flocke by bywayes into a precipice; who being yet beardles youthes, scarce gone from under the ferrula, flie to the pastorall Magistracy, and know so much concerning it as they doe of a Pilots office. It is very difficult and hard to determine, which of them doe more hurt to their flocke: whether these who forsaking it, and committing it to wolves, are conversant with ruffins and parasites in the Court; Or those rather who keeping residence, vexe it by rapine, neglect it by carelesnes, precipitate it by error. For although I may rightly call both of them hirelings, yet I have spoken too litle in regard of the thing it selfe, both of them are more fitly to be tearmed **The Bishops true Christian name.wolves, for both of them act the part of wolves; the devoure, scatter, teare, and carry away: These verily by themselves; but those, for themselves by others. I perceive, that I have insisted longer then I thought at first in these excellent services of our Angels, (for so the holy Scriptures terme Prelates,) but thououghtest to grant pardon to so great a multitude of things, which I could not.

To him I shall onelyonly annexe the words of William Wraughton, in his Rescuing of the Romish Fox, ded…cated to King Henry the 8. Wee have put downe; (saith hee) to Winchester of your Orders of the world. There remaine yet two Orders of the worldye in England; that is the Order of Pompous and Popish Bishops, and Grey Friers. Which if they were put downe as well as the other put downe before, I reckon that there should be no Kingdome, wherein Christ should more raigne then in England. And of Rodericke Mors, sometimes a Grey Frier, his memorable passage in his Complaint to the Parliament-House of England, about the 37. of King Henry the eight, ch. 23. 24. p. 288No doubt (writes hee,) one Bishop, one Deane, one College, or house of Canons hath ever done more mischeife against Gods word, and sought more the hinderance of the same, then ten houses of Monkes, Friers, Chanons, or Nunnes. The Kings Grace began well to weed the Garden of England, but yet hath hee left standing (the more pitty,) the most foulest and stinking weedes, which had most need to be first plucked up by the rootes, that is to say, the pricking thistles and stinking netles, which still standing; what helpeth the deposing of the petty members of the Pope and to leave his whole body behinde, which be the pompous Bishops, Canons of Colleges, Deanes and such other? Surely it helpeth as much as to say, I will goe kill all the Foxes in Sant Johans woode, because I would have no more Foxes bred in all England. Which well pondered, wee may say and lie not, that the Pope remaineth wholly still in England, save onelyonly, that his name is banished. For why his body, (which be Bishops and other shavelings,) doth not onelyonly remaine, but also his tayle, which be his filthy traditions, wicked Lawes, and beggerly Ceremonies, (as Sant Paul called them,) yea and the whole body of his pestiferous **See William Wraughton his hunting of the Romish Fox: who excellently and fully prooves, that the Canon Law is the Popes Law, and that the Pope doth & will continue her as long as the Canon Law doth remaine in use.Canon Law according to which judgement is given through out the Realme: So that wee be still in Egypt, and remaine in Captivity, most grievously laden by observing and walking in his most filthy drosse aforesaid, which is a mysty and endlesse maze. And so long as yee walke in those wicked Lawes of Antichrist the Pope, and maintaine HIS KNIGHTS THE BISHOPS, in such inordinate riches and unlawfull authority, so long say I, ye **Note well what ensueth.shall never banish that monstrous beast the Pope out of England, yea and it shall be a meanes in processe of time to bring us into temporall bondage also againe, to have him raigne as hee hath done, like a God. And that know our forked caps right well, which thing maketh them so boldly and shamelesly to sight in their Gods quarrell, against Christ and his word, &c. The Bishops by their subtilities and most crafty wiles, make the people to abhorre the name of the Pope of Rome for a face, and compell them to walke in all his wicked Lawes. And the word of God which we say we have received, is not, nor cannot be suffered to be preached and taught p. 289purely, and sincerely without mixing it with their invented traditions and service. Wherefore to open the Conclusion of this litle lamentation; if yee will banish for ever the Antichrist the Pope …ut of this Realme, yee must fell downe to the ground those rotten posts, the Bishops, which be cloudes without moisture, and vtterly abandon all and every of his ungodly Lawes, Traditions, and Ceremonies. Now will I speake no further against the particular Pope, forasmuch as every Bishop is now a Pope, and yee may plainely see, (by all the premises,) that the proud Prelates the Bishops (I meane) be very Antichrists, as is their Father of Rome. Thus hee, to whom I shall subjoyne Henry Stalbridge his Exhortatory Epistle, to his dearely beloved Countrey of England, against the pompous Popish Bishops thereof, as yet the true members of their filthy Father the great Antichrist of Rome, printed at Basil, in King Henry the 8. his dayes, with whose words I shall close up this breviate: I say yet once againe, (writes hee) and that in the Seale of the Lord, as hee is my judge, I wish, (if his gracious pleasure so were,) that first the Kings Majesty, and so forth all these, unto whom God hath given power and authority upon earth under him, may throughly see and perceive how that not onelyonly the bloody beare wolfe of Rome, but also the most part of the other Bishops, and stout sturdy Canons of Cathedrall Churches, with other petty proulers and prestigious Priests of Baall his malignant members in all Realmes of Christendome (especially here in England,) doth yet roare abrode like hungry Lions, fret inwardly like angry Beares, and bite as they dare like cruell Wolves, clustering together in corners, like a swarme of Adders in a dunghill, or most wily subtill Serpents, to uphold and preserve their filthy Father of Rome, the head of their bawdy brood, if it may be. **Note.No lesse doe I judge it, then a bounden duty of all faithfull Ministers, to manifest their mischeifes to the universall world, every man according to his Talent given of God, some with penne, and some with tongue; so bringing them out of their old estimation, least they should still raigne in the peoples consciences to their soules destruction. An evident example have they of Christ thus to doe, which openly rebuked their p. 290filthy Fore-fathers, the Scribes, Lawyers, Pharisees, Doctors, Priests, Bishops, and Hypocrites, for making Gods Commaundements of no effect, to support their owne traditions, Mar. 8. Luc. 12. Paul also admonisheth us, that after his departure should enter in among us such ravening wolves, as should not spare the flocke. These spirituall Man-hunters, are the very offspring of Caine, children of Caiphas, and Successors of Simon Magus, as their doctring and living declareth, needing no further probation. Most cruell enemies have they beene in all ages to the verity of God, ever since the Law was first given, and most feirce persecutors of Christ and his Church, (which hee there prooves at large by severall examples;) No where could the verity be taught, but these glorious gluttons were ever at hand to resist it: Marvell not yee Bishops and Prelates, though I thus in the zeale of Helyas and Phineas stomacke against your sturdy stormes of stubbornes: For never was any tyranny ministred upon Christ, and his misticall members, but by your proud procurements. And now in our dayes where are any of the Lords true servants burned, or otherwise murthered for true preaching, writing, glosing, or interpreting the Gospell, but it is by your cruell calling upon, &c. If you be not most wicked workers against God and his verity, and most spitefull Traytors to the King and his Realme, I cannot thinke there be any living upon the earth. Be this onelyonly spoken to ye, that maintaine such misteries of madnes. Never sent Christ such bloody Apostles, nor two harned warriours, but the Devils Vicar Antichrist, which is the deadly destroyer of faithfull beleivers. What Christian blood hath beene shed betweene Empire and Empire, Kingdome and Kingdome, as betweene Constantinople and Almaigne, England and France, Italy and Spaine for the Bishops of Rome? and how many cruell wars of their Preists calling on, were too much, either to write or to speake. Alwayes have they beene working mischeife in their idle generation, to obscure the verity of God. **Note well.I say yet once againe, that it were very necessary for the Kings worthy Majesty with earnest eyes to marke, how God hath graciously vouchsafed to deliver both him and his people from your troublesome termagaunt of Rome, which p. 291afore made all Christen Kings his Common Slaves, and to beware of you holow hearted Trayters, his spirituall Promoters, considering that your proud Predecessors have alwayes so wickedly used his graces noble Progenitors the worthy Kings of this Realme, since the Conquest and afore. Who overthrew King Herold, subduing all his Land to the Normaines? Who procured the death of King William Rufus, and caused King Stephen to be throwen in prison? Who troubled King Henry the first, and most cruelly vexed King Henry the second? Who subdued and poysoned King John? Who murthered King Edward the second, and famished King Richard the second most unseemingly? Besides that hath beene wrought against the other Kings also. To him that shall read and throughly marke the religious acts of **See Antiquit. Eccles. Brit. and Godwins Catalogue of Bishops in their lives. Dr. Barnes his Supplic. to K. Henry the 8. Haddon contra Osorium, l. 3 f. 251. 252 Fox Acts & Monuments p. 320. 321 479. 409. 410. 533. 1035. 1036. 1132. 186. to 234Robert the Archbishop of Canterbury of old, Egelwinus, Anselmus, Randolf of Durham, Ralfe of Chichester, Alexander of Lincolne, Nigelus of Hely, Roger of Salisbury, Thomas Becket, Stephen Laughton, Walter Stapilton, Robert Baldocke, Richard Scrope, Henry Spencer, Thomas Arundell, and a great sort more of your anointed Antecessors, Pontificiall Prelates, mitred Mummers, mad mastry workers, ringed Ruffelers, rocheted Ruttters, shorne sawcy Swilbols, it will evidently appeare, that your wicked generation hath done all that, and many other mischeifes more. By these your filthy Fore-fathers and such other, hath this Realme beene alwayes in most miserable captivity, either of the Romans or Danes, Saxons or Normans, and now last of all under the most blasphemous Behemoth your Romish Pope, the great Antichrist of Europa, and most mighty maintainer of Sodom and Gomorite: How unchristianly your said Predecessours have used the Rulers of all other Christian Realmes, it were to long to write. **Note, See Mr. Tyndals Practise of Popish Prelates accordingly.I reckon it therefore hightime for all those Christian Princes, which pretend to receive the Gospell of salvation, and accordingly after that to live in mutuall peace and tranquility, for ever to cast ye out of their privy Counsels, and vtterly to seclude you from all administrations, till such time as they finde ye no longer wolves, but faithfull feeders; no destroyers, but gentle teachers. For as Sant Peter doth say, 1. Pet. 5. Yee p. 292ought to be no Lords over the people of your Diocesse, but examples of Christian meeknes. Who seeth not that in these dayes your bloody Bishops of England, Italy, Cycell, France, Spaine, Portingale, Scotland and Ireland, ‡‡See the 5. and 6. part of the Hom. against willfull Rebellion and the 2. part of the Homily on Whitsunday.be the ground and originall fondation of all Controversies, Schismes, variances and warres betwixt Realme and Realme at this present, &c. Consider your beginning. Never came yee in with your Miters, Robes, and Rings by the doore, as did the poore Apostles, but by the window unrequired, like robbers, theeves and manquellers with Simon Magus, Marcion and Menander. Never was your proud Pontificall power of the heavenly Fathers planting, and therefore it must at the last up by the rootes, ye must in the end be destroyed without handes, Dan. 8. &c. **Ibid. f. 18. & 22. to 31.I thinke the Devills in hell, are not of a more perverse minde, nor seeke more wayes to the soules destruction then you. Yee play Pharao, Caiphas, Nero, Trajanus, with all Tyrants parts besides; Oh abominable Scorners and theeves, which practise nothing else but the vtter destruction of soules? If any thing under the heavens hath need of Reformation, let them thinke this to be one which minded any godlinesse: For never did cruell Pharao hold the people of Israell in so wicked captivity, as doth this superstitious sort of idle Sodomites, the most dearely redeemed heritage of the Lord. If they be no spirituall theeves, soule murtherers, heretickes, Schismatiques, Church-robbers, Rebels, and Traytors to God and to man; where are any to be looked for in all the world? Another thing yet there is, which causeth me sore to lament, the inconveniences thereupon considered. And that is this, although the Scriptures, Chronicles, Canons, Constitutions, Councels and private Histories, with your manifest acts in our time, doth declare your Fore-fathers and you such Heretickes, theeves and Traytors to the Christian Common-wealthes, as hath not beene upon the earth, but you, yet you are still taken into the privy Counsels, both of Emperor and King. (Yea as**The Supplication, Vol. 3. f. 23. Thomas Becon complaines, They alone be cheifest and of much estimation; they alone ruffle and raigne; they alone beare the suring in the Court, they alone have all things going forward as they desire: They alone be capped, kneeled, and crouched p. 293unto: They alone have the keyes of the English Kingdome, hanging at their girdles: whatsoever they binde, or loose whispering, and trayterously conspiring among themselves, that same is bound and loosed in the Starchamber in Westminster Hall, in the Parliament House, yea in the Kings privy Chamber, and throughout the Realme of England. The very Nobility of England are in a maner brought to such slavery, that they dare not displease the lessest of these spitefull spirituall limbes of Antichrist, wee may now say, (into such an height the spirituall Sorcerers are growen,) that Priests in England are mightier then either Wine, King, Queene, Lords, Women, and all that is besides &c.)**Note well. But what a plague it is, or miserable yoake to that Christen Realme, whereas you beare the swinge, I thinke it truly unspeakable, though it be not seene. O eternall Father, for thy infinite mercies sake, grant thy most faithfull servant the Kings Majesty our most worthy Soveraigne Lord and Governour under thee, clearely to cast out of his privy Counsell-House, these Lecherous locusts of Egypt, and dayly upholders of Sodome and Gomor the Popes cruell catle, tokened with his owne proper marke, to the universall health of his people, as thou hast now constituted him, an whole complete King, and the first since the Conquest. **Note.For never shall bee have of them, but deceitefull workemen, and holow-hearted Gentlemen: and not onelyonly that (good Lord,) but also deprive them of their usurped authority and power, restoring againe thereunto his temporall Magistrates, whom their proud Pope hath hitherto most tyrannously thereof deprived. Finally, to take from them their inordinate Pompe and **See a Supplication to King Henry the 8. An. 1544. accordingly.Riches, and more godly to bestow them, that is to say, to the ayde of his poverty, as for an Example the Noble Germaines have graciously done before him. After a farre other sort defended the Apostles the spirituall Kingdome of Christ. Their armour was righteousnes, poverty, patience, meeknes, tribulation, contempt of the world, and continuall suffring of wronges. Their strong sheild was faith and their sword the word of God, Ephes. 6. With the Gospell preaching drove they downe all superstitions, as you by your Lordlines have raysed up againe in the glorious Church of Antichrist. The Kingdome p. 294that hee forsake John. 6. and the Lordship, that hee so straitly forbad you: Luc. 22. have you received of the Devill, with that ambitious reigne of covetousnes, which hee left behinde him on the High-Mountaine. Math. 4. What ruinous decayes hath chaunced to all Christen regions and their rulers, for giving swift credit to the fleering flatteries of your Babylonish brood, it were much to write. **Note well.It shall be therefore necessary for our most worthy King to looke upon in time, and both to diminish your authority and riches, least yee hereafter put all his godly enterprises in hazard. For nothing else can yee doe of your spirituall nature, but worke dayly mischeifes. As well may yee be spared in the Commonwealth, as may Kites, Crowes, and Bussardes, Polcutes, Wessels, and Rats, Otters, Wolves and Foxes, Body lice, Flees, and Fleshflies, with other devouring and noysome vermine. For as unprofitable are yee unto it as they, and as litle have you in the word of God, to uphold you in these vaine offices of Papistry, as they. **Note well.This uncommodious commodity hath England had of you alwayes, when yee have beene of the Kings privy Counsell, and I thinke hath now at this present honor, that whatsoever godly enterprise is there in doing, be it never so privily handled, yet shall the Popish Prelates of Italy, Spaine, France, Flaunders, and Scotland, have sure knowledge thereof by your secret messengers, and you againe their crafty compassings to deface it if it may be: **See Master Tyndals Practise of Prelates accordingly.Neither shall those Realmes continue long after, without warre, specially if an earnest reformation of your shamefull abuses be sought there. And never shall the originall grounds of that warre be knowen, but other cases shall be layd to colour it with, as that the King, seeketh his right, his princely honour, the maintenance of his Titles, or the Realmes Common-wealth, being nothing lesse in the end, but an upholding of you in your mischeifes. So long as you beare rule in the Parliament House, the Gospell shall be kept under, and Christ persecuted in his faithfull members. So that no godly Acts shall come out from thence to the glory of God, and Christen Common-wealth, but yee will so sauce them with your Romish Sorceries, that they be ready to serve your turne. Although the Kings Majesty hath permitted p. 295us the Scriptures, yet must the true Ministers thereof at your most cruell appointment, either suffer most tyrannous death, or else with open mouth deny Christs verity, which is worse then death. Thus give yee **See Williā Wraughtons hunting of the Romish Fox.strength to his Lawes, and nourish up his Kingdome, whom yee say with your lips yee have refused, your pestilent Pope of Rome. Yee play altogether Hick-scorner under the figure of Ironia: That yee say, yee hate, yee love, and that yee say, yee love, yee hate. Let all faithfull men beware of such double-day dreamers, and halow-hearted Traytors, and thinke **Note well.whereas they beare the rule, nothing shall come rightly forward, either in faith, or Common-wealth. What other workes can come from the Devills working tooles, then cometh from the hands of his owne malignant mischeife? Who can deny the Bishops to be the instruments of Sathan, understanding the Scriptures, and beholding their dayly doings? **Note. See Doctor Barnes his Supplication to King Henry the 8 And another Supplication to him, An. 1544. accordingly.Thinke yee there can be a greater plague to a Christian Realme, then to have such ghostly Fathers of the Kings privy Counsell? If wise men doe judge it any other, then a just plague for our sinne, and a yoake layd upon us for our unreverent receiving of that heavenly treasure, the eternall Testament of Christ, to have such Hypocrites, Theeves, and Traytors to raigne over us, truly they judge not aright. If wee would earnestly therefore repent of our former living, and unfainedly turne unto our everliving God, as we finde in the Testament, I would not doubt it, to jeopard both my body and soule that wee should in short space be delivered of this Romish vermine, rising out of the bottomlesse pit: Apoc. 9. which eateth up all that is greene upon earth, **See Thomas Becons Complaint, Supplication fol. 23.or hath taken any strength of the living word of the Lord. For the heart of a King is alwayes in the handes of God, and at his pleasure hee may evermore turne it: Prov. 21. Take me not here, that I condemne any Bishop or Preist, that is godly, doing those holy offices that the Scripture hath commaunded them, as preaching the Gospell, providing for the poore, and ministring the Sacraments right. But against the bloody Butchers that murther up Gods people, and dayly make havock of Christs Congregation to maintaine the Iewes Ceremonies, and the Pagans Superstitions in the Christen Church. These are p. 296not Bishops, but Bitesheepes, Tyrants, Tormenters, Termagaunts, and the Divels slaughter men. Christ left no such Disciples behind him, to set with cruell Caiphas at the Sessions upon life and death of his innocent members: But such as in poverty preached the Gospell, rebuking the wicked world for Idolatry, Hypocrisie, and false Doctrine. Episcopus is as much to say, as an Overseer, or Superintendent, whose office was in the primitive Church purely to instruct the multitude in the wayes of God, and to see that they were not beastly ignorant in the Holy Scripture, as the most part of them are now a dayes. Presbyter is as much to say, as a Seniour or Elder, whose office was also in godly Doctrine and Examples of living to guide the Christen Congregation, and to suffer no maner of Superstition of Jew nor Gentile to raigne among them. And these two offices were alone in those dayes, and commonly executed of one severall person. They which were thus appointed to these spirituall offices, did **See Bucerus De Regno Christi, l. 2. c. 12.nothing else but onelyonly preach and teach the Gospell, having assistants unto them, inferior officers called Deacons, Acts. 6. 1. Cor. 1. Rom. 3. No godly man can despise these Offices, neither yet condemne those that truly execute them. Not onelyonly are they worthy to have a competent living, 1. Cor. 9. but also double honor after the Doctrine of Saint Paul, 1. Tim. 5.‡‡Note. See the Supplication to King Henry the 8. An. 1544. But from inordinate excesse of riches, ought they of all men to be sequestred, considering that the most wicked nature of Mammon is alwayes to corrupt, yea the very elect, if God were not the more mercifull, Math. 6. Which might be an admonition to our Lordly Bishops, when they be in their worldly Pompe, that they are not Gods Servants, beleived they his sayings as they doe nothing lesse. I cannot thinke, that any Christen Bishop or Priest will be offended with, ought that I have written here, but rather preferre it to their power, it making nothing against them, seeking Gods glory and not their owne. Finally with heart I desire, that these enemies of the truth be no longer given over of God, but that they may finde some just way to repentance, and from henceforth to maintaine the pure Lawes of Christ, as they have in times past, the most filthy traditions of Antichrist; (to wit, the Pope of Rome, from whose Succession and p. 297See our Archbishops and Bishops, linially derive their pedigree and descent, as Master Mason in his Booke of Consecration of Bishops, An. 613. p. 9. 10. 140. Who thrice together cals the Lords-…y the Sabbath-day, p. 269. and Doctor Poclington, in his Sermon, intituled, ‡‡Yet the Homily of the Time and Place of Prayer, 8. severall times together, stiles Sunday THE SABBATH, THE SABBATH-DAY, THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH, and that in the yeare 1550. 4. yeares before the troubles of Franck ford. So that Whithingham & Knox were not the first Iewish Doctors, that Christned i… with that name as this scurrilous Doctor termes …, who though hee pleades much in his Sermon for reading of Homilies, yet it seemes hee had need be set to read them himselfe, else hee would not thus audaciously write point blancke against them, contrary to his owne Subscription to them, & the 15. Article; and against the 70. Can. to which cals Sunday the Sabbath-day.Sunday no Sabbath-day, London, 1636. licensed by Master Bray, the Archbishop of Canterburies Chaplaine, Doe joyntly averre, to our Prelates great honour, whom they thus make the very brats, sonnes and members of the Popes of Rome, from whom they thus derive, challenge, and pretend their Episcopall Authority, Jurisdiction, and Succession, and so are liable to the penalties of the Statute of 27. Eliz. c. 2. and Traytors to the King, if these their flatterers Doctrine, and pedigree, which they give them, be true:) So be it. Thus Henry Stalbridge concludes from Basile, An. 1544. and so doe I close up this Breviate: For which if any unduetifull or malicious Prelates shall chaunce to persecute, vexe and torture me or any other, for this my Loyalty, love and duety, to my King and Countrey, in laying open these their exorbitant encroachments, both upon King and Subject, I shall answer them as Tertullian once did the Barbarous Heathen Presidents and persecutors of his age, who tortured the poore Christians in his time, who heartly prayed for the Emperor and Publike-weale, with bended knees, and stretched out hands under their God: Sic itaque nos ad Deum expansos ungulae fodiant, cruces suspendant, ign…s lambant, gladij guttura detruncant, bestiae insiliant, paratus est ad omne supplicium ipse habitus orantis Christiani. Hoc agite boni Presides, extorquete animam Deo supplicantem, disceptantem, pro Imperatore. Hoc erit crimen ubi veritas & Dei devotio est.