Of the Prelates Intolerable Usurpations, Dedication (1 of 3)

Of the Prelates Intolerable Usurpations · Dedication (1 of 3)

p. 3To the high and mighty Prince, Charles, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King; Defender of the Faith, &c.

MOst gracious Soveraigne, meeting with this compendious Remonstrance of the Prelates late daingerous encrochments, both upon your owne Prerogative Royall, and your Subjects Liberties, compiled by a late learned Gentleman, out of a zeale to your Majesties service, and your peoples good: I could doe no lesse in point of allegiance to your Highnes, and true affection to my Countries weale, then prostrate it in all humility, at your Royall feete, imploring your Princely acceptation of it. The rather because it was originally destinated to your Majesty by the author; whom I heard oft complaining, that it was the infelicity, sometimes, of the best Princes (by reason of the unfaithfulnesse and misrepresentations of those p. 4State-agents whom they most imployed, and least suspected,) to be utterly ignorant of the true estate both of their owne and the Republikes affaires beleiving all things to be uprightly and justly managed, when it is nothing lesse: relating with much regreet that memorable speech of Aurelian the Emperor registred by Flavius Vospiscus in the History of his life,) There is nothing more difficult, then to raigne well. For 4. or 5. cheife Counsellers of State (ayming at nothing but their owne private ends) assemble and take Counsell together how to deceave the Emperor, informing him, that such and such pro…ects are to be allowed, and put in execution; The Emperor imprisoned as it were at home, utterly ignorant of the truth of things, is constrained to know that onelyonly which they informe him of, and to doe nothing else but what they direct him. Whereupon hee makes those Iudges whom hee ought not, and remooves those from the Republike whom hee should retaine. In a word; as Dioclesian himselfe said; a good, cautious, yea the best Emperor is sold and abused by his most indeared instruments; whiles hee seeth all things onelyonly with their eyes, heares nothing but with their eares, and executes all things with their hands. The consideration whereof, as it instigated the Author originally to compile, so it hath animated mee to enlarge this Breviate (with the addition onelyonly of some late occurrences;) and to present this third Impression of it to your Highnes veiw, (though perchance with some hazard to my person and estate, by reason of the Prelates great swaying power and implacable malice:) wherein as in a Christall glasse, your Majesty may eft soone p. 5discerne the insufferable usurpations of your ungratefull Bishops, upon your owne Royall Preheminences and your Subjects Liberties: (contrary to all Law and justice,) in their true naked coulors, uncased of all such false varnishes, and specious glosses which themselves have cast upon them, to cover their deformity, and delude your Majesties senses, who suspect no such blacke workes of darknes under their pure white Rochets.

aaPlutarchi Convivium.Cleobolus was wont to say, that a Prince was happy if hee trusted to none of his flattering Minions; and I may adde, that Christian Kings are ever happiest, when they lend not their eares overmuch to the noxious enchauntments of ambitious Prelates; Who to advaunce their owne power, accomplish their owne aspiring designes, feare not to ††See Socrates Scholast. Eccles Hist. l. 4. c. 14. to. 25. l. 2. c. 38. and Master Tyndalles Practise of Popish Prelates Doctor Barnes hu Supplication to King Henry the 8. The 5. and 6. part of the Homily against Rebellion.arme Princes against their Subjects, Subjects against their Princes, one Christian King and Kingdome against another, to the imbruing of their hands without cause in one anothers blood: as Abbas Vspergensis, Nauclerus, Aventine, Mathew Paris in their histories, Theodoricus a Niem, Zabarell and Iohannes Marius De Schismate, Benno Cardinalis, and Balaeus in the lives of Hildebrand and Boniface; Master Fox in his **Page 168 269. 174. 175. 178. 181. 184. to 134. 248. 249. 303. 320. 321. 350. 409. 410. 479. 533. 1035. 1036. 1132. 1897. 1899.Acts and Monuments; and (to omit all other) Doctor Iohn White, in his Defence of the way, chap. 6. have plentifully manifested.

bbPlutarch. Lacon. Apothegmata.Theopompus being demaunded, by what meanes a King might safely keepe his Kingdome? Replied; if hee give his freindes free liberty of speech, (to acquaint him with things amisse:) and avenge the injuries done to his Subjects, p. 6as much as may be; the later of which hee can never execute without the former.

But alas, this is the‡‡Plutarch. De Adulatione. lib. usuall misery of Princes (and people too,) that they have many flattering Prelates and Courtiers to misinforme and sooth them; few faithfull Counsellers impartially to acquaint them of things that are amisse. It is storied of King ccPlutarch. Apothegm.Antiochus, that being hunting on a time, in the pursuite of his game, hee strayed away from all his freinds and Courtiers; whereupon hee was enforced to enter in a cottage of poore men, unknowne: As hee sate at supper with them, hee beganne to discourse with them, concerning the King and his governement; whereupon the poore men replied; that Antiochus was of himselfe a very good King, but hee committed the managing of most of his Kingly affaires to his freindes and Courtiers, who were ill men; himselfe meane while, out of his overmuch love of hunting, negligently omitting necessary things; by reason whereof his people were oppressed, and things ill governed. The King for the present held his peace, but the next morning when his guard came to the cottage, and brought him his purple robes and diadem, by which hee was knowne to be the King: hee thereupon spake thus to his Courtiers; from the day I first received my robes and crowne, I never heard true speeches of my selfe till yesterday.

What this King spake concerning himselfe, I feare your Majesty may in a greater measure averre, concerning your Prelates audacious disloyall encrochments upon your selfe, and your Subjects: tha… you never received any true and full relation o… them, since you were a King, till now they were represented p. 7to you in this Epitome, and that they and their Proceedings are farre other then what you have hitherto beene informed, and ever tooke them to be. I doubt not but the Prelates with their favorites, have oft inculcated this idle false Paradoxe to your Majesty:**Yet King Henry the third when hee heard of the death of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury, re…oyced at it, saying, Now at last I am King of England: as if hee had beene no King (as in truth hee was not) whiles hee lived and bare sway: Antiquitates Eccles. Brit. p 144 And King Henry the 8. thought himselfe but halfe a King as long as the Clergy bare sway, & them but halfe his Subjects: Fox Acts and Monuments: p. 961. 963. Yea Master William Tyndall in his Obedience of a Christian man p. 114. saith: That Kings are but shadowes, vaine names, and idle Titles, having nothing to doe in the world; but what the Pope and Bishops please; which hee there puts at large and in Practise of Popish Prelates. NO BISHOP NO KING: as if Prelates were the onelyonly pillars, patriotes, supporters of Princes, Monarchies, and Prerogatives, whose Soveraignity would fall quite to grounde, did not the Bishops rocheted shoulders (like so many Atlasses,) hold up their tottering thrones. Yet the severall Statutes of Provision and Praemunire, in sundry of your Royall Progenitors raignes; the Statutes of 25. H. 8. c. 14. 19. 20. 21. 26. H. 8. c. 1. 28. H. 8. c. 10. 37. H. c. 17. 1. & 2. Phil. and Mary, c. 8. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 5. Eliz. c. 1. 23. Eliz. c. 1. 7. Jacobi. c. 4. 5. the 5. and 6. Homilies against disobedience and willfull Rebellion. The second part of the Homily for Whitsunday, p. 214. 215. 216. Mathew Paris, Mathew Westminster, Hoveden, Malmesbury Nubrigensis, Walsingham, in their severall histories of England, and others out of them; Master William Tyndall in his Practise of the Popish Prelates, Doctor Barnes in his Supplication to King Henry the eight p. 988. &c. William Wraghton in his hunting of the Romish Fox; Master Fish in his Supplication of Beggers, Henry Stalbridge in his Exhortatory Epistle, Master John Fox in his Acts and Monuments, Master Haddon, Contra p. 8Osorium, f. 243. to 253. 292. 293. Thomas Gylson his Proditiones Praelatorum à conqueslu. Antiquitates Ecclesiae Britanicae in the lives of††Balaeus Scriptor. Brit. Cent. 9. c. 54. Stephen Langthon, Becket. Anselme, Boniface, Arundell, Peckam, Winchesly, and other Archbishops of Canterbury, to omit,ddDefence of the Apology part. 5. c. 6. divis. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. So c. 9. Divis. 1. Bishop Jewell, Bishop eeDiscourse of the true difference betweene Christian Subjection and Antichristian Rebellion.Bilson, Doctor ffDefence of the way. c. 6.Iohn White, Sir ggIrish Reports. The case of Praemunire.Iohn Davis, Plessy Morney his History of the Papacy, with forraigne historians of all sorts, together with the writes of Ad lura Regia, and the severall Prohibitions in ourhhRegister pars 2 f. 36. to 66. La whookes, testify: that not onelyonly the Bishops of Rome, and forraigne Prelates, but even our owne English Bishops too, iiFox Acts & Monuments p. 961.(the Popes sworne Vassals, Legates, creatures heretofore) have beene ever the greatest, violentest, and most professed, open, common enemies, to the absolute Monarchie and Prerogative of Christian Emperors, Kings, Princes, wresting the spirituall, if not the temporall, sword and scepter out of their hands, arrogating either one, or both of them to themselves alone, as their peculiar right; ingrossing not onelyonly all spirituall Iurisdiction and Ecclesiasticall power into their owne hands, but temporall too: and that kkTyndalls Practise of Popish Prelates. Fox Acts & Monuments 1381. Antiqu. Eccles. Brit. p. 30. & 139. 140. 141.principally by creeping into the secret Counsell of Princes, and the greatest swaying offices of State, thereby subjecting the temporall Iurisdiction to the commaund and pleasure of the spirituall, that so they might as much as in them lay abolish, obscure and delete the power given by God to the Princes of the earth, gather and get to themselves the sole governement and rule of the world, (as the Statute of 37. H. 8. c. 17. resolves) and play Rex in every place without controll. Neither is this true only of Popes, or our owne Popish Prelates p. 9in former ages, of which there can be **Fox Acts & Monuments, p. 326. 321. 409. 410. 350. 1035 1036. 1897. 1899. 1980. 533. 303. Gualtherus Haddon, Contra Hier. Osorium. l. 3 f. 143. to 153. Antiquitatis Ecclesiae Brit. and Bishop Godwin his Catalogue of Bishops in their severall Lives: Speeds History of great Brittanie. p. 554. 565 570. 574. 582. 584. 1034. Dr. Barnes his Supplication. p. 188. 189. &c.no question; the severall Treasons, conspiracies, Rebellions and Mutinies of Dunstan, Robert, Lanfranke, Anselme, William Corbell, Theobald, Edmond, Becket, Hubert, Stephen Langhton, Robert Winchelsie, Walter Reinolds, Iohn Stratford, Thomas Arundell, Henry Deave, Archbishops of Canterbury; William de sancta Maria, Roger Niger, Fulco Basset, Henry de Sandwich, Bishops of London, William Gifford, Henry de Blohes, Iohn Gernsey, Henry Woodloke, Adam de Arldon and Steven Gardner, Bishops of Winchester, William Longchamp, and Eustachius, Bishops of Ely: Hugh Wallys, Henry Burwash, Hugh Novant, Alexander de Sevensby, and Robert Strekton, Bishops of Coventry, and Lichfeild, Roger the third Bishop of Salisbury, Robert Stillington, George Nevill, Luis, Maugre, Raivelinus, Gyles de Burife, Ralfe, Thomas Rushooke, Iohn Fishar…, Lewes, Iohn Trevaus, Bishops of Bath and Wels, Exeter, Worceter, Hereford, Chichester, Rochester, Bangor, and Sant Assaph, Alcredus, Geoffry, Thomas de Corbridge, Alexander Nevill, Richard Scroope, George Nevill, Thomas Woolsie, Edward Lee, Archbishops of Yorke, Egelwyn, William Rairlipho, Ranulph Flambard, and Anthony Beake, Bishops of Durham, Thomas Merkes, Bishop of Carlile, with others, (all great Traitors, Conspirators and Rebels,) against most of your …ai…ti…s Royall Progenitors witnes. But likewise of those, who professe themselves Protestant Bishops, and your Majesties most obedient Loyall Subjects, in this our present age. Who though they have so much ingenuity yet left, as to acknowledge they received their Bishoprickes from your Majesties meere grace; notwithstanding they are p. 10growen so shamelesly ungratefull, as if not absolutely to deny your prerogative Royall i… causes Ecclesiasticall, yet publikely to professe, that they received their Episcopall authority office, and domin…ering Lordly Iurisdiction, which they now exercise over Ministers and people, not from your Majesty, but onelyonly from God, from Christ, and the Holy Ghost, (by whichllDoctor Iohn White his Defence of the way. c. 7. Bp. Iewels Defence of the Apology. parte. 5. c. 6. diuis. 6.7.8.9.10. &c. 9. divis. 6.1 & 2. Phil. & Mar. c. 8.Mark 8 title the Pope and his Prelates challenged all their power:) contrary to the Statutes of 26. H. 8. c. 1.37 H. 8 c. 17. 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. c. 1. & 8 Eli. c. 1. which expressely resolve, that they have no maner of spirituall or Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction whatsoever, **Against willfull Rebellion. part. 5. p. 308. 309but onelyonly in, by, from and under your Majestie, and that at your Majesties will, to revoke it when you please: yea directly contrary to the Scripture, which is so farre from giving, that it expresly prohibits Bishops and Ministers, all Lordly temporall Jurisdiction, and worldly governement whatsoever, not onelyonly that, which is tyrannicall, but likewise that, which is moderate, just and lawfull in other temporall Magistrates. Math. 20.25.26.27. Luke. 22.25.26.27. 1. Pet. 5.1.2.3. as our owne Homilies, Bishop mmDefence of the Apology part. 5. c. 6. divis. 6, to 12Iewell, Bishop nnHa…borow for faithfull Sub…ects.Elmer, Bishop ooTrue difference betweene Christian subjection & antichristian Rebellion. p. 124. 125 126. 127.Bilson, Master Deane ppReproofe of Dorman f. 17.48.57.43.44.Nowell, the Fathers cited by them, and qqLuther, Zwinglius, Melancton, Calvin, Bullinger, Hemingius, Illyricus, Gualter, Sadael, Beza, Munster, Sne- Snecanus, Szegedine, Erastus, the Churches of Bohemia, Broughton, Raynolds, Withers, Whitaker, Fulke, and other in their places quoted in a petition to her Majesty p. 22. 23. And in Gersonius Bucerus de Gubernatione Ecclesia.most Protestant Divines extant, interpret those texts. Yea they are now so strangly audacious, as p. 11without any Letters, Patents from your Majesty, to keepe Consistory Courts, visitations, Synods in their owne names and rights: to make out Citations, processe, excommunications, Letters of Administration, Licenses for Marying without banes &c. in their owne stiles, names, and with their owne Seales alone; to institute and prescribe new Articles, Constitutions, Ordinances, Ceremonies, Lawes, Rites, formes of Oathes &c. and impose them on your Subjects, publishing them in print in their owne names, and swearing Churchwardens, Sidemen, with other your Majesties Subjects, to execute, and submit unto them, contrary to their owne 12. Canon, (as if they were absolute Popes, Kings, and Lawgivers,) without your Majesties privity and the Parliaments approbation: of which exorbitances they are so farre from being ashamed, that in a late Latine Pamphlet, licensed by the Archbishop of Canterbury his Chaplaine, that now is, and dedicated to his Grace, by onerrCollectiones. p. 53. Chownaeus, they stick not to proclaime; that your Majestie and other Princes Ecclesiasticall Lawes, receive both their vitality and vivacity, from the Bishops, as from the HEART AND HEAD: yea Doctor Wien Bishop of Norwich (no more a Regulus, but a Rex,) in his late presumptuous Visitation Articles, printed at London, 1636. in his owne name (worthy your Majesties consideration) makes not onelyonly the‡‡Chap. 9. Article. 11. Archbishop of Canterbury, and his Vicar generall and Visitors Ecclesiasticall Lawgivers, and their Injunctions, Oracles, and Lawes to be diligently observed and inquired of upon Oath: but himselfe most presumptuously takes upon p. 12him like an absolute King or Pope, to prescribe new Lawes, Canons, Injunctions, Articles, Orders in his owne name and right without any Commission from your Majesty, or your Royall privity or assent, contrary to your **25. H 8. c. 15. 21. 27. H. 8. c. 15. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. Eliz. c. 1. Magna Charta. c. 29.Lawes, and your owne late Royall Declaration before the 39. Articles; suspending no lesse then 30. Ministers of best note and quality in his late Visitation, (though every way confirmable to the Doctrine and Discipline, by Law established in the Church of England, and so reputed in his predecessors times) onelyonly for refusing to conforme against their consciences, duties, and allegiance to those grosse Innovations, which hee would obtrude upon them, contrary to your Royall Lawes and**Before the 39. Articles and concerning the Dissolution of the Parliament. p. 21. 42. Declarations against such Innovations. Which Tyranny of his, as it hath produced a great ‡‡Amos 8.11.Amos 8:11famine of Gods word in those parts, and bread in your Subjects hearts a great murmuring, discontent and feare of alteration of Religion; so it hath caused many to forsake the Realme, and will no doubt draw **2. Chron. 36.15.16.17. 1. Thess. 2.15.16.2 Chr 36:152 Chr 36:162 Chr 36:171 Thess 2:151 Thess 2:16downe Gods Plagues and Vengeance on it, who since this Bishops late Visitation, hath visited many places of the Realme, with Plague and Pestilence, and threatneth even a famine of bread unto it, to recompence that famine of his word, which hee and other Bishops have everywhere made; who neither preach themselves, and inhibit others from preaching, upon no just occasion who else would gladly doe it. And as if this were not enough; both your Archbishops, with sundry other of your Bishops, in the late Censure of Doctor Bastwicke, in the High Commission Court at Lambheth p. 13(whom they excommmunicated, fined one thousand pound to your Majesty, imprisoned and suspended from practising Physicke, onelyonly for writing a Booke in Latine, printed beyond the Seas, in defence of your Majesties Prerogative Royall in causes Ecclesiasticall, against the Popes and Italian Bishops pretended Primacy, being provoked by a Papist and obliged thereunto by his Oath of allegiance; his loyalty and fidelity to your Majesty being his sole offence;) they feared not to proclaime and solemnely to adjudge, like so many ungratefull disloyall Subjects, that I say no more: That they received their Episcopall power, Soveraingty and Jurisdiction, not from your Majesty but from Christ alone; that they claime and enjoy it by no other, but a divine right, (contrary to their Predecessors and the Parliaments expresse resolution, 37. H. 8. c. 17. 31. H. 8. c. 9. 10. 1. E. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. c. 1. and the very words of their Oath and Supremacy to your Majesty: and that Bishops anciently were reputed and stiled Kings and Princes, whence they had there Miters, Thrones and Crosier staves: a shrewde signe they would be no lesse then Kings now, to sway all things both in Church and State, as they endeavour to doe; though contrary to our Saviours expresse prohibition, Matth. 20.25.26.27. Mar. 10.42.43. Luke. 22.25.26.) And to shew themselves Kings indeed, they most presumptuously take upon them to dispense with Lawes and Statutes, as in the case of marying without asking banes; to stop the course of your Majesties Prohibitions to their Courts, in cases where they have beene alwayes granted; to imprison those who dare p. 14sue for, or deliver your Royall Prohibitions to them; and some of them stick not to proclaime, that they would see the man who dares withstand their exorbitant, illegall proceedings, or grant a Prohibition to inhibit them; yea they generally hate, and persecute all your faithfull Subjects, who dare defend your Crowne and Ecclesiasticall Prerogative against their Papall usurpations on them, farre more then they doe any Preistes or Iesuites living, whom they now much favour and connive at (though Traitors to your Majesty;) because they favour all these their Episcopall oppressions, and encrochments, as tending to erect and justifie the Popes disclaimed exploded Monarchy. And is it not then high time for your Majesty to looke about you? to curbe these aspiring Popes of this our lesser world (asssAntiquitates Eccles. Brit. Eadmerus & Godwin in vita Anselmi. Speeds History. p. 463. Anselme and the Archbishops of Canterbury were sometimes stiled by the Pope of Rome himselfe not without just cause,) before they grow so head-strong as wholly to usurpe your Royall Diademne, and quite shake off your yoke? Have they not taken halfe your Crowne allready from your sacred head, (I meane your intire Royall, Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction, which they claime, engrosse, usurpe and exercise by their owne inherent power) and placed it upon their owne ambitious Pates, not fearing lately to contest even with your Majesty in your owne sacred Presence, whether you or they should visit the University of Cambridge (of which you alone are the undoubted Visitor) and there …en…n without any speciall Patent from your Majesty in their owne names and rights alone, and not as your Majesties p. 15Visitors, contrary to their very Oath of Supremacy to your Majestie…, and the expresse Statutes of 26. H. 8. c. 1. 31. H. 8. c. 10. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 25. H. 8. c. 19. 21. 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 5. Eliz. c. 1. 8. Eliz. c. 1. and other Acts? Yea have they not maimed your temporall Iurisdiction, also by stopping your owne Royall Prohibitions to their Courts; by intermedling with temporall offices and affaires, of purpose to advaunce their owne spirituall power and Iurisdiction, and by forcing your Subjects to take Oathes before them in cases which concerne neither Matrimony nor Testament? Surely your Royall Predecessors, and their Iudges have so resolved, long a goe; and therefore in their Writs of Prohibition, and Ad Iura Regia; they commonly inserted these clauses, that the Prelates Proceedings in all causes not meerely Ecclesiasticall, and their administring Oathes to your people in any cases, but of Matrimony and testament, was:††Register pars 2. f. 36. 37. to 65. In grave praejudicium Coronae & dignitatis nostrae regiae: In nostri contemptū, & regiae dignitatis laesionē: In laesionem coronae & dignitatis nostrae &c. Adding moreover: Nos qui ad illaesam observationem jurium Coronae & dignitatis nostrae vinculo juramenti astringimur, nolentes talia tolerare; vobis prohibemus ne quicquam in praemissis attentare praesumatis; per quod juri coronae & dignitatis nostrae p. 16derogari valeat quovis modo, & si quid per vos in hac parte minus ritè attentatum fuerit, id sine dilatione aliqua revocari faciatis; ne ad vos tanquàm ad jurium coronae & dignitatis nostrae violatores graviter capere debeamus, &c. Eo studiosus nos decet operam adhibere & solicitius extendere manum nostram quoad hoc vinculo Iuramenti teneri dinoscimur & astringi; pluresque conspicimus indies jura illa pro viribus impugnare, nobis & coronae nostrae praejudicium & exhaeredationem multipliciter generantes. Nos volentes hujusmodi praejudicio, & exhaeredationi remedio quo poterimus obviare, omniumque jura coronae nostrae impugnantium conatus illicitos refraenare; vobis & vestrum cuilibet districtè prohibemus, ne praetextu alicujus Commissionis vobis vel cuilibet vestrum factae vel faciendae, quicquam quod, in derogationem juris nostri regij, quacunque auctoritate nobis inconsultis attentare praesumatis, seu per alios attentari faciatis: scientes, quod si secus feceritis, ad vos tanquam ad violatores juris nostri regij graviter capiemus, &c.

p. 17The Latine I confesse is none of the best, but the sense is notable, manifesting both theuuTurbamur non immodicum, cum PRELATI regni nostri, qui ad jus regium nostrum conservandum illaesum ex juramenti vinculo sunt astricti quicquam facere conspicimus, quod in nostri praejudicium antedicti juris regij laesionem cedere poterit quoquo modo. Register ps. 2. f. 64. b. Prelates readinesse in all ages to usurpe upon your Predecessors Crownes and dignities, and their vigilant constant care on the other side to curbe, prevent, and punish these their encrochments, as derogatorie and prejudiciall to their crowne and dignitie (being bound thereto by their Coronation oathes) both by imprisonment and the seisure of their temporalties, as the Attachments, following upon these Prohibitions, manifest.

Your Majesty no doubt hath asxx37. H. 8. c. 17. 26. H. 8. c. 1. 28. H. 8. c. 10. 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz c. 1. 5. Eliz. c. 1. 8. Eliz. c. 1. 23 Eliz. c. 1. compared together. absolute a Prerogative over all Ecclesiasticall Persons and causes, as supreme head on earth of the Church of England, as ever any your Royall Progenitors; and your Prelates now, no more Episcopall Jurisdiction, Jure divino, then their undutifull Predecessors; you have taken the selfesameyySee Totelli Magna Charta, 1556. f. 164. Oath at your Coronation, to preserve, to defend the rights, the Prerogatives of your Crowne and Liberties of your Subjects, as your ancestors have done, and you have shewed your selfe very carefull to preserve, if not enlarge your Prerogative in temporall things. I doubt not therefore, but you will likewise upon the perusall of this Breviate, vindicate your Ecclesiasticall Prerogative from your Prelates disloyall encrochments, as your Progenitors have done, and not let loose the raines unto them to usurpe upon your Crowne, your dignity, and the Liberties of your Subjects more and more, and doe what they please, without controll.

If any of them suggest to your Majesty, that it is for your honor, and the Churches good, that the Bishops and Clergy should domineere and beare cheife p. 18sway in Church and State; flowrish in worldly honor, wealth, pompe, dignity; manage the cheife temporall offices and affaires, and Lord it over your Nobility, Gentrie, people, as their Predecessors have done in former ages.

Can. 14.15 18.19.20.22.23.34.35. Suerius Concil. Tom. 1. p. 513. 514. Gratian. Dist. 41. 88. 29. 95. 59. Causa. 41. qu. 1. causa. 15. q. 7.First, That the 214. Bishops in the 4. Councell of Carthage An. 436. were of a farre other Iudgement. For they denied, that every Bishop should have (not a Lordly Pallace,) but Hospitiolum, a little cottage to dwell in, not farre of from the Church. That hee should have vile (not Lordly, costly,) household stuffe, and a poore table and fare, and should seeke the authoritie of his dignity by his faith and merits of life. That hee should not take upon him the Probate or Administration of Wills; nor goe to Law for transitory things though provoked; That hee should not take any care of his temporall estate to himselfe; Sed lectioni & orationi, & verbi Dei praedicationi TANTVM MODO VACET; but should ONELYONLY give himselfe to reading, and prayer, and the preaching of Gods word. That hee should ordaine no Ministers without the advise of his Clergy, and the consent and testimony of the Citizens. That hee should heare no mans cause, without the presence of his Clergy; and that otherwise his sentence should be meerly voyd, unlesse it were confirmed by the presence and suffrage of his Clergy. That in what place soever hee was sitting, hee should not suffer a Presbyter or Minister to stand; That in the Church and Session of the Presbyters, the Bishop should sit in the upper place: but within any house p. 19COLLEGAM SE PRESBYTERORVM AGNOSCAT; hee should know himselfe to be but the fellow or co-partner of Ministers. Thus this Councell of 214. Bishops decree, and that so justly, that every one of these Canons is incorperated into the Popes owne Canon Law, and there remaine unrepealed till this very day, at least 40. others Councels, determining both before and since, ††See Concil. Carthag. 3. Can. 15. Gratian. Causa. 21. qu. 3.that Bishops and Clergy men ought not to beare any temporall offices, or intermedle with secular affaires, since no man that goeth a warfare to God, ought to intangle himselfe in the affaires of this world: (2. Tim. 2.4.) that hee may please him, who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Whence **Surius Concil. Tom. 1. p. 466. 467. 468. 469.Pope Damasus the first, in his Decretall Epistle concerning Chorall Bishops; compares those Bps who turne over their flockes to such Bishops and Substitutes to be governed and instructed by them, that they may follow their lusts, ut pro suo libitu SECVLARIBVS CVRIS INHIENT, and give themselves to secular cares at their pleasure, and more freely doe what seemes good to every one of them in his owne eyes: to Harlots, who presently, so soone as they are delivered, delivered their infants to other nurses to be brought up, that they may be the sooner able to follow and satisfie their lusts. For, and by reason of such things and Bishops, soules are neglected, the sheepe perish, diseases increase, heresies and scismes breake forth, Churches are destroyed, Preists are defiled, and other evills arise. Wherefore the cheife Preists may not imitate whorish women, who put over their children to others to p. 20be nursed, that they may follow their pleasure, but they themselves ought to nourish them, themselves ought to render fruite to their Lord with increase, and to present the fruitfull sheaves to him with glory. For if the Lord himselfe, among other cares of his sheepe, hath touched and cleansed the leapers, why doe wee disdaine to doe the same things? Especially when as the Lord sayd to Peter,**Iohn. 21.15.16.17.John 21:15John 21:16John 21:17 If thou love me, feed my sheepe. If we desire to be the Lords Disciples, let us follow his steps; that it may be sayd of us, I am the good Shepheard, and know my sheep, and am knowne of mine, and I call them all by name, &c. Every one who negligently feedes the Lords flocke so often committed to him, is convinced not to love the cheife Pastor, nor yet to be willing to be made his Disciple, whose examples hee neglects to imitate.

Gen. 31.38.39.40.Gen 31:38Gen 31:39Gen 31:40Wee remember, that Iacob, who had served long for his wives, said thus to Laban: This twenty yeares have I beene with thee, thy ewes and thy shee-goates have not cast their younge, and the rammes of thy flocke have I not eaten. That which was torne of beasts, I brought not unto thee, I bare the losse of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day or by night. Thus I was, in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and the sleepe departed from mine eyes. If therefore hee did thus labor and watch, who fed Labans sheepe, how great paines & watchings ought he to take, who feeds the sheep of God? This can no Prelate or Bishop doe, who is busied in worldly affaires or flowes in worldly p. 21honor, wealth, Pompe and State. For as **Epist. 37Hildebert of Turen truly writes: It is impossible that hee should at any time speake with the Lord, who (even when hee is silent) talkes with all the world: Such a fable-bearer doe I, O wretch (saith hee) professe my selfe, who when as I spend the whole dayes about keeping of cattle and worldly affaires, doe not spend so much as one moment in keeping of soules. Businesses, which are worse to my spirit, meet with me, which engrosse me wholy to themselves, which steale away the secret times of prayers, which defraud Ecclesiasticall duties of their seasons, which as a small thing rage and vex me with stinges by day, and likewise infest me when I sleep by night; and that which I cannot acknowledge without teares, the creeping and theevish remembrance of causes follow me, poore wretch to the sacred Altars, where whiles I deprecate the flight thereof, I am surrounded with their assault. These birdes, I unhappy wretch, indure with sacrifying Abraham, but it is not yet given me to drive them away with Abraham. Now innummerable losses of vertues follow the captivating occupations of the minde, to which whiles we miserably are subject, wee doe not so much as minister with Martha: For Martha ministred, but to Christ; but which of us may say that wee doe run about and minister with Martha, who whiles wee run about, doe neither minister to Christ, nor for Christ. Hence is it (writes**De Statu Domus Dei. l. 3. Bibl. Patr. Tom. 12. pars. 1. p. 628. Potho,) that in these dangerous times the scarcity of spirituall things doth most of all presse and shake us, when as plenty of temporall things p. 22abound. For the Church in this time is made greater in riches, but farre lesse in virtues. Whence charity now waxing cold in many, the desire of heavenly things vanisheth quite away in us, and all the studie of virtues is turned into the appetite of transitory things. For these things men desire to be Bishops and Prelates of Churches, that they may enjoy these things, that they may flow with pleasures, that they may rather rule over the Church of God, then profit it; that they may have the family of the Church, subject to them, that they may be Lords of things, that how much the richer their Churches are, they may thereby become more famous. Since therefore ambition raignes in these men, how can they adorne the doctrine of Christ in word and example in all things? What vertue of true religion is there in them whose heartes the brightnes of divine illumination hath forsaken? Thus these, in direct opposition to this your Prelates suggestion, who pleade so much for worldly, honor, pompe, wealth, and rule, which of all other things they should most detest.

Secondly, I answere, that Christ himselfe avers, ††Iohn. 18.36.John 18:36that his Kingdome was not of this world; expresly **Math. 20.25.26.27. Marke. 10.42.43.44.45. Luke. 22.24.25.26.27. 1. Pet. 5.1.2.3. 3 Iohn. 9. Iohn. 21.15.16.17. Acts. 20.28. Marke. 16.15.16.Matt 20:25Matt 20:26Matt 20:27Mark 10:42Mark 10:43Mark 10:44Mark 10:45Luke 22:24Luke 22:25Luke 22:26Luke 22:271 Pet 5:11 Pet 5:21 Pet 5:33 John 1:9John 21:15John 21:16John 21:17Acts 20:28Mark 16:15Mark 16:16prohibiting his Ministers and Apostles, to Lord it over his inheritance, or exercise any temporall Dominion over them, commanding them onelyonly to feed & teach, not domineere or rule over his flock like temporall Lords: tobbMath. 11.29.Matt 11:29 be lowly and humble without pompe, state, or worldly possessions, as hee and his Disciples were, being cc1. Tim. 6.8.9.10.11.1 Tim 6:81 Tim 6:91 Tim 6:101 Tim 6:11content onelyonly with food and raime…t, eschuing worldly pompe and wealth, as the very bane and p. 23poyson of the Church: Hence ddSermon. on Hag. 1. p. 176. and on Math. 9.37. p. 318. Defence of the Apologie. parte 6. c. 9. Divis. 3. pag. 567. 568.Hag 1Matt 9:37Bishop Iewell records out of IoanneseeCap. 22. in vita Silvestri See Polichronicon. l. 4. c. 26 f. 171. Thomas Becons Reports of certaine men. Vol. 3. f. 241. Parisensis and others, That when Constantine the Great advanced Bishops, and endowed the Church with lands and temporall possessions, there was a voyce of Angels heard in the ayre, saying: hodie venenum infunditum in Ecclesiam: This day poyson is powred into the Church. And from that time forward (saith Polychronicon out of Giraldus Cambiensis) because of the great riches that the Church had, it was made the more secular; and had more secular busines, then spirituall devotion, and more pompe & boast outward then holinesse within. Therefore Ierome in Vitas Patrum saith; Since the holy Church increased in possessions, it decreased in virtues according to the old Proverbe: Religio peperit divitias, Et filia devoravit matrem. And out of Sant Bernard hee writes: that since Prelates increased in worldly pompe, chusing the first places in the Church, they have beene the cheifest in persecuting Christ, and have ever shewed themselves, not teachers, but deceivers, not Pastors but Impostors; not Prelates but Pilates, succeeding not Peter in teaching, but Romulus in murthering: Concluding out of the same Bernard; that no Prelate, no not the Pope himselfe, can be both a Successor of the Apostles & a Lord; for doubtles hee was forbidden one of them by our Saviour, Math. 20.25.26. where Christ by severall duties and honors, hath set a difference betweene the offices of both powers. Our Princes never tooke upon them the office of Bishops, but your Bishops (saith hee to harding) have taken upon them the office p. 24of Princes: Of your Bishops it is written in your owneffConcil. Macrense. Catal. Test. Veritatis. p. 121. Councels (and I would it were not now as true of ours,) Behold there is now in a maner no worldly affaire, but Preists and Bishops have it in a hand. Such Bishops be they of whom Sant Chrysostome writeth thus: They that neither beleive, nor feare the Iudgement of God, abusing their Ecclesiasticall dignity in secular sort, turne the same in secular dignity. Such Bishops they be of whomhhContra Luciferianos & in Soph. c. 1.Zeph 1 Sant Hierom saith thus: They themselves be to themselves both Laymen and Bishops too: They worship the Lord and Melchom both together, thinking that they may serve both the world and the Lord, and satisfie two Maisters at once, God and Mammon; who fighting under Christ, bend themselves to worldly affaires, and offer up one Image both to God and to Caesar. And therefore Cardinall Cusanus saith: Hereof groweth a great deformity that Bishops are bent onelyonly to worldly cares. Thus and**In his Sermon on Haggay 1. Defence of the Apologie, part. 4. c. 17 Divis. 1. & part. 6. c. 11 Sims. 5. p. 576. 577 much more Bishop Iewell. Neither is this Prelate singular in his opinion. Our famous English Apostle Iohn Wickliffe, affirmed: iiThomas Walsingham Hist. Angl. p. 205. 302 303, 304. 305. 306. Wiclesi. Diolog. l. 4. c. 15. 16. 17 18. 26. 27. Fox Acts & Monuments p. 398. 399. 412.That Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, or other Preists, might not civiliter dominari, rule like civill Lords without mortall sinne. That it is a sinne to endow them with temporall possessions, that no Prelates ought to have any prison to punish offenders; nor get any large temporall possessions or riches: And that no King should impose upon any Bishop or Curate any secular office; for then the King and the Clarke should be Proditor Iesu Christi, a betrayer of Christ Iesus. William Swinderby, a Martyr under Richard the second, held:kkFox Acts & Monuments p. 431. 434. That the more p. 25Lordship a Preist hath, the nearer hee is to Antichrist: That the Preists of the old Law were forbidden Lordship; and that Christ himselfe refused and forbad his Preistes Lordships, saying: Reges gentium &c. The Kings of the heathen beare rule &c. but you shall not do so. And Sant Peter saith Neque dominantes in Clero, Not bearing rule and domination over the Clergy. So it seemeth to me that it is against both Lawes of God, that they have such Lordships, and that their title to such Lordshops is not full good, &c. So the **Fox Acts & Monuments p. 514. 517 518. 522.Noble Martyr Lord Cobham professed: That the will of God is, that Preists being secluded from all worldlinesse, should conforme themselves utterly to the examples of Christ, and his Apostles; be evermore occupied in preaching and teaching the Scriptures purely, and in giving wholesome examples of good living to others, being more modest, loving, gentle, and lowly in spirit, then any other sorts of people. Where doe ye finde (sayd hee to the Prelates) in all Gods Law, that ye should thus sitt in judgement of any Christian man, or yet give sentence of any other man unto death as yee doe here dayly? No ground have ye in all the Scriptures so Lordly to take it upon you, but in Annas and Caiphas which sate thus upon Christ; and upon his Apostles, after his ascention. Of them onelyonly have ye taken it to judge Christs members, as ye doe, & neither of Peter nor Iohn. Since the venime of Iudas was shed into the Church, yee never followed Christ, nor yet stood in the perfection of Gods Law. By Venime I meane your possessions and Lordships: For then cried an Angle in the ayre (as your owne Chronicles p. 26mention) Woe, woe, woe, this day is venine shed into the Church of God. Before that time all the Bps of Rome were Martyrs in a maner: and since that time we read of very few: But indeed one hath put down another, one hath cursed another, one hath poysoned another, one hath slaine another, & done much more mischeife besides, as all Chronicles tell. And let all men consider this well, that Christ was meeke and mercifull; the Pope (and his Prelates) is proud and a tyrant: Christ was poore and forgave, the Pope is rich and a malicious manslayer, as his dayly Acts doe proove him. Rome is the very nest of Antichrist, and out of that nest cometh all the Disciples of him; of whom Archbishops, Bishops, Prelates, Preists and Monkes be the body, members, and these pild Friars the tayle. Though Preists and Deacons for preaching Gods word, ministring the Sacraments with provision for the poore be grounded on Gods Law, yet have these Sects no maner of ground thereof. Hee that followeth Peter most nighest in pure living, is next unto him in succession. But your Lordly order esteemed not greatly the behaviour of poore Peter, what ever ye prate of him.llPassus. 15. 2. 4. b. Peirce Plowman, an ancient English Poët, writes to the same effect:

If Knighthood and Kindurite and commons by conscience,

Together love Lelly, leveth it well ye Bishops,

The Lordship of Landes for ever sall ye lese,

And live as Levitici, as our Lord ye teacheth.

Deut. 8. Numb. 5. per primitias & decimas &c.

p. 27SirmmThe Plowmans Tale. Geffry Chaucer our renowned Poët, is, yet more punctuall.

The Emperour yafe the Pope sometime,

So high Lordship him about,

That at last the sely Ryme,

The proud Pope put him out.

So of this Realme is in dout:

But Lordes beware and them defend,

For now these folke beene wondrous stout,

Moses Law forbod it tho,

That Preistes should no,

Lordeshippes weld,

Christs Ghospell biddeth also,

That they should no Lordshippes held,

Ne Christes Apostles were never so bold,

No such Lordshippes to them enbrace,

But sm…r…n her sheepe, and keepe her fold,

God amend hem for his grace, &c.

This Booke of Chaucer was authorized to be printed by Act of Parliament in the 34. and 35. H. 8. c. 1.**In his workes. p. 124. 140 152. 142. Master William Tyndall Martyr, writes thus: Let Kings rule their Realmes themselves, with the helpe of Laymen that are sage, wise, learned and expert. Is it not a shame above all shames and a monstrous thing, that no man should be found able to governe a worldly Kingdome save Bishops and Prelates that have forsaken the world, and are taken out of the world, and appointed to preach the Kingdome of God; Christ saith, that his Kingdome is not of this p. 28world, Iohn. 18. and Luk. 19. VntoUnto the young man that desired him, to bid his brother to give him part of the inheritance, hee answered; who made me a judge or a devider over you: No man that layeth his hand to the plowe and looketh back, is fit for the Kingdome of heaven, Luke 9. No man can serve two Maisters, for hee must despise the one. Matth. 6. To preach Gods word, is to much for halfe a man: and to minister a temporall Kingdome, is to much for halfe a man. Either other requireth an whole man. One therefore cannot well doe both. The Bishops after they had put Christ out of his roome, they gate themselves to the Emperors and Kings, and so long ministred their busines, till they have also put them out of their roomes, and have get their authorities from them, and raigne also in their steed: So that the Emperour and Kings are but vaine names, and shadowes, as Christ is, having nothing to doe in the world. Thus raigne they in steed of God and man, and have all power under them, and doe what they list. What names have they? My Lord Bishop, my Lord Archbishop, if it please your father-hood, if it please your Lordship, if it please your Grace, if it please your holines, and innummerable such like. Behold, how they are esteemed, and how they are crept up above all, not into worldly seates onelyonly, but into the seate of God, the hearts of men, where they sit above God himselfe. For, both they, and whatsoever they make of their owne heades, is more feared and dread, then God and his Commandements. Antichrists Bishops preach not, because they have no p. 29leisure for their lust and pleasures, and aboundance of all things, and for the combrance that they have in Kings matters; and busines of the Realme. One keepeth the privy Seale, another the great Seale, the third is Confessor, that is to say a privy traitor, and a secret Iudas, hee is President of the Kings Counsell, hee is an Ambassadour, another sort of the Kings secret Counsell.††Note. Wo is unto the Realmes where they are of the Counsell, as profitable are the Prelacy, unto the Realmes with their Counsell, as the Wolves unto the Sheep, or the Foxes unto the Geese.**Page. 181 For there is no mischeifes or disorder, whether it be in the temporall regiment or in the spirituall, whereof they are not the cheife causes, and even the very fountaine and springs; and as we say the well head: so that it is impossible to preach against any mischeife, except thou begin at them, or to set any reformation in the world, except thou reforme them first. Now are they indurate and tough as Pharaoh, and will not bow unto any way or order. And therefore persecute they Gods word and the Preachers thereof, and on the other side lay awayte unto all Princes and stirre up all mischeife in the world, and send them to warre, and occupie their mindes therewith, or with other voluptuousnes, lest they should have leisure to heare the word of God, & to set an order in their Realms. By them is all things ministred, and by them are all Kings ruled; yea in every Kings conscience sit they ere hee be King, and perswade him what they list, and make them both to beleive what they will, and to doe what they will, neither can any King or Realme p. 30have rest for their busines. Turne thine eyes whether thou wilt, and thou shalt see nothing prosperous but their subtile yolling, with that it is flowing water, yea and I trust it will be shortly a full Sea. In all their doings, though they pretend outwardly the honor of God, or a Common-wealth, their intent and secret Counsell is onelyonly, to bring all under their power, and to take out of the way whosoever letteth them, or is to mighty for them. And when they are once on high, then are they Tyrants above all Tyrants. Whether they be Turkes or Saracens. Thus and farre more **See his Practise of Popish Prelates worthy to be seriously read.Master TyndallooFox Acts & Monuments p. 926. 927 Master Fish in his Supplication of Beggars, thus complaines to King Henry the 8. of the inconvenience of the Prelates greatnes and sway, both to himselfe and his subjects, worthy your Majesties most serious consideration. Oh the greivous shipwrack, of the Common-wealth, which in ancient time before the comming of these ravenous wolves, were so prosperous, that &c. What remedy? Make Lawes against them? I am in doubt whether ye be able. Are they not stronger in your owne Parliament-house then your selfe? What a number of Bishops, Abbots, and Priors, are Lords of your Parliament?††The fruits of Prelates greatnes. Are not all the learned men of your Realme in fee with them, to speake in the Parliament-house for them, against your Crowne, dignity and Commonwealth of your Realme, a fewe of your owne learned Counsell, onelyonly excepted? what Law can be made against them that may be avaylable? Who is hee (though hee be greived never so sore,) that for the murther of his ancester, ravishment of his wife, of his daughter, p. 31robbery, trespasse, maine, debt, or any other offence, dare lay it to their charge by way of Action? and if hee do, then is hee by and by, by their**Now they bring such into the high Commission, and there ruine them, or force them to give over their actions. wylines accused of heresy; yea they will so handle him ere hee passe, that except hee will beare a faggot at their pleasure, hee shall be excommunicated, and then be all his actions dashed. So captive are your Lawes unto them, that no man whom they list to excommunicate may be admitted to sue any action in any of your Courts. If any man in your Sessions dare be so hardy to indite a Preist of any such crime; hee hath ere the yeare goe about such a yoake of heresie laid in his necke, that it maketh him wish hee had not done it. Your Grace may see what a worke there is in London; how the Bishop rageth for inditing certaine Curates of extortion and incontinency the last yeare in the Ward-mote Quest. Had not Richard Hunne commenced action of Praemunire against a Preist, hee had yet beene alive, and no heretick at all, but an honest man.‡‡Note the danger that accrues by making Clergymen cheife temporall officers And this is by reason that the cheife Instrument of your Law, yea the cheife of your Counsell, and hee which hath your sword in his hand, to whom also all the other instruments are obedient, is alwayes a spirituall man; which hath ever such an inordinate love unto his owne Kingdome, that hee will maintaine that, though all the temporall Kingdomes and Commonwealthes of the world, should therefore utterly be undone. Which Master ppActs and Monuments p. 1381.Iohn Fox himselfe thus seconds: **Note.This hath beene one great abuse in England these many yeares, that such offices as have beene of most importance & waight, p. 32have commonly beene committed to Bishops and other spirituall men; whereby three divellish mischeifes and inconveniences have happened in this Realme, to the great dishonour of God, and utter neglecting of the flocke of Christ, the which three be these.

First, they have had small leasure to attend to their Pastorall cures, which thereby have beene utterly neglected and left undone.

Secondly, it hath also puft up many Bishops and other spirituall persons into such haughtines and pride, that they have thought no noble man in the Realme, worthy to be their equall and fellow: (Whence qq22. H. 8. fol. 184.Hall in his Chronicle observes, that the authority of Cardinall Wolsey, set the Clergy in such a pride, that they disdained all men; wherefore when he was fallen they followed after.)

Thirdly, where they by this meanes knew the very secrets of Princes, they being in such high offices, have caused the same to be**Note, the Bishops the greatest Freindes & Pillars of the Pope, & more faithfull to him, then to their Prince. knowne in Rome, afore the King could accomplish and bring his intents to passe in England. By this meanes hath the Papacy beene so maintained, and things ordered after their wills and pleasures, that much mischeife hath hapned in this Realme and others, sometime the destruction of Princes, and sometime to the utter undowing of many Common-wealthes.

Master rrVponUpon the 8. Commandement. pag. 78.Hooper, both a Bishop and Martyr of our Church, delivers his judgement of the point in these ensuing termes: For the space of 400. yeares after Christ, the Bishops applied all their witt onelyonly p. 33to their owne vocation; to the glory of God, and the honor of the Realmes they dwelt in. Though they had not so much upon their heades, as our Bishops have, yet had they more within their heades as the Scripture and histories testifie. For they applied all the will, they had unto the vocation and ministry of the Church whereunto they were called. But our Bishops have so much witt, that they can rule and serve (as they say,) in both States, in the Church and also in the civill policy, when one of them is more then any man is able to satisfie, let him doe allwayes his best diligence. If hee be so necessary for the Court, that in civill causes hee cannot be spared, let him use that vocation, and spare the other. It is not possible, hee should doe both well.**See Bucerus De Regno Christi. l. 2. c. 12. It is a great oversight in Princes thus to charge them with two burthens. The Primitive Church had no such Bishops as we. They had such Bishops as did preach many godly Sermons in lesse time then our Bishops horses be a brideling. Their house was a Schoole or treasure house of Gods Ministers. If it be so now, let every man judge. The Magistrates that suffer the abuse of these goods, be culpable of the fault. If the fourth part of the Bishopricke remained to the Bishop, it were sufficient, the third part to Schoolemaisters, the second to poore, and Soldiers were better bestowed. If any be offended with me for this my saying, hee loveth not his owne health, nor Gods Lawes, nor mans; out of which I am alwayes ready to proove the thing, I have said to be true. Further, I speake of love, not of hatred. And in his Apologie hee saith: It is both against p. 30duplicate page p. 31duplicate page p. 32duplicate page p. 33duplicate page p. 34Gods Lawes and mans, that Bishops and Clergy should be judges over any subjects within this Realme, for it is no part of their office: they can doe no more but preach Gods word, and minister Gods Sacraments, and excommunicate such as Gods Lawes doe pronounce to be excommunicated. Who would put a sword into a madmans hand? Thus this good Prelate, whom Master Latymer, (who ssFox Acts & Monuments p. 1578.gave over his Bishopricke out of conscience (as Shaxtor Bishop of Salisbury likewise did,) and skipped fo… joye being divested of his Bishoplike habit, becaus… hee feeled his shoulders so light, and was discharge… of so heavy a burden;) thus seconds in his Sermon of th… Plough:ttEdit. 1578 cum Privilegio fol. 17. God saith by the Prophet Ieremy; M… ledictus qui facit opus Dei fraudelenter, guilefully an… deceitfully some bookes have, negligenter, negligently, or slackly. How many such Prelates, how man… such Bishops (Lord for thy mercy) are there now … England? And what shall we in this case doe? Sha… we company with them? O Lord, for thy mercy sha… we not company with them? O Lord, whether sha… we flee from them. But cursed be hee which dot… the worke of the Lord negligently or guilefully A sore word for them that are negligent in discha… ging their office ill. Yee that be Prelates looke we to your office; for right Prelating is busie labourin… and not Lording; therefore preach and teach, and l… your plough be doing. Yee Lords, I say, that live li… loyterers, looke well to your office, the plow is yo… office and charge. If ye live idle and loyter, yo… doe not your duty, &c. They have to say f… p. 35themselves long customes, and authority, placing in Parliament, and many things more. And I feare me this land is not ripe to be plowed: for as the saying is, It lacketh withering. This land lacketh withering at least it is not for me to plough. For what shall I looke for among thornes, but pricking & scratching? what among stones, but stumbling? what (I had allmost said) among Scorpions but stinging? But thus much I dare say, that since Lording and loytering hath come up, preaching hath gone downe contrary to the Apostles times. For they preached and Lorded not, and now they Lord and preach not. For they that be Lords, will ill goe to the plow. It is no meete office for them. It is not seeming for their estate. Thus came up Lording Loyterers. Thus crept up unpreaching Prelates. For how many unlearned Prelates have we now at this day? And no marvail, for if the ploughmen that now be, were made Lords, they would cleane give over-ploughing, they would leave their labour, and fall to Lording outright, and the plough stand. And then both ploughes not walking, nothing should be in the Common-wealth but hunger. For ever since the Prelates were made Lordes and Nobles, their plough standeth, there is no worke done, the people starve; they hauke, they hunt, they carde, they dice, they pastime in their Prelacies with gallant Gentlemen; with their daunsing Minions, and with their fresh companions, so that ploughing is set aside.**Lording hath put downe preaching. See Supplication to K. Henry the 8. An. 1544. And by their Lording and Loytering, preaching and ploughing is cleane gone. And thus if the ploughmen in the country, p. 36were as negligent in their office, as Prelates be, we should not long live for lacke of sustenance. And as it is necessary for to have this ploughing for the sustentation of the body, so must we have also the other for the satisfaction of the soule; or else we cannot live long ghostly. For as the body wasteth and consumeth away for lacke of bodily meate; so doth the soule**The Prelates therefore who suppresse Lectures and preaching, as many now doe, onelyonly starve and pine, not feed mens soules. pine away for want of ghostly meate. And as diligently as the husbandman plougheth for the sustentation of the body; so diligently must the Prelates and Ministers labour for the feeding of the soule; both the ploughes must still be going as most necessary for man. They have great labors, and therefore they ought to have good livings, that they may commodiously feed their flock; for the preaching of the word of God is called meate. Scripture calleth it meate, not strawberies, that come but once a yeare, and tarry not long, but are sone gone; but it is meate, it is no dainties. The people must have meate that must be familiar, AND CONTINVALL, and DAYLY GIVEN VNTOUNTO THEM TO FEED ON, &c. And wherefore are Magistrates ordained, but that the tranquility of the Common-wealth may be confirmed, limiting both ploughes. But now for the fault of unpreaching Prelates, me thinke I could guesse what might be sayd for excusing of them. They are so troubled with Lordly livinge, they be so placed in pallaces, couched in Courts, ruffeling in their rents, dauncing in their dominions, burdened with ambassages; pampring of their paunches like a Munke that maketh his Iubely, mounching in their Maungers, and moyling in their gay Manours, and p. 37Mansions, and so trobled with loytering in their Lordships, that they cannot attend it.††Ecclesiarum Prelatè in mundialibus scilicet efficaces, in spiritualibus desides. Will. Malmesburiensis. De Gestis Regium Ang. l 5 p. 173. They are otherwise occupied, some in Kings matters, some are Ambassadours, some of the privy Counsell, some furnish the Court, some are Lords of Parliament, some are Presidents and Comptrolers of Mints. Well, well,**Bps ought not to intermedle with temporall or state affaires Is this their duty? Is this their calling? Is this a meet‡‡See Bucerus de Regno Christi. l. 2. c. 12. office for a Preist to be comptrollers of Mints? Is this a meete office for a Preist that hath cure of soules? Is this his charge? I would heare a question, who comptrolleth the Devill at home at his parish, while hee comptrolleth the Minte? If the Apostles might not leave the office of preaching to be Deacons, shall one leave it for minting? I cannot tell you, the saying is, that since Preistes have beene Minters, money hath beene worse then it was before: And they say, that the evilnes of money hath made all things deare. And in this behalfe I must speake to England. Heare my Country England, as Sant Paul sayd in the first Epistle to the Corinthians 6. chapter: for Paul was no sitting Bishop, but a walking and a preaching Bishop: Is there (saith hee) utterly among you no wise man to be an arbitrator in matters of Judgement? What? not one of all that can judge betweene brother and brother, but one brother goeth to Law with another, and that under heathen Judges? Appoint those Iudges that are most object and vile in the congregation: which hee speaketh in rebuking them; for saith hee; ad crubescentiam vestram dico, I speake it to your shame. So England I speake it to thy shame, is there never a Nobleman to be a††So in his 5. Sermon before K. Edw. hee writes thus Though I say, I would wish m…y Lord Presidents, I meane not that I would have Prelates Lord Presidents, nor that Lord Bps should be Lord Presidents. As touching that I sayd my minde and Conscience the last yeare. And although it is sayd, Praesent, it is not meant that they should be Lord Presidents; the office of a Presidentship is a civill office, and it cannot be, that one man shall discharge both well. Lord p. 38President, but it must be a Prelate? Is there never a wiseman in the Realme to be a Comptroller of the Mint? I speake it to your shame, I speake it to your shame. If there be never a wise man, make a Waterbearer, a Tinker, a Cobler, a Slave, a Page Comptroller of the Minte. Make ameane Gentleman, a Groome, a Yeoman, make a poore begger Lord President. Thus I speake, not that I would have it so, but to your shame. Is there never a Gentleman meet not able to be Lord President? For why are not the Noblemen and young Gentlemen of England so brought up, in the knowledge of God and in learning, that they be able to execute offices in the Commonwealth. The King hath a great many of Wards, and I heare there is a Court of Wards; why is there not a schoole of Wards as well as there is a Court for their lands? Why are they not set to the schooles where they may learne? Or why are they not sent to Universities, that they may be able to serve the King when they come to age? The onelyonly cause why Noblemen be not made Lord Presidents is, because they have not beene brought up in learning. Yet there be already Noblemen enough, though not so many as I could wish, able to be Lord Presidents, and wisemen enough for the Mint. And as unmeet a thing it is for Bishops to be**The same reason holds our Lord Presidents, Lord Chauncellors, Lord Treasurers &c. Lord Presidents, or Preists to be Minters, as it was for the Corinthians to plead matters of variance before heathen judges. It is also a‡‡Note. slander to the Noblemen as though they lacked wisedome, and learning to be able for such offices. A Prelate hath a charge and cure otherwise; and**Note well. therfore p. 39hee cannot discharge his duty, and be a Lord President too: For a Presidentship requireth a whole man, and a Bishop cannot be two men. A Bishop hath his office; a flocke to teach, to looke unto; & therfore hee cannot meddle with another office, which requireth an whole man. Hee should therefore give it over to whom it is meet, and labour in his owne busines, as Paul writeth to the Thessalonians: Let every man doe his owne businesse, and follow his calling. Let the Preist preach, and the Noble men handle temporall matters. Well, I would all men would looke to their duty, as God hath called them, and then we should have a flourishing Christian Common-Weale, &c. But our Blaunchers, which will be Lords and no Labourers, when they are commanded to goe and be resident upon their Cures, and preach in their benefices, they will say: What? I have set a deputy there, I have a deputy, that looketh well to my flocke, and hee which shall discharge my duty. A deputy, (quod hee) I looked for that word all this while. And what a deputy must hee be trow ye? Even one like himselfe. Hee must be a**Note, those who lobour to advance and bring in the Canon Law, labour to advance and usher in the Pope againe, whose Law it is: as Miles & Cl…ricus, and William Turner in his hunting of the Romish Fox, have notab…y and unanswerably prooved. Canonist, that is to say, one that is brought up in the study of the Popes Lawes and Decrees: one that will set forth Papistry as well as himselfe; and one that will maintaine all superstition and idolatry; and one that will nothing at all, or else very weakely resist the Devils plough, yea happy it is, if hee take no part with the Devill, and where hee should be an enemy to him, it is well if hee take not the Devils parte. They are Lords and no Labourers, but the Devill is diligent p. 40at his plough. And now I would aske a strange question: Who is the most diligent Bishop and Prelate in all England, that passeth all the rest in doing his office? I can tell, for I know him who it is. I knew him well. But now I thinke I see you listning, hearkning that I should name him. There is one that passeth al… the other, and is the most diligent Prelate an… preacher in all England. And will yee know wh… hee is? I will tell you; It is the Devill. Hee is the most diligent preacher of all others, hee is never ou… of his Dioces, he is never from his cure, ye shall neve… finde him unoccupied, hee is ever in his parish, hee keepeth residence at all times, yee shall never finde him out of the way: call for him when yee will, hee i… ever at hande, the diligentest preacher in all the Realme, hee is ever at his plough: no Lording no… Loytering can hinder him, hee is ever applying hi… businesse, yee shall never finde him idle, I warrant you. Oh that our Prelates would be as diligent to so… the corne of good doctrine, as Sathan is to sow cockle and darnell. There was never such a preacher in England as hee is: he is no unpreaching Prelate. Hee is no Lordly loyterer from his cure, but a busy ploughman so that among all the Prelates, & among all the pack o… thē that have cure the Devill, shall goe for my mony. For he still applieth his busines. Therfore you unpreaching Prelates, learne of the Devill to be diligent it doing your office. Learne of the Devill: and if you will not learne of God nor good men to be diligent, for shame learne of the Devill: Ad erubescentiam vestram dico. I speake it to your shame. If you will not p. 41learne of God, nor good men ever to be diligent in your office, learne of the Devill. Howbeit there is now very good hope, that the Kings Majesty both by the helpe of good governance of his most honorable Counsaylers, trayned and brought up in learning and knowledge of Gods word, will shortly provide a remedy, and set an order therein. Which thing that it may be so, let us pray for him. Thus this good Bishop in opposition to our present Prelates doctrines and practises; Who if hee were now alive and should say thus much, hee might peradventure, (if some of them had their will) be martyred once againe.

Our learned Martyr Doctor Barnes, in his Supplication to King Henry the 8. p. 210. 211. writes: That it cannot be prooved by Scripture, that a man of the Church should have so great temporall possessions as Bishops have. That they cannot by the Law of God have any Iurisdiction secular, and yet they challenge both powers. This is the Article that did bite you: for you cannot be content, with the office of a Bishop, but you will be also Kings. How that standeth with Gods Law, or with your oath, I have declared to our noble Prince. And our worthy Martyr Master Iohn Freth, in his Answer to Master Moores Preface, p. 116. determines thus: But surely since Sylvester received such possessions, hath the canker so crept in the Church, that it hath almost left never a sound member. Before that time there was no Bishop greedy to take a Cure: For it was no honor and profit as it is now, but onelyonly a carefull charge, which was like to cost him his life at one p. 42time or other. And therefore no man would take it, but hee that bare such a love and zeale to God, and his flocke, that hee could be content to shed his blood for them: But after that it was made so honorable and so profitable, they that were worst, both in learning and living, most labored for it, for they that were vertuous would not intangle themselves, with the vaine pride of this world, and weare their Crownes of gold, where Christ did weare one of thornes. And in conclusion it came so farre, that whosoever would give most money for it, or best could flatter the Prince (which hee knew all good men to abhorre) had the Preheminence, and got the best Bishoricke. And then in steed of Gods word, they published their owne Commandements, and made Lawes to have all under them, and made men beleive, they could not erre what ever they did or sayd. And even as in the roomes and steed of Moses, Aaron, Iosue, Caleb, and other such faithfull folke, came Herode, Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, and Iudas, which put Christ to death. So now insteed of Christ, Peter, Paul, Iames and Iohn, and the faithfull followers of Christ, we have the Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and proud Prelates, wit… their Proctours, the Malicious Ministers of thei… master the Devill, whose end shall be according to their workes.

But perchance the Bishops (who much abuse you Royall eares with misreports) will informe your Majesty that all these forecited Writers and martyred Bishops, we… Puritans and seditious persons: Be it so, (though a gross p. 43untruth, unlesse all be Puritans and seditious persons, who oppose their ambitions, aspiring secular Pompe and Lordship:) yet let them heare on the contrary some few of their owne stampe and creatures, whom they cannot taxe of any such crimes as these. uuIoannis de Aton. Constit. Othoboni. f. 69.70.Othobon the Popes Legate, with a whole generall Councell of all the Prelates and Clergie both of England and Ireland under him, held at London, An. 1268. published this decree: In as much as it is reputed a speciall decency of Ecclesiasticall honesty, to be farre estranged from carnall actions; wee decree it a very hainous and filthy thing, that hands deputed on heavenly ministeries, should be entangled with secular affaires: Or that certaine Clerkes, seeking after earthly gaines and temporall Iurisdiction, through a foule and greedy rapine, doe receive from Laymen secular Iurisdiction, and be called Iustices and doe minister Iustice, which they cannot minister without a dissipation and injurie of Ecclesiasticall order. Therefore wee, desirous to extirpate this horrible vice, straightly forbid all persons of Churches and Vicars with perpetuities, yea also all other maner of persons whatsoever placed in the Ministery, that they presume not to take any secular Iurisdiction, of any secular person, or to exercise the same, according to the precepts of holy Canons: By this present Constitution wee straightly inhibit, that none placed in spirituall warfare, presume to exercise in the secular Court, the office of an Advocate, either in the cause of blood, or in any cause whatsoever, save onelyonly in such causes as are permitted unto him by Law. And p. 44wee likewise forbid that any Clergy man, be either a Iudge, or an assessor. Divers such Constitutions are in xxDistinctio. 21 quaest. 3.Gratian,yyDe immunitate Eccles. Lyndewoode, the Councels at large **Decretalium. pars 5. 6. 7. passim.Iuo Carnotensis, and aaSumma Angelica tit. Clericus: Et Ioannis Lo…ngheconcius: De vita & honestate Ecclesiasticorum. lib.other Canonists, inhibiting Bishops and Clergy men to intermeddle with any secular offices or affaires, which for brevity sake I pretermit.

aaEpist. 147Petrus Blesensis, Archdeacon of Bath, flourishing about the yeare of our Lord, 1160. Writes thus to the Bishop of Bangor, concerning the Wealth and State of Bishops: The Title of poverty is glorious with Christ; and that which hath becomed the Sonne of God, ought not to misbeseeme you. The Prince of the Apostles and Prelates saith:bbActs. 3 6.Acts 3:6 Gold and Silver have I none. Yea thatccPossidoneus in Vita. Great famous Augustine (Bishop of Hippo) therefore made no will, because the poore servant of Christ had nothing at all, whereof to make any bequest. It is your duty to live of the Gospel as the Lord hath appointed, not to goe pompously in the ornament of cloathes, in the pride of horses, in the multitude of attendants. It becomes you as a professor of preistly and Episcopall holines, to cut of all footsteps of your ancient conversation (Thus didddGodwins Catalogue of Bishops. p. 628. Aidan the first Bishop of Durham, who for 17. yeares space together travelled up and downe the Country even on foote to preach the Gospel, giving whatsoever hee could get unto the poore: Whose footsteps our Prelates now disdaine to follow, no not on horsebacke:) And in his eeBibl. Patrum Tom. 12. pars. p. 942. 943Treatise of the institution of a Bishop, dedicated to Iohn Bishop of Worcester, hee writes against the Lordlines, Courtship, and secular imployments p. 45of Bishops, especially those, which concerne the Eschequer: Certaine Bishops abusively call the liberality and almes of ancient Kings bestowed on them, Baronies, and Royalties, and themselves Barons, it being an occasion, of most shamefull servitude. I am afraid, least the Lord complaine of them and say:ffOsea. 8.4. They have raigned, but not by me, they have made themselves Princes, but I know it not. Thou must know that thou hast taken upon thee the office of a Shepheard, not of a Baron. CertainelyggGen. 46.34.Gen 46:34 Ioseph being in Aegypt, instructed his Father and Brethren to say to Pharaoh, Wee are Schepheards. Hee would rather have them professe the office of a Shepheard, then of a Prince or Baron. Christ saith,hhIohn. 10.11.John 10:11 I am the good Shepheard: But thou art made by him a Shepheard or a steward; a stewardship is committed to thee, and know that thou must give an account of thy stewardship. The husbandry of God is committed to thee, thou hast need a weeding hooke as an husbandman, of a staffe as a Shepheard, of a weeding hooke, that as the Sonne of a Prophet, thou**Ier. 1.10.Jer 1:10 m…ist pull up and destroy, build up and plant. Use thy staffe by driving the wolves from the Sheepfold, by sustaining the weake Sheepe, by raising up those that are fallen, by reducing those that have strayed. But among the fruites of thy Episcopall office, let eternall things be ever preferred before temporall. Let another giude and dispatch thy temporall cares and affaires for thee, but doe thou diligently attend the salvation of soules. The minde consecrated to the discharge of divine service, ought to be free from p. 46worldly imployments. Thou art addicted to great things, be not taken up with the smalest. These things what ever they are, which tend to the gaine of the world, and pertaine not to the gaining of soules, are small and vile. If you shall have secular busines,kk1. Cor. 6.41 Cor 6:4 saith the Apostle, appoint those who are most contemptible among you to be Iudges: Thou therefore, O good Prelate, set all things after the Salvation of soules; For, soules are as farre more worthy then bodies, and al… things else that humane ambition caused, as heave… it selfe excels earth in dignity. Yet at this day wit… many Episcopall auctority consists onelyonly in this, tha… their plowlands be fatted with chalke and dung, tha… their fishponds be multiplied, that their Parkes an… the bounds of their possessions be inlarged. In building Pallaces, Mils, and Ovens. All the care of Prelates is increasing their rents. What is it the voyce o… our Saviour to the Prince of the Apostles and Prelates, if thou lovest me, till thy lands, build hig… houses? wee read that hee said to Peter,llIohn. 21.17.John 21:17 If the lovest me, feed my sheep. Thou art the Heire and Vic… of Peter; feed my sheep by preaching, doe the work of an Euangelist and shepheard: thou must not b… ashamed of the Gospell, if thou beleivest, thou ough… test not to be ashamed of thy pastorall office. Be instant thefore in season, out of season, fullfill th… Ministry; Thy Ministry hath more of burthen, the… of honor. If thou affectest the honor, thou art a… hireling; if thou imbracest the burthen, the Lord i… able to increase his grace, that thou must recei… gaines out of gaines, and profits out of profits. … p. 47thou shalt drowne thy selfe in the † Labyrinthes of Court affaires, especially of the Eschequer,**A good note for Bishops, that meddle with Court and Eschequer affaires. thou shalt suffer great losses of spirituall exercise.mmMatth. 6.24.Matt 6:24 No man can serve two Maisters, God and Mammon. Let it not slip out of thy minde, how in the tonsure of thy head, when as thou wast elected into the Lords portion, how thou hast renounced, the ignominy of Lay-imployments. But in the day of thy consecration, thou hast made solemne vowes to renounce all secular things and imployments, (as nnSee the Booke of ordination and Consecration of Bishops.our Bishops and Ministers, yet doe in the presence of God, and the whole Congregation) which have bound up thy lips, thou art obliged with the words of thy owne mouth, when upon the interrogation of him, that consecrated thee, thou hast published without any exception, that from henceforth thou wouldest …xchange & sequester thy selfe from all worldly businesses, and dishonest gaines, and wouldest allwayes bend thy whole study, and care upon divine affaires. What hast thou to doe with the renounces of the Eschequer, that shouldest neglect the care of soules, but for one short hower?**Note this. What hath Christ elected thee to the receit of custome? Matthew being once taken from thence never returned thither againe. Be not therefore in the route of those, who preferre worldly imployments before spirituall, swallowing a Camell, and straining at a gnat.ooRuffinus. Hist. l. 10, c 2. Wee read that in the dayes of Constantine there were certaine Bishops, flattering the Prince, who gave greater reverence and heed to Royall Edicts, then to Euangelicall precepts. And there are some Bishops now a dayes, to whom the p. 48dispensation of Gods word is committed, who are silent from good things, dumbe doggs, neither able, nor yet willing to barke: they are turned into an evill bow, giving themselves up as weapons of iniquity unto sinne. This exasperated Gods wrath, and accumulates the danger of eternall damnation as an… ny, that certaine of the cheife Preists and Elders o… the people, although they pronounce not judgements of blood, yet they handle the same things by disputing and debating of them, and thinke themselves therefore free from blaime, that decreeing judgment of death, or**Let those Prelates, who have had their voyces in such sentences, consider this. truncation of members (whic… yet some of them of late have judicially given sentence of they absent themselves onelyonly from the pronunciation and execution of the poenall sentence. Bu… what is more pernicious then this dissimulation? Is i… lawfull to discusse and determine that, which it is no… lawfull to pronounce? Verily Saul did many waye handle and plot the death of David, & that hee migh… palliate his malice under the shadow of innocency, hee sayd,pp1. Kings. 18.17.1 Kgs 18:17 Let not my hand be upon him, but the han… of the Philistims be upon him. Verily as much as thi… dissimulation did excuse him with men, so much di… it the more damnable accuse him with God. We have an expresse forme of similitude, in that Consistor… wherein Christ was condemned to death: the Scribe and Pharisies sayd,qqIohn. 18.31.John 18:31 It is not lawfull for us, to put a… man to death; And yet when they cryed, saying, Crucifie him, they pronounced a sentence of deat… against him with bloody malignity. Whom the… slew with the sword of the tongue, they protested … p. 49was not lawfull for them to slay, and their iniquity was in this very thing so much the more detestable, because that they might escape the judgement of men, they covered it with a simulation of innocency. Thou art set over the soules of men, not their bodies; the Prelate hath nothing that is common with Pilate. Thou art Christs Steward and the Vicar of Peter: neither oughtest thou to give an account of the Iurisdiction committed to thee to Caesar, but to Christ. Yet some Bishops by usurped offices and administrations of the world, make themselves obnoxious to the bend of the Court, and as if they had renounced the priviledge of their dignity, expect the sentence of an harder event, &c. Thus and farre more this ancient Writer against the Wealth, Pompe, Pride, Lordship, Lordlines, Iudicature and secular imployments of Bishops, even in his blinde age.

The Booke of Ordination of Ministers and consecration of Bishops, compiled and approoved by the Bishops themselves, ratified by††3. E. 6. c. 12. 8. Eliz. c. 1. two severall Acts of Parliament, (lately printed by the Archbishops speciall commaund, with the Booke of Common Prayer,) and**Canon. 36. subscribed unto by all our Ministers, is most notable, to this purpose. For it prescribes all Bishops, when they ordaine Ministers to use this exhortation to them. Have alwayes printed in your remembrance, how great a Treasure is committed to your charge, for they be the sheep of Christ, which hee bought with his death, and for whom hee shed his blood. The Church and Congregation whom you must serve, is his spouse and body. And if it shall change the same Church, or any p. 50member thereof, to take any hurt or hinderance by reason of your negligence, yee know the greatnes of the fault, and also of the horrible punishment which will ensue. Wherefore consider with your selves the end of your Ministry towards the children of God, towards the spouse and body of Christ; and See THAT YOV **By what Law of the land then can Bishops silence or suspend Ministers, or put downe Lectures, or afternoone Sermons at their pleasure, whom this Booke confirmed by Parliament enjoynes them never to cease their labor, care, and diligence? &c.NEVER CEASE YOVR LABOVR, YOVR CARE, AND DILIGENCE, untill you have done all that lyeth in you, according to your bounden duty, to bring ALL SVCH AS ARE OR SHALL BE COMMITTED TO YOVR CHARGE, unto that ripenesse or perfectnesse of age in Christ, that there be no place left among them, either for error in religion, or for vitiousnes of life. (And what Prelate or Minister hath done this?) And for this selfesame cause, yee see how yee ought to forsake and set a side (as much as you may)‡‡See an excellent Pass…ge in Martin Bucer, De Ordinatione Legitima Ministrorum, &c. in his Scripta Anglicana, p. 253. & De Regno Christi. l. 2 c 12. ALL WORLDLY CARES AND STVDIES. Wee have good hope, that you have well weighed and pondered these things with your selves long before this time, and that you have clearely determined by Gods grace to give your selves WHOLLY to this vocation, whereunto it hath pleased God to call you, so that (as much as lyeth in you) you apply your selves WHOLLY to this one thing, and draw**I would those Prelates and Ministers would consider this who draw all their care and studies the quite contrary way. ALL YOVR CARE p. 51and STVDY this way and to this end. And that you will CONTINVALLY pray for the heavenly assistence of the Holy Ghost, that by dayly reading and weighing of the Scriptures, you may so wax riper and stronger in your Ministery. And that this your promise shall more moove you to doe your duties, yee shall answere plainely to these things, which we in the name of the Congregation shall demaund of you touching the same. The Bishop. Will you give your faithfull diligence alwayes to minister the doctrine and Sacraments, and the discipline of Christ, as the Lord hath commaunded, and as this Realme hath received the same, according to the Commaundements of God, so that you may teach the people, committed to your cure and charge, with all diligence to keepe and observe the same?