Of the Prelates Intolerable Usurpations, Dedication (2 of 3)

Of the Prelates Intolerable Usurpations · Dedication (2 of 3)

p. 51Answere. I will so doe by the helpe of the Lord. The Bishop. Will you be diligent in prayers and in reading of the holy Scriptures, and in such studies as helpe to the knowledge of the same, laying aside the‡‡How well doe our State-Prelates, Bps, & Ministers thinke you performe this serious promise, or thinke upon it? studie of the world and the flesh?

Answere. I will endeavour my selfe so to doe, the Lord being my helper. The like exhortation is given to, and the like promise made by all Archbishops, and Bishops, when they are consecrated, before all the congregation present. Are not such Prelates therefore doublely perjured both to God, and man, who breake these solemne publike protestations, by neglecting their spirituall functions and preaching, by silencing, suspending the most powerfull frequent preachers, by putting downe Lectures and Lecturers, and by giving themselves principally, if not page missing p. 54Prophet Esay had foretold, to preach the Gospell, would doe nothing without warrant. And therefore being asked if hee were a King, answered simply, and by a plaine negative, My Kingdome is not of this world. If his Kingdome was not here, neither the ordering of Policies; yea when they would have taken him up to have made him a King, as one that**Few of our Prelates would now refuse such a profer. refused that belonged not to him, hee conveyed himselfe from among them. If imperiall Iurisdiction belonged to him, why refused hee his calling? If it did not, where had Paul, Peter, or any other, any authority to meddle with that which hee refused? Seeing, hee saith; As my Father sent me, so send I you. In another place, Christ knowing the bounds of his calling, would not meddle with externe policy. Hence Bishops me thinkes by his example, should not give themselves too much the bridle, and too large a scope,††See Bucer, De Regno Christi: l. 2. c. 12. to meddle too farre with matters of policy. If these two offices, I meane Ecclesiasticall and civill be so jumbled in both functions, there can be no quiet or well ordered Common-wealth. Christ saith to his Disciples: Princes of the Nations doe beare rule like Lords, it shall not be so with you. It falleth not into an Apostles or Churchmans office, to meddle with such matters. For none going to warre, intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life; it is enough for them to attend upon one office; to attend as sole Preists, not as Errant Bayliffes. (And elsewhere in that Booke hee proceedes thus:) Come off ye Bishops away with your superfluities; yeeld up your thousands, be content with hundreds, as they be in other reformed p. 55Churches, where there be as great learned men as you are. LET YOVR PORTION BE PREISTLIKE, NOT PRINCELIKE. Let the Queene have the rest of your temporalties, to maintaine warres, and to build Schooles throughout the Realme, that every parish Church may have its preacher, every City her Superintendent to live not pompously: which will never be, unlesse your be disposed and bestowed upon many, which now feed and fat but one. Remember that Abimelech, when David in his banishment would have dined with him kept such hospitality, that hee had no bread to give him, but the Shewbread. Where was all his superfluity to keep your pretented hospitality? for that is the cause that you alleadge, you must have thousand thousands; as though you were commaunded to keepe hospitality, rather with a thousand then with a hundred: Remember the Apostles were so poore, that when the lame**Acts. 3.1. to 7.Acts 3:1–7 man, who lay at the Temple-gate called Beautifull, asked an almes of Peter and Iohn, as they went about to goe into the Temple; Peter answered him in this maner: Silver and gold have I none. And Paul was so farre from having Lordships, that his owne hands ministred oft times to his necessities. If the Apostles of our Saviour had so small possessions and revenues, why should our Prelates, who boast themselves to be their proper Successours, enjoye or couet so great? When as Paul enjoynes them, if they have but foode and raiment therewith to be content, godlinesse alone with contentment being great gaine, and a sufficient portion. This prooves the p. 56saying of Doctor Barnes most true, in his Supplication to King Henry the 8. against the Bishops, p. 211. They say they be the Successors of Christ and his Apostles; but I can see them follow none but Iudas; for they beare the purse, and have all the money. And if not they had not so great possessions, I am sure an hundred would speake against them, where now dare not one, for losse of promotion. Iudas sold our Master but once, and ye sell him as often as hee commeth in your hands. In the Acts and Monuments of our Martyrs, f. 1796. I finde this Dialogue between Sir Iohn Baker, Collins his Chaplaine, and Edmund Allin a Martyr. Baker. I heard say, that you spake against Preists and Bishops. Allin. I spake for them, for now they have so much living, and especially Bishops, Archdeacons, and Deanes, that they neither can nor will teach Gods word. If they had a hundred poundes a peece, then would they apply their study, now they cannot for other affaires. Collins. Who will then set his children to schoole? Allin. Where there is now one set to schoole for that end, there would be 40. because that one Bishops living divided into 30. or 40. parts, would finde so many as well learned men as the Bishops be now, who have all this living, neither had Peter nor Paul any such revenue. Baker. Let us dispatch him, hee will marre all. Collins. If every man had a hundred pounds, as hee saith, it would make moe learned men. Baker. But our Bishops would be angry, if that they knew it. Allin. It were for a Common-wealth to have such Bishoprickes divided, for the further increase of learning. p. 57Nicholas Bullingham, Bishop of Lincolne, in his printed Letter to Master Bull, December 5. 1564. writes thus from Embden, where hee arrived after many stormes: Would God Master Bull, that all the Prelates of England had beene with me, when we fell to cutting of Cables, riding at anchor in the raging Seas. There would have beene tearing of square Caps, renting of Rochets, defying of Bishoprickes, despising of Pompe, promising of new life; crying for mercy: O what a Tragedy would there have beene? Well, well, though now they walke drie shoode in their Pallaces, there is a God that will trie them and all his people by fire or by water, unlesse we heartily repent. Grace to repent, graunt us, O Lord, without delay. Amen, Amen.

Doctor Bridges, Deane of Sarum, afterwards Bishop of Oxford, a great Champion for the Prelates; writing against the Papists in defence of the Princes Supremacy, hath these words: ccOf the Princes Supremacy, p. 926.Christ hath put such a barre between Bishops and Princes, that his spirituall Bishops cannot have earthly Kingdomes. And whereas the Papists held; that the Pope was not properly but improperly a Lord; hee replieth: Christ simply debarreth all his spirituall Ministers from ruling of temporall Kingdomes. Christ hath both properly and unproperly debarred them. Vos autem non sic. You shall not doe so. These words strike dead Master Saunders; yea our Lordly Prelates too. Doctor Bilson**Of the true difference between Christi…n Subjection, and Antichristian Rebellion, p. 126. 127 Warden, and shortly after Bishop of Winchester writes thus: Christ expresly forbiddeth his Apostles to be rulers of Nations. The Kings of the Nations p. 58rule over the people, &c. but with you, it shall not be so. In which words Christ doth not traduce the power of Princes as unjust, but distinguished the calling of the Apostles from the maner of regiment, which God hath allowed the Magistrate. Christ saith, not Princes are tyrants, you shall deale more courteously: but hee saith: Princes be rulers by Gods ordinance; you shall not be so: that is, you shall neither beare rule, nor exercise authority over your brethren. After which hee prooves that the Greeke word foreign is not meant of any unjust or tyrannicall rule; but Christ in this text doth thereby distinguish the calling of his Apostles from the maner of lawfull regiment, which God hath allowed the Magistrate. And therefore (saith hee) the conclusion is inevitable, that Princes may lawfully compell and punish their Subjects, but Bishops may not. The distinction between them is evident by their severall Commissions, which God hath signed. The††Rom. 13.Rom 13 Prince, not the Preist beareth the sword: Ergo, the Prince not the Preist is Gods Minister to avenge Malefactors. PeterffMatth. 26Matt 26 himselfe was sharply rebuked by Christ for using the sword: and in Peter all Pastors and Bishops are straitly charged, not to meddle with it. All that take the sword, shall perish with the sword. And of all mengg1. Tim. 3. Tit. 1.1 Tim 3Titus 1 a Bishop must be no striker. For if hee, that should feed his Maisters household,hhMath. 24.Matt 24 fall to striking, he shall have his portion with hypocrites. The servants of God must be gentle towards all, instructing (not**As to many Prelates doe now, who are the greatest strikers, finers, imprisoners, and oppressors of all others. imprisoning) those that resist with mildnes, not compelling any with sharpnes. p. 59Their function is limited to the preaching of the word, and dispensing of the Sacraments, which have no kinde of compulsion in them, but invite men††2. Tim. 3. and 4.2 Tim 3 onelyonly by sober perswasions to beleive and imbrace the promises of God. To conclude, Pastors may teach, exhort, and reproove, not force, commaund, or revenge: onelyonly Princes, be Governours, that is, publike Magistrates, to prescribe their Lawes, and punish by their sword, such as resist them within their dominions, which Bishops may not doe. Thus Bishop Bilson. And kkPoore mans Library, Tom 2. f 15. 16.Bishop Alley, with Master DeanellReproofe of Dorman, p. 17. 48. 57. Novell before him, use the selfesame words in substance, interpreting that text of Math. 20. and Luke. 22. as hee hath done. To conclude these testimonies. The third part of the Homily of the Perill of Idolatry, ratified by the 35. Article of our Church, Subscribed unto by all our Prelates and Ministers, and reprinted by your Majesties and your Royall Fathers speciall commaund; recites f. 59. That Bishops in the primitive Church, did most diligently and sincerely teach, & preach: For they were then preaching Bishops, and more often seene in Pulpits then in Princes Pallaces; more often occupied in his Legacy, who said: Goe yee unto the whole world, and preach the Gospell to all men, then in Embassages and AFFAIRES OF PRINCES OF THIS WORLD. Yea all the Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacons, and Clergy of England, in their Institution of a Christian man, dedicated by them to King Henry the 8. subscribed with all their names, and printed cum Privilegio, An. 1537. resolve thus: mmChapter of Orders. Fox Acts & Monuments Edit. 1610. p. 971.Wee thinke it convenient, that all p. 60Bishops and Pastors shall instruct and teach the people, committed unto their spirituall charge; that Christ did by expresse words prohibit, that none of his Apostles, nor any of their Successors, should under the pretence of authority, given unto them by Christ, take upon them the authority of the sword, that is to say, the authority of Kings, or of any civill power in this world, yea or any authority to make Lawes, or ordinances in causes, apertaining unto civill powers. If any Bishop, of what estate or dignity soever hee be, be hee Bishop of Rome, or of any other City, Province, or Diocesse, doe presume to take upon him authority or Iurisdiction, in causes or matters, which appertaine unto Kings, and the civill powers and their Courts, and will maintaine or thinke, that hee may so doe by the authority of Christ and his Gospell, although the Kings and Princes would not permit and suffer him so to doe. No doubt that Bishop is not worthy to be called a Bishop, but rather a tyrant, and a usurper of other mens rights, contrary to the Lawes of God, and is worthy to be reputed none otherwise, then hee that goeth about to subvert the Kingdome of Christ. For the Kingdome of Christ in his Church is spirituall, and not a carnall Kingdome of the world: that is to say, the very Kingdome that Christ by himselfe, or by his Apostles and Disciples sought here in this world, was to bring all nations from the carnall Kingdome of the Prince of darknes unto the light of his spirituall Kingdome, and so himselfe raigne in the hearts of the people by grace, faith, hope, and p. 61charity. And therefore sith Christ did never seeke nor exercise any worldly Kingdome, or dominion in this world, but rather refusing and fleeing the same, did leave the said worldly governance of Kingdomes, Realmes and Nations, to be governed by Princes and Potentates (in like maner as hee did finde them) and commaunded also his Apostles and Disciples to doe the semblance; whatsoever Preist or Bishop will arrogate, or presume upon him any such authority, and will pretend the authority of the Gospell for his defence therein, hee doth nothing else; (but in a maner as you would say) crowneth Christ againe with a crowne of thornes, and traduceth and bringeth him forth againe with his mantle of purple upon his backe, to be mocked and scorned of the world, as the Iewes did to their owne damnation. Thus all our Prelates and Clergy (and after them King Henry the 8. in his necessary Erudition for any Christian man, authorized and approoved by the Satute of 32. H. 8. c. 26. the Lords spirituall and temporall i… the Netherhowse of Parliament, An. 1545. where the same words are verbatim repeated) resolve, contrary to the Doctrine and Suggestions of their present Successors. As the Doctrine, so the practise likewise of our most ambitious domineering Prelates, condemnes the suggestions of our secular Bishops: It is recorded of **Matthew Paris. Hist. Major. p. 94 Antiquitates Eccles Brit. p. 122. Godwins Catalogue of Bishops. p. 88.Thomas Becket, that greate traiter and turbulent Archbishop of Canterbury, who set the whole Kingdome in a long combustion had yet so much conscience, and divinity in him, that being installed Archbishop of Canterbury, (being but a meere Deacon before,) hee voluntarily p. 62resigned and gave over his Lord Chauncellourship of England, sending the great Seale to the King, who was then in Normandy, together with a Letter wherein hee certified him, That hee could not serve the Church & the Court both at once: & therefore he resigned this his tēporall office, as incompatible with his spirituall. Wee read **Hoveden Annalium, pars posterior p. 767. 768 779. Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 138. 139 140. 142. 143. Speeds History, p. 550.that when Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury, was made Lord Chauncellour, cheife Iustice of England, and high Governour of all the Kings Dominions immediately under him, that hee was much blamed, and that not unworthily, and no lesse envied for taking these offices upon him: in so much that a Noble man said unto him in scorne, at what time hee was made Chauncellor, I have heard of many Chauncellours made Bishops, but of an Archbishop, that would vouchsafe to stoop to the Chauncellorship, till now I never heard of any, (for most Bishops that were Treasurers and Chauncellors, were first such Lay-officers, and Lay-men to, and then made Bishops for a reward of their service or better maintenance; not first Bishops, and then made Treasorers, Chauncellers, and such like temporall officers.) Whereupon within two yeares after his advauncement to these high places, the better to excuse his ambition, hee made a dissembling and counterfeit shew of being desirous to have his temporall offices, in so much as hee dealt effectually with the King by letters, to give them leave to resigne them,††Yet our great Prelates thinke not so. saying, That the charge of his Church was worke enough for one man, whereunto onelyonly hee would gladly dedicate himselfe. This hee did assuring himselfe in his owne conceit, that the King knowing p. 63no man about him so likely, to manage those affaires as himselfe, and not being able to want him, would intreat him to retaine them still: But the King thinking his motion reasonable, and not willing longer to deny it, the Archbishop thus taken tardy in his owne snare, as though his minde and determination were suddenly altered, signified unto the King in letters, that notwithstanding his great desire of betaking himselfe onelyonly to spirituall matters, and the manyfold infirmities of his age, hee would be content to afford his labour and diligence in his other offices yet a while longer, if therein hee might doe his Majesty any profitable service, acquainting him with all, that in these two yeares, since his perferment, hee had gathered for his use 1100000. markes which hee was ready to pay into his coffers, augmenting (it is like) the summe; and adding thereto out of his his owne purse, that so hee might in cleanly sort buy againe those honorable and gainefull offices, which his subtile dissimulation had almost lost him. But the King not long after, upon a petition of the Lords in Parliament, thrust him out of these offices; to which when he was againe restored; the Pope upon complaint by the Monkes of Canterbury of his intermedling in civill affaires, presently enjoyned him without further delay, to resigne all his temporall offices; which hee (how loath soever) was faine to doe; the Pope assuring him, that hee would neither suffer him, nor any other Bishop or Clergy man to intermeddle in temporall affaires, commaunding all Prelates of the Church, upon their Canonicall p. 64obedience, not to take upon them any temporall offices, because being intangled in secular businesses, they could not possible sufficiently discharge their spirituall functions; for as the wise man saith: Pluribus intentus minor est ad singular sensus. Hence was it, that ‡‡Godwins Catalogue of Bishops, p. 152. 602Thomas Arundell, so soone as ever hee was made Archbishop of Canterbury, presently thereupon gave over his Chauncellourship of England, as unable to discharge both. And ††Godwin. Ib. p. 158.Iohn Stafford, who succeeded him in that See, though hee held that office long, yet at last waxing weary of so painefull a place, hee voluntarily resigned his Chauncellorship of England, as incompatible with his spirituall function, and an impediment to his discharge thereof. So **Godwin. Ibid. p. 267.Iohn Totham, Bishop of Ely, a wise and vertuous man, but very unlearned, was made Chauncellour of England, Anno 1317. in which office hee continued but two yeares, and then voluntarily gave it over, after which being made Treasurer, hee (out of conscience,) resigned that place within a twelve monethmonth, and betooke himselfe altogether to the governement of his Church, his more honorable and proper function: Yea that ambitious, proud Cardinall and Archbishop of Yorke, Thomas††Godwin. I…id. p. 621. Woolsie, who wholly merged himselfe in secular offices and state-affaires, falling into disgrace, put from his places, attainted into a Praemunire, and last of all arrested of high treason, considering his former courses, and Gods just judgement on him for them, brake out into these words, being the last hee uttered: If I had served God as diligently p. 65as I hauehave done the King, hee would not have given me over in my gray haires; but this is THE JVST REWARD, that I must receive for the paines and study, I have had to doe him service, not regarding my service, to God, so much as the satisfying of his pleasure. A good lesson for all our Court Prelates, now guilty of the selfesame offence; of whome wee may say, as **Antiquit. Eccles. Brit. p. 138.William Paruus once did of Hugh, Bishop of Duresme; Istis mundus non crucifixus, sed infixus fuit; and not as Paul writes of himselfe. Gal. 6.14. The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world; many of them being now too like ‡‡Godwins Catalogue, p. 637. 638 Malmesbury De Gestis Pontificum Angliae. l. 3. p. 277.Walter the 28. Bishop of Durham, who attending more worldly affaires, then the charge of his flocke, gave himselfe altogether to temporall businesse, wherein hee wholy occupied himselfe, becoming a temporall Iudge, determining all causes at his pleasure, oppressing the people, and taking still the course, that might be most for his owne gaine; which made him so odious among the common people, that at last they murthered both himselfe and his cheife agents, Lufwyn and Gilbert, even in the very Church it selfe, fo… which they fled for sanctuary. If then those ambitious Prelates in the very night of Popish darkenes, have thus either voluntarily or coactively relinquished these their secular imployments, as incompatible with their spirituall, should not ours now much more doe it in this cleare sunshine of the Gospell? yes verily. I have thus long detained your Majesty with these domestique authorities, and p. 66examples (to which † infinit others might be added) that so you might discerne, **Fox Acts & Monuments passim. Henry Stalbridge his exhortatory Epistle. An Epistle to Queene Elizabeth. Nicholaus de Clemangis: De Corrupto Ecclesiae Statu Illyricus. Catalogus. Testium Veritatis. Thomas Beacon his Supplilcation, and his reports of certaine men. Martyn Bucer de Regno Christi. l. 2. c. 12. dedicated to King Edward the 6. Haddon Contra Osorium. l 3 f. 243. to 253. 292. 293. 294. Doctor Barnes his Supplication to King Henry the 8. p. 210. 211. 212. Iohn Frith his Answere to Master Mares Preface, pa. 116. Master Whethenhall his Discourse of the Corruptions now in question. The Supplication to King Henry the 8. An. 1544.what difference there is betweene the judgements and opinions, and practise of our present overswayng secular Prelates, and these their more moderate Predecessors (whom they cannot charge with Puritanisme Novelty or faction, as they doe all such who now concurre in judgement with them) and how dangerous unlawfull, and pernicious it is both in regard of Church & state; for Archbishops, Bishops or other Clergy men to exercise temporall dominion, or manage temporall offices and State-affaires; which Auctors, Bishops, Martyrs, where they now alive, and should write or speake thus much, they would finde such little Laud and applause among our Pontificall Prelates, as it would be a greater question, to which Dungeon they should be forth with committed close Prisoners, then whether they should escape unpunished, unpersecuted by them.

As those writers, so the Godly Emperors heretofore were so farre from imploying Bishops and Clergy men in temporall State-affaires, that nnIustinian Codicis, lib. 1. De Episcopis & Clericis, 17. 36. 40.Honorius and Theodosius the Emperors enacted this Law: It is our gracious pleasure, that Clergy men shall have no communion with publike functions or things pertaining p. 67to the Court, unto whose body they are not incorporated: And Iustinian the Emperor decreed; That Bps should not be suffered to take upon them the oversight of any orphane, or to be a receiver, or gatherer of charges belonging to the treasure, or to take upon them publike or other mens possessions, that so their ministry might not be hindred; yea hee promulged this ensuing Law: Wee repeating our proclamation thinke it good, not onelyonly that the Iudges of every tribunall, but that the governours of the Churches of this excellent City, among whom this MOST FILTHY KINDE **Probate of wills, anciently belonged not to Ecclesiasticall Courts.OF PROOVING WILLES OF DEAD MEN hath crept in, be forewarned that they meddle not with a thing, which by the disposition of our Lawes, appertaine not in any wise to any other, then onelyonly to the Maister of our revenues. For it is absurd, yea rather an ignominy for Cleargy men, to shew themselves cunning in common pleadings. And the transgressors of this ordinance wee deeme, shall be punished with the losse of 50. pound of gold: yet (saith the Glosse,) because a litle gaine was given for probate of wills, covetous Cleargy men have usurped them. The reason of the Lawes is thus elsewhere expressed: ooCodex, De Testa. l. De Consulta dinalia. Codex De Dona. L. in hac. Et L. Se.It is a great absurdity, that offices should be mingled together without order or consideration, and that one man should cacth a thing committed to the credit of another. Wee thinke that the deceit of these men ought to be met with, who under pretence of being Deanes or Collegiate men, when they performe no such duty; endeavour by reason of other charges, p. 68to withdraw themselves, that none under color of some one office, which hee doth not execute, might be eased of the weight and burden of an office, which by duty hee should execute. But to returne home againe. The very ‡‡Register pars 1. fol. 187. b. See f. 175. 179. b. 184. b.Common Law of England hath provided a speciall writ, inhibiting Cleargy men to be elected to any temporall office or imployment, and discharging them thereof in case, they are elected; quia non est consonum, &c. because it is not meet, that hee, who hath the††If these reason hold good in those who have but one Cure, much more in Bishops who have so many flockes to attend and supervise. Cure of soules, and is to give perpetuall attendance on his cure, and other pious spirituall services, ad insistendum alibi in secularibus negotiis compellatur; should be compelled to imploy himselfe in secular affaires elsewhere; CONTRA LEGEM ET CONSVETVDINEM REGNI NOSTRI, contrary to the Law, and Custome of our Realme. A cleare resolution, That Cleargy-mens intermeddling with secular offices and affaires, is contrary to the very Common Law, and Custome of the Realme, and a very unseemly thing.**Antiquitates Ecclesiae Brit. p. 139 140. 141. Mathew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the life of Hubert his predecessor, records; that about the yeare of our Lord, 1197. there was nothing sound and sincere in the Christian republicke: that the whole Cleargy under a feined and counterfeit shew of religion, did wallow without punishment in wickednesses, in bribes, in honors and rapines, neglecting utterly the preaching of Gods word. The originall (saith hee) of this evill sprung from this, that the Cleargy did too much intermeddle with worldly affaires, contrary to the Decrees of the orthodox Fathers. p. 69For at that time the Deane of Paules was made Lord Treasurer; who carrying that office, quickly hourded up a great treasure; at last falling into a deadly disease past recovery, hee was exhorted by the Bishops and great men to receive the Sacrament of Christs body and blood, which hee trembling at refused to doe; whereupon the King admonished and commaunded him to doe it, hee promised him thereupon to doe it the next day: being admonished to make his will, hee commaunded all to voyd the rome but one scribe.‡‡A strang e…ill & death of Cleargy Lord Treasurer, who like Iudas, Christs Treasurer & Baggebearer, died in despaire. Who beginning to write his will in the accustomed formes, in the name of the Father, of the Sonne, &c. the Deane perceiving it, commaunded him in a rage to blot it out, and these words onelyonly to be written:††Lego omnia bona mea Domino Regi, corpus sepu…turae, Animam Diabolo. Quo dicto expiravit, &c. I bequeath all my goods to my Lord the King, my body to the grave, and my soule to the Devill; which being uttered, hee gave up the Ghost.**Note. The King hereupon commaunded his carcase to be carried into a Cart, and drowned in the river. This sort of examples (writes hee) are therefore to be produced, that Cleargy men may be deterred from being Lord Treasurers, Collectors of the Kings Customes, and from civill and publike imployments. In Huberts time all secular offices almost were in Cleargy-mens hands; for some of them were Chaunsellours, some Iustices, some Treasurers of the Kingdome; others had other offices in all the Kings Courts, and pluralities of many great livings besides: which wealth, honours, offices, and dignities, as it made them like to Kings in state and magnificence; so it puffed p. 70them up with such pride and arrogance, that in the 36. yeare of King Henry the third, they were remooved from all civill offices and honours, at the instant request and desire of the greatest Noblemen, to whom the same offices were committed. Hence some of all orders in our present times, have most sharply**See Nicholaus de Clemangiis, De Corrupto Ecclesiae statu: c. 17. 18. 19. an excellent Discourse against Bps, intermedling in temporall affaires, and bearing civill offices. Henry Stallbridge his exhortatory Epistle, against the pompishs Popish Bishops of England, as yet the true members of their Father the great Antichrist of Rome, written in King Henry the 8. his raigne, and the Supplication to King Henry the 8. An. 1544. reprehended the Cleargy for this very thing, that being advaunced to the degree of divinity, then which nothing in humane life ought to be deemed more holy, they should be hindred there from with secular businesses, as with servile workes, and being withdrawen from divine things, should give themselves to pecuniary and exchequer affaires which are most estranged from the dignity of their life, by which some (as appeares by the example of that Dean of Paules) have made shipwrack both of Conscience and soule to. Wilhelmus Nubrigensis speaking of Hugh, Bishop of Duresme, for intermeddling with the procuration of temporall affaires, hath these words: That office (to wit, of Lord Chauncellour or cheife justice) was committed by the King to the Bishop of Duresme, who did not so much as refuse, but chearfully imbrace it; who verily contenting himselfe with his proper office, had much more decently beene a Minister of Gods Law, then of mans; since no man can serve both, as hee ought. And that saying of our Lord to the Apostles, yee can not serve God and Mammon, did principally respect the Apostles Successors. For if a Bishop that hee may please both the heavenly and earthly King, at once will devide himselfe to both offices: p. 71Verily the heavenly King, who wills that men should serve him with all the heart, with all the foule, and with all the strenght, doth neither approove, nor love, nor accept his divine ministry. What then will hee doe, if a Bishop doth not give peradventure not so much as halfe of himselfe to execute the things which are of God, and become a Bishop; but committs his cures to unworthy and remisse executioners, that hee may wholy serve an earthly Court or Palace? For no halfe man can sufficiently administer the offices of an earthly Prince. By which sentences and examples wee verily are admonished, that assiduous care and study of Cleargy men, in worldly and civill affaires, which makes them proove slow and unfit to divine things, is by all meanes to be reprooved, and that the complaint of those is very unjust, who tax them for not intermeddling with temporall affaires, and study to call them back from divine things, to which they ought with all their might to apply themselves. Thus this Archbishop **Thomas Walsingham Ypodigma Neustriae, An. 1371. p. 132.in the raigne of King Edward the 3. An. 1371. at a Parliament holden at London, upon a Petition of the temporall Lords, the Bishops were remooved from the temporall offices of Chauncellor, Treasurer, Clerke of the privy Seale, and Laymen put into their places: they being commonly the cheife plotters and contriuers of all treasons, conspiracies, and rebellions, the very incendiaries, pests, and greivances both of the Church and State, the cheifest instruments to advaunce the Popes usurped authority, though with the prejudice of the Kings, (which they never cordially affected) and the Arch-enemies p. 72of the Common-weale, through their pride, oppression, covetousnes, rebellion, and tyranny, when they have beene in office, as appeares by ††See Antiquitates Ecclesiae Brit. in their lives. Haddon, C…a Osorium. l. 3 f. 251. Fox Acts & Monuments p. 168. 169 174. 175. 178. 181. to 207. 214 to 219. 227 to 234. 248 249. 303. 320. 321. 350. 409. 410. 479. 533 1035 10…6. 1132. 1897. 1899. and elsewhere. Halls Chronicle, Anno 16. H. 8. f. 138. &c. Dr. Henry Stalbridge his exhortatory Epistle, Dr. Barnes bis Supplication to King Henry the 8. Master Tyndals Practise of Popish Prelates. Thomas Becon his Supplication.Anselme, Becket, Arundell, William Bishop of Ely, Cardinall Woolsy, Stephen Gardener, with others forecited.

How safe therefore it may be for your Majesty, either in point of piety or policy, to intrust them with the managing of temporall State affaires, neglecting preaching, and their owne spirituall functions, or to permit them dayly, to incroach upon your Ecclesiasticall Prerogative, as they have dangerously presumed of late in an high de…ree, I humbly submit to your Royall wisedome; who as you are best able to right your selfe against their usurpations here presented to your Princely view, (which your faithfull Subjects dare not now so much as whisper against for feare of ruine, both to themselves and their families, if they once fall into your potent Prelates talents, who are most implacably bent against all such, as are most able and ready to pleade Gods cause and your Majesties against their impious, superstitious, disloyall innovations: it being now more safe to be a Iesuite, or Traytor to your Majesty, then an enemy to your Bishops disloyall proceedings) so are you every way meetest, both in respect of your Soveraigne power, and authority to rescue your poore oppressed wooried Subjects from these ravenousrrActs. 20.29.Acts 20:29 Wolves, under p. 73whose cruelty, injustice, and manifold exactions, they now grone and languish, a short view whereof the second part of this Breviate will represent unto your Highnes. Alas, the condition of your best Subjects now is such, that they know not whether to flie for succour or releife against your**Videat aliquis eos qui Pastores gregis & Episcopi populi esse debebant. Vbi studium doctrinae apud h…s? Vbi legum vel pietatis & religionis verae, vel propriorum quaedam & ipsorum custodia? Aut quid jam inter horum, & tyrannica illa veterum imperia interest? An minus ardent regni cupiditate? An remissius expetunt splendorem divitiarum? aut verecundiùs libidinibus obscaenis indulgent? aut clementiùs dominantur? Alexander Alesius. Ordinat, Ecclesi…e Angliae Proaem. apud Buceri Scripta Anglicana. p. 371. Prelates injustice, tyranny, vexatious, exactions, oppressions, who by their policy and potency have blocked up all wayes of succour and redresse. If any Subject heretofore had beene injured by them, hee might have releived himselfe by a Prohibition, an Action of the case, or Praemunire at the common Law; But now they have sued out a Prohibition against Prohibitions themselves, that they may play Rex, and doe what they list without controll: and hee, who would right himselfe by an Action of the case or Premunire, can neither finde counsell, who dare plead for him, nor Iudges who dare suffer, much lesse incourage him to proceed: As for appeales, as they are with much cost and difficulty rarely obtained, so are they commonly a remedy worse then the disease, and but a leape out of the frying panne into the fire, as the proverbe is. If any debarred of these legall remedies, appeale immediately to your Majesty for releife, their Supplications are either forestalled, perverted, or suppressed before they can finde accesse to your Royall presence by the Bishops and their agents, or else referred back againe to themselves, (which is nothing p. 74else in truth, but to put the lambe that flies for shelter to the shepheard, from the wolfe into the wolfes owne mouth that would devoure him, and to make the persecutor his owne Iudge and Executioner to:) who being both enemies, the parties complained against and their owne Iudges in their owne case, (though **See Fox Acts and Monuments p. 1024. 1520.unmeet and unreasonable, that they should be so, and contrary to all Lawes,) are sure to passe sentence against the complainer, and so to proceed against him even for seeking releife, that hee shall neither have meanes, nor ability, nor courage left him to complaine the second time, though more oppressed then before. This being the deplored condition of††See Doctor Barnes his Supplication to King Henry the 8. many of your best Subjects, as well Ministers as people, who languish, groane, yea perish under the Prelates tyranny, malice, cruelty, oppressions and extortions, alas poore, Creatures, what shall they doe? where shall they complaine? whether shall they flie for shelter or releife? To your Iudges: they may not; to your sacred person, they cannot; to whom else, they know not any upon earth: OnelyOnly they have one gappe open (which the Prelates as much as may be labour to hedge up, though in vaine, by inhibiting all private Christian Fasts and assemblies) to flie to God by hearty prayer and humiliation,ssPs. 142.2 Ps 62.8.Ps 142:2Ps 62:8 to power out their soules, their greifes, their complaints before him, and shew him of their troubles: If it were not for this one posterne, their very hearts would breake, their spirits die within them, and they perish for ever under these their pressures. I beseech your most excellent Majesty therefore upon the bended p. 75knees of my soule (as ‡‡William Wraghton: Dr. Barnes, and the Author of the 2. Supplications to King Henry the 8. Mr. William Tyndall; the Supplication to Queen Elizabeth, &c.others heretofore have in the like case besought your Royall Progenitors) both to consider and commiserate the distressed condition of your oppressed, persecuted faithfull loyall Ministers & people, (with which I perswade my selfe you have beene hitherto unacquainted) who dayly power out many fervent prayers to heaven, both for your Majesties happinesse safety, and against your Prelates tyranny and injustice, which have long since peirced the cloudes and craved justice,ttIames. 5.4.6.10.Jas 5:4Jas 5:6Jas 5:10 yea vengeance against them, both from heaven and earth. Your Subjects all know for their comfort, that as you of your selfe are a most just and gracious Prince; so you have proclaimed it with your owne Royall mouth in the highest Court of justice, and registred it on record:uuHis Mjes Speech in Parliament Iune 7. 1628. printed at the end of the Petition of Right. that your Maxime is, that the p…oples Liberty strengthens the Kings Prerogative, and that the Kings Prerogative is to defend the p…oples Lib…rties. And for their further comfort, in your owne royallxxPage. 21. 22. 23. 42. 43. Declaration to all your loving Subjects, concerning the causes of the last Parliaments dissolution, publi…ed by your speciall commaund, An. 1628. you have since that made this solemne Protestation: Wee call God to record before whom wee stand, that it is, and alwayes hath beene our hearts desire, to be found worthy of that title which wee accompt the most glorious in all our Crowne, Defender of the faith: neither shall wee ever give way to the authorizing of any thing, whereby any **Therefore all the late Innovations in Doctrine, in Discipline which our Prelates and their agents have made, are without and against his Majesties authority. See his Majesties Declaration before the 29. Articles, to the same effect.Innovation may creep p. 76into the Church, but preserve that unity of Doctrine and Discipline, established in the time of Queen Elizabeth, whereby the Church of England hath stood and flourished ever since. And wee doe here professe to maintaine the true Religion and Doctrine established in the Church of England, without admitting or conniving, at any back sliding, either to Popery or Schisme. Our care is & hereafter, shall be, to preserve the auncient liberties of our Subjects, and to keepe them intire and inviolable, as wee would doe our owne right and Soveraignty. Wee doe also declare, that wee will maintaine the ancient and just Rights and Liberties of our Subjects, with so much constancy and justice, that they shall have cause to knowledge, that under our governement and gracious protection, they live in a more happy and free estate, then any Subjects in the Christian world. Wee doe prosesse, that as it is our duty, so it shall be our care to commaund and direct well, but it is the part of Officers to performe the Ministeriall Office. Wee shall accompt our selfe, and all charitable men will accompt us innocent both with God and men: and those that are negligent, wee will esteeme as culpable both to God and us; and therefore will expect, that hereafter they give us a better accompt. Which Royall Declaration (togegether with that other, before the 39. Articles, prohibiting all innovations in Doctrine and Discipline in the least degree,) as it assures every faithfull loyall Subject, that all the late manifold dangerous Innovations in Religion, Ceremonies, and Doctrine, the**Mountagus, Iack son, Coseus. Widdowes, Shelford, Reve, Chonne, White, Heylyn, Herynge Pocklington, with sundry others. late pernicious, absurd, prophane Popish, Arminian and licentious Bookes, published by the Bishops authority, in affront of your Majesties Declarations, with the severall p. 77encroachments on your Subjects Liberties, and just ancient Rights, here represented to your Majesty, are directly contrary to your Royall pleasure, and the sole exorbitances of your insolent, tyrannicall, violent domineering Prelates and their officials; so it gives me more then hope, that your Highnes (who are††Register. pars. 2. f. 7. a. 10. a.b. 15 a. 38 b. 127 b. 180. a. 222. 125. 126. Singulis de Regno vestro in exhibitione Iustitiae Debitor, and are wont in your Writes to your Officers and Judges, to enjoyne them, to doe plenam & celerem Iustitiam, to all your Subjects which complaine of any injustice, pressures, or delayes:) upon the perusall of this Breviate will call them to a speedy strict accompt for the same, as culpable both to God and your Majesty; and inflict such condigne punishments on them, as their desperate presumptuous enchroachments upon your owne Crowne and dignity, upon your Peoples Liberties and ancient Rights, and contempts against these your Declarations demerit, notwithstanding all your former favours toward them. It was a memorable speech of King Edward the third, in his Proclamation against that insolent Prelate John Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury, (whom hee most favoured and trusted) upon some complaints against him:**Antiquitates Ecclesiae Brit. p. 255. Fox Acts & Monuments p. 350. Cum ipse & alij Prelati regni qui de nobis Ecclesiarum suarum temporalia recipiunt, ex debito fidelitatis juratae fidem, honorem & reverentiam debeant exhibere; solus ipse, pro fide, perfidiam, pro honore contumeliam, p. 78& contemptum: pro reverentia reddere non veretur. Vndè etsi paratissimus & semper fuerimus Patres spirituales, ut convenit, revereri; eorum tamen offensas, quas in nostri, & regni nostri periculum redundare conspicimus; NON DEBEMUS CONNIVENTIBUS OCULIS PRAETERIRE. I doubt not, but as your Majesty may justly take up the same complaint, or a farre worse against some or most of your Prelates now; so you will arme your selfe with the like just and Royall resolution; that you ought not to passe by with conniving eyes, these their offences, here humbly presented to your veiw, which you see every day more and more to redound, both to the ecclipse and danger of your owne Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction, and of your Kingdome too; if not of that true ancient faith and Doctrine of the Church of England, of which you are the cheife Defendor.**Plutarch. Apothegm. Philippus. It is storied of King Philip of Macedon, That a certaine poore oppressed old woman oft times petitioning him to heare her cause, the King at last gave her this answere, That hee was not at leasure to doe it. Wherevnto shee presently replied; Noli itaque regnare; doe not therefore raigne. Which speech hee admiring, forthwith heard not onelyonly her cause and complaints, but many others in proper person. Your Majesty hath not one or two, but a**Mr. George Huntly, Mr. Peter Smart, Mr. Vicars, Mr. Workeman, Master Ward, Mr. Wrath, Mr. Crowder, Mr. Snelling with sundry other Ministers. Doctor Bastwicke, Mr. Thomas Bruer, and divers other Laymen. great multitude of poore oppressed Subjects, now lying mourning and pining away under your Bishops pressures, tyranny, unjust proceedings p. 79and censures (some of whose cases this Breviate will acquaint you with) who though they have not oft petitioned your Majesty for releife, as this poore woman did Philip, nor received the like answere from you, as shee did from him, yet their cases are as worthy your Roall audience, as hers was of Philips, if they could have such free accesse to your Majesty with their complaints as shee had to him; the Prelates greatnes, power, and vigilancy being such, that those who are oppressed by them, either cannot, or dare not appeale to your Majesty for releife, and those who doe, though upon never so just grounds, are reputed factious, schismaticall, Seditious, and I know not what besides for their paines: yea as that worthy Martyr, Doctor Barnes in his Supplication to King Henry the 8. writes p. 183. Now it is so farre come, that whosoever hee be, high or low, poore or rich, wise or …oolish, that speaketh against them and their vitious living, hee is either made a Traytor unto your grace, or an heretike, enemy or schismatike against holy Church, as though they were Kings or Gods. And if any man spoake of Gods Law and right conscience against this their damnable tyranny, litle will they sticke to make him an heretike. And if that will not helpe, & to colour & maintaine their oppression, then adde they treason, sedition, rebellion and contempt against your Grace, though hee be never so true a Subject. I beseech you therefore upon the bended knees of my heart & soule, to imitate King Philip, in giving them a full, a speedy and gracious hearing even in your owne Royall Person: and if your more weighty publike State-affaires will not afford you so p. 80much leasure, appoint some faithfull trusty temporall Lords and Gentlemen of quality, to be your Commissioners to inquire after, heare and determine all their greivances, pressures, illegall imprisonments, fines, suspensions, deprivations, excommunications, exacted fees, and other barbarous usages and vexations, as your Royall Progenitors ‡‡Register pars 2. f. 125. 126have done in former times even in the case of Bishops. It was Jobs honor and comfort in his afflictions;**Iob. 29.13.14.Job 29:13Job 29:14 that hee was eyes to the blinde, feet to the lame, a Father to the poore; that hee searched out the cause which hee knew not; and brake the Iawes of the wicked, and plucked the spoyle out of their teeth: and that the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him. O let it be your Majesties crowne and honour too in these particulars here tendred to you.ccSeneca De Clementia. lib. 1. c. 26. Nullum ornamentum Principis fastigio dignius pulchrius{que} est, quam illa corona ob cives servatos: is one of the best and most honorable Mottos that any Christian Prince can select; And there is no readier way for your Majesty to intitle your selfe thereto, then by rescuing your poore innocent harmlesse wooried sheeps and lambes, out of the Iawes of these Bitesheepes, these ravenous††Hab. 1.8. Zeph. 3.3. Acts. 20.29Hab 1:8Zeph 3:3Acts 20:29 evening wolves, (though in Sheepes cloathing) who devoure and prey upon them; especially in your Ecclesiasticall Commission, and that under pretence of your Majesties authority, which they now pervert to erect and revive an absolute, irregular, Papall and Episcopall Iurisdiction of their owne, not derived from your Majesty, to tread your Majesties Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction, and your poore Subjects liberties p. 81under their feet, to accomplish their owne popish, antichristian, disloyall designes, to suppresse religion and preaching, to crush, roote out, and to wrecke their owne particular malice upon your conscionable, painfull, powerfull Ministers, Preachers, (whom they now silence, suspend, excommunicate and thrust out of their livings at their pleasure, without any lawfull cause, to the great greife and discontentment of your people, because their paines and holy lives are a secret checke to their idle licentious conversations) and all others who dare publikely appeare in your Majesties quarrell, to oppose their ambitious, audacious usurpations upon your Ecclesiasticall Prerogative and your Subjects Liberties, or presume to checke them for their non-preaching, pontificall, idle voluptuous, secular proude unchristian lives, though good Father Latymer in his second and fourth Sermon, before King Edward, was so bold with them for these their enormities, as to require him in Gods behalfe, to make all the packe of negligent, non-preaching, rare-preaching Bishops, Quondams, & to cast them out of their office, as unsavory salt, fit for nothing but to be cast out, and trodden under mens feet. Now the great**17. Revel. 14. cap. 19. 16.Rev 14 King of Kings, & Lord of Lords, so preserve & direct your Majesty in all your pious enterprizes, for the preservation & propagatiō of true religion among us; the keeping out of Popish errors, profane…s (which flow in a pace upon us; by your Prelates negligence, practises and connivance) who are more favourable to Preists and Iesuites, though Trayters to your Majesty by the Statute of 27. Eliz. c. 2. then p. 82unto Puritans (as they stile them) who defend your Crowne and Prerogative Royall like faithfull Subjects, against their Episcopall and all Papall encroachments) the maintenance of your owne Ecclesiasticall Prerogative, with the releife, the rescue of your poore afflicted Subjects against the Prelates insolent encroachments, oppressions, exorbitances; and the advauncement of the publike welfare both of this Church and State; that the religion, with the sincere preaching and preachers of Gods word (of late trodden under foote) may once more flourish, Gods heavy Iudgement of the plague broken out in many places, by your execution of Judgement like another Phinehas, on these notorious malefactors, be speedily stayed: (Psal. 106.30.) and you may long enjoy a glorious Crowne OB CIVES SERVATOS in this life; and in the world to come, a Crowne of glory which fadeth not away.

So prayeth your Loyall and true hearted Subject W. HUNTLY.

p. 83A Breviate of the Prelates usurpations upon the Kings Prerogative Royall against expresse Statutes.

THe Statute of 25. Hen. 8. c. 29.1. Against Bishops Visitation Articles, Orders, Constitutions and Innovations. upon the Clergies owne submission and Petition, Enacts: that no Convocation or Synod of the Clergy should be made or summoned; but by the Kings writ: and that the Clergy, nor any of them, should from thenceforth attempt, or presume, to alledge, claime, or put in ure, any Constitutions or ordinances Provinciall or Synodall, or any other Canons; nor shall enact, promulge or execute any such Canons, Constitutions or ordinances provinciall, by whatsoever name or names they may be called, in their Convocations in time comming, unlesse the same Clergy may have the Kings most Royall assent and license, to make, promulge, and execute such Canons, Constitutions, and Ordinances Provinciall or Synodall; upon peine of every one of the sayd Clergy doing contrary to this; and being thereof convict, to suffer imprisonment, and make fine at the Kings Will: In prosecution of which Act, the Prelates themselves in their Canons An. 1603. Can. 12. decree thus; Whosoever shall hereafter affirme, that it is lawfull FOR ANY SORT OF MINISTERS and lay persons, or either of them, to joyne together page missing p. 86ticles in their owne names and rights, to be observed, inquired of, or presented on by his Majesty Subjects, unlesse authorized by some speciall Act of Parliament and Charters so to doe, as some Corporations are, who by common consent may make by-Lawes, to oblige themselves alone, not others. For which undutifull insolency all our domineering Prelates, have incurred the penalty of this Stature; and are ipso facto excommunicated besides by their owne ffCan 12.Canon, till they publikely renounce and revoke these their wicked and Anabaptisticall Errors, Articles, Constitutions, and Practises; from which their Predecessors were so farre estranged, that for feare of a Premunire and other punishments to light upon them, they durst not in King Henry the 8. or Edward the 6 his raigne (after this Act and the Statute of 26. H. 8. c. 1.) so much as to keepe a Consistory Court or Visitation, untill they had sued out severall specia… Patents and Licenses (of which there are divers in the ggIn the Patents of 26. 32. 33. 36. 37. H. 8. & 5. E. 6. pars. 1.Rolles ye… extant,) authorizing them to doe it, and that onelyonly in the Kings owne name, right, steed, and by his authority, not their owne; whose example our present Prelates ought, both in point of Lojalty and duety, to imitate. Which since they refuse to doe, and thus still most trayterously proceed to make new Articles, Canons, Ceremonies, Oathes, Constitutions, and enforce them on the Subjects by th…eates, excommunications, suspentions, deprivations, imprisonments, and the like in their owne names, rights and authorities, without the consent of King and Parliament; let them heare what a doome**Defensoris Pacis, pars. 2 c. 28. Marsilius Patavinus hath long since pronounced against them for it, in these very words: The makers and publishers (saith hee) of such Articles and Ecclesiasticall Decrees without the speciall license of the faithfull Law-giver (which hee makes the Parliament, or whole body of a State or City) or of the Prince, and those who induce any to the observation of them by surreptitious words, or compell any to obey them, by threatning eternall damnation, or by blaspheming, excommunicating, or pronouncing other maledictions against any one by word or writing, (as p. 87our Prelates have lately done against many in all places) CORPORALITER SƲNT EXTREMO PƲNIENDI SƲPPLICIO, TANQƲAM CONSPIRATORES, ET CIVILIS SHISMATIS CONCITATORES: are to be corporally pun…shed, w…th extreme or capitall punishments, as Conspirators and the styrrers up of a civill Schisme. EST ENIM GRAVISSIMA SPECIES CRIMINIS LAESAE MAJESTATIS, QƲONIAM IN PRINCIPATƲM DIRECTE COMMITTITƲR &c. For it is most greivous kinde of Treason of all other, because it is directly committed against the Princes Royall Crowne and Dignity; it i… also tends to set up…n plurality of supreme governours, and so by consequence of necessity it produceth a dissolution of every politike governement and of the State it selfe. If therefore Marsilius of Padua may be the Iudge, our Prelates making, printing, publishing and enjoyning of new Articles, Oathes, Orders, Ceremonies, Rites, &c. in their owne names and authorities, without the Kings and Parliaments consent, and their excommunicating, silencing, suspending and persecuting …is Majesties Subjects for not submitting thereunto, is a great Conspiracy, Schisme and High-Treason, both against the King and Kingdome; and they deserve no lesse then capitall punishments to be inflicted on them for the same; which I would now advise them to consider off, to abate their pride and arrogance; they being onelyonly Pastours, to teach, exhort, and reproove; not Princes, Magistrates, or Parliaments, to prescribe or enforce Lawes, which Bishops may not doe, as**The true difference betweene Christian Subjection and unchristian Rebellion, p. 127. Bishop Bilson himselfe hath expresly resolved.

2. The Statutes of 2. and 3. Ed. 6. c. 1. and 5. and 6.Against their granting of Licenses to many, withou… Banes. Ed. 6. c. 12. and the Rubricke in the Booke of Common prayer, before the forme of the Solemn…zation of Matrimony, confirmed by the Statutes of 5. and 6. Ed. 6. c. 1. 1. Eliz. c. 1. and the Kings owne proclamation, ordaine, That no man shall or ought to be maried till his Banes be first asked, three severall times in the Church on three Sundayes or Holy-dayes, the people being present with which‡‡Articles to be inquired in the visitation, An. 1559. Artic. 43. Queen Elizabeths Articles accord.

Yet every Archbishop, Bishop and their Chauncellours (without any Patent from his Majesty, who hath the **See the Law-bookes quoted by Ash. in his Generall Promptuary or Table to the Law: Charter. 1. 2. Register, pars. 1. fol. 170. a 174. a. 295 b. 297. b. 198 a. Magna Charta. c. 7. Praerog. Regis. c. 4. 32. H. 8. c. 18. 26. Ass. 57. 32. H. 6. 52. 15. Ed. 4. 13. 4. H. 7. 1. Fitz. …iv…ry 31. 33. Natura Bre. 174. 175. c. d. 264. a. Dyer. 123. p. 38. Stamford Prae. c 4. f. 19. 22. Lib. Intrat. f. 228. 426.sole authority to graunt Licenses for marriages, and to dispense with these Lawes and Ordinances) take upon them, even in their owne names, and under their owne Seales, like so many Kings and Popes, to graunt Licenses for money to any person or persons to marry without any Banes first a…ked; of which they make a great annuall revenue. Which presumptuous dispensations, being an apparent usurpation upon his Majesties Prerogative Royall, and an exercising of Regall Authority without any graunt or Commission from his Majesty: Mariage it selfe being a meere naturall and civill contract, (made onelyonly by the ccGen. 6.2 & 11.29. Ruth. 1.6. & 4.9.10.11. Sum. Angelica. Tit. Matrimonium. Littleter. Sect. 1…4.107.Gen 6:2Gen 11:29Ruth 1:6Ruth 4:9Ruth 4:10Ruth 4:11parties owne mutuall consents, common toddGen. 7.2.3.9.Gen 7:2Gen 7:3Gen 7:9 beasts, toeeGen. 2.24. Hebr. 13.4.1. Cor. ….2 12.13.14.15.Gen 2:24Heb 13:4 Infidels, Pagans and all sorts of men, as well as Christians; and aunciently solemnized▪ contracted before the ffRuth. 4.9.10.11. Gen. 24.67. c. 29.22.23.24.25.28.30.Ruth 4:9Ruth 4:10Ruth 4:11Gen 24:67Magistrates and Parents, without any Preist or Minister, in private howses not in Churches; and these Licenses to marry without Banes, first asked in the Church, a meere temporall not spirituall thing, as are the Kings Licenses of Conge deslier, for consecration of Bishops, Churches, Chapples, presentations to Benefices, and the like, though the Cures themselves, Churches and Tithes be sprituall, (else it wereggSum. Angelica. Tit. Symonia. with others. Symony in them to sell them for mony, p. 89and farme them out at an yearely rent;) and the profit thereof so rich a perquisite; Whether this their en…hroachment on his Majesties Royalties, be not fit to be severely and exemplarily punished for the time past, and the power of graunting such Licenses, meet to be engrossed into his Majesties hands (to whom onelyonly it of right belongs) for time to come; I leave to the Judges, and his Majesties Counsell to resolve.

3. The Statute of 3…. H. 8. c. 17. concludes,Against Bishops pretended Iurisdiction Iure Divino, and making of Chauncellours, and exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction without Letters and Patents. That Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacons, and other Ecclesiasticall persons, have no maner of Jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall, but by, from and under the Kings Majesty, the onelyonly and undoubted supreame head of the Church of England and Ireland, to whom by holy Scripture all authority and power is wholly given to heare and determine all maner causes Ecclesiasticall; and to correct all vice and sinne whatsoever; to all such persons as the ‡‡Not the Bishops.Kings Majesty shall appoint thereto. And that all Chauncellours, Vicars generall, Commissaries, Officials, Scribes and Registers, to any Archbishop, Bishop, Archdeacon or other Ecclesiasticall person shall be made, ordained, constituted, and deputed by the Kings Majesty his Heires or Successors, as his Vicegerents, Commissaries, Judges and Visitors; Receiting with all, that the Bishop of Rome and his adhaerents minding utterly as much as in them lay to abolish obscure, and delete this power given by God, to the Princes of the earth, that thereby they might gather and get to themselves the governement and rule of the world, had in their Councells and Synods provinciall, made (even here at home) ordained and established divers ordinances and constitutions, that hhLindewoods Constit. Provin. lib. 3. De Clericis conjugatis. f. 94. 95.no lay or married man, should or might exercise or occupie any Jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall, least their **Note.false and usurped power, which they pretended and went about to have in Christs Church, should decay, wax vile, and of no reputation.

Yet the Archbishops and Bishops, presuming on his Majesties favour, and their owne great swaying authority, contrary to this Statute, claime all their Episcopall Jurisdiction, duplicate page p. 89duplicate page p. 90not by, from, and under the King, but Jure divin…; censuring and persecuting those who plead for the Kings right according to this Statu…e; as appeared in the late case of Doctor Bastwicke, who was sentensed meerely for thisiiDelivered in a discourse intituled Flagellum Pontificis & Episcoporum Latialium, against the Popes pretended superiority, and Monarchy over Kings and other Ministers onelyonly. opininion; That Episcopall Jurisdiction over M…nisters and others, is not Iure Divino, but onelyonly from the grant and donation of Princes; and that Bishops and Ministers Iure Divino, are one and the same. For which they might have as well censured Hierome, Augustine, Sedulius, Primasius, Ambrose, Chrysostome, Beda, Rabanus Maurus, Isidor, Hispalensis, Haymo, Remigius, Alexander Alensis, Anselmus, Archbishop of Canterbury, Richardus Armachanus, Primate of all Ireland, Bishop Jewell, Bishop Alley, Bishop Hooper, **This his Reproofe of Dorman. fol. 43. 44. 45.Master Deane Novell, Doctor Whitaker, Doctor Willet, Master Fox, with all the Prelates and Clergy of England, in their Institution a Christian man, Chap. of Orders, whom hee hathkkIn his Praxis Episcoporum, & de Iure Episcopali. Et Gersonius Bucerus, dissertatio de Gubernatione Ecclesiae. since prooved to be of the same opinion, and all the reformed Churches and Protestant Writers too beyond the Seas. They exercise all Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction in their owne names and rights alone, they make every one his owne Commissarie, Chauncellour, Vicar generall, Officiall, Visitor, Register, and Scribe; wresting this right from his Majesty: They denyll1. & 2. Philip. & Mary. cap. 8 any Jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall to appertaine to any Laymen, unlesse derived to them by themselves alone; affirming and publishing in some late printed bookesmmChowneus, Collectiones Theologicae quorundam conclusionum Londini, 1635. Dedicated to the Archbishop and licensed by his Chaplaine, pag. 53. That all Ecclesiasticall Lawes derive their vitality and vivacity from the Prelates (not from Princes) as from the heart and p. 91head, and that all Ecclesiasticall affaires are to be ordered by them alone, in affront of this good Statute.

4. The Statute of 1. Ed. 6. c. 2.Against their keeping of Courts & Visitations without Letters Patents, and making out Proces & Probates in their owne names and Seales. enabling the King to make Bishops by his Letters Patents onelyonly, ordaines; that whereas the Archbishops, Bishops, and other spirituall persons in this Realme, did use to make and sent out their Summons, Citations, and other Proces in their owne names, and in such forme and maner as was used in the time of the **Note.usurped power of the Bishop of Rome, contrary to the forme and order of the Summons and processe of the Common-Law used in the Realme; seeing that all authority of Jurisdiction, spirituall and temporall, is derived and deducted from the Kings Majesty, as the supreame head of these Churches and Realmes of England and Ireland, and so justly acknowledged by the Clergy of the sayd Realmes; and that all Courts Ecclesiasticall within the sayd two Realmes be kept by no other power or authority, either forraigne or nnErgo Bishops can keep no Courts but by speciall Patent from the King and in his name and right.within the Realme, but by the authority of the Kings most excellent Majesty. That therefore all Summons, Citations, and other processe Ecclesiasticall in all suites and causes of instanc…, probates of testaments, Inquiries of Iure Patronatus, Commissions of Administrators; or Collectors, should from the first day of July then next following, be made in the name and with the stile of the King, as it is in writs originall and Judiciall at the Common-Law; and the teste thereof onelyonly in the Bishops and Archbishops name, or other having Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction, who hath THE COMMISSION AND GRANT OF THE AƲTHORITY ECCLESIASTICALL IMMEDIATELY FROM THE KINGS HIGHNES, (An expresse resolution that none can or ought to exercise Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction but by speciall grant and Commission from the King.) And that all maner of person or persons having the exercise of Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction, shall from thenceforth have in their Seales of Office, the Kings Highnesse armes decently set, p. 92with certaine Carects under the armes for knowledge of the Dioces, and shall use no other seale of Jurisdiction, but wherein his Majesties armes be engraven; upon peine, that if any person shall use Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction (after the foresaid day) within this Realme of England, Wales or other the Kings Dominions, and not make and send out the Processe or Citation in the Kings name, or use any Seale of Jurisdiction, other then before limited; that every such offender shall incurre and runne in the Kings Majesties displeasure and indignation, and suffer imprisonment at his Highnes will and pleasure.

VponUpon this Statute (being but a meere declaration of the ancient Common Law) within three yeares after the making thereof, a‡‡Fox Acts & Monuments pag. 1409. 1410. Praemunire was brought against Bishop Farrar, upon pretence, that hee omitted the Kings name and Stile in a Commission of his for a Visitation; which had it beene true, hee had smarted for it. Hence all the Bishops in King Ed. 6. time, made after this Statute, were created Bishops by his Letters Patents onelyonly, in which all parts of their Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction were granted them by the King, in precise words; as things Praeter & ultra jus divinum; to be executed onelyonly, Nomine, vice, & authoritate nostris Regi…, In the Kings Royall steed, name and authority; as the words of Coverdales, Ponets, Scoryes, and others Patents 5. Ed. 6. pars prima in the Rolls, declare. And accordingly all their Proces, Sentences, Probate of Wills, and Commissions of Administration, (of which there are some yet extant under the Kings owne Seale) both in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and elsewhere, were made out onelyonly in the Kings name, and under his Seale, according to this Act and the Contents of their owne Letters Patents, and all their owne Registers in those times witnes; & Regia authoritate fulcitus, was a usuall clause in all their writings and Proces whatsoever, till Queen Mary by her Prelates procurement, p. 93caused to be expunged, upon the revivall of the Popes authority; as Master Fox records in his Acts and Monuments, page 1294. The Bishops 1. Mariae, cap. 2. got this Statute repealed, till which time they used the Kings Stile and Seale in all their proces, Commissions, and all other their proceedings. And then because the Popes usurped power and Iurisdiction was restored, they revived their old proceedings againe,‡‡1 & 2. Philip. and Mary, c. 8. doing all in their owne names, and under their owne seales. The Statute of 1. Jacobi c. 25. repealed that Act of repeale, and revived this Statute againe; which in truth,**See Sir Iohn Davis Irish Reports. f. 97. 98. being but a meere Declaration of the Common Law, giving no new, but onelyonly reviving & declaring the Kings old rightfull Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction and restoring it to the Crowne, (our Bishoprickes themselves, with all the Episcopall and Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction united to them, being originally derived to Bishops by the **See Francis Mason his Consecration of Bishops, l. 4. c. 9 10. 11. 12. 15. E. 3. Statute de Provis…rib. Rastall Prouision and Praemunire, Cookes Institutes, f. 94 a.donation and Charters of Princes; not from any divine right or institution: as is evident, and expressely resolved by 17. Edw. 3. 40. a. Register pars 2. t. 77. 78. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. Edw. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 31. H. 8. c. 9. Eadmerus historia Novorum, lib. 4. pag. 95. 96. Joannis Seldeni Spicilegium, ibidem pag. 209, to 213. Goodw…ns Catalogue of Bishops, and our histories and Lawbookes:) needed no revivall at all; and was sufficiently revived by 1. Eliz. c. 1. before the Statute of 1. Jacobi. A truth so cleare, that no Prelate, Iudge or Loyall Subject, can or dares deny it. Hereupon in the Parliaments of 30. and 70. Jacobi, the Bishops were proceeded against, and two of them in a maner attainted in a Praemunire by the Lower-howse of Parliament, for making Citations and Proces in their owne names, and using their owne Seales, contrary to this Statute, and the very Common-Law, in derogation of the Kings Prerogative, and maintenance of the Popes usurped power, or an Episcopall Jurisdiction of their owne, not derived from the King: who by the Statute of 1. Eliz. c. 1. hath as large and ample Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction as King Henry the 8. or Edw. 6. enjoyed, as 8. Eliz. c. 1. resolves: and therefore ought to have all proceedings, Citations, p. 94Proces, Censures in all Ecclesiasticall Courts, made in his owne name, and with his owne Seale alone, that so bearing his name, his ‡‡Math. 22.19.20.21.Matt 22:19Matt 22:20Matt 22:21Image and Superscription onelyonly, they might be knowne and acknowledged to be his, and to be kept by his Regall authority: whereas now they are onelyonly called and reputed the Bishops Courts and Consistories, not the Kings, because**See Sir Iohn Davis Reports. f. 97. 98. all things are there done and transacted in their names, under their Seales alone, by each of them apart, when as yet in the High Commission, wherein all their forces and Iurisdictions are combined, they can doe nothing at all, but by a speciall Commission under his Majesties great Seale, nor send out any Proces but in his name alone, under his speciall Seale, the very forme whereof is expressed in the body of their last Commission: An unanswerable argument, that they who alltogether can doe nothing but by his Majesties speciall Commission, Seale, and in his name alone; can (at leastwise ought to) doe as little or lesse without it, when they are devided in their severall Iurisdictions, in the selfe-same or such like Ecclesiasticall causes, which they handle in their High-Commission.

The Bishops, and all Ecclesiasticall Officers notwithstanding all the Premises and this expresse Statute, for the advancement, the Supportation of the Kings Ecclesiasticall Prerogative, and the abandoning of all Papall or usurped Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction then Practised by our Prelates; still most presumptuously persevere both to keepe their Courts, and make all their Proces, Summons, Citations, and Censures in their owne names and Stiles, not the Kings; as if King Charles had lesse then his, (and themselves more inherent Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction then their Predecessors, and their Courts were onelyonly their owne, not his;) and use no other Seale of office but their owne armes onelyonly, not his Majesties; for which they are all in a Praemunire; yet such is their power, greatnesse and violence p. 95**See the Supplication of Beggars. Fox Acts & Monuments pag. 927. Mr. Tyndals Practise of Popish Prelates, and Master Wraughtons aliàs Turners hunting of the Romish Fox. 25. H. 8. c. 14. Dr. Barnes his Supplication to King. H. 8.(as it was in ancient times,) that none may speake against or question this their disloyalty and usurpation upon his Majesties Crowne and dignity, or so much as plead his Royall right herein against them, (though bound thereto by his Oath of Supremacy and allegiance;) but hee is forthwith imprisoned, fined, persecuted, as if hee were some notorious Heretique, Rebell, or Capitall Malefactor; neither dare his Majesties temporall sworne Judges or Officers; (some of them now fearing our domineering Archprelates more then God, then his Majesty, or Hell it selfe) releive or countenance him. And can they then be his Majesties Freinds, or Loyall Subjects, who thus vexe and torture those who maintaine his Lawes and just Ecclesiasticall Prerogative, yea keepe Visitations Courts, Consistories, and exercise all maner of spirituall Jurisdiction, without any speciall COMMISSION, OR GRANT of Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction, from, by, or under his Majesty, which this Act, and 2. H. 5. c. 1. 31. H. 8. c. 14. 32. H 8. c. 17. 14. Eliz. c. 5. by name require?) coyning their Processe and proceedings with their owne names and Seales, not his. If any Prelate should presume to coyne mony, and stampe his owne Image, Name or armes thereon, every man would repute it counterfeit, and him aqqSee 2. & 3. Ed. 6. c. 17. Traytor or felon at the least; and commend, assist all such, who should detect or accuse him of such a Capitall crime. And is not their coyning of their Courts, Processe, Citations, and Ecclesiasticall proceedings in their owne names, with their owne Episcopall Seales, as bad? Certainely if the Iudges of the Kings Bench, or other his Majesties temporall Courts, should doe thus, the Bishops themselves would be the first, who would proclaime them Traitors, Rebells; and no Subjects would obey their Processe, but reject them as counterfeit coyne.

p. 96Why then should not the Iudges (his Majesties, not the Bishops**18. Ed. 3. Stat. 3. 1. Eliz c. 1. sworne Officers) and other good Subjects, say as much of them, and their proceedings: having neither Caesars Image nor Superscription? which they have quite obliterated, and in stead thereof thrust in their owne, as Sir John Davis long since observed in his Irish Reports, fol. 98. in the case of Praemunire: the least punishment they have incurred for this audacious attempt…, which is nought else, but a pulling of his Majesties Royall Crowne and Diademme from his sacred head, to put it on their owne. It is stried of††Niceph. Greg…r. Rom. Hist. l. 10. f. 55. & Plutarch. Alexander. Alexander the Great, that passing over the River Euphrates, his Crowne fell of his head into the middest of the River, which a certaine Mariner recovering by swimming, because hee could not otherwise save and carry it to the ship, hee put it on his head, and so brought it to Alexander: wh… thereupon gave him a talent for recovering his Crowne, but yet cut of his head, because hee had unworthily set it thus on his owne head. Certainly should his Majesty serve all our Bishops and Archbishops thus for putting on his Crowne on their owne heades, when as there is, thankes be to God, no such perill of losing it, or necessity to doe it, as in this case of Alexanders, they had but just their demerits for this their audacious insolence most of them being raised meerely from the dunghill only by his Majesties speciall favour, not their owne demerits, as they must needs acknowledge. Wherefore let themselves and their Abbetters thinke what they please, that they are the Kings best Subjects; that those are Schismatickes and Seditious persons, who oppose them in these their disloyall proceedings; yet doubtlesse all Loyall Subjects and the King himselfe, may must justly complaine against them in the very words of that notable Writt in the Register, pars 2. fol. 61. stiled: Ad Iura Regia; Turbamur, nec immeritò, & movemur; dum illos qui sub nostro degunt dominio, & ibidem beneficiis & redditibus honorantur, quo praetextu in defensione & tuitione jurium: Regiae Coronae p. 97ipsos nobis assistere condeceret, eadem jura erectis contra nos cervicibus conspicimus satagentes, pro viribus impugnare: **Note.† in grave praejudicium & laesionem Regiae dignitatis nostrae, &c. For which I shall leave them to his Majesties Iustice: desiring them and all their flatterers to r…minate upon this excellent Passage in Sir John Davis his Ir…sh Reports, London, 1628. f. 97. 98. the Case of Praemunire, wherein …ee thus excellently relates the true originall & progresse of all Ecclesiasticall Courts, Causes and Iurisdictions; and the ingratitude of Bishops to their Soveraignes in blotting out their Princes Images, Titles, and Superscriptions out of their Courts, Seales and Proces, and the reasons why thy did it.

First then, let us see, when this d…stinction of Ecclesiasticall or spirituall caus…, from civile and t…porall causes, did first begin, in point of Jurisdiction. Assuredly for the space of three hundred yeares after Christ, this d…st…nction was not knowne or heard of in the Christian world. For the causes of Testaments, of Matrimony, of Bastardy, and Adultery, and the rest which are called Ecclesiasticall or spirituall causes, were meerely civill & determined by the rules of the civile Law, and subject onelyonly to the Jurisdiction of the civile Magistrate, as all civilians will testifie with me. But after that the Emperours had received the Christian faith, out of a zeale and desire they had, to grace and honor the Learned and Godly B shops of that time, they were pleased to single out certaine speciall causes,, wherein they granted Jurisdiction unto the Bishops: namely in cases of Tyths, because they were payed to men of the Church: In causes of Matrimony, because marriages were for the most part solemnized in the Church: In cases Testimentory, because T…staments were many times made in extremis, when Churchmen were present, giving spirituall comfort to the Testator, and therefore they were thought the fittest persons to take the probates of such Testaments. Howbeit these Bishops did not proceede in these causes according to the Canons and Decrees of the Church (for the Canon Law was not then hatched or dream't off) but according p. 98to the Rules of the Imperiall Law, as the civile Magistrate did proceed in other causes, neither did the Emperours, in giving this Jurisdiction unto them, give away their owne supreme and absolute power, to correct & punish these Judges, as well as others …f they performed not their severall duties. This then is most certaine that the primitive Jurisdiction in all these causes, was in the Civill Magistrate, and so in right it remaineth at this day, and though i… be derived from him, it remaineth in him, as in a Fountaine; For every Christian Monarch (as well as the Godly Kings of Juda) is custos utriusque Tabulae, and consequently hath power to punish, not onelyonly Treason, Murder, Theft, in all maner of Force and fraud, but incest, adultery, usury, perjury, Simony, sorcery, idolatry, blasphemy, neither are these causes in respect of their owne quality and nature, to be distinguished one from another by the names of spirituall or temporall. For why is adultery a spirituall cause, rather then murther, when they are both offences against the second Table, or Idolatry, rather then perjury, being both offences likewise against the first Table? And indeed if wee consider the natures of these causes, it will seeme somewhat absurd; that they are distinguished by the name of spirituall and temporall, for to speake properly, that which is opposed to spirituall, should be tearmed carnall: And that which is opposed to temporall, should be called eternall. And therefore if things were called by their proper names, adultery, should not be called a spirituall offence, but a Carnall. But shall I expresse plainly and briefly, why these causes were first denominated, some spirituall or Ecclesiasticall, and others temporall and Civill? Truly, they were so called, not from the nature of the causes, as I said before, but from the quality of the persons, whom the Prince had made Judges in these causes. The Clergy did study spirituall things, and did professe to live secundum spiritum, and were called spirituall men, and therefore they called the causes, wherein Princes had given them Jurisdiction, spirituall causes, after their owne name and quality. But because the Lay Magistrates were sasd to intend the p. 99things of this world, which are temporall and transitory, the Clergy called them secular or temporall men, and the causes wherein they were Judges temporall causes: **Note.This distinction began first in the Court of Rome, were the Clergy having by this Jurisdiction gotten great wealth, their wealth begot pride, their pride begot ingratude towards Princes, who first gave them their Jurisdiction, and then, according to the nature of all ungratefull persons, they went about to extinguish the memory of the benefit: for whereas their Jurisdiction was first derived from Caesar, in the execution whereof they were Caesars Judges, so as both their Courts, and causes ought still to have borne Caesars Image and Superscription, as belonging unto Caesar; They blotted Caesars name out of the style of their Courts, and called them Courts Christian, as if the Courts holden by other Magistrates had beene in Comparison but Courts of Ethnickes, and the causes w…ithin their nature were meerely Civile, they called spirituall and Ecclesiasticall. So as if the Emperor should challenge his Courts, and causes againe, and say, Reddite Caelari, quae sunt Caesaris, they would all cry out on the contrary part, and say, date Deo, quae sunt Dei, our Courts beare the name and Title of Christ, the Superscription of Caesar is quite worne out, and not to be found upon them. And this point of their Policy is worth the observing, that when they found their Jurisdiction in Matrimoniall causes, to be the most sweet, and gainefull of all other (for of Matrimony they made matter of Mony indeed) to the end that Caesar might never resume so rich a perquisit of their spirituall Iurisdiction, they reduced Matrimony into the Number of the seaven Sacraments. After which time it had beene sacriledge, if the civile Magistrate had intermedled with the least matter that had relation to Matrimony, or any depentancy thereupon. So then yet appeareth, that all causes whereof Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall persons have cognisans, or Iurisdiction by the grants or permission of Princes, are called Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall causes. And as all their Courts are called spirituall Courtes, so all causes determinable in these Courts, are called spirituall causes.

p. 100And therefore where Master Lalor hath acknowledged the Kings Majesty to be supreams Governour in all Ecclesiasticall causes, hee hath therein acknowledged the Kings Supremacy in all spirituall causes, wherein hee hath but rendred to Caesar, but that which is Caesars, and hath given unto his Majesty no more, then all the Bishops of England have yeelded to his Predecessors, not onelyonly in this later age, but also in former times both before and since the Conquest, as hath bin before at large expressed.