other Christian and noble Potentates who haue maineteyned fauoured preferred the Ministers that stande for ReformatioÌ„ And whether here in England the Right honorable Sir Nicholas Bacon L. Keeper the Earles of Bedforde Warwicke and Leicester Sir Frauncis Walsingham Sir Water Mildmay Sir Amias Paulet other right noble Lords Councellours Countees and Countesses would haue couÌ„tenanced and protected the Ministers that seeke Reformation if they had perceiued them to be enemies to the Queene aâ—d state worse then papistes and miscreantes And whether our Prelates be more trustie to hir Maiesty and prouident to auoide daunger then those excellent personages were 40 Quaere whether a Minister ought not to admonish the mightiest Prince of his duty refuse to administer the Sacrament vnto him if he be a notorious offendour and pronouÌ„ce him to be no member of Christ in the Communion of Saints if he continue obstinate in open crimes And whether vnder the Lawe Dauid and other Princes were not subiect to ceremoniall expiations and the spirituall power of Priestes and Prophets And whether Ambrose did well in vsing like authority towardes an Emperour And lastly whether Zanchius Caluin Bucer Nowell Iewell Bilson and Bridges approuing the like be traytours popes and tyrants 41 Quaere why there may not be vnder a Christian Magistrate Pastours Teachers Elders Deacons and widowes aswell as Parsons Lectures or Schoolemaisters Church Wardens Chauncellours Collectours for the poore and Hospitall Women seeing these doe and may execute in authority and power the whol forme of Church-gouernement desired though their practise thereof is infinitely corrupted against the Canons of the Apostles to the daunger of the Church and dishonour of the Realme 42 Quaere whether the Ecclesiastical High Commission be not in effect an Eldership wherein some gouerne with ministers who by profession are temporall Lawiers Ciuillians meere lay men And whether their gouernement consisting of spirituall and temporall persons be a Medley a Linsie woolsie Discipline as the RemonstraÌ„ce calleth the Eldership which is now desired 43 Quaere If the sole gouernement of a Bishop in a Dioces bee sufficient and most agreeable to Gods worde why is there an Ecclesiasticall Commission standing of many persons ciuill and Ecclesiasticall or if an Ecclesiasticall Commission be needefull in a Realme who in a prouince if in a Prouince why not in a Dioces if in a Dioces why not in a Deanrie if in a Deaâ—rie why not in a Parishe Lasty why might there not without absurditie and breach of true vniformitie be planted in some places already capable a Consistory or commission of Elders though the like cannot presently be accompliâ—hed in all seeing there be newe ecclesiasticall Commissions erected Deanes and Chapters Broken musicke and Organes in some places not in other Hearken you Sages and Iudges of the lawe it is expected at your hands that you see Euen Iustice done to all her Highnes subiectes rich and poore without regard to any person papist Protestant puritane or other If you suffer her maiesties subiected that sue for iustice to be cited punished imprisoned vexed and molested against lawe by any Prelate or ecclesiasticall iudge whatsoeuer doe incurre the breach of your oath are in her maiesties mercy for your bodies landes and goods Pereat mundus fiat Iustitia 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 b 25. H. 8. ca. 19. â— E â— ca 11. 〈…〉 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 d pag. 29. e pag. 80. f pag. 57. g pag. 20. h pag. 22. i pag. 27. k pag. 31. l pag. 43. m pag. 47. n pag. 81. o 1. Eli. 2. c. ◠〈…〉 p 5 6. 〈…〉 q 1. Eliz. c. 2. r Bâ—â—ke of ordering Ministers 〈…〉 s 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 t 〈…〉 u 〈…〉 x Caâ—on dis pag â—0 y 〈…〉 The Bb sâ—ould aswell vse pastorall staue◠〈…〉 z 〈…〉 pag. 679. 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b Disputat Mat. 〈◊〉 pag. 83. c Admoni ag 〈…〉 pag. 53 1. eds 〈…〉 d Ibid pa. 99. Ibi pa. 139. f 〈…〉 Puniâ—â—ment of Adulâ—erie g 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 h 〈…〉 i 〈…〉 k Ibid p. 135. l 〈◊〉 pag. 166. m pag. 9. 〈…〉 〈…〉 n 〈…〉 o 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 1. Sam. 21. 〈…〉 〈…〉 D. Bridges 〈…〉 p 〈…〉 D Bridges 〈…〉 q Of the Princ. Supre pag 359. r Defence of gouernment pag. â—48 c. s â—bid pag. 281. 372. 〈…〉 t 〈…〉 〈…〉 x 〈…〉 y 〈…〉 z 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 e 〈…〉 f 〈…〉 g 〈…〉 h 〈…〉 i 〈…〉 k 〈…〉 l 〈…〉 m 〈…〉 n 〈…〉 o 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 p 〈…〉 q 〈…〉 r 〈…〉 s 〈…〉 t 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 y 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 e 〈…〉 f 〈…〉 g 〈…〉 〈…〉 h Ibid pa. 4â— i Ibid. pag. 57. 〈…〉 k 〈…〉 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 e 〈…〉 f 〈…〉 g 〈…〉 h 〈…〉 i 〈…〉 h 〈…〉 〈…〉 m 〈…〉 n 〈…〉 o 〈…〉 p 〈…〉 q 〈…〉 r 〈…〉 s 〈…〉 t 〈…〉 u 〈…〉 w 〈…〉 x 〈…〉 y 〈…〉 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 e 〈…〉 f 〈…〉 g 〈…〉 h 〈…〉 i 〈…〉 k 〈…〉 l 〈…〉 m 〈…〉 n 〈…〉 m Table of all n 〈…〉 o 〈…〉 p 〈…〉 q 〈…〉 〈…〉 r 〈…〉 〈…〉 t 〈…〉 u 〈…〉 w 〈…〉 x 〈…〉 y 〈…〉 z 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 e 〈…〉 f 〈…〉 g 〈…〉 h 〈…〉 i 〈…〉 k 〈…〉 l 〈…〉 m 〈…〉 n 〈…〉 o 〈…〉 p 〈…〉 q 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 r 〈…〉 s 〈…〉 t 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 a Ser pag. 83. b 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 The Bb. be not one of the threâ— states e 〈…〉 〈…〉 f 〈…〉 g 〈…〉 〈…〉 h 〈…〉 i Dorm Rep. pag. 〈◊〉 k Act. and Mâ—n pag â—21 l 〈…〉 m 〈…〉 a D With pag. 309. 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 The Seekers of 〈…〉 a Esa. â—6 10. Vnprâ—aching ministers b Esai 56. 10. 〈…〉 Priestes c 〈◊〉 44. 8. 〈…〉 d Esa. 56. 11. 〈…〉 e 〈…〉 〈…〉 f 1 King 15. 14 〈…〉 g 〈…〉 〈…〉 The Seekers of 〈…〉 Color of canâ—â—◠〈…〉 d 〈…〉 〈…〉 e Admoniâ— aga M. M. 183. f D 〈…〉 A Priest and Bish by Gods 〈…〉 g 〈…〉 pag. 281. 〈…〉 pag 18. Admonit agai M. M. pag. 44 h Cont. Haeres lib. 3. 〈…〉 75. i 〈…〉 pag. 668. 748. 〈◊〉 Whiâ—ak Con. Duâ— pag. 447. 〈…〉 Tim. 5. Harding Def. 〈◊〉 pag. 2â—0 Staâ—leton Bridg. of Princ. Supr pag. 359. 〈…〉 k In 1. Tim 3. 2. 1. Tim. 5. 17. 1. Tim 3. 1. What the law 〈…〉 See the statâ—â— l 〈…〉 m 〈…〉 n 〈…〉 〈…〉 o 〈…〉 p 〈…〉 q 〈…〉 r 〈…〉 s 〈…〉 t 〈…〉 〈…〉 w 〈…〉 x 〈…〉 y 〈…〉 〈…〉 z 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 e 〈…〉 f 〈…〉 g 〈…〉 h 〈…〉 i 〈…〉 k 〈…〉 l 〈…〉 m 〈…〉 n 〈…〉 o 〈…〉 p 〈…〉 q 〈…〉 r 〈…〉 〈…〉 s 〈…〉 t 〈…〉 〈…〉 w 〈…〉 x 〈…〉 y 〈…〉 z 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b 〈…〉
hospitalitie For that is the cause that you alleadge you must haue thousandes as though you were commanded to keepe hospitalitie rather with a thousande then with an hundred This booke was written in defence of the lawefull regiment of women but now the authour laboureth to suppresse this booke tenderinge more the state of the â—b then the Queenes Crowne 2 Maister Bullingham before hee was Bishop being arriued at Embden after many stormes wrote vnto a godly man in this manner Would God Master Bull that all the Prelates in Englande had beene with mee when wee fell to cutting off Cables reding at anchor in the raging seas There woulde haue beene tearing of square cappes renting of Rochets defyiâ—g of Bâ—shoprickes despising of pompe promising a newe life crâ—ing for mercy O what a tragedie woulde there haue beene VVell well though nowe they walke drâ—e shoode in their pallaces there is a God that will trie them and all his people by fire or by water vnlesse wee hartilie repent Grace to repent graunt vs O Lorde without delaâ—e Amen Amen 3 D. Bridges before he intangled himselfe with the Disciplinarie controuersies writing against the papists vseth these woordes Christ hath put such a barre betweene Bb. and Princes that his spirituall Bb. cannot haue earthly kingdomes And againe where the papists helde that the Pope was not properlie but vnproperly aâ—â— orde to take awaye this he addeth Christ simply debarreth all his spirituall Ministers from ruling of temporall kingdomes Christ hath both properly and vnproperly debarred them Vos autem non sic You shall not doe so These wordes strike deade Maister Sanders Further whereas the papists account Aerius and al Protestants heretikes because they holde that by Gods booke A Bishop and a Priest are all one D. Bridges doeth therein iustifie Aerius and the Protestantes out of Hierome Peter Lambarde Durand and the Institution of Collen But sithens that time writing in defence of Bishops he mainteyneth their Lordshippe and accounteth his brethren Aerian heretikes This doublinge by such as defende the Hierachie must needes cast great doubtes in the heartes of all men 5 Testimonies of learned men imply some further Reformation These followers of Reformation giue greater colour to their cause by the testimonie of auncient and late writers whom they pretend to speake against the manner of our gouernement by Bishops and for the gouernement of their Elders 1 Against the authoritie and practise of our Bb. they alleadge the Canons of the Apostles the Councels of Carthâ—ge Calcedone Constans Turon and Macra the testimonie of Cyprâ—an Tertullian Augustine Hierome Ambrose Chrysostome Gregorie Hillarie Synesius Nazianzene Origene and Bernard 2 Touching late reformed Churches they mainteyne that there is no protestant Church in all Hungarie Poleland Denmark Friselande Swevelâ—nd Heluetia Saxony Auspurg of in anie part of Germanie in France Scotlande the lowe Countries or in any nation truely prosessing the Gospell in all the world that doth either by their doctrine or practise attribute so much authority ciuill and ecclesiasticall in sole excoÌ„munication and ordination of Priestes as is now vsed and challenged by English Bishops 3 Among late writers they drawe to this purpose Luther Melancâ—â—â—on Bucer Martyr Caluâ—â— Beza Bullinger Zanchius Daneus Erastus Gualter Munster and many other 4 Lastly out of our owne English Writers they fetch matter against the Bb. 1 Harding woulde proue by the example of Moses who exercised both a Priestes and Princes office that the Pope may vse ecclesiasticall and ciuill authoritie Master Iewell answereth thus Christ him selfe sayeth to the Pope and to all other Priestes and Bb The kings of the nations rule ouer them and they that are great exercise authoritie ouer the people but it shall not bâ—e so among you Hee addeth the saying of Cyprian Christ by seuerall dueties and distinct honours both set a difference betweene the offices of both powers Also he vrgeth an effectuall speach of Bernard to the Pope That hee cannot be both a successour of the Apostles and a Lord. For doubtles hee was forbidden the one of them Yet our Bb. be both 2 Mai. Nowell Deane of Paules saieth that Christ refused pompe riches and dominions when the Deuill offered them Hee denyed his kingdome to bee of this worlde and forbad his true Disciples the possession of such riches and vvorldelie dominions as the Pope nowe clymeth In another place Christ forbad his Ministers all Dominion and worldly gouernement Mat. 20. And againe S. Peter forbiddeth Ministers to exercise Dominion or Lordship ouer their flockes 3 D. Bilson Warden of Winch. hath thus writen Christ expresly forbiddeth his Apostles to be rulers of Nacions The Kinges of the nations rule ouer their people c. with you it shall not bee so In which wordes Christ doeth not traduce the power of Princes as vniust but distinguisheth the calling of the Apostles from the manner of regiment which God hath allowed the Magistrate Christ saieth not Princes are tyrants you shall deale more courteouslie but he saieth Princes be Rulers by Gods ordinaunce you shall not be so c. Then he proueth that Katakyrieuein is not meant of Tyrannical but of Rule with authority and shutteth vp his argument in this sorte Therefore the conclusion is ineuitable That Princes may lawfullie compell and punish their subiectes buâ— Bishops may not This manner of reasoning against the papistes hath incensed men vehemently against L. Bb. If these reasons be not good Maister Iewell Maister Nowell and D. Bilson haue much to aunswere 5 On the other side these whoâ—e pursuers of Reformation haue had great inducementes to enforce the â—Idership 1 That there was a gouernement by Elders assisting the ministerie in the primitiue Church is collected obscurely out of Ignatius Tertullian Cyprian Augustine More clearely out of Ambrose Hierome Possidonius Socrates and the Canon lawe 2 The Diuines of later time almost generally doe gather the Eldership out of the Script namely Zuinglius Martyr Aretius Caluâ—â— Illiricus Hemingâ—â—s Hiperius Iunius Bucer Beza Piscator Oleuian Bulliâ—ger Szegedinus Musculus Heshusius Robert Stephen Daneus an Italian Bertrand de Lâ—ques Bastingius Morneus Sadâ—ell Nowell Fulk Whitakers Snecanus Vâ—sinus and Trelcaâ—ius Lastly the Churches in the lowe Countries France â—eluetia and Scotlande doe consent herein 3 That the same gouernement by Elders should continue vnder the Christian magistrates is agreed by Iohn Alasco Vâ—enhouius Microâ—â—us Zuinglius Oecolampidius Zuichius Capito Miconius Farell Viret Melancthon Bucer Caluin Martyr Iunius Beza Zanchius
Seek of Reformation doe mainteine that their iurisdiction is contrary to the worde of God Not condemning externall honor which is good and godly in it selfe but misliking that it should be accepted by such persons as are disabled and made vncapable there of by the Scripture Thus much for better vnderstanding of this question To proceed 1 There must diuers things concurre to make bookes felonious by this statute First they must be written Aduiseâ—ly against the Queene that is of purpose wittingly not of simplicitie or ignorance Ignorantia factâ— excusat Ignorance of the fact excuseth the fault And therefore as the Prell dealt miâ—â—iouslie with Richard Carmicheill in Scotland in compelling him to burne his bill because in his dreame hee did crie out The Diuell take away the Priestes for they are a greedy packe so if any man in his sleepe or at vnwares shal cast forth diâ—â—amatory wordes against the Queene he is not within this statute Secondly the booke must be writen of malicious intent and as the preamble of the statute is by one ill affected to hir Maiestie and therefore if a man vse such a speach as Burder the Marchant did when he saide He would make his sonne the heire of the crowne meaning his house at the signe of the Crowne not intending any hurt to the King or Crowne of Englande he could not without great iniustice be drawne within this or the like statute Thirdlie the wordes must conteine false and seditious matter therefore if a man shoulde haue saide that the King William Rufus did wickedly who to geâ—t mony of the Iewes caused some coÌ„uerted to Christianity to returne to Iudaisme the fact beeing trew and words not seditious he could not iustly be punished by this or any like statute The Seekers of Reformation hâ—ue not neither doe write Aduisedlie to diffame the Queene for they name not hir Maiestie to any diâ—honor in any of their bookes If the contrary can be proued Currat lex let the offender be punished as he deserueth They onely seeke to haue as they thinke the corruption of the tâ—â—e redressed as â—he Prophetes the holy men of God haue done heretofore without â—â—tending anie dishonour to good Princes such as her Maiestyâ—s The Seek of Reformation write against ignoraunt and vnlearned ministers so the Prophet Esaâ—e liuing vnder the godly king did call the priestes that wanted knowledge Dumbe dogges such as can not barke The Seekers of Reformation write against such as be careles and negligent in feeding the soules that depende vpon them that take the fleece turne ouer the care of the flocke to other so Esaâ—e reprooueth the priestes of his time That lye and sleepe and delight in sleâ—ping And another Prophet taxeth them that did not Keepe the ordinaunces of holy thinges them selues but set other to take charge of the sanctuarie The Seekers of Reformation doe cry out against plurified persons that can not be content with a competent liuing but insatiablie by dispensations and qualifications doe ioine benefice to benefice and charge to charge rather to enriche them selues then benefite the Church against such men did Esaie complaine calling them Greedie dogges that can neuer haue inough euerie one of them looking to his owne waie and to his owne aduantage The Seekers of Reformation write against the ciuill authority and rule of Ministers So Ieremy in the dayes of Iosiah a vertuous Prince condemned Priestes For bearing rule The Seekers of Reformation write to haue the Church throughly purged of all remnants of popery idolatry So the spirit of God did note as a fault euen vnder most excellent Kings That the hâ—e places remained vnremoued All these and many other witnesses of the trueth did speake and write against the state of the Church in Iudah and were not I trust aduised deâ—famers of the Princes vnder whome these corruptions had gotten strength In like maner the writinges of the Seek of Reformation against such thinges as they verilie beleeue to be enormious corruptions can not iustly bee deemed aduisedly and of purpose diffamaâ—orie to hir Highnesse When persecution was most furious in Englande they that wrote most vehemently against the Bishops their proceedings contenanced by lawe were neuer accounted aduised diffamers of the Prince for then they should haue bene reputed and punished as traytours or rebells râ—ther then as sâ—ismatikes and heretikes Neither hath their bene in all the thirtie yeares of her Maiesties most flourishing raigne till within 2. or 3. yeares last part any such conclusion euer made though the same lawes in substance haue bene in force and occasion giuen of great extremity I am perswaded that vpon hearing the matter debated by learned I awiers on the part of the defendantes as lawe and reason would in this matter of difficulty that toucheth life that our reuerende Iudges would at the first make a quaere whether the aduised diâ—â—amation of the Bb. were an aduised diffamation of the Queene Therefore it may well come vnder the title of Newes that the Seekers of Reformation should resolue in a point of lawe wherein the best lawiers may stand in doubt â—f my father were a â— Bishop or a Noâ—resident and â— would write against the state of the Bb. or Nonresidence to make men conformable to the lawe of God it were adsurde to affirme that I did write of purpose and aduisedly to diffame my Father So in our case mutatis mutandis c. Neither doe the Seekers of Reformat write against the iurisdiction of Bb. of any hatred or Malice to the Queene For whosoeuer were King or Queene of England though it were Dauid him selfe they would vvrite to the same effect that they doe nowe It is not like that they malice her Maiesty for sauing the matters in variâ—nce no man can charge them with any shewe of disloyall behauiour They are instant for hir Maiesty in prayer both publike and priuate They detract no duety no imposition no taxe or subsidie as becommeth duetifull and louing subiests It was neuer heard that any one no not one of them did euer attempt any hurt to hir Royall person Search the Rolls looke the Recordes it will appeare that some oâ— them whom England while England indureth shall still with thankfulnes remember haue hazarded themselues asmuch for her Maiesties safety and Englands good as any subiect what soeuer When the Spaniards intended an inuasion the establishment of a forraine potentate in the Sea Royall and the conuersion of this lande into Aâ—eldama a fielde of bloude the Ministers that seeke Reformation gaue great assurance of their affection and loyalty to the Queenes maiesty and the seate They were importunate with the Lord by priuate and publike prayer fasting for the safety of her Royal person before the Bishops or their followers were seen to goe about any such matter And being interdicted by the Bishops such was their zeale to the
state they still continued as they had begun some of them weake in body though strong in spirite preaching three or foure times a day manie daies togither as London can witnesâ—e incouraging the people to fight for the Gospell and for their soueraigne still calling for repentaunce that God might bee mercifull to vs our Prince and Countrie Also when the expedition was made into Portugall they renewed these exercises a fortnight or 3. weekes before the Bishops sent to their fauorers any precepts or instructions to doe the like Is it likely that these men doe malice her Maiesty Surely they malice hir as Esay Ieremy other prophets did malice Ezechiah Iosiah and other godly Kings of Iudah when they reproued the abuses of the Church vnder them seeking that they might flourish in al honour by the due obseruation of the lawe of God adding vertue to vertue and reformation to reformations till Iudah and Ierusalem were clearely purged Is this malice to Princes No. They that hide froÌ„ princes the deformity of a state crying peace peace where no peace is they be the most malicious and pestilent enemies of the state The men that call for Reformation may pretend cause or coulour of cause both in matters of doctrine fact why they may hate the Bishops which in no sorte may be applyed to hir Maiesty The Bishops impugne that which heretofore they haue deliuered as the trueth of God as I haue shewed They confesse there be infinite corruptions in the Church which yet they will not reforme nor sâ—ffer other to sue for amendment or reformation thereof They confesse that by Gods word a Priest and Bishop are all one yet they and their followers make it heresie so to beleeue building vpon Epiphanius who also erroniously in the same place calleth the Bishops and all them heretikes that denie prayer for the dead Which determination of heresie vpon one mans worde as it is against the lawes of this Realme so it wrappeth in heresie both the Syriake Interpreter vvho vseth one worde Kashisha both for Priest and Bishop And also Chrysostome Ambrose Theodoreâ—e Hierome Occumenius Iâ—idore The Canon Lawe in force in Englande which sayeth That the primitiâ—e Church had no other sacred orders but Deaconship and Priesthood Also Wicklef Marsilâ—â—s of Padâ—a Luther Caluin Musculus Hofman Sadel Mornce Marlorate 〈◊〉 Whitakers Fulke Iewell Bullinger The Waldenses Alley Bâ—shop of Excester Lambert Beza Daneus The Magdeburgenses Knitsius Melaâ—â—thon Szegedinus Many Christian Churches and all Protestants that haue writen of this matter who teach expresly that by the trueth of Gods word Bishops and Priestes bee all one and of like authority therfore are condemned by Bellarmine Turrian Dureâ— Spence Harding The Rhemistes Stapleton Sanders Bristowe and other papistes to bee Aertan heretikes euen as the â—b doe account for the same cause all the maintemers of Reformation The enemies to Reformation doe esteeme it an absurde and monstrous thing to holde That a Pastour and Teacher differ in office though the Syriake interpreter doe distinguishe them aswell as Apostle and Euangeâ—ist vith deragnavathâ— vith demalphane which Guido translateth Ephes. 4. 11. Some Pastours and some Teachers And although Musculus Hâ—perius Caluin Martyr Kemâ—tâ—â—s Bezâ— Sadeel Danâ—us Szegedinus Hemingius Bucer Bertrand de Loques Villiers Iunius and tâ—n Protestante Churches as Maister Rogers confesseth doe account of them as distinct callings The Bishops doe affirme that by the common exposition of all writers Christ by katakyrieuâ—in Matth. 20. 25. doeth onely prohibite in the ministerie tyrannâ—call not lawfull Lordly rule yet of all these writers they can onely name threc or foure whereas the Seekers of Reformation may produce Luther Zuinglâ—us Melancton Caluin Bullinger Hemingius Illiricus Gualter Nowell Iewell Sadâ—â—l Beza Munster Bridges against the papistes Bilson Broughton Rainolds Withers Whitakers Snâ—canus Szegedinus Fulke Erastus and the Churches of Bohemâ—a who say that Christ speaketh there of lawfull Lordely rule for bidding his Apostles and Ministers of the Gospell to vse the same The 〈◊〉 and their friendes adiudge it a popedome and tyranny to excommunicate Princes although themselues do excommunicate inferiour Magistrates whom the Scripture doth honour with the hie title of Gods aswell as the most glorious Emperour and although both Bucer Caluin Snâ—canus De Loques Beza Daneus Zanchius Nowell Poinet Bishop of Winchester Iewell Bâ—â—son and Bridges do by their doctrine in priuiledged bookes approue the same The Bb. charge the Seek of Reformation flatlie and fullâ—â— to agree with the papistes in the article of the Princes Supremacie in matters Ecclesiasticall yet the Seek of Reformation differ froÌ„ them in these substantiall pointes following 1 They giue the Prince authoritie ouer all persons ecclesiasticall whatsoeuer the papistes exempte their cleargie 2 They holde that a Prince may depose a priest as Salomon did Abiathar and accordingly they obey being silenced the papistes deme it 3 They affirme that if Priests do make wicked decrees that the Prince may enforce them to better the papistes denie it 4 They say that Princes may and ought to make lawes for the Church but with the aduise of godly Pastoures the papistes denie it 5 They hold that if the Pastours be vnlearned and vngodly the Prince may of himselfe without their assent or aduise make orders and lawes for ecclesiasticall matters the papistes doe vtterlie denie Lastly they will subscribe in this point to the Articles of Religion established by lawe to the Apologie to the Church of England to the writers of M. Iewell M. Nowell M. Horn Maister Whitakers Maister Bâ—â—son Maâ—ster Rainoldes M. Fulke for I protest I haue sought but found nothing in these mens writinges touching this matter that dissenteth from the opinions of them that sue for Reformat Besides they take the othe of the Supremacie as hir Maiestie and the Parliament doeth expound it Whereupon by expresse allowance of law they are in that respect hir Maiesties good and obedient subiectes and they that inforce more vpon them in this point of the Magistrates authoritie then that othe vvith the Queenes exposition therof comprehendeth are vpon hir Maiesties roy all woorde and enact of lawe Malicious persons Furthermore the Bb. saye That the generall opinion of the best writers is against the gouernement by Elders vvhere as they can name onely foure whereof Caluin and Beza are two who
her Maiestie that nowe is There is not one pricke pointing at the Queenes lawes or state of Bb. Therefore it is to be taken strictly of the Queene against whom the Seekers of Reformation haue not writen and by consequent haue not infringed this statute 5 Her maiesty is a body politike and hath members politike in fiction onely and in politicall imagination not in truth and verity In like imagination the lawe sayeth shee cannot doe wronge shee is alwaies of perfect age shee is not subiect to any passion shee can not bee imprisoned sicke or due Thinges in themselues vntrue Therefore he that diffameth her members politike doeth diffame her maiesty only in fiction that is in plaine english not at all 6 If they that write against the state of Bb. diffame her maiesty that vpholdeth it Then doe they that call the gouernement by Elders antichristian a popedome c. diffame the Queene also For hir maiesty hath authorized or at the least openly and notoriously tollerated the gouernement by Elders in forraine Churches that haue fled for succour into Her Dominions and haue bene admitted to vse the gouernement by Elders euen as our fugitiues in Queene Maries time founde like liberty and fauour in strange nations 7 If they that diffame the Queenes members politike diffame the Queene then they that take awaye the life of her members politike commit treason against the Queene The same reason caeteris paribus maketh the same lawe But euery puisne knoweth it is no treason to kill the Bb. though it bee worthily treason to attempt any hurt to her Highnesse Therefore the diffamation of the Bb. is no diffamation of the Queene 8 All men be lyers Churches Vniuersal Councells Parliamentes and lawes of all nations doe controll one another Therefore it is no diffamation to her Maiesty if men ascribe errour in some of their lawes seeing it is incident to all men to erre in some thinges Though Princes be called Gods yet as they die so doe they erre like other men Homines sunt mendaces non angels Men be lyers they bee not Angels sayeth Iustice Shelley 9 If you doe offer violence to the most base subiect in this Realme you doe periudice the Crowne and dignitie of our Soueraine Lady the Queene yet if you diâ—fame them it is no diffamation of the Queene the murthering of them is onelie felony though by estimation of lawe their life doeth more neerely touch the Crowne then can be shewed for the state of Bishops 10 If the diffaming of the Bishops and Queene be al one punishable by one lawe and one penaltie then the lawes defende the name and credite of a subiect with as great care as the name of the Queene Which were absurde in the law and a presuÌ„ptuous challenge in any subiect that doeth not represent the person of the Queene 11 If the writers against the gouernement of Bishops doe maliciouslie diffame the Princes that bear it vp then do they malitiously diffame the Dukes of Saxonie and Hie Almaine that mainteine the state of Bishops as our Prelates say But it were madnes to say that they write aduisedly maliciously to diffame these Christian Germaine Princes who neuer harmed them much lesse our Soueraine Ladie the Queene by whom they haue receyued incomparable benefites and who hath beâ—e more beneficiall to the church then anie Prince or Poâ—â—ntate in all the worlde 12 They that write to diffame the Queene shoulde die as felons by this statute None that writeth against the gouernement of Bishops ought to dye as a felon For they can make that but an errour in Religion at the worst for writing is not materiall to make an error or not an error The papists sayeth D. Bilson bee not executed for making the Pope chiefe pastor ouer their soules or for giuing him an Episcopall authoritte ouer all the vvhole Church though that bee also a frantike heresie but for giuing him an externall dominion ouer this Realme and Prince This is it that the Execution of Iustice doeth dâ—ely respect vvhich is farre froÌ„ anie matter of faith and religion Thus you see hee mainteineth that the papists haue not nor doe not suster for religion or heresie but onely for treason The Christian Emperours Gratian Theodosius c. neuer punished heretikes with death but onelie blasphemers and idolaters They that holde errors shoulde not bee killed but corrected sayeth Augustine And in another place It neuer pleased any good man in the Catholike Church that heretikes much lesse such as erre in externall matters should be put to death Thus it hath bene reasoned by our Diuines against the but châ—ries of the papistes It is also helde in a booke published by authoritie to which D. Bilson had reference and translated into many languages that neuer anie papist did suffer death for his religioÌ„ since hir Highnes raigne Which thing the Papists in Wisbich castell can also witnesse Seeing then our state and Diuines haue sought to remoue from them the suspition of executing any papists for their religion though they defende infinite heresies much lesse should the Seekers of Reformation suffer death for their religion If the papistes ought to be executed but of â—auour and grace are spared much more curtesie shoulde bee shewed to Seekers of Reformation whose offences both to God the Prince and Realme are nothing matchable with the detestable heresies and practises of the traiterous papistes Verely all the Protestants in the world would wonder to hear that among Protestantes vnder a Protestant Prince gouernmeÌ„t any Protestant should haue his bloud shed for maintaining a doctrine of the Protestants imbraced by Christian Churches and confederate Princes round about 13 If the writers against Bishops do offend against this statute then the Speakers and Reporters against Bishops and the publishers or deliuerers from hande to hande of these book â—s or any popishe bookes against the receiued doctrine of Englande be likewise within this statute The Speakers and Reporters must either loose their eares or redeeme them with two hundred poundes or two hundred markes The publishers are adiudged and deemed felons But it were ridiculous to aâ—â—iâ—me that the law had any such intent For theÌ„ there should be more eareles people in Englande then in al Christendome besides and many thousandes of the Bishops friendes shoulde be in case of â—elons Which woulde comfort the writers when they sawe like iustice done to Speakers Reporters and publishers For the Poet truely sayeth Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris It cheereth vp a wofull heart When company doe beare a parte Seeing then that the Speakers Reporters and publishers of such matters against Bishops are not within this statute neither be the writers 14 That is onely lawe which the lawe-makers intende The Law-makers did not intende by this statute protect the Hierarchie For there was no bill preâ—erred in the
sermon at Oxforde this testimony of Maister Nowell to proue that men by authoritie might speake in defence of gouernement by Elders To be short I haue shewed that my L. of Canterburie and the other Bb. That D. Coâ—â—ns and the aduertiser doe in writing reproue many things couÌ„tenanced by law as excommunication by lay Chauncellours Nonresidence Ignoraunt ministers the milde punishment of Adultery Subscription and such like and yet these men be not deemed indited conuict or attaint as diffamers of her maiesty and felons by this statute Such be our times that Iisdem de causis alij plectantur alij ne appellentur quidem Thus much may serue touching the accusation of diffaming of our Soueraine Ladie the Queenes most excelleÌ„t maiesty Now it remaineth to consider how iustly the writers for Reformation be charged with rebellion VVHereas the aduersaries to Reformation do take as a principle that whosoeuer writeth to worke a discâ—â—tentment in the mindes of the subiectes doe intende a rebellion That is a most vntrewe assertion and sophistical paralogisme For although Rebellion doth grow of Discontentement yet all discontentement doth not bring forth rebellion or if the writinge against the state of Bishops shoulde moue some men to discontentment who being discontented should stirre vp rebellioÌ„ yet it doeth not followe that the writers against the Bb. were rebels as this stat doeth intende For the writers must write Aduisedlie and of purpose to stirre rebellion So that if a man write in humble loyall and duetiful manner hauing no purpose and intent to worke rebellion though rebellion should here of insue yet could not such a writer without great iniustice be drawn within this statute For he can not be a felon that hath not a felonious intent and purpose Christ by his preaching had wrought such a dislike of the Priests and their proceedinges in the mindes of his Disciples that one of theÌ„ in defence of his Maister did strike of the eare of Marchus a seruant of purseuant of the high priestes yet the Priestes did not charge Christ with this outrage of his Disciple For albeit Christ did speake against the Rulers Priests in his time drawing after him many dislikers of that present state yet Christ neuer meant to woorke in mens mindes a discontentement which should bring forth mutinies or rebellion but amendement and reformation In like manner these Seek of Reformation haue descried manie supposed abuses in the church gouuernement they beare vs in hande that there is another forme of Ruling the church more agreeable to the Scriptures then this which we haue receyued They write to lay open the faultes of the one the necessitie and profit of the other that the one beeing remoued by lawful authoâ—itie the other by like authoritie might be entertained For considering that hir Maiestie and Lordes without the Commons can not by the order of our state reforme the abuses imperfections of the laws it is requisite that the Commons of this land should be acquainted with the wants both of the Church and common wealth For euery man and woman of this Realme is partie and priuie to all Actes of Parliament Their assent is needefull to the making of euery lawe In their name and as the deputies the Knightes Burgesses are present and haue voices in the Parliament Nowe howe shoulde the commons their Knightes and Burgesses conceyue what is amisâ—e in the Lawes and state but by publike writings for that purpose That hauing deepelie weighed and pondered what and how thinges should be reformed they might be able in time of Parliament after the lawfull and laudable custome of this Realme to take order for them according to knowledge A few daies or weekes are are not sufficient throughly to examine what may bee said what should be done in these matters Wherefore if these Seekers of Reformation should by publike writinge in duetifull and Christian sorte communicate to hir Maiestie the Lordes and commons of this Realme the enormities of the state to the ende that they in their Parliamentes should reforme the same though some of the Commons should take occasion herevpon desperately and vndutifullie to rebell yet the Seekers of Reformation coulde not iustly be condemned as aduised and malitious mouers of rebellion Much lesse can their writinges which haue as yet neuer effected nor affected rebellion be deemed rebellions Their writing for Reformation doeth rather prooue that they bee not rebells For if they purposed a rebellion they would rather tumultuouslie rise vp and reforme thinges them selues then write bookes to moue the Queenes Maiestie the â—ords and Commons in their Parliaments to lay their handes to reformation They that be not blinded with malice do see wel that the Ministers who seeke Reformation doe preache true obedience to the Magistrates with greater zeale and sincerity then any Bishop in this lande It is not oriously knowen that they teach as an article of their faith That no subiect or seruaunt ought to rebell against his Prince or Maisters though hee bee cruell and frowarde but rather shoulde meekely suffer oppression and violence at their handes They teach that the lawes must either be performed by obeying them or else the punishment for not yeelding vnto theÌ„ patiently suffered and vndertaken Therefore howsoeuer they write to bring a discontentment into mens mindes yet they would not haue the subiect to intrude vpon the Magistrates office much lesse to rebell against his Soueraine Furthermore if all they that write to bring the people to adiscontentement and dislike of the authorized gouuernement doe write of purpose to moue rebellion then doe the lawes the Bishops and whole state of Englande intende a rebellion I proued that both the lawes Bishops of this lande doe expect a further reformation which can not be accomplished vnlesse hir Maiestie the Ll. and commons be drawen to a discontentement and disâ—ike of the present state For amendement and redresse can neuer follow but where discontentement goeth before â—ikewise it is prooued that the Church of Englande hath seene allowed and suffered to be printed and publikely solde diuerse bookes which doe speake most effectualliâ— against the state of â—orde Bishops I shewed that bookes wherin the Lordship of Bb. hath bene coÌ„demned haue bene allowed by expresse act of Parliament I shewed also that the gouernement by Elders is approued in books which are commended by the Bb. to be fully grounded vpon Gods worde which are commanded to be taught learned throughout this Realme If it be rebellion to worke a dislike discontentement in the state of Lord Bb. If it bee rebellion to commende the reformed gouernement by Elders then doth the state of England intende a rebellion against hir Maiestie But God forbid that we should thinke so dishonorably or disâ—oyally of our Christian State though it hath wrought in mens mindes a dislike of the present Church-gouernement If then this argument be vaine
Reformation as felons that yet it is Expedient I answere that if such law be admitted it will be the most daungerous perillous practise that euer was receiued within this Realme of Englande For neither the Prince the Councellours the Magistrates Bishops Iudges or best subiectes can liue in security If men may violate law and iustice vpon a colour or pretence of Expediencie what endlesse mischieâ—es may insue vnto the common wealth What kinde of president would this be to al succeding ages To what purpose haue our auncestours prouided that there shoulde bee euery yeare or oftner a Parliament to supply the defectes of law if vppon a surmise of experiencie men might goe beyond the listes and limites of lawe If the reuerende Iudges of the lande who ought to preserue the integrity and honour of the lawe shoulde admit any such learning besides that it would ouerthrow both the common and statute law it would indaunger the keeping of their oth giue their goods landes and liues to the Princes pleasure Some will expect that I shoude answere the charge against the writer of the Demonstration if one man made both the Epistle and the booke which I haue not as yet hearde to bee proued but seeing he is conuicted by the verdict of 12. men the proceeding against him notoriouslie knowen the accusation and woordes wherevpon hee was conuicted in euerie mans mouth I leaue it to the iudgement of the great day when the Iudge all Iudges shalbe iudged before the Iudge of heauen and earth who will rewarde euery man according to that which he hath done good or ill Precious in the eies of the Lorde is the death of his Saintes O earth thou canst not couer bloude It still cryeth in the eares of the Lord for vengeance saying How long Lorde holy and true doest not thou Iudge and auenge our bloude on them that dwell on the earth Surelie he that preserueth the haires of the head and putteth the teares of his seruantes into a bottel will much more preserue in his bottel the drops of the bloude that fall from the bodies of his saintes Therefore be warned bee wise and take heede what you doe ye Iudges of the earth It is one thing to deale with a theefe and murtherer another thing to iudge a Minister preacher of the Gospell of Christ your redeemer and that in matters of religion wherein God knoweth you haue small vnderstanding Thus haue I runne ouer the obiections made to proue the writers of Reform against the Hierarchie to bee diffamers of hir Maiestie and rebelles I will proceede a little further to shew that if men would be curious in their writings that deale for the Bb. and if their wordes were a little inforced as they might be by M. Dolion or some such factor for the Bish I feare they might incurre the daunger of this â—tatute as easily as others The Bb. in their booke doe write That it is not lawfull to bestowe such liuings vpon late men as are appointed by 〈◊〉 to Preachers of the worde Though this might stande good and yet ouerthrowe many of our Bb. states honors who preach not the word yet this doeth reproch hir Maiestie who doeth imploy some of the â—b liuings oâ—tentimes to better vses then Bb doe bestowe them M. VVicleve that famous protestant taught another lesson 〈…〉 And who will not thinke the superfluitie of a Bb. liuing better bestowed vppon such a man as Sir Frauncis Walsingham that right honorable Councelor and benefactor of the Church and Countrie then vppon any Bb. that referreth al abondance to the aduancement of his house and posteritie D. Brâ—ages mainteineth in writing That a Priest maie haue a moderate Lordely iurisdiction ouer all the Lordes allotment and 〈◊〉 Which implieth and externall â—ordely iurisdiction ouer hir Maiestie vâ—les he will say That she is none of Gods heritage both which might be made a daungerous doctrine D. Bancroft writeth That her Mâ—iestie is a Pâ—ty pope and ascribeth to hir all the iurisdiction that the Pope euer had by vsurpation M. Iewell saieth That the popish Prelates gaue K. Henrâ—â— the 8. the strange and vnvsed â—ule of head of the Church to bring him into the slander and taske of the worlde And the Parliament for auoyding scandale changed the title of Supreme heade to Suprem Gouernour If Maist. Iewell misliked that thâ— Queene should be called Supreme heade what would he haue thought of Pety pope or howe can the Parliament beare this Do not the Protestantes detest in the pap their woman pope The Archb. of Canterb. would bee displeased and I can not blame him if a man should call him Pope Notwithstanding the Pope saide of one of his predecessors Includamus hunc in orbe nostro tanquam 〈◊〉 orbis Papam Let vs include this Aâ—selme in our woorlde as Pope of another worlde meaning great Britaine called by the auncient writers a world by it selfe yet it is thought nothing to call hir Maiestie a Peâ—y pope Doctor Whitakers sayeth That the Name authoritie and person of the Pope all Protestantes doe abhorre and accurse to the Prince of darknesse whence it came The papistes doe slaunder hir Maiestie to be a Pope or Pety pope but M. Nowell telleth the papistes and D. Bancroft also That wee doe not teach that the Princes be either Popes or Pety popes The papistes also doe abuse hir Highnes as D. Bancroft doeth saying That vve take the Supremacie from the Pope and giue it to the Prince But Doctor Rainolds aunswereth That the Supremacie which vvee take from the Pope vve giue to no mortali creature Prince or other But D. Banc. who thinketh himselfe a great Clerke as if he were a deeper Diuine then either M. Nowell or M. Rainolds whom he vseth to call a Precâ—fian maketh hir Maiestie a Petie pope assigneth hir not some of the Popes power but ALL honors dignities preeminences iurisdâ—ctions priuileges authorities profites and commodities which by vsurpation did at anie time appertaâ—e vnto the Pope If a man can diffame by foolishe flatterie then D. Bancâ—s the most notorious diâ—â—amer of hir Maiestie in al England Neither lawe reason religion or good manners doeth waâ—rant this God forbid that like extremity were extended for these faultes as hath bin vsed against the Seek of Reformat I doe not recount them for that purpose but onely that the Bb. and their friendes seeing their owne case if hir Maiestie vvere not mercifull may deale more curteously with their brethren Conclusion Considering the doubtfulnes of these controuersies I trust your Maiesty will take some good order for the peaceable debating compounding of them In the meane time we hope that these things which are here writen being well weighed your gratious and tender heart will neuer suffer one drop of bloud to fall to ground for these causes of Reform till
word 13 That euery Congregation professing the faith and obedience of Christ might haue one or two sufficient Teachers faithfully labouring in the word of God doctrine so mainteyned as they might keepe hospitalitie not hindred or intangled with ciuill offices wherby their flocke should be neglected 14 That euery such Congregation might haue assistant to their teachings Elders some of the fittest best most godly of the church who should ioin the Teachers with the ecclesiasticall ruling and gouerning of the Church according to the worde of God 15 They would not haue these me any whitt to encroch vpon the Maiesties authoritie to punishe anie man externallie with any pecuniary or corporal penaltie but that they also be subiect to the higher powers keepe theÌ„selues within the compasse of their calling for the seruice of the Church as Christ hath appointed 16 That in euery such Congregation there might bee some appointed of the most honest and sufficient men to gather for the poore to keepe the Church treasurie for the vses of that Church and to the relife of the poore among them other neighbour churches 17 That also there might bee appointed some graue and olde Helpers or Widowes qualified as the Apostle commaundeth 1. Timoth. 5. 5. 9. 10. to thend the sicke aged friendlesse and needy of the Church and as they coulde other neighboures or wayfaringe men that people might not languishe or dye in our streetes and high wayes for want of reliefe as is most pitifully to beholde in manie places 18 That all these shoulde bee chosen and ordeyned in such manner and by such persons as the woorde of GOD the practise of the best primitiue and â—od erne Churches doeth warrant 19 That if any dissention growe or cause of 〈◊〉 bee giuen in any particular Church by the Minister or Officers the partie grieued might appeale to a particular Synode from the particular Synode to a Prouinciall Synode from a Prouinciall Synode to a nationall Synode Which Synodes should bee appointed at sett times The more particular the Synode is the more often the Synode for the time to bee moderated by some fitt man chaungeably by election that might write speake and praye in behalfe and at the direction of the rest Or the paâ—tie grieued might appeale from the particular Congegration or Synode immediatlie or at the firste instaunce to the Magistrate vvho oughte to punishe both the Ministers and other ecclesiastical officers if they abuse their places and authoritie not vsing them according to the direction and warrant of the worde of God 20 They doe not meane that there shoulde bee appointed presently and out of hande these Officers aâ—oresaide in euery of our Churches as they now stande for there do lacke Ministers and people fitt for these purposes but they humbly desire that such people as be alreadie capable hereof and willing to liue as becommeth the Churches of Christ might as they are commaunded by Christ so also bee permitted by the Magistrate thus to ioyne and walke togither according to the worde of God that it might be enacted and required also by publike authoritie of the Magistâ—at that all they should execute their offices and liue in such â—orte manner and 〈◊〉 as Christ hath giuen direction to his Church in his vvill and Testament a that withall good ordâ—r might bee taken for trayning vppe of youth for the ministerie of the Church and thus at length by the blessing of GOD all her Maiesties subiectes vvhich will walke as the Churches of Christ might be furnished guyded and gouerned in manner aforesaide and so 〈◊〉 in all christian and duetifull obediâ—nce to God and her Maiestie 21 They doe professe and protest that they can and will auowe this ReformatioÌ„ which they desire to be most agreeable to the Scriptures to haue the testimony of the best and most learned men that haue bin since the Apostles that it is not preiudiciall to hir Maiestie to the Lawes to the state but profitable euery way and commaunded by Christ to bee 〈…〉 his Church vnto the ende of the worlde both vnder 〈…〉 HeatheÌ„ Magistrates as they make challenge to proue 〈◊〉 all the learned men in the worlde that are contrary 〈◊〉 if they may be heard This is the summe of their professed opinions and of the Reformation desired as I doubte not but they will testifie if they bee called in question to acknowledge the same They that condemne them vppon their aduersaries reportes who intollerablie doe slaunder them in manie thinges and are altogither partiall in their ovvne cause doe shewe them selues to bee men of smal discretion or Christian charity To the godlie Reader MAruell not good Reader that iÌ„ doe not affixe my name to this my Treatise It is not knowen who was the vâ—riter of the Epistle to the Hebrewes and of diuerse other monumentes of hâ—lie Scripture neyther of sundry bookes published heretofore of latter daâ—es in defence of the doctrine and gouernement of our Church in England If a truth nothing but the truth be deliuered it skilleth not whether the professor therof be knowen or not Wherfore I doe iustlie coÌ„deÌ„ne the vaine cuâ— iositie of some vndisâ—reet persons vvho beeing placed in noe degree of authoritie are not content to eniâ—â—e the fruites of other mens labours with thankesgiuing but doe continuallie exercise and trouble them selues in calculating and diuining vvho bee most likelie to bee the authours and procurers of their good If they had anie consideration of the 〈◊〉 of the time vvherein an indifferent vvell vviller maie scarcely bee hearde to speake the trueth or if they vveighed the grâ—euous molestations to others and vnprofitable pleasure that maie hereby ensue vnto them selues they woulde bridle these vnrulie longing affections least that they preuayling against them in needelesse trifles doe at length gâ—tte ground vppon them in greater matters Rahab hath procured to hir selfe a memorable commendation for hiding Gods seruauntes when their aduersaries and her Maisters sought to apprehende them If the holy man that wrote to the Hebrewes thought it most coÌ„uenient in godly policy to keep his name vnknowen assuredly they should haue beene deemed curious and idle brained that would eyther haue beene inquisitiâ—e to know the same or hauing knowledge thereof would foolishlie haue blabbed it abroad to others Which thinges I speake rather in behalfe of others than in feare of axie danger that might growe vnto my selfe by this enterprise For first that which I haue writen cannot I trust offende anie reasonable and not partiallie affected person or if it doe the vprightnesse of mine owne conscience and loyaltie both to this Church and commonwealth will I hope inable me to sustaine and eâ—dure with cheerefulnesse all the malice and displeasure of anie enemie to a godlie peace Secondlie I doe not desire at any mans hands the fauour of concealement in this action For although I haue attempted and published this my trauell without
should be sung in a â—laine tune likewise the Gospâ—ll and Epistle yet I haue not knowen this vsed in Cathedrall Churches 18 The names of Communicantes before they receiue should be signified to the Curaâ—e yet this is not regarded in most places 19 The Curat be he neuer so base shoulde not suffer notorious ill liuers such as haue wronged â—y by woorde or deede neither men out of charitie by they Earles Counseilloures or others to bee partakers of the Communion till they have declared them selues openlie to be repentant and reclaimed yet notorious lewde persons be admitted and men of state without exception are not hindred nor anie open consession of sinne is vsed by any offendour but whom the Officiall appointeth though the authours and confirmers of the coÌ„munion booke doe generally wish it 20 The Minister should vse the ornamentes appointed by King Edward yet not he alone but the Clearke also doeth vse a surplice in many churches 21 In Cathedral Collegi Churches the Communion should be ministred euery Sundâ—y at the least This is not practised The Aduertisement appointeth the first Sunday in euerie moneth But the Bishops Articles tie Ministers to vse the forme prescribed in the communion booke and no other 22 The Godfathers and Godmothers are commanded that they 1. shall call the children for whome they promise to heare sermons 2. They must prouide that they bee taught to learne all thinges necessarie for Christians 3. That they bee vertuouslie brought vp Which thinges al Godfathers and Godmothers might bee inâ—orced to doe for the lawe will not commaunde a thing without allowing a meane to â—ffect yet the Bishops doe neuerinforce this by ecclesiasticall censures thoughe infinite children doe for want of this helpe perishe in ignorance 23 bishops are commaunded to confirme children yet diuers Bb. doe not vse it albeit by lawe noe man shoulde receyue the Communion till hee were first confirmed A good plea for papistes to refuse the communion this confirmation would cause children to learne the principles of ReligioÌ„ for none should be confirmed till he could say the Lords praier Ten commandements and the short cacechisme 24 Curates of euery Parishe ought vppon sundaies and hâ—lidaies halfe an howre before euen-songe openlie instruct and examine childâ—en seruauntes and prentices in the Catechisme A profitable worke seldome or neuer vsed by the Bishops followers By the booke of Canons the Curate may examine any of what age or degree soeuer be they olde or younge noble or vnnoble The Bishops account it tyranny in some Ministers to expect or exact this thing 25 None must be admitted to the Communion that can not say the Catechisme Therefore â—urates should examine Communicantes and seclude them that be found wanting in knowledge but this is not regarded 26 Banes should be asked three seuerall Sundâ—yes in the open Church yet Biâ—hops dispence with asking banes Non obstants this booke confirmed by ParliameÌ„t as if a Bishop might dispence with penall Satutes Out of the booke of ordring Deacons c. 27 The partie presented to the Bb. should weare A plain Albe by the booke of ordering Ministers confirmed by Parliâ—ment yet this garment in not vsed 28 The Deacon by part of his office ought to searche for the sicke poore impotent of the 〈◊〉 and intimate their estates to the Curate c. But nowe the office of a Deacon is accounted meere spirituall 29 The Deacon must read the Gospell in the day of his Ordination putting on a Tunicle but â—his vesture is scarcely knowen at this day 30 The Bish. must tell the Minister at his Ordination That if his Church or anie member thereof doe take anie hurte by his negligence that a horrible punishment vvill ensue to him Hee chargeth him neuer to cease his labour care and diligence till hee haue done vvhat lyeth in him according to his duetie to bringe all that are committed to his charge that there bee no error in Religion or viciousnes in life left in them yet it is manifest that the Bb. Priestes and Chaplens are most negligent in their charge turning ouer their trauell to other vvhich they are charged here to performe in their owne perâ—on 31 The booke would haue them to giue themselues wholy to the ministeriâ—all vocation asmuch as lieth in them to apply themselus to that one thing to drawe all their care studies that waie to that ende yet they attende eiuiâ—â—ll offices and worldly affaires imperâ—â—nent to the charge here giuen to them 32 The Bish. chargeth and the Priest promiseth to Minâ—ster the discipline of Christ as the Lorde hath commaunded And as this Realme hath 〈◊〉 the same according to Gods commaundements not otherwise For the worde And noteth two distinct thinges in that clause where all Ministers are authorized to excommunicate as well as â—b for the Lorde hath commaunded this Discipline of Excom to all Ministers alike also they may admonish and suspenâ—e from the Lordes supper for this Realme hath receyued these cenâ—ures and giuen them to euerie Minister according to Gods commaundement in that behalfe yet the Bishops doe retaine the power of Excommuniâ— in their owne handes assigninge it to such as please theÌ„ most 33 The Bish. likewise chargeth and the priest promiseth to vse not onely publik but also priuate admonition and exhortations both to the sicke and to the whole within his cure yet their Chapleins and Doctors accompte their duetie discharged if some time they preach publikelie and neuer conferre priuâ—tely with their flocke in pointes of religion For Christ say they knewe not the persons and faces of his flocke neitheir is this expected of his Ministers both which bee vntrue 34 The booke at the ordination of euery Minister directeth the Bish. to say to the Minister Take thou authoritie to preache the vvorde of God and to Minister the holy Sacramentes in this Church In which wordes wee obserue 1. That the booke and Parliament which confirmed it doe intende that euerie Minister should be a Preacher This also may be proued by many other circumstances in this booke 2 A full licence authoritie is giuen to euerie Minister to preach therefore he may alwayes after this authoritie giuen aswell preache as minister the Sacramentes without a licence neither is it materiall that the Iniunctions or Aduertisements do will that a Minister shoulde haue a licence to preache for this booke of Ordering Ministers beeing authorized 8. Eliz. cap. 1. and 13. Eliz. cap. 12. In the Articles of Religion Artic. 36. doeth countermâ—unde the Iniunctions and Aduertisementes that went before 3. No Minister hath authoritie to preach out of any booke but Gods worde 4. The Ministers and Deacons should bee ordeined in the Congregation to which they are presented not in
let him doe alwaies his best diligence If hee be so necessarie for the Court that in ciuâ—ll causes hee can not bee spared let him vse that vocation and spare the other It is not possible hee should doe both well It is a great ouersight in Princes thus to charge them with two burthens If this excellent and right famous man were now aliue and should say thus much hee might peraduenture if some had their will be martyred once againe Hee addeth further That the primitiue Church had no such Bb. as we They had such Bishops as did preach many godly Sermons in lesse time then our Bb. horses bee a bridling Their house was the schoole and treasure house of Gods Ministers If it bee so nowe let euery man iudge The Magistrates that suffer the abuâ—â— of these goods bee culâ—able of the fault If the fourth part of the Bishoprâ—ck remained to the Bishop it were sufficient The third part to schoolemaisters The second to the poore and souldiers were better bestowed If any be offended with me for this my saying hee loueth not his owne health nor Gods lawes nor mâ—ns Out of which I am alwaies readie to prooue the thing I haue saide to be true Further I speake of loue not hatred This was writen by this noble Maâ—tyr against the protestant Bb. vnder king Edward the sixt In these words he doeth not obscurely reproue the King and all Princes that mainteine the state of Bb. yet neither the Bb. nor Iudges in King Edwards time did adiudge this holy man to be a diffamer of princes His bookes touching this maâ—â—er haue bene publikely printed and solde and euen nowe are to be solde vnder hir maiestie Father Latimer another man of God and holy martyr was a Bishop in King Henry the eight his time but he gaue ouer his Bishoprike as also Shaxton Bishop of Salisburie did at the same time being diuested of his Bishoplike habite he skipped for â—oy as maister Foxe reporteth feeling his shoulders so light and being discharged as he said of so heauie a burthen Thus he speaketh of the Bishops in King Edwarde the sixts dayes in his sermon of the ploughe Ye that be Prelats looke well to your office for right Prelacâ—e is busie labouring and not Lording Thus much I say that since Lording and Loitering hath come vppe preaching hath come downe contrarie to the Apostles times They preached and Lorded not And nowe they Lorde and preache not They that bee Lordes will ill to ploughe It is no meete office for them If the ploughmen that nowe be vvere made Lordes they would cleane giue ouer ploughing and fall to Lording out right and let the ploughe stande By the loytering and lording of Prelates preaching and ploughing is cleane gone They are occupied some in the Kinges matters some are Embassadours some of the priuie Councell some to furnishe the Court some are Lordes of the Parliament some are Presidentes and Controllers of Minâ—es Well Well is this their duetie is this their office If the Apostles might not leaue preaching to be Deacons shall one leaue it for minting Heare my country Englande as Paul saâ—â—d in his first Epistle to the Corinths 6. chap. Is there vtterly among you no wise man to be arbitratours in matters of iudgement What none that can chuse between brother and brother c. Ad erubescentiam vestram dicâ— I speake to your shame So Englande I speake to thy shame Is there neuer a Noble man to bee a Lord Preâ—iaent but it must bee a Prelate Is there neuer a wise man in the Realme to bee a controller of the Mâ—nâ—e I speake it to your shame I speake it to your shame If there bee neâ—er a wise man make a Waterbearer a Tiâ—ker a Cobler a Slaue a Pagâ— controller of the Minte Make a meane Gentleman a Grome a Yeoman make a poore begger Lorde President This I speake not that I would haue it so but to your shame if there bee neuer a gentleman meete nor able to bee Lorde President It is a slaâ—â—der to the Noble men as though they lacked wisedome and learning to bee able for such office or else vvere men of no conscience or else vvere not meete for such offices A Prelate hath a charge and a cure otherwise and therefore hee cannot bee both a Lorde President and discharge his duetie too For a Presidentship requireth a vvhole man and a Bishop can not be two man Let the Priest preache and let the Noblâ— man handle temporall matters Then he proceedeth and telleth who is the most diligent Bb. in all England euen the Diuell who is alwaies in his Cure and Dioces keeping alwaies Residence He is no vnpreaching prelate Hee is no lordly loyâ—erer from his cure but a busie ploughman Therefore yee vnpreaching prelates learne of the Diuell to bee diligent in dooing of your office Learne of the Diuell if you will not learne of God nor good men For shame learne of the Diuell Ad erubescentiam vestram dico I speake it to your shame And in a Sermon before the King Though I say that I vvould wishe moe L. Presidents I meane not that I vvould haue Prelates Lorde Presidentes The office of a President ship is a ciuill office and it cannot bee that one man should discharge both offices well Thus Puritan-like wrote Father Latimer the famous martyr yet he vvas neuer esteemed a troubler of the state a Marprince and a diffamer of the King though in deede he was a Mar-bishop and Mar-prelate His Sermons containing this matter are publikelie to bee solde with authoritie testified in these wordes seene and allowed according to the order of the Queenes inâ—â—nctions And Matâ—hewa Sutcliffe saieth That bookes which passe with this approbatioÌ„ doe conteine nothing contrary to the State of this Realme Therefore it were straunge that the Seekers of Reformation should suffer as felons for writing against the ciuill offices of Bishops against their authority in the Parliamâ—nt in the councell and such like ciuill places seeing writings to that effect be seene solde and allowed as not preiudicall to our estate neither diffamatorie to her maiesty Maister Nowell in his Catechisme fully grounded on Gods worde and receyued and allowed by the church of England as the Bishops say and commaunded to be learned of ministers taught of all schoolemaisters doeth write thus of the Eldership If the Church were well ordered there should be in it a gouernement by chosen Elders or ecclesiasticall Magistrates such as was in the primitiue Church Shall men suffer as felons for such things as are fully grounden on Gods worde and receyued allowed and coÌ„maunded to be taught in the church and schooles of Englande The Lord forbid Doctor Rainolds the iewell of Englande publike professor of Diuinitie in Oxforde at the appointement and charges of the right vertuous and noble Earle of Essex did alleadge in open