Christe in his members than he was in tymes paste The aduersaries of Gods truth haue no delight nor pleasure in heauenly and spirituall thyngs but like bellie beastes only borne to consume the good frutes of the earth they desire and seke after nothyng but the thynges of this world that their sonnes as the Psalmographe sayth may grow vp as the younge plantes and that their doughters maye be as the polyshed corners of the temple that their garners maye be full and plenteous with all manner of store â–ª that their shepe may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in their stretes that their Oxen may be strong to labour that there be no decay no leding into captiuitie and no complayning in their stretes If all thinges go well and prosperously with them then are they mery and diligently offer sacrifice to to their God the belly But if any aduersity come then knitte they the forehead and worke their malice vpon Gods word and the faithfull professours of the same The worde they call heresie erroure doctrine new and straunge seditious and cause of rebellion of all other plages wherwith the commoÌ„ weale is afflicted The professoures of thys worde they blaspheme they â—aile vpon they curse with booke bell candle they excommunicate they apprehende they accuse they condemne they stocke they cheane they manacle â–ª they racke and in fine they most cruelly with sweard fyre and halter brynge them vnto an ende so farre is it of that these Epicures and bellygods do as they ought render thankes to God for his corporall benefites so richely poured vpon them and vpon other his creatures Now as touching the spiritual benefites and heauenly giftes of the minde as the knowledge of the holy scriptures the vnderstanding of the Lordes blessed will the preaching of the Gospel the true administration of the SacrameÌ„ts the abolishment of all false worshippings superstitions c. wherwith God in this our age hath most mercifully blessed vs â–ª far passing many other nations that be vnder the heauens as these wise wicked worldlinges knowledge not the benefits of the body nor yet are thanckfull to God for them so likewise are they altogether vnthanckfull for the gifts of the minde whiche do so far excel the other as gold surmouÌ„teth coper or siluer tynne For lyke as Owles caÌ„ not abyde the golden and glysteryng beames of the Sunne nor the light of y e day so in lyke maÌ„ner caÌ„ not these bellygods and Antichristes slaues suffer the glorious and pleasaunt light of Christes most glorious and pleasaunt Gospel They crye out with the wicked of whoÌ„ the Prophet maketh meÌ„tion on thys manner Se not Loke not out right thynges for vs but speake fayre wordes vnto vs. Loke out erroures Get you out of this way Depart out of this pathe and turne the holy one of Israel froÌ„ vs. In the trifling traditioÌ„s â–ª croked constitutions idle inueÌ„tioÌ„s drousy dreames deuilish decrees false fables fond fantasies of meÌ„ is theyr whole delight as for the sincere pure religion of God that they vtterly neglect set at nought coÌ„teÌ„ne despise And if for shame they seme to approue alowe any part therof yet they do so maÌ„gle it bring it in captiuitie to the traditioÌ„s of meÌ„ that it looseth the sincere simplicitie simple sinceritie whiche it receaued of the holye Ghost Some of theÌ„ are not ashamed so to diminish the authoritie of Gods sacred scriptures that they affirme the word of God to be so far the worde of God as the Church doth allowe it meaning the pope his spiritual shauelinges as though God gaue vs in his holy Scriptures an vnperfecte doctrine and not sufficiently authorised of him without the consent of Antichrist of hys broode Is not this to set God to schole and to make him a Nouice So should it follow that the word of God is grounded on the Church not the Churche on the worde of God Is not this right Antichrist that should turne y e rootes of trees vpwarde Christ saith speaking of his Church My shepe heare my voyce Againe he that is of god heareth the wordes of god IteÌ„ Euery one that is of y e truth heareth my voice And the holy Apostle saith speaking to the faithfull congregation of God Ye are no straungers and forreyners but citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God and are built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophetes Iesus Christe hymselfe beyng the head corner stone in whome what buyldyng soeuer is coupled together it groweth vnto an holye temple in the Lorde The worde of God is not buylte vpon men althoughe neuer so holye and perfect neyther receaueth it any authoritie of maÌ„ although of neuer so greate excellencie wysedome and power but such as are the congregation of God are built vpon the worde of God whatsoeuer authoritie they haue euerye one in their degree and office they haue it altogether of Gods worde without the whiche word there can be no Church for asmuch as there caÌ„ be no faith as the Apostle saith Faith coÌ„meth by hearing and hearing commeth by the worde of God so farre is it of that either pope or Cardinall or anye other person hath any power to geue authoritie to the worde of God whiche already is authorized by the most hygh and supreme power euen God himselfe Some obiect olde and auÌ„cient customes affirming that this our religion as they terme it new and straunge disseÌ„teth in order and vsage greatly from the manner heretofore practised in our temples I graunt neither can the sinceritie of Gods worde suffer and abyde such olde vnsauory croked customes as heretofore haue bene vsed in the popish Religion as the coniuring of salte water bread bowes flowers fire ashes caÌ„dles c. creping to the crosse worshipping of Images calling vpon dead Sainctes sensing of altares Idols praying in a strauÌ„ge tong offering the missall sacrifice for the quicke and for the dead receauyng of the Sacrament vnder one kind with a thousand moe errours and heresies and other greuous abuses which of longe vsage and custome in tymes past haue bene exercised among vs taken for true Godlynesse But who knoweth not â–ª that custome ought to geue place to reason and truth for reason and truth exclude alwaye put out of place custome be it neuer so olde and auncient laudable and commendable Christ is the truth therfore ought we rather to followe the truth than the custome If thou lay to our charge custome sayth S. Gregorye Thou must marke what the Lorde saith I am saith he the way the truth and the life He sayd not I am the custome but I am the truth Custome without truth saith Saint Cyprian is nothing els thaÌ„ an olde errour Therfore leauing the error let vs followe the truth When the truth is once come to light saith Saint Austen let custome geue place For who doubteth that
manner Wo and euerlastyng damnation hangeth ouer the heades of those disobedient and shrincking children whiche will begyn a councell without me Wo â–ª be vnto theÌ„ that will take a secrete aduice and not out of my spirit and therfore adde they synne vnto sinne Againe Wo be vnto theÌ„ â–ª that make vnrighteous lawes and deuise thynges whiche he to harde for to kepe where thorowe the poore are oppressed on euery side and the innocentes of my people robbed of iudgemeÌ„t that widowes may be theyr praye that they may robbe the fatherlesse All such councellers with theyr councels are not to be receaued but to be reiected bicause they are against the Lord against his annointed Notable is the senteÌ„ce of S. Cyprian How dare they stablish any thing without Christe whose both whole hope and faith power and glory is in Christ. All councels whether they be priuate or publique nationall or generall ought to geue place to the word of God which is a lanterne to our feete and a light to our pathwayes We ought to beleue no maÌ„ saith Saint Hierome without the word of God GersoÌ„ feareth not to say that we ought more to beleue a maÌ„ that is well learned in the holy scripture bringeth forth the Catholike authoritie thaÌ„ a generall councell The councell hath no authoritie for to stablishe any thing coÌ„trary to the word of God For it is not truth but errour whatsoeuer is determined against the scripture And we ought not to take hede vnto the trifles fond imaginatioÌ„s of meÌ„ but to the doctrine of the holy ghost Abbot Panormiâ—anê° that great Lawyer saith also More faith is to be geuen euen to a lay man that allegeth bringeth forth the scripture than to an whole councell Agayne In matters coÌ„cerning faith the saying of one priuate person ought to be preferred before the Popes saying if he can bring forth better authoritie of the new olde TestameÌ„t than the pope can That is the doctrine of the holy ghost saith s. Hierome which is set forth in the Canonical scriptures against the whiche doctrine if the councels enacte any thing iudge it wicked vnlawfull All good meÌ„ eueÌ„ froÌ„ the begynning haue attributed such so great authoritie to the word of God that they haue preferred that before the writtings counsels of al men without exception although neuer so wise neuer so Godly The councels therefore of men ought to be vnto the aduersaries no cloke or shadow of their disobedient obstinacie obstinate disobedience to plucke theÌ„ awaye from the truth of Gods worde Furthermore there are an other sort whiche obiecte and bring against vs the multitude and great nuÌ„ber saying that fewe are they little is the nuÌ„ber that embrace y e doctrine of y e Gospellers ProtestaÌ„ts but innumerable are theiÌ„ infinite is the nuÌ„ber of theÌ„ that receaue and embrace their olde auncient Catholike mother holy Churches doctrine whereof it muste nedes follow that where the greatest nuÌ„ber is there is the most certain truth I aunswere w t our sauior Christ Enter in at the streight gate for the wide is the gate broad is y e way that leadeth to destructioÌ„ many they be which go in thereat But streight is the gate narow is the way which leadeth vnto life fewe they be that find it Again many are called few are choâ—eÌ„ The holy Apostle s. Paule saith Lord who hath beleued our preaching If we consider either y e seÌ„teÌ„ces or histories of the holy Bible we shal easly perceaue that the greatest nuÌ„ber is alway the worste the most wicked When the whole worlde was drowned eight persoÌ„s only except Did not the lesser nuÌ„ber excel the greater in goodnes Godlinesse God by his mightie hande outstretched arme deliuered out of Egipt aboue .600 thousaÌ„d meÌ„ of the which .ii. onely that is to say Iosua Caleb entred into the land of promise bicause they beleued the promise of God the other were vnfaythful and inconstante In the tyme of wicked King Achab and of hys most wicked wife Queene Iezabel there were aboue .400 false Prophetes besides the Nobilitie and Comunaltie whiche resisted the wayes of the Lord and in sight but one alone that stoutly defended the Lordes truth agaynst the wicked and Idolatrous multitude About the number of .400 false Prophetes told king Achab that he should prosper in his warres returne home safe agayne whiche deceaued him Micheas alone tolde him the coÌ„trary so came it to passe When Christ was borne fewe receaued hym and embraced hym knowledging him to be the promised Messias Sauiour of the world as Mary his Mother Ioseph her husbaÌ„d Zacharie the priest Elizabeth his wife the wise meÌ„ that came out of the East partes the shepeheardes Simeon Anna with fewe other but innumerable thousandes hated him set nought hy him persecuted hym and sought all meanes possible to murther hym When Christ toke vpon him the office of preaching at the commaundemeÌ„t of his father who embraced his doctrine but a fewe poore people vyle and of no estimation in the sight of the galant and wyse worldlyngs As it is written Not many wise men after the fleshe not many mighty not many of hye degree are called And as the Pharesees said to theyr ministers when they came home from Christs Sermon Are ye also deceaued Doth any of the Rulers or of the Pharesees beleue on him But this coÌ„mon people whiche know not the lawe are cursed Did not the sede as we reade in the Gospell that was sowen fall into .iiii. partes and one parte onely brought forth good frute Did not a certaine man make a supper and called many and yet there came none but a fewe poore people halte lame feble blynde c. Bishop Cayphas gathered a councell where were present a great rable of bloudy hypocrites to condemne Christ no maÌ„ at all taking Christes part Against the Apostles of Christ assembled and gathered theÌ„ selues together the priestes the Rulers of the temple the Saduces the Pharesees the Scribes the Lawyers and Annas the chief priest and Cayphas and Iohn and Alexander and as many as were of the kinred of y e high priests but who rose vp to take their partes and to defend y e innoceÌ„cie of their cause What a swarme of helhoundes flocked together to condeÌ„ne blessed Stephen and to stone hym vnto death no man once speakyng one worde for hym What multitudes from tyme to tyme came agaynste Paule as we may see in the Actes of Apostles to accuse him and to make hym out of the way and howe fewe or rather none toke his parte After the Apostles tyme what swarmes of tyrauntes and beastly hypocrites rose vp againste the poore little company of the faythfull Christians murthering theÌ„ without al pitie or mercy As it is written For thy sake are
in a manner by the reason of that vse coulde it by heart and song it in stretes and hie wayes so that it came to passe that wheÌ„ certain shepheardes did synge it in the fielde and layed breade vpon a stone at the pronouncing of those wordes of consecration the bread was turned into fleshe But the shepheardes by Gods iudgement were striken vnto death for their presumption thorowe fyre that came downe from heauen Therfore the holy fathers haue decreed y t those words should be spoken in silence forbiddyng all men vnder payne of excommunication that no man presume to speake those wordes but priestes onely when they are at the altar yea and that at Masse agayn when they haue on their Massing garmentes Thys tale telleth Guil. Durandus in his booke called Rationale diuinorum officiorum also Ioannes Billet in his boke de diuinis officiis Honorius in his treatise de geÌ„ma animae wherof thou mayest learne two thinges Firste that in the primatiue churche and â—ong after wheÌ„ Christen religion was moste pure the wordes of the Lordes Supper or as the papistes terme them of consecration were not spoken in hocker mocker as they be now but playnely openlye and distinctly that al myght heare theÌ„ vnderstand them and learne them vnto their great comforte â–ª and edifying Secondly y t the words of consecration were at that time of so great vertue y t whosoeuer pronounced them ouer the bread were he Lay or Spiritual priest or Ploweman Byshop or Butcher the breade was strayghtwayes tourned into the naturall bodye of Christ as we may see here by y e shepeheardes whiche were laye men and not holye annoynted whiche were in the fielde and not in the Church whiche had on their shepeheardes clokes and not halowed vestments whiche had but a coÌ„mon stone to laye their breade on and no halowed altare And here mayest thou see y t any laye man if he can pronounce the words of consecration hauing bread layed on a stone may make Christes body as wel as y e priest For if y e lay men by y e vertue of y e words could make Christes bodye at that tyme be thou certayne and well assured y t they bee able to doe the same euen nowe also notwythstandyng the holye fathers decrees to the contrarye For the vertue of Goddes worde abydeth alwayes one If the Massemonger therfore can make hym y t made them as theyr doctryne declareth then can the Laye man lykewyse make theyr maker and so maye the Laitie stryue with the spiritualtye to the vttermost in God makyng Nowe that the popyshe priestes can make God whiche made them although I coulde bryng forth and alledge manye authorities euen oute of theyr owne bookes yet will I at thys presente contente my selfe with one or two sentences which are written in a boke called Stella Clericorum The authors wordes ar these I ste qui creauit me dedit mihi creare se qui creauit me sine me creatur mediante me That is to say in Englyshe He that made me gaue me power to make hym and he that made me withoute me is made by the meanes of me Agayne he sayth Cum ergo tantae dignitatis sit sacerdos quod creator sit sui creatoris totius creaturae ipsum perdere vel damnare inconueniens est Which is thus Englished Seyng then that a priest is of so great dignitie that he is the maker of hys maker and of euery creature to destroye or to condemne hym it is not conuenient Pope Alexander the fyrste ordayned that the bread whiche the prieste hath at hys Masse shoulde bee but of a small quantitye saying Thys oblation the lesser it bee the better it is Guilielmus Durandus Pope Alexander also commaunded that the breade shoulde be vnleuened bread whiche the prieste vseth at hys Masse Platina Sabelli Lib. Concil Poly. Christ. Massaeus Whye theyr singing cake is rather rounde than otherwyse Antoninus maketh thys reason The hoste sayeth he is made round after the manner of a penye bicause Iudas solde Christ for thirtye pens Guilielmus Durandus writeth thus The hoste is formed rounde bycause the earth is the Lordes and al y t is therin y e round world all y t dwel in it y t the outward fashion therof may signifie him that wanteth both beginning and ending Pope Alexander likewyse appoynted y t the wine in y e chalice shuld be myngled with water to signifye the vnion vnseparable felowship of Christ hys church Ioan. Laziard â— Ioan. Stella Libro Concil Grat. Sabel Pope Honorius the third commaunded y t the Missall bread shoulde be heaued and lifted vp aboue the Priestes heade at the sacryng tyme as they call it and y t all the people should fal down and worship it In the yeare of oure Lord. 1214. Extra de celeb Miss Can. Sanâ— cum olim Gabriel Biel super Canone Missae Lect. 14. et Lect. 50 Dec. 3. Tit. 1. Cap 10. Pantaleon Here may al men see how auncient a thing thys Pope holy sakeryng is which notwithstanding the blynd and sely shepyshe symple soules thynke to be y e beste part of the Masse Uerely it is a little more than three hundred and fortie yeres olde A deuilishe an Idolatrous inuentioÌ„ is it not altogether vnlyke to the setting vp of the golden calfe in the wildernesse Pope Gregorye the ninth ordayned y t the sacryng bel shoulde be rong wheÌ„ the priest lifteth vp the Missall bread Chalice aboue hys head to moue the people to beholde that new found God whiche is not as the true God ought to be worshipped in spirite and truth but in knockyng knelyng and liftyng vp of handes In the yeare c. 1225. Anselmus Ryd Pope Leo Pope Victor Pope Nicolas Pope Innocent Pope Honorius pope Vrban â–ª Monke Lanckfrancke Monk Gratian Fryer Thomas Fryer Bonauenture and such lyke monstures belly Gods inuented fyrst of all the God of the altare and made of the Sacramente or holy sygne of Christes body and bloud the true naturall real corporal carnal substantiall c body of Christ GOD and man fleshe bloude and bone synowes guttes and loynes euen as he was borne of Marye the Uirgine and hanged on the Crosse no breade nor wyne remayning but the substance of breade tourned into the substaunce of Christes naturall bodye and the substance of wyne chaunged into the substance of Christes naturall bloude So that we handle hym with oure handes put hym in our mouthe teare hym with oure teeth eate hym digest hym c and partely with theyr Sophistrye they persuaded and partely with theyr tyrannye they compelled the people so to beleue as the cruell and bloudye papistes lyke wyse doe in thys our age where the deuill and the Pope reygne whiche dayes was not knowen nor heard of in y e Church of Christe so newe is the doctryne of transubstantiation and of theyr missal
custome ought to geue place to the opeÌ„ truth Let no maÌ„ preferre custome before reason truth for reason and truth doth alwayes put custome to silence We must heare and do that saith Saint Cyprian that Christ hath done that he hath also coÌ„maunded to be done seing that he sayeth in his Gospell If ye do those thynges that I commaunde you I will call you no more seruauntes but frendes And that Christ alone ought to he heard the father euen from heauen testifieth saying This is my welbeloued son in whom I haue greate delight heare ye hym Wherefore if Christ alone is to be hearde we ought not to atteÌ„d marke and take hede what any maÌ„ that hath bene before vs thought good to be done but what he did which is before al that is to say Christ. Agayn he saith We may not follow the custome of man but the truth of God seyng that God speaketh by the Prophet Esay sayth They worship me in vaine teaching the commaundementes and doctrines of men Doth not God in his holy worde coÌ„mauÌ„d his people the Israelites that they should not follow the customes neither of the Egyptians nor of the Cananites but rather walke in his ordinaunces fulfill his lawes and statutes Is not this Gods precept Followe not the multitude to do euill Again do not ye those thynges whiche they haue done that were before you neither be ye defiled in them As the custome is not to be reiected but receaued that is agreable to the truth of Gods worde so lykewise is that custome not to be receaued but reiected y t dissenteth from the veretie of Gods pure religion Forasmuch therfore as the greatest parte of the old customes that be frequeÌ„ted vsed in the popes Church are wicked vngodly manifestly directly coÌ„trary to the worde of God the obiectioÌ„ that our Papistes make in this behalfe is nothing worth neitheer ought it to be vnto theÌ„ any let to hinder them froÌ„ commynge vnto the vndeceueable truth of Gods worde Some also to defeÌ„d their errours heresies maintaine their obstinate blindnesse and blind obstinacie allege for their defence the auncient writers and Doctors of Christes Churche affirming that their doctrine dissenteth greatlye from oures therfore worthy to be hyssed out hated abhorred detested of Gods Church I aunswere If they vnderstand by the auncient writers Doctors of Christs Church Duns Dorbel Thomas Tartaret Biel Brulefer Barnard Bonauenture Petrus de Palude Petrus de Luna Ioannes Capredli Ioannes Holkot Albert Magnus Augustinus de Ancona with Occam Gerson Durande Petrus de Alico Alaâ—us Herugus Auredlus Ataxanê° Pelbertus Carâ—esius Michael Lochmeir Iacobus de valentia to many such like then we geue theÌ„ ouer and conseÌ„t vnto theÌ„ seyng that these many hâ—â—dreds moe were the popes sworne chaplaynes making him with their fophistrie a God his couÌ„terfaite Religion true Godlynesse But if they meane those auÌ„cient writers Doctors of Christs Church which were before the days of Gregorius Magnus byshop of Rome theÌ„ we freely coÌ„fesse that whether they take the Doctors of the Greke or Latin Church they make very little or nothyng for theÌ„ for the maintenaunce of their poperie so altogether vnknoweÌ„ to theÌ„ was the supersticion Idolatry whiche is now commoÌ„ly vsed in the popish Churches although I muste nedes confesse that there is none among the auncieÌ„t writers that hath not his errours his ouersights his faultes that y â— may be found true which is writteÌ„ God alone is true but euerye man is a lyar But let it be graunted that there were found in the old writers as who sometime slydeth not Accordyng to the common prouerbe AliquaÌ„do bonus dormitat Homeruâ— That might seme at the firste blush to confirme stablish to proue approue any part of the popes religious religion is the matter therfore cocke sure But the olde writers Catholike Doctors require no such reuereÌ„ce to be shewed nor no such credit to be geuen to their writings as though they could not erre which coÌ„fesse theÌ„selues to erre as their auÌ„cestoures haue done before theÌ„ will that nothing should be credited as an vndoubted veritie but only the sacred scriptures whose authoritie to resiste of whose veritie to doubt they alwayes counted a great offence Are not these the wordes of Saint Ambrose We vtterly coÌ„deÌ„ne al new things that christ hath not taught for Christ is the way to the faithfull If Christ â—herefore haue not taught that whiche we do teache euen we our selues iudge it detestable and abhominable Are not these the words also of the auÌ„cieÌ„t Greke writer Origene We must nedes allege the holye Scriptures for a witnesse For our vnderstandinges and expositions without these witnesses are not to be credited nor beleued S. Hierome calleth it garrulitie or pratling whatsoeuer is taught without the authoritie of the holy Scriptures Theophilacte feared not to saye that they whiche bring in any thing into the Church of Christ besides the doctrine of the Apostles bring in slaunders and heresies dissensions Here se we in what estimation the auncient Doctors desyre theyr writtings to be had Uerely so farre to be credited and receaued as they agree with the word of God If they in any point dissent from that then not to be receaued but to be reiected not approued but reproued so farre is it of that they would haue their workes to be the patroÌ„s and defenders of wycked doctrine idolatry superstition c. Some againe pretende an excuse of theyr obstinacie the forefathers which liued before our daies They say they neuer receaued this doctrine neuer beleued as we are taught c. And yet we doubt not they are saued I aunswere If they speake of the forefathers whiche liued of late yeares in the tymes of ignoraÌ„cie blindnesse in the dayes of Papistrie and false Religion I graunt that they neuer receaued so purely the doctrine of Christes Gospell as we do at this present as people seduced from the way of truth thorow the suttle persuasions and craftye reasons of the fleshely hipocrites and filthy Papistes while they wrapped them in al kinde of blindnesse to the ende that they might see no truth in a manner but seke theyr saluation at theyr handes at theyr prayers fastes masses c. and by this meanes be made the very slaues and captiues of these spirituall Sorcerers although I must nedes coÌ„fesse that they agreed with vs and we with them in the principal articles of the Christen Religion albeit farre out of the way from the true vnderstanding of theÌ„ For they knew not the office of Christ nor vnto what ende God the father sent him into this worlde and therfore went they about on begging for their saluatioÌ„ to this creature and that creature to this Saint and that Saint to this blocke and that stocke to this pardon
we kylled al the day lōg and are counted as shepe appointed to be slayne As I may among many touche one Ecclesiastical history What shall I speake of the vnhappye time of that most vnhappy and wicked heritike Arrius Although the Fathers of the councell Nicene did iudge truly rightly according to the doctrine of the holy Scripture of the true euerlasting diuinitie or Godhead of Christ the Sonne of God Yet not long after that wicked heresie of Arrius dyd so preuaile and take roote in the heartes of men that it was not receaued only in one realme or two but also Pope Liberius Bishop of Rome with the Emperoure and all the East parte of the world admitted that most damnable heresie to be most sounde and wholesome doctrine persecuting most cruelly al such as defended the cōtrary whereof was a very little number as Athanasius Paulinus and verye fewe other Byshops whiche by no meanes would geue place to so great furour and madnesse although most miserably entreated In a Councell also holden at Nice a great nūber of Byshops with other gathered there together consented to disanull and put away the mariage of Priestes or spirituall ministers contrary to the practise of gods Churche from the begynning and contrary to the doctrine of the holy ghost which saith Wedlocke is honourable among all men and the bed vndefiled for what purpose I knowe not nor with what reasōs persuaded am I able to say Notwithstanding the holy and blessed Confessour Pahnutius although vnmaried withstood them all and by no meanes would consent vnto theyr entreprise and deuise but franckely and freely confessed that the mariage of Ministers is honourable and that it is chastitie for a man to lye with his owne wyfe By thys meanes he persuaded the councel that they proceded no further in this matter but sette euerye man at hys lyberty to marrye or not to marrye Whoe seeth not nowe howe foolyshe a thynge it is and muche vnworthye a Christen man to leane to the multitude whiche for the moste parte is nothynge elles than a beaste of manye heades Seyng we haue euidentlye shewed that the greater parte in matters that appertayne to Christes Religion is alwayes the worsest parte and the lesser parte dothe more earnestlye embrace the truthe of Gods worde so that not withoute a cause Christ calleth his people a litle flocke ▪ Feare not ye lyttle flocke sayeth Christe for it hath pleased my father to geue you a kyngdome Thys therefore is a vayne obiection of the aduersaries to saye We haue the greater number on our syde therefore haue we the truth on our syde For the deuill the worlde and the fleshe haue a greater company attendyng vpon them than Christe hath vpon hym seyng that the greatest parte of this worlde rather embraceth thinges present than with ioye looketh for thinges to come Finallye some can by no meanes fynde in their hearte to approue and allowe that present state of Religion whiche is nowe receaued among vs bicause it greatlye differeth saye they from the old◠and accustomed order It is demaunded in what points It is answered In these Fyrste The Byshop of Rome is not knowledged and receaued anye more to be Supreme head of the vniuersall Churche of Christe I aunswere We knowe no Supreme head of the Churche by the worde of God but Christ alone and vnder Christe euery Prince in hys owne Realme Secondly The Sacrament is receaued vnder both kyndes I aunswere So hath Christe commaunded saying Drinke of this all ye Also the Apostle so oft as ye shall eate of this bread and drinke of the cup c. Thyrdly The seruice and publique prayer is done in the tēples no more in the latin tong as heretofore but in the common and Englishe speache I answere So hath the custome bene from the beginning in the Church of Christ in al places and is so vsed at this present generally wheresoeuer the Byshop of Rome hath no authoritie And God by his holy Apostle commaundeth vs that in our congregations all thinges should be done to edifie approuing and allowing rather fiue wordes so spokē that they may be vnderstanded than ten thousand otherwise Fourthly All the laudable ceremonies are neglected and set a side as the halowing of salt water bread candles palmes fire ashes c. I aunswere All these are the triflyng traditions of men and haue bene the cause of much Idolatrye and superstition And it is written They worship me in vaine teaching doctrines which are the commaundementes of men Item God is a spirite they that worship hym must worship him in spirite and truth Fiftly Purgatory is denied I answere we know none other purgatorye for the soule but the precious bloud of our Lorde and Sauiour Christe Iesu as it is writtē The bloud of Iesus Christ gods sonne maketh vs cleane frō all sinne Sixtly The Sacrifice of the Masse is vtterly reiected and caste awaye as a pestilence moste hurtfull blasphemous and iniurious to the passion and death of Christ ▪ I answere The word of God teacheth vs in all places that there is no sacrifice for sinne but the death of Christ alone But Christ dreth no more Therfore is there no more sacrifice offered vp for sinne With one only oblation sayth the Apostle hath Christ that euerlasting Byshop made perfecte for euer them that are sanctified Agayn we are sanctified made holye by the offeryng vp of the bodye of Iesu Christ done once for al. Seuenthly The inuocation and intercessiō of Saintes is cleane omitted and left I answere God alone is to be called vpon as he himselfe ▪ commaundeth saying Call on me in the tyme of trouble and I will deliuer thee We knowe by the worde of God no Mediatour no Intercessour but Christ alone as it is written There is one God one Mediatour he sayth not many Mediatoures betwene God and man euen the man Iesus Christ whiche gaue himselfe a raunsome for all men Againe if any man sinne we haue an Aduocate with the father he sayth not Aduocates Iesus Christe the righteous one And he it is that obtayneth mercy for our sinnes not for our sinnes onely but also for all the worlde Item Christ is on the right hād of God and maketh intercession for vs. He saith not Saintes make intercession for vs. And our sauiour Christ him self sayth Whatsoeuer ye aske the father in my name he sayth not in the names of the saītes he will geue it you Eyghtly The article of trāssubstantiation is reiected and cast awaye as an errour or heresie I answere The holy Scripture knoweth no suche article neither haue the holy old fathers euer taught or left writtē such doctrine behinde them It is a new and late inuention brought in by the Pope and his adherentes Saint Paule calleth the Sacramentall bread ▪ not onely bread before the consecration but also after the consecration And our Sauiour Christ calleth
such as the pope fauoureth not but that he shuld rather eschew them as enemies turne away from them as heathen persons For seing sayeth he that the dead that is to say y e pope abhorreth theÌ„ much more y e fete that is all Princes Kyngs Rulers all other kinde of people ought so to do and vtterly deteste them Ioan. Laziardus Pope Clement the fyrst made a constitution that all Emperours kings princes shuld be subiecte to the church of Rome both in spirituall and temporall matters acknowledge the pope to be their head Chron. Ioan. Laziardus Celestinus Pope Sixtus made a decree that if any man wer euill entreated of his Metropolitane it shuld be lawfull for him to appeale vnto the Sea of Rome mother and head of the vniuersall churche of Christ throughout al y e worlde 2. Q 6. Cap. Si quis putauerit Pope Fabian the fyrst ordained that euery maÌ„ might lawfully appeale vnto the sea of Rome although sentence wer pronouÌ„ced against him In y e yere â–ª c. 242.2 Qu 6. ca. Licet Iac. Phili. BergoÌ„ Pope Leo the thyrde made a decree that the decrees of the bishop of Rome should be more regarded set by than al the iudgementes writings boâ—â—es of the best learned In the yere c. 817. Iacob Phil. Bergom Pope Eugenius the fourth gathered a councel at Florence in the which wer present many great learned men both Grekes and Latines In thys councell it was required of the Grekes and of the Indians that they shuld celebrate the Lordes Supper with vnleuended bread according to the decree of Pope Alexander the fyrst and y t they shoulde grauÌ„t y t there is a purgatorie to purge soules after this life agayne that they shuld confesse the bishop of Rome to be the true vicare of Christ the very successour of Peter and the supreme head of Christs church thorowout y e world But they woulde not obey the Popes request but boldly answered that they would continew in the fayth and doctrine whiche their Churches from the beginnyng had receaued of the Apostles In the yeare c. 1433. Ioan. Philip. Bergom Chron. Pope Boniface the eyght vpon a certayn great and solemne feast apparelled in hys Pontificalibus was caried about the citie of Rome on mens shoulders gaue the people large blessings with wagging his fyngers ouer them on euery syde The nexte daye after he put on an imperial robe decking himself like an Emperour and coÌ„maunded a naked sweard to be borne before him and he himself sitting vpon his moyle gloriously cryed out with a loud voice saying Ecce duo gladij hic Behold here are two sweardes calling himself Lord of the whole worlde concerning both temporal and spiritual matters This is that monsture of whom it is writteÌ„ Intrauit vt Vulpes vixit vt Leo moritur vt Canis That is to saye he entred in as a fore he liued as a lyoÌ„ he dyed as a dogge In the yeare of our Lord. 1290. Albertus Crantzius Fascic Temp. Pantal. Pope Leo the fourth so greatly estemed both himselfe and his authoritye that he offered hys feete vnto princes to be kyssed and honoured In the yere c. 858. Volat. Plat. Pantal. Pope Innocent the thyrd fyrste of all crowned Otho the Emperour and afterward depriued him agayne saying It lyeth in my power both to set vp to plucke down emperours kings and princes at my pleasure For all power is geuen vnto me both in heauen and in earth In the yere of our Lord 1195. Sebast. Frank. Chron. Temton Fasc Tempâ— Paulus Phrig c. Pope Alexander the thyrde did not only with martiall armours resiste the Godly and noble Emperour Frederike but at the laste thorow the might of other princes subduing him compelled y â— aforesayd Emperour before he wuld geue hym absolution be at one with him to lye flatte down vpoÌ„ the ground before hym in the syght of the people and the pope setting hys foote in the emperors necke cried out with a loude voyce and sayd ScriptuÌ„ est Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis conculcabis leonem draconem That is to saye It is written Upon the Adder the Cockatrice shalt thou walke and thou shalt treade downe the lion the dragon In the yeare c. 1161. Nauclerus â–ª Sabel Iaco. Phil. Ioan. Char. This pope made compelled Lewes King of Fraunce and Henrye King of Englande to be his lackies to runne on fote by him y e one holding his horses bridle on the right side the other on the left syde leading him with greate pompe thorow the citie Totiacum vnto Ligris Chroni Sigebertus Pope Hadriane the fourth was not a little angrye bicause the Emperoure helde with his hand the left stirrope and not the right when he came down of hys horse aboute the yeare c. 1158. Albertus Crantz Otho Frisius Pantaleon Pope Calixtus the second wheÌ„ he returned vnto Rome caused pope Benet whom the Emperor had before set vp to be apprehended and to be set vpon an horse so ryde before him vilanously al the way his face being turned vnto the horses arse holding the horse tayle being in his hande in steade of a bridle Afterwarde he threw him into prison where he most miserably dyed About the yere c. 1120. Chron. Fasciculus temporum c. Pope Celestine the third crowned the emperour Henry the fyfte holding the crowne betwene his fete And wheÌ„ he had put the crown vpoÌ„ the emperours heade he smote it of with his fote againe saying y t he had power to make Emperours and to put them down agayne In the yeare c. 1195. Crantz Pope Cornelius ordayned y t no othe shoulde be required of the pope excepte it were for the mayntaynaunce of holy church In the yeare c. 255. Ranulphus Cestrensis Chron. Pope Gregorye the seuenth for dyspleasure that he bare vnto Henrye the Emperoure wrote vnto the princes people that liued vnder y e Emperours dominion that they should by no meanes obey the Emperour but rather resiste hym and hys authoritie and take him no more for Emperour but rather for an vsurper of the empyre The emperour perceauing this malicious purpose of y e pope wrote againe vnto him on this manner When Christ coÌ„mitted the sheepe vnto Peter he excepted Kings The pope aunswered the Emperor in his letters on this wise WheÌ„ Christ gaue y e keyes vnto Peter he excepted no man by this meanes chaleÌ„ging power authoritie ouer al Emperours Kings Princes and Rulers vnto whom notw tstanding by y e worde of God both pope Bishop w t all the spiritualty as they terme them ought to shewe obedience euen from the very heart not only for conscience sake In the yeare c. 1073. Christianus Massaeus Sabast. Frank. Chron. Pope Boniface the eight wrote vnto
Philip King of Fraunce that he was Lorde of all thinges aswell temporall as spiritual thorowout y e whole world and that he therfore ought to haue receaued the kingdome of FrauÌ„ce at his hande which thinge forasmuch as the king had not done y e Pope wrote vnto him y t he had iustlye deserued to bee depriued of his kingdome so y t afterwarde this arrogant Lucifer and moÌ„sâ—ure of pride excommunicated Kinge Philip and gaue away his kingdoÌ„e to Albert the Emperor About the yeare c. 757. Pol. Virg. Pant. Pope Stephan y e seconde was y e first Pope that was caried about vpoÌ„ meÌ„s shoulders which thing his successors haue euersince diligeÌ„tli practised â–ª put in vse In y e yere c. 757. Pol. Vir. Panâ— Pope Cletus firste of all vsed in his letters these wordes Salutem Apostolicam benedictioneÌ„ In the yere c. 81. Chron. Ang. Pope Gregory the first vsed firste of all in his letters and bulles this title â–ª Seruus seruorum dei that is to say seruaÌ„t of the seruants of God which title his successors yet keepe but how truely who seeth not seing they labour to the vttermoste of theire power to haue the whole world vnder their girdle yea to compell princes kinges and emperors not onely to be their lackies but also to kisse euen their very feete Hee vsed this title in all his letters to represse the arrogaÌ„cye and pride of Iohn Patriarche of Constantinople which contrary to the doctrine of the Gospel and contrary to the decrees of the olde Canons presumed to vsurpe a newe name to himself and sought to be called the vniuersall bishop or head ouer all other bishops To shew that such a proud ambitious name ought vtterly to be detested of al spiritual ministers of whatsoeuer calling or dignitie they be the aforesaide Gregory in all his letters euer after named himself the seruant of the seruauntes of God In the yere c. 590. Ranulphus Cestrens Chron. This aforesaid Gregory sent Austen y e Monke w t certaine other into EnglaÌ„d to conuert and turne the english natioÌ„ vnto the Romish ReligioÌ„ Which Austen when thorow his hipocrisy couÌ„terfait holines he had won many vnto his purpose and had obtained of king Adelbright to be Archbishop of CaÌ„terbury and primate of al England weÌ„t into Wales where hee founde manye godly lerned byshops and preachers of Goddes worde which sincerely and purelye taught the doctrine of the holy Scripture and rightlye administred the blessed sacraments according to Christes institution whom thys aforesaid Austen the Monk labored also to the vttermost of his power to allure froÌ„ the sinceritie simplicity of christs religion vnto the Romish and popish superstitioÌ„ bosting himself to be a Legate of the most holy father the Pope seÌ„t froÌ„ Rome again made ordayned the chief bishop primate of al englaÌ„d and therefore he wylled them to obey him and his doctrine and to receaue y e most holy father of Rome and his catholike Religion But the Godly and learned Fathers boldely aunswered that they were alredy true ChristiaÌ„s and according to christs doctrine they gouerned theire Churches therefore they would neither obey him nor submit themselues to the aucthoritie of y t straunge Romishe Bishop nor yet receiue his supersticious ceremonies but continue as heretofore they had done in the simplicitie of Christes religion By this meanes this Monke Austen was compelled to depart his expectation not satisfied Notwithstanding this monstrous Monk afterward fouÌ„d the meanes such is the charitie of the bloudy papists greatly to annoy these Godly and lerned fathers bicause they would not obey his wicked deuilishe request For he complained to Kinge Adelbright that the Britaines called otherwise Welshmen woulde neither obey him nor anye man but onely the Archbishop of Carlion Which thinge when the King heard he was greatly moued and threatned to destroy them al writing to Elfride king of NorthuÌ„berland that he should come to him w t al the power that he might make and that he would meete him at Leiciter froÌ„ thence they would go into Wales and there destroye the Archebishop of Carlion and all those that had refused to obey Austen and his doctrine When the Godly fathers hearde of this and that the two kings with their armies approched to the ende for to destroy them they sent vnto the kings certaine holy and vertuous meÌ„ which went barefoote woolwarde with all humilitie meekenes desiring theÌ„â—tâ— cease froÌ„ so vngodly an enterprise But the kings were so sterne so wicked y t they woulde not once speake to those holy meÌ„ but slew them straightwaies euery one They spared them no more alas for sorow than the wolfe doth y e sheepe but cruelly and vniustlye murthered those saints of God so that thei were all martired y t came vnto theim being in numbre fiue hundred forty And from thence those kinges went vnto GaÌ„gor for to slea all y e Britanes that they might fynde But when the Britanes heard of it they assembled prepared theÌ„selues with all their power to fyghte with those kinges for the defence of their countreye and for the mayntaynaunce of Christen religion so that in that battell king Adelbright was slaine by y e iust iudgement of god and kyng Elfride was sore wounded and compelled moste cowardly to flye theyr whole armye also being vtterly discomfited wel nigh al slayne They that remayned toke them to their fete and fled so that by this meanes God gaue his seruaunts a glorious victorie ouer the popyshe enemyes Ex Chron. Angl. Such end O Lord geue thou to all thine enemyes that of malice and without repeÌ„taunce persecute thy seruauntes for the testimony of thy truth that the kingdome of Antichrist and y e pope vtterly subuerted thou maiest be knowen to be the alone Lorde and thy worde to be the alone veritie Of the Popes election POpe Nicolas the fyrst made a decree that if any maÌ„ would thrust himself into the sea of S. Peter not being chosen thereunto by such as ar appoynted for the electioÌ„ of the pope y e same shuld be iudged not Apostolicus but Apostaticus 49. Dist. Cap. Si quis Apostolice sedi Anno. 871. Pope Hadriane the first made a law that no lay persons should presume to entermedle with the election of y e pope 63. Dist. Cap â–ª Nullus laicorum An. 796. Pope Boniface the second made a decree that in the election of the pope the Clergye should be deuided from the coÌ„mon people In the yeare c. 529. Albertus Krempt Pope Leo the eyght ordayned that none should be admitted pope without the consent of the Emperor In y e yere c. 962.63 Dist â–ª Cap. In Synodo Chron. Pope Adriane the third was of such and so lustye courage that contrary to the order tofore vsed he made a decree that from henceforth the Emperours should
tenour of theyr rule The brethren of thys order heare confessions and preache at hye feastes This order also admitteth Lay brethrē as in many places moe to do their businesse abroade They fayne that thys order was confyrmed of Pope Vrban y e fyft at the commaundement of Christ. In the yeare c. 1353. Volat. Plati Polichron Pol Libro Germ. c. Of the Nunnes of S. Katerines order of Sene. POpe Gregorye the .xi. bearyng rule Katerine of Sene a Dyers daughter refusyng the state of matrimonye tooke vpon her the thyrd order of S. Dominicke or of the Fryer Preachers They say that Christ shuld haue maryed her with a ryng wherein were foure pearles one diamonde taken her harte from her and geuen her hys in steade therof The Nunnes of thys order weare garmentes lyke to the black Fryers Theyr cloke vayle are blacke theyr cote is white In the yeare of oure Lorde .1455 Volat. Lib. Germ. Chron. I passe ouer the Nunnes that be of the Iustinians order of Marye Magdalenes orders of Austens order c which all are wrapped full of superstition and hipocrisye seking their saluation not in Christ thorow fayth but in mens inuentions by folishe and popish workes But let vs heare the Popes pleasure more at large concerning the poore Nunnes Rules concerning all orders of Nunnes POpe Pius the fyrst made a decree that no mayde shoulde be admitted to bee a Nunne or a religious person before she were .xxv. yeres of age and that shee shoulde be professed and consecrated only vpon the feastful day of the Epiphanye commonly called Twelfday In the yeare of our Lorde 147. Ranulphus Cestrensis Ioannes Stella Phil. Bergom Pope Sother ordained that a Nunne shoulde not handle the towels of the altare nor the Chalice patenne or corporasse clothe nor yet put incense into the senser but that shee shoulde alwayes weare a vayle vppon her head and a wymple vnder her chynne In the yeare of oure Lorde 168. Polichron Chron. Ang. c.. Pope Gregorye the fyrst ordayned that no man shoulde frequent the monasteries of Nunnes again he forbad that Nunnes shoulde be Godmothers to children In the yeare c. 590 Chron. Ioan. Stella Pope Leo the fyrste made a decree that none shuld be made a Nunne except shee were founde to haue lyued afore continentlye and honestly by the space of .xl. yeres In the yere c. 444. Phil. Bergom Pope Gregorye the eyght made a decree y t no man should once be so hardye as to take a Nunne out of her cloyster In the yeare of our Lorde 1186. Tom. 1. Concil Of the Monasticall apparell IN times paste whē with most earneste diligence I searched for the originall beginning of the monasticall or monkish apparel and could by no meanes finde any thing thereof in writing at the laste I repaired vnto the paynters in y e entries porches of y e friers wher for y e most part a mā may se y e historyes of both testamentes paynted liuely setforth in colours I sought for the matter diligently And when in al the olde testament I could not fynde any of the Patriarches or of the priests or of the Prophetes or of the Leuites no nor yet Helias hymselfe whom notwithstandyng the Carmelites or white friers make their Patrone fyrste founder of their Religion to weare a coule and to be clad with Monkysh apparel◠I went streyghtwayes vnto the newe testament There I founde Zacharye Simeō Iohn Baptist Iosephe Christ the Apostles the Disciples y e Scribes the Pharesees the Byshops Annas Cayphas Herode Pilate and manye other but no where coulde I fynde or perceaue the coule or monkysh habite Examining once again more diligently euen from the beginnyng al singular things out of hande euen at the very beginning of the historye in a manner the deuill appeared shewed himself clad in a coule euē y e very same deuil y t tēpted Christ in y e deserte or wildernesse I was excedīg glad reioyced beyond al measure y t I had found y t in picture which I could neuer find afore in scripture I meane that the deuill was the first author inuentor and finder out of the coule and Monkishe habite of whom afterward I thinke verely the other Monkes and Fryers borowed their coules and disgysed apparell set forth in diuerse colours some white some blacke some graye some russet some blewe some blouncket c. or elles paraduenture they receaued and tooke the same as lefte vnto them for inheritaunce from the deuill their father Cornelius Agrippa de incertitudine vanitate scientiarum Of Temples or Churches POpe Siluester bearing rule Constantine the Emperour built diuerse Churches for the Christians gaue other libertie so to do to the end that so many as professe Christ might openly and without any feare come together to praye prayse God to heare the readyng and Preachyng of the holy Scriptures to receaue the blessed Sacramentes and to occupye themselues in suche Godly and vertuous exercises as God requyreth of them in hys Sacred worde For vnto that tyme the Christians were so extremelye persecuted of tyrauntes that they had no certayne publyque place to repare vnto but so many as professed Christ assembled themselues together priuatelye and praysed God in hollowe caues and dennes for the feare of the vnfaythfull as Laurentius Valla sayeth in hys booke de donatione Constantini In tymes paste sayeth he before the dayes of Constantyne the greate the Christians had no Temples but secrete and close places holye lyttle houses but no greate and gorgious buyldynges Chappelles no Temples Oratoryes within priuate walles no publyque and open Churches In the yeare of our Lord. 315. Ranulphus Cestrensis ▪ Valla. Westmerus Pope Iginius ordayned that the Temples or Churches shoulde be halowed withall solemnitye and that no Churche shoulde be halowed without a Masse agayne that Churches should be made neyther greater nor smaller without the consent of the Metropolitane In the yeare of our Lord. 143. De Consecr Dist. 1. Cap. Omnes Basiliae Eusebius Sabell Phil. Bergom c. An admonition to the Reader HEre must I warne thee moste gentle Reader of the craftye iuglynges of the Papistes which whē they haue once inuented of theyr idle brayne with out the authoritye of Goddes worde a balde and lousye ceremonie or a wicked and a superstitious lawe streyghtwayes father the same vppon some Godly auncient and learned Byshop that by thys meanes it maye be of the more force and of the greater authoritye with men and the more easlye disceane the people Of thys their practyse here haste thou an euident example They set forthe in their deuilyshe decrees wicked writinges that this holy Byshop Iginius commaunded the halowyng of Churches when many yeares after as thou hast tofore ▪ heard the Christiās had no Churches but secretly assembled themselues together in corners in priuate houses in
the second confirmed the hauing of Images in churches and did not only excommunicate the Emperoure for abolishing of images but he also most trayterously stirred vp his subiectes to rebell against him In the yeare c. 729. Blondus Chron. Pope Constantine gathered a councel at Rome against Phillip y e Emperour wherin he condemned the Emperour for destroying Images and made a decree for the establyshement of them in churches In the yere c. 769. Plat. Pol. Pope Gregory the thyrd made a law y t Images shoulde not onelye be had in churches as lay meÌ„s bokes but y t they also shoulde be worshipped and had in greater reuerence than euer they were before that whosoeuer were of a contrary opinion he should be condemned for an heretike In the yeare c. 740. Sigis. Blond Plat. Sabel Here maye all men learne to iudge with what spirite these Romishe Byshops are led whiche notwithstanding call them selues moste holye fathers Christes vicares in earth Peters successors holye Churche the spouse of Christe that pillare of truthe whiche cannot erre Pope Gregory the fyrst as you hearde admitted Images into Churches as laye mens Calenders or bookes but by no meanes to be worshypped Whiche also is more than can be proued lawfull by the worde of God Notwithstandynge nowe commeth this most holy father Pope Gregory the third and he appointeth Images not only to be in Churches as lay mens bookes but also to be worshipped that is to saye to kneele vnto theÌ„ to sense them to garnish theÌ„ with costly vestures to set vp candles before theÌ„ to go pilgrimage vnto theÌ„ to pray before them and to geue theÌ„ suche honor as by no meanes is due either to stock or stone The wordes of Pope Gregory the first are these coÌ„cerning y t not worshipping of images writteÌ„ in a certein epistle vnto Serenus Bishop of Massilia which did not only take away Images out of the churches wheÌ„ he see the people worshyp theÌ„ but he also brake theÌ„ all on peces breÌ„t theÌ„ It was sayth he declared vnto vs that thou beholdiÌ„g certain worshippers of images diddest break also cast away the same images out of the church Verely we coÌ„meÌ„d thy zele that thou woldest haue no man to worship that is made with haÌ„ds but yet we think Note good reader y t this Pope doth not playnely affirme by the autority of Gods worde y t images ought not to be destroied but only bringeth forth his owne thinking we thinke sayth he that thou oughtest not to haue broken those images For the pycture vnto this ende is set vp in the churches that suche as be vnlearned should at the least by seyng and beholdyng those Images reade on the walles that they are not able to rede on bookes c. Lib. 7. Epist. 109. Both Epiphanius and S. Austen numbreth among heretikes a certayne woman called Marcella whiche worshipped the images of Iesus of Paule c. and offered incense vnto them Here doth Pope Gregory the first with the coÌ„sent of Epiphanius and S. Austen condemne the iudgement of Pope Gregory the thirde concerning the worshipping of Images Where is nowe the spirit of vnitie become wherof these holy Fathers bragge so greatly Pope Stephen the thirde decreed that Images shoulde not onely be had in Churches but that they also should be senced In the yeare of our Lord. 772. Sigeb Plat. Voâ—at Pope Leo the thirde Pope Iohn the seuenth Pope Adrian the first with other made also decrees for y e establishment of Images in Churches as witnesse Sabel Paulus Aemilius Sigeb Plat. Volat. Fasci Temp. Pope Paule the first bearing rule Pipine king of FrauÌ„ce caused a Councell to be asseÌ„bled and called together concerning the hauyng and worshipping of Images where many learned men were present among whom there was greate contencion some accordyng to the Popes former decrees defendynge both the hauyng and worshippyng of Images some after y e doctrine of gods word vtterly condemning both the hauing and worshipping of Images affirming that it is directly agaynste the worde of God in the Temples of the Christians to set vp Images whiche should be nothing els than stumblyng blockes vnto the rude and simple people and great prouocations vnto Idolatry Notwithstandyng the Papistes and supersticious Hipocrites did beare suche a route and rule in that Sinode that the matter was coÌ„cluded on their syde so that from henceforth it shoulde be lawfull both to haue to worship Images not only of Christ but also of all saintes in Churches or els where although the expresse worde of God the exaÌ„ples of the primatiue Churche the iudgement of diuers godly learned men teach the coÌ„trary IoaÌ„ Laziard A certaine wicked woman Empressâ— of Greece called Iraene at the request of Pope Theodorus gathered together at the Citie Nice a swarme of Bishops to the number as they write of CCCL In the whyche Councell was also decreed that Images shoulde be had in Churches In tho yeare of oure Lorde 695. Blondus Plat. Eutropius Polid. Pantaleon c. But thys decreâ— lasted not longe For the Emperour Constantine the sixt her sonne seynge the greate abhomination that came by Images so sone as he came to rule brake that decree and made a strayght lawe agaynst the â—auynge of Images in places where Christen men come together to praye But the wycked woman hys Mother afterwarde thorowe the crafty councell of the blooâ—dy Papistes founde the meanes to apprehende her sonne to depryue hym of hys Empyre to put out hys eyes and to cast hym into prisoon where he most miserably dyed Oh vnnaturall Mother yea O vnnatural monsture Afterwarde thys dounghel of Idolatry and superstition set vp agayne her Idoles and mahomets But when Nicephorus came to the Empire he did not onely put her down caste her into prison where she by the ryghtuous iudgement of God most vilesy dyed accordynge to thys saying of our Sauioure Christ With what measure ye mette vnto other with the same shall it be mette to you agayne but he also destroied al her poppets suffryng no images to remayne in the temples whiche order all the Emperoures of Greece obserued euer after as hystoryes make mention except one Theodorus Lascaris whiche at a certayne councell holden at Lugdune agreed to the Byshop of Rome in admittyng Images But hys subiectes therefore depryued hym both of hys Empire and dignity Barthol Westmerus Certaine godly Ciuile lawes agaynste the hauing of Images in Churches with the aduise consent and iudgemeÌ„t of diuerse godly learned men LEo the third Emperoure of Grece assembled together at Bizance three hundred thirtie godly learned Bishoppes whiche with one consent agreable to the worde of God decreed with the assent of the Emperour and of the nobilitie that al Images should be takeÌ„ out of churches and burnt openly Moreouer the Emperoure himselfe at Constantinople threw out of the temples all the Images
God howsoeuer the wicked and wilye papistes bewitche the simple people and thorowe their suttle Sophistrye caste mistes before the eyes of the ignorant and so darken theyr senses and wittes that they can not espye y e truth of Gods worde in thys behalfe which is aboundauntly setforth thorowe the greate benefite of God in these oure dayes by the diligente laboure paynfull trauayle of many Godly learned men both in Latin and in Englyshe and in diuerse other speaches vnto the great cōfort of all faythfull Christians and vnto y e confusion of Antichrist and of hys kyngdome Vercellen Concil Florent Concil Roman Concil Secund. Sinod Lateran Extra de summa fide cathol Cap firmiter Pope Pelagius the second ordayned praying for the dead in the Masse In y e yeare c. 580. Plat. Pol. Grat. D. Barns Pope Gregorye the fyrst succedyng y e aforesayd Pelagius encreased this cōstitution concerning y e memoration and prayer for y e dead being hereunto allured by y e disceatfull apparitions of deuils rather than of dead mens spirites which many times appeared vnto him euer crauing at his hand helpe and succour for their deliuerance out of y e most bitter paynes of purgatorye thorowe Diriges and Masses of Requiem such like prayers made for the dead greatly abusing his childish pity light beliefe For he writeth y t a certayne mā called Paschasius being deade appeared vnto him desired him to pray to say masse for him which thyng he most diligently did so y t afterward y e soule of Paschasius appeared agayne vnto hym tolde him y t whē he had once sōg for him .xxx Masses he was streyghtwayes deliuered out of purgatorye Gregorius in Registro He writeth agayne y t a certayne Monke called Iustus was deliuered out of the fyre of purgatorye thorowe the sacrifyce of thyrtie daies that is to say thorowe a trentall of Masses whiche are thyrtye in number Gregor in Lib. dialog 4. Cap. 54. Here mayest thou see good Reader vpon what foundatiō singing of masses for the dead is builte Uerely vpon the delusions and disceatfull apparitions of the deuill and hys aungells Is not thys the commaundement of God Thou shalt not aske the truth of them that be dead Agayne if they saye vnto you aske councell at the Southsayers witches charmers and coniurers thē make them thys aunswere Is there a people any where y t asketh not councell at hys God Shoulde men runne vnto the dead for the liuyng If any man wante lyghte let hym looke vpon the lawe and the testimonye whether they speake not after thys meanyng If he doe not thys he stumbleth and suffreth hunger if he suffer hunger he is out of pacience and blasphemeth his king and his God It had bene Gregoryes dutye not strayghtwayes to geue credite to the wandryng spirites but to haue considered by the holy scriptures what the will of God is in this behalfe Beleue not euery spirit saith Saint Iohn but proue y e spirits whether they be of god Pope Innocent appoynted that the names of the dead shuld not be rehearsed in the Masse before but after the consecration Durandus Pope Gregory the first put the Pater noster to the Masse and commaunded that it should be sōg with a loud voice In the yeare c. 590. Ioan. Laziardus He also commaūded that the priest at his masse before the Lordes prayer should sing these words Oremus praeceptis salutaribus moniti c. Blessed Gregory saith Durandus thought it good that the Lordes prayer after y e Canon should be sayd ouer the host affirming in hys register that it is vnsemely that the prayer whiche Scholasticus made should be sayde ouer the Euchariste y e prayer left out whiche the Lord himselfe had sayd the Apostles likewise were wōt to say It is song sayth he among the Grekes of al y e people together but amōg vs of the priests alone Rat. di off Ioannes Nauclerus writeth in his chronicle y t the holy Apostle S. Peter when he celebrated the Lordes supper vsed none other but y e Lordes prayer which we commonly call the Pater noster As for all other thinges that be now vsed in the masse they haue bene added and brought in since that tyme by dyuers mē of theyr owne fansy brayne without the authoritie of gods worde Pope Gregory the firste added to the masse also this prayer Libera nos quesumus c. and commaunded that it should be said after the Lordes prayer Chron. Germ. Pope Innocentius the first put to the masse Pax domini sit semper vobiscum and cōmaunded that the people should aunswere Et cū spiritu tuo In the yere c. 408. Chron. Germ. Pope Sergius the first of that name inuented the Agnus dei and commaunded that it shoulde be songe of the clergye and of the people together at the communion or masse In the yeare c. 684. Plat. Durandus D. Barns He ordayned also that while the quiere sing the Agnus the priest should breake the missal bread in three parts one for the soules of the Sainctes that are in Heauen an other for them that are in purgatorye the thirde for them that are in this world liuyng in sinne Agayne that the priest shoulde holde stil in his hands two peces of that broken bread ouer the chalice and let the thyrde parte thereof fall downe into the chalice saying these wordes Hec commixtio corporis sanguinis c. Pope Leo the second ordayned y e carying about kyssing of y e Paxe y t the people might haue somwhat to doe as it may seeme while the priest eate vp drink vp altogether alone at the altar In the yeare c. 676. Grat. plat Fasci Temp. Durandus D. Barns Vannius Notwithstāding some attribute this idle inuētion to pope Innocent the first De consec dist 2. Cap. Pax igitur Lib. Concil Michael Bucchingerus c. Pope Innocent the firste made a decree that on solemne feastes the priests at the Agnus should kisse one an other but the commō people should kisse the Paxe In the yere c. 408. De cons. dist 2 cap Pacem Plat. Sabell Pol. Pantal. In the masse for the dead the Paxe is not giuen sayth Durand bicause the faithfull soules are no more neyther shall be in the trouble of this worlde but they rest now in the Lorde so that the kysse of peace is not necessary nor nedefull for them whiche is the signe of peace and concorde and therefore at that masse this prayer is not said Domine Iesu Christe qui dedisti Apostolis tuis pacem c. Hereof also commeth it to passe that among the monkes there is no Paxe giuen bicause they are coūted dead to the world Rat. di off Polid. Pope Calixtus the first ordained that so many as were present at masse after the
Corpus Christi The beginning of the feast of Corpus Christi The doctrine of the festiual concerning the feaste of Corpus Christi Pardon be longyng to the feast of Corpus Christi Midsommer day The InueÌ„tion of the Crosse. The exaltacion of the Crosse. The transfiguration of oure Lorde The doctrine of the festiuall Thassmuâ—ion of our Lady Michelmasse day DedicatioÌ„ daye or Churche holy day The feaste of al saintâ— The feaste of al soules The beginnyng of the feast of all Soules The coÌ„ceptioÌ„ and presentatioÌ„ of mary with the feastes of Aunâ— Ioseph Fraunces The visitacion of Marye Candelmasseday The feasts of the foure Euangelistes and of the foure Doctours Sonday A godlye lawe and worthy to be obserued This godly decree is sâ—lenderly obserued in Englande A generall rule for holy dayes The coÌ„ceptioÌ„ of mary The Annunciation of Mary The visitatioÌ„ of mary The beginning of saintes making Dominikâ— Fraunces Anthonye de padua Fryers Elizabeth â–ª Saintes Clara Peter Marter Stanislaus Saintes Lewes byshop of Colossa Tâ—of Aquine Thomas byshop of Hereforde Saintes Bernardine the Grayfrier sainted Uincent Edmundeâ— Osmunde saintes Katerine sainted Iuo a saint Bonauenture a saint Bernarde a saint Heliopolde a saint Hughe of Lincolne a saint Hedwigis a saint Brigit a saint Vuolfgang a saint Iohn Gaulbert a saint Hughe the Monke a saint Lewes King of Fraunce a saint Edmund Peter de verona sainted Nicolas de Toleto a saint Pope Celestine a saint Charles y e great sainted Fraunces a sainte Thomas Becket sainted Of Beckettes translation Note A new idol set vp Becket the popes martyr saint A lousye saint an vnclenly Beckets penaunce very homely None saintes but such as the pope admi Swarmes of saintes The popes Sainctes ☜ Reliques set out to sale Reliques honoured Sainctes bones honored with Masses Hands of Shrines A good and godly acte but not profitable for the Popes market The anauÌ„ceâ— of Pilgrimages Pilgrimages maâ—e not be hindred Pilgrimes may not be euill entreated Gregorye the firste a greate promoter of pardons Popes pardons nets for money and allurements vnto vice The yeâ—â—â— of Iubile A prophecye The yeare of Iubile altered ☞ Stations Christes natles worshipped Greate giftes for so litle labour Pardon beades Stringing of beades Note these scholepoiÌ„ts The fyue Pardons beades The pardoÌ„ that beloÌ„g to y e â—eads BostoÌ„ pardon Ghostly father Uowes chaunged Seruice neglected pardoned An ante diâ— The chappel of Scalâ— caeli Purgatoâ—â— White meates Fleshe Buriall Large promises They al at â—ow by the word of god brought to nought according to 〈◊〉 prophecy of christ Euery plaÌ„t that my heauenly â—ather hath not planted shal be plucked vp by the rootes The price of y e pardon The pardoÌ„ of s Trinitye of houÌ„deslowe PardoÌ„s innumerable and good cheape â–ª Graciously considered Pardon of the Austen Friers Burton Lazare â–ª The pardoÌ„ of Sainet Mary of â—unciuall ☞ Giue and it shall be giuen to you Giue money and the smoke of Rome shall be giueÌ„ to you The pardoÌ„ of Saint Iohn of Beuerlay ☞ The pardâ—â— of Saint Cornelis at Weâ—â—minster The sepulchre pardonÌ„ S. Erasmus pardon Fiue special giftes Money is the Marchant in all the popes affayres What is to be done that wee may haue true pardoÌ„ What the popes pardons are Esay lv Math. xi Apoc. xxii Iere. ii Psal. xi The inuetour of the popes purgatory is not knoweÌ„ The studie of Sathan The true purgatorye is y e bloud of Christ. The popes purgatorye diuersely maintained Where purgatorye is Luke xv The varietye of papists in placing of purgatorye The tormentes of Purgatory 1. Cor. iii. Psal. 66. Dist. 7. cap. Nullus ☞ Serm. 41. de animabus What most greuous paynes there are in Purgatory Example Howe is this proued The infinite multitude of soules in Purgatorye ☜ Iob. xix Remedies deuised by the papists agaynst the tormeÌ„â—s of Purgatory The churches Church militant Church trinuâ—phant Church expectant Prayer for soules in Purgatory ☞ Prayer almosse Fasting pilgrimage pardons and Masses deliuer soules out of Purgatorye The profit of euerye Masse The doctrine of the festiuall coÌ„cerning soules in Porgatory Of prayer for soules A narratioÌ„ A straunge sight Well proued substauncially of Almosse deedes for soules A narratioÌ„ Of Masses for soules â–ª ☜ A narratioÌ„ An other narration prodicious woÌ„derful The great vertue of the masse Ten remedies to deliuer soules out of purgatorye Candles Sensing of the altare Sprinckeling of holy water Prayer for the dead Oblations for y e soules departed Fastinges â–ª watchings c. Q. xiii c. ii Animae Paying the dets of the dead Offering vp of bread and wine Fulfilling of y e deades penaunce The celebration of masses A narratioÌ„ Monstri simili Missa wherof it is deriued The vertues of the masse ☞ A fond fansye of the papistes Spedy deliueraunce of soules out of purgatorye Note this tale All is not golde that glistereth A trentall of Masses and what they are Trinities of Masses The .xii. vertues of the masse Psal. 9â— Luke xxiii Luke vii ☞ ☜ Math. vii The vertues of the masse out of y â— Festiual The vertue of the masse out of Stella Clericorum No couÌ„cell of force without y e consent of the Pope Al bishops must be at a general councell A good anâ— necessary deuice Sene twice in the yere ☜ No couÌ„cell lauful with out the consent of the Pope What is to be done if matters caÌ„not be quietly coÌ„posed in y e lesser Sinodes Appeare or elsaccursed The authoritie of the popes decrees Popes decrees equal w t the word of God All thinges ar subiect to the pope Popeiudge of al â–ª iudged of none ☜ A lawful general couÌ„cel is abouâ— the pope The preeminence of the pope Heretikes banished Heretikes put to death by the secular power The temporall offices the â—opyshe Byshops butchers Ioan. viii ☜ Fraunces Martyrs Of the state of the faithful after this life Heretikes expelled out of the Churche A good law Note well The coÌ„panie of Heretikes is to be eschued auoyded The great councell Laterane Heretikes condemned to be committed to the seculer powers so put to death Priests degraded Priesteâ— goodes Laye menâ— goodes Suspect of heresie The temporall rulers sworn to roote out heretikes Note O tyranny A newe kinde of Heresie Heresiarch â–ª Dead men excommunicate The company of heretiques is to be eschued UnderstaÌ„d by heretikes all suche as in anye point resiste the pope or his decrees No coÌ„pany with excoÌ„municate persons Ioan. Ep. ii Spoylers of y e church excommunicate A good a godly law ☞ The names of excoÌ„municate persons published One excoÌ„municate person may not excommunicate an other Hinderers of pilgrimages or spoylers of pilgrimes accursed Smiters of byshops or priestes â–ª spoylers or burners of churches accursed Spoylers of pilgrimes Chaplens â–ª Clarkes monks c â–ª accursed DisobedieÌ„t to bishops accursed This pope mitigateth y â— rigor of y e ecclesiastical censure A frendly decree Thys is wicked Neither baâ—â—el better her ring The pope deposeth Princes Practise â–ª Destroyers of Abbeies excommunicate Preachers not authorised by the Pope or some bishop accursed No man ought to be excoÌ„municate before his matter be knoweÌ„ Paiment of tythes ☞ The penaunce of him that hath slayne his mother What opinion of mariage had this Pope thinke ye A Pope more reasonable Note how loth the Popes are to go from their olde Mumsimê° A foolishe diuine of so wise a head 1. Cor. vii The penaunce of them that are negligent about the Sacrament of the Altare Beholde hys curiositye ☜ The penaÌ„ce of the Clergy coÌ„uicte of great fauts Penaunce dispensed with Penaunce enioyned of the ghostly Father A rule for penaunce A greate priuilege A reasonable order Note thys well Ioan. xi Sed perquaÌ„â—egulam A decree not to be despised Absolution must be receaued knelyng Pope The colledge of Cardinals Holy lande Holy crosse Bishops Abbotâ— prâ—ours moÌ„ks Chanons Friers nuÌ„nes c. Curates â–ª Persons Uicares Priestes Clarks c. The king Quene c. Duke Earles BaroÌ„s c Parisheners True tithers Tillers Shipmen MarchaÌ„ts Benefactors of the Churche Pilgrimes and Palmers Sicke persons Women in our Ladies bondes The holye bread giuer Prayeng for soules departed The three estates of holy church The generall seÌ„tence red foure tymes in the yeare What cursing is Enemies to holy church are fyrst accursed as most greuous offendours â–ª ☜ ☞ In Popish Churches all thynges are in Latib besydes surfyng ☞ A Caueat What this word cursâ— signifyeth Two manner of curses The lesser curse ☜ The more curse Note ☜ Wakings Reasons why the sacramental wine is not reserued in churches as y e sacramentall bread is Buriall The order of halowing churches The vertue of holy water The order of halowing altares The popes power The pope is Melchizedech Ioan i Psa cxlviii â–ª Gene xix Exod. vii Ioan ii â–ª Miracles This man for lacke of scripture to proue hys popysh traÌ„substantiation fleeth to carnall reasons fleshly similitudes as al other papistes doe A wise reason and a cupstantial 4 Reg. iiii The â—biquâ—â—ty of christs bodye The monstrous and vnreasonable doctrine of transubstantiation Fabula sinâ— capite An homely shifte and a soule Corin. xii Why y e host is lifted vp aboue the priests head Phil ii Rom x AmoÌ„strous kinde of doctrine Chebbiquity of christâ—â— bodye The signe of the crosse helpeth forward transubstaÌ„tiatioÌ„ ☜ What is to be done if gods bloud be frosen in the chalice An hâ—e point in a lowe house i. Corin. ii Titus i. Sacramentes iustifye after the doctrine of the papists Howe the sacrament is to be eaten The masse excelleth al prayses done to god Mary ledeth to heauen Prayer vnto Marye the Uirgin Suffrages of saintes Fasting Crosse. Confirmation or smering of the infantes forehead The greate vertue of coÌ„firmation Note Mary oure intercessour Three degrees of soules Soules maruelouslye good Soules maruelously euill Soules meanely euill Soules in purgatorye knowe what is done for theÌ„ in thys worlde Soules in heauen know what is done here