downe hys necke in confession to the Prieste and humble hymselfe before the priest as before God being in dede Goddes vicare Therefore God oute of hands exalted the Priestes aboue al men and aboue all creatures as a certaine Doctor sayth speakyng of Priestes Although by nature ye bee men yet in dignitye ye excell all men Agayne A Prieste is hygher than Kynges more blessed and happye than Aungells and the maker of hys maker Secondly God hath honoured them in temporall thinges For those thinges which God reserued vnto himself that is to say the tenthes y e offerings the fyrst frutes and the other Patrimonyes of Christe crucifyed he hath freely geuen to y e priests for the sustentation and mainteinaunce of their body that they being free from laboure when other meÌ„ must nedes worke for their liuing may y e more quietly serue God in spirituall thinges Thyrdly God hath honoured them in geuing them suche immunities priuileges liberties and fredomes that no earthlye Prince hath iurisdiction ouer them neither king neither Prince neither any other seculare maÌ„ no neither dare any man lay violente hande vpon them no not vppon the lessest of y e order For whosoeuer doth the contrary he is excommunicate with the greater excommunication eo facto both in heauen and in earth Uerely God doth so defend theÌ„ y t none dare trouble theÌ„ eyther in worde or in deede insomuche y t whatsoeuer displeasure is done vnto any of them he thynketh it to be done to hymselfe as the Lorde hymselfe sayeth by y e Prophete Zacharye He y e toucheth you toucheth the apple of myne eye Agayne in the Psalme he sayeth touch not myne annoynted so y t priests are not to bee molested so muche as with a worde but they ar to be honoured as the Lorde sayde to Moses and Aaron I wil blesse them y e blesse you and curse them that curse you In consideration wherof the priestes and meÌ„ of the church are priuileged insomuche that whosoeuer doe make or cause to bee made or to be kepte any statutes that bee agaynste the libertyes of the priestes and men of the Clergye they are strayght wayes excommunicate accursed Item no worldely Prince dare make exactions vppon the Clergye neyther dare any man aske any kynde of paymentes or take any thing of the Clergye For if he doe he is out of hande excommunicate neyther can he be absolued from the aforesayd excommunication excepte he make restitution at the full Fourthly God hath honored the priestes in that he hath committed vnto them the soules of the faythfull that is to say the holy Churche of the whiche Chrisostome saith The church is more honourable than heauen and the aungels all other creatures Christ hath loued the Churche more than himselfe for whose sake he came downe from heauen into this world and serued for it xxxiii yeares and at the laste suffred bitter death for it and doth nowe geue vnto it his body for meate his bloud for drinke and after this life he geueth himselfe vnto it for a rewarde Moreouer he hath committed thys welbeloued Churche to priestes with all the giftes that is to say the Sacramentes For the order of priesthood onely hath power to baptise except it be in necessitie at whiche tyme it is lawefull for euery man and woman to baptise Also he alone hath aucthoritie to minister the Sacrament of confirmation Item the priest alone hathe power to heare confession to geue absolution and to enioyne penaunce accordynge to this saying of Christ take the holy Ghost whose sinnes ye forgeue they are forgeuen them but whose synnes ye do retayne they are retayned IteÌ„ he alone hath power to minister the SacrameÌ„t of extreme vnction c. In this incomprehensible dignitye God hath singularely honoured them aboue all other men Ye are that lyght of the worlde sayth he For as the worlde shoulde be nothynge without lyght euen so is the Churche nothyng without priestes Fiftly God hath honored theÌ„ in this that he hath streightly charged all men to be obedient vnto them as vnto him selfe of what condition or state so euer they be as he sayth He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Whatsoeuer is not lawefull sayth Austen it is the shepheardes office to forbyd and the duty of the flock to heare and to obey Therfore all men muste obey the Priestes euen as Christ when they commaunde them to faste to kepe holy day c. Therfore the Lorde threatneth them that are disobedient and rebell agaynst the commaundement of Priestes saying he that is proude and will not obey the commaundement of the Priest let hym dye the death An example hereof haue we in Dathan Abiron and Chore whiche rebelled agaynste Moses and Aaron and therefore the earth opened and swalowed them vp quick Sixtly God hath honored them by giuyng them power to bynde and to loosen as it is written Whatsoeuer ye shall binde vpon the earth c. This power of binding and losoning is vnderstande one waye of excommunication whiche is the spirituall swearde and it is greatly to be feared An other way this power is to be vnderstand of the absolution of sinnes Therfore the Bishop wheÌ„ he maketh priestes bloweth and breatheth vpon them saying Take the holy Ghost c. Seuenthly God hath honored them in that they are called aungels in the scriptures Therefore sayth Gregory All that are termed by the name of a priest are called Aungels But wherefore are they called aungels Verelye bicause they haue certayne properties with the angels First bicause it is the office of aungels to minister vnto God and vnto men as the Apostle saith All AuÌ„gels are ministring spirits So likewise is it the dutye of priestes to serue God day night and to minister vnto men with the Sacramentes Secondly bicause an aungell is pure in lyfe so in lyke maner ought euery priest to be chast and pure in his life and conuersation For to liue chast is an aungelike life as Ambrose saith they that are not maried nor do mary are as aungels in earth Damascen sayth Abstinence from mariage is the folowyng of aungels Thyrdly it is the office of Aungels to enforme and instructe men by good inspiration So likewise is it the priestes duty to do by the word of god Fourthly it is y e duty of aungels to prayse god so likewise are the priestes bounde vnder payne of deadly synne to say eueryday theyr mattens prime and houres euen â—ong c. vnto the prayse of God Eyghtly God hath honored y e priests in this that they are in some poyntes like to the most blessed virgine Mary First as the most blessed virgin Mary did conceaue thorowe fyue wordes the true body of Christ Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum so likewise the priest thorow fiue words Hoc est enim corpus meuÌ„ maketh the body of
of euery winning lefully wonnen in merchaundise or in any other craftes withdrawen onely the expense and the costage that nedefully must be made about the thing wherof the winning is getten not tithing the winning of one marchaundise with the losse of another And al tho that of the fruits of y e erth or of beast or any thing that neweth in the yeare geuē not y e tith wholy withouten any costage Al those that falsly tythen taken to God the worse and holden the better to her owne profyte agaynste the ordinaunce of Boniface sometyme the Archebyshop of Cantorburye by the whiche ordinaunce thorowe oute the prouince of Cantorburye should be one manner axing of tythes in thys manner wise Of all manner of frutes of earbis of gardins w touten any manner of coste abating of haye where euer it groweth in greate medes or in smal as ofte as it neweth Of newing of all manner of beastial of calfe or of lambe fro seuen vpwarde in the tenthe and fro six downewarde for euerich of hem an halfe penye but if the person or vicarye will abyde till another yeare and tell thilke that leuen and take the other beaste that followeth Of wulle y t is woxen of fellis fro purification of our Lady Of milke al the while y t it dureth as wel in winter as in sōmer but if they will do gree therefore to the person or to the vicary for the profyte of holy Church Of fyshing of fouling of veneson of been of all other good ryghtfully wonnen y ◠newen by y e yere Of profyt of milles weris of fyshing no cost abate but to y e very value shall the tithe be payde Of lesewys communis seuerelis shall the tithe trulich be paide after the number of the beescis or the dayes as it is most profite to holy Churche All werckmen chapmen that wynnen on her crafts on her marchaundise shulen trulyche paye her tythe to God and to holye Churche Also Carpēters and smithes weyuers and al other craftysmen and all other hyred men and wimmen shulen tythen of y e they getten but if they wulle geue any certaine therfore to holy Churche at the persons or vicaries wil. Also of foules of calues of pigges of gees of hennes of flax of hempe of corne and of all y t neweth by the yeare Also of shriding of trees and of al māner of vnderwoode woxing or hewed Also men of holy church mowen curse by name hem that wolen not paye her tythes as it is written in many places of the lawe of holy Churche Also all thoe bene accursed by al holy Churche that breaken or disturben the peace the vnitie first of the kyng and afterward of the realme by power or by counsaile by worde or by deede or els by any other manner to caste or imagine his death or any other traitorie to him or to the realme And al tho that falsly withholden his heritage or any other right that hym oweth lawfully to haue Also all thoe that geuen mede or els taken any manner gyftes for to let or distrouble the pees for to procure and make strife and debate among Christen people where loue and charitie shoulde be in anye degree eyther more or lesse Also all thoe that falsen or counterfeyten the Popes Bulles or his sealis or anye other seal autentike And all y e wittingly vsen suche false letters purchased or coūterfeted And al thoe y t falsen counterfeten the kings seal or the kings mony or clippen it or maken it lesse or therto assēt bicause of winning Also all y e falsen the kings standard or vsen any false weights or false yardes or elnes or any false measures y t is to say to bye with one sel with an other for to deceaue the cōmō people And al false conspirators beginners of false quarelis helpers therto And al y e falslishe forsweren thē vpon the holydom and yet knowen well that it is false when they begin to sweare namelishe in questes or in assisies or in any other false causes And all thilke that hiren such men or maken to be hired or procuren or mainteinen thereto or teachen hem thereto by worde or by dede for to make a man lese hys good And all that letten true cause or lawfull matrimonye or heritage or any testamente to be discussed and ordayned And all thoe that for hate or for winning maken men lesen her cattell maliciously before any domesman in willing of vengeaunce And all that purchasen writtes to outlawe anye man vnwittingly in another shire than he wonith in all that pursuen such writs or procuren therto or geuen counseile consent helpe or fauoure or ells haue firme or stable suche writtes in her name purchased In selfe doing or cōsenting they fallen into the greate curse Also all false aduocates that allegen any false exceptions or quarells in cause of matrimonye and al y t letten rightly Matrimony And al thilke procuratours or aduocates or other men of lawe of holy church y e which in plee of Matrimony or any other cause maken exception or delayes wittingly w t aduisement for to destroye let or tary a true cause y t it may not be holpe discussed ended after the right processe and course of lawe And all that maken priuilich wedolck in church or in chappel withouten banes axing lawfullich and solempnlich agaenst forbidding of holy church And all thoe that for winning of frendship or for kindred or for loue entermedle with such prety wedlocke And all thoe that for wrathe or hate or mede or any other encheson falsely doe slaunderen or diffamen any man or womā so y t they bene brought oute of her good fame into wicked name or make hem to lose her worldly goodes wherefore they han nede to purge hem by y t law And al thoe y t stelen or distreine or falselich withholdē charteries or testamentes y t longen to other men wherfore they lesen her heritage or any righte y t they shoulden haue by lawe And all thoe that letten or distroublen a testamente or the laste will of man or woman lawfully made althoughe they bee dead of the things y t were their owne and y t thei myghte rightfulliche make a testament of and skilfulliche biqueth and all that letten the fulfilling of any rightful testament and all that withholden the goodes so that the deades will skilfully may not be perfourmed And all thoe y t beene sworne and charged by executorye and fulfyllen not the deades will as her charge axeth And all y t letten y e kings writte clepyd a Significauit y t is to maken hem that beene accursed after fortye dayes to do hem to prison and thoe that procuren her deliueraūce vnrightfulliche before they be buxum to holy churche Also leude men that entermedle with offeryngs in churches or chappels agenst the wil and the leue of him y t it
no misfortune came vpō vs. But since we left to burne incense and to do sacrifice to the Queene of heauen we haue had scarcenesse of all thinges and perished with the sweard and hunger Last of all when we womē did sacrifice and offered to the Queene of heauen Did we make her cakes poure vnto her drinke offerings without our husbandes willes And as the vnfaithfull ▪ Israelites in wildernesse grudged against God his ministers saying Wherfore hast thou brought vs out of Egypte for to die in the wildernesse For here is neither bread nor water our soule lotheth this light bread Oh who shall geue vs flesh to eate We remember the flesh that we did eate in Egipt for nought ▪ and the Cuccumbers and Melons Leekes Onions and Garleeke But now our soule is dryed away For we cā see nothing els ▪ saue Manna Would to god we had dyed by the hād of the Lord in the lād of Egipt when we sat by the fleshe pottes and when we did eate bread our bellies full c. These aduersaries of gods word yea Eathnishe Epicures and beastly bellygods consider not how in the tyme of Antichrist that is to say of the Deuill and the Pope when all darke ignorancie and ignoraunt darknesse reigned when Papistrie and false Religion only florished when supersticious hypocrites alone ruled and ruffled there was muche more scarcenesse penurie dearth of all things than is now in the blessed tyme of the glorious ltght of Christs most glorious gospell Rede we not that euen in this Realme of England as I may passe ouer with silence the stories of other nations so great penurie scarcenesse dearth of grayne was found that the Inhabitantes thereof were compelled to make them bread of Pease Beanes Tares Fitches Acornes Ferne rootes c Chaunced not the like thing almost in one of the yeres of Queene Maries reigne now of late Was the worde of God and the preaching therof cause of so great miseries But then was there hygh silence of Gods word neither was the trompet of Christes gospell freely blowen Was the want of Masse occasion of it Masses swarmed in euery corner and countrey with all other idle inuētions of Antichrist Whatsoeuer the deuill and the pope at any tyme brought to the Churche was in those dayes most diligently practised yet notwithstāding such so great miseries thē chaūced as in the time of the gospel y e like was neuer foūd Yea with the gospel al good things were geuē vnto vs and to this our Realme of our moste mercifull father whiche we also at this presēt most abundaūtly do enioye thorow the singular benefite of the Lorde oure God so that the aduersaries of Gods word haue no iust and worthy cause to cōplaine of the scarcenesse of thinges wherof is so great abundaunce and plenty in this our land that we haue not onely sufficient for the sustentation of our owne coūtreymen but also of many thousands of straungers ▪ whiche lykewise do inhabite thys oure Realme But this from the beginnyng hath bene the propertye alwayes of Sathan and of his ministers if any aduersitie chaunce to commō weale where gods word reigneth streight wayes the cause thereof is imputed and ascribed to the worde of God and to the Preaching of the same as we haue diuerse examples both in the holy Scriptures and also in the Ecclesiasticall writters Whē God plaged the world with great dearth and famyne for their Idolatrye and wickednesse of life so that it reygned not vpō the earth by the space of three yeares syx monethes was not the occasion therof laid to the Prophet Helias charge to hys Preachynge Were not these the wordes of kynge Achab to the aforesayd Prophete and preacher of Gods worde Arte not thou euen he that troubleth Israell But the Prophet answered said vnto him It is not I that haue troubled Israel but thou thy fathers house in that ye haue forsaken the commmaundementes of the Lord and haue followed Baal Was not heresie sedicion treason layde to Christes charge when none was so free frō thē none more pure either in doctrine or life yea none to be compared vnto him being in dede incomparable in all Godlynesse goodnesse and vertue We haue found this fellowe sayd his aduersaries to Pilate peruertyng the people and forbiddynge to paye tribute to Cesar. If he were not an euill doer we woulde not haue deliuered hym vnto thee He is giltie of death To y e galowes with him to the galowes with him Likewise when the byshops hye priestes were afrayde of the inuasions of the Romanes and of taking away their liuinges and promotions was not all the matter laied vpon Christ his doctrine Were not these their wordes What do we For thys man doth many miracles If we let hym scape thus all men will beleue on hym and the Romanes shall come take away both our roume and the people Perceaue ye not howe we preuaile nothyng Beholde all the whole worlde goeth after him Reade we not also that the Apostles of Christe were accused of like faultes that that may be found true which Christ said The seruaunt is not greater than his Lord nor the disciple is not aboue hys master It is ynough for the disciple that he be as his Master is and that the seruaunt be as his Lord is If they haue called the Lord of the house Belzebub howe much more shall they call them of his housholde so Was not all the hurly burly sedition commotion strife contention debate insurrection c. imputed vnto them and their doctrine Were not these the words of their aduersaries when they brought them before the Rulers and head officers These men trouble our citie seing they are Iewes and preach ordinaunces whiche are not lawfull for vs to receaue seing we are Romanes Did not Paules enemies thus report of him This is the man that teacheth all men euery where againste the people and the law and this place He hath also brought Grekes into the temple and hath polluted thys holy temple Was it not layde to Paules charge also that he made an vproure and ledde out into the wildernesse foure thousand men that were murtherers And as what so euer plage or mischiefe chaunced in the Apostles tyme was euer imputed to them and to their doctrine so likewise came it to passe with the holy fathers and other good Christiās that succeded them as we may see not only in histories but also in other writers as in s. Cipria ▪ Contra Demetrianum and in Tertulian in Apollogi tico aduersus gentes c. And therfore no maruell though that same wickednesse be shewed at this daye agaynste the worde of the Lord seing that Sathan is alwayes one and is no changelyng seing also that he is nowe of no lesse power and will to worke the same malice enuye and mischief against the Religion of
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
their liues according to the rule of Gods worde that the Elders of Christes Churche seyng their repentaunce and amendement of life might thereby be occasioned to restore vnto them the holy and blessed communion which is the partaking of the body and bloud of Christ. Thus were the ceremonies not altogether vnprofitable to the people of y t age But it is in these our dayes farre otherwise For the ceremonies in the Popish Churches are stil retained but who knoweth the signification and meanyng of theÌ„ The bread is euery Sonday distributed and the water sprinckled but howe ofte is the death of Christe preached But as touching y e ceremonye of holy bread wherof we now speake it is become a vayne tradition and vtterly vnprofytable yea wicked and abhominable as all other popyshe ceremonyes are lykewise For where as it was instituted to put the people in remembrauÌ„ce of Christes body breakyng the priestes deale it vnto thys ende y t the people eating thereof shuld beleue to receaue health and saluation both of body and soule For these are the wordes which they vse in halowing the bread as they terme it takyng vpon them by thys meanes to make the creatures of God more holy than euer God made them Benedic domine hanc creaturam panis qui benedixisti quinque panâ—s in deserto vt omnes gustantes ex his recipeant tam corporis quaÌ„ animae sanitatem That is to say Blesse O Lorde thys creature of bread which didst blesse fyue Loaues in the wildernesse that al that taste of them may receaue healthe both of body and soule What other thyng is thys than to attribute the vertue of oure saluation to a pylde beggarly ceremony which alone commeth of y e meere mercye and gracious goodnesse of God to al men that repent and beleue in Christ Iesu hys onely begotten Sonne and oure alone Sauioureâ— If we maye obtayne health both of bodye and soule by their be witched bread then was Christ promised geuen conceaued borne circumcised persecuted and put to death for oure synnes in vayne yea then was Christ without cause made of God the Father vnto vs wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctifying and redemption y t as it is written He that reioyceth shoulde reioyce in the Lorde We knowe sayth the Apostle y t man is not iustifyed by the workes of the law but by the fayth of Iesu Christ and wee haue beleued in Christ Iesu that wee myght be iustifyed by y e faith of Christ and not by the workes of the lawe bicause no fleshe shall be iustifyed by the workes of the law If we be not iustifyed by the workes of that lawe which God hymselfe commaunded shall we hope to bee made ryghteous by the obseruaunces of mennes triflyng traditions croked constitutions idle inuentions drousye dreames fonde fantasyes antichristian actes deuilysh decrees 〈◊〉 O blasphemous Papistes Of Procession POpe Agapetus the fyrst commaunded the people to goe procession solemnely on sondayes other feastiual daies In the yeare c. 533. Platina Polyd. D. Barnes Guilielmus Durandus writeth that when the people goe a Procession the Belles are ronge to thys ende euen to make the deuills afrayde and to chase them awaye For sayeth he the deuills are wonderfully afrayde when they heare the trompettes of the church militaunt I meane the Belles euen as a Tyraunte is greatlye afrayde when he heareth in hys owne land the trompets of some myghtye Kyng that is his enemye And thys is also the cause why the church when there is any great tempest ringeth the Belles y t the deuills hearyng the trompets of y e euerlasting King shuld be afrayde and trudge away and cause no more tempestes to aryse c. Rat. di off Of Sensing POpe Leo the thyrde brought Sensing into the church In the yeare c. 796. Pol. D. Barns Pantal. Of Candles bearing on Candelmassedaye POpe Sergius otherwise called Pope Swinesnoute coÌ„maunded y t al the people shuld go on procession vpon Candelmasse day and cary candels about with them brenning in their handes In the yeare c. 684. Durand G. Achilles Howe thys candle bearyng on candlemasse day came first vp y t author of our english festiual declareth on thys maÌ„ner Somtyme sayeth he when the Romaines by greate myght and royall power conquered all the worlde for they had great dominion they were so proude y t they forgat God made them diuerse Gods after their own luste And so among al they had a God y t they called Mars that had beene to fore a notable Knight in battayle And so they prayed to hym for helpe and for that they woulde spede y t better of this Knyght the people prayed dyd great worship to his mother y t was called Februa after whiche woman muche people haue opinion that y e moneth February is called Wherfore y e second day of thys moneth is candlemasseday The Romaines thys nyghte went aboute the citie of Rome wyth Torches Candles brennyng in worship of thys woman Februa for hope to haue y e more helpe and succoure of her sonne Mars Then was there a Pope y t was called Sergius and wheÌ„ he sawe Christen people drawe to thys false Maumetrye and vntrue beliefe He thought to vndoe thys foule vse and custome and turne it into Gods worship and our Ladyes gaue coÌ„maundement y t all Christen people shoulde come to Churche and offer vp a candle brennyng in the worship y t they dyd to thys woman Februa doe worship to our lady to her sonne our Lord Iesu Christ. So y t now this feast is solemnely halowed thorowe al Christendome And euery Christen man and woman of couenable age is bounde to come to church and offer vp their candles as though they were bodily with our Ladye hopyng for this reuerence worship y t they do to our Ladye to haue a greate rewarde in heauen and of her sonne our lord Iesu Christ and so they may be syker and it be done in cleane lyfe and with good deuotion c. Of Ashes sprincklyng POpe Gregory the fyrst ordained y t the people on Ashe wednisday shuld be sprinckled with halowed Ashes to put theÌ„ in remembraunce y t they are but earth duste and Ashes In the yeare c. 590. Anselmus Ryd Of Palmes bearyng POpe Gregorye the fyrst also appoynted y t Palmes shoulde bee borne aboute in procession on Palme Sonday Ansel. Ryd Of halowing Palmes Ashes Candles c. POpe Gregorye the fyrste in lyke manner deuised the halowing of Palmes Ashes Candles c. Durand Antonin Of Crepyng to the Crosse. POpe Gregorye the fyrst likewyse broughte into the Churche the Crepyng vnto the Crosse. Sigesb Antoninus Of the halowing of the Paschal POpe Zozimus ordayned that the Paschall Taper shoulde be halowed on Easter euen and set vp in euery paryshe church In y e yere of oure Lorde 414.
vnderstaÌ„d according to y e dignitie and excelleÌ„tnesse of the masse The second vertue is that the holy aungels be glad to be nighe vnto y e person in kepyng hym wheÌ„ he hath heard masse as Dauid sayth god dyd coÌ„mauÌ„d his Aungels to kepe and preserue you in all your wayes and busines The thirde vertue is y t the man beholding with deuotioÌ„ reuereÌ„ce y e holy Sacrament in the masse as S. Austen â—aith god doth geue him y e fame day al thynges necessary for hys body Item vaine wordes vnaduised othes be for geuen pardoned and he is preserued from sodayne death A man doth lese no tyme while that he doth heare masse All the steps in commyng and in goyng be compted of the holy Aungell And if the man dye the same daye that he hath herd masse without receyuyng the Sacrament God shall compt it as spiritually receaued The fourth vertue is that a person beyng in sinne oftetimes in the Masse tyme by the presence of the holye Sacrament doth receaue a good inspiration so that from thenceforth he doth conuert hym from hys sinnes as the good theef vpon the crosse Mary Magedalene afore the feete of our Lord. If they had not bene present with oure Lorde peraduenture they shoulde not haue had pardon of their sinnes The fifte vertue or fruite is that a man hearing masse deuoutly receaueth spiritually the SacrameÌ„t so that he desire it deuoutlye And so it maye chaunce that a man hearyng masse deuoutlye shall obtayne more grace â–ª than the priest whiche doth it For the priest is not alwayes equally well disposed And so may a man euery day receaue the holy Sacrament spiritually â–ª The sixte vertue is that the man hearyng Masse and beyng in the state of grace is partaker of all the masses done thorowout all the worlde And that is more or lesse after as the man is in the loue and fauour of God For it is one of the Articles of the holy Catholike faith as in the Communion of the holy Churche The seuenth vertue is that the prayer of them whiche do heare Massâ— is sooner hearde and accepted of God in the masse tyme than at any other tyme. For then the priest and the holye Aungels which beabout the altare do helpe you to pray The eight vertue is that the soules being in Purgatory whiles y â— the man doth heare Masse and doth pray for theÌ„ haue a singular absolution during the same Masse For there is nothing that doth bryng them so shortly out of the paines of purgatory as to cause to say or to heare deuoutly Masse for them The ninth vertue is that it is better to heare one masse in our life time thaÌ„ to cause an hundred to be sayd or heard for vs after our death And y e it is better that a man cause a masse to be sayd for him in his lyfe than an hundred after his death the reason is this For a maÌ„ may now deserue and merite much with a Masse but not after his death For then he doth only finde y e whiche he hath deserued in his life And hundred thousand masses now done caÌ„ not augment one moment of glory ioye after this time But by a masse whiche I doe heare I may obtayne that I shal not come in Purgatory But after our death the masse deliuereth onely from Purgatorye Is it not better then not to come in purgatory than when a maÌ„ is there to tary and looke for ayde and helpe to be deliuered The tenth vertue is y e a woman hearing masse deuoutly if it chaunce that shee do laboure of childe the same day she shall be deliuered without faulte y e more easely and with lesse payne For the holy Aungels be very busye and diligent about her Therfore al women being with childe if it be possible shall heare masse euery day For by the vertue of the masse y e frute or childe is preserued And they shall put their trust in the sacrament and in oure blessed Ladye the Mother of God and in none other thing The eleuenth vertue is y t al thyng that a maÌ„ doth enterprise after he hath heard masse shall prosper and come to good end agayne y e whiche the man doth eate drinke after he hath heard masse shal profyt more to the necessitye of nature The twelfth vertue is y t if the man die the same day y t he hath heard masse God shal geue hym a singulare grace which otherwyse he shoulde not haue had that is to say that God hymself or his Aungells at the laste houre of hys death shal helpe comfort hym as the man hath serued God at y e masse For it is written in the holy Gospel With what measure ye haue measured with the same also I wil measure you euerlastingly AMEN In the Festiuall also we reade thus concerning this matter S. Austen sayeth y t it profiteth greatlye all Christen people for to heare masse and specially for nyne causes and sayth in this manner of wise Quia illo die quo audierit missam necessaria cibaria conceduntur For that daye y e he heareth a masse he shall fayle no bodily foode or susâ—enaunce nor no necessary thing y t shal be belonging or appertayning vnto hym nor no let ne impediment shall he haue in hys iourney that he hath to goe or ryde whersoeuer he trauayleth The second cause is al venial sinnes be forgeuen hym by the vertue of the masse and idle wordes The thirde is y t if a man die it shall stand hym for hys housell The fourth he shal not y t day lâ—se his syght The fifte al idle othes that daye shal be forgeuen hym The sixt y t nay he shall die no sodain death The seuenth as long as he heareth masse he shall not waxe olde The eyght al hys steppes towarde froÌ„ward the holy church his good Aungel reckeneth to his saluation The nynth al the while y t he beholdeth the blessed sacrament all wicked spirites flee from hym and haue no power ouer him be he neuer so greate a synner In Stella Clericorum concernyng the vertue of y e Masse we finde these wordes Before al remedies wherwith the soules being in purgatory may be holpen the Masse farre excelleth Therefore sayeth Gregorye Oh howe great liuely gifte of God is thys For masse is neuer song or sayd but that two vertuous workes doe concurre and are brought to passe that is to say the coÌ„uersion of one sinner and the deliueraunce of one soule at the least oute of purgatorye Of Councells POpe Marcellus the fyrst made a decree y t no councel myght be lawfully assembled gathered together whether it be general or national without the bishop of Romes consent and assente In the yeare of our Lord. 304. Dift 17. ap Synodum Polydor. Bartholo Carrantza Libro Concil Pope Iulius Pope Damasus Pope Gregory ratifyed the same decree
agreed y t if any noble maÌ„ do spoyle a priest or any poore man or religious person and y e Byshop shall commaund hym to come vnto hym y t the cause maye bee heard he refuse to come letters shall be seÌ„t thorow out al bishops one to another which shall declare to al y e countreyes round about y t that man is excommunicated and is so to bee reputed taken til he hath shewed hys obedience to the ordinary and made restitution Caus. 24 â–ª Quaest. 3. Capit. Si quis de polentibus In a councell holden at Paris it was ordayned y t no priest should excommunicate any man before y e cause be euidently proued and openly knowen Ibidem Cap. de illicita In the councell Rothomagense it was decreed y t all manner of tythes should bee payde to the Priestes both corne Haye Fruite Oxen Shepe Goates c. For all tythes are sanctifyed to the Lorde And forasmuche as many are stubborne and disobedient and wil not truely and faythfully pay their tithes as they ought to doe it was ordayned in that Councell that all suche as will not pay them shoulde be admonished once twice or thrice according to the coÌ„maundement of the Lord. If they will not then amende that they shall then be excommunicate and accursed till they haue made due satisfaction and sufficient recompence Caus. 16. q. 7. cap. Omnes decimae The manner and fourme of Excommunication TWelue Priestes must stand about the Byshop and holde burnyng candles in their handes whiche candles at the latter ende of the curse or excommunication they must throw downe vpon the grounde and treade them vnder their feete Afterward letters must be sent rouÌ„d about vnto Parishes contayning the names of them that are excommunicate and also the cause of their excommunication Caus. 11 â–ª quaest 3. cap. Debent In concilio Arausicano we reade these wordes we folowing the canonical ordinaunces and examples of the holy fathers do vtterly sequester and banish by the authority of God and the iudgement of the holy Ghost al violatours disturbers hinderers and destroyers of Gods churches froÌ„ the lap of holy mother Churche from the company and felowship of al christianitie vntil they repent amend and satisfie the Church of God Ibidem cap. Canonica The manner of reconciliation of them that were excommunicate WHen any man y t is accursed or excoÌ„municate is peniteÌ„t sory for his sinne desireth forgeuenesse promiseth to amende the Bishop y t did excoÌ„municate him shall come before the church dore and xii priestes with him shall stande round about him on euery side And if the person y t is excommunicate fal flat downe on the grounde and asketh forgeuenesse promising amendement theÌ„ shall the Byshoppe take hym by the ryght hande and leade hym into the Church and restore him to the christen congregation Afterward they shal sing the seuen penitentiall Psalmes with these prayers Kirie eleyson and Pater noster Saluum faâ— seruum c. With this collecte Praesta quesumus domine huic famulo tuo dignum paenitentiae fructum vt ecclesiae tuae sanctae a cuius integritate deniâ—â—erat peccando admissorum veniam consequendo reddatur innoxius Per Christum dominum nostrum Amen Whiche is thus Englished â–ª Graunt we beseche thee O Lord to this thy seruaunt the worthy frute of repentauÌ„ce that be obtaynyng forgeuenesse of his sinnes may be restored pure and faultlesse to thy holy Churche from the integritye and purenesse wherof thorow sinne â–ª he had wandred and gone astray By Christ our Lord. So be it Causa 11. Quest. 3. cap. Cum aliquis Of penaunce POpe Nicolas the firste appoynted that this shoulde be the penaunce of hym y t hath slayne his mother First by y e space of an whole yere he shall not be suffered to come into the Churche but he shal staÌ„d before the church dore praying beseching god coÌ„tinually to forgeue hym so haynous horrible a sinne Secondlye when the one yeare is ended he shal haue licence to come into the Churche and to stand among y e hearers but he by no meanes shalbe suffred to come vnto the communion or Sacrament of the bodye and bloud of Christ. Thirdly wheÌ„ the third yeare is once past he shall be admitted vnto the holy communion c. All this time he may eate no fleshe nor presume to drincke wine excepte it be on soleÌ„ne feastes and sondayes and from Easter vnto Whitsontyde And whensoeuer he will take any iourney he maye not ryde but go on foote He maye not go vnto the warres except it be to fyght agaynst the paganes He must also euerye weeke faste three dayes eate no meate till it be night c. In the yeare c. 8711. Caus. 33. tract de paenitentia cap. Latorem praesentium Pope Siricius made a decree that those which are penitents may not in the tyme of their penaunce mary nor excercise y e worke of mariage lest they shoulde be counted as dogs returnyng vnto their vomit or as sowes whiche beyng cleane washed walowe tomble them selues again in the miry puddels In the yeare of our Lorde 389. Caus. 23. quaest 2. Cap. De his vero Pope Leo the first notwithstandyng of his great fauour and singular goodnes graunteth to al such as are already maried that they euen in the time of their penance may lawfully enioy the libertie of matrimony lest peraduenture while they abstaine from y t which is lawfull they shal fall into the daunger of that which is vnlawfull In the yeare c. 444. Ibidem G. Audiuimus The same decree also Pope Leo the thirde made declaryng that it is more tollerable and may better be suffered that a yonge man euen in the time of his penance to auoyd the dauÌ„ger of incontinency do ioyne vnto him a wyfe than he should incurre and fal into the sinne of fornicatioÌ„ In doing this saith he it semeth that the matter whiche he hath done is venial and pardonable so that he knowe none other besides hys owne wife Notwithstanding saith he in speakyng thus we make no law but we shewe what is more tollerable In y e yere c. 817. Ibidem cap. In adolescentia Pope Gregorye the fyrste ordayned this to be the penaunce of the maryed man that he shall not enter into the Churche before he hath purified and washed himselfe with water if he haue had the knowledge of his wiues body and geuen her as the Apostle saith the due beneuolence In the yeare of oure Lord. 590. Caus. 33. Quaest. 4. cap. Vir cum propria vxore Pope Pius the fyrste made a decree that if thorowe the negligence of the priest any of the bloud he meaneth the Sacrament of Christes bloude as the expositour doth declare in the same place do droppe down vpon the grouÌ„d the Prieste shall lycke it vp wyth hys tounge c. and he shall do penaunce for
hys harte when al his bloud was agone shed for our sakes And so by sacrament of Christening he is ful made Christes childe and he receaueth there parte of the passion of Christ and part of all the Sacraments and prayers that beene done in holye churche Also he receaueth parte of all good deedes y t beene done among all Christen people And if he holde mekely the couenaunt y t he maketh there to god he may be sure for to haue a dwelling place for euer in y e blysse of heauē But what tyme y t he trespasseth so agaynst the law of God y t he falleth into curse by sinne or y t he is worthye to be cursed of holy church then he is departed from God and al good works till he come to amendment And he is than deliuered againe to y e fende of hel for to put him for his sinne into the payne of hell withouten ende but he hym amend therof be assoyled or he hence passe And therefore there is nothing in al this world y t a Christen mā or woman ought so griselich to dread as for to fall into sinne y t bringeth him into the sentence of curse the which departeth him from God y t is his father from holy church that is his mother Also as holy scripture or the lawe beareth witnesse Cursing is cleped the sweard of holy church For right as we seen y t the stroke of the sweard it sleaeth and departeth the life fro the body right so y e stroke of this ghostly sweard Cursing departeth and doth away our Lord God from man woman which is accursed the which Lord God is life of her soules withouten him all her workes bene dead euermore after but thei haue special grace of God for to amende hem here ere they passe oute of this world For as many Clerkes preuen at y e day of dumme would our lady S. Marye and S. Iohn Baptiste al saints y t bene in heauen knele down at once before y e blessed face of almightye God they shoullen not in y t time thorowe the prayer of them all deliuer the soule of man or woman y t dyeth in deadly sinne For trulich it were expresselich agaynste the holy Gospell where Christ sayth thus that he shall trulich geue to euery man and womā their ryghte there as he hath deserued here And if the day of dumme shall bee so harde to all thoe y t dyen in any deadly sinne by al reason ful myche harder shall it bee at y e tyme with all these y t be founden openly cursed of God and of holye Churche In thys perillous waye of dampnation beene all thylke men and women that I shall speake of And therefore I beseeche you and charge you for the loue of god almighty and for the saluation of your soules that ye vnderstand wel al these points And if any of you fele hym giltye in any of all y t he amende hym by sorow of hearte shrifte and penaunce and that betimes Fyrst and formest we denouncen accursed all that holy Churche falsely depriuen of any ryghte or profyt that it falleth to haue eyther by law written or elles by good custome whiche that hath bene holden and vsed of old time And in thys poynte fallen three manner of folke Fyrst all thoe y t stelen any Churchegoodes in what place so that they bee done to kepe or ells that stelen vnhalowed thyng oute of holye place or thynges that beene halowed oute of place vnhalowed And all thoe y t wittingly breaken or destroyen anye poynt of freedome that longeth to holy Churche And thys is not alonely vnderstande of the fredomes y t longen generally to all holy Churche but also of other speciall freedomes which y t some church hath more thā an other temporal or spiritual whether so it be The thyrd poynte is y t al thoe bene accursed that purchasen writtes or letters of any leude courte for to let the processe of the lawe of holy churche of causes y t longen skilfully vnto Christē courte the which shoulde not be demed by none other lawe All thoe also that breaken or distroublen the fraunches and the fredome of holy church And al y t bene agaynst the peace and y e ryghte state of holy church or therto assenten with worde dede or counsayle And al y t maliciouslye biriuen holy churche of her right or maken holy churche Lay-fee y t is halowed and blessed And all thoe that letten Archebyshop or Byshop or any other y t hath iurisdiction and power by the lawe of holy Church that they may not visite her sugettes or dare not vse her lawe for to amende the soules of hem y t they haue to kepe And all thoe that falsely fleen awaye from one place to an other that holye church may not chastyse them ne rule thē as she shuld Also god holy church accursen al thoe y t laye hand in malice on priest or clerke on man or woman learned or leude w tin church or churchyarde or man or woman of Religion but it be hemself defendaunt so y t they may not els saue hemself or els that it be in certaine pointes that the lawe geueth licence and all that therto procuren or mainteinen such dedes by coūsayle or strength Also all yilke bene accursed that drawen out any mā or woman in violence out of holy Church to haue succour and helpe or els out of any holy place that is halowed but and it be in certaine poyntes as the lawe geueth leaue or letten them to haue sustenaunce the while they bene there And also all thoe that for malice or wrath of person vicare or priest or of any other or for wrongfull couetise of himselfe withholden rightfull tythes offerings rentes or mortuaries frō her owne parishe Churche and by waye of couetyse falselyche agayne takynge to God the worsse and to himself the better or els turne him into an other vse than him oweth or done him in other place after their owne will so y t they be not done to the same place that they shoulde be or let by worde or by deede any man or woman for to do her good will and her deuotion to god and to holy church For all Christen mē womē ben hard bound vpō pain of deadly sin not onlich by the ordinaūce of mā but both in the olde lawe and also in the newe lawe for to paye truliche to God and holy church the tithe part of al maner encrease that they winnē trulich by the grace of god both with her trauel and also with her craftes what so they be truliche gotten Also the tith part of al manner fishes and foules beasts both wild tame And al maner of frutes that growen out of the earth Also all that wittingly or wilfully tithen falsly that is to say that geuē not to god and to holy church the tēth part