of England the kyng to the pope c ¶ The lorde of al lordes Ihesus chryst which doth gouerne and rule both celestiall and terrestriall Alia carta eiuâ—dem withelmi regis The epistle of kyng wylliam conquerour to the hye bysshop of rome thinges for euer hath of his deuine goodnes exalted you to the appostolical dygnite for to remoue put awaye all offensions to put away al Iuperdies to set forwarde the profyt of his people ¶ Therfore we desiring as we ar bounde to prouyde that that is necessarye and withstand and put awaye al maner Iuperdis from the People of god of whome by the sufferaunce of god I am ruler wolde also gladly defende encrease in our tyme the honour and liberties of the noble church of England and that that is our ryght by inheritaunce which our predecessors worthe of eternal memory did nobly defeÌ„d wherfore certen thinges specyallye before all other whiche troble our minde in puryte of sprite we haue opened and certified to your holines He calleth the church of englond our mother The church of England our mother which amongest al other churches of the worlde doth excell and abounde in Temporal possessions in the seruis and honour of god and in the diligence of deuoute ministers in the workes of mercy and hospitalite and euer hath florishede with prerogatiues of noblenes and honur wyle the abundance therof was at the dispensacion of her owne chyldreÌ„ to the seruis and ministers therof which were called to those dygnities The promissions of the bysshops of rome intollerable here in England not bi ambicion but by god Nowe by Importable Tapis and exceding prouisions made by the apostolical see indifferently as wel to straÌ„gers as to Englishemen we being had in suspecion and hatred for the most parte our peticions made for euer lerned and discrete well be loued vtterly contemned it is so wasted kept vnder diminished fortroubled because the profettes of mani dignites fate benefices be geuen to Aliens and foren persons which be not resident vpon the promocions The dignites of the churche were geuen to Aliens whereby cam moche decaye of vertue and great hurte to the realme and know not them selfe and vnderstand not the tong but oneli seke for there Temporal lucre I wyl not speake of other shamefull vices Therby comethe and riseth moche sclaunder and the profeccion of the ecclesiasticall discipline is lytle regarded the charg of soules is neglecte the honour seruyce of Chryste is diminyshed The habitacions of the clargy go to decaye whych the predecessors dyd sumptuously buylde hospitalite is lest and the almes that were wonte to be geuen be kepte awaye by whiche the deuocioÌ„ of many is falleÌ„ awai Was this the first entent and wyl and the liberall minde of the founders and prences that the almes and patrimonies of kinges and other which were assined and geuen to the ministers of the church for the excercise of the honour of god and for workes of charyte shulde come and remayne to the profette of Aliens or straungers Was landes geueÌ„ to the churche of EnglaÌ„d to fede Aliens and let ther own childer in hunger and penurye Is this pleasyng to god that the church so endued with possession which bringeth forthe so manye dyscrete and wyse chyldeÌ„r profetable and necessary to take cure and ministracion of here shulde let her owne childer be in honger and penury and geue her pappes to Aliens and straungers not onely to take sucke of theÌ„ but rather to teare and pulle them in peces for the chylder sucke the Mylke strangers wringe oute the blod letting nothyng remaine that they may smatche and plucke amongest whome we do not mene nor speake of the ryght reuerente fathers Cardinalles of the church of Rome which being assistent aboute your holynes The chyldreÌ„ sucke the mylke straungers wring out the blod may ease and heale the mothers dyseases help her continualye for when the treasure of the Realme is spente and wasted the church therof dystroiwed the Realme shulde be moche weaker in aduersityes By suche promisions the realme is made moch weaker and porer which thiÌ„g perchance ouer enemyes do craftelye coniecture and cast ⧠Wherfore we seynge before these grefes and other such incommodites whiche if we shulde disâ—anul any longer myght be occasioÌ„ of gretter Wherfore by the aduise councell of our faythfull people lerned councel gethered together we beseche your holines with meker and humblye prayers that ye wyll ponder the primissis in the balaunce of right IudgemeÌ„t with abundaÌ„s of paciens and deuocion and were as we and our realme ouer clargi and our people hetherto haue bene before al other obedient to your se Therfore your holines of your nobilite and weldisposed kyndnes ought to fauour and releue not to opresse them that ye of your customable benignite which doth suppresse Auerice and abhorreth Simony wold vochesafe so to moderate your reseruacions and prouisions Popes required and did exâ—ort tapis inportable and the goodes of theÌ„ that dyed intestate and money bequethed to the holy lande with other thinges â—â—o chefely for Alyons strangers and suche tapis by your holines required and oftymes extorte bi inportune calling vp on of them that be ambitius and other commyssions for the goodes of them that be ded vnder colour that the dyed intestate and of suche money that is bequethed for the socour of the holy land and al suche goodes as be bequethed vncertaynlye by whyche our people by the subtiltie of your officers I wil not say malice contrary to your minde as we trust hath ofttymes wrongfuly be wexed that the Cathedral churches and other churches of our realme may haue fre elections and efficacite after the grauntes and confessions geuen by our aunceters kinges of Englonde and confyrmed by the apostolical se Bysshops were electe by the cathedrall ses And that clarkes that be patrones lose not libertye of there patronage and that this burden whiche werethe they shulders of the chyldren maye be taken awaye leeste that necessyte cause them at the laste to caste of those burdens whyche can not be borne longe withoute ouermoche detriment ¶ But that the deuocion of vs ours maye encrease to the apostolycal se we instantly desire you that the grefes and burdens maye cease for we can not alwayes be sluggardes but as we are bounde for our power we must auoide and expel al suche grefâ—es and daungers And therfore kyng Edgarus that he might showe the rule and gouernaunce of his people in suche causes to partaine to him Oratio regis edgari ad clerum Anglie made to his clargye an oracion whyche here foloweth consequentli Bycause our lord god hath abundantli showed his mercie amongest vs it is mete reuerent fathers that we shuld be correspondent to his innumerable benifittes in worthye workes For we do not possesse the erthe by our
for our sinnes which from the bosome of Sibilla stinkes in the skyn of astraÌ„ge mouse that trymmes her eares that becomes her fingers that bindeth her delicate body in sylke and purple O father is the profette of my almes is this the fecte of my desire and of your promise what answer wyl ye make to the complaynte of my father I knowe this well yf thou sawest a thef run thou didest not run with hym nor thou dydest not take thy parte with adulters / thou hast rebuked thou hast desired for goddes sake thou hast blamed thy wordes be not regarded We must come to punishement ye haue here with you the reuerent father Edward bysshop of winchester The correctioÌ„ of the clargye commytted to the bishops to put out the viceÌ„ous to put in them that be good Ye haue the honerable bishop of Worceter Oswalde I commytte this busines to you that by the authoryte of the bisshops and power of the kinge the that liue viciousli be put oute of the church and they that lyue wel be put in ther sted Besides that also the temporall lordes and the perliament of England when the bysshoppe of Rome was aboute to take vpon hym that he wolde knowe of the tytle for the kiÌ„gdome of ScotlaÌ„d which the king of EnglaÌ„d did chaleÌ„ge The leâ—â—erâ— wrytton from the perliameÌ„â— of England to the bysshop of rome wrote letters to the bysshop of rome on this wise that foloweth The holimother church of Rome by whose mynistery the Christon world is gouerned in his actes As we fyrmelye beleue and holde doth alwaye procede with mature deliberacyon soo that it wylles too be preiudycyall to no man But lyke a louynge mother wolde that all ryght and Iustyce of euery man aswell in other men as in herself shulde be conseruyd incorrupte and withoute breeche In a parlyament lately sygned at Lyncolne by oure mooste gracyous and noble lorde Edward by the grace of god Kynge of Englond Oure gracyous lorde dyd cause certeyn letters Apostolycall whych he receuid from you concerning certayn busynes aboute the condicion and stare of the Realme of Scotland to be deliueryd to vs and ernestly to be expounded and pondred Which letters hard diligeÌ„tli vnderstaÌ„d we hard such thinges coÌ„teiÌ„ed in theÌ„ as we merueled at suche thynges as was neuer fo harde of before Scotland hath alwais partayned to the kings of England We knowe holye father it is manifest in the parties of England / and openlye knowen to many other that from the fyrst institucion of the kingdom of England that as well in the tyme of the brittons as you the time of the Englishmen the very certen trewe dominion of Scotland by succession of tyme hath ê‘tained to the kiÌ„gs of England to the same realme in temporalites bi no tytle or right ê‘tayneth to the church afore named But also the same Realme of ScotlaÌ„d of olde time hath bine tributer to the ancestors progenitoures of our forsayde lordes that were kinges of England to him also Also the kynges of Scotland the realme were neuer vnder aniother then the kings of England or were wonte to be subiecte to ani other Nor the kinges of EnglaÌ„d vpoÌ„ ther ryght in the forsayd realme or any other Reges anglie de statu reguâ— coraÌ„ nullo liâ—â—gare coguÌ„tur themperaltyes of theres haue answered or weare bouÌ„de to answere before any ecclesiastical Iudge or seculer Iudge bi the reason of his fre peminence of his state regal dignite custome obserued wtout any contradiccion wherfore with diligent councell mature deliberacion vpon the contentes in your letters spokeÌ„ of before this is the holie comeÌ„ one conseÌ„t of al singuler of vs shal be for euer with the grace of god wtout variacion That our forsaid lord kiÌ„g shal not with in any Iudiciall corte answere before you Negani respoÌ„dere cord episcopo romano vpoÌ„ the right tytle of his Realme of Scotland or ani other temporalties of his nor be obedieÌ„t to Iudgment in any wise or bring his forsaid ryght in any doute nor shal sende any proctors or messengers to your presens specially because that the premisses shulde manifestli be to the disheriting of the right of the Crowne of EnglaÌ„d the kinges The whole ê‘liament denyeth to answer in anye suche cause before the bysshop of rome for it shuld be preiudicial to the realme dignitie the manifest subuersion of the state of the same realme and also preiudicial to the libertis customes and to the lawes of our fathers vnto the obseruacion defeÌ„ce of the which we ar bound by our othes geuen which also we wil hold with al our power defende with al our strenght by the helpe of god nor also we wyl not suffer nor we cane not nor we ought not to suffer our forsayd lorde king althoughe he were wyllinge to do or any wayes to atemte such premisses not vsed and we ought not to do preiudicial neuer harde of before wherfore humbli desyre your holines that where as our forsayde lorde king of England hath euer more behaued him self faithfull catholike amoÌ„gest all other chrysten princes of the world euer obedient to the church of rome that ye wyll louingly suffer him quietli peaceably to possesse to remaiÌ„e iÌ„corrupt al his riches liberties custoÌ„es lawes wtout ani dimunicioÌ„ dysquietnes inwitnes wherof our seales as wel for vs as for the holecoÌ„munalte of the forsayd realme we haue set to this present writing geueÌ„ at Lincolne the yere of our lord M. CCCCCx Epistola Cassiodori there is also a Epistle of one Cassidore to the church of England of the abusis of the bysshops of rome after these wordes To the noble church of England doyng seruice in lime and stonne Peter the sonne of cassiodore a christen knight a deuout chaunpion of chryst wysseth helth and the abaccion of seruituÌ„de and bondage and the receyuinge of the reward of libertye to whome shall I compare the or els to whom shall I lyken that my doughter HierusaleÌ„ to whome shal I matche the virgin doughter of Syon for thy contricion is grette as the se IheroÌ„ i Thou arte lefte alone with out solace IheroÌ„ ii all day wasted with sorowe thou arte put in his handes whence thou canste not ryse without helpe of a lyfter vp The bisshops of rome be called scribes phariseys For the scribes and pharyseis fytting vpon the seate of Moyses the lordes of rome be enemyes to the set abrode ther philacteris go aboute to enriche them selfe with the mari of the bones the laye burthens ouer heuye and importable on the neckes of they ministers further then is comly or conuenieÌ„t thei set the vnder tribute which in olde tyme wast fre The bysshope of rome hath maryd the churche of the gentyls and so is mad father
to the churche of England but he is vnkynde lyke a steppe father Put awaye al maner of maruelinge for they mothere the ladye of the gentilnes after the fasshion of wydowes is spoused to her subiecte and hathe ordeyned him to be thy father that is to saye the grett byshope of the ceti of rome which yet in nothing showeth the kindnes like a father vpon the he enlargeth the borders of his garmentes by experince doth showe that he is the mothers husband he oftymes remembreth the prophetical words which is surely prīted roted in his hart rote take that a gret boke write in him quickely with the hāde of mā Ezay viii What text of Scripture is printed in the harte of the bisshops of rome hast that to spoyle sped the to robbe doth the Apostle saye that he was ordeyned for that entent where he wryteth euery bisshop assumpte from amonges mē is ordeyned for men in these thinges the longe to god Hebreos v Not to spoyle not to leye on them Annual tapys not for murdering of men but to offer gyftes and sacrifice for sinne which also can haue cōpassiō vpō the ygnorāt be oute of the waie What is the office of a bisshope and it is redde of Peter a fyssherman whose successer he saith that he is that after the resurrectiō of chryst he retorned agayne to his excercise of fishing with other apostles which when he coude take nothing one the lefte side of his bote at the biddinge of chryste he turned to the ryght side of the botte and drawinge his net to the ground ful of gret fyshes therfore Iohn xxv The ministers of the churche is profitable if it be excercised on the ryght side the ministery of the church is profitably to be excercised in the right side bi which the deuil is ouer come and manye soules are taken to chryst surely the labour on the lyfte syde is not so for on that side fayth Wauers / Sadnes raynethe whan that is sought for is not found Whe can thinke that he can serue god and Mamon at ons at one tyme and folowe his owne pleasure And folowe the desires of the fleshe and blod / and offer to chryste condigne or worthy rewardes And wtout doubte the sheperd that wyl nat watche a vpon the edifinge of his flocke doth prepare another waye the ramping lion sekinge whome he may deuoure The bishop of rome is called the father of the church of england but he is not in dede Se doughter the actes / doinge of him that is named thy father suche as thou hast not harde before which putteth awaye good sheperdes from the shepe cots putteth in the stede of them to be rulers of them not for to good or profet to them his owne nepheues his kinsmen and his parentes and some that haue no lerninge Bysshopes of rome vse to exalte there kinsmen with the good of the churche althoughe they be vnlarned som that be as domme and deaffe that can not vnderstande the tonge of his flocke and such as care not for the bytyng of wolues but lyke hyred seruauntes beringe awaye the fleses and that reape that other men haue sowen whose handes be euer in takynge the coffynne and there backes turned a way from ani burden of whiche it is manifest that the preesthod is prouerted nowe a dayes The seruice of god is withdrawen and the almes geuen is misused by which thinges the holy deuocion of kinges Psalmo viii prynces and of al christen men is decayed Ought not euery mā to meruel that where as Chryste commaunded tribute to be payde to kinges for him self for peter he doth labour to make subiecte to his power Realmes kinges rulers of Realmes contray to the mind of hym whose vicar he saythe that he is which dyd refuse and put fro hym realmes the Iudgementes of the worlde The bysshops of rome chalēge as moch to theyr owne as the list to write to be there owne the bi the dominion of his stile or pē for the calengeth al that he wyl write to be his what dothe he more doughter to ye. The bisshops of rome were not contente with the tenth but the wolde haue also the fyrst frutes ¶ Lo he taketh away fromme the what he lyste and yet he holdeth not himself contēt yf he take frome thee the tenth parte of the goodes onles he also haue the fyrst frutes of the promocions of ministers as thoo there were newe patrimonye geuen to the same for him and his bloode Bysshopes of rome made lately execrable ordinaunces for stepend of Messengers Postes the wyllis of the founders beinge litle regarded and nowe lately he hath made cursed and exerrable ordināces for stipend of messengers and postes whome he sendeth to Englād which cari away not the liuing of the and thyne there consecracions but the teare there fleshe felles lyke dogges Is not he to be likened to Nabugodōosor the king which distroweth the temple of god and robeth them of all there syluer and golde vessels that he dyd doth now this felow iiii regum xxxiiii he robbeth the ministers of the house of god lafte the house with out necessaryes The bysshope of rome maye be likend to kīge Nabugodonose◠The same dothe this tirāt yet in better case be they that dye with swerde than the that dye for honger for the dye shortly and those be consumed by the batannes of the grounde let al those that go by the way haue compassion one the doughter for there is no sorowe lyke to them for nowe by excedinge Sorowe and continual effusiō of teares thi face is blacker than ani coles And therfore because ye are no more knowen in the stretes Thy forsayd superiour hath sett the in darkenes and hat fedde the with Wormewode and gal ¶ Here good lord the affliction syghinges of the people Se good lorde and come downe for the harte of that forsayd man The bysshope of rome hathe set the church in darkenes fedde it wyth gall is moch more indurate hardened than the harte of Pharo For he wyl not let thy people go awaye fte The bysshope of rome punisheth mē after the be bed is a newe enemy to england but with the power and strenght of thy hande For he doth not punishe them miserably vpon Erth. but also after there death for he stendeth to haue al the goodes of them that dye vntestate Therfore let the commens of England consider howe in tymes past Frenchement casting there couetous eyes vpon the Realme of England whent aboute to Subdue it to there power but that that the coulde not bring to passe it is to be feared lest the forcast subtilty of that forsaide man our newe enemye fulfyl For when the treasure of the realme is wasted and spente and the churche dystrowede the realme most
with the sword fo xxx Bysshoppes of rome haue labored to bynd men to kepe theyr decrees Folio xxxix Bysshopes made a lawe that clarkes shuld not be â—ued before a seculer Iudge Fol. xi Bysshoppes of Rome subtile Folio xii Bisshops of rome affirm that they haue al power fo xli Bysshops of rome went far backward froÌ„ Christ fo lvi Boniface the .viii. loued prehemynence Folio xlix Byshopes were electe by the cathedrall sees fol. lxxxxii Bysshops of rome Scribes and Pharisees Folio C Bishops of rom hath maried the church of geÌ„tils fo eod Bysshopes of Rome called the father of the churche of England but not in dede Folio Ci Bysshops of rome vse to exalte theyr kinsmen Fo. C. ii Bysshopes of rome chalenge asmoche to â—e theyr owne as they lyste Folio eodeÌ„ Bysshoppes of rome made lately execrable ordinaunces for stipendes Folio C. ii Bishops of rome hath set the church in darknes fo c. iii Bysshopes of rome ponyssheth men after they be dede and is an enemy to Englande Folio eodem C. ¶ Crisostome in his sermone FolioÌ„ x Congregacion in the actes folio xi Christ chose Peter before he was bish of rom fo xviii Chryst forbade to swere by Hierusalem folio xix Christ chose HierusaleÌ„ to byld his temple Folio eodem Children be voyde of ambicion Folio xxii Clarkes maye appele frome theyr dioces Folio xxix Causes shuld be determinid within their prouiÌ„ce fo eod Christ forbad superiorite amongest his disciples fo xxxi Consilium Chartage Folio xxxv Christe payd tribute to the king or Emperure Folio lxvii Christe and the Apostles dyd euermore obeye the Ciuel powers Folio lxix Constantin to the bishops in the couÌ„cel of dyre fo lxxvii Constantyne the Emperoure caused hethen men to honour god and knowe god folio lxxviii Childernt sucke the mylke Folio lxxxxi Clerus Anglie gladium Petri habet folio lxxxxv Correccion of the clargi coÌ„mitted to the bish fo lxxxxvii D ¶ Difference of the ecclesiasticall regall power fol iiii Deuision of thys worke into .iiii. partes Folio vi Dystin .xl. chapter multi Folio xxiâ— Desyre of primaci causeth confusion fo xxii Distin .lxv mos antiquo folio xxvii Distin .iiii cap statuimus Folio xxxviii De consecratione Folio xxxix Dygnites of the church were geuen to Aliens fo lxxxx Deuotion is decayed Folio eodem E ¶ Eneas siluins Folio x Ecclesiastica historia Folio xxiiii Englonde dyd resist the popis prouisions Folio xxxix Enterpretacion of this worde clarkes folio xliiii Ezechias king put away the abuses of the ecclesiastical power Folio lxii Ezeckias coÌ„maunded the prestes and leuites to puryfy themself Folio lxiiii Ezechias commaunded the people to offer Folio eodeÌ„ Euery man that confesseth chryst to be the sone of god maye be called peter Folio ix Euery man that seketh the worde of Peter is the seat of Peter folio xvii Ezechias commaundid the people to geue part of theyr goodes to the prestes Folio lxv Edgarus kinge made spiritual lawes folio lxxii Edmundus kinge made spirituali lawes folio eodem Epistel of kyng Wyllyam Conqueroure to the bisshop of rome Folio lxxxix Episâ—ola Cassidori Folio C Exortacion to the reders to loue the truyth Folio C vi F. Fathers of the primatiue church shrunke from the vnite of the primacy fo xxvii Fraeltie of men is euermore compasing busy fo xlix G. God by the prophet saieth I wil dwel in Hiel'm fo xix God some tyme suffreth tyrranycall power to punishe his people Folio xx God gaue bysshopes authorite but no dominioÌ„ fo xxxi Gregorye wolde not be called the hed Bysshoppe fo l. Gregorius ad felicem Folio liiii Gâ—â— by his owne mouth made kinges rulers fo lvii eÌ„ GouernauÌ„ce kiÌ„ges appereth by natural thiÌ„ges fo eodi Gregorius ad mauricium Folio lxxii Gregorius was obedient to the Emperoure fo lxxii God shal requere it of the kinges whether the peace and faithe of the church be encreased or diminisshed fo lxxvi GrauÌ„t of the king to the monasteri of GlastoÌ„buri fo lxxxiii Gentlenes ouer moche oppressid and greuid seketh for the truthe Folio C. v. H. Hieronimus super mathe .xvi. Folio ix He proueth bi a similitude of the Emperour that the successors in the seate of Peter can by no reason chalenge the prerogatiue of Peter Fo. xvii Howe moche chryste sette by Hierusalem Fo. xiâ— Howe kynges serue god as kynges fo codem He called the churche of England our mother fo lxxxx Hit is expedient for the kynges and the nobles of the realme to defend the church from Tyranni of the bysshop of rome Folio C. iiii Here he prayeth god to brynge the Bysshope of Rome oute of ygnorance Foliâ— codem Hit is lyke that the primacy was lefte in Herusalem folio xx HierusaleÌ„ was coÌ„secrate with the blod of Christ fo xx Hieromunus ad Ioginiarum folio xxi Hit is lyke that the councel of Nicen dyd althynges iustly Folio xxiiii Hit is lawfull for no man to name hymselfe vniuersal or hye Bysshop Folio xxv He yâ— nameth hym self vniuersal priste or hye bysshope goeth before anticryste floio xxvi He that is made bisshop without consent of the metropolitan shulde be no bisshop fo xxviii Hit was decrede in the councell in aphrica that the bysshop of rome shulde not be superior to al other Folio eodem He that is excomunicate in one dioces ought not to be receyued into another Fo xxviii He that wylbe hyeste shal be loweste fo xxxii He that doth notrenounce al that he hath caÌ„ not be the dysciple of christe Fo xlvii He that clymeth hiest must nedes come downe warde agayne Folio l. He that is ladde with the sprite of god is at lybertye fo lii Hit is to be feard that the caÌ„noÌ„ law lose his autorite fo liiii Hit belongeth to kinges to minister Iustice Folio lix Here is noman exempte from the obediens of kynges Folio lxviii Holye scryptures of the newe Testamente geue pristes no iudicial power Fo lxix How so euer yll be commytted the coreccyon longeth to the regal power Foli lxxiii He serueth god otherwyse bycause he is a maÌ„ because he is a kinge Folio lxxiiii I In Hierusalem only was the hye pristehod Folio xix In consilio mileuitan Fo. xxviii If the byshop of the mother church be negligent fo odeÌ„ Iohn Bysshop of Constantynoble was the furste that named hymselfe vniuersall bysshoppe Folio xxx Yf decrees of bysshops do bynd our coÌ„scyens fo xxxvi In the primatiue church the decrees of couÌ„celles were called cannons Fo xxxvi If Bysshoppes haue authorite of god to make lawes Folio xxxvii If possession of the churche be of god it shal stande fo l In doubteful matters the hye priste and the hy Iudge at hierusalem gaue sentence fo lxiiii If kinges and rulers were Iudges of the lawe of god moch more of the lawe of man Fo. eodem In salomons tyme prestes were born prestes Fo. lxvii Iustinian Emperoure made lawes
to confyrme the law of god Fo. lxxix In Fraunce they eate flesshe all Saterdayes betwene Chrystinas and Candelmas fo codeÌ„ K Kinges shulde be chosen of the same nacion folio lviii King Saul gaue senteÌ„ce of deth vpon chymeleche the hye bysshope folio lxi Kinges dyd put in and electe the hye preyst folio lxvi Kinges made ordeined bysshops fo lxxxiiii Kynges dyd institute Iudges as leuites fol. lxiii L Lawes of popes be innumerable folio xxxvi Lawes be two folio lii Laurence Archebysshop of Cantorbury dyd refuse all such foren power fo liiii Lawes made by kinge Camula concerninge spyrituall thinges folio lxxxi Littera willi regis folio lxxxvi Landes geuen to the churche of Englande fo lxxxxi Letters wrytten from the parliamente of Englande to the bisshop of rome folio lxxxxvii M Magna est veritas foli i Mark the word of Gre. to the church of EnglaÌ„d fo lv Many shal receue the SacrameÌ„te iii in the yere fo lxxxx Many resisted the bysshoppe of Rome folio C. v Many be rycher when they be religious meÌ„ then wheÌ„ they wer secular folio xlv N Nother power ryches nor humilite can make a Bysh hyer or lower fo xxvii None ought to be called the chefe or bed bisshop or his prest folio xxviii Negligence in the seruice of god and mysbehauor in the clerge folio lxxxxiiii Nabugodonosor correcte by miracle made a lawe that no man shulde blasâ—eme god folio lxxiii Noman can dispence with the lawe of god folio liii None expoundeth this texte of the ecclesiastical power but papystes c. folio lxx O. Obediens is necessary in the bysshop of Rome foli xi Our father dyd not admitte al the cannons fol. xxxvii Of fornicacion with a mans wyfe folio lxxxiii Of seruauntes working on the sonday foli eodeÌ„ Oratio regis Edgari folio lxxxxiii Of them that were within orders Folio lxxxii Of tenthes payeng folio eodem Of sorcere and wytche crafte folio eodem Of a wyfe commyttyng aduoutery folio lxxxi Of hym that coÌ„mitteth theft being in orders fo lxxxiiii P ¶ Peter nor his successores were not they agaynste whome the gates of hel dyd preuayll but the confession of Peter folio viii Peter was coÌ„pelled to make aunswer of his faith fo xi Peter made solemp sermon folio xviii Peter was Bysshop of Antioche before rome folio xix Patriarkes were not subiecte one to another foli xxiiii Phecas Emperour folio xxix Prelates shulde not medell with the Emperor fo xxxiiii Paul was Iudged before lay Iudges folio eodeÌ„ Powere of punishement longeth to kinges folio lxi Pristes and prophetes were the expounders of the law of god fo lxiiii Popes require dyd extort tapis in portable fo lxxxxii Paul apelid to Cesar the Emperor fo lxxv Pope AdryaÌ„ gaue clarkes auctoryte to chuse the bysshope of Rome folio lv Q Quomodo regibus anglie coÌ„petat authoritas in rebus diuinis folio lxxix Quicquid coÌ„cedit regali Autoritate concedit et estendit regaleÌ„ autoritateÌ„ fo lxxxvii R Rome is called Babulon folio xx Ryches and possessions which draweth maÌ„nes mynd â—â—o god fo xliii S Super omnia venit benignitas fo i. Sume graunt power geueÌ„ to bisshops but by maÌ„s law folio v Symon is interpretate obedyence fol. xi Some good men that were Bysshoppes of Rome dyd refuse primaci foli xxix Salomon condemned the bysshop Abiathares folio lxi Salomon did ordre the office of pristes fol. lxii Some by the swerde vnderstand power ecclesâ—astical folio lxx Some say there was no power geuen to kiÌ„ges in spiritual thynges fo lxxi Some bysshops of Rome dyd not deny but gaue kiÌ„ges power Ecclesiastical fo lxxxiiii Saynt Dunstan gaue councell to the kiÌ„ge to buyld many monasteris fo lxxxxvi ScotlaÌ„d hath alwais pertained to EnglaÌ„d fo lxxxxviii The dyfference of the regall and ecclesiasticall power must be sought by scrypture folio iiii The opynion of them that interpretate scripture sumpti of Ecclesiastical power fo eodeÌ„ The church was not bild vpon the persoÌ„ of peter fo viii The text of Mat. was not spokeÌ„ of the persoÌ„ peter fo ix The church is the multitude of faythfull people folio x The nomber of Chrysten people is of more superioritâ— then the Citie of Rome folio xii The power of bindyng and losing was geuen to all the Apostles fo eodem To fede the shepe of Chryste is to confyrme them that beleue in Chryst folio xiiii The thyrd text wherby they chalenge prymacy fo xiiii That was spokeÌ„ to Peter was spokeÌ„ to al the apo fo xv There was but one flocke which was fedde of al the apostles fo eodem The Gospel is the seat of peter folio xvi They that tech their one tradicioÌ„s be fals prophets fo eo The seat doth not make the priest fo eodem They that teach not the law of Christ syt in their own chayres and entring at the window as theues fo eod The Gospell is the seat of peter fo eodem There contynuyth succession in the seates but not in vertu and merites fo xviii The miracles of peter in Hierusalem .. fo xix The apostles stroue for superiorite folio xxii The appostles were equal Folio eod The dygnyte of the apostles was estemyd by priorite of tyme. fo xxiii The interpretacion of this worde patriarke fo xxiiii The bysshopes be superior to preistes by custome noâ— by the lawe of god fo xxvi These dyd contynue at anynion a long season fo xxxi The churche hath no power to constrayne fo xxxiii The kyngdom of god is not of this worlde fo xxxiiii The offyce of a bysshope fo xxxv The ordynaÌ„ces of the apo were not al receiued fo xxxvii The Canons haue not shoyre authorite by the maker Folio xxxviii The clarge kepeth not the faste of lx dayes before Ester Folio eodem The power was deuyd with kynges prynces fo xii The largenes of theyr power is lyke a streme of water Folio xlii The clargye shulde refuse possessyons Folio xliii The interpretacion of this wordy clarke Folio xliiii They that be seperte of our lorde can possesse nothynge besides the lorde Fo xiv The power of the Cyty of RoÌ„e is not so large by god fo l The comen lawe geueth place to the priuate lawe Fo liii The see of Rome cannot dyspense norchaunge statutes of the olde fathers Folio eodem The good of the church are the goods of the power Fo xlix The hye prestes called the kynges theyr lordes Fo lx Thurstan Archbysshop of Yorke Fo lxxx The examynacyon of the manners lyuing of the clarge partayneth to the kynge Fo lxxxxiii The whole perliament denyeth to aunswere before the Bysshope of Rome Fo lxxxxix The Shepcherd that hath dyspersed the Peple of god shal be greuously ponysshed Fo C iiii Thelesphorius ordeyned the clergy to fast xl dayes before Easter fo xxxviii They put downe kynges when it pleaseth theÌ„ set vp
distroye these thynges that my predecessors haue constituted I might be well proued to be not a builder with them but a puller downe the voyce of the treweth beringe witnes Euery realme deuyded amongest them selfes shal not stāde and al sience and lawe deuyded agaynst it self shal be distroyed It is to be feared that the canon lawe lose his authorite in which thing it is to be feared that the same Gregorye be proued a trewe proffecte And that the canon lawe at this day by doubtefulnes and proplexite of contrarityes be dissolued which by labour of mani yeres was made and builde the stones not well Ioyned together this papisticall power trulye of the see of rome hath oftetymes so far gonne from her owne coste that it hath ofte times Iniuriously hādled vexed perturbed this realme of The papysticall power hath ofte times trobled Englād But good bysshopes did resist and defēde ther own Iurisdiccion excludid al foren power Englād verry farre distante from them whiche power not onelye sage and wyse kinges But also the prudent and the holye bysshoppes of the realme repelled and put backe nor wolde not suffer it to take his pleasure but they kepe defended there owne Iurisdiccion authorite and excludid all suche forē power as it may euidently appere to euery mā which haue rede ouer the Cronycle of England Laurence arch Bysshop of Cauntorberie and dunstone archbisshoppe of the same Grosted aperfitte man bysshop of Lincolne dyd refuse al suche foren power in which it is had manifestli Howe Laurens Archebisshop of Cantorburi saynt Dunstan archebisshop of the same see Grostede a very perfecte man bisshop of Lyncolne did refuse and forsake all suche foren power Gregorye writynge to augustine in a nother place doth manifestli shewe the same that the lawes or canons of the se of rome take noe effecte with al men and that men shuld not take more regarde to obserue xii distin cap nouit them then of they edifininge of the fayth of people in chryst These be the contentes of his wordes Marke the wordes of gregori to the churche of Englāde You knowe brother the custome of the churche of Rome in which ye remēber that you were norisshed and brought vp in / but it is mynded that wher soeuer ye haue founde other in the church of rome or in the church of Fraunce or any other churche that may better please god that ye shal instructe and enforme the churche of England whiche is newly and latelye come to the fayth and now in the setteling with the chefe and most godliest ordinaunces that ye can gether of all other churches for the thinges be not to be beleued for the place But the place for the thinges therin Therfore of euery churche whatsoeuer it be that that is godlye that is vertuose that is iust and good chuse out and binde them together in a bundel graf or prynte them in the myndes or hartes of Englishe mē by custome of which texte also this appereth that these canon lawes haue not obtayned strenght by exacte obedyence but by inticementes of there good for so wryteth gregory that they gathered to gether in a bundel shuld be inculked in the mindes of the people of England by custome not to be required or extorte by censures or compulcions nor it is not to be let passe that Pope Adryane in his synode celebrate at rome gaue vnto charles authorite and power to chuse and electe the bysshope of Rome and to ordre the apostolical se but here I sesse rehersing the actes and sainges of good bysshops for it is long of scarsy of good bisshoppes that we vse no more exāples Distin lxiii cap adrianus Pope Adrianus gaue clarkes aucthorit◠to chuse the bysshop of rome to order the Apostolicalse in this maters for after that the apostles whiche that they myght better entende preachinge the worde of god and prayer did leaue seruinge the tables although it were a verie good worke and Acth vi dyd clene alienate them selfe from that sainge it is not mete for vs to leaue the worde of god and serue tables Veri sureli singnifieng that it pertayned chefely to other office that they shulde geue all other labour the dylygens in preachynge the worde of god after these I saye a fewe other in the primatiue churche the foloweres of them all the bisshoppes of rome almost so fare went backewarde from christ that was there chefe example In there liuing and institucions as they were behinde him in tyme. Bysshopes of rome went so far backewarde from christ in vertue as they did in time But if these thinges whiche we haue rehersed before shude be layde agaynst the bysshoppe of rome at this day if that power shulde be estemed after the sentencis of the good bisshopes shulde not they be compelled to vndo many thinges that he made done lest it shulde chaunce that Gregorye wryteth vpon the wordes of our lorde That euery Realme deuyded amongest them selfes shal fal be distroyed ¶ But nowe we wyl in hande with that thynge whiche we promysed to speake of in the fourthe place That is to saye what auctorite is geuen to kynges other by the law of god or else by the permissiō of mā in spiritual or holy things What aucthoryte is geuen to kinges by god or else by the permissiō of man In whiche matter fyrst we wyl entrete of al kinges generally after that peculiarli of the kings of Englād fyrst it shal be shewed the god not onli with most euident signes in the whole order of nature dyd expresse his wyll of the authorite and power of kynges but that he dyd declare it also with manyfest wordes in the holye scriptures both of the olde testamente and the newe and that god did gyue with his owne mouthe Kinges to be rulers of his people and the power of them largely expounded he dyd confirme God by his owne mouthe made kynges rulers of hys people In the example of nature amongest the chif philosophers plato aristotle and appolonius did perseaue and considre that as in the whole worlde one is the hie creature and ruler of al thinges as amonge the stertes the some precelles al other The gouernāce of kynges apperethe be naturall thinges by scripture also amongest the beese one kinge ther is on belwether the flocke dothe folowe And one leader the herde the cranes folowe all one lykewyse in a cōmunalte shulde be one king as hed to whome the members shulde agre and this consideracion of the communalte shewed by the inclinacion of nature And by the worke of nature drawen out and prynted with more obscure tokens god hath aparteli manifest to vs in holye scriptures oftentimes making mencion of kynges and playnelye approuinge the power of them by his owne mouth appointing them which shulde raygne and fede his
be moche impotent weaker agaynst our enemyes therfore doughter lest thou thy ministers be broght to longer misery it is expedient that for thy safegard and helth of thine also thi most noble cristoned kinge and the nobles of the Realme whiche haue endewed the with gret benefites which in this case shuld defende you and there benefites It is expedieÌ„t for the king the nobles of the realme to defeÌ„d the churh from the tyrany of the bysshope of rome shulde resist the polices consperesis arrogancye presumpcion pryde of that forsayd person which hauinge no respecte of god ernestly laboreth with a newe maner of dominioÌ„ to scrape away al the treasure of England for to enriche his parentes like an Egle to set vp on heyghte his neste or stocke by suche tapis and burdens layd vpon the by the same person leest that the simplicite of the realme dissimmuling in this matters shuld cause subuersion therof and lest it be to late or the prouide for remedy ¶ Lorde of all power put awaye the couering from the hart of that man Here he prayeth god to briÌ„g the bysshop of Rome oute of Ignoraunce to make hym to be louli to knowe his offyce and geue him a lowli and a contryte hart and make him know the steppis of god by which he maye be rydde frome his ygnoraÌ„ce and compelled to geue vp all suche sinistre and noughty labors and ententes aforesayd / and that the Vineiarde which was planted by the right hande of god may alwayes busely be replete and excercised with faythful people let the wordes of our lorde and the prophecies of Hiereme harteÌ„ vs to put away withstande the ententes of this man which words be these HiereÌ„ xxiii The sheperde that hath dyspersed the people of god shal be greuesly punished Thou sheperde that hast dyspersed my people and dryuen him oute of his habitacions Lo I punishe vpon the malice of thy studyes enteÌ„s and there shal be none of thy stock that shal syt vpon the seate of Dauid nor that shal haue any longer powere or authorytie in Iuda The nest shall be deserte and forsaken and clene subuerted dystrowed lyke Sodome and gomor And yf by these wordes he be not feared and scase from his purposes and make no restitucion of that he hathe extorte and receyued Psalm C viii Let them singe for him that is indurate the Cviii Psalme to god to whoÌ„ all this is open eueri day with a lowde voice and good deuocion in chryst deus laudem c. And verely as fauour Ientylnes beneuolence doth many thynges remytte Gentylnes ouermoche oppressed greuid seketh for the trewth desiringe to be reed from boÌ„dage and put of the yocke come to liberti lytle regard so gentilnes ouer moche oppressed and greuyd whyle it desireth to be redde seketh easement laboreth to com to the veri cognicion of the treuth and where as it is greued it putteth of the yoke payne all maner waies that it can And so these of whome we haue spoken before Where as the medled but with fewe thinges yet euery on perceauinge them selues som ways and in som parte greued as the tyme required conuenieÌ„t oportunite was geueÌ„ verye sorye to se suche importable burdens layde vpon them by the churche of rome Mani resisted the bysshopes of rome and were aboute to resist But the treuth was so shadowed and kepte vnder with the darkenes of Ignorance and bi errour of the people that of treuth some shranke and gaue ouer that is to say they gaue ouer that the began wel And submytted them selfes to the bysshops of Rome being of more power not enduced or brought therto by vertue of the treuth but bi power of man And so put the heddes agayne in the yocke of that in tollerable seruitude so the treuth was opprest as the tyme required where it was hyde of longe continuance it cometh to light agayn Which treuth hath not his vertue stablishement bicause meÌ„ wrote so but they wrote so bicause it is treuth and bicause tyme was corrupt and people coulde not abyde the austeryte of the treuthe it was thought more agreable to reason to defend saue wordly thiÌ„ges lettyng the treuth for a whyle vnder silence thaÌ„ to take vpon them the defence therof put them selfes in Ieoperdye danger of bodye and goodes in whiche doinge they dyd shewe them selfes men as they were in dede whiche do not all tymes folowe prosecute that is well be gone nor wolde not for the setting furthe of the treuth put themselfe in danger of lif goodes honour other humayne thinges In which cause this worlde is veri fortunat happy where as men leaue the old doting haue there eares opened to here the trewth be diligent to reseue the persuasioÌ„ of the same syth it The tyme is happye when meÌ„ may saie the treweth with out any daÌ„ger is lawful for theÌ„ to shew the treuth without any Iuperdi or offension Nowe sythe yt is so that the trewe limites of both the powers be with so playne manifest reasons showed and proued onles men lyst to wynke from the lyght at none dayes Exortation to the readerg to layne to the trewth Good and welbelouid reders awake let doublenes and Ignorance geue place to the trewthe let the lyght of trewth expel put awaye darkenes that ye be not ladde aboute willingly with diuerse and straunge doctrynes But after the councell of Peter nowe ye be warned Kepe your selues that ye be not plucked awaye seduced by the arror of the wycked and fal awaye from your owne stedfastnes ¶ But growe in grace in the knowlege of our lorde and sauiour Iesus Chryste to whome be glory both nowe and euer Amen ☞ FINIS ¶ Imprynted at London in the Fletestret at the signe of the Rose Garland by Wyllyam CoplaÌ„d ¶ Cum gratia et priuilegio ad â—mprimendum soluÌ„