gate of Canossus where fasting from morning to night humbly he desired to be absolued and to come in and speake with the Pope Thus he continued and could not be let in in thrée daies the fourth day being brought to the Pope he surrendred his Crowne and princely ornaments vnto him desiring he might be forgiuen and he would neuer doe against him againe He told him he would not absolue him but vpon condition he should doe such penance as hee should enioyne him and appeare at the Councell when he should send for him and answere there all obiections laid against him and stand to his pleasure whether hee should haue his Kingdome restored or loose it and should doe nothing as a King vntill the cause were tryed and vpon his Oath for performance hereof he was absolued For all this the Pope sent to France for their consents that Rodulphus should be Emperor Then there was sent to Rodulphus bâ—ing Duke or Swâ—â—ia a crowne from the pope with this verie Petra dedit Petro Petrus Diadema Rodulpho Then he gaue in commaundement to the Archbishop of Ments and of Cullen to elect Rodulphus emperour and annoint him King and defend him with all their strength Whilst this conspiracie was in hand the Emperour was absent and the Popes Ambassadors with him and vnknowne to him Rodulphus was elected Emperour the Bishop of Stasbrough 〈◊〉 Henry the emperour thereof who seeing the Saxons so bent against him marched forward with his Souldiers to defend his right but first sent to Rome requiring the Pope to excommunicate Rodulphus But he minding nothing lesse sent word that he would not condemne any person without hearing the cause so vnder colour of Lawe disappâ—inted Henry who being forsaken on euery side with his men attempted battell with Rodulphus there was great slaughter on both sides but no victory so yet both chalâ—nged the Empire Then they both sent to Rome for the Popes determination to whether of them the Empire appertained the Pope willed them to breake vp their Aâ—mies promising shortly to call a Councell where this matter should be disputed but before the messengers returned they had another conflict but no victory So both being wearied in warre the Romish beast being the cause therof and the Pope perceiuing these warres would be to the great calamitie not onely of Germany but to other Nations deuised another way to helpe Rodulphus sent a Commission to the Archbishop of Treuers and others giuing them in charge to call a Councell to sit at Almany to determine â—he right promising what they determined he by the auâ—horitie of God omnipotent and of Saint Peter and of Sant Paul would ratifie the same but Henry the Emperour would not permit a Councell to be had in Germany except they would first depriue Rodulphus The Legatâ— perceiuing that was against the Popes drift returned The Pope hearing his purpose disappointed drue another excommunication against Henry the Emperour hereauing him of his Kingdome sending them through all places thinking thereby to further Rodulphus part biginning his excommunication with these words Blessed Saint Peter Prince of the Apostles and thou Paul also teacher of the Gentiles giue eare vnto me a little I beseech you and gently heare me c. I take this matter in hand that my brethren whose saluation I seeke may the more obey me and knowe that I trust vpon your defence next to Christ and his mother and thereby resist the wicked and am ready to helpe the faithfull I entred this Seat against my will with teares thinking my selfe vnworthy to occupy so high a Throne I chose not you but you chose me and â—ayd this great burden vpon Our shoulders Then reciting the whole matter of the Story before concludeth therefore â— trusting in the Iudgement and mercie of God and in the supportation of the blessed Uirgin and bold vpon your authoritie meaning S. Peter S. Paul do lay the sentence of Curse vpon Henry his adherents And againe I take his regall Gouernment from him discharging all Christian men of their Oathes to him and forbidding them hereafter to obey him in any thing but to take Rodulphus for their King c. Therefore O blessed Princes of the Apostles confirme this your authoritie that all may know as you haue power to binde and loose in Heauen you haue also power on earth to giue and take away Empires Kingdomes Principaâ—ities and whatsoeuer belongeth to mortall men on earth For if you haue power to Iudgâ— of matters of God how much more of prophane things and if you can Iudge the Angels which rule proud Princes how much more the princes Let all Kings and princes by this example know your power that they may feare to contemne the commaundement of the holy Church Exercisâ— quickly this Iudgement vpon Henry that all may see him fall from his Kingdom not by chance but by your onely worke notwithstanding this I would craue of you that he being brought to repentance through your intercession yet in the day of Iudgement may finde grace with the Lord. Pope Hildebrand further deposed the Archbishop of Rauenna for taking his part commaunding all priests not to obey him and sent another with full authoritie thither Upon this Henry and Rodulphus tryed the matter with sword with much bloud whereas Henry with Gods fauour against the Iudgement of Hildebrand had the victory Rodulphus greatly wounded was carried to Herbipolis where he commanding the Bishops and doers of this conspiracie to be brought to him and lifting vp his right hand which was deadly wounded said This hand gaue the Oath to Henry my prince and hath so often fought against him by your inâ—â—igation but in vaine goe and performe you Oath and alegiance to him your King for I must go to my Fathers and so dyed Henry after his enemy subdued and warres ceased in Germany remembring the iniuries of Hildebrand by whom he was twise excommunicated expulsed from his Kingdome and making sute thrée daies in sharpe winter and could finde no fauour and by him his enemy was incited and ayded against him assembled a Councell of 1083. Bishops at Brixiencâ— where hee purged himselfe and accused Hildebrand of diuerse câ—imes to be an vsurper periured a Nigromaâ—cer a Sorcerer a sower of discord and that his Father had set in diuerse Popes in Rome by his assignement without other election and now this Bishop contrary to his Oath thrust in himselfe without the will and knowledge of him being their King and Magistrate For in the time of Henry the third his Father this Hildebrand and others had tooke a corporall Oath that during the life of him and this Henry his sonne now king they should noâ— presume themselues norsuffer any other to aspire to the Papall Seat without the approbation of the said Emperours Wherefore the aforesaid Councell with one agréement condemned this Gregory that he should be deposed ¶ The Sentence of the Councell of Brixia against Hildebrand BEcause it
was Anno 1415. if wee count from this yeare vnto the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and sixtéene in which yéere Martine Luther first began to write against the Pope wee shall finde the number of an hundred yéeres fully complete When as the Newes of the barbarous cruelty exercised against Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage was reported in Boheme their Disciples assembled and celebrated a memoriall of their deaths decréeing it to be holden yéerely and after they obtained certaine Churches of the King to preach and minister the Sacraments in then they suppressed diuers Monasteries and Pharasaicall and Idolatrous Temples driuing the vicious Priests and Monkes out of them or compelling them to a better order whereby their number augmented vnder the conduct of one Nicholas a Noble man and comming againe to the King for more Churches the King told Nicholas thou hast begun a Web to put me out of my Kingdome and I will make a rope of it wherewith I will hang thée Wherevpon Nicholas departed and the king went to a new Castle which he had builded and sent Ambassadours vnto the Emperour his brother for ayde The Protestants being assembled at Prage the King sent his Chamberlain with thrée hundred horsemen to run vpon them but he was faine to fly for fears of his life at this newes the King and all about him were amazed but his Cup-bearer said I knew these things would thus come to passe the King in a rage caught him threw him downe and would haue slaine him with his Dagger but béeing let with much adâ—e he pardoned him immediately the King fell sick of a Palsie and within eightéene daies died when he had marked the names of them which hée would haue put to death before the Princes which he had sent to for ayde were come when he had raigned 55. yeares and was 57. yéere old Immediatly after whose death a Noble man named Zischa minding to reuenge the iniuries of Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage gathered a number of men of Warre and subuerted the Monasteries and Idolatrous Temples breaking in péeces the Images driuing away the Priests and Monkes which hée said were kept vp in their Cloisters like Swine in their fat sties a fatting his army increased to fortie thousand men hée went to Pelzina where hee knew hée had many friends of his faction and tooke the Towne and fortified it strongly and some of his company tooke the Castle of Uissegard then the Quéene sent Letters to the Emperour Sygismond and other Nobles requiring ayde in the meane time the Quéene raised an armie with the treasure of the King which could not preuaile against them Then the Protestants sent Letters throughout the whole Realme that they should not let the Emperour enter who was an enemy to Boheme had bound the ancient Citie of the Prutenians vnto order by pledges put the Marques of Brandenburge from the Bohemian Crowne and not onely suffred but procured Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage to be burned and with all his endeuour doth impugne the Doctrine which they taught Zisca was twise assaulted of his enemies but was alway victor after he went to Ausca a towne out of which the Papists had cast many Protestants he tooke the towne and set it on fire the chéefe Papists fled to the Castle Lytius but he took the Castle and put them all to sword saue one then he chose a place by a riuer which was fenced by nature this place he compassed in with walles and commanded euery man to build them houses and named it Thaber and his companions Thabarites as if they had seene the transfiguration of Christ in the mount the way to it by land was scarse thirty foot broad for it is almost an Iland they had no horsemen vntill the Emperour sent Nicholas Maister of the Mintes with a thousand horsemen to withstand the Thaborites vpon whome Zisca came in the night and tooke away all his horses and armour In this time one Picardus comming out of the Low Countries into Boheme by inchantments got credit with the people and allured a number of men and women vnto him whom hee commanded to goe naked calling them Adamits and possessing a certaine Iland he called himselfe the Sonne of God they had no respect of marriage yet it was against the Law for any man to know a woman without the leaue of Adam but when any desired a woman hee must leade her in his hand to him and say I am inflamed to this woman and he answereth goe and multiply and replenish the earth he affirmed that they and their posteritie were free and all other bondmen on a time forty of this sect came out of the Iland anâ— slew two thousand husbandmen whom they called the children of the diuell Zisca hearing hereof and detesting their abominable doings let his army against them and subdued the Iland and slew them all sauing two of whom hee might vnderstand the superstition of the people In the meane time the Emperour with a great armie entered Boheme and got Cencho with large gifts and promises to render vp vnto him the Castle of Prage and there placed himselfe to anoy the towne the Cittizens of Prage sent for Zisca who speeded thether with his Thaborites and receiued the Citie vnder his gouernance the Castle was so strong it could not be conquered but by famine therefore they stopped all the passages that no victuals should bee carried in but the Emperour opened the passages by force and gaue them in the Castle all things necessarie and besieged the Citie and was crowned in the Metropolitane house in the Castle Zisca planted a strong Garrison vpon a high hill neere the Towne of Prage with whom the Emperours host skermishing hauing gotten the top of the hill were driuen back into a corner Some were slaine and some falling headlong from the hill were destroyed wherevpon the Emperour raised his siege and Zisca and his company returned to Taber they of Prage strongly besieged the Castle then they were compelled to eate horse-flesh and except the Emperour did ayde them by such a day they promised to yeeld it vp the Emperour was present before the day but entering into a strait vnder the Castle was sodenly set vpon by the Souldiers of Prage had a great ouerthrow and so leauing his purpose vndone returned back againe and the Castle was deliuered vnto them Zisca subuerted and burned fiue Monasteries in Pelâ—â—na and pitched himselfe at the Monastery of Saint Clare thither came the Emperour with his army but when Zisca brought his armie against him hee fled and shortly after left Boheme Then Zisca wonne Commitauia a famous Citie and burnt all the Priests therein and hauing but one eye in the siege of Raby hee lost that eye and was blind yet still he tooke the charge of his army After the Garisons of Prage went to Uarona where was a great garison of the Emperours and tooke it by force and tooke many other townes and holds After
the Emperour and the Princes electors appointed a day when they and their armie should inuade the West part of Boheme and the Emperour with an other Host would enter the East part and many Princes and Bishops came to his ayde when the Emperour was entred Boheme Zisca although he was blind set vpon him and he being afraid and many of his Nobles slaine fâ—ed Zisca pursuing the Emperour a dayes iourney got great riches and spoile The Emperour passing by a Bridge ouer a Riuer one Piso which had brought fiftéene thousand horsemen out of Hungary to these warres passing ouer the Ice which brake and deuoâ—red a great number Zisca hauing obtained this victory would not suffer any Idol to be in the Churches nor Priests to Minister in Copes and vestures the Consuls of Prage being agreeued at this called Iohn Premonstrensis nine others which were principals of this faction into the Councell house as though they would confer and slew them but the blood of them seemed to be washed through the sinkes and Channels wherefore the Councell house was ouerthrowne and eleuen of the principall authors thereof slaine and diuers houses spoiled About the same time the Castle Purgell wherein the Emperour had a garison whether many Papists with their wiues and children were fled was through negligence burned When the Emperour perceiued that all things came to passe according to Zisca his minde and that the state of Boheme depended on him he sought meanes to gâ—t Zisca into his fauour promising him the gouernment of the whole Kingdome and great yearely reuenues if he would proclaime him King and cause the Citties to be sworne vnto him wherevpon Zisca going to the Emperour died by the way The Epitaph of IOHN ZISCA IOhn Zisca not inferiour to any Emperour or Captaine in warlike policy a seuere punisher of the pride auarice of the Clergy and a defender of my country lie heere That with Appius Claudius in Councell and Marcus Furius Camillus by valiantnes did for the Romans I being blind haue done for the Bohemians Eleuen times in ioined Battell I went victor out of the field I worthily defended the cause of the miserable against the delicate fat and gluttonous Priests and for that cause receiued help of God notwithstanding my bones lye heere in this hollowed place in despite of the Pope Pope Martin perceiuing the Gospell to increase more and more sent a Cardinall into Germany to moue them to warre against the Bohemians wherevnto the Emperor assisted there were three armies in the first were the Dukes of Saxony the second was vnder the conduct of the Marques of Brandenburge the third was led by the Archbishop of Treuers They entred Boheme and set vpon a Towne which the Protestants the night before had woon from the Papists The protestans hearing thereof gathered an army and came towards them they fled leauing behinde them their warlike Engiâ—es with a great prey they followed them and destroyed many Citties and returning back againe they had great summes of money sent them that they should not destroy the Countries of Bamberge and Norenberge whereby the host of the Bohemians was greatly enriched After this Newes the Emperour gathered a new ayde and Pope Martin sent an other Cardinall to Germany to stirre them to make warre against the Bohemians so there was a new expedition decreed Many Bishops allowing a great aydâ— thereto the number of the horsemâ—n was forty thousand but the footmen were not full so many A Cardinall entred into Boheme with this huge army destroying many of the protestant townes killing Men Women and Children sparing none the Protestants hearing thereof gathered their host besieged a Towne and woon it so that there fell such a suddaine feare amongst the Papistes throughout the whole Campe that they ran away the Cardinall marueiling thereat went to the Captaines exhorting them to order the battaâ—lâ—s and couragiously to abide their enemies saying they fought for the religion of Christ and saluation of soules notwithstanding they did all fly and the Cardinall with them the Protestants couragiously pursued them and had a great prey and spoyle of them The Emperour going to Rome to bee â—rowned Emperour wrote Letters to the Nobles of Boheme how he was borne a Bohemian that he was not more affected vnto any Nation then his owne and that he went to Rome for no other cause but to be crowned the which honour should be also to the Bohemians whose renowne hath béene alwaies his care and that through his indeuour the Councell of Basill is begunne exhorting all such as were destrous to be heard touching Religion that they should come thither and that they should not maintaine any quarrell against the holy Mother the Church and that the Councell would louingly and gently heare their reasons and that they should indeuour themselues to agrée with the Synode touching Religion and to reserue a peaceable kingdome for him against his returne neither should the Bohemians thinke to refuse his Empire whose Brother Father and Unckle had raigned ouer them The Councell of Basill also wrote their Letters to the Bohemians to send their Ambassadours to shew a reason of their Faith promising safe conduct to goe and come and free liberty to speaks what they would Whereupon an Ambassage of thrée hundred Horses was sent to Basill the chéefe were William Cosca a valiant Knight and Procopius sir-named Magnus for his manifold victories Iohn Rochezana Preacher of Prage Nicholas Galicus Preacher of the Thaborits and one Peter an English-man of an excellent prompt wit all the stréets were full as they came to see them and maruelling at their strange kind of apparrell stout couragious countenances saying it was not vntrue that was reported of them These Ambassadours were gently receiued the next day Cardinall Iulianus sent for them to the Councell-house and made a gentle long and eloquent Oration vnto them exhorting them to vnity and peace saying the Church was the spouse of Christ the Mother of the faithfull and hath the Keyes of binding and losâ—ng and is white and faire without spot or wrinckle and cannot erre in necessary points of saluation and that he which contemneth her is prophane an Ethâ—icke and Publican and that the Church cannot bee better represented then by the Councell and that they should giue no lesse credit to the Councell then to the Gospell by whose authority the Scriptures themselues are receiued and allowed and that the Bohemians which call themselues the Children of the Church ought to heare their Mother which is neuer vnmindfull of her Children and how that of late they haue liued apart from their Mother but that was no new or strange thing for there haue beene many in times past haue forsaken their Mother and yet seeking saluation haue returned againe All without the Arke in Noahs floud perished the Lords Passeouer is to be eaten in one House there is no saluation out of the Church she is the Garden and famous Fountaine of Water
made the Emperor Hen. 4. his wife and his child to wait three daies and three nights bare-foot in winter at his gates to sue to him for his fauor and gaue away his Empire in the meane time This prophecie of Antichrists exaltation aboue Princes is verified in none but the Pope Touching the breadth of his kingdom it is not said he shall exalt himselfe aboue one or two but aboue all that are called God w ch are all Christian rulers spiritual temporal to whom God vouchsafeth this name because hee ruleth and instructeth by them and dwelleth in them if they be good this declareth the large limits of his kingdome And as he is said heere to exalt himselfe aboue all Kings so Reu. 17. 3. he is said to haue ten horns and in ver 12. they are interpreted to be ten Kings which shal giue their power and authority vnto the beast that is to say the beastly Pope and fight with the Lambe that is they shal be the Popes Butchers to destroy Gods children and as the prophecies foretell such an Antichrist as shall raigne ouer all Christian Princes so this storie shall shew thee the true fulfilling of this prophesie in the Pope Touching the length of his Kingdome it is prophecied Antichrist shall raigne three yeares and a halfe and in Reuel 12. three times and a halfe these times and these yeares are all one so is the fortie two moneths Reuel 13. 5. for there be so many moneths in three years and a halfe the same likewise is the 1260. dayes in Reuel 12. 6. for there be iust so many daies in three yeares a halfe at 360. daies to the yeare which was the number of the dayes of the Iewes yeare And it is common with the prophets to set downe a day for a year so by these prophecies Antichrist must raign 1260. yeares which is iust so many yeares as Christ preached daies and Gregory the first sheweth that Antichrist began when one Bishop exalted himselfe aboue all others And though there were manie Popes before him which did exalt themselues aboue all other Bishops yet he would not but haue himself called Seruus seruoruÌ„ Dei Wherefore Sabinianus which succeeded him in the popedom was a malitious detractor of his works as thou maist see in this book Antichrist was not at his height vntill Hildebrand had gotten aboue the Emperor for then he was aboue all that was called God yet Antichrist began when the Bishop of Rome being the least of all the foure Patriarchs exalted himselfe aboue all other Bishops which was about the yeare of Christ 400. for then began pride and superstition to creep into the Church and Anno 666. according to the number of the name of the beast in Reu. 13. 18. Latin seruice was set vp in England and all other places and massâ—s ceremonies letanies and other Romish ware which was long before Hildebrands time And if we account the aforesaid 1260. yeares of Antichrists raigne from thence there remaineth but about 46. yeares to come vntil God shal call together the kings of the earth to destroy Rome Touching the fall of his kingdom Mat. 24. 22. If God should not shorten his kingdom none of Gods children could be saued from his cruelty but for the elects sake Reu. 11. 13. God first destroyed the tenth part of his Kingdom thou mayest note in this book when this prophecie was fulfilled and Reu. 8. at the blowing of the foure first Trumpets the third part of all his kingdom is destroyed which prophecie we see fulfilled at this day for the third part of his kingdom are wholly become Protestants yet Reuel 11. 22. the Church of Antichrist is not heerewith moued to repent of her murders sorceries fornications and thefts but Reu. 18. 7. glorieth her selfe that she is a Queene and shall be no widdow that is shee shall neuer lose her Spouse the Pope therfore shall her plagues come at one day death sorrow and famine and shee shall be burned with fire for strong is the Lord God which will condemne her The meanes of her destruction is set forth Reu. 17. 16 the ten kingdomes that first tooke her part against Gods children shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and eate her flesh and burne her with fire for God doth put into their hearts to fulfill his will The manner of the destruction of Rome and the Popedome is declared Reu. 19. 17. as fowles gather together to a dead carkasse so God shall gather all Nations together to warre against Rome and shall take her and the Pope the false Prophet that worketh miracles wherby he deceiued all that receiued his marke and worshipped his Image and they shall not only be destroyed in this world but they shall bee cast aliue into a lake burning with fire and brimstone to wit into eternall damnation and Reu. 18. 20. the Angells and all Gods children are exhorted to reioyce at her destruction and vers 21. Rome shall be destroyed with such violence as a Mill-stone falleth into the Sea and there shall neuer any more Mill grinde any light corne or anie be married in Rome but it shall euer after be a desolate wildernesse as Babylon was They that cannot behold Antichrist in this Glasse 2. Cor. 4. 3. it is a signe the Diuell the God of this world hath blinded their eyes but as Salomon when hee dedicated the Temple prayed God to heare euery one that prayed therein so I beseech God with his holy spirit to illuminate all that shall reade this book that they may plainly see the pope to be Antichrist and to flie from him lest they be partakers of his punishment in this world and in the world to come AN ABSTRACT OF ALL THE HISTORIES OF THE CHVRCH from CHRIST to this day 1614. THE FIRST BOOKE IN describing the whole State of the Primâ—tiue and latter times of the Church First shall be declared the suffering time of the Church 300. yeares after Christ secondly the flourishing time of the Church 300. yeares more then the declining of true Religion 300. yeares more sourthly of the raigne of Antichrist since Sathan was loosed Lastly of the reforming of the Church in this last thrée hundred yeares In the tractation of all which things the Christian Reader may by experience obserue two special points First the Nature of the World Secondly the condition of the Kingdome of Christ By the World is meant all that by ignorance know not Christ and that will not beléeue him or that persecute him The Kingdome of Christ are the beléeuers in Christ and take his part against the World and though they be much fewer then the other and alwaies lightly hatâ—d and molested of the world yet they are they whom the Lord doth blesse and euer will and Christs Subiects which we call the Uiâ—â—bâ—e Church theâ—e are of two sorts first of such as onely outwardly professe Christ secondly of such as by eâ—ection inwardly are ioyned to Christ
the Britainâ— King which with a mightie Host came against him There is much commendation in writing of this Oswalds zeale in religion and piety towards the poore he sent into Scotland for a Bishop called Aydanus a famous Preacher as he preached to the Saxons in the Scottish tongue the King vnderstanding the Scotish tongue he disdained not to preach and expound the same to his Nobles in the English tongue King Oswald being at Dinner on Easterday one brought him word there was a great company of pâ—re people in the streets which asked almes of him be commaunded the meate prepared for his owne Table to be caried vnto them and brake a siâ—â—er Platter in pieces and senâ— it amongst them by his meanes Kinigillus King of the West Saxons was conuerted to Christs Faith and after he had raigned 9. yeares he was slaine by the said Penda who was after slaine by Osway brother to Oswald and succeeded him in his Kingdome together with his Cosin Oswine This Oswine gaue Aydanus the Scotish Bishop aforesaid a principall Horse with the trappers and appurtenances and as he wâ—s riding vpon this kingly horse a poore man craued his charity who hauing nothing else to giue him gaue him his horâ—e garnished as he was wherefore as he came to Dinner he King chiâ—e him he answereâ— O King set you more prise by a horse then by Chrâ—st Then the King prayed him to forgiue him and he would not hencefoorth finde fault with him for giuing away any of his Treasure then Aydanus wept and being asked wherefore he wept he answered for that this King cannot liue long this people is nto worthy to be â—uled by such a Prince which shortly came to passe for Osway caused him traterously to be slaine One Benedict a great man with Osway that brought vp Bede from his youth â—orsooke Oswayes house and all his kindred to serue Christ he was the first that brought vp the Arte of glazing in windowes About this time there was a Counsell bolden at Steâ—ne-halt for the right obseruing of Easterday King Osway began with an Oration that it was necessary â—or such as serued one God to liue in an vniforme order and such as looked for one kingdom in Heauen should not differ in celebration of heauenly Sacraments then by his commandement Colman Bishop said he receiued the order of keeping Easter the 14. day of the first Moneth from his Auncesters Forefathers and from Iohn Euangelist to which at the Kings commandement Wilfride answered Easter is kept alwaies on the Sunday as we keepe it in Rome where Peter and Paul taught in Italy France Affrick Egypt Greece and in all the world I will not reproue Saint Iohn which kept the rights of Moses Law according to the letter the Church being yet Iewish in many points they could not reiect Images inuented of the Diuell which all beleeuers ought of necessitie to detest least they should offend the Iewes therefore Saint Paul circumcized Tymothy therefore he shaued his head and Sacrificed in the Temple all this was done onely to eschew the offence of the Iewes Therefore â—ames said to Paul Thou â—éest brother how many thousand Iewes doe beleeue yet all are zealous of the old Law yet since the Gospell was preached it is not lawfull for the faithfull to be circumcized nor to offer Sacrifices of carnal things to God but Peter remembring that the Lord did rise from death the first day after the Sabbath instituted Easter on that day and not according to the Law and though your forefathers were holy men what is their fewnesse being but a corner of an Iland to be preferred before the vniuersall Church of Christ Then said the King Did the Lord giue the kingdome of Heauen vnto Peter And they both answerâ—d yea then the King concluded being Saint Peter is the Doore-keeper of Heauen I will obey his Orders in euery point least when I come to the gates of Heauen hee shut them against mee and with this simple reason they consented Ethelwood preached vnto the people in Southsax and conuerted them to Christ in the time of whose baptizing the raine which before they lacked three yeares was giuen them plenteously whereby there great famine slacked About this time the detestable sect of Mahomet began to take place which well agrées with the number of that beast signified in the Reuelation 666. Of Mahomet came the Kingdome of the Haarines now called Saracens to whom he gaue many Lawes they must pray Southward Friday is their Sunday called the day of Venus he permitted them to haue as many Wiues as they were able to maintaine and as many Concubines as they list they must abstaine from wine excepâ— on solemne daies â—hey were to worship one onely God Omnipotent Moses and the Prophets were great but Christ was greatest being borne without mans seede and taken vp into the Heauen with many such Lawes at length the Sarasins were wholly conquered by the Turkes Theodorus was sent into England by Vitellianus Pope and diuerse other Monks with him to set vp Latine Seruice in England and Masâ—es Cerimonies Letanies and other Romish ware he was made Archbishop of Canterbury and began to play the Rex in placing and displacing Bishops at his pleasure He held a Prouinciall Counsell at Therford the contents thereof were the vniformitie of keeping Easter that no Bishop should intermeddle in anothers Diâ—cesse that Monasteries should be free from Iurisdiction oâ— Bishops that Monks should keepe the obedience they first promised and not goe from one Monastery vnto another without leaue of the Abbot that none of the Clergy should be receiued in another Diocesse without Letters Commendatory of his Bishop that foraine Bishops and Clergy men should be content with the hospitality offered them and not meddle in any Bishops Iurisdiction without his permission that once a yeare a Prouinciall Sinod should be kept that no Bishop should preferre himselfe before another but according to his time of consecration that as the people increased so the number of Bishops should be augmented The next yeare was the sixt generall Counsell of Constance where this Theodore was present vnder Pope Agatho Mariage there was permitted to the Greeke Priests and forbidden to the Latine in this Counsell the Latine Masse was first openly said by Iohn Portuensis the Popes Legate Colfride Abbot of Shirwin in Northumberland writ to Naitonus King of Picts that shauen Crownes was necessarie for all Priests and Monks for restraint of their lusts and that Peter was shauen in remembrance of the Passion of Christ so we must weare the signe of his Passion on the toppe of our head as euery Church beareth the holy Crosse in the front thereof that by the defence of that banner it be kept from euill Spirits and exhorted him to imitate the Apostolike Churches and when he died the Prince of the Apostles would open Heauen gate to him whereat the King reioyced and knéeling downe thanked God that
false in that he presently declareth what manner of women Bishops wiues ought to be S. Paul reckoneth matrimony amongst the principall vertues of a Priest and these men call it in the Canons the poluting of the flâ—sh God instituted matrimony Christ sanctified it with his presence and the turning water into wine and would haue it the Image of his loue to the Church They aleadge the Leuiticall Priests which as often as they came to minister were bound to be apart from their wiues being our sacraments be more excellent then theirs and daily vsed it would be very vncomely that they should be handled by married men The Priests of the old Law were forbidden all outward vncleannesse of the flâ—sh when they ministred to signifie the holines of Christ whom they did prefigure but our holines consâ—steth of the inward cleannesse of the spirit and S. Paul is witnesse that the Apostles did both keep their wiues carry them about with them 3 Touching that he should say that the Scottish nation and their Cleargy be altogether blinded no man will deny that people to be blind that neither heare Christ nor his Apostles such is the people of Scotland in that they cal the Pope supreme head of the Church whith belongeth onely to Christ and contrary to the word they forbid Priests to marry in the tenth of Iohn Christ is the doore they affirme they must enter by the Uirgine Mary and S. Peter Christ would haue vs worship him in Spirit and truth The Scots build Temples and Chappels for Idols in which they commit Fornication In the tenth to the Hebrews Christ By one sacrifice hath made those perfect for euer which are sanctified And to this effect Christ said on the Crosse It is finished shewing that by his death all Sacrifices for sinne ended yet the Scottish Church-men daily offer Christ for sins both of them aliue and them that be dead God commaundeth not to worship any Grauen Images the Scots fall flat to them and offer them Incense Paul teacheth that Christ is our wisdome righteousnes satisfaction and redemption the Scots prefer the traditions of men before the law of God they stablish righteousnes in their own works and Sanctification in holy water and other outward things and Redemption in péeces of Lead which they buy of their great Antichrist Touching the possessions temporall and iurisdiction in temporalities in the 18. Chapter of Numbers God said to Aaron Thou shalt haue no portion amongst theÌ„ I am thy portion and heritage thou and the Leuits shall haue all the tithes of Israell for their ministry but what heritage is prâ—uided for them I doe not say but they may possesse but all temporall iurisdiction should be taken from them when twice there rose a contention which of Christs disciples should be greatest he told them they should not haue dominion one ouer another like the Kings of the Nations Christ in the 12. of Luke answered him that desired him to deuide his Brothers inheritance vnto him Who made me a Iudge And in the 8. of Iohn he refused to giue iudgement vpon the Adulteresse whereby it appeareth Christ reiected the office of a Iudge as a thing not agréeable to his office When Moses tooke vpon him the ciuill gouernment and the priest-hood he was commaunded to resigne the Priest-hood to Aaron for it was against nature one man should suffice both charges and as long as the face of the true Church did continue no Priest did vsurpe the right of the sword S. Ambrose saith Emperors rather desired the Office of Priest-hood then Priests any Empire then sumptuous Palaces belonged to Emperors and Churches to Priests And S. Barnard saith Peter could not giue that which he had not but he gaue to his successors that which he had carefulnesse ouer the Congregation for this cause the kingdom of heauen is giuen vnto you why do you inuade other mens bounds They were ignorant of all iudgement that did fat with their possessions these belly-beasts all they which do indow such filthy sinkes with their reuenues they follow the steps of Iezabell for what do they daily but bleat and bow before their Images burning Incense aud falling flat before the altars as the Prophets of Baall did and if Daniell and Elias were Hereticks when they would destroy the Priests of Baall so am I We do but desire that their riches wickedly bestowed vpon them might be taken from them but Elias was more rigorous for he cast the Prophets of Baall into the brooke Kidron The Pope cannot make lawes according to his owne mind and will and say they are spirituall and pertaine to the soule and are necessary to eternall life for the word of God giueth them no such authority in the 23. of Iosua Thou shalt not swarue from my law to the right hand nor to the left And in the 12. of Deuteronomy Thou shalt neither adde to nor take from my Commaundements Therefore in the second of Malachy The Priest shall maintaine wisdome and the law shal they require at his hands And where he speaketh of hearing them he putteth this condition that they answere according to the Law of the Lord then these are couenant-breakers that binde the consciences of men with new lawes And in the 33. of Ezekiell Thou shalt heare the word out of my mouth and declare it vnto my people So he could not speake any thing of himselfe and God by Ieremie calleth it Chaffe whatsoeuer doth not procéede from himselfe The Prophets speake nothing but the words of God therefore they so often vsed these wordes The word of the Lord the burden of the Lord the vision of the Lord thus saith the Lord The Apostles must not teach their owne deuises but that which God commaunded them Paul in the second to the Collosians denieth he hath any dominion ouer their Faith though their Apostle And in the â—â—nth to the Romains Faith commeth by hearing the word of God and not by hearing the dreames of the Pope Christ himselfe saith for our example My doctrin is not mine but his that sent me to teach Ministers what to do The power of the Church is not such that it may teach new Doctrines frame new Articles of Faith and new lawes but is subiect to the word of the Lord included in the same They defended their Constitutions by these reasons if it were lawfull to the Apostles to make a decree besides the commaundement of Christ that the people should abstain froÌ„ things offered to Idols blood it is lawful for their successors as oft as néede requireth to do the same but the Apostles made no new decree but to warne them how to rule themselues amongst their Brethren least they should abuse their liberty to the offence of others and contrary Peter in the same councel pronounceth God to be tempted if any yoake be laid vpon the necke of the Disciples and S. Iames saith the Gentiles that are conuerted vnto God are not
CHRISTS VICTORIE OVER SATHANS TYRANNIE WHERIN JS CONTAINED A CATALOGVE OF ALL CHRISTS FAITHFVLL SOVLDIERS THAT THE DIVELL either by his grand Captaines the EMPEROVRS or by his most deerly beloued sonnes and heyres the POPES haue most cruelly Martyred for the TRVTH WITH ALL THE POYSONED DOCTRINS WHEREWITH THAT GREAT REDDE DRAGON hath made drunken the Kings and Inhabitants of the Earth with the confutations of them TOGETHER WITH ALL HIS TRAYTEROVS PRACTISES AND DESIGNES AGAINST ALL CHRISTIAN Princes to this day especially against our late Queen ELIZABETH of famous memorie and our most religious Soueraigne Lord King IAMES Faithfully abstracted out of the Book of Martyrs and diuers other Books By Thomas Mason Preacher of Gods Word LONDON Printed by George Eld and Ralph Blower 1615. To the most Reuerend Father in GOD the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his GRACE PRIMATE and METROPOLITAN of all England and one of his MAIESTIES most Honourable Priuie Councell And to the Right Honourable SIR EDVVARD COKE Lord Cheefe Iustice of England and one of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuie Councell THOMAS MASON wisheth all Happinesse in this Life and eternall Felicitie in the world to come MOST Reuerend and Right Honorable zealous Lords your daily and faithfull Orator being a professed Soldiour vnder Christs Banner in the behalfe of his spouse against Antichrist I could busie my selfe in no office so profitable for the Church and hurtfull vnto Antichrist as to gather together the bullets which haue been shot at him by Christs Souldiours in times past that now his children may shoote them at him againe with great facilitie And whereas venerable M r Fox of worthy memory hath gathered into one Booke the Acts and Monuments of the Church vnto his time one of the most profitablest Bookes that is for Gods Children except the Bible a Club able to beate downe the Popish Tower of Babell Yet what with the labour of reading so large a volume together with the deareness of the price thereof few that haue the Booke reade it ouer and the most part of men are not able to buy it whereby very little profit ariseth thereof vnto the Church I haue according to my power pared off the barke of this Club and made it tractable for all sorts of people they may buy it with little charge and peruse it with small paines and I dare promise them that they shall reape as much profit by reading this abridgement as by reading of the Booke at large I haue willingly omitted no matter of substance Here the Reader may see the cruelty of the Emperors vnto the Primitiue Church and whom they put to death and the manner of their deathes during the first ten Persecutions and how and when Christianitie began in this Realme And what successe it hath had at all times and when by what occasion and by whom most of the Monasteries and Cathedrall Churches of this Realme were builded and how when and by whom all points of Popery came into the Church and how the Pope hath exalted himself against Emperors Kings what iniuries he hath done to them With the Treasons Conspiracies that Papists haue practised against those that the Lord hath annointed vnto this day The Reader may also heere see the innumerable multitude of the Saints of God that the Papists haue from time to time murdered in all Countries for the testimonie of the Truth With all the points of Religion that the Martyrs did defend vnto death and all the reasons that the Papists vsed against their Arguments and how cruelly they handled them with many other most profitable things After I had done this Booke I was discouraged from putting of it to Print by reason I found another had abridged the Booke of Martyrs before me but when I perceiued it was done but superficially for all the points of Religion that the Martyrs defended or Papists obiected were omitted which disputations I chiefly labour to set forth therevpon I was resolued to goe forward When I had begun to quote all the Authors from whence M r Fox had his proofes for them that the Emperors put to death the Quotations were almost as large as the Story and made it very vnpleasant wherefore in most places for breuitie I haue omitted them leauing them that would see the proofes to the Book at large I haue herein abridged many bookes but especially the Booke of Martyrs as the Papists cannot abide the booke of Martyrs of all bookes so much more will they hate my booke which hath so truely and briefely discouered all their shame not onely out of that booke but out of diuers other bookes Wherefore most Reuerend and Right Honorable Lords your manifest dislike that you beare against the wickednes and falshood of Antichrist hath imboldned me to be an humble sutor vnto your Lordships to bee the Patrons of this my Booke and that you would vouchsafe to defend and further it by your Spirituall and Temporall Powers to the honour of Christ the great dishonour of Antichrist and the vnspeakeable benefit of Gods Children So with my hartie prayers I commit both your Honors your soules bodies and all that you haue vnto the safe preseruation of Christ Iesus and his holy Angels Your Lordships daily Oratour THOMAS MASON Preacher of Gods word in Odiham in the County of Southampton whose Father was Heire vnto S r IOHN MASON sometime a Priuy Councelor vnto Queene ELIZABETH THE EPISTLE VNTO THE RBADER EVen as the Reuelation and other places of Scriptures good Reader doâ— foretell Antichrist to come so this Historie declareth the fulfilling of those prophecies in all points all the Martyrs died in this faith that the Pope is Antichrist I could bethink my selfe of no instruction so profitable for the reading of this Booke as to giue thee a few rules to manifest vnto thee that the Popedome is that Antichrist which I will endeuor to declare vnto thee by these rules following first by his outward place of abode secondly by his inward and spirituall throne thirdly by his doctrine fourthly by his conditions fiftly by the height breadth length and ruine of his Kingdome I will but open the way vnto thee this Booke shall proue by experience my sayings to be true Touching his outward seate Reuel 17. 18. it is the Citie that then did raigne ouer the Kings of the earth which was Rome the place is also described in the ninth verse to be compassed about with seuen mountaines This Booke shall proue that Rome hath seuen mountaines about it In the same verse this Citie hath had fiue kings that were then falne another King did raign which was the Emperour when the Reuelation was made and another was to come afterward This book shall teach thee that the seuen Kings signifie seuen maner of Gouernments in Rome of which fiue was falne the Emperour then raigned and after the Pope should raigne there so the Holy Ghost hath pointed out Rome as plainly as can be the place of Antichrists Kingdome
embracinge the crosse and reioycing therein Matthew conuerted Ethiopia and Egypt Hercan the King sent one to run him through with a speare Matthias preached to the Iewes and they stoned and beheaded him Phillip preached to the barbarous Nations who crucified and stoned him at Hirapolis of Phrygia where hee and his Daughters with him were burned The Iewes required Iames to stand vppon the Battlement of the Temple and disswade the people from Christ but hee preached him there and was throwne downe headlong and stoned where hee was buried at which time the Iewes put many other to death for the testimony of Christ. The first Persecution by Nero Domitius NEro Domitius caused the first persecution hee regarded neither sect condition of life or age the streets were spread with dead bodies of Christians hee indeuored vtterly to abolish the name of Christians in this persecution Peter was crucified who required his head to be hanged downward as vnworthy to dye like Christ the cause was thought to bee because Symon Magus pretending to flye from the Mount Capitolinus to Heauen by Peters prayers was brought downe headlong and his ioynts beeing broken hee dyed at that time Peters wife suffred and the same day twelue-month Paule suffred The Second Persecution by Domitian THe Church had some rest vnder Vespatian but Domitian mooued the second persecution he killed all the Nephewes of Iuda called the Lords brothers and slew all hee could find of the stocke of Dauid as Vespatian did before him least any of that stocke should inioy the kingdome in his time Symon Bishop of Ierusalem after other torments was crucified and Iustus succéeded in his Bishopricke Hee banished Iohn to Pathmos and vnder Pertinax hee was released and came to Ephesus and continued there vnto the time of Trayanus Gouerned the Church of Asia and wrote his gospell there Flauia Daughter to Flauius Clemens a Consull of Rome suffred for Christs name and with many other was banished out of Rome to Pontia Some of the stocke of Dauid were brought to Domitian to bee slaine who séeing they were poore and vnderstanding by them that Christs Kingdome should bee heauenly and not worldly he let them go and stayed persecutions they after gouerned Churches and liued in peace vnto the time of Traianus in the time of which persecution no kind of torment was omitted that might empaire the credit of the Christians they would not suffer their bodies to bee buried and yet the Church dayly increased Euaristas Bishop of Rome next to Clement succéeded in the third yéere of Traianus and suffred nine yéeres after Alexander succéeded him and conuerted many of the Senators of Rome to the faith he raysed the son of Hermes from death to life and made his mayd being blind to sée which Adrianus the Emperour hearing of him sent word to the Gouernor of Rome to apprehend him and his two Deacons Euentus aâ—d Theodorus and the said Hermes and Quirinus a Tribune whose daughter Albina hee cured which Cure moued him to bee baptized and suffer for the faith of Christ and Aurelianus tooke Alexander with Hermes his wife Children and whole houshold 1250. put them in prison and burned them all in a furnace and martired the said Theodorus for rebuking him thereof and Quirinus had his tongue cut out then his hands and â—eete cut off after was beheaded and east to the Dogges The third Persecution THere was but one yeare betweene the second and the third persecution by the Emperour Traianus which was so grieuous that Plinius Secundus an Infidell wrote to the Emperour that so many thousands were put to death without cause sauing that they gathered themselues together before day to sing Hymmes to a God which they called Christ he reasoned why that sin should be punished more then all other sins and that he had put two Christian maides vpon the racke to proue if they could haue extorted confession of further crime but could not wherevpon the persecutions were greatly alayed Symeon sonne of Cleophas Bishop of Ierusalem was accused by the Iewes to be a Christian and of the stocke of Dauid wherefore Attalus commanded him to be scourged many dayes together beeing an hundred and twenty yeares old his constancy was greatly admired he was crucified Because Phocas Bishop of Pontus refused to sacrifice to Neptune Traianus cast him into a hotâ—e furnace and after into a scalding â—ath Sulpitius and Seruilia with there wiues whom Salma conuerted to the faith were also then martired Salma was beheaded and Lepidus in the Mount Auentine with whom suffred Seraphia a Uirgen of Antioch in this time Nereus and Achilleus suffred at Rome and one Sagaris who was martired in Asia In this time Ignatius suffred hee was sent from Siria to Rome comming to Asia hee confirmed the Churches and comming to Smirna where Policarpus was he wrote diuers Epistles to Ephesus to Magnesia and to Trallâ—â— hee was aiudged to be deuoured of Beasts and hearing the Lions roare I am the wheate of Christ said he and shall be ground with the teeth of wild beasts that I may be pure bread at this time many thousands died for the faith amongst them one Publius Bishop of Athens Hadrian the Emperour succéeded Traianus who slew Zenon a Noble man of Rome and 10023 for Christ. Borgomensis Lib 8. makes mention of ten thousand in Hadrians dayes to bee crucified in Mount Ararat crowned with thornes their sides pearced with Darts after the example of the Lords passion Eustachius a Captaine who was sent against the Barbarians and subdued them Hadrian met him honourably and doing sacrifice to Apollo for the victory willed Eustachius to doe so also which hee refusing hee was brought to Rome and with his wife and children suffred marterdome Faustinâ— us and Iobita Cittizens of Brixia suffred marterdome with grieuous torments Caelocerius seeing their great paâ—ience cryed out vere magnus deus Christianorum wherevpon he was apprehended and suffred with them Anthia a godly woman committed Eleutherius her sonne vnto Anicetus Bishop of Rome who after was Bishop of Apulia she with her sonn was beheaded and Iustus and Pastor two brethren suffred vnder Adrian at Complutum in Spaine About the same time Simpronissa the wife of Gerulus the Marter suffred with her seauen children beeing first often scourged then hanged by the haire of the head then a stone fastned about her necke she was cast into the Riuer after her children were martired wâ—th diuers punishments they were tied to seauen staâ—es so racked with a pully thrusting thorough one in the necke another in the brest another in the heart another about the nauell another cut in euery ioynt another runne thorough with a speare the last cut a sunder in the middle then were they cast into a déepe pit which the Idolatrous Priests intituled Ad septem Biathanatos Getulius also a preacher at Tiber with Cerdelis Amantius and Prinitiuus were condemned to the fire at Hadrians commandment Sophia with her
Rome to receiue the Faith the good Bishop sent him certaine Preachers which conuerted the King of the Brittaines and baptized them there were the twenty eight Priests called Flamines which they turned to twentie eight Bishoppes and thrée Arch-Flamins to thrée Arch-bishops to wit London Yorke and Glamargan by Wales Thus all the Realme setled in good order Lucius sent againe to Elutherius for the Romaine Lawes thereby likewise to gouerne the Realme Unto whom Elutherius wrote againe we may reprooue the Law of the Romaines but the Law of GOD wee cannot reprooue you haue with you both partes of the Scriptures out of them by Gods grace with the councell of your Realme take yea Law and rule your kingdome of Brittaine for you are Gods Uicar in your kingdome The Faith thus receiued of the Brittaines continued and flourished 216 yeares vntill the comming of the Saxons who then were Pagans whilst Brittaine had thus receiued the Faith the Emperors of Rome were Infidels wherefore much trouble wos sought against them as it was against all parts of Christendome Lucius after he had raigned about 77. yeares died without issue whereupon followed great misery and ruine to the Realme for sometime the idolatrous Romaines and sometimes the Brittaines raigned as violence and victory would serue one King murdering another vntill at length the Saxons depriued them both Some write but falsely that King Lucius after he was baptized forsooke his kingly Honor and the Land and became a Preacher in France and Germany and other places and was made Doctor and Rector of the Church of Cureac where hee was martyred but this fansie is contrary to all our English Stories which doe agrée that he hauing founded many Churches and giuen great liberalities to the same deceased in great tranquility in his owne Land and was buried at Glocester Betwéene the time of King Lucius and the entring of the Saxons there raigned after Lucius Seuerus a Romaine after him Bassianus a Romaine after him Cerausius a Brittaine after him Alectus a Romaine after him Asclepiodotus a Brittaine after him Coilus a Brittaine after him Constantius a Romain after him Constantinus a Brittain by Helena his Mother the Daughter of King Coilus and Wife of Constantius Constantine first made the wals of London and Colchester when the Romaines ruled it it was ruled by Infidels and when the Brittains ruled by Christians yet no persecution was raised in it vntill the tenth persecution which was so cruell that all our English Chronicles report that all Christianity almost in the whole land was destroyed Churches subuerted and the Scriptures burned as before is shewed It is worthy to be noted that Constantine that worthy Emperor was not onely a Brittaine borne but his Mother Helena Daughter of King Coilus a Brittaine but also by the helpe of the Brittaines Army which Constantine tooke with him with great victories he obtained the peace of the Uniuersall Church hauing thrée legions with him out of this Realme of chosen Souldiers After Maximinian tooke all the power that was left of fighting Men to subdue France and after sent for 100000. Souldiours more at once at which time Conanus his Partner sent for 11000. Uirgines out of Brittaine which were drowned and spoyled by the way by Infidels because they would not pollute themselues with them Thus Brittaine being destitute of strength had béene oppressed by Guanus and Melga had not Guethlâ—â—us Arch-bishop of London and Constantinus Brother to Aldranus defended the Realme and State of Religion Then came Vortigerne who murdred Constance his Prince and inuaâ—ed the Crowne and fearing Constance his two brothers he sent for ayde of the Saxons and married with the Daughter of Hengist but not long after he was dispossessed of his kingdome by the said Hengist and the Saxons beeing all Infidels and the Brittaines were driuen out of the Country Two hundred seuenty one of their Nobles at one méeting at Almesbury being subtilly slain by the Saxons or at a place cald Stonehenge by the Monument of which Stones there hanging it séemeth the Noble Brittaines were there buried I passe ouer the fabulous Story of the Welchmen of bringing these Stones from Ireland by Merlin Some Stories record they were slaine being bid to a banket Thus came the Angles and Saxons fiâ—st into this Realme being yet Infidels about the yeare 469. they were diuers times driuen out by Aurelius Ambrosius and his Brother Vter but they returned againe and at length possessed all and droue the Brittains into Wales Hengistus raigned 43. years and dyed in Kent Galfridus saith he was taken in the warre of Aurelius Ambrosius and beheaded in the 39. yeare of his raigne His Sonne Offa succeeded him twenty foure yeares Octa and Imericus his sons succéeded him 53. yeares and were slaine by Vter Pendragon The Saxons deuided the Realme into sâ—auen Kingdomes to the first Kent to the second Sussex and Surrey the third West-sex the fourth Eastâ—sex the fifth Cambridgeshire Norffolke and Suffolke the sixt the Countries of Lincolne Leicester Huntingdon Northampton Oxford Darby Warwicke the seauenth was King of Northumberland they continued so a while with great Warres amongst themselues at length all came to the possession of the West-Saxons This â—ingdome began in the yeare 522. and continued vntill about the comming of William the Conqueror which was 554. yeares Saint Paules Church in London was builded by Ethelbert King of Kent and Sigebert King of Essex when Ethelbert turned vnto the Faith Malmsburie writeth that Mauricius the Kinges Chancellour then Byshoppe of London did first begin this famous building of Paules and after Richard his Successour bestowed all the rents of his Byshoppricke vpon the same and it may be the first Church was ouerthrowne by the Danes and re-edified by these Byshops These Kings of the Brittaines raigned in Wales and Cornewall Vortiger Vortimer Vortiger againe Aurelius Ambrosius Vter Pendragon Arthur Constantius 3. Aurelius Conanus Vortiperius Malgo Carecius The sinnes of the Brittaines was the cause of the iust iudgement of God against them as out of an old Authour and partly out of Gildas doth appeare These bee the words of the Authour There following Constantinus and others aboue named out of the Realme all the Nobility when the rascall sort had gotten their places and through aboundance of riches were surprised with pride they fell into so great Fornication as neuer was heard of and vnto all manner of wickednesse that mans Nature is inclined vnto hating the truth louing lyes regarding euill in stead of goodnesse receiuing the Deuill in stead of an Angell of light choose such for their Kings as were most cruell and if any seemed to bee humble and fauour the truth they hated and backbited him as a destroyer of Brittaine and not onely the seculer men did thus but also the Byshoppes and Teachers therefore it was no maruell that such a people should loose their Country which they had so defiled As there were many wicked Kinges among the Saxons so there were some
they so long time had continued Beda Fabianus others write of a myracle wrought vpon a Blinde Englishman when the Brittaines could not helpe him Austine kneeling downe and praying restored him to sight before them all for a confirmation as these Authours say of keeping of Easter I leaue the credite of the myracle to the Authors of whom I had it Austine gathered another Sinode to the which seauen Byshoppes and the wisest Men of the famous Cittie of Bangor came they tooke councell of a holy man whether they should be obedient to Austine he had them agree to him if hee bee the Seruant of GOD and you shall know it by his humblenesse and meekenesse you are the greater number if he at your comming into the Sinode arise vp and courteously receiue you perceiue him to be an humble and meeke man but if he shall contemne and despise you despise you him againe thus the Brittaine Byshoppes entring into the Councell Austine after the Romish manner keeping his Chaire would not remooue wherefore they being very much offended thereat after some heate of words departed in great displeasure to whom Austine said If they would not receiue peace with their Brethren they should receiue war with their Enemies There was in Bangor in Wales an exceeding great Monastery wherein was two thousand and one hundred Monkes the Monkes came out of this Monasterie to Chester to pray for Brocmayle fighting for them against the Saxons Ethelbert King of Northumberland seeing them intentiâ—e to their prayers and perceiuing it was to pray for their Consull he said although they beare no Weapon yet with their praiers and preaching they persecute vs he commaunded his men to kill them who killed or rather martyred 1100. of them The Authors that wrote this say that the forespeaking of Austine was verified on them but Galfridus Monumetensis saith that Ethelbert the King of Kent being conuerted by Austine to Christs Faith seeing the Brittaines deny their subiection to Austine therefore stirred vp the said Ethelfrid to warre against the Brittaines After Austine had baptized 10000. in a Riuer called Swale by Yorke on a Christmas day perceiuing his end to draw neere ordained Laurencius his Successor by his Baptizing in Riuers it followeth there was then no vse of Fonts and the Rites of baptizing in Rome was not then so ceremoniall nor had so many trinkets as it hath since and not long after Austine died after he had sitten Arch-bishop 15. or 16. yeares About this time also Gregory died who was called the basest of all the Byshops before him and the best of all that came after him Ranulphus Cestrensis writeth that Iohn the Patriarch of Alexandria as he was at prayer there appeared vnto him a comely Uirgine hauing on her head a Garland of Oliue Leaues which named her selfe Mercy promising him if he would take her to Wife hee should prosper well After that day this Patriarch was so mercifull to the poore that he counted them his Maisters and himselfe as Steward vnto them Gregory withstood the pride of Iohn Patriarke of Constantinople which would be the Uniuersall and Cheefe Bishop of all others calling him the fore-runner of Antichrist he brought in the Title of the Pope Seruus seruorum Dei Sabinianus succeeded him two yeares a malicious Detractor of his workes after him succeeded Bonifacius the third one yeare After Phocas had murdered his owne Maister Mauricius the Emperor and his Children thinking to establish the Empire to himselfe by friendship of his people and especially with the Pope he granted Boniface all his Petitions and to bee Uniuersall head Byshop ouer all Churches Hiraclius the Emperour that succeeded Phocas cut of his hands and feete and threw him into the Sea but Rome would not so soone loose the supremacy once giuen as the giuer lost his life for euer since they haue maintained the same with all force and pollicy by the word of Gregorie Boniface may well be called the fore-runner of Antichrist as Gregory brought in the Stile of Seruus seruorum Dei so he brought in Volumus mandamus Statuimus praecipimus Besides the building of Pauls as aforesaid by Ethelbert King of Kent and Sigebert King of Essex Ethelbert also founded the Church of S. Andrew in Rochester Moreouer he caused a Cittizen to make Westminster Abbey which was inlarged and new builded by Edward the Confessor and new re-edified by Henry the third and when he had raigned 56. yeares he died Anno 616. The foresaid Ethelfrid King of Northumberland after the cruell murder of the Monkes at Bangor was not long after slaine in the Fielde of Edwine who succeeded him in his Kingdome First this Ethelfride enuying this Edwine persecuted him who hauing fled from him as he sat in his Study a Stranger appeared vnto him and said I know thy thought and heauinesse what wouldst thou giue him that should deliuer thee out of this feare and make thee a mightier King then any of thy Predecessors and shew thee a better way of life then euer was shâ—wed to any of thy Ancestors wilt thou obey him and doe after his councell yea said Edwine promising with all his heart so to do and the stranger laying his hand on his head he said when this is come to passe remember thy tribulation and the promise which thou hast made and with that hee vanished away Presently a Friend of his came to him and said the heart of King Redwaldus is with thee This Redwaldus suddainely assembled an Hoast wherewith he suddainely gaue Ethelfride battell and slew him whereby Edwine was quietly King of Northumberland He marryed the Daughter of Ethelbert King of Kent Edwine yet remained a Pagan albeit his Queene a Christian and Paulinus the Byshoppe ceased not to perswade him to the Christian Faith When Paulinus saw the King so hard to bee conuerted he prayed to God for his conuersion who reuealer vnto him the Uision before mentioned whereupon Paulinus comming to the King he laie his handâ— on the Kings head and aked if he knew that token the King beâ—ring the Uision and remembring the token would haue falâ—en at his fâ—ete but suffeâ—ed him not saying O King you haue vaquished your enemies and obtained your Kingdom now receiue the Faith of Christ as you promised whereupon the King was baptized of Paulinus at Yorke with many of his seruants and his Idolatrous Priests which by their old Law mustride but vpon Marâ—s gaâ—e vpon Horses and rode and destroyed all the Altars of their Idols and their Idols Temple After this conuersion was so great peace in the Kingdome oâ— Edwin that a woman laden with gold might goe safe from the one side of the Sea vnto the other and by all his high waies he chained a Bowle of brasse at euery Fountaine for passengers to refresh themselues with and no man tooke them away during his life King Oswald a Christian by prayer vnto God with a little company ouercâ—me Cadwallo and Penda
of Images was condemned there he aduanced the veneration of Images commanding them most Ethnically to be incenced In this time Charles the great raigned by whom the Pope caused Dâ—siderius the Lumbard King to be deposed Pope Adrianus the 1. succéeded him he added more then all the other to the veneration of Images writing a Booke for the adoration and vtilitie of them commanding them to be taken for Lay-mens Calenders As Pope Paul before him made much of Petronel Peters daughter so this Adrian clothed the body of Peter all in siluer and couered the Altar of S. Paul with a pall of golde He confirmed by reuelation the Order of S. Gregories Masse before the order of S. Ambrose his Masse in this manner both the Masse bookes were said vpon the Altar of S. Peter and the Church doore shut and sealed by many Bishops who continued in praiers all night that the Lord would shew by some euident signe which of these Seruices he would haue vsed and in the morning they found Gregories Masse booke plucked in pieces and scattered about the Church and Ambrose his booke lay open in the same place where it was layde Popâ— Adrian expounded it that as the leaues of Gregories booke were sattered all ouer the Church so should Gregories booke be vsed throughout the world and that Ambrose his Seruice should onely be vsed in his owne Church where he was Bishop so Gregories Masse had onely the place and hath to this day Charles the sonne of the aforesaid Pipinus confirmed the gift of his Father vnto the Pope and added thereunto the citie and Dominion of Uenice Histria the Dukedomes of Foroinliense Spoletanum Beâ—eâ—entanum and other more possessions to the patrimony of Peter making him the Prince of Rome and Italy wherefore the Pope intituled him most Christian King and ordained him onely to be taken for Emperour and made him Patricium Romanum and Caroloman Carolus his eldest brother being â—ead Bertha his wife with her two children came to Pope Adrian to haue them confirmed into his fathers Kingdome the Pope to shew a pleasure to Carolus would not agrée but gaue her and her two children and Desiderius the Lumbard king with his whole Kingdome wife and Children into the hands of Carolus who led them into France and kept them in seruitude during their liues By this Adrian and Pope Leo his successor was Carolus Magnus proclamed Emperour and the Empire translated from the Grecians to the Frenchmen in the year 801. where it continued about 102. yeares vntil the comming of Conradus and his Nephew Otho which were Germaines and so hath continued amongst the Almains vntill this time This Charles builded as many Monasteries as there be letters in the A. B. C. he was beneficiall to the poore but cheefly to Churchmen he held a Councell at Frankford where was coÌ„demned the Councel of Niceâ—e Irene for setting vp worshiping Images Egbert succeeded Ceolulphus and when he had raigned 20. years in Northumberland was likewise shorne Monk about the time of the death of Ceolulphus in his monastery In the year 754. the cities of Weire London York Doncaster with others were burnt In the yeare 780. it rained blood it the citie of Yorke it fell from the top of S. Peters Church the Element being cléere out of the North part of the Temple some expounded it to be a token of the comming of the Danes which entred thiâ— land about 7. years after In the yeare 784. Irene Empresse of the Greekes by the meanes of Pope Adrian tooke vp the body of Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople her husbands father and burned it and caused the ashes to be cast into the sea because he disanulled Images as afore is said afterwards raigning with her son Constantine the sixt being at disscenâ—ion with him she caused him to be cast into prison and his eyes to be put out so cruelly that within short time he dyed after she held a Councell at Niceâ— where it was decréed that Images should againe be restored to the Church which Councell also was repealed by another Councell holden at Frankeford by Charles the great wherin he did greatly lament that noâ— so few as 300. Bishops of the East did decree that Images should be worshipped which the Church of God hath alwaies abhorred at length she was deposed by Nicephorus who raigned after her and after according to the iust Iudgement of God ended her life in much penury and misery The first Crosse and Altar that was set vp in this Realme was in Heuenfield in the North vpon the occasion of Oswald king of Northumberland fighting against Cadwalla where he in the same place set vp the signe of the Erosse kneeling and praying there for victory The Church of Winchester was founded by Kingilsus king of the Mercians and finished by his sonne Anno 636. The Church of Lincolne founded by Paulinus Bishop 629. The Abbey of Westminster begun by a citizen of London by the instigation of Ethelbert King of â—ent 614. The Schooles of Cambridge erected by Sigebert king of East Angles 636. The Monastery of Malmesbury by Meldulphus a Scot 640. after inlarged by Agilbet Bishop of Winchester The Monastery of Gloster builded by Opricus king of Mercia 679. The Monastery of Maybrose by Aydanus the Scottish Bishop The Nunnery of Heâ—renton by Heâ—y which was the first Nun in Northumberland The Monastery of Hetesey by Osway king of Northumberland who with his Daughter Elfred gaue possessions for twelue Monasteries 657. The Monastery of S. Martine in Douer builded by Whitred king of Kent The Abbey of Lestingie by Cedda whom we call Saint Ced 651. The Monastery of Whithy by Hilda daughter to the Nephew of king Edwine 657. she builded also another Monastery called Hacanus not farre â—hence The Abbey of Abbington builded by Sissa king of Southsaxons 666. Saint Botulph builded an Abbey on the East side of Lincolne called Ioannâ— 654. The monastery in Ely fouÌ„ded by Etheldred daughter of Anna K. of east Angles 674. The Monastery of Chertsey in Southery founded by Erkinwald Bishoy of London 674. he founded also the Nunnery of Barkin The Abbey of Peterborough founded by King Ethelwald 675. Bardnere Abbey by King Etheldredus 700. Glastenbury by Iue King of West Saxons 701. Ramsey by one Aylewinus a Nobleman 973. King Edgar builded in his time forty Monasteries he raigned Anno 678. The Monastery of Wincombe builded by king Kenulphus 737. Saint Albons builded by Offa king of Mercians 755. The Abbey of Eusham by Egwinus Bishop 691. The Abbey of Ripon in the North by Wilfridus Bishop 709. The Abby of Echlingheie by king Aluredus 891. The Nunnery of Shaftsbury by the said Aluredus the same yeare so you see that Monasteries began to be founded by the Saxon kings within 200. yeares after they were conuerted these had a zeale but they lacked the true Doctrine of Christ especially that Article of free Iustification by Faith of Iesus Christ for lacke whereof as
well the builders as they that were possessed in the same haue both runne the wrong way and béene deceiued for so much as they did these things seeking thereby merits with God remedy for â—heir soules and remission of sinnes as doth appeare testified in their owne Records besides the 7. or 8. Kings that forsooke their Kingdomes to be Monkes there were many Quéenes and Kings daughters entred into Nunneries at that time as thou maist sée them in the booke at large named THE THIRD BOOKE Containing the next 300. yeares from the raigne of King EGBERTVS vnto WILLIAM the Conquerour EGbertus King of the West Saxons hauing put downe all the other Kings he gouerned â—oly King Brithricus doubting Egbert because he was of the kings bloude was chased out of the land into France where hearing of the death of Brithricus hée came home and â—btained the Crowne King Bernulphus and other kings had him in deriâ—â—â—on and made diuerse scorning Rimes of him after he assembled his Knights and fought with Bernulphus in a place called Elmeden and there was ods six or eight against one yet Egbert through the helpe of God gat the victorie at length he subdued all the Kings and ioyned their Dominions to his Kingdome he wâ—nne also the towne of Chester from the Brittaines or Welchmen which they possessed vntill this time then he called a Counsell at Winchester where he was Crowned King ouer this land and where before it was called Brittaine he sent into all costs and charged them straitly that henceforth the Saxons should be called Angles and the land Anglia About the third yeare of his raigne the Danes which a little before had made horrible destruction in Northumberland as before entred the second time with a great Host and spoyled the Isle of Shâ—pâ— in Kent Egbert met with them at Carrum but he was compelled to forsake the Field but in the next Battell with a small company he ouerthrâ—w a great multitude oâ— them The next yeare they turned againe into the Land Westward and ioyning with the Britaines did much harme in many places of Egberts Dominions after that they aâ—â—aded in the Land so that many of them were maried to English women and many that now be English men descended of them Ethelwolfus the sonne of Egbert succéeded him in his raigne he was Bishop of Winchester and by the dispensation of the Pope was made King he being nuzled therein was alwaies deuout to holy Church he gaue thâ—m the Tythes of all his goods and Lands and fréedome from all serâ—age and ciuill charges Hee made his Donation to God the Uirgin Mary and all the Saints for remission of our Soules and sins and in that we haue in some part eased the seruitud of the Church they may the more diligently powre forth their praiers without â—easing to God for vs. It is no swall derogation to the merits of Christ thus to set remission of their sins and remedie of their Soules in this Donation and such like déeds Theâ— King Ethelwolfe went to Rome with his yongest Sonne Alfred and committed him to the bringing vp of Pope Leo the 4. and re-edified the English Schoole in Rome which was founded by King Offa or king Iue which in Egberts time was consumed with fire and as king Iue had done in his dominions he gaue a penny yearely to be paid for euery fire-house throughout the Realme to the Pope Also he granted 300. Markes yearely to Rome to maintaine lights in Saint Perters Church 100 Markes and to maintaine lights in Saint Pauls Church 100. Markes and to the Pope one other 100 Markes this done he maried Iudith the daughter of Carolus Caluus the French King whom he made Queene contrary to the Lawes of the West Saxons that no Kings wife should haue the name or place of a Queene because Ethelburge poisoned king Brithericus her husband The king was most ruled by the Counsell of two Bishops one of them was Swithinus Bishop of Winchester who had béene Scoole-master to the king the king shewed his kinde Nature in that he not oâ—â—y followed the aduertisments of his old Schoole-master but in that he ceased not vntill he had made him Bishop of Winchester but as concerning the Miracles which are read in the Church of Winchester of this Swithinus them I leaue to be read together with the Iliads of Homer or tales of Robin Hood Pope Leo the 3 succéeded Adrian Stephen the 4. succéeded him and Gregory the 4. succéeded him in whose time by the commandement of Lodouicus the Emperour a generall Synode was commanded at Aquisgrane where it was decreed that euery Church should haue sufficient of his owne Reuenewes to maintaine the Priests thereof and that none of the Clergie should weare any Uestures of any precious or scarlet colour nor Kings on their fingers except at Masse time or in giuing Consecraâ—ions and that they should not kéepe great ports or Families or vse great Horses or vse Dice or Harlots or vse any gold or siluer in their shooes slippers or girdles by this it may bee coniectured what pompe or pride in these daies was crept into the Clergie After him succeeded Pope Sergius the 2. he first brought vp the altering of Popes names because his name was Os Porci that is Swines snoute he ordained the Agnus twise to be sung in the Masse and the Host to be diuided into thrée parts Pope Leo the 4. succéeded him it was enacted in a Counsell of his that no Bishoppe should be condemned vnder 72. witnesses as you sée in the witnesses of Stephen Gardiner orderly practized he ordained the Crosse all set with precious stones and gold to be caried before him like a Pope Next to him succéeded the Whore of Babilon who appeared vnto the world not only after the spirituall sence but after the very letter and right forme of a whore indeed In stead of a man Pope they chose a Whore called by name Ione the 8 her proper name was Giâ—berta a Dutch woman of Magunce who went with an English Monke out of the Abbey of Fulâ—a in mans apparell vnto Athens after through her dexteritie of wit and learning she was promoted vnto the Popedome where she sate two yeares and sixe Moneths after in open Procession fell in trauell of childe and so died Pope Benedictus the 3. succeeded her in the whorish sea he ordained the Dirge to be said for the dead yet before him Gregorius the 3. had done his part therein Aâ—ter him succeeded Pope Nicholas the 1. who inlarged the Popes Decrees with many constitutions equalling the authoritie of them with the writings of the Apostles He ordained that no seculer Prince nor the Emperour should be present at their Counsels to the end they might murder such as they Iudged to be Hereticks and that no Lay man shold Iudge Clergy men or reason vpon the Popes power That no Magistrate should haue power ouer a Prelat alledging that a Prelat is called God
That all Church seruice should be in Latine except with the Sclauonians and Polonians Sequences in Masse were by him first allowed by him Priests began to be â—â—strained from Mariage wherof Hulderick Bishop of Ausâ—rough sent a Letter to the Pope that his Decrees concerning single life of the Clergie were farre discrepant from al discretion I feare how the Members of the Body wil do when the Head is so greatly out of frame Is not this a violence tyranny when a man is compelled by your Decrees to doe that which is against the Institution of the Gospell and the old Law as appeareth by many examples there be many vnder a false pretence of Continencie going about to please men more then God some lye with their fathers wiues some are Sodomits and play the beasts with brute beasts wherefore as Saint Paul saith Because of Fornication let euery one haue his owne wife When the Counsell of Nice went about to establish this Decrée one Paphnutius withstood them confessing Mariage to be honorable and called the bed of Matrimonie Chastitie and perswaded the Counsell from making that Law some take Saint Gregory for their defence in this matter being ignorantly deceiued how dangerous this Decree was and how Saint Gregory after reâ—â—ked the same with conâ—igne fruit of repentance for as he sent to his Fish pond to haue Fish hée sée more then 6000. Infants heads which were taken out of the same Mote then he confessed his Decrée to be the cause of that so lamentable a murder so he altered his Decrée commending the counsell of the Apostle which saith It is better to marry then to burne What can be more foolish then when any Bishop or Archdeacon runne themselues headlong into all lust and Adultery and Incest and Soâ—omitrie yet shame not to say that chaste Mariage of Priests stinkes and they adde this filthy and foolish suggestion that it is more honest priuily to haue to doe with many women then openly to be bound to one wife After this Nicholas succéeded Pope Adrianus the 2. Ioannes the 9. Martinus the 20 Adrian the 3. and Stephen the 1. By this Adrian it was decreed that no Emperour after that time should haue any thing â—o doe in the election of the Pope and thus began the Emperours first decay and the Pâ—pacie to swell and rise aloâ—t About the latter end of the raigne of Ethelwolfe the Danes with 33. ships arriued about Hampshire through whose barbarous tyranny much blâ—ut shed and murder hapneâ— heere amongst English men They first ouercame Ethelwolfe and after he and his Sonne Ethelbaldus warring against them in Souâ—herâ— at Okley â—raue them to the Sea where they houering a space burst in againe with horrible crueltie Besids the iust Iudgement of God for their manifold sinnes which at this time most plentifully abounded there was two outward causes of the Danes comming into England the first was the death of Lothbroke which was falsly imputed to King Edmond as is â—â—â—ore recited The other was giuen by the meanes of Osbright raigning vnder the King of West Saxons in the North parts who rauished the wife of Bruer one of his Nobles wherefore the said Bruer tooke shipping and sayled into Denmarkâ— where hee was brought vp and had great friends and making his mone to Codrinus the King who being glad of some iust quarrell leuied a great Army and sent them with â—ugnar and Hâ—bba his chiefe Captaines into England who first arriued at Holdernesse and burned vp the Contry and killed without mercie men women and children and entring towards Yorke entred battell with Osbright where he with the most part of his Army was slaine so they tooke possession of Yorke Ethelbald eldest sonne of Ethelwolfe succeeded his Father in Westsex and Ethelbright â—is second sonne in Kâ—nt they raigned both together 5. yeares Ethelbald maried Iudith his Stepmother his Fathers wife After these two succeeded Ethelred his third sonne he was so incumbred with the Danes that he and his brother Alured fought nine battels with them in one yeare and they spoyled and burned the citie of Yorke The Northumberlands likewise rebelled thinking to recouer their Kingdome againe whereby the strength of England was weakened and the Danes the more preuailed after he had raigned 5. yeares in much trouble he died Alured otherwise called Alfride his brother succeeded him in the second Monâ—tâ— that he was made King he gaue the Danes a battell besides Wilton but he was put to the worst yet the Danes did agree with him to depart out of Westsax and reâ—â—ned from Reâ—ding to London and abode there all that winter the number of the Danes were so increased as it is written of thâ—m that in one day 3000. of them were slaine shoâ—ty after they increased double as many The Danes hauing the Rule of the North part of England from the Thames wiâ—h Mâ—rcian London and Essex they disdaâ—â—ed that Alfride should beare any rule on the other side of the Thames whereupon three Kings of the Danes with all their strength made warre with him that King Alfride being ouerset with his eâ—emiâ—s and forsaken of his people he withdrew himselfe into a wood Country in Summersetshire called Etheling standing in a Marsh that there is no comming to it without boâ—e where he had nothing to liue by but what he got by hunting and fishing there was a Cottage of a poore Swineheard called Dunwolfus by whom the King was cheered with such poore fare as he and his wife could make him for which the king after set the Swineheard to learning and made him Bishop of Winchester Notwithstanding the king in time was comforted by the prouidence of God First 1300. Danes were slaine as they landed by an ambushment of King Alfrids men who lay in Garison for their owne safetie then the King shewed himselfe more at large and men out of Wiltshire Somersetshire and Hampshire came to him vntill hee had a strong company Then the king apparelled himselfe in the habit of a Minstrell as he was very skilfull in Musicke and entred into the Tents of the Danes lying at Eddingdon and there espied their Idlenesse and heard much of their Counsell and sodainly in the nigh he fell vpon the Danes and slew a great multitude of them his Subiects bearing of his manly Uictories drew to him daily so he wonne Winchester from the Danes and diuers other townes and forced them to sêeke peace the which was concluded vpon condition that Gutrum their King should be Christned and that such as would not be Christned should depart the Country King Alfride was king Gutrums Godfather at his Baptisme and named him Athelstan then he gaue Norfolke Suffolke and part of Cambridgeshire and Northumberland to them that were Christned those that would not be Christned though they departed the Realme they did diuerse times returne againe and did much spoile in many parts of the Realme but King Alfride ouercame them euer During the whole
time of the Danes the Land was plagued with warres pestilence and murren of beasts the King alwaies thanked God what troubles soeuer hapned vnto him and after hee had raigned 29. yeares and sixe moneths he died and is buried at Winchester He euer bestowed eight houres in the day in studie there was none in England more quicke in vnderstanding nor more elegant in interpreting then he was He sent for many learned men out of other Countries to instruct his people He was the first that ordained certaine Schooles of diuerse Arts at Oxford and Franchised them with great Liberties he translated many bookes into the Saxon tongue all that he could by faire meanes and threats he endeuoured to stirre vp his subiects to learning he preferred none to any great place except he were learned since his time learning was neuer extinguished in this Realme Edward his sonne succeeded him in his kingdoms After Stephen the fist was nine Popes of Rome in nine yeare Formosus being Bishop of Portiâ—ax had offended Pope â—one the 8. which was a woman as before and being afraid fled and because he would not returne he was excommunicated and after disgraded and made to sweare he would neuer claime his Bishopricke againe but remaine a seculer man but Pope Martine released him of his Oath and restored him to his Bishopricke and shortly after he obtained the Papâ—ciâ— whereupon was a great controuersie some held because of his degradation and Oath he could not be Pope others held the contrary because he was absolued by Pope Martin from that his periury and Degradation He sent to Arnulphus for ayde who marching to Rome they would not suffer him to enter and a Hare comming néere the Citie the Host of Arnulphus followed after with such a maine cry that the valiant Romaines for very feare cast themselues downe from the wals so that Arnulphus with a little labour scaled the wals and gate the Citie thus he obtained the citie of Rome and rescued the Pope and beheaded his aduersaries whom the Pope to gratifie blessed him and crowned him for Emperour After Formosus succéeded Bonifacius the sixt after him Stephen the sixt which so enuied Formosus that he abrogated all his Decrées and tooke vp his body and cut off two fingers from his right hand and threwe them into Tyber and buried the body in a Laymans Sepulcre Romanus succéeded him and repealed the Acts of Stephen against Formosus Theodorus the second succéeded him Iohn the tenth succéeded him who repugned the Romaines and held a Sinode at Rauenna of 74. Bishops the French King Eudo with his Archbishops being present where he ratified all the Decrées of Formosus and the contrary Acts of Stephen the sixt were burned After him Benedictus the 4. after him Leo the 5. who was with strong hand taken and cast into prison by one Christopher his owne Houshold Chaplin which Christopher being Pope 7. moneths was likewise hoysted from his Papall throne by one Sergius he thrust him into a Monastery and shore him a Munke thus in nine yeares were nine Popes This Sergius was rude vnlearned proud and cruell he before was put backe from the Popedome by Formosus wherefore he caused the body of Formosus to be taken vp againe disgraded him beheaded him and cut off the other thrée fingers which were left and threw his bodie into Iyber and deposed all such as by Formosus had beene consecrated By this Pope Sergius came vp the vse to beare about Candles on Candlemasse day for the purifying of the blessed Uirgin as though the sacred conception of the Son of God were vnpure and to be purified by Candlelight Pope Anastatius succeeded him after him Pope Laudo succéeded which was father of Pope Iohn the 11. Pope Iohn is said to be the Paramour of Theodora a famous Harlot of Rome by whom he had a daughter called Marozia and the aforesaid Popâ— Sergius had a sonne by her which after was Pope Iohn the 12. After she maried Guido Marquis of Tuscia by the meanes of whom and his friends at Rome she caused Iohn the 11. to be smothered with a pillow and Iohn the 12. her sonne to be made Pope but the Clergy and people did not agrée to his election thereforâ— Pope Leo the 6. was set vp in his place after him Pope Stephen succéeded who being poysoned the said Iohn the 12. was set vp againe in the Papacie where he raigned about 5. years This strumpet Marozia maried two brothers one after another she gouerned all Rome and the Church at that time After him succeeded Stephen the 7. After him Leo the 7. After him Stephen the 8. After him Pope Martine the 3. After him Pope Agapetus the 2. about whose time began first the Order of Monks called Ordo Cluniensis After king Alfride as before his sonne Edward succéeded surnamed the Elder there were thrée Edwards before the Conquest the first Edward the Elder the second Edward the Martyre the third Edward the Confessor This Edward began his raigne in the yeare 901. The Princedome of Wales and the Kingdome of Scotland with Constantine king thereof wâ—re subdued vnto him also he recouered Northfolke Suffolke Essex and Northumberland from the Danes In all hiâ— warres he had the victorie his men were so inured with continuall practises of Feates of Warre that when they heard of any enemies comming they would neuer tarry for the King or any of his Dukes but incountred with them the assaults of enemies were to the Souldiers but a trifle and vnto the King a ridicle Then the King builded Chester twise as big as it was and builded a Castle at Herford in the edge of Wales and another Castle at the mouth of the water of Auon and another Castle at Buckingham and another vpon the riuer of Ouse He re-edified the townes of Tocester and Wigmore vpon the riuer of Trent He builded a newe towne ouer against Nottingham and made a Bridge ouer the Riuer betwixt the two townes By the Riuer of Merce he builded a new Citie called Thilwall and repaired the City of Manchester and diuerse others His Daughter Edgitha was â—aried vnto Otho the first Emperour of the Almaines when hée had raigned 24. yeares hee dyed Adelstan his Sonne raigned after him and was Crowned at Kingstone hée was nothing inferiour to his Father in renowne of Ciuile Gouernment and in prosperous successe in reducing this Realme into subiection of a Monarchie He expelled the Danes subdued the Scots and quieted the Welchmen One Elfredus with seditious persons conspired against the said King at Winchester presently after the death of his Father went about to put his eyes but by the helpe of God he escaped Elfred being accused thereof fled to Rome to purge himselfe by his Oath before the Pope and swearing or rather forswearing himselfe in Saint Peters Church suddenly vpon his Oath fell downe and within thrée dayes died The Pope sent to the King to know whether he would haue
hee 〈◊〉 toither and tooke possession thereof and returned and maried Emmalate wife of Egelred by whom he had a sonne called Hardyknight He held a Parliament at Oxford where it was agreed that Englishmen and Danes should hold the Lawes made by King Edgar Then the Danes begun to be Christians and Canutus went to Rome and returned He gouerned the Lâ—nd 20. yeares and left two sonnes Harold and Hardeknight which was made King of Denmarke in his Fathers time Harold called Harefore for his swiftnesse succéeded him hee banished his Stepmother Emma and tooke away her goods and Iewels Hardeknight King of Demmarke succéeded him and when he had raigned two yeares being merry at Lambeth he was suddenly strucke dumbâ— and died being the last king of the Danes that raigned in England In the time of these Danish Kings there was one Godwine an Earle in England when the aforesaid two sâ—nnes of King Egelred Alfred and Edward came from Normandy to England to visit their mother Emma and brought with them a great company of Normaines this Godwine hauing a Daughter named Godith whom he thought to haue maried to Edward and made him king Hee perswaded the king Hardeknight that the Normaines should be slaine and gat authoritie to order the matter himselfe Wherefore hée met them at Guildowne with a company of English Souldiers slewe almost all the Normaines winding their gots out of their bellyes and put out the eyes of Alfred the eldest brother and sent him to the Abby of Elie where hée fed him with bread and water vntill shorty after hée dyed Edward escaped to his mother who fearing Godwine sent him againe into Normandy This cruell fact to the Normaines séemeth to bée the cause why the Iust Iudgement of God shortly after Conquered the English Nation by the Normaines After the death of king Hardeknight last king of the Danes the Lords sent into Normandy for the aforesaid Edward yonger sonne of Quéen Emma to take possession of the Realme who came with a few Normaines and was crowned at Winchester He maried Godith Daughter of Earle Godwine hee ruled with much wisdome and 〈◊〉 24. yeares In his time his mother Emma was accused to be too familier with Alwine Bishopâ—â— Winchester by the councell of Godwine they were committed to prison many of 〈◊〉 Bishops laboured for them to the King but Robert Archbishop of Canterbury stoppâ—â— their suâ—e saying How dare you defend her shée hath defâ—med her sonne the 〈◊〉 and taken her lerâ—erous Lemman the Bishop she is accused to bee consenting to â—he death of her sonne Alfred and procured poyson for her sonne Edward it she will 〈◊〉 bare footed for her selfe foure steps and for the Bishop fiue vpon nine 〈…〉 if she escape harmelesse they shall be afâ—oyled she agreed theris then the â—ing and many Nobles being present she was led blindfold to the place where Irons lay burning hote and passed the nine shares vnhurt when they opened her eyes and she sâ—e her selfe past the paine she kneeled downe and gaue thankes to God then the King asked her forgiuenesse but the Archbishop fâ—ed into Normandy The said cruell 〈◊〉 Godwine tooke bread and eate it in witnesse that he was not guilty of the death of Alfred the Kings brother but as soone as hee had receiâ—ed the bread he was choked at the table before the king at Winsor and he was conueyed to Winchester and buried Harold the second sonne of Godwine succeeded Edward who was the last King of the Sâ—xâ—ns Then the Kings soâ—ne of Denmarke came into England with 300. ships who entred the North and claymed the Land the Lords of the country rose against them but the Danes had the victory then Hâ—rold gaue them a great battell and got the victory and slew the King of Denmarkes sonne After this victory Harold waxed proud and couetous and would not diuide the prâ—y to his Knights but kept it to himselfe Whereas Harold had sworne to William Duke of Normandy after the death of King Edward to take possession of the Kingdome of England to his vse according to the will of King Edward that the Duke of Normandy should succéede him The Duke sent to him admonishing him of the Couenants that were agréed vpon betwixt them Harald answered thus That such a nice foolish promise ought not to be holden concerning the Land of another without the consent of the Lords of the same especially because neede and dread compelled him thereto Whereupon Duke William prepaired his Armie and sent to Pope Alexander concerning his Title and â—oiage the Pope confirmed him in the same and sent him a Banner And they tooke shipping with a great company and landed at Hastings in Sussex the Normans and Harald ioyned battell in the place where afâ—ter was builded the Abby of Battell in Sussex where the Normaines obtained the victory through the Iust Prouidence of God where Harold was wounded in the left eye with an arrowe and incontinently dyed when hee had raigned nine yeares and was buryed at Walâ—ome This Duke William and King Edward were by the Fathers side Cosen Germaynes After this Gregory the first succeeded Siluester the second he sate 4. yeares 〈◊〉 moneth and 8. dayes Pope By the testimony of Stella Benno and Platina and many others he was a Sorceâ—er and was exalâ—ed to the Papacy by the Deuill vpon this condition that after his death he should giue himselfe to the Deuill He demaunded of the Deuill how long he should â—nioy his Popedome Hee answered Untill thou say Masse in Ierusalem thou shalt liue At length the Pope in Lent saying Masse in the Temple of the Holy Crosse which Church vnknowne to him was called Ierusalem then hee knewe hee should dye then repenting hee confessed his fault before all the people â—fâ—er him succeeded Iohn the 19. which brought in the Feast of All-Soules to bee celebrated next after All-Saints day by the meanes of Odilo Abbot of Clâ—nake This Abbot thinking that Purgatory should bee in Mount Eâ—na dreamed vppon a time that hâ—e by his Masâ—es had dâ—liuered diuerse Souâ—es from thence saying that hee heard the voyces and lamentatious of Dâ—uils crying out for that the Soules were taken from them by Masses and Dirges funâ—rall Pope Iohn the 20. succeeded him and after him Sergius the 4 after him Benedictus the 8. then Iohn the 12. who was prâ—moted by Arte Magicke of diuerse Sorcerers He brought in the fast of Saint Iohn Baptist eauen and of Saint Laurence After him followed Pope Benedictus the 9. aspiring to his Papacie by Magicke practising Inchaâ—tments and Conâ—â—rations in words he resisted the Emperour Henricus the third sonne of Conradus and placed in his roome Peâ—â—us King of Hungary After for feare of Henricus he was faine to sell his Seaâ— so Gratianus called Gregorie the sixt for 1500. lib. at which time there was three Popes in Rome together raigning one against another Benedictus the 9. Siluester the 3. Gregorius the 6. for which
Pope the whole matter to whom the Pope writeth againe wee are not a little disquieted in our spirits for your sake being our most déere Brother remember that the Apostles departed away reioycing from the face of the Councell receiue consolation that wâ— may reioice with you in the Lord who hath preserued you in this distresse to the corroboration of the Catholick verity and God through his punishment of afflicâ—ions hath wiped away the blot of your offences that they might not be called to account in the day of Iudgement bee not greeued that you are appealed to the Apostolike Sea which to vs is gratefull and accepted draw not you backe spare not to follow the appeale for the authoritie of the Church of Rome tendreth your constancie our diligence shall bee to preserue the right and preheminence of your Church to you as one working for the Church a constant and valiant Champion I thought good especially to premonish you neither for aduersitie nor whatsoeuer happens renounce not the right and dignitie of your Church The Archbishop sitting with his Crosse in his hand as before was not abashed at al that was the King sent for him presently to render account for thirty thousand markes and fruits and reuenewes of the Realme in the time when he was Chancellor he answered the King knew how often hee had made reckonings of those things and that Henry his Sonne and heyre with all the Barrons and the Lord chiefe Iustice of England told him was frée and quit to god and holy Church from all receipts computations on the Kings behalfe and so taking his discharge entred into his office for other accounts he would make none when his answere was brought to the King he required the Barons to doe their office who adiudged him to be apprehended and laid in prison the King sent the Earl of Cornwall and Deuonshire and the Earle of Leicester to shew him his Iudgement to whom he said heare my Sonne and good Earle how much the soule is more precious then the body so much ought you to obey me rather then your terrene King no Law doth permit the child to condemne their Father wherefore to auoide all your iudgements before you all I appeale to the Sea Apostolicke and as for you my fellow Bishops which rather obey man then God you also I call and claime to the Iudgement of the Pope and I doe depart from you as from the enemies of the Catholick Church and of the authoritie of the Apostolicke Sea whilst they returned this answere to the King the Archbishop passed through the throng and tooke horse holding the bridle in one hand and his Crosse in the other the Courtiers followed saying tarrie Traytor and héere thy Iudgement the vtmost gate being locked one of his seruants found a bunch of Keyes trying them found the right and opened the gate he went to the house of the Cannons where hee did lie and calling to him the poore where they could be found after supper he caused a bed to be made him betwixt two Altars but whilst the King was at supper he changed his garments and named himselfe Derman and made an escape to the Sea and taking ship sayled into Flanders and thence iournied vnto France the King sent the Bishop of London and the Earle of Arundell vnto the King of France to require him not to receiue the Archbishop nor retaine him in his Dominion and that he would be a meanes to the Pope not to shew any familiaritie vnto him but the French King contrarie to the Kings Letters and request not only harboured and cherished him but writ to the Pope intreating him vpon all loues as euer he would haue his fauour to tender the cause of the Archbishop Becket The King sent another ambassage to Pope Alexander by the Archbishop of York the Bishops of London Winchester Chichester Exeter with other Doctors and Clarkes with the Earle of Arundel with certaine moe Lords and Barrons they were friendly accepted at the Popes Court the next day following the Pope sitting in the Consistorie with his Cardinals when the Ambassadours were called for the hearing of Beckets matter and the Bishops euery one in order had made his Oration the Pope did not accept some of their spéeches and disdained some wherefore the Earle of Arundell disdained in this manner spake Though I am vnlettered and cannot vnderstand what these Bishops haue said neither can vtter my minde in that tongue which they haue done yet I must declare the cause of my sending as well as I may which was not to contend with or iniury any man especially in presence of such a one at whose beck all the world doth stoope but our Legacie is to present in the presence of the whole Church of Rome the deuotion and loue of our King which hee euer had and still hath towards you and that it might the better appeare to your excellencie hee hath appointed for the furniture of this Legacy his greatest and cheefest subiects of such worthines and parentage that if hee could haue found greater in his Realme hee would haue sent them for the reuerence of your person and holy Church of Rome I might adde more which your Sainctitude hath already proued the harty fidelity of our King towards you who at the entrance to his Kingdome submitted himselfe and all his wholly to your will and pleasure and wee beleeue there is none more faithfull in Christ then he nor more deuout to God nor more moderate in kéeping the vnity of peace neither doe I deny touching the Archbishop of Canterbury a man not vnfurnished with gifts in his calling being both sage and discréete sauing that hee seemeth to some more quick and sharpe then needeth if this blot had not beene the King and he had not discented then both the temporaltie and spiritualty might haue flourished one with the other in much peace vnder so worthy a Prince and so vertuous a pastor therefore our message and supplication to your vigilant prudence is that through your fauour and wisedome the neck of this discention may be broken and reformation of vnitie and loue by some good meanes may be sought But the Pope would not condiscend to their sute which was to haue two Legates sent from his popish side into England to examine and take vp the controuersie betweene the King and the Archbishop but because Becket was absent hee willed them to tarry his comming vp for hee being absent hee would in no case procéede against him but they alledged there time appointed to be ended and hauing other lets they could not waite for the comming of Becket and so returned back there cause frustrated without the Popes blessing to the King Within foure dayes after Becket commeth to the Popes Court offered the pope a scroule of the custome and ordinances of the King the Pope condemned and cursed the most part of them and blamed Becket for so much yeelding to them at the beginning yet
meete vs in the borders of the King though we offered him safe comming we to satisfie his minde condescended to meete him at a place which hee appointed within the Land of the French King we exhorted him humbly to submit himselfe vnto his soueraigne and King who had heaped him with such benefits and dignities after aduise with his Counsâ—ll hee said he would submit himselfe to the King sauing the honour of God the libertie of the Church the honestie of my person the possessions of Churches and the Iustice of him and all his in all things wee asked him whether hâ— would submit himselfe to vs as the King and the Bishops were content to doe he said he had a commandement from you not to answere before he and all his were restored to all their possessions then he would proceed in the matter as hee should receiue commandement from the Sea Apostolick whereof wee made relation to the King yet keeping back a great part which we had heard and séene which when the King and Nobles vnderstood the King said he was so much the more cleere for that the Archbishop would not stand to Iudgement after much heauinesse and lamentation of the King Bishops and Abbots they required of vs whether wee had any power to proceed against him and perceiuing wee had none least the Archbishop should worke any disquietnes to any of the Noble personages of the Realme agreed together with one assent to make their appellation to your audience prefixing accordingly the terme of their appeale The Archbishop saying he stood onely for the peace of the Church one of the Cardinals offered him if he would relinquish his Bishoppricke the King should relinquish his Customes He answered He could not renounce his Church sauing the honour of the Church and his person but it standeth vpon the soules health and honor of the King to renounce his customes After the Cardinals were gone the French King séeing the King of England disquieted and sâ—â—icitous of peace pretending to set agréement betwixt them the King and the Arch-bishop both were content to stand to his arbiterment The Archbishop prostrating himselfe at the féete of the King of England said he would commit the whole matter to his owne arbiterment Saluo honore Dei the King was highly there-with displeased rebuking him of pride and stubbornenesse and charged him with sundry and great benefits bestowed on him and hee a person vnkind and forgetfull And speaking to the French King there present said whatsoeuer displeaseth this man hee saith it is contrary to the honour of God and by this meanes will vindicate to himselfe that which is his owne and mine too there haue bin Kings of England of greater and lesse puissance then I am there haue haue béen Archb. of Canterbury both great holy men what the best of them haue done to my predecessors before me let him doe the same to me and I am content the standers by with one voice cried the king hath debased himselfe enough to the Bishop the French King said what my Lord will you be better then those holy men will you be greater then Peter you haue peace and quietnes put in your hands if you will take it he answered my predecessors euery one in his time did pluck vp and correct something in his time though not all things for then there would bee no cause of this fire of temptation to try vs though some haue béen slack we are not to follow their examples we rebuke Peter for denying Christ but we commend him for resisting Nero hee could not in his conscience consent vnto him he did not dissemble wherby he lost his life by such oppressions the Church hath alwaies growne our forefathers suffered because they would not dissemble the honour of Christ shall I to haue the fauour of one man suffer the honour of Christ to be supprest the Noble men standing by noted him of arrogancy and wilfulnes and one openly protested that séeing he refused the request of both kingdomes hee was worthy of the help of neither as England had reiected him so France should not entertaine him One of the Archbishops Chapleins writeth that the French king prostrated himselfe at the féet of the Archb. repented he had giuen him such councell in a case pertaining to the honour of God desired to be assoiled and that Henry sent to the king to desire him not to support his enemy within his Realme the French King vtterly denied the Kings request and tooke part rather with the Archbishop The King of England returned from Normandy into England in the 16. yéere of his reigne kept his Court of Parliament at Westminster by assent both of the Clergy Temporalty caused his sonne Henry to be crowned King the Coronation was done by the Archbishop of Yorke other Bishops assisting Becket not beeing called tooke no little displeasure and so did the French King hearing that Margaret his Daughter was not like wise crowned with her husband wherevpon hee came with a great armie to Normandie but the King sent his sonne to him which intreated peace promising that his sonne should be crowned againe and his daughter crowned with him Becket sent to the Pope complaining of foure Bishops especially the Archbishop of York who durst be so bold in his absence without his licence to crowne the king being a matter peculiar to his Iurisdiction at whose instance the Pope excommunicated the Bishop of London the other thrée with the Archbishop hee suspended they resorted to the King declaring how miserable there case stood for fulfilling his commandement the King was highly moued The King of France with his Clergy and Courtiers slacked no occasion to incite the Pope to excommunicate the King of England also thinking to haue some aduantage against the Realme neither was the King ignorant of this which made him the readier to agree The pope sent two Legats with full commission either to driue the K. to be reconciled or to be excommunicated the King seeing himselfe in great straites which he could not auoid and by the mediation of the king of France and other great prelates and Princes of the king was content to be reconciled with the Archb. whom he receiued into his Realme and granted him free returne to his Church But he would not grant him his lands vntill he came into England and did see how he would agrée with his subiects he was ioifully receiued of his church albeit he was not very welcome vnto the yong king so that comming to London to the king he was returned back to Canterbury and bid to keepe his house hee excommunicated one Robert de Brocke on Christmas day for cutting off the taile of one of his Horses the day before hee would not absolue the foresaid foure Bishops without cauâ—els and exceptions who went to Normandie to the king and complained of the miserable state vncourteous handling which made him conceiue such displeasure towards Becket that
the fight of Beckets Church he lighted went barefoote to his toombe whose steps were found bloudy by the roughnâ—sse of the stones and receiued a whip with a rod of euery Monke of the Cloister whereby thou maist see the lamentable superstition and ignorance of those dayes and the slauery that Kings and Princes were brought too vnder the Popes Clergy the same yeere almost the whole Citie of Canturbury was consumed with fire and the said Minster church cleane burnt The next yeare in a conuocation of Bishops Abbots and other of the Clergie at Westminster there was great discention betwixt the two Arch-bishops whether Yorke must beare his Crosse in the Dioces of Canterbury and whether the Bishopricks of Lincoln Chichester Worcester and Hereford were of the sea of York Wherefore the one appealed the other vnto the presence of the Pope How much better had it beene if the Supremacie had remained in the King whereby much trauell and great wastfull expences had bin saued and there cause morâ— indifferently and more spéedily decided Diuers of Glocester in the Dioces of York were excommunicated by the Archb. of Canterbury because being summoned they refused to appeare a Cardinall by the Kings procurement was sent from Rome to make peace by the meanes of the King it was agreed that Canterbury should release his claime to Glocester and absolue the Clarks thereof the bearing the crosse and other matters was referred to the other Bishops and a league of truce for fiue yeares betwixt them The next yeare Henry the second denided the Realme into six parts ordained thrée Iustices of assise on euery part to the first Norfolk Suffolk Cambridge shire Huntingdon-shire Buckingham-shire Essex Hereford-shire to the second Lincoln-shire Nottingham-shire Derby-shire Stamford-shire Warwick-shire Northampton-shire Leicester-shire Thirdly Kent Surry South-hampton-shire Sussex Berk-shire Oxford-shire Fourthly Heriford-shire Glocester-shire Worcester-shire Salop-shire Fiftly Wilt-shire Dorcester-shire Sommerset-shire Deâ—â—n-shire Cornwall Euerwick-shire Richmond-shire Lancaster Copland Westmâ—r-land Northumberland Cumberland In this yéere the Archbishop of Canterbury made thrée Arch-deacons where there was but one and the K. granted the pope that no Clarke should be called before a temporall Iudge except for his offence in the Forrest or his lay-fée that he holdeth and that no Bishopricke or Abbey should remaine but one yeere in the Kings hands without great cause This yeare there was great controuersie betwixt the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Abbot of S. Austen he being Elect whether the Bishop should come to his house to consecrate him or he to come to the Metropolitan church of Canterbury to be consecrated The â—bbot appealed to the audience of the Pope and went thither with a fat purse procured letters to the Bishop of Worcester to command the Arch-bishop to consecrat him in his Monastery because it did properly belong to the Iurisdiction of Rome should do so likewise to his successors without exception of obedience if the â—rchb refuse to doe it then he should doe it the Archb. vnderstanding it loth to yéeld vsed policy he watched a time when the Abbot was froÌ„ home came to the Monastery with all things appointed for the busines called for the Abbat to be consecrated the Abbot not being at home he fained himself not a little gréeâ—ed wherevpon the Abbot was disappointed faine to fill his purse a new make a new course to Rome to the Pope of whom he receiued his consecration This yéere a Cardinal was sent into England as few yéeres there was not one sent to get mâ—ny he was to make peace betwixt the Archbishops of York Canterbury who kept a Councel at Westminster to which all the chiefe of the Clergy resorted with great confluence Yorke thinking to preuent Canterbury came first and placed himselfe on the right hand of the Cardinall Canterbury seeing the first place taken refused to take the second Yorke alledged the old Decree of Gregory by whom this order was taken betwixt these two Metropolitans that he that should be first in election should haue the preheminence in dignity and goe before the other From words they went to blowes Canterbury hauing more seruants was to strong for Yorke plucked him from the right hand of the Cardinall treading on him with their feet that it was well hee escaped aliue his Robes were all rent from his back this Noble Romane Cardinall which should haue ended the strife committed himselfe to flight the next day Yorke shewed his Rochet to the Cardinall to testifie his wrong and appealed and cited the Archbishop of Canterbury and certaine of his men to the Pope The kingdome of England in the Henry this second his time extended so farre as hath not béen seene The King of Scots with all the Lords spirituall and temporal did him homage for them and their successors Ireland England Normandie Aquitane Gaunt c. Unto the mountaine of Pireni in the vtmost parts of the Ocean in the Brittish sea protector of France and offered to bée King of Ierusalem by the Patriarke and Master of the Hospitall there which he refused alledging his great charge at home and it might be his sonnes would rebell in his absence The fame of his wisedome manhood riches was so renowned through all quarters that messengers came from the Emperor of Rome and from the Emperour of Constantinople and from many great Kings Dukes and other great men to determine questions of strife and aske councell of him he raigned thirty fiue yéeres and hauing great warres yet neuer set tribute or taxe vpon his subiects nor first fruits nor appropriations of benefits vpon the Clergy yet his treasure beeing weighed by King Richard his Sonne after his death weighed 900000. pounds besides Iewels and Houshold-stuffe of which 11000. pounds came by the death of Robert Arch-bishop of Yorke for hee had procured a Bull of the Pope that if any Priest dyed without Testament he should haue all his goods His Sonne Henry whom he ioyned with him in his Kingdome and at his Coronation serued him as a Steward and set the first dish at the Table renouncing the name of King the Archbishop of Yorke sitting at the right hand of the young King he told him he might greatly reioyce being no King had such an Officer as he had the young King disdaining his words said My Father is not dishonored for I am a King and a Quéenes Sonne and so is not he He tooke Armes with the French King against his Father and persecuted him but after hee had raigned a few yeares died in his youth by the iust iudgement of God After his death his Sonne Richard called Cor-de-Lyon rebelled against his Father and Iohn his youngest Sonne did not degenerate from his Brothers steps the said Richard brought his Father to such distresse of body and minde that for thought he fell into an Ague and within fouâ—e daies dyed Richard méeting his Corps beginning to wéepe the bloud burst out of the
Slaues He married his Cosens Neeces and kinswomen I will not say his Daughters vnto the best Barons and Earles yet his Grand-father was a poore plowman and his Father a Cow-heard and hauing thus tyrannously abused his office fearing examination fled with a few of his trusty seruants to Douer Castle to haue stolne beyond Sea and comming in a womans apparell with a peâ—ce of cloth vnder his arme and a mete rod in his hand being taken vpon suspâ—tion his Kercheefe plucked off his Balaams marke or shauen Crowne appeared the people wondred raiâ—ed and spit on him and drew him some by the armes some by the legges ouer the Sea sands vntill they brought him to a darke Seller with shame enough to be kept till the Councell â—ent for him to the Tower of London where he was â—xamined depriued and banished the Realme after restored by King Richard and sent to Rome but died by the way As King Richard returned from the Holy Land driuen by diâ—â—resse of weather about the parts of Austria he was taken in Synaca by Hubald Duke of the same countrey and sold to the Emperour for 60000. marke the Emperour writ of the matter to the King of France that hee might reioyce with 〈◊〉 at lenâ—th King Richard was ransomed for 140000. Crownes and as he was comming into England besieging a Castle in Pictauia tooke his deadly wound and being sick amongst others Fulco Archbishop of Roane came to him who said to the King O mighty King thou hast thrée Daughters very vicious prouide good Husbands for them least thou incurre great damage and thâ— vtter ruine the King called him lying and mocking hypocrite saying all the world knoweth I haue no daughters he answerd yes if it pâ—ease your Grace I meane greedy couetousnâ—sse mischieuous pride filthy â—uxury againe I say O King beware of them and get them marriages Wherevpon the King calling his Lords and Barrons â—â—â—laring the matter to them and said wherefore heere before you all I giue my Daughter swelling pride vnto the proud Templers to Wife and my Daughter gréedie Auaricâ— vnto the couetous and Cistertian Monkes and last of all tâ—y filthy Daughter Luxury to the ryotous Prelates of the Church whom I thinke vâ—ry meete for them The King not long after departed without issue and Iohn his Brother raigned after him the Arch-bishop putting his crowne vpon his head swearing him to deâ—end the Church and his good lawes and destroy the euill and except he thought in his minde to doe this he charged him not to presume to take vpon him this dignitie On Iohn Baptist day next after he went to Normandy where he was royalâ—y receiued and a truce made betwixt him and the French King and the Earle of Flanders and all the Lords of France that were in league with King Richard camâ— to him and were sworne vnto him Not long after the French King made Arthur Knight and tooke homage of him for Normandy Brittaine and all his possessions beyond the Sea and promised him help against King Iohn after the French King and King Iohn with their Nobles spake together an houre the French King asked him much land for himselfe and King Arthur whâ—ch he would not gâ—ant but departed in wâ—ath The same yeere a Legate came into France and commanded the King vpon paine of interdiction to deliuer one Peter out of prison which was elected to a Bishoprick who was deliuered the same Legate came into England and commanded King Iohn vpon paine of interdiction to deliuer the Arch-bishop whom hee had kept in prison two yeares which the King denied vntill he had payed him six thousand markes because hee had tooke him in harnesse in a field against him and he swore him hee should neuer beare harnesse against a Christian man This time King Iohn his wife were diuorced because they were in the third degrée of kindred and after by the Councell of the French King was married vnto the Daughter of the Earle of Anguilla and then Arthur of Brittan did homage for Brittaine and other his possessions to King Iohn This time was strife betwixt the King and the Archbishop of Yorke because he would not suffer the Sheriffe to do such affaires as he had to d ee in his Dioces for the King and excommunicated the Sheriffe and would not go with the King into Normandy to make the marriage betwixt the French Kinges Sonne and his Néece The King of France required King Iohn to depart with all his Landes in Normandy and Pictauia c. vnto Arthur his Nephew else hee would warre against him which he denying the next day the French King with Arthur set vpon certaine of his Towns and Castles in Normandy but he was so repulsed of the English who followed so néere and so inforced vpon them that they took Arthur and many other Prisoners and left none to beare tydings home This Arthur was the Sonne of Geffery the elder Brother of King Iohn Geffery was the third Son of Henry the second and Iohn was his fift Son Arthur being taken was brought to the King home he exhorted him with many gentle words to leaue thâ— King of France and incline to his Unclâ— hee stoutly required the kingdome of England with all things thereunto belonging to bee restored to him as lawfull heire of the Crowne Whereupon he was committed to the Tower of Roane wherâ— he finished his life No Story agréeth certainly how whether by leaping into the Ditch or no. The next yeare King Iohn lost all his possessions in Normandy by the force of the French King This yeare grew great dissention about chusing the Archbishop of Canterbury the younger sort of the Monkes there at midnight and before the old Arch-bishop was buried and without the Kings assent elected one Renald sending hâ—m to the Pope charging him vpon his oath to be secret but he reuealed the matter whereby the rest of the Monkes sent priuily to Rome and sent to the King for hâ—s assâ—nt to chuse an Archbishop the King granted their petition desiring them to shew â—auour to Iohn Gray Bishop of Norwich which they did and elected him and the King sent to Rome at his owne charge to haue this election ratified â—he Suffragans of Canterbury sent likewise to Rome to haue both those elections frustrated because their assents were not to them The next yeare the Pope dâ—cided the matter betwiâ—t the Monkes and Suffrigans pronouncing with the Monks charging the Suffragans and Bishop to meddle no more with that election The next yeare the Pope decided the controuersie betwixt the younger Monkes and the elder Monkes and condemned both their elections commaâ—nding them to chuse Steuen Langton Cardinall of Saint Chrisogone for their Arch-bishop they said they durst not for feare of the King and that it was preiudiciall to their liberties He in a fury said We will you to know that we haue full power ouer the Church of Canterbury and
you suffer it not to be transported out of the Realme but kéepe it vntill the returne of the Ambassadours and that you make this our inhibition common to your Arch-Deacons and Officials At length the Ambassadors came home bringing word that the Pope was greatly displeased with the Realme saying Rex Anglorum qui iam recalcitrat frederiscat suum habet consilium ego vero meum habeo quod sequar c. And that they were halfe counted Schismatickes for speaking in the Kinges behalfe and could no more be heard the King being insenfed heere-with sent out Proclamations through all the Realme that none should consent to any taxe of Money for the Pope he hearing of it in cruell rage sent to the Prelats vppon paine of interdiction to prouide the saide summes of Money by the Feast of Assumption the King for feare of the Pope durst not stand to the liberties of the Church Moreouer the gulfe of the Romish Auarice waxt so immeasurable that he shamed not vpon his curse to aske the third part of Church goods and the yearely fruit of all vacant Benefices Otho comming to Oxford lying in the house of Osney was receiued with great honour the Schollers presenting him honourable Dishes and rewards Dinner being done they came to welcome him comming to the Gate the Porter an Italian asked what they would haue and holding the doore halfe open with contumelious tearmes thrust them out they with force thrust open the gate and came in the Romaines within fell to alarum by the eares together some of the Schollers going â—or Weapons the Maister Cooke cast scalding liquor wherein meat was sodden in the face of a poore Scholler an Irish-man which waighted for Almes another Scholler a Welsh-man séeing it shot the Cooke thorough with an Arrow and killed him Whereupon was a great clamour the Cardinall hearing the tumult like a valiant Romaine ranne vp into the stéeple and locked himselfe 〈◊〉 vntill midnight The Schollers sought all corners for the Legate crying out Where is that Usurer that Symâ—niacks that Proylar and Extortioner of our Liuings and Monies Who peruerteth the King and subuerteth the Kingdome enriching himselfe with our spoyles The Cardinall heard all this and held his peace and conuayed himselfe by night vnto the King and the King sent to Oxford a garison of armed men to deliuer the Romaines which were hid for feare of the Schollers One Odo a Lawyer and thirty of the Schollers were apprehended and carried to Wallingford Castle and thence in Charts to London and by much intreaty of the Bishops were brought bare-footed to the Legats doore where they pardoned and the Uniuersity released of interdiction The State of Germany and of the Emperour Friderick the second was then as much or more pittifull then that of England who were so persecuted by Pope Innocentius Honorius Gregorius Celestinus Innocentius the fourth infamed with excommunications and did commonly warre against them in open fielde and all with English mens Money first they made him Emperour against Otho whom they depriued then for clayming his right in Apulia and Sicilia they accursed him when they had warred against him they sent him to fight against the Turkes who recouered Ierusalem Nazareth and Ioppe from the Souldane Whilst hee was occupied in these Warres these vnholy Fathers inuaded his Lands and possessions at home subduing Apulia vnder his owne possession and inhibiting his Souldiours to goe ouer to him and when the Emperour sent to the Pope and other Christian Princes his Letters gratulatory declaring what God wrought by him against the Turkes the Pope stayd the Messengers kept the Letters close and caused it to be noysed abroad that the Emperour was dead and the said Pope Gregorie the ninth wrote to the Souldane that he should not render the holy Land into the Emperours handes The Emperour hearing this stirre of the Pope tooke truce with the Souldane for tenne yeares and repayreth home and driueth the Popes Army out of Apulia and recouered all the Pope had gotten from him before The Pope laid his cursse vpon the Emperour for making truce with the Souldane and conspired with the Tuscanes and Lombards against him the Emperor at the instigations of the Princes glad to compose with the Tyrant was faine to ransome the absolution of the Pope for ten hundred thousand ounces of gold and yet hee sent to the Princes of Germany charging them to admit none of the Emperors stocke to be King of the Romaines and stirred vp the Citties of Italy against him The Emperor vnderstanding his politick and subtile traynes marched into Italy where he put downe the Rebels and recouered againe the Citties belonging to the Empire Wherefore a new excommunication was laid vpon him and all his Subiects released of obedience and loyalty and much indulgences and eternall life promised to them that would fight against him After Gregorie succéeded Celestinus the fourth who raigned not long After him succéeded Innocentius the fourth who following the steps of his predecessors called a generall Councell at Lyons as is before mentioned where standing vp he cited the Emperour his Legate required lawfull time for him to come which hee would not graunt but in his fury denounced him accursed and depriued him of his Imperiall Dignity charging him with periury and sacriledge writing Libels of defamation to all Kings The Emperour made purgation of these â—landers charging the Pope not with fained but true and most hainous crimes of slander falshood perdition periury rebellion hypocrisie and prooueth him by his Letters to be very Antichrist Hee wrote to the French King that hee much marueiled that the prudence and wisedome of the French-men did not more quicke then others sée the Popes subtilty and couetousnesse purposing to subdue all Realmes as he hath done England and doth presumptuously achieue to subdue the Maiesty of the Imperiall Crowne This Emperor departed to Apulia and there dyed being poysoned as some thinke by meanes of the Pope In the time of this Innocent dyed one Robert Grosted Byshop of Lincolne a famous learned man as that time serued whose Sermons to this day are extant in the Quéenes Library at Westminster There is one speciall Sermon written to Innocent Cestrensis writeth that he was greeued for the exactions of the Pope in England and would not admit of the Popes Nephew to be Canon of his Church Writing to the Pope that hee could not admit such into his Church which did neither know themselues nor their charges hee was therefore called to Rome and excommunicated who appealing from the Pope to Iesus Christ shortly after departed Two yeares after the said Pope being asleepe one apparelled Bishoplike appeared vnto him and striking him with his Staffe saide Surge miser veni in iudicium the next day after the Popes Bed was found bloody and he dead After Henry the third succeeded his Sonne Edward the first who raigned thirty fiue yeares Edward the second his Sonne succeeded him who raigned
to Church to pray their inward wits may be the more feruent in that their outward wits bee closed from outward seeing Christ blessd them that sawe him not and beleeued it sufficeth to know God in his word without Images Bishop Is it not a stirring thing to behold an Image Thorpe Being euery person of the Trinitie is eternall and you say it was not lawful to picture it before Christ and in that there were many Prophets Marâ—â—res and professors before Christ why was it not then as lawfull to make Images to moue men to deuotion as now it is Bishop The Synagogue of the Iewes had not authoritie to approue things as the Church now hath Thorpe Saint Gregory was of great dignitie as the Cannon Lawe witnesseth hee greatly commended a Bishoppe for forbidding Images to bee worshipped Bishop Ungratioâ—s losell thou sauorest truth no more then a hounâ— since at the Roode at the North dore at London and at our Lady at Walsingham and many other places in England are many great and praisable miracles â—one Thorpe I am certaine there is no such miracle done of God that any Image should be worshipped therefore I say as I haue often Preached None should tâ—ust there were any vertue in them nor vowe to them nor seeke to them nor 〈◊〉 bowe pray oâ—â—er kisse or incense them The Brasen Serpent was 〈◊〉 by Gods biddiâ—g â—et the good King Ezekiah because it was incensed so worthâ—â—y destroyed it and it is to bee dread that for the vnfaithfulnesse of â—en the Fâ—â—â—d 〈◊〉 power to 〈◊〉 the miracles that now are done in such places wherefore sâ—eing the God of 〈◊〉 is the most vnknowne and wonderfull Spirit what Image may he be painted 〈◊〉 Bishop As holy Church suffereth Images to â—ee painted and shewed it suffiseth to thâ—m that are members of holy Church but thou art 〈◊〉 member cut off from holy Church thou fauourest not the ordinances thereof Thou speakest against Pilgrimage and that pilgrimages to Canterbury â—euerley Carlington Walsingham are accursed and fâ—â—lish spending their goods in wast Thorpe There bée true trauellers trauell all their life with all their endeauour to please God that they may attaine to the heauenly Kingdome but I say now as I said at Shrewsbury I haue Preached often in other places and will doe as long as I liue God willing They that trauell their bodies and spend their money to sâ—eke or visite the bones of Images of this Saint or that such pilgrimage is neither praiseable or thankefull to God nor to any Saint of God since such pilgrimages almost all despise God and his commaundements and vppon Saints they waste blamefully Gods goods in such vaine Pilgrimages sometimes vpon vitious Hostices which they should doe workes of mercie withall vpon the poore and néedie they offer their goâ—ds to rich Priests which haue more then they nâ—ede many of them borrow other mens goods and neuer pay them and sometimes they steale them And they haue with them Singers that can sing wanton Songs and some will haue Bag-pipes so that euery Towne where they come with their noyse of singing piping â—angling of Canterbury Bels and the barking of dogs they make more noyse then if the king came thither with all his Clarions and Minstrels and if they bee a moneth in pilgrimage they will bee halfe a yeare after wranglers tale-bearers and lyers Bishop Lewde losell thou seest not farre enough into this matter it is fit they haue such musicke with them that when one goeth barefoote burteth his foote against a stone and maketh it bleede it is well done that his fellow sing a song or play on a bagge pipe to driue away with mirth the hurt of his fellowe and with such solace their trauell and wearinâ—sse is lightly and merrily brought forth Dauids last Psalme teacheth mee to haue diuerse â—nstruments of musicke Thorpe By the sentence of â—iuerse Doctors that musicke that Dauid and other Saints of the Old Lawe spake of ought not to be interpreted liâ—terally but gostly for Saint Paul saith all such thingâ— befell to them in figure therefore I vnderstand that the letter of this Psalme and other Psalmes and Sentences doth slay them that take them now literally This sence I vnderstand Christ approueth puâ—ting out the minstrels ere he would quicken the Damzell Bishop Lewd losell is it not lawfull so haue Organes in the Church to worship God withall Thorpe Yea by mans ordinance but a good Sermon to the peoples vnderstanding were much more pleasant to God Bishoppe Organs and delectable Songs quicken mens wits more then a Sermon Thorpe Worldly men delight in sencible solace but the faithfull louers of Christ delight to heare Gods word and vnderstand it truâ—ly and Saint Ierome saith No body may ioy with this world and raigne with Christ. Bishop What thinke you this 〈◊〉 will speake whereas hee hath no dreade being bee speaketh thus in my presence well well by God you shall bee ordained for Thou saidest Priests had no tittle to Tythes Thorpe One would know of me whether Priests by the word of God may curse one for not paying of Tythes Christ and his Apostles tooke no Tythes nor commanded none so to doe Saint Paul saith The Lord hath ordained that they that Preach the Gospell should liue of the Gospell And if Priests were now in measurable number and liued vertuously add taâ—ghâ— busily and truely Gods word without Tythes 〈◊〉 and other duâ—ies the people would giue them sufficiâ—nt liuings One of his Clarkes said How can that be slucâ— by the Law Priests can scarcely constraine the people to giue them their Liuing Bishop Thou sayest it is not lawfull in any case Thorpe I neuer taught in that wise I haue Preached in many places that it is not lawfull to sweare by any creature and that none ought to swrare in any case if without an oath he may excuse himselfe to them that haue authoritie so take an oath but as he cannot otherwise excuâ—e himselfe he ought onely to sweare by God taking him only that is true to witnesse truth And there were many other arguments wherein was no great matâ—er worth abridging if the reader be disposed hee may see the booke at large After hee had denied to sweare obedience vnto the Bishop except in those things that were according to the word of God the Archbishoppe bade the Constable haue him away in haâ—â—e Bishop I was led foorth and brought to a â—oule and vnhonest prison where I was neuer before when they were gone and had shut the doore I busied my selfe to thinâ—â— on God and thanke him of his goodnesse and I was greatly comforted that I was deliuered for a time from the sight hearing and presence and scorning and menasing of mine enemies but much more I reioyced in the Lord that of his grace he kept 〈◊〉 that without heauinesse and anguish of conscience I passed away from them Now O God to the praising of thâ— blessed name make vs one together by
preaching sundry things wherevpon the said Ierome was condemned and deliuered to the seculer power to be burned In the seuentéenth and eighteenth Sessions there was great proces giuen out against Duke Frederick accusing him for sacriledge and excommunicating him for not obaying the admonition of the Councell concerning the vsurpation of the possessions of the Bishop of Austridge as aforesaid In the one and thirtieth Session Letters were directed to a certaine Earle in Italy for laying violent hands vpon the Bishop of Asce and imprisoning him commanding him to set him at liberty vnder paine of interdiction and excommunication and an other Decree was set forth for the restoring of the Liberties of the Church of Baron In the nine and thirtith Session it was ordered that euery Pope should sweare to beleeue and hold the Catholick Faith after the traditions of the Apostles generall Councels and holy Fathers namely of the eight generall Counsels Ephisme Calcedone two of Nice and foure of Constantinople also the Councels of Lateran Lyons and Uiâ—nna to obserue preach and defend him to death and by all meanes to prosecute the right of the Sacraments canonically deliuered to the Catholick Church and writing his Oath he should offer it before witnesses vpon some Altar On Saint Martins Euen a new Pope was chosen therefore they called him Martin and hee was brought to the Emperour and Councell into the Church of Constance and there authorized for Pope and was brought thence most honorably with sumptuous procession vnto the Monasterie of Saint Augustine to bee crowned The Emperour on foote leading his horse on the right hand and the Marquesse of Brandenburge Prince Elector leading his Horse on the left hand When this Councell should be ended the Pope sent a Cardinall with proclamation to dismisse the Councell and to giue euery man leaue to depart and to shew the Popes indulgence which he had granted to all and euery person present at that Councell that they should haue full absolution during his life so that hee procured his absolution in writing within two monethes also an other iudulgence was granted of plenarie remission of sinnes at the houre of death and was not onely for their Maisters but for their houshould vpon condition that from notification thereof they should fast euery Friday one whole yeare for the absolution of their life time and for their absolution at the houre of death to fast the same Friday one other yeere if they had no lawfull impediment and after the second yeere they should fast to their liues end euery Friday or else doe some other good worke There were at this Councell three hundred forty and six Arch-bishops and Bishops fiue hundred threescore and foure Abbots and Doctors sixteene thousand seculer Princes Dukes Earles Knights Esquires foure hundred and fifty common women six hundred Barbers three hundred and twenty Minstrels Cookes and Iesters there was 60500. forrenners at that Councell from Easter to Whitsontide the chiefe thing to be noted in this Councell was that the Popes authority is vnder the Councell The History of IOHN HVS IOhn Hus being a preacher at Prage in the temple of Bethelem those rather to teach the Gospell of Christ then the humane traditions of Bishops their sprung vp certaine which accused him as an heretick to the Bishop of Rome the Pope committed the matter to the Cardinall of Columna who appointed a day hee should appeare at Rome The King and Nobilitie of Boheme sent to the Pope to acquit him from his appearance and if they suspected the Kingdome to be infected with any heresie they should send an Ambassadour to correct the heresie and the King would beare the charge and likewise assist the Legate with all his authoritie to punish such as shall bee sound with erronoous Doctrine and Iohn Hus sent his meete procurators vnto the Court of Rome and with firme and strong reasons did prooue his Innocencie but when the Cardinall would admit no defence his procurators appealed to the Pope notwithstanding the Cardinall excommunicated him as an obstinate heretick because he came not at his day and the matter was referred to two other Cardinals who after they had delayed the matter a yeere and a halfe confirmed the Iudgement of the first Cardinall and some of his procurators were committed and grecuously punished for being so earnest for him But the generall Councell being assembled as aforesaid The Emperour sent certaine of his Gentlemen to bring Iohn Hus Bacheler of Diuinitie vnto the Councell to purge himselfe of the blame which was laid against him and granted him a safe conduct that hee might come freely to Constance and returne home without fraud or interruption he seeing so many faire promises and his safe conduct sent vnto the Emperour that he would come vnto the Councell but before he went hee caused certaine writings to bee set vpon the gates of the Cathedrall Churches Parish Churches Cloister and Abbies signifying hee would goâ— to the Councell and that if any that haue suspition of his Doctrine that hee should declare it before the Lord Conrade or the Bishop of Prage or if hee had rather at the generall Councell for there he would render an account of his Faith before them all the Bishop of Nazareth the inquisitor for heresie made his certificate vnder his hand and Seale with a testimoniall vnto Maister Iohn Hus that hee had oftentimes beene before him and had conferred with him and yet could neuer finde any heresie in him and so did the Bishop of Prage set vp Letters in euery Citie as he passed to Constance that hee was going to the Councell to descud his faâ—th and if any could lay any thing to him as touching his Faith let him come thither many resorted vnto him all the way as hee went and hee was gently â—â—reateâ— especially of the Citizans and Burgesses and sometimes of the Curates and if there were noise of his comming the streets were euer full to see him In Norrenberge many Curats came to him desiring talk with him secretly hee said he had rather shew his opinion openly before all men so after dinner vntill night he spake before the Priests and Senators and Citizens that all had him in great reuerence saue one Doctor which was a Charter-house Monke who impraued all that hâ—â— had said then after he was come to Constance Master Clum and M. Latzembodge which came with him went to the Pope and certified him Iohn Hus was come to Constance that he had the Emperors safe conduct desiring him to grant him libertie likewise to remaine there without trouble which the Pope promised hee would in the meane time Maister Pallets Iohn Hus his great Aduersarie was come to Constance but his Companion Zuoyma Husses other Aduersarie died of an impostume by the way then this Pallets associated himselfe with one Causis a Bohâ—mian which afore-time had vndertooke to finde a Mine of gold for the King and hauing receiued much money of the King towards the
of the scaffold hee spake to the people in this sort These Lords and Bishops exhort me that I should confesse before you all that I haue erred if it were a thing that might be done without the slander of any Man they might easilie peraduenture perswade me but I am in the sight of my Lord my GOD without whose great ignominy and the grudging of mine owne conscience I cannot doe that which they require I neuer taught the thing that they haue falfely alleadged against me with what countenance should I behold the Heauens With what face should I looke vpon them whom I haue taught Whereof there is a great number if those things which they haue hitherto knowne most certaine should now be made vncertaine by mee should I by this example astonish so many consciences indued with so certaine knowledge of the Gospell of Christ armed against all assaults of the Deuill I will neuer commit such offence more to esteeme this vile carkase appointed to death then their health and saluation And being commaunded to come downe one of the Bishoppes tooke away the Chalice from him saying O cursed Iudas why hast thou forsaken the way of peace and councelled with the Iewes we take from thée this Chalice of saluation He answered I trust in my Lord Iesus for whose sake I suffer these things that he will not take away his Chalice of Redâ—mption but haue a stedfast hope this day I shall drinke thereof in his Kingdome then each of the Byshoppes tooke away a vestiment and gaue him a curse He answered he willingly imbrased their curses for the Name of Christ. When they should raze off his shauing they could not agree with what Instrument they should doe it then hee turning to the Emperour said I maruaile being they are of like cruelty they agree not in their kinde of crueltie At length they agreed to cut off the skinne of the crowne of his head with a paire of Sheares Then they saide Now hath the Church taken away all her Ornaments then they made a Crowne of Paper a cubit deepe in which were painted three vgly Deuils and this Tytle set ouer Heresiarcha Hee said Christ for my sake ware a Crowne of Thornes why should not â— weare this light Crowne for his sake be it neuer so ignominious I will doe it willinglie the Byshoppes when they had put it on said Now wee commit you to the Deuill but hee said Lord Iesus into thy hands I commit my Spirit which thou hast redeemed then they deliuered him to the Emperour who caused one to receiue him and deliuer him to bâ—e burned When he saw his Bookes burned before his face he smiled he exhorted all that were by that he died not for Heresie but for the hatred of his Aduersaries almost all the Cittie followed him in Armour In his Prayers he often repeated into thy hands I commit my Spirit the standers by said what this man hath done we know not but hée prayeth very deuoutly and godly A Priest sitting on horsebacke in a greene gowne draw no about with red Silke said he ought not to be heard because he is an Heretick as he prayed his crown fell off one of the Souldiours said let vs put it on againe that it may be burned with his Maisters When he rose from prayers he said Lord Iesus assist me that with a constant mind I may beare this cruelty and ignominious death whereunto I am condemned for preaching thy most holy Gospell when he was fastned to the stake being turned to the East certaine cryed he ought not to looke towards the East because he is an Hereticke so hee was turned to the West then the Emperours master of his horses exhorted him to repent of his errors and be mindfull of his safegard he answered he preached no errors the principall end of my Doctrine was to teach all men repentance and remission of sinnes according to Christs Gospell and Exposition of holy Doctors therefore with a cheerefull courage I am ready to suffer death when the fire was kindled he began to sing with a loud voice Iesu Christ the Sonne of the euerliuing God haue mercy on me and when hee had said it thrice the fire smothered him they made a new fire and burned the part of his body they cut the head into small gobbits that it might the sooner be consumed his heart being found amongst his bowels when they had well beaten it with staues they pricked it vpon a sharpe prick and rosted it in another fire till it was consumed they tooke the ashes and cast into the Riuer Rheyne that there might bee no dust of that man left vpon earth but they could neuer abolish his memory out of the hearts of the godly Maister Ierome of Prage greeuously lamenting the false reproâ—h of the glorious Kingdome of Boheme and the manifold iniuries of Iohn Hus of his owne accord came to Constance and seeing Iohn Hus was denyed to be heard and that hee himselfe was laide waite for he departed a mile off that night and writ vnto the King of Hungary and the Councell earnestly for safe conduct to come and goe and hee would answere before the Councell to euery one that could lay any thing against him The said King denied him safe conduct the Lords of Boheme moued the deputies of the foure Nations of the Councell therein who answered they would giue him a safe conduct to come but not to depart hee hearing hereof writ certaine intimations and caused them to be set vpon the gates of the Citie and of the Churches and Monastâ—ries and of the houses of the Cardinals and other Nobles Prelates to this effect To the most Noble Prince Sygismond by Gods grace King of Romanes and Hungary alwaies Augustus c. Ierome of Prage Master of Art of the Uniuersities of Paris Collein Heidelberg and Prage doe notifie to all men I am ready to come to Constance openly to declare to the whole Councell the purity of my true Faith wherefore if there be any slanderers which will obiect any error or heresie let them come openly before me in the presence of the Councell and I will be ready to answere for mine owne innocencie and declare the sinceritie of my true faith and if I shall be found culpable to suffer such punishment as shall be méet wherefore I desire a safe conduct that all the world may know that if I haue any violence or imprisonment offered me this generall Councell doth not proceeds according to equitie or if they put me back from this profound Iustice beeing comâ— hither freely of mine owne accord the which thing I suppose to be far banished from so sacred a Councell of wise men when yet he could not obtaine a safe conduct the Nobles and Knights specially of Boheme gaue him their Letters Patents vnder their Seales witnessing the premisses with the which Letters the said Maister Ierome returning to Bohem but by the conspiracie of his enemies he was
necessarie reformation of the Church and Christian Religion and effectually labour fâ—r the rooting out of all publike eâ—ils as well in the head as in the members as you haue often promised in our Kingdome in the Compositioâ—s and as our fourth Article touching the auoiding all publicke euils doth exact and require In this Councell was ordained the feast of the Conceâ—tion of our Lady and the feast of the Uisitation of our Lady In this Councell there was diligent caâ—e about reformation of the Church that through euery Church apt and méete Ministers might bee appâ—inted which may shine in vertue and knowledge to the glory of Christ and the healthfull edifying of the Christian people whereunto the multitude of expectatiue gifts haue béene a great impediment hereby often times vnméete Ministers are appointed for the Churches and they giue occasion to desire anothers death and many contentions are moâ—ed aâ—ongst the seruants of God and the ambition and gréedie desire of pluralities maintained and the substance of Kingdomes consumed poore men suffer vexations by running to Rome they are often by the way robbed murdered afflicted with diuerse plagues and hauing spent their paâ—rimony left them by their parents are constrained â—o liue in extreame pouertie Many craue benefices which haue no iust title and get the same and such as haue most craft and subtiltie to deceiue and greatest substaâ—â—â— to contend in the Lawe doo great wrongs the Eccleâ—â—asticall order is confounded whiles euery mans Iudgement is not preserued and the Pope by chalenging and taking vpon him too much the Office of Superiours is drowned from more waightie and fruitfull matters and intends not to the guiding and correction of the inferiours as publicke vtilitie requireth all which things bring a great confusion vnto the Clergie to the great preiudice of Gods true worship and the publike saluation THE SIXT SECTION OF this Ecclesiasticall Historie THIS Storie following and that before confuteth the vaine opinion of some that this Religion now vsed hath risen but twentie or thirtie yeares since and manifesteth that it hath béene spred in England this 220. yeares and often sparkled before that time although it flamed not so as it hath done within this 100. yeares and more wâ—o although they were not so strongly armed in their cause as of late yeares yet were they warriours in Christs Church and although they gaue back for tyranny yet Iudge the best and referre the cause to God who euealeth all things according to his determinate will and time there hath bin no realme more fertile for Marters then England Oxford was as a continuall sprâ—ng of Christian knowledge whence as out of the Troiane horse hath come so many inuincible witâ—esses of the truth amongst whom William Taylor Master of 〈◊〉 hath not deserued the least praise being a fauorer of Wickliffe who because he had written cerâ—ain things against the inuocation of saints and many other matters after he had recanted nine articles returned vnto thâ— right way and with a maruellous constancie 〈◊〉 buâ—â—t in Smithfield the 7 of March. Iohn Florence a Turner of Shelton in the Diâ—cesse of Norwich was attached because he held and taught that the Pope and Cardinals haue no power to constâ—tute Lawes that nor day is to be kept holiday but Sunday That there ought to be no fast but of the Quaâ—uor temporum That Images are not to be worshipped not lights to be set before them Not 〈◊〉 goe on Pilgrimage nor offeâ— for the dead or with women that are purified That Curates should not claime Tithes by any exaction and that they should be diuided amongst the poore That such as sweare by their life or power except they repent shall be damâ—â—d He was brought before the Chauncellour and forced to abiure and was sworne not to hold or teach any thing contrary to the determination of the Church of Rome nor to helpe or ayde any that should so doe He was inioyned for penanâ—â— thrâ—â— Sundâ—ies Solemne Procession in the Cathedral Church of Norwich to be whipped before all the people and three other Sundaies about his Parish Church of Shelton bare fâ—â—ted bare necked his bodie being couered with a canuâ—s shirt and canuâ—s briches carying in his hand a Taper of a pound waight so was dismissed Richard Belward of Erisam in the Diocesse of Norwich was accused for holding and teaching that Ecclesiasticall Ministâ—re and Ordinaries haue no power to excommunicate and though the Bishop excommunicate any God doth absolâ—e them And that he held the opinion of Sir Iohn Oldcastle And that such as goe on Pilgrimage offering to Images are excommunicated because they ought to giue to the poore which are aliue and not to the dead And that the Curates sell God on Easter day when they receiue Offerings before they minister the Sacraments And that hee councelled â—â—uerse women that they should not offer for the dead nor with women that were puriâ—â—â—â— and for that he called his neighbours fooles for not learning his sect and that they of 〈◊〉 sect were able to confute all others and that we ought not to pray vnto the Saints 〈◊〉 heauen but onely to God and that he kéept schooles of Lolardie in Dichingham 〈◊〉 that a Parchment maker bringeth him bookes from London containing 〈◊〉 Doctrine The Bishop of Norwich siâ—ting in Iudgement vpon him he denied his articles and was purged by 〈◊〉 of his neighbours swearing that he would not teach or defend any thinâ— contrary to the Church of Rome and the aforesaid parchment-maker was likewise accused vpon the aforesaid Articâ—es who dâ—nyed them and was likewise purged by his neighbâ—urs and sword in like manner Also sir Hugh Pie Chaplen of Lâ—dney was likewiâ—e accused before the said Bishop of Norwich for holding that the people ought not to goe on pilgrimage and that people ought not to giue almes to Images but to the poore That the Image of the Crosse other Images are not to be worshiped and that he had cast the Crosse of Brome hold into the fire to be burnt which he tooke from one of Ludney which he denied purged himselfe by three Laymen and three Priests was sworne as before In this yeare Henry the fift sent a most cruell Commission vnto Iohn Exeter and Iacolet Germaine kéeper of the Castle of Colchester for the apprehending of sir William White Priest and Thomas Chaplin of Setling in Northfolke and William Northamton Priest and all other suspected of Lolardy and to commit them to prison by vertue of which Commiâ—â—ion sixe persons were attached in Buâ—gay of Norwich whose names were so defaced through antiquitie that there remained but three names in the worne booke to be red to wit Iohn Teaderton in Kent Bartholomew Monke of Ensham in Norfolke Corneleader a maâ—ieâ— man these three were in the custodie of the Duke of Norfolke in the Castle of Fremingham We finde also in the Diocesse of Norfolke and Suffolke specially in the townes of Bechels Ersham
six women with the Lord of the place to be condemned for Hereticks because they said since Peter none was true Uicar of Christ but they onely which followed the pouerty of Christ. Hee condemned of heresie George the King of Boheme and depriued him made his whole stocke to be reiected and gaue his Kingdome to Mathias King of Panonia Pope Alexander the sixt succéeded him Hee receiued two thousand Florens for poisoning Gemen the Turkes brother at Rome Hee sent for help of the Turkes against the French King He was vngratefull to the Cardinals that chose him He commanded Marcinellus one of them to haue his hands and tongue cut off for speaking against his vices After sitting with his Cardinals and the rich Seâ—ators of Rome at dinner his man vnawares bringing a wrong Bottle vnto him he with his Cardinals about him were poisoned In his time the Angel which stood on the top of the Popes Church was beaten down with thunder which thing seemed to declare the ruine of the Pope-dome Pius the third succéeded Pope after him Iulius the second passing all other in iniquitie as he was going to warre he cast the keyes of S. Peter into the riuer Tybris saying being the keyes of Peter would not serue him to his purpose he would take himselfe to the sword of Paul By this Iulius partly with warre partly with cursings in seuen yeares 200000. Christians were destroyed he got many Citties out of Princes hands by bloudshed when he was made Pope he tooke an oath to haue a Councel within two yeares but breaking his Oath he was occupied in warres whervpon nine of his Cardinals departed from him and appointed a Councell at Pâ—sa they alledged the cause for that the Pope was forsworne and that they had diuers other crimes to accuse him of purposing to remooue him from his seate which hee had obtained through bribes and ambition Iulius commanded vnder great paine that none obeyed them the next yéere he called a Councell The French King seeing the Pope take part with the Uenetians against him called a Councell at Thurin in which Councell they agréed that the Pope ought not to war against any Prince without cause and that it was lawfull for the King to defend himselfe against him and that vniust excommunications were not to bée feared After the King sent to the Pope the decrées of the Councell who accursed the French King with all his Kingdome and the next yeare after this warlike Pope dyed The lamentable handling of RICHARD HVN who was priuily murdered in Lolards Tower in London HVN had a Child died in his house the Curate claiming the bearing-shéet for a Mortuarâ— Hun answered The Infant had no property therein whereupon he was cited to the Spirituall Court he sued the Curate in a Premunire and then the Priests of mallice accused him of heresie and brought him to Lolards Tower where he was found dead hanging by the necke in a girdle of silke The Bishop of London called Richard Fitziames and Doctor Horsey his Chancelor said â—e hanged himselfe and the Temporalty said he was murdered The Coronor summoned a Iury and viewed the body and many times they were with the Kings Councell and heard their opinions but in the mean season the Bishop burnt the dead carkase in Smithfield to the abhomination of the people but after the matter had beeâ—e heard by the Kings Iudges and after by the Kings Councell the King being present at lasâ— Doctor Horsey the Chancelor and one Charles the Bel-ringer of Pauls anâ— Ioseph the Bishops Somner were indicted of murder and the said Charles being in the Tower of London of his owne frée will said that Maister Chancelor deuised and wrote with his own hand all the heresies that were laid to Huns charge and that when Richard Hunne was slaine Iohn Bell-ringer bare vp a Waxe Candle and I went next to him and Maister Chancelor came vp last and Hunne was lying in his bed and Maister Chancelor said Lay hands on the Theefe and so all we murdered him and I put the girdle about his necke and Iohn Bell-ringer and I did heaue him vp and maister Chancelor pulled the girdle ouer the staple and so Hun was hanged The said Charles told Iulian Little his maid he killed him by putting a Wyer vp into his nose Before that time the Chanceller commaunded to be put vpon Huns necke a great coller of Iron with a great Chaine which is to heauy for any man or beast to weare and long to endure And before Huns death the Chanceller came into the Lolards Tower and kneeled downe before Hunne holding vp his hands and asked him forgiuenesse of all he had done and must doe to him And on the Sonday before the night in which he was destroyed he caused the Penitentiary of Paules to go to Hun and say a Gospell and make for him Holy Water and Holy bread and giue him which was done The Bishop did all he could by word or writing to the King and Cardinals and the Councell to smother the matter affirming that he hanged himselfe and that the Iury was forsworne and that the said Charles spoke that which he had done as before by reason of durance of imprisonment and that if the King and Councel should fauour this matter he should not be able to goe abroad for Heretickes and by the meanes of him and the spiritualty and money the Chancelor caused the Kinges Atturney to confesse on his arraignement him not to be guilty so he escaped to Excester and for shame neuer durst after come to London The Historie of Doctor VVESALIANVS THis Wesalia was complained vpon to Piorherus Archbishop of Mentz by the Thomists which is an Order holding of Thomas de Aquino The Bishop made him answer he should giue vp all his workes and writings which he had made and preached This being done they deuided them amongst themselues that euery man might finde out what errours and heresies they could His Articles and opinions were these That all men be saued fréely and through méere grace by faith in Christ Iesus frée-will to be nothing only that we should beléeue the word of God and not the glosse of any man or fathers that the word of God is to be expounded by the collation of one place with another that Prelats haue no authoritie to make lawes or expound the Scriptures by any peculiar right more then another that mens traditions as Fastings Feasts long prayers Pilgrimations and such like are to be reiected Extream vnction and confirmation to be reproued confession and satisfaction to be reprehended the primacy of the Pope he also affirmed to be nothing Upon which Articles this Wesalia by a generall assembly was condemned and his books to be burned He bring required of the Councell what he thought of the Uicar of Christ in earth He said he beléeued that Christ left no such Uicar in earth for ascending into heauen hee said Behold I am with you c. By
which wordes hee declared that he would substitute vnder him no Uicar in earth for a Uicar signifieth one who in the absence of the principall hath to doe the workes of the principall And being asked his opinion of Indulgences and Pardons he said he beleeued that the treasure-boxe of the merits of Saints could not be distributed of the Pope to others because their treasure is not left here on earth for it is written in the Reuelation Their works follow them and that their merits could not be applied to other men for the satisfaction of their paine due to them and he called Indulgences and Pardons pias fraudes fidelium And being asked the question he said He thought that hallowing of Altars Chalics Uestments War Candles Palmes Hearbes Holy water and other diuine things made them haue no spirituall power in them to driue away any Diuells and that holy water had no more efficacie then other water concerning remission of veniniall sinnes and driuing away Diuels and other effects which the Schoole Doctors attribute vnto it After these Articles were condemned by the Inquisitor and his assistants hee said As you doe with me if Christ himselfe were here he might be condemned as an hereticke but within thrée or foure dayes with much perswasions he was content to condiscend vnto them and submit himselfe to their holy mother Church Doctor VESELVS THis Veselus and the foresaid Vesalianus were great friends and when Vesalianus was condemned this Veselus thought that the Inquisitor would also examine him He was so worthy a man that the people called him Luxmundi He reprehended the Papists doctrines of the diuision of Repentance and Purgatorie and workes of Supererogation and Pardons and Indulgences and disputed against them at Rome and at Paris so that many of the Popes Court perswaded by him began to speake more freely and more boldly against these matters then himselfe did hee disallowed the abuses of the Masses prayers for the dead and the Supremacie of the Pope and that no such supreme head ouer all others ought to bee in the world and that the Pope hath no authoritie to command but so farre as truth goeth with him and that hee ought not to preuaile by commanding but by teaching that the Pope and the Prelates proceeding against Christes Doctrine are plaine Antichristes Hee said those Priestes that had vowed not to marrie and were not able to bee chaste might breake there vow Hee said that their forefathers before Albert and Thomas did resist the Popes indulgences and called them Idolatry fraude and errour in his Booke de subditis superioribus he disputeth against the Pope and his Prelates affirming except their Faith be sound they are not to bee obayed and that the Pope may erre and men ought to resist him therein that superfluous riches in the Clergy doe not profit but hurt That the Pope doth wickedly distribute the rents of the Church and the Church itselfe to vnworthy Ministers by Symony for hir own profit whereby it appeareth hee careth not for GOD nor the Church That the precepts of the Pope and Prâ—lates binde no farther then the precepts of physitions that is so farre as they bee holsome and stand with the truth of the word that the Pope can command nothing vnder paine of deadly sinne but what God commandeth The Kingdome of heauen is rather shut then opened by the Popes keyes as the Pharisies did that the hearers ought to discerne and Iudge the Doctrine of the Prelates and not to receiue all things they say without due examination Hee prophesied to Iohn Ostendorpius well my Childe thou shalt liue to that day that the Doctrine of these new and contentious Diuines of THOMAS and BONAVENTVRE with other of that sort shall bee vtterly reiected from true Christian Diuines And hee often disputed of the righteousnesse of faith and why Saint Paul did so often inculcate that men be iustified by faith and not by workes that all men were deceiued who attributed to Traditions any opinion of GODS worship or that they could not in any wise be violated or broken MARTIN LVTHER THus proceeding in our Storie by the ayde of Christ we approach vnto the time of Martin Luther at what time it pleased God by his great mercie to reforme the desolate ruines of religion by the industrie of this Luther sent set vp by the mightie spirit of Christ to abolish the abuses and pride of Antichrist which so long had abused the simple flocke of Christ. Many prophesies went before of this time as of the aforesaid prophesie of Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage that a hundred yeares come and gone they should giue account to God and him This prophesie was in the yeare one thousand foure hundred and fifteene so to this time one thousand fiue hundred and sixteene was iust an hundred yeares Philip Melancton maketh mention of a Monke about fiftis years before this time named Iohn Hilton in Thuring who was cast into prison for speaking against certaine abuses of the place and order where he liued and being weake and feeble hee desired the Warden of the Couent to respect his wofull case he rebuked him for that which he had spoken he said he had spoken nothing preiudiciall to their Monkerie or religion but there shall come one in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and sixteene which shall vtterly subuert all Monkerie and they should neuer be able to resist him The Angell falling from the high pinicle of the Popes Church into the Riuer Tybris in the yeare 1500. might well portend the ruine of the Pope And the strange sight in Germany as before in the yeare 1501. of the crosses seene vpon mens garments and figures of câ—ownes of Thornes and of Nailes and of drops of bloud fell from heauen that many daies after the women carried them vpon their garments might declare the like Likewise the other Dreame of Iohn Husse as before how that some abolished the Images of Christ in his Church of Bethelem but next day new Painters painted the same and more Images of Christ and fairer and the Painters with the multitude of the people said now let the Bishoppes and Priests put out these Images if they can whereby much people reioiced and I arising vp felt my selfe to laugh he interpreted the painting of Christs picture his preaching of Christ which should be destroyed and the other Painters new Preachers whose Doctrines the Bishops and Priests should not bee able to resist By these and such like prophesies it was euident that the time of restoring the Church was not farre as also the hearts of the people which at that time were inflamed so with hatred against the pompe and pride of Rome and there contempt and derision beganne to arise on euery side for there deâ—estable doings were not so secret but they were seene and abhorred Wherevpon grew many prouerbes of derision as what is this to see the world round about for that these shauelling priests none
to be troubled with externe decrées and outward Elements And by the 23. of Mathew The Scribes and Pharises sit in Moses Chaire whatsoeuer they command to obserue keep but do not after their doings Christ taught his Disciples that he saw nothing in the doing of the Scribes and Pharises to be followed yet they should not refuse to do those things which they did teach by the word but not what they taught of their owne head Being accused for hauing the New Testament and other Books of heresie he called them blasphemers and Romish Swine and their stomacks rankered and tongues most venomous which durst note the New Testament of heresie as they were the greatest murderers that murdered Christ so these men filled the measure of all other Heretickes and blasphemies how shall these Serpents and sâ—â—cke of Uipers escape the iudgement of eternall fire And being accused that he was so obstinate that none of his friends could perswade him he said he knew not why he should call them friends which so greatly laboured to conuert him nor will more estéeme of them then of the Madianits which called the Children of Israell to do sacrifices to their Idols Then they condemned him for an Hereticke and his goods to be forfeited and because they could not apprâ—hend him they made a picture of him and burned it cursed euery one that should shew any intertainment fauour or helpe towards him and their goods likewise to be confiscated The sixe Articles agreed vpon in the Parliament-house 1 THe blessed Sacrament of the Altar by the efficacy of Christs words being spoken by the Priest is present really vnder the forme of Bread and Wine the naturall body and blood of Christ conceiued of the Uirgine Mary and that there remaineth no substance of bread and wine but onely the substance of Christ God and Man 2 Secondly that the Communion in both kinds are not necessary ad salutem vnto all persons and it is to be beléeued that in the flesh vnder forme of Bread is the very blood and with the blood vnder forme of wine is the very flesh aswell apart as both together 3 That Priests after orders may not marry by the Law of God 4 That vowes of Chastity or widdowhood by man or woman made to God aduisedly ought to bee obserued by the Law of God and that it exempteth them from other liberties of Christian people which without that they might enioy 5 That it is méete that priuate masses be continued as whereby good people ordering themselues accordingly doe receiue both godly and goodly consolations and benefits and it is agréeable to Gods Law 6 That auriculer confession is necessary to be retained and vsed in the Church of God Then they caused it to be enacted that if any the Kings Subiects after the 12. of Iuly next comming by word writing or any otherwise preach argue or hâ—ld any opinion against the reall presence as aforesaid or against the Sacrament vnder one kind as aforesaid they and their assistants to be condemned for hereticks and to be burned without any abiuration and Clergy of Sanctuary to be allowed them and all their goods and lands forfeited vnto the King as in case of high treaso The like offence against any of the other Articles to be fellony The History of THOMAS CROMVVELL Earle of Essex THomas Cromwell became the most secret and deare Councelor vnto the King after he was made Earle of Essex He alone through the singular dextâ—ritie of his wit and Councell brought to passe that which no Prince or King throughout all Europe dare or can bring to passe For whereas Brittany was most superstitious of all Nations he brake off and repressed all the poliâ—ies and malice of the Frâ—ers Monâ—es and Religions and subuerted there houses throughout all the Realme and brought the Arch-bishops and Bishops yea Cranmer and the Bishop of Winchester to an Order though he were the Kings chiefe Councelor preuenting thâ—ir enterprises and complaints specially in those things which tended to the decay of good men which fauoured the Gospell vnto whom Cromwell was euer a shield against the pestiferous enterprises of Winchester betwéenâ— whom there was continuall emulation both being great with the King one much feared th' other beloued but Winchester séemed such a man to be borne onely for the destruction of the good and Cromwell by thy Diuine prouidence appointed a help to preserue many it were to tedious to declare how many good men through this mans help haue béen reléeued whereof a great nâ—mber beeing depriued of their patron by his fall perished and many yet aliue which are witnes of these things Iehu the sharpe punisher of superstitious Idolatry was not much vnlike this man For this purpose this man seemed to be raised vp of God to subuert the dens of sloth and idlenes where if they had remained the Pope could not be excluded out of England for there was an incredible number of Monasteriâ—s in England There riches and possessions were so great that they vpbraided euen vnto Kings and Noâ—les beggery and there houses were no lesse sumptuous which for the most part were plucked down to the ground and their reuenues and substance the King partly conuerted vnto his own Coffers and partly distributed amongst his Nobilitie but many reprâ—hend the subuersion of these Abbies say they might haue béen conuerted to other good vses which indéed would haue béen good and godly if in this Kingdome there should bee continually a succession of good Princes but if it should happen to be a King of a contrarie Religion it would haue been otherwise as we may see by the example of Quéene Mary If the Monasteries had been left standing vntill her superstitious daies they should haue been restored againe and filled with Monkes and Fryers For if the goods and possessions of the religious being in the hands of the Dukes and Nobility could scarce withstand the Quéenes power how should the meaner sort haue retained them Wherefore no doubt Gods great prouidence did fâ—resée these things in this man Wherevpon as often as he sent any man to suppresse any Monastery hee would charge them that they should subuert their houses from there foundation When the Pope was abolishâ—d out of England and that there was diuers tumults about Religion and it séemed good to the King to appoint a Conuoâ—ation to which Cromwell came and found all the Bishopâ— attending his comming and all did obeysance vnto him as to their Uicar generall and he saluted them euery one in their degrée and sate downe in the highest place Then Cromwell in the name of the King spake words to this effect The King thankes you â—o your diligence the cause why he hath willed you to assemble is that you should estabâ—sh certaine controuersies touching the state of Faith and Christian Religion which are now in controuersiâ— not onely in this Realme but also amongst all other Nations of the world for he willeth not that there
and for his contempt and misdemeanor deposed Gardener Bishop of Winchester with Tunstall Bishop of Durham were cast into the Tower for their disobedience In this time of King Edward vnder this noble Protectoâ— this one commendation is proper vnto them that amongst all the Popish â—ort of whom some priuily stâ—le out of the Realme manie were craftie dissemblers some open aduersaries â— yet there was not one that lost his life during the whole time of the Raigne of this King for any matter of Religion Papist or Protestant except lone of Kentan English woman and one George a Dutchman who died for certaine Articles not necessarie to be rehearsed THOMAS DOBBE THis man in the beginning of King Edwards Raigne comming from S. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge to London as he passed through Paules Church there was a Priest at Masse at the South side of the Church being at the eleuation this yong man repleate with godly zeale pittying the ignorance and Idolatry of the people in honouring that which the Priest lifted vp he exhorted the people not to honour that visible bread as God which was neither God nor ordained of God to be honoured wherefore he was apprehended by the Mayor and accused to the Bishop of Canterburie and was committed to the Counter in Bread-stréete where shortly falling sicke he died whose pardon was obtained of the Lord Protector if he had liued IOHN HVNNE IN the first yeare of the Kings raigâ—e one Master Lewnax of Wresell and his wife sent this Iohn Hunne their seruant vnto the Bishop of Canterbury for denying the flesh and bloud of Christ to be really in the Sacrament of the Altar and saying he would neuer vaile his Hatte to it if he should be burned for it and that if he should heare masse he should be damned But because I finde nothing done therein I leaue it When this godly yong Prince was peaceably established in his Kingdome and had a godly wise and zealous Councell about him especially the Duke of Sommerset he earnestly desired the aduancement of the true honour of God and planting of sincere Religion and the sâ—ppressing of all Idolatry Superstition and hypocrisie throughout his Dominions Following the good example of the good King Iosias and being he found most of his Lawes repugnant to his zealous enterprise He by the aduice of his wise and Honorable Councell of his own regall authoritie did prosecute his godly purpose vntill by consent of the whole estate of Parliament he might establish a more free and vniforme order and those certaine wiâ—e learned and discreet personages for Commissioners generally to visit all the Bishopricks of this Realme to vnderstand and redresse the abuses of the same and diuided them into seuerall companies and assigned them seuerall Diocesses to be visited appointing to euery company one or two godly Preachers which should preach to the people at euery Sessions the true Doctrine of the Gospell of Christ and exhort them to all loue and obedience of the same and earnestly dehort them from their old superstition and wonted Idolatry and that they might the more orderly be directed in this their Commission there were deliuered vnto them certaine iniunctions and Ecclestasticall orders drawne out by the Kings learned Councell the which they should both inquire of and also command in his Maiesties behalfe to be thenceforth obserued of euery person to whom they did seuerally appertaine within their seuerall circuits the which Iniunctions if thou beest disposed for to reade I leaue thee for breuitie to the Booke at large Now during the time the Commissioners were in their circuits about diligent execution of their godly and zealous orders of the King and Councell deâ—iring a further reformation as well in Ecclesiasticall as in Ciuill gouernment appointed a Parliament to be summoned on the fourth of Nouember in the first yeare of his raigne which continued vntill the twenty foure day of December then next following Whereby he caused to be enacted that all Acts of Parliaments and Statutes touching menciâ—ning or any wise concerning Religion or opinions to wit the Statute of the first yeare of Richard the second and the statute made in the second yeare of the raign of Henry the fift and the statute madâ— in the fiftéenth yeare of the raigne of Henry the eight concerning the punishments and reformation of Hereticks and Lolards and the sixe Articles made in the thirty one yeare of Henry the eight and the statute made in the thirty thrée year of Henry the eight against the bookes of the old and new Testament in English and the printing and vttering of English or bookes writings and preaching the Scriptures an another Statute in the 35. yeare of Henry the eyght touching the qualification of the Statâ—te of sixe Articles and aâ—l and euery other Act or Acts of Parliament concerning Doctrine or matters of Religion should from thenceforth bee repealed and of none effect by occasion whereof all his godly subiects abiding within the Realme had free liberâ—y to professe the gospell and those beyond Sea wer not onely licensed to retâ—rne home but incouraged bouldly and faithfully to trauell in their calling so that God was much glorified and the people edified And in this Parliament it was enacted that the Sacrament should be ministred in both kinde and letters missiue were sent frâ—m the Councell to the Bishops of the Realme concerning the communion to bee ministred in both kinds and from Bishop to Bishop as thou maist sée in the booke at large Another Parliament was assembled in the second yeare of his Raigne beginning vppon the foorth day of Nouember 1548. continuing vntill the 14. day of March wherein a booke in English intituled the Booke of Common prayer and administration of the Sacraments and other Rightes and Ceremonies of the Church after the vse of the Church of England was concluded vppon by the Clergy which his highnesse receauing with great comfort did exhibiâ—â— it vnto the Lords and Commons of the Parliament who for the honour of God and great quietnesse which by the grace of God should ensue vppon that one vniforme right and order in such Common prayer rites and externe Ceremonies to bee vsed throughout England Wales Calice and the Marches of the same authoriseâ— the sayd Booke by Act of Parliament and set great penalty vpon them that woâ—ld bee disobeâ—ient thereto as is to be seene in the booke at large Aâ—so the mariage of Priests was authorized by the sayd Parliament by these procéedings and the Iniunctions which thou maiest see in the book at large thou maiest well perceaue the great zeale of the King and the Lord Protector in reformation of tâ—ue Religion and also the lingring slacknesse on the other side of others especially of the Bishops and old Popish Curats by whose cloked contempt and wilfull winking the Booke of Common prayers was long after the publishing thereof very irreuerently vsed throughout many places of this Realme which when the King by diuers
testimony against this house Touching the disputations of Peter Martyr Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius because they are only touching the Sacrament which is so often handled in this book for breuitie I referre thee to the book at large The decease of King EDWARD ABout a yeare and a halfe after the death of the Duke of Sommerset King Edward died entring into the seuenteenth yeare of his age and in the seuenth yeare of his raigne As the time approached that it pleased Almighty God to call this yong King from vs which was on the sixth day of Iuly about thrée houres before his death his eyes being closed speaking to himselfe and thinking none had heard him he made this prayer as â—olloweth LOrd God deliuer me from this miserable and wretched life and take me amongst thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done for I commit my spirit vnto thee O Lord thou knowest how happie it were for me to be with thée yet for thy chosens sake send me life and health that I may truly serue thes O my Lord GOD blesse thy people and saue thine inheritance O Lord saue thy chosen people of England O my GOD defend this realme from Papistrie and maintain thy true religion that I and my people may prayse thy holy name for thy Sonne Iesu Christs sake Then he turned his face and séeing who was by him he said vnto them are you so nigh I thought you had beenâ— further off then smilingly he said I was praying to God The last words he spake were these I am faint Lord haue mercie vpon me and take my spirit And thus he yeelded vp the Ghâ—st leauing a wofull kingdome behinde vnto his sister THE TENTH BOOK WHEREIN is contained the most memorable things done in the Raigne of Queene MARY KIng Edward by his Testament did appoint Lady Iane daughter of the Duke of Suffolk whose mother was Mary second sister of King Henry who was first wife to the French King and after to the said Duke to succeed him in his Kingdome all the Councell and chief Nobilitie the Mayor of London and all the Iudges and chiefe Lawyers sauing Iudg Hales subscribed therto who stood for Q. Mary The matter thus concluded King Edward died when he was sixteene yeares of age then the said Iane was proclaymed Queene at London and other Cities she was about the age of King Edward in learning and wit she might be compared with the Uniuersitie men which haue taken many degrees of the schooles Then Queen Mary wrote to the Councel that they should proclaime her Quéen and she would pardon them for that which was done they answered her that by the Diuorse betwixt King Henry and her mother she was made illegitimate and vnheritable to the Crowne Then she speeded her selfe farre from the Citie hoping vpon the Commons whereupon the Councell sent forth the Duke of Northumberland with other Lords and Gentlemen with an Armie the Guard assisting the Duke Mary withdrew her selfe into Northfolke and Suffolke where she knew the Duke was hated and there gathering such aide of the Commons as she might kept her selfe in Fremingham Castle to whom Suffolk-men resorted and promised her their aide if she would not alter the religion which her brother had established to which she agreed with such promises as no man could haue misdoubted her and thus being guarded with the power of the Gospellers she vanquished the Duke and all that came against her But after the Suffolk-men making supplication vnto her Grace for performance of her promise she answerd You shall one day well perceiue that members must obey their head and not looke to rule the same and one Dobbe a Gentleman for aduertising her of her promise by humble request was three times set in the pillorie to be a gasing-stock to all men others deliuered her books and supplications out of the Scripture to exhort her to continue the doctrine then established who were sent to prison The Councell at London vnderstanding that the Ladie Marie increased in puisance and the peoples hearts mightily bent vnto her they turned their song and proclaymed for Quéen the Lady Mary eldest daughter of K. Henry the eight and appointed by Parliament to succeed King Edward dying without issue the Duke of Northumberland with some of his sonnes were left destitute at Cambridge as also the Earle of Huntingdon who were arrested and brought to the Tower as Traytors Then the Quéen came to the Tower where the Lady Iane and the Lord Gilford her husband were imprisoned fiue months but the Duke within a moneth was beheaded with Sir Iohn Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer the Papists promised the Duke pardon if he would openly recant vpon the Scaffold which in hope of pardon he did and yet he was beheaded whose recantation the papists published not a little reioycing at his conuersion but Sir Thomas Palmer confessed his faith in the Gospell and was sorie that he had not liued more Gospell-like Steuen Gardner was released out of the Tower and made Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor and Poynets displaced and Bonner restored to his Bishoprick againe and Ridley displaced and Day made Bishop of Chichester and Storie put out and Heath made Bishop of Worcester and Hooper committed to the Fleet and Vesie to Exeter and Couerdale put out Doctor Ridley Bishop of London had preached against Quéen Mary in Queene Ianes time shortly after the Sermon Queen Mary was proclaymed then he went to the Queen to salute her who dispoyled him of his Dignities and sent him to the Tower vpon a halting horse Then Queen Mary directed forth an inhibition by proclamation that no man should preach or reade openly in Churches the word of God One Bourne who after was Bishop of â—ath preached at Paules Crosse so much in the praise of Bonner being there present and in dispraise of King Edward that his words sounded euill to the hearers which caused them to murmur and stirre insomuch that the Maror and others feared an vprore one hurled a dagger at the Preacher who for feare pulled in his head Master Bradford stood forth and appeased the people and after he and Rogers conducted the Preacher safe into the Grammer-schoole but shortly after they were both rewarded with burning The next Sonday the preacher at the Crosse was guarded with the Queenes Guard then men withdrew themselues from the Sermon and the Mayor took order that the ancients of al Companies should be present lest the Preacher should be discouraged with his small auditorie Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie assisted with Peter Martyr and a few others offered to defend the doctrine of the booke of Common Prayer by the Scriptures and Doctors but whilst they hoped to come to disputation the Archbishop and others were imprisâ—ned but Peter Martyr was suffered to return from whence he came The first day of October the Queen was crowned and the tenth day a Parliament began where Taylor Bishop of Lincolne
well for Paul writ to the Corinthians to haue the man excommunicated that had lien with his Fathers wife Smith As the Church of Corinth was manifest to God and Paule so is this Church in England else you could not persecute it as you do I being conuayed into the Garden Doctor Dee being one of the Bishops Chaplaines came to me and after much adoe about his God I compelled him to say that it must needs enter into the belly and so fall out â—nto the draught then hee said What derogation was it to Christ when the Iewes spit in his face and I answered If the Iewes his enemies did but spit in his face and wee being his friends throw him in the draught which of vs haue deserued the greater damnation Doctor Then he would haue Christs humanitie incomprehensible bringing to serue his turne which way Christ came amongst his Disciples the doores being close shut Smith I haue as much to proue that the doores opened at his comming as you haue to proue that he came thorow the doores for God that opened the prison doores for his Disciples was able to doe the like for Christ but that maketh not for your purpose for they saw heard and felt him and so cannot you do in your sacrament Then I was called for before Bonner and my Lord Mayor was with him and my articles were read then said Bonner Bonner My Lord they call me bloudie Bonner where I neuer sought any mans blood I haue stayed him from the Consistory this day whither I might haue brought him iustlie and heere before you I desire him to turne and I will with all spéed dispatch him out of trouble Smith Why do you put on this visard before my Lord Mayor to make him beléeue you séeke not my blood Haue not you burned my Brother Tomkins hand most cruelly and after burned his body and the bodies of a number more of Christs faithfull members Then he questioned with me about the Sacrament and I said as the body is dead if the blood be gone so their Sacrament is a dead God because they take away the blood of Christ from his body being the Cup is taken from the Layty for if the Brâ—ad be his body the Cup must bee his blood Then Bonner rose and my Lord Mayor desired me to saue my soule I said mine was saued by Christ desiring him to pittie his owne soule and remember whose sword hee carried so with many foule farewels we were sent to New-gate againe and Boner gaue the Keeper charge to lay me in Limbo The second Examination Boner THou saést there is no Catholick Church on earth I said I haue answered you the contrarie and it is written he said yea but I must aske you this Question Smith Must you begin with a lye it seemeth you determine to end with the same but no lyer shall enter into the kingdome of God I haue conâ—essed a church of God as well in earth as in heauen and yet all one Church and one mans members euen Christ Iesus Boner Well what saist thou by auricular Confession Smith It is needfull in Christs Church but if it be needfull in your Church it is to pick folkes purses and such pickâ—purse matters is the whole rabblemene of your ceremonies for all is but money matters that you maintaine he said thou maist be ashamed to say so I said I speake by experience for I haue heard seene the fruits of Confession it hath béene a betrayer of Kings secrets and others who bâ—ing glad to be discharged of their sinnes haue giuen to Priests great summes of money to absolue them and sing Masses for their soâ—les health Boner By the Masse if the Queene were of my minde you should not talke before any man but should be put in a Sâ—ck and a Dog tyed vnto the samâ— you should be throwne into the water Smith You and your predecessors haue sought by all meanes to kill Christ secretly as appeareth by Master Hunne whom your predecessor caused to be thrust into the nose with hoâ—e burning needles and then hanged him and said he hanged himselfe and another of your predecessors when he could not ouercome an innocent man by Scripture he made him priuily to be snarled and his flesh to be torne away with pincers and told the people the rats had eaten him Bonner Then came in M. Mordant and then he said How sayest thou Smith to the seuen Sacraments Smith I beleeue that in Gods Church there be but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper as for your Sacrament of the Altar and all your other Sacraments they may well serue your Church but Gods Church hath nothing to do with them Bonner Why is Gods order changed in baptisme Smith Yes in hallowing the water in coniuring of the same in baptising children with annointing and spitting in their monthes mingled with salt and with many other lewd ceremonies then be said by the masse I was the shamelest hereticke that euer he heard speake I said well sworne my Lord you keepe a good watch Bonner Well Mâ—ister Controller you catch me at my words but I will watch thée as well I warrant you then quoth Mordant I neuer heard the like in my life I pray my Lord marke well his answer for Baptisme he disaloweth therein holiâ— oyntment salt and other lawdable ceremonies Smith It is a shamefull blasphemy against Christ to vse such mingle mangle in Baptisme Boner I beléeue if a child die without Baptisme he is damned Smith You shaâ—l neuer be saued by that beléefe I pray are we saued by water or by Christ he said by both I said then the water died for our sinnes and must you say that the water hath life and it being our seruant and created for vs it is our Sauiour This is a good doctrine is it not Bonner How vnderstand you these words Except a man bee borne of Water and the Spirit and Christ saith Suffer little Children to come vnto me and if thou wilt not suffer them to be baptised according to the lawdablâ— order thou lettest to come vnto Christ. Smith Paul to the Galathians asheth whether they recâ—iued the Spirit by the deeds of the law or by the preaching of faiâ—h and concludeth that the Holy Ghost accompanieth preaching of faith and with the word of faith entereth into the heart so if Baptisme preach vnto me the washing in Christs bloud the holy Ghost doth accompanie it and Christ saith Suffer little children to come vnto me and not vnto water then if you suffer them not to com to Christ without the necessity of water but condemne them if they die before baptisme you condemne both the merits and the words of Christ. Bonner Thou makest the water of noâ—â— effect and then thou mayest put away water Smith Peter saith It is not the washing away of the filth of the flesh but in that a good conscience consenteth vnto God and onely water bringeth not the Holy Ghost for Simon
man but consent of deeds Rid. If it were a trifling ceremonie or indifferent for the continuance of common quietnes I could be content to beare it But the Masse tendeth openly to the ouerthrow of Christs institution I ought by no meanes in word or deed consent thereto That of the Fathers is ment of them that suppose they be defiled if any secret vice be either in the Ministers or in the Communicants with them and is not ment of them which abhor Superstition and wicked traditions of men and will not suffer them to be in steede of the Gospell Lat. The Mary bones of the Masse are detestable and by no meanes to be borne with all it cannot be amended but by abolishing it for euer for if you take away â—blation and adoration which hang vpon Consecration and transubstantiation the Papists will not set a button by the Masse onely for the gaine that followeth therin for if our English Communion were a gainefull vnto them as the Masse they would striue no more for the Masse Anto If you refuse to goe to Masse you forsake the Church for the Masse is the Sacrament of vnitie without the Arke there is no saluation the Church is the Arke and Peters ship Augustine saith he shall not haue God his Father which acknowledgeth not the Church his mother And he also saith be thy life neuer so well spent out of the Church thou shalt not inherit the Kingdome of heauen Ridley The Catholick Church is the Communion of Saints the Citie of GOD the spouse of Christ the body of Christ the pillar of truth this Church I honour in the Lord but the rule of this Church is the word of God as many as walke according to this rule peace bee vpon them and vpon Israel that pertaineth to God the guide of this Church is the Holy Ghost the marks of this Church are these The preaching of Gods word due administration of the Sacraments Charitie and obseruing of Ecclesiasticall Discipline according to the word of God these are the heauenly Ierusalem which consisteth of those which are borne aboue This is the mother of vs all I will liue and die the child of this Church forth of this there is no saluation it is onely knowne by the Scriptures which is the true Church indeed the bread which we breake according to the institution of Christ is the Sacrament of the vnity of Christs mysticall body for we being many are one bread and one body because we are partakers of one bread but in the Masse the Lords institution is not obserued for there we are not all partakers of one bread but one deuoureth it all Lat Yea what fellowship hath Christ with Antichrist it is not lawful to beare the yoke with Papists Seperat your selues from them saith the Lord it is one thing to be the Church indéed and another thing to counterfet the Church not all that he couered with the Title of the Church are the Church indéed When S. Paul saith Seperate your selues from them He addeth if any man follow other doctrine he is puffed vp and knoweth nothing For it is ignorance to know many things and not Christ but if thou knowest Christ thou knowest enough though thou know no more Therefore he would know nothing but Christ and him crucified as many as be Papists and Masse-mongers may well bee said to know nothing for they know not Christ they take much away from the merite of Christ. Anto. That Church which you describe is inuisible but Christs Church is visible and knowne For hee saith tell it to the Church which is in vaine to goe to the Church if a man cannot tell which it is Rid. If we cannot see the true Church that is not the fault of the Church but either of our owne blindnes or of Satans darknes but the word is a Candle vnto vs and a light vnto our steps to shâ—w the true Church Anto. The Church of Christ is vniuersall dispersed through the whole world the great house of GOD good and euill mingled together Goates Shéepe Corne and Chaffe it is the net which gathereth all kinde of Fishes it cannot erre for CHRIST IESVS hath promised it his good Spirit to leade it in all truth and the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against it he will be with it to the end of the world What it shall binde or lose in earth shall bee ratified in Heauen it is the truth Augustine saith I beleeue the Gospell because the Church biddeth me beleeue it this Church alloweth the Masse therefore it must be followed RidI The Church is taken three manner of waies in the Scripture sometime for the whole multitude of the professors of Christ but as euery one is not a Iew which is a Iew outwardly nor all that be of Israel are counted the seede So euery one that is a Christian outwardly is not so indeede For hee that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his The Church that Christ Iesus is head of stands onely of liuing Stones Christians in heart and truth and not in worde onely The multitude of the good are the true Church the multitude of the euill is the malignant Church and Synagogue of Satan These be the three takings of the Church and though there be seldom mention in Scriptures in this interpretation yâ—t in the greatest assemblies of the world this Church hath borne the greatest swing But if any will affirme that vniuersalitie doth so appertaine vnto the church that Christs promises to the Church must needes bee vnderstood of that where was that vniuersall Church in the times of the Patriarks and Prophets Of Noah Abraham and Moses when they would haue stoned him of Helias of Ieremy in the times of Christ and the dispersion of the Apostles in the time of Arius When Constantius was Emperour â—and Felix Bishop of Rome succeeded Lyberius Lyra vpon Mathew saith the Church doth not stand in men by reason of their power and dignitie whether it be Ecclesiasticall or Seculer for Princes and Popes and other inferiours haue fallen away from GOD Therefore the Church consisteth in those persons in whom is true knowledge and Confession of the Faith and truth euill men are in the Church in name but not in deed Latimer Touching the vehement saying of Saint Augustine I would not beleeue the Gospel but for the Church Melancton vpon this saith the Church is not a Iudge but a witnes there were some that lightly esteemed the Iudgement of the Church and preaching and reiected the outward word and stucke onely to there inward reuelations This droue Saint Augustine into that vehemencie in which he seemeth to them that vnderstand not his meaning to prefer the Church before the Gospel and that it had authoritie ouer the same but that godly man neuer thought so Anto Generall Councels represent the vniuerfall Church and Christ hath promised to be in the middest where two or three be gathered together in his name
receiue them Therefore your Lordship may be sure the word of God will one day take place doe what you can to the contrarie The fift Examination Couen DOe you not beléeue your Créed I beléeue in the Catholick Church Phil. Yes but I cannot vnderstand Rome to be the same nor the like to it S. Asse S. Peter builded the Catholick Church at Rome And Christ saith thou art Peter and vpon this Rock I will build my Church and the succession of Bishops can be proued in Rome from time to time as it can be of no other place so well which is a manifest proofe of the Catholick Church as diuers Doctors doâ— write Phil. You cannot proue the Rock that Christ would build his Church on to bee Rome and though you can proue the succession of Bishops it is not sufficient to proue Rome the Catholick Church vnlesse you can proue the succession of Peters Faith where vpon the Catholick Church is builded to continue in his successors at Rome and at this present to remaine there Couen What meaneth this word Catholick Phil. The Catholick Faith or Catholick Church is not that which is most vniuersall or of men receiued wherby you dâ—e infer your Faith to hang vpon the multitude which is not so We iudge saith S. Augustine the Catholick Faith of that which hath been is and shall be so that if you can proue your Catholick Church and Faith hath been taught from the beginning and is and shall be then may you count your selues Catholicks otherwise not Catholick in Gréeke is compounded of â— which signifieth according and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a summe or principle or whole so that Catholick Church or Faith is as much to say as the first hole sound chéefest faith Boner Doe you thinke the Catholick Church hath erred vntill within these few yeares some haue swarued from the same Phil. I doe not thinke the Catholick Church hath erred but I require you to proue the Church of Rome the Catholick Church Curtop Ireneus who was within a hundred yeares after Christ came to Victor Bishop of Rome to aske his aduice about excommunication of certaine hereticks which he would not haue done if hee had not taken him to bee supreme head and Couentry bad him marke this Argument Phil. This fact of Ireneus proueth no more for the supremacie then mine hath done for I haue béen at Rome as well as he and could haue spoken with the Pope and if I would yet would there were none in England fauoured his supremacie more then I And it is not like that Ireneus or the primatiue church so take him for I can shew 7. generall Councels after Ireneus time wherin he was neuer so taken in many hundred yâ—eres after Christ These be the Councels the Nicentine Ephesine the first second Calcedone Constantinopolitane Carthagenense Auilence Couen Wherefore will you not admit the Church of Rome to be the Catholick Church Phil. Because it followeth not nor agréeth with the Primitiue Church no more then an Apple is like a Nut it were too long to name all the disagréements I will name but two The Supremacie and Transubstantiation Curtop Although transubstantiation were decréed for an Article of the Faith not aboue 300. yeares yet it was alwaies beléeued Boner said that was well said Phil. It is true it was but lately planted by the Bishop of Rome and you cannot shew any ancient writer that the primitiue Church did beleeue any such thing with that Master Curtop shrunke away Couen Can you disproue the Church of Rome not to be the Catholick Church Phil. Yes that I can but I desire rather to heare you proue it First it doth not agree with the Primitiue Church neither in Doctrine nor in the vse of Sacraments And as you describe Catholick to be vniuersall the Church of Rome was neuer vniuersall For the world being diuided into three parts Asia Africa Europe Two parts Asia and Africa professing Christ as well as wee did neuer consent to the Church of Rome and the most part of Europe doth not agrée nor allow the Church of Rome As Germany Denmarke the Kingdome of Pole a great part of France England and Zeland which is a manifest probation that your Church is not vniuerfall Doctor Sauer I am sory to sée you commune with so many learned men and are no more conformable vnto them then you be Phil. I will be conformable vnto them that be conformable to Christ his word I pray Master Doctor be not so conformable to please men more then God contrarie to your learning for worldly estimation you are led away from the truth for promotion sake as many Doctors be now adaies Sauer Saint Cyprian an ancient Writer doth allow the Bishop of Rome to be supreme head of the Church Phil. I am sure he doth not for he writing to Cornelius Bishop of Rome called him his companion and fellow Bishop and calleth him not Pope nor any other vsurped termes which are now ascribed vnto the Bishop of Rome Then they brought forth Cyprian and turned vnto the third Epistle where hee saith it goeth not well with the Church when the High Priest is not obayed which supplieth the steed of Christ after Gods word and the consent of the Bishops and the agreement of the people Sauer How can you auoid this place which maketh so plaine for the Bishop of Rome his Supremacie Phil. It maketh not so plaine First heare you may see that he calleth Cornelius his fellow Bishop as he doth also in other places you do misconstrue that same to make the high Priest onely for the Bishop of Rome and otherwise then it was in his time for there were by the Nicenâ— Councell foure Patriaches appointed The Patriarke of Ierusalem and the Patriarke of Constantinople The Patriarke of Alexandria and the Patriarke of Rome of which foure the Patriarch of Rome was lowest placed in the Councell and so continued many yeares for the time of seuen or eight generall Conncels Therefore Cyprian writeth vnto Cornelius Patriarck of Rome because certaine hereticks as the Nâ—uatians which were excommunicated by him went from his Dioces to the Patriarcks of Rome or of Constantinople and there were receiued in the Communion of there congregation in derogation of good discipline and maintaining of schismes in that obedience is not giuen vnto the Priest of GOD being in Christs steede not meaning the Patriarck of Rome onely but euery Patriarck in his precinet who had euery one of them a Cathedrall Church of learned Priests in hearing of whom by a Conuocation of all his fellow Bishops with the consent of the people all heresies were determined by the Word of GOD and this is the meaning of Cyprian Sauer I wonder you will stand so stedfast in your errour to your owne destruction Phil. I am sure we are in no errour by the promise of Christ to the faithfull that he will giue them such a spirit of wisedome that
where with great ioy and glorious triumph gaue vp their soules vnto the handes of the Lord. Iohn Noyes of Lexfield in the County of Suffolke Shoemaker THe twenty two of September he was taken by the Constables and brought before Maister Thurstone Sir Iohn Tyrell Maister Kene Iustices and Sir Iohn Silyerde high Sheriffe who cast him into Eye-dongeon hee was carried from thence to Norwich and so came before the Bishop who condemned him because he answered that he thought the naturall body of Christ to bee onely in Heauen and not in the Sacrament as hee remained Prisoner in the Guild-hall of Norwich one Nicholas Fiske his Brother in Law came to him to comfort him he asked if he did not feare death when the Bishop condemned him he said hee thanked God he feared not death no more at that time then when he was at libertie When he was bound vnto the stake he said feare not them that â—ill the body but feare him that can kill both bodie and soule and cast it into euerlasting fire When he saw his Sister wéeping he said Wéepâ— not for mee but wéepe for your sinnes when the Faggots were set vnto him he said Blessed bee the time that euer I was borne to come vnto this and kissed the Faggot Then he said to the people they say that they can make God of a péece of Bread but beléeue them not Then said he Good people beare witnesse that I doe beléeue to bee saued by the merits and passion of Christ and not by mine owne déedes so the fire was kindled about him then he said Lord haue mercy vpon me Christ haue mercy vpon me Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me In the Dioces of Chichester diuers were martyred for the testimony of righteousnesse in Quéene Maries raigne in the number of whom were these Iohn Forman of East-Grinsted Iohn Warner of Berne Christian Grouer of the Arch-deacoâ—â—y of Lewis Thomas Athoch Priest Thomas Auington of Erdingly Denis Burgs of Burstéed Thomas Rauensdale of Riâ— Iohn Milles of Hellinglegh Nicholas Holden of Withiam Iohn Hart of Withiam Margery Moris of Hethfielde Anne Try of East-Grinstéed Iohn Osward of Woodmancote Thomas Harland of Woodmancote Iames Moris of Heathfield Thomas Dowgate of East-Grinstéed Iohn Ashdon of Retherfield Thomas Spurdance Queene Maries Seruant HE was examined before the Chancellor of Norwich who asked him if hee had confessed his sinnes vnto a Priest I said I had confessed my sinnes vnto God who saith Whensoeuer a Sinner repenteth and is sorry for his sinnes and asketh him forgiuenesse willing no more so to doe he will no more reckon his sin vnto him and that is sufficient for me I deny that I should shew my sinnes vnto the Priest Chancel Haue you receiued the blessed Sacrament of the Altar at Easter he answered I dare not meddle with it as you vse it for the holy Supper of the Lord serueth for the Christian Congregation and you are none of Christs Members I dare not meddle with you least I be like vnto you for you teach Lawes contrary to Gods Lawes then he said Doe you not beleeue that after the Sacrament is consecrated it is the very same body that was borne of the Uirgine Mary and I said no that was a bloody sacrifice and this is a dry sacrifice And I said Is the Masse a Sacrifice a Doctor answered it is a Sacrifice both for the quicke and the dead I said it is no sacrifice for S. Paule saith That Christ made one sacrifice once for all I beleeue in no other sacrifice Chancel He is an Hereticke he denâ—â—th the Sacrament of the Altar I said I beleeue that if I câ—me rightly and worthily as God hath commaunded me vnto the Supper of the Lord I receiue him by Faith but the Bread being receiued is not GOD nor the Bread that is yonder in the Pixe is not God God dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither will be worshipped with the workes of mens hands therefore you do very euill to cause the people to kneele downe and worship the bread for God did neuer bid you to hold it vp aboue your heads neyther had the Apostles such vse Chanc. Write that Article then said I The Seruant is not greater then the Maister your Predecâ—ssors killed my Maister Christ the Prophets and Apostles and holy vertuous men and now you also kill the Seruants of Christ so all the righteous blood that hath beene shed from righteous Abell to this day shall be required at your hands then the Chancellor bad haue me away Another Examination before the Bishop Bishop SIrre dost thou not beleeue that the Pope is supreme head of the Catholike Church I said I do not beleeue that he is aboue the Apostles they disputing which of them should bee greatest when their M. Christ was gone Christ answered their thouâ—hts saying The Kings of the earth beare dominion aboue others but you shall not doe so for he that is greatest amongst you shall be Seruant vnto you all How is it then that the Pope will climbe so high aboue his fellowes you cannot proue by the Scriptureâ— that he is head of the Church Bishop As the Bell-wether is head of the shâ—epe so is the Pope head of the Chuâ—ch and as the Bees haue a master Bee to â—ring them home to the Hiue when they be abroad so the Pope is ordained by succession of Peter to bring vs home againe vnto the â—rue Church when we are gone astray as thou good Fellow hast wandred long out of the way â—liâ—e a scattered Sheepe heare therefore the Bell-wether and now come home with vs vnto thy Mother the Church againe I answered all this is but naturall reason and no Scripture he said you are stout and will not â—e answered you shall bee compelled by Law whether you will or no. Spurdance So your forefathers intreated Christ and his Apostles they had a Law and by that Law they put him vnto death so you haue a Law which is tyranny whereby you would inforce me to beleeue as you doe but I trust the Lord will assist mee against all your beggerly Ceremonies and make your foolishnesse knowne to the world oâ—e day He told the Bishop he neuer vsed the Ceremonies of the Church since he was borne at the last he interpreted it since hee was new borne as Christ said to Nichodemus Except you bee new borne you cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Then a Doctor said I was an Anabaptist for that was their opinion I said I was no Anabaptist for they deny Children to bee baptized and so doe not I. Bishop Why doe not you goe vnto the Church and Cerâ—monies I said Because they are contrary to Gods word as you your selfe haue taught but now you say it is goâ—d againe and I thinke if there were a returne to morrow you would say it were false againe which you hold now therefore I may well say there is no truth in you Then he said I
to light before it was executed and the said Squire had the same most iust reward of his foresaid treason as his predecessors in like plots had The Earle of Essex Conspiracie LAstly I will conclude with the conspiracie of the late Earle of Essex for although it is not to be doubted but that his heart with many of his followers was vpright vnto the Quéene yet notwithstanding hee had many Papists in the plot with him whose hearts he knew not and by whom if his practise had tooke effect the Queene should haue beene in as great trouble and danger as euer she was in her life but the Lord of his accustomable wonderfull mercie deliuered her Maiestie from this danger likewise who both by his holy spirit of comfort preserued her mind still ioyfull without feare of her enemies and also her royall person and her realme by the safe custodie of his holy Angels from all wicked practises and treasons whatsoeuer vntill her olde age and vntill he at his time appointed called her Maiestie vnto himselfe out of her bedde in peace from a blessed Kingdome wherin she had long raigned in great glory in this world to raigne with his Sonne Iesus Christ in the Kingdome of vnspeakeable and eternall ioy and glorie in the world to come By this storie of Queen Elizabeth the Papists that haue any eie-sight of true vnderstanding may see by what wicked meanes the Pope and their Catholik Church hath alwaies gotten and maintained their most vnlawfull supremacie ouer kings And although they haue wonderfully preuailed against all superstitious Emperours and Kings by such like excommunications warres murthers and treasons as he vsed against Queene Elizabeth yet as God preserued her heart purely to sâ—icke to his sincere word and to despise all the Popes errors superstitions and trash so God mercifully preserued her and her Kingdome from all the Popes treacherous practises foure and fortie yeares fiue moneths and odde dayes with such glorie and peace as neuer Christian King had more her manifest protections of God were as apparant and as manifest as Dauids and as he and Salomon builded a most glorious materiall Temple in despite of their enemies most gloriously did she build vp the spirituall Temple and Spouse of Christ in despite of the Papists and the Pope and all kings that tooke their part her outward glorie and honour was â—quall wâ—th Salomons and she oâ—â—matched him in that neither her glorie in this world nor any other means could withdraw her from her true zeale in setting forâ—h the pure word of God wherefore all honour and glorie be giuen vnto God by this Realme of England and all his Church world without end Amen OVR MOST GRATIOVS King IAMEâ— WHen the Papists triumphing that their long â—xpected houre was come by Gods taking away thâ— most blessed Quéenâ— Elizabeth yet the Lord of his great mercie brought their ioy to nought by pâ—anting our deare Soueraigne Iames by his especiall grace to succeede Queene Elizabeth in these Realmes one that is as zealous of the word of God as she and one whom the Lord hath beene as prouident ouer in all his wayes as ouer her and indued with the like ioy in the Holy-Ghost in the assurance of Gods prouidence in time of danger wherefore no doubt but as the Lord hath so he will couer him and his Realmes with the shâ—dow of his wings from all papisticall treacheries euen as he did Queene Elizabeth This is worthie to be recorded vnto the perpetuall honour of his Maiestie that hee being hâ—ire apparant vnto Quâ—ene Elizabeth could neuer be inticed by any Prince or Papist to oppose himselfe against her When the rising was in the North and the rebels were â—led into Scotland he tooke the Quéens part though it were to the great ruine of much of his Kingdome he made a Proclamation in Anno 1588. that none of the â—panâ—sh Fléet should land vpon his coasts but that the English should be relieued of any thing they néeded and in the yeare 1592. hee executed as traytors in Scotland diuers for conspiring with the King of Spaine against England and before the comming out of the Spanish Fléet Don Barnardin Mendoza in an open Assembly did say in a 〈◊〉 that the young King of Scots whom hee called a boy had deceiued the King of Spaine but if the Kings Nauie might prosper against England the King of Scots should lose his crowne whereby it manifestly appeareth how true and faithfull his Maiestie was â—uâ—r vnto the late Quéene of famous memorie Touching GODS wonderfull preseruations ouer his royall person who hath safely preserued him a King almost this eight and fortie yeares in despite of all his enemies forreigne and domesticall and no doubt but heâ— had many yeâ— it doth most manifestly appeare in some great and vnheard of dangers out of which the Lord hath most miraculously deliuered him as from Gowries Treason and the Gun-powder Treason and others GOWRIES conspiracie against his Maiestie the fift of August being Tuesday Anno Dom. 1600. MAâ—â— Alexander Ruthwen second brother vnto the late Earle Gowrie came to his Maiestie as he was a hunting and told him that it chaunced the night before as he walked about the Towne of S. Iohnstone hee met a base fellow vnknowne vnto him and hauing suspition of him he narrowly looked to him and examined him and he said he found a great wide pot to be vnder his arme full of coined gold in great quantity whereupon he took him no body knowing thereof and bound him in a priuie darke house and locked many doores vpon him and said that he came in haste to aduertise his Maiesty thereof according to his bounden duety earnestly requesting his Maiestie with all diligence and â—ecrecie to take order therwith before any know thereof swearing that he had concealed it from all men yea from the Earle his brother whereupon the King suspected that it had béene some forreigne golde brought thither by some Iesuits for practising Papists to stirre vp some new sedition as they had often 〈◊〉 before and that the fellow that carried it was some Seminary so disguised for the more sure transporting thereof and with many earnest perswasions he got the Kings Maiesty as soone as he had done hunting to ride with him to the Earle Gowrâ—es house to dinner with a very small number with him and after dinner his Maiesty being ready to rise from the table and all his seruants in the hall at their dinner M. Alexander standing behinde his Maiesties backe pulled him softly rounding in his Maiesties eare that it was time to goe but that he would fainâ— haue been quit of the Earle his brother wishing the K. to send him out into the hall to entertain his guests whereupon the K. called for drink and in a mâ—rrie and homely manner sayd to the â—arle That although the Earle had séene the fashion of entertainment in other countreyes yet he would teach him the Scottish fashion séeing he was a
cause Henricus surnamed Niger the Emperour displaced these three monsters placing for them Clement the second and Enâ—cted that no Pope shouâ—d be chosen without the consent of the Emperour and the Romanes made an Oth to the Emperour to that effect But the Emperâ—ur being gone they forgot their Oath and poysoned the Pope which 〈◊〉 some impute to Damasus the 2. his successor and some to Erazutus which poysoned six Pâ—pâ—s Damasus within 23. daies after he was Pope was poysoned â—hen the Romaines and Cardinals sent to the Emperour for a Pope who gâ—ue them Leo the 9. He kept two Councels one at Uercellis where the Doctrine of Beriâ—garius against the Real presence was condemned the other was kâ—pt at Moguntia where amongst many decrees Priâ—sts were vtterly excluded from mariage and that no â—ay man â—ight giue â—eniâ—â—ce Bishopricke and Spirituall promoâ—ion Leo being at Wormes with the Emperour on Christmas day hee excommunicaâ—ed the Subâ—eacon for not reading the Episte in Latine the Archbishop being at Masse staid and would goâ— no further vnlesse his Subdeacon were restâ—red whereupon the Pope released him Leo was poysoned by Brazutus the first yeare of his Popedome Victor the â— succeeded him hee kept a Councell at Florence hee deposed diuerse Bishops and Priests for Simony and Fornication of Simony because they were tooke their liâ—ing of Secular mâ—n for moneyâ— for fornication because they were maried In his â—econd yeare he was poysoned also by the said Brazutus by the procurement of Hildebrand his master Stephanus the 9. succéeded him hee was chosen without the Emperour hee accused the Emperour of Heresie for deminishing the authoritie of the Romaine Sea Hée likewise called it Symony for secular men to present to a Spirituall Liuing He sent Cardinall Hildebrand with Commission to reforme the matter in the meane time he tasting Brazutus cup dyed After him the Romaines set vp Benedictus the tenth Pope but Hildebrand perswaded the Clergie to choose Nicolaus the second who by force caused the other Pope to vnpope himselfe Nicolas called the Councell of Lateran in which hée vnderminded the Emperours â—urisdiction and gaue the full authoritie or choosing the Pope vnto a fewe Cardinals and certaine Catholike persons and against such as be Popes without the full consent of the Cardinals he thundreth terrible blasts of excommunication accursing them and their children with denils giuing power to Cardinals with the Clergie and 〈◊〉 to depose such person and call a generall Councell where they will against them In this Councell Beringarius was forced to recant his Doctrine against the Reall presence in the Sacrament and the terme of transubstantiation was there first deuised Hée displaced the right Heire of the Dukedome of Apâ—â—lia and placed Robertus Quistardus to bée Duke and generall Captainâ— of Saint Peters land but it standeth not with the Gospell a Bishop with outward armes to conquer christian men and countries After hee had raigned three yeares and a halfe he met with Brazutus cup and turned vp his héeles Then the Emperour set vp Coralus Pope but Hildebrand set vp Alexander the second who ouercame Coralus Then there was a Councell kept at Mâ—ntus where Alexander was declared Pope and it was concluded that Priests should haue no wiues and those that had wiues should say no Masse no Benefices to bee bought for money Alleâ—uia to bee suspended in Lent that no â—pirituall man should enter into any Church by a Secular man that the Pope should be elected onely by the Cardinals this Alexander being at Masse as hee was preaching vnto the people told them he would not sit in the place except he had the licence of the Empeâ—our which strucke Heldebrand into such a furis that as soone as Masse was done he forced him into a Chamber and beat him with his 〈◊〉 rating him that he would séeke fauour of the Emperour and kept him in Custodie allâ—wing him but twenty pence a day and Heldebrand incroched all the reuenewes of the Church vnto himselfe At lâ—st Alexander vnder this miserable indurance died hauing béene Pope 11. yeares and a halfe THE FOVRTH BOOKE Containing other 300. yeares from WILLIAM the Conquerour to the time of IOHN WICKLIFFE WILLIAM the Conquerour was the base 〈◊〉 of Robert Duke of Normandy Nephew to Kiâ—g Edward after the 〈◊〉 said Uictory against Harald he was receiuer King ouer England and was Crowned vpon Christmas day The yeare before his comming was a great blasing Starre the space of seauen daies he made the Englishmen pay for euery twentie Acres of land 6. â— yearely wherefore many rebelled but he conquered them many of his Lords departed into Scotland wherefore hee kept them that â—aried the straiter Hee gaue the Nomaines the chiefest possessions of the Land hee changed all the temporall Lawes of the Realme and set straite Lawes vpon the Spiritualtie Hee builded foure strong Castles two at Yorke one at Nottingham and another at Lincolne In the 3. yeare of his raigne Harald and Canutus sonnes of Swanus King of Denmarke came into the North Contry but after much spoyle King William chased them to their Ships and he was so displeased with the Inhabitants for fauouring them that he destroyed the Land from Yorke to Duâ—ham so that nine yeares after the Prouince lay waste and vnmanâ—red In the 4. yeare of his raigne Malcoline King of the Scots entred into Northumberland and destroyed the Contry and slew men women and children but within two yeares King William made such warre with the Scots that hee forced Malcome their King to doe him Homage In the same 4. yeare of this King there was holden a Councell of the Clergie at Winchester at which was present two Cardinals from the Pope and the King was there present diuerse Bishops Abbots and Priors by the meanes of the King were depriued without any euident cause that the Normaines might bee proferred vnto the rule of the Church as his Knights were to the rule of the Temporalty Oâ—â— Thomas a Normaine was preferred vnto the Archbishoprick of Yorke and one Lanfranckus an Italian was made Archbishop of Canterbury betwixt them grew a contention about giuing and taking the Othe of obedience but the King appeased it and the Bishop of Yorke builded the Minster of Yorke and gaue possessions thereto But when these two Archbishops came to Rome for their Pale the contreuersie renewed betwixt them for the Primacie the Pope not disposed to decide the matter sent them home to haue their matter determined so the matâ—er came before the King and Clergie at Windsor the Archbishop of Canterbury said Since the time that Austin conuerted this Land to Christianitie and was made Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England by Popâ— Gregory the Primacie hath succéeded there euer since and being Yorke tooks the Christian Faith from thence it was reason it should bee subiect thereto The Bishop of Yorke answered that the Britaines the fiâ—st possessors of this Kingdome which indured from Brutus to
Cadwalader 2076. yearâ—s vnder an hundred and two Kings and they receiued the Christian Faith in the yeare of Christ 162. In the time of Lucius their King Elutherius being Pope who sent thither Fagamus and Damianus Preachers who ordained in the realme 28. Bishops with two Archbishopes Theonus Archbishop of London and Theodosius Archbishop of Yorke so it continued 300. yeares vntill the Saxons being Infidels subdued the Realme and diuided it into seauen Kingdome and so it continued vntill Gregory sent hither Austin to conuert the Realme who was after made Archbishop of Canterbury and it was Gregories purpose to reduce the new Church of the Saxons to the order that was in the old time amongst the Britaines vnder the two Metropolitaines of London and Yorke yet hée gaue Austen this prerogatiue during his life time to haue the Iurisdiction aboue all the Bishops and Priests in England but after his decâ—ase London and Yorke to ouersée the charge and he willed no distinction of Honour to be betwixt London and Yorke but that he that had béene longest Bishop of the place should be preferred Upon this it was decréed that Yorke should be subiect to Canterbury and that wheresoeuer Canterbury would hold a Councell Yorke with his Bishops should come thither and be obedient to his Decrées and when Canterbury should decease Yorke should come to Duer to consecrate the new Archbishop but if Yorke decease his successor should resort to Canterbury and where the Bishop of Canterbury should appoint to receiue his consecration swearing obedience In the 9 yeare of King Williams reigne another Counsell was holden at London wâ—ere was decreed that the Bishop of Yorke should sit on the right hand of Canterbury and London on the left and in his absence Winchester and that Bishops should translate the Seas from vâ—â—lages to cities that Monks should haue nothing propper and if any so had he dying vnconfâ—ssed should not be buried in the Churchyard that no Clarke or Monke should be retained in another Diâ—cesse without Letters testimoniall that none should speake in the Councell without leaue but Bishops and Abbots that none should buy or sell any â—ffice in the Church that neither Bishop Abbot nor any of the Clergie should be at the Iudgement of any mans death or dismembring At this time diuerse good Bishops displaced Monkes and restored maried Priests againe the Bishop of Winchester placed aboue 40. Canons in stead of Monkes for his part but this godly enterprise was stopped by Lanfranke the Archbishop of Canterbury he plucked downe the old Church of Canterbury and builded vp the new After the death of the Pope Hildebrand succéeded who was surnamed Gregory the 7. he was a Sorcerer and the principal cause of all the perâ—urbation that hath beene since in the Church for before he wrought his feats setting vp and displacing what Bishops he listed setting them against Emperours and destroying Matrimony vnder colour of chastiâ—ie the Chuch was in some order and Popes quietly ruled vnder Christian Emperours and were defended by them He first contemning the authoritie of the Emperor thrust in himselfe to be Pope vanting himselfe to haue both the Ecclesiasticall and the Temporall sword committed to him of Christ and full power to binde and loose what he lifted he challenged all the Dominion both of the East and West Church he set at light Kings and Emperours who raigned but at his godamercie Bishops and Prelates as his vnderlings he kept in awe suspending cursing and chopping off their heads He â—â—irred vp warres releasing Othes Fidelitie and due allegiance of Subiects to their Princes To this scope tended chiefly all his practises to abolish the mariage of Priests and to translate the authoritie Emperiall vnto the Clergy as appeared before in the Councell of Laterâ—n for though he was not then Pope in name yet was he Pope indéed and ruled the Pope as he listed In a Councell which he held at Rome he enacted that no Priest hereafter should mary that those that were maried should be Diuorced and that none hereafter should be admitted Priest but should sweare perpetuall Chastitie The Clergie of France resisted this Decree and said it was repugnant to the word of God that the Pope should take from Priests that which God and Nature had giuen them and against the Doctrine of Saint Paul I haue no commaundement of God touching Virginitie and he that cannot liue continent let him mary And that it was against the Canons of the Apostles and the Nicen Councell and that thereby would be opened a pernicious window to vncleanesse and fornication and concludâ—d they had rather giue vp their benefices then forsake their lawful wiues against the word of Christ. Likewise the Priests of Germany were as stout against the Pope but at last this gréedinesse of Liuings in weake Priests made them to yéeld vp their godly libertie to wicked tyranny He preached in a great assembly that the Emperour should die before Saint Peters day next and should be so deiected that he should not be able to gather together aboue sixe knights and that if this prophesie were not fulfilled they should plucke him from the Altar and he would be no more Pope And when he had gone about diuerse waies to murder the Emperour and yet God preserued him beyond the appointed time them subtily he turned his tale and said he ment of the soule of the King About the time Hildebrand was made Pope there was great warres betwixt Otho Duke of Saxony and the Emperour which was a fit occasion for the Pope to worke his seats First he excommunicated all that receiued Spirituall liuings of Lay-men and all the giuers thereof which he called symony whereupon he sent Legats to the emperour to appeare before him at the Councell of Lateran The Emperour appeared not whereupon hee threatned him excommunication and to depriue him of his Crowne If he would not renounce the heresie of Symony which was giuing of Spituall Liuings Wherefore Centius a Romaine Captaine caught the Pope and shut him vp into a Tower the next day the citizens plucked downe the Tower and deliuered the Pope and cut off the noses of the men of Centius but he escaped to the Emperour The emperour being moued with this arrogancie called a Councell at Wormes where all the Bishops of Germany deposed Hildebrand The Pope in his Councell of Lateran excommunicated and depriued as many as tooke the Emperours part and excommunicated the emperour depriued him of his empire and all his subiects of their Oath of alleagiance As soone as he rose out of his papal seat to excommunicate the Emperour the seat being but new and of strong tymber suddenly shiuered and rent vs pieces The princes of Almany all concluded to forsake Henry and choose another emperour except he would submit himselfe and obtaine the Popes pardon The Emperour with his wife and young sonne all hauing forsaken him laying apart his regall ornaments in sharpe winter came bare fooâ—â—d to the
when himselfe was spoyled beaten and blasphemed he did not curse but praied for them and taught his Disciples to do the same and Peter exhorteth to follow Christ. Who when he was cursed cursed not againe And S. Paul saith in the 12. to the Romanes Blesse them that persecute you These are the Articles which are alleadged out of his Booke of the Church Seauen Articles gathered out of his Booke against Stephen Pallets 1 THE first Article If the Pope Bishop or Prelate be in deadly sinne he is then no Pope Bishop or Prelate Answere I grant thereunto and I send you to Saint Augustine Ierome Chrysostome Gregory Cyprian and Barnard who say moreouer that he that is in deadly sinne is no Christian how much lesse Pope Bishop or Prelate of whom it is said in the eight of Amos They haue ruled but not through me they became Princes and I knew them not but I graunt a wicked Pope Bishop or Priest is an vnworthy Minister of the Sacrament by whom God doth baptise consecrate or otherwise worke to the profit of his Church God saith by Samuell to Saul because thou hast cast off my word I haue cast thee off from being a King much more a Pope sinning 2 The Grace of Predestination is the bond whereby the body of the Church and euery member thereof are firmely knit vnto the Head Answere This Article is mine and it is proued out of the eight to the Romanes Who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ And the tenth of Iohn My Sheepe heare my voyce I know them and giue them eternall life they shall not perish nor any shall take them out of my hands This is the knot of the body of the Church and the spirituall head vnderstandding the Church of the predestinated 3 If the Pope be a Reprobate then as Iudas he is a Deuill a Théefe and the Son of perdition and not the head of the Militant Church nor member thereof I answer If he were a member of the Church then should he be a member of Christ and then he should cleaue vnto Christ by grace of Predestination and present Iustice and should be one spirit with God as in the 1. Cor. 6. Know you not that our bodies are the members of Christ. 4 That an euill Pope or Prelate is no Pastor Answer The Text of my Booke is if he be euill he is a hireling of whom Christ saith He is no Shepheard nor the sheepe his he seeth a Wolfe and forsaketh his sheepe so doth euery Reprobate therefore no true Pastor 5 The Pope is not nor ought not by his Office to be called most holy I Answere When as the King according to S. Augustines mind representeth the Deity of Christ and the Priest representeth only his humanity therefore the King of Romaines by reason of his Office ought rather to be called most holy These thinges are more at large discided in my Booke saith Iohn Hus but I can finde no foundation whereby I should call the Pope most holy when it is only spoken of Christ. 6 If the Pope liue contrary to Christ though he be lawfully chosen according to humane election yet he commeth in another way then by Christ. Answere The text is thus if the Pope liue contrary to Christ in Pride and Auarice doth he not then come in another way then by the lowly and méeke doore of Christ. Iudas was lawfully chosen by Christ yet bee came in another way and as Christ saith in the sixt of Iohn Was a Theese a Deuill and the Sonne of perdition and whosoeuer doth enter into a Bishopprick or any other place not with intent to labour in the Church but to liue voluptuously and richly and to aduance himselfe with all kind of pride he commeth in another way and not by Christ and is a Théefe 7 The condemnation of the forty fiue Articles of Wickliffe made by the Doctors as wicked and vnreasonable and the cause by them alleadged is fained and vntrue Answere So it is to say that euery one of them is hereticall erronious and offensiue then he said to Cardinall Cambray O Maister Doctor where is your proofe Then the Cardinall said Iohn Hus thou diddest say thou wouldst defend none of Iohn Wickliffes errors I will not if they be errors but in my conscience I could not consent to the condemnation being I saw no Scripture against them There remaineth sixe Articles of the thirty nine out of a Booke wrote against STANISLAVS de Zuoyma 1 THe first Article A Minister is not the Successour of Christ by his humane election be it neuer so rightly done but in that he doth more aboundantly worke to the profit of the Church hee hath thereby more aboundant power giuen him of God Answere It standeth in the hands of wicked Electors to chuse a Woman into Ecclesiasticall office as it appeareth by the election of Agnes which was called Iohn who occupied the Popes place and dignity two yeares and more and they may chuse a théefe a murderer a deuill and an Antichrist or such a one as God alloweth not of so whatsoeuer the election is we ought to giue credit to the works of him that is chosen therefore Christ saith in the tenth of Iohn Giue credite vnto workes 2 The Pope being a Reprobate is not head of the Church Answere I would know of the Doctor how this is contrary to Faith Did not Christ dispute against the Faith when he demanded of the Scribes and Pharisies Math. 12. You off-spring of Vipers how can you speak good things when your selues are wicked I demand of the Scribes if the Pope be a Reprobate and the stock of Uipers how is he head of the holy Church for it is more possible that a Reprobate may speake good things being he may be in the state of grace according to present Iustice then to â—e the head of the holy Church In the fift of Iohn Christ saith How can you beleeue which seeke glory amongst your selues and seeketh not the glory that commeth of God And I demand how the Pope can be head of the Church which is a Reprobate and receiueth the glory of the world and séeketh not for the glory that commeth of God for it is more possible he should beléeue so doing then be head of the Church 3 There is no apparance that there ought to be one head in the spiritualty to rule the Church Answere I grant it Christ sitteth at the right hand of God doth necessarily rule the Militant Church as head and there is no sparke of apparance that there should be one head in the spiritualty ruling the Church that should alwaies be conuersant with it except some Infidell would heretically affirme that the Militant Church should haue here a permanent and continuall Citty and not to seek after that which is to come And it is euident in my booke how vnconsequent a similitude it is for a Reprobate Pope to be head of the Militant Church and a Reprobate
King to be heâ—d of a Kingdome 4 Christ would better rule his Church by his true Apostles dispierced throughout the world without such a monstrous head I answere Albeit that Doctor doth say that the body of the Church is often without a head yet we verily beleeue that Christ is the head of euery Church ruling it without lacke or default powring on it motion and sence euen vnto the latter day then they said behold now hee prophesieth but Iohn Hus said the Church in the time of the Apostles was faâ— better gouerned then now it is 5 Peter was no vniuersall Shepheard of the shéep of Christ much lesse is the Bishop of Rome Answer It appeareth by the words of Christ that he did not limit vnto Peter for his iurisdiction the whole world no not one only Pronince nor to any other of the Apostles some walked through many regions some fewer as Paule trauailed more then all the rest and did coâ—uert more to the Faith of Christ. Wherefore it is lawfull for any Apostle or Uicar to conuert and confirme as much people and as many Prouinces as they are able 6 The Apostles and faithfull Priests of the Lord haue stoutly ruled the Church in all thinges necessary to saluation before the office of the Pope was brought into the Church and would doe so to the end of the world Then they cryed out againe Behold the Prophet Certaine other Articles which were brought vnto IOHN HVS in Prison 1 THE first Article Paul according to present Iustice was a Blasphemer and none of the Church and withall in Grace according to Predestination of eternall life Answer This proposition is not in the Booke but thus as Paul was both a blasphemer according to present Iustice and also a faithfull child of our holy Mother the Church according to Predestination So Iscariot was both in Grace according to present Iustice and withall was neuer of our holy Mother the Church because he lacked Predestination of life euerlasting 2 Christ doth more loue a predestinate Ban being sinfull then any Reprobate in what grace soeuer he be Answere The reason is because the predestinate shall haue perpetuall blessednesse and the Reprobate eternall fire therefore GOD infinitely loueth them both as his Creatures and much more because he giueth them greater graces to wit euerlasting life which is far more excellent then onely grace according to present Iustice and the predestinated cannot fall from Grace for they haue a certaine redicall grace rooted in them although they be depriued of the aboundance of grace for the time 3 All the sinfull according to present Iustice are vnfaithfull swaruing from the true Catholike faith for none can commit deadly sinne but in the point he swarueth from the faith Answer I acknowledge it to be my sentence for if they did beléeue the punishment that shall be laid vpon sinners and had faith of the diuine vnderstanding c. then they would not so offend This is verified by the Prophet Esay Thy fellows are misbeleeuers and fellowes of theeues they loue bribes and are followers of rewards so he calleth them Infidels for their offences also in the first of Titus They confesse they know God but in workes they deny him 4 Iohn 22. Math. 16. and the 18. Receiue the holy Ghost whatsoeuer you shall binde in earth shall be bound in heauen c. Many for lack of vnderstanding shal be terrified by the Priests and be deceiued presuming vpon their power and authority Answer I allow this sentence it is not possible for a Priest to binde and lose except that binding and losing be in heauen but many are made afraid thinking whether they be iust or vniust the Priests may at their pleasures bind them and the ignorant Priests presume to haue such power saying they haue such power to absolue euery man confessing himselfe of what sinne soeuer it be though many sins are forbidden theÌ„ And an Hypocrite may confesse himselfe that is not contrite for his sin whereof proofe is often found is euident because the Letter killeth but the spirit quickneth 5 The binding and losing of God is plainely the cheefe and principall Answere This is verie euident for it were a blasphemous presumption that a man may forgiue an offence to GOD hee not allowing the same for it is necessarie that GOD doe first forgiue before his Uicar can doe the same and no Article of our Faith ought to be more common and knowne to vs then this and whosoeuer granteth this authority to the Pope graunteth he is without sin and that he is God the fact of the Pope proueth this same for alwaies in his Absolutions hâ— presupposeth contrition and confession but vnto true Absolution there is required first contrition secondly the purpose to sin no more thirdly true confession fourthly stedfast hope of forgiuenes the first appeareth by Ezechiel If the wicked repent the second in the 5. and 8. of Iohn Sinne no more the third by Luke shew your selues to the Priests the fourth Christ saith My Son beleeue and thy sins shall be forgiuen 6 The Priests heap vp out of the Scriptures such things as serue the belly but such as pertaine to the imitation of Christ they reiect as impertinent to saluation Answere This Saint Augustine prooueth in his seuenteenth Homily The Haruest is great but there are few Haruest-folke and speaking that which I cannot without gréefe though there be many that would heare good things there lacks such as should declare the same vnto them The world is full of Priests yet there are few Worke-men in the Haruest of the Lord we would be willingly Priests but we do not the office of Priest-hood we are fallen into outward affaires and take vpon vs an office for honor and hire another to ease our labour we leaue preaching we are called Bishops to our paine we retaine the name of honour but not the vertue we daily call for our stipend but care not for our flocke wee gape after earthly things and glory and leaue the cause of God vndone we take vpon vs the place of holinesse and are wholy wrapped in cares and troubles And S. Barnard saith in his 33. Sermon vpon the Canonicals all are friends and all enemies all kinsfolkes and all aduersaries all of an houshold and no peace-makers they are the Ministers of Christ and serue Antichrist they goe honorably honoured with the goods of the Church and yet they do no honor 7 The power of the Pope which doth not follow Christ is not to be feared Answere Subiects are bound willingly to obay their good Rulers and those which are wicked yet if the Pope do abuse his power it is not to be feared as by bondage so his Cardinals as I suppose did not feare Gregory the 12. before he was deposed when as they resisted him saying He did abuse his power 8 A wicked Pope is not the Successor of Peter but of Iudas Answere If the Pope be humble neglecting the