That neither TEMPORALLITIEâ— Nor TYTHES Is due to the Bishops Prelates nor Clergy by a Gospel Rule AND That Kings Princes and Lords Temporal may jâ—â—â—ly take the Temporallities and Tythes from them and dispose of theâ— the defence and benefit of the Kingdom and the relief of the Poor Pâ—OVED By the Laws and practice of twenty Kings of Judah England and France as also by the testimonies of the Universities of Oxford and Prague fifty four oâ—… Nobles of Bohemia and Morania two hundred and fifty years agone and alâ—… one hundred and twenty Authors beside Together with some directions how Gospel Ministers ought to have maintenance according to the Gospel rule and institutions of Iesus Christ By E. K. Thou O King art a King of Kings for the God of Heaven hath given thee a Kinâ— of Power and Strength and glory and wheresoever the Children of Men dwell the 〈◊〉 the Field and the Fowls of the Heaven hath he given into thine hand and hath maâ—… ruler over them all Dan. 2.37 38. And of the Children of Issachar which were Men that had understanding of the timâ— know what Israel ought to do the heads of them were two hundred and all their breâ—… were at their comand 1 Chron. 12.32 Arise therefore and be doing and the Lord be with thee and David commanded aâ—… Princes to help the King 1. Chron. 22.16 17. Arise for this matter belongeth unto thee we also will be with thee be of good câ—… and do it Ezra 10.4 Printed in the Year 1672. 〈…〉 mentioned in this book with their practices and examples as followeth â—…olomon â—…osiash Hezekiah Ahaz Edmond Edgar â—…nry 2. â—…ward 3. â—…lliam â—…nry 4. â—…chard 2. â—…nry 8. â—…lus Magnus â—…arles 6. â—…lip â—…mp Lodovicu â—…chadnezzar â—…ation â—…nius â—…0 Kings â—…estimony of thâ—â—…versities of Oxâ—… and Prague â—…estimony of 54 â—…he Nobles of â—…mia Moravia â—…stin 1 â—…alamus 2 â—…rose 3 â—…m 4 â—…ard 5 â—…bius 6 â—…re 7 â—…ughton 8 â—…osthead 9 〈◊〉 Gregory 10 â—…pplication to K. â—…ry 8. 11 〈◊〉 Prophesie of â—…degard 12 〈◊〉 Leo 13 〈◊〉 Canterbury 14 〈◊〉 Fox 15 Sr. Wil. Negarâ—to 16 Lord Peter de Cugmeriis 17 Prosper 18 Latemir 19 Eneus Silvius 20 Julian Palmer 21 The Protestant Church at Paris 22 Anne du Burg. 23 Loys du Faur 24 Origin 25 Mr. Frith 26 Paulinus 27 James his Deacon 28 Ammonius 29 B. Adaccus 30 Mr. Elmer 31 Erasmus 32 Jasper Bruschio 33 Clemant 34 Jo. Segovius 35 Card. Aralatenses 36 B. of Burgen 37 Chrysostom 38 Polecronecon 39 Patriark of Alexandria 40 Austin Monk 41 Cutbard B. of Canterbury 42 Petrus Blesenses 43 Angelo Caraw 44 Rich. B. of Cant. 45 Simon Fish 46 Pope Innocent 47 The testimony of 21 Bish 8 arch Deac 17. Doc. of Cannon and civil Law 48 Richard Armacanus 49 Cyprean 50 John Hus. 51 Mr. Tindal 52 Henry Stubbridg 53 Wil. Prynne 54 Godfr Goodman 55 Jo. Salsbury 56 Ex. Catal. Illyr 57 Alixander Sabritius 58 The counterfeit of Lucefers Letter to the Prelate 59 Lord Cobham 60 Wil. Ocham 61 Armulphus 62 Hostenensis 63 Rich. Wimbleton 64 Wil. Swinderby 65 Anselm 66 A Cannon of Africk 67 Suetonius 68 Melancton 69 Ste. Gardner 70 Rich. Feverus 71 Rich. Lovingham 72 Huldrick 73 Mr. Rogers 74 Panormetanus 75 Walter Mill 76 Doc. Molius 77 Jo. Câ—â—ydon 78 Rich. Turming 79 Selestudiensis 80 Ilyrico 81 Reynold Pecock Bish 82 Io. Brothwick 83 The Tigurins at Zurick 84 Cornelius Bish of Rome 85 St. Lawrence 86 Wil. Thorpe 87 Walter Brute 88 Mersilius 89 Nichol Herford 90 Phil. Ripingdon 91 Iohn Ashton 92 Pope Alexander and 310 Bishops 93 Doctor Hall 94 Georg. Cassander 95 Iohn VVicklife 96 The Image of Abish 97 Roderick Moâ—ch 98 Martin Bucer 99 Iohn Hooper 100 Th. VValsingam 101 A nameless Aut. 102 Clement next succâ—ssor of St. Peter 103 Mr. Mead 104 Volusianus 105 Dr. whitchcote 106 The 20 and 21 Articles of Church of England 107 Norfolk and Suffolk mens supplications 108 Bish Nilus 109 Iohn Gerson 110 Bartil 111 Henenius Modesteinus 112 Mr. Hooker 113 Dr. Downam 114 Bilson 115 Saravia 116 Holinshead 117 Arch Bishop of St. Andrews 118 Bish of Duncel 119 Bish of Orkneys 120 Mr. Perkins 121 The Epistle Dedicatory TO THE KINGS Most excellent MAJESTY May it please your Majesty Auguâ— ST Augustin in an Epistle to Cassulamus saith that he which for fear of any power hideth the truth which 〈◊〉 learned Chrysostom provoketh the Wrath of God to come 〈…〉 â—nd Chrysostom saith he is not only a Traytor to the◠〈…〉 openly for truth teacheth a lye but he also which doth 〈…〉 shew forth that truth which he knoweth the considerat◠〈◊〉 these sentences so prevailed with me that I durst not be such a Traytor neither to God nor to your Majesty as to conceal what I have learned which as I conceive may tend to the glory of God in the exaltation of the truth of the Gospel of Christ and to the honour of your Majâ—sty and the benefit of your Majesties Kingdom both in Church and Common-wealth whereby your Majesty may be supplyed with Money for the necessary charges of the Kingdom and the relief of the Poor and easing your Subjects something in their Taxations by turning the stream into the right Channel by taking the temporallities from the Prelates c. into your Majesties hands again they being your own Right belonging formerly to your Predecessors and the conditions now failing for which they were given as will appear hereafter in this discourse God willing But perhaps it will be objected that it is sacriledge to take the temporallities c. from the Church I answer if it be granted to be sacralidge to take from the Church yet I hope upon tryal it will appear that the Prelates are not the Church and that the Prelates are sacralidg ous persons in detaining and converting the temporallities to their own private uses which was given to the Church and the Poor and other pious uses the Prelates being only Stewards thereof or Overseers for the use of the Church and the Poor but have proved unfaithful Stewards Now that the Prelates are not the Church will thus appear when the Church of Anteoch sent Paul and Barnabas c. as their Messengers to the Councel at Jerusalem the Text saith Acts 15.4 When they came to Jerusalem * The â—urch â—ot the â—elates â—t the â—ngreâ—â—ons of â—ievers they were received of the Church that is of the Church of believers and of the Apostles and Elders hence we see that the Apostles and Elders are not called the Church they were but particular Chuâ—ch members with other believ rs and according to thâ—s the nineteenth Article of the Chuâ—ch of England describes a visible Church of Christ to be a congregation of faithful m n c. also Paul admonished the Elders of Ephesus to feed the Church of God that is the believing Christians Act. 20.28 â—ug stin St. Augustin saith of himself and all other
say they Ambrose expresly declareth that Secular Lords have power at their pleasure to take away the Lands of the Church and so consequently they have power to take away Temporal goods from Ecclesiastical Ministers as Tythes c. 10 Augustine St. Augustine in 33. quest 7. si de rebus he saith that Secular Lords may lawfully take away temporal goods from Hereticks and for so much as it is a Case greatly poseable that many of the Clergy are users of Simony and thereby Hereticks Therefore Secular Lords may lawfully take away their Temporalities from them The word of the Lord to all wicked men is That the Kingdom of God shall be taken from them and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof By Kingdom of God in this Text Mat. 21.43 is meant the priveledges of the visible Church which shall be taken from wicked men Robert Grosthead And here it were fit to consider of Robert Grosttheads the Bishop of Lincoln who dyed in the year 1253. his definition of Heresie viz. That Heresie is a Sentence taken and chosen of mans own brain contrary to holy Scripture openly maintained and stifly defended Now consider whether none of our Prelates do maintan no Canons nor Ceremonies nor Opinions contrary to holy Scripture nor contrary to the 19 20 nor 21. Articles of the Church of England and so stand guilty of Heresie by this definition of Heresie of Robert Grosthead If any object that it is a desiring of other mens goods St. Austine answers That by the same rule the seven Nations that did abuse the Land of promise and were cast out by the power of God they might have objected the same to the Children of Israel We saith Augustine do not desire other mens goods for they are ours by the Commandment of him by whom all things were made by like evidence the Clergy having offended their temporal goods are made the goods of others that is lawfully possessed saith he in the 14. quest 4. which is justly possessed and that is justly possessed which is well possessed ergo all that is evilly possessed is another mans and he doth ill possess it which doth evil use it and for the evil using of it it hath been proved in the Epistle that Prelates are unfaithful Stewards and have converted to their own uses for Coaches and Horses and Riotous living that which belongs to the poor besides no Clergyman hath any right to Temporalities by any Institution of Christ and therefore both evilly possessed and evilly used by them If then saith he the Clergy do abuse the temporal goods as it hath been proved they do the temporal Lords may at their pleasure according to the rule of Charity take the temporal goods from the Clergy for they do not justly possess them for besides the right that temporal Lords have to temporal lands as belonging formerly to their Predecessors and the conditions not performed nor which they were given which was to the Church and to the Poor Temporal Magistrates are Gods Ministers and Revengers to execute wrath upon them that do evil attending continually upon this very thing Rom. 13.4.6 which if they neglect they make themselves guilty of the Prelates sins for the University quotes Gregory writing to the French King That he which may correct any sin and neglect the same without doubt he maketh himself partaker of the sin and offence And John Wickliffe saith in the thirteenth Article That it is not only lawful for Lords Temporal to take away goods of fortune from Churchmen sinning usually But also they are bound so to do under pain of Eternal Damnation 11 Gregory St. Gregory in his 7th book chap. 9. writing to the French Queen saith Forasmuch as wicked Priests are the cause of the ruine of the people for who shall make intercession for the sins of the People if the Priests that should do it have committed greater offences themselves which in your Dominion live wickedly therefore that the offences of a few bring not destruction upon many we ought to seek a remedy And a little after to the King he said Yet once again we move you to command a Synod and cause all the carnal vices of Priests and Wickedness and Simony of Bishops to be removed and that you do not suffer them to possess any more substance than Gods commandment doth allow and that is neither Temporalities nor Tyths that the Gospel commandments doth allow Mat. 10.9 10. for when Christ sent his Disciples to preach he commanded they should provide neither Gold nor Silver nor Brass in their Purses nor Script for their Journey neither two Coats nor Shooes nor staves for the Workman is worthy of his meat But how contrary to this Command of Christ are our Bishops and Prelates in these dayes and yet in words they pretend to succeed the Apostles in place and power But the Apostles had not hundreds nor thousands of Gold and silver by the year they had not Shoos for their Journey but ours have Shoos and Boots and Coaches and Horses and multitudes of Attendants Is this to obey the Commandment of Christ and to imitate Christ and his Apostles Foxes have holes Mat. 8.20 and the Birds of the Aire have nests but the Son of Man which was also the Son of God hath not whereon to lay his head But our Prelates have their stately Palaces and great Houses Our Saviour saith Mat. 12. He that is not with me is against me and that the Tree is known by hâ—s fruit and in Mat. 7.15 16. Christ bids us to beware of False Prophets and teacheth us how we shall know them he saith they come in sheeps cloathing they pretend to be sheep but inwardly they are Ravening Wolves ye shall know them by their fruits I name no man but leave the people of God to judge by the fruits by the fruits of mens lives to judge who they are and one mark to know them by will be There is no man will be so angry at what I write as they for by their fruits you may know them for every one that doth evil hateth the light he is loath to be brought to tryal by the light of Gods word lest his deeds should be reproved or discovered John 3.20 12 John Wickliffe But if upon tryal it be found that Clergy men walk so contrary to the Rules and Commandments of Christ which they ought to obey and to imitate Christ and his Apostles in their preaching and living then as John VVickliffe saith may Kings and Lords Temporal both lawfully and meritoriously take away their Temporalities from them which they abuse with such excess of riot the Law of nature doth licence all such as have the government of Kingdoms to correct the abuses of the Temporalities which would be the chief of the ruine and destruction of their Kingdoms Whether the Temporal Lords or any other had endowed the Church with those Temporalities or not it is lawful for them to take away
Decrees or Constitutions which is not grounded upon the Holy Scripture they should therefore stand in no danger nor be impeached King Richard 2. King Richard the second propounded to John Wickliffe Whether the Kingdom of England might lawfully detain the Treasure of the Kingdome from the Pope He demanded the Church goods under pain of Censure Mr. Wickliffe setting a part the Common Laws of England and the Civiâ— Law It rests saith he to prove the affirmitive part by the Principles of Chists Law thus Every natural body hath power given of God to resist against the contrary and to preserve it self in due estate inasmuch as Bodies without life are indued with such a kind of power as hardness to resist those things that would break it and coldness to withstand heat that would dissolve it forasmuch then as the Kingdom of England after the manner of phrase of Scripture ought to be one Body of which the King is head and the Commonalty are the members thereof It seemeth the same Kingdom head and members hath such power given to them of God and so much the more apparent by how much the same body is more precious unto God adorned with virtue and knowledge for so much then as there is no power given of God unto any Creature for any end or purpose but that he may lawfully use the same to that end and purpose It followeth That our Kingdom may lawfully keep back and detain their Treasure of Temporalities and Tythes c. for the defence of it self in what case soever necessity doth require the same Secondly the same is proved by the Law of the Gospel for the Pope cannot challenge the Treasure of this Kingdom no more can the Prelates challenge Temporalities or Tythes but under the title of Almes and consequently under the pretence of works of mercy according to the rule of Charity But in the case aforesaid the title of Alms ought utterly to cease ergo the right title of challenging the Treasure of this Kingdom ought to cease also in the presupposed necessity and the Prelates and Clergie challenging Temporalities and Tythes ought to cease also by the same reason Forasmuch as all Charity hath its beginning of it self it were no work of Charity but of meer madness to send away the Treasure of the Realm unto other Nations whereby the Realm it self may fall into ruine under the pretence of such a Charity and is it not as much madness to suffer so many idle Drones to usurp the Kingdomes the Churches and the Poors goods of temporalities and tythes to spend on Coaches and Horses Hawks Dogs and Hounds I will not say Whores Taverns Cards and Dice Why should not such unfaithful Stewards give an account of their Stewardship It appears also saith he by this That Christ the Head of the Church whom all Prelates and Priests ought to follow he lived by the Alms of devout women as in Luke 8.2 3. he hungred and thirsted was a stranger and sustained many other miseries not only in his members but also in his own body He was poor that ye through his poverty might be rich 2 Cor. 8.9 Wherefore in the first endowing of the Church with Alms whatsoever he were of the Clergy that had any temporal possessions he had the same by way of Almes as several Writings and Chronicles do witness For saith he the Temporal Lords have power to take away their Alms when they see their Alms abused to riot and excess by some and others who are interested therein suffer penury and want by the Prelates and Clergy their unfaithfulness in their Stewardships Carolus Magnus Carolus Magnus that famous French King had decreed in a Council that only the Canonical Books of Scripture should be read in Churches and commanded the Bishops that they should not suffer any other to be read nor Preach themselves any thing that did not agree with the word of God And besides he ordered the goods given to the Church to be disposed of so That in wealthy places two parts of the Church goods should be given to the poor and the third part to the Clergy and that in poorer places there should be an equal division between the poor and the Clergy The good Lord if it be his good will and pleasure put it into the hearts of all Christian Kings and Princes to do the like Isidor Mr. Fox saith that Isidor hath these words Let Temporal Kings know that they must give an account to God for the Church which they have at the hands of God to govern and if so then it lies as a duty incumbent upon them so that to free themselves from the guilt of other mens sins there is an absolute necessity That seeing the Church goods are abused and not disposed of as they ought to be as it is proved above Therefore Kings and Nobles may not only lawfully but are bound in duty to God to take care to have such abuses reformed Charles the sixth Charles the sixth the French King made a Law That the fruits and rents of Benefices and other Pensions and Bishops goods that departed from their charges should be brought in to the Kings use King Philip About the year 1303. King Philip of France summoned a Parliament where all the Bishops were required within eight dayes after notice given to appear or else all their Temporal goods should be seized into the Kings hand By this it appears That upon their disobedience the King might take their Temporalities from them if he so pleased In which Parliament it was declared by Sir Will. Negareta Sir VVilliam Negareta in behalf of the King That for his Oaths sake that he made for defence of the Church and because the King was the Patron of the Church Therefore he was bound not only to defend the Church observe this well he was bound not only to defend the Church but to call in the goods of the Church which was wasted by the Pope and Prelates means And four years after the Lord Peter de Cugneriis in a Parliament Lord Peter de Cugneriis exhibited 65 Articles in the Kings behalf against the Bishops and Prelates of France and the misdemeanours of them and their Officers and Courts Mr. Fox Such goods as were given to the Church by our Ancestors saith Mr. Fox was neither so given nor so taken as to serve the private use of Church men but to serve the publick use of the poor and needy as is to be seen by the Canonical Institution of the Emperour Lodovicus Pius set forth in the year 830. in these words Lodovicus Pius The goods of the Church be the Vows and bequests of the faithful to ransom such as be in captivity or prison and the Patrimony to succour them with Hospitality that be needy c. Whereas now the Hospitality that is used is to feast such as need not such as are able to feast the Prelates again and the poor and needy if they get any
the whole Foundation hangeth on the Prelates and Clergies beards for divers of your Predecessors and Nobles have given Lands to have a certain sum of Money given yearly to the poor whereof for the antiquity of the time the conditions are forgotten so that they give not one penny they likewise gave them to have certain Masses said for them daily whereof they say never a one If the Abbots of Westminster should sing every day as many Masses as they are bound to do by the Founders a thousand Monks were too few Wherefore if your Grace will build a sure Hospital never to fail to relieve your poor Beads-men then take from them all these things this with much more to this purpose was in that Supplication Pope Innocent Pope Innocent 4th required that all Beneficed men in England which were resident should pay to the Pope a third part of their goods or Profits and Non-residents the one half for three years together And it is most certain that our King and Nobles within his Majesties Dominions have a thousand times more right to receive these profits than either Pope or Prelate for Popes and Prelates are Usurpers their Predecessors having possessed themselves thereof by deceitful Delusion therefore our King and Nobles may justly require their own Temporalities again which their Predecessors were so deluded of the Prelates having been such unfaithful Stewards it is but just that the King Princes and Lords do require them to give account of their Stewardship that they may be no longer Stewards The testimony of 21 Bishops 8 Arch-deacons and 17 Doctors In the Year 1537. or thereabout Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury and Edmond Bishop of York and to the number of one and twenty Bishops and eight Arch-deacons and seventeen Doctors of Divinity and of the Common and Civil Law they did all assert and sign with their hands to King Hen. the 8th the which was ratified by the Statute of the 32. of Hen. 8. That there is not in the New Testament any mention made of the Calling Jurisdiction Lordliness or secular employment of Lord Bishops But the New Testament speaks only of Deacons and of Ministers alias Priests or Bishops and of these two only that is Priests or Ministers and Deacons the Scripture makes express mention And that Christ did never institute any distinction or difference or preheminence of power order or Jurisdiction among the Apostles themselves but that they were all equal in power authority and jurisdiction and that there hath been any difference since it is by the invention of men and not by the institution of Jesus Christ and therefore no Bishop by the Law of God may take upon him any Jurisdiction in secular Courts for God did constitute Kings to defend the Faith of Christ and true Religion and to cause Bishops or Ministers to execute their Pastoral office truly and faithfully or for neglect thereof to put others in their room and place and not to suffer the Clergy to meddle in secular affairs for the Kingdom of Christ is a spiritual and not a carnal Kingdom as Christ said No man can serve two masters so I say No man can faithfully discharge his Ministerial office in Christs Kingdom which is his Church if he be entangled in secular affairs in the worldly Kingdom You cannot serve God and Mammon Mat. 6.27 Mr Elmer Mr. Elmer in his Harborow for faithful Subjects Printed at Strasburg writes thus on the 12 of Luke Who made me a Judge c. As if Christ should say It belongs not to my office to determine in matters of policy but to the Civil Magistrate And if it did not belong to Christ how dare Prelates take it upon them to do it for if it had been within the compass of Christs Function he could not in conscience have refused it to set them at one which were at strife if he might do it and would not he lacked Charity and did not his duty which were blasphemy to say of Christ and if it belonged not to him neither did it belong to his Apostles nor their successors Had he not as large a Commission as he gave His Kingdome is not of this world therefore Bishops by his example cannot give themselves so large a scope in temporal matters therefore by their fruits you may know them whether they have their Commission from Christ or I had like to have said from Antichrist for saith he if these two offices Ecclesiastical and Civil be jumbled together in one Function there can be no quiet nor well-ordered Commonwealth Richard Armacanus Richard Armacanus about the year 1350. in de questionibus Armenorum book 11. chap. 1. saith that neither the Dominion nor Ministry of temporal things belongeth to Ecclesiastical Dignity but rather diminisheth it for Christ prohibited the Apostles of temporal Dominion saying It shall not be so among you And again Possess neither gold nor silver nor brass in your purses nor scrip for your journey nor two coats neither shooes nor staves Math. 10.9 10. If thou wilt be perfect go sell all that thou hast and give to the poor He saith in chap. 2. that the states and degree of Patriarch Primate Archbishop Bishop c. were invented by men and not instituted by Christ nor his Apostles and that no Prelate of the Church how great soever hath any greater degree of the power of order than a simple Priest But how do Prelates observe Christs rule who commanded that they should possess neither gold nor silver and as if they would strive to do as contrary as they can devise they possess thousands of gold and silver coaches and horses and what not Is it not high time therefore for Kings and Nobles to take these temporalities from them which they thus abuse as if they would set Christ at defiance and bid him command what he will they will do what they will do not their actions tend to this end the good Lord direct the King Princes and Lords c. that by connivance they partake not with the Prelates in these sins lest they which God forbid should partake with them in their punishments Cyprian Cyprian in his fourth Book Epist 4. saith Our Lord Christ observed the will of his Father but we speaking of Prelates observe not the will of the Lord as appears above having all our minds set upon Lucre and Possessions given to pride full of Emulation and Dissention void of Simplicity and faithful dealing renouncing the world only in word but nothing in Deed every one pleasing himself and displeasing all others John Huss John Huss in the Council of Constance did affirm that the Clergie ought to have no temporal possessions and that Temporal Lords may justly without any offence take them away from the Clergy and that Kings and Nobles ought to compel the Clergy to observe and keep the Law and Rules of Christ He also saith that Tythes and Oblations given to the Church are publick and common Alms and that the Clergy
to the Church John Huss are publick and common Almes when Kings and Princes Knights and Citizens c. give to the Church or to the Priest for his Stipend they give it to the Church of God and to the party as a perpetual Alme that they should attend upon the Ministry otherwise Almes should not be a work of mercy hereupon saith he it appears that Tenths in Gospel times are pure Almes given to the Church for the use of the poor And hereupon holy men have said that Tenths are tribute of needy souls as St. Augustin Augustâ—n in a Sermon of the restoring of Tythes saith The giving of Tythes my dear Brethren are the tributes of poor souls therefore pay your tribute unto the poor for whatsoever doth remain more then a competent living and decent clothing it is not to be reserved for riot but is to be laid in the heavenly Treasury by giving it in Alms unto the poor for whatsoever is given to us more than we have need of it is not given us for our selves but to be bestowed upon others by our hands and if we do not give it we invade another mans possession Augustin Also in another place Augustin saith Forasmuch as every man as doth any work of mercy ought diligently to have respect to the ability of them that he bestoweth his Almes upon lest that by nourishing Loyterers he be made partaker of their offences and in 23. quest 7. Augustin saith If we possess any thing privately more than what may reasonably suffice us it is not ours but the goods of the poor whose Stewards we are except we challenge to our selves a property by some damnable usurpation The gloss upon this part of the question saith That Prelates are but only Stewards of the Church goods and not Lords thereof Hierome oâ— Prague Hierome of Prague affirmed before the Councel of Constance that the Patrimony of the Church was given for three uses First for the use of the Poor Secondly for Hospitality Thirdly for repairing of Churches and not to be spent upon Harlots great Banquetting or Feasting of those that need it not nor keeping great Horses and Doggs nor for gorgeous Apparrel and other things unbeseeming Christians Richard Wimbleton Richard Wimbleton in a Sermon at Pauls Cross in the reign of King Hen. 4. upon these words Give an accout of thy Stewardship He said Every Prelate and Priest shall give an account how they entred into the sheep-fold and how they have ruled the Flock whether for outward hire or love as a Father or as a Wolf that eateth the Sheep whom hast thou turned from his wicked life c. hast thou taught the Law of God or the Laws of men how hast thou disposed of the goods of the poor they shall saith he hear grievous complaints of Fatherless Children that Prelates and Priests have lived of their Almes and have not done away their Sins they are not ashamed to waste in the house of Pride and Lechery and keep to themselves wickedly and cursedly that which should be the livelihood of the poor they live not like Priests but like Beasts they are cloathed like Knights they ride like Princes and all they thus spend is the goods of the poor This and much more the like did he declare in that Sermon William Swinde William Swinderby a Martyr under King Richard the 2d had this Article objected against him that he held that all Priests are of like power in all things notwithstanding that some of them in the world are of greater and higher honour degree and preheminence but that is mans appointment and not of God and as concerning the Wealth Possessions and Lordships of Prelates he thus affirmed before the Bishops that convened and examined him he said That it was lawful and needful for Secular Lords by way of Charity and power given to them of God for the default of Prelates and cursed Curates that openly misuse the goods of the Church that be poor mens goods the which poor men Lords been holden to maintain and defend to take away and withdraw from such Curates poor mens goods which Curates wrongfully holden in help of the poor and their own wilful offerings he means their free-will offerings and their bodily Almes deeds and give them to such as duly serve God in the Church and been needy in up-bearing of the charge that Prelates should do and do it not And as anenst taking away of Temporalities I say that it is lawful for Kings Princes Dukes and Lords of the world to take away from Popes Cardinals Bishops and Prelates possessions in the Church their Temporalities and their Almes that they have given them upon condition that they should serve God the better when they verily sene that their giving and their taking been contrary to the Law of God to Christs living and his Apostles and namely in that they take upon them that should be next followers of Christ and his Apostles in poorness and meekness to be secular Lords against the teaching of Christ and St. Peter Luke 22.25.26 and 1 Pet. 5.3 And namely when such Temporalities makes them the more proud both in heart and in Array then they shoulden been else and more in strife and debate against Peace and Charrty and in evil ensample to the world to be occupied in worldly business which draws them from the service of God and edifying of Christs Church c. then he thought upon such misdemeanors to take away their Temporalities c. Anselme Anselme also saith that Presbyters are above and were before Bishops and are of Divine Institution but so are not Lord Bishops and saith That Presbyters did first elect and institute Bishops and ordeyn them to their office and not Bishops ordeyn Presbyters as they do now So Anselme Bishop of Canterbury on 1 Tim. 4.14 Canon of Africk Also the Canon of Africk in the year 990. Sect. 17. saith There is no difference between a Priest and a Bishop but that the Bishops were constituted by men to confer orders A general consent that Ministers and Bishops are of equal power this equality of power in Priests and Bishops according to divine institution hath been also maintained by John Wickliffe and the one and twenty Bishops and eight Arch-deacons and seventeen Doctors mentioned above in King Hen. the 8th his reign who did all declare that there was no preheminence of power order or jurisdiction between the Apostles themselves or between Bishops themselves but that Ministers or Bishops are all equal in power authority and jurisdiction and that there is now any difference it is a device of men by the permission of Princes and Civil powers the same also is maintained by Cyprian St. Hierom Ocham John Lambert Martyr John Bradford William Alley Bishop of Exeter Alexander Nowell Dean of Pauls Pilkington Bishop of Durham and innumerable Writers more hold Ministers and Bishops of equal power by divine Institution Henry Stalbridge Mr. Henry Stalbridge whom
any note or spot of suspition noised of him but in his Answering Reading Preaching and Determining he behaved himself laudably and as a stout and valiant Champion of the Faith vanquishing by the force of the Scriptures all such who by their wilful beggery blasphemed and slandered Christs Religion neither was this said Doctor Convict of any Heresie God forbid that our Prelates should have condemned a man of such honesty for a Heretick who amongst all the rest of the Vniversity had written in Logick Philosophy Divinity Morality and the Speculative Art without Peer the knowledge of which all and singular things we do desire to testify and deliver forth to the intent that the Fame and Renown of this said Doctor may be the more evident and had in reputation amongst them unto whose hands these present Letters testimonial shall come Here is to be seen that this Vniversity of Oxford did also maintain the truth of Doctor John Wickliffe's Articles That Kings Princes and Lords Temporal may lawfully take away Temporalities and Tythes from the Clergy In witness whereof we have caused our Letters Testimonial to be Sealed with our common Seal Dated at Oxford in our Congregation-House the 5th day of October in the Year 1406. Edmond King of England King Edmond of England about the Year 940. made a Law that every man should pay Tythes for Churches Fees and Almes Fees Thus here you see that Tythes were then given as well for the relief of the Poor as the Church He made a Law also that every Bishop should of his own proper charge see that Churches were repaired Bishop of Canterbury About the same time the Bishop of Canterbury in a Letter to the Prelates and Clergy said If it were or could be so that all the Riches of the World were laid before me so that I were Emperour and had all things universally under my subjection all these things would I gladly give and offer my self willingly for the health of Souls And thus he exhorted the Clergy to their duty lest the Lord should say of them The Shepherds fed themselves but did not feed my flock they have raigned but not by me they have made themselves Princes of my flock and I knew it not that is he knew it not so as to approve of their doings But where is there a Prelate now that hath such a zeal for the good of Souls King Edgar King Edgar in an Oration to the Clergy about the year 959. What negligence saith he is in Gods Service I will speak with sorrow they be Riotous in Banquetring in Chambring and Drunkenness And now saith he the Clerks houses are thought to be Stewes of Harlots Thus the Goods of Kings and Alms of Princes is mispent have our Fathers spent their Treasurie for this purpose Have the Kings liberalities in giving Lands and Possessions been for this intent that Clerks Harlots should be deck'd with the same And for riotous feasts Hauks and Hounds and other Toyes to consume it Soldiers cry out the people grudge but ye regard not c. King Hen. 2d Among other antient Laws of England in the reign of King Henry the second this was one That if any Clergy man did hold any Lay Fee in his hands he should therefore do the Kings service that belonged thereunto as upon Juries Assises of Lands and Judgements and that no Lands should be given to the Church nor to any House of Religion without the Kings License And that the Peter-pence which was used to be gathered for the Pope should be paied to the King and that all the Possessions Goods and Chattels of such as favoured the Pope or Thomas a Becket to be Seized and Confiscate to the King And that all such of the Clergy as were absent from their Charge out of the Realm and had Rents and Profits in the Land and did not repair home in three months their Rents and Goods to return to the King c. If it were lawful for the King then in the time of Popery to seize upon the Rents Profits and Possessions of the Pope Cardinal and others it is much more lawful now for our King and Nobles to cize upon such Goodss aâ—d Possessions as were given by Papists in the time of Popery and are now wrongfully possessed and abusively used by others King Edward 3. In a Parliament holden the twentieth year of the raign of King Edward the third It was propounded that all Alien Monks should depart England whose Livings the King took into his hands It was also concluded by the Parliament That the Livings of all others Strangers and Cardinals during their lives the profits should be brought into the Kings hand The Commons also denyed to pay any payments to Cardinals in France c. besides the King took order by two of his Clergy viz. John Stocks and John Norton to take into their hands all the Temporalities of all the Deanaries Prebends Dignities and Benefices being then vacant in England and to answer the profits thereof unto the King King William Rufus King William Rufus took certain Lands and Possessions from Canterbury and disposed of them to secular uses King Henry 4. In the eighth year of the raign of King Henry the fourth it was petitioned to the Parliament That the King might enjoy halfe the profits of every Parsons Benefice who was not resident thereon But in the eleventh year of his raign the Commons put up a Bill unto the King to take the Temporal Lands from the Clegie mens hands or Possessions in which Bill it was declared that the Temporalities disorderly wasted by men of the Clergy might suffice to find to the King with maintenance 15. Earles 1500. Knights 6200. Esquires and 100. Almes houses To every Earl 3000. Mark a year to every Knight 100. Mark and four plough lands and to every Esquire 40 Mark a year and two plough lands and to every Almes house 100. Mark a year which lands is now no doubt worth double if not treble to what they were then For I have credibly informed by a Yorkshire Esquire That when his Majestie was restored to the Crown one Bishoprick that is the Bishoprick of Durham If it had been set upon the rack rent it was worth above fifty thousand pounds a year This story above you may read in Mr Fox his Acts and monuments of the Church in the story of King Hen. 4. King Henry 8. It is there also to be seen in the History of King Hen. 8. That the King did injoyn every Vicar Clerk or Benefic'd man that had one hundred pounds a year that he should find a Scholar at the University and he that had two hundred pounds a year should find two Scholars at the University Also in his raign it was complained of by the Commons against the Prelates and Clergie for their cruel proceeding Ex Officio And for the remedy it was enacted That whosoever did or speak any thing against either their usurped power or their Laws
thing it is such scraps as they give to their Hounds and Spanniels Prosper To this purpose is the testimony of Prosper Good men saith he took the goods of the Church not as their own but to distribute them as bequeathed to the poor For whatsoever saith he the Church hath it hath in common with such as have nothing c. The Testimony of 54. of the Nobles of Bohemia and Moravia There was four and fifty of the Nobles of Bohemia and Moravia Confederate together who in an Exhortation to Kings and Princes to stir them up to the Zeal of the Gospel they said That the Devil as he tempted Christ by shewing him all the Kingdoms of the World and the glory thereof but did not prevail But the Devil hath prevailed and deceived the Pope and all Prelates and Priest with the Riches of the World and worldly power and they stir up Kings and Princes to make Warre against us not that the Christian faith shâ—uld thereby be defended but for fear their secret vices and heresies should be discovered Whereby for reward they pretend that they have power by Prayers and Masses to deliver Souls out of Purgatory Thus they become Merchants of Prayers and Masses for money and every one that taketh rewards to Redeem Souls out of Purgatory do therewithall cast their own Souls down to Hell they that give any thing to that end do altogether lose their gift and with such divellish subtilties as these the Pope with all his Prelates and Priests have deceived spoiled and disinherited Kings Princes Lords and Knights and good Householders and many others of their lawful Inheritances because their Ancestors and Progenitors gave their Lands to Colledges Monasteries and Churches that they might make Memorials of them and to sing Prayers and Masses for their Souls that they might be redeemed out of Purgatory and with such ill gotten goods the Bishops and Prelates and the rest of the Clergie are made so rich that so long as they have such Goods and Lands they will never teach you the true foundation of true Religion which is against their holding or enjoying such temporal Estates So that now except our Prelates could prove that there is a Purgatory and that for the Lands they hold they both have done and can deliver Souls out of Purgatory what claim or title can they lay to those Lands that were given upon that account or what reason can they shew why the King and Temporal Lords may not lawfully take their own again for the uses formerly named Now therefore say they Ye Nobles Kings Princes Lords and all ye Commonalty rich and poor if you have been a sleep yet now awake and behold the subtilty of the Divel how he hath blinded the Prelates for Lucre sake and take again that which is yours and not theirs and they also receive Tythes and say that men are bound to give them and yet cannot prove that Christ the Apostles or the seventy Disciples received any but their Example Prelates will not follow They say by Prayers and Masses they can redeem souls out of Purgatory and yet by all their Prayers and Masses they cannot redeem a man out of an Earthly Prison Having hitherto shewed the Opinion and Practise of twenty Kings and of the Vniversities of Prague and Oxford and of fifty four of the Nobles of Bohemia and Moravia I shall now produce other Authors Mr Latimer MR. Latimer in a Letter to King Henry the eighth against the Bishops who pretend to be guides and leaders of others saith he and yet will neither preach the Truth themselves as they are bound to do nor suffer others that would do it to whom is due that Woe pronounced Mat. 23.13 for they will not only saith he debar the word of God from men but also by their subtile Wileness the instruct move and provoke in a manner all Kings in Christendom to aid succour and help them in their mischiefs and especially in this your Realm as far as in them lyeth they blind the Kings leige people with their Laws and Customs and Ceremonies in stead of teaching them the word of God Therefore he exhorteth his Majestie above all things to consider the life and proceedings of Christ and his Apostles and to compare these mens doings with theirs and alwayes to have in his mind this golden rule The Tree is known by his fruit for by this you may truly know and discern who are the true follows ers of Christ and his Apostles in preaching and living and who are pretenders only for by their fruits you may know them whether they imitate Christ and his Apostles in preaching in poverty and humility Your Grace may consider what craft the Spiritualty as they will be called imagin to break and withstand the Acts made in your last Parliament against their Superfluities Whhrefore they that so do your Grace may know them not to be the followers of Christ for Christ doth not promise true and faithful Preachers worldly promotion and dignity but tribulation John 16.33 for where the word of God is truly preached there is persecution Therefore pleaseth it your Grace to return to this golden rule By their fruits you shall know them for where you see persecution there is the Gospel and there is the all Truth and they that do persecute are void of Grace and without Truth they will not abide the light because their deeds are evil John 3.20 the riches of the world hath blinded the eyes of their hearts that they see not the clear light of the Scripture though they bable of it never so much Wherefore good King saith he seeing God hath sent his servants true Ministers and Preachers of his word set not these worldly men make your Grace believe that their preaching will cause Insurrection Heresie or Mischief as they imagin in their mad brains lest God be avenged upon you and your Realm as he hath ever been upon them who hath withstood his word My purpose is saith he for the love I have to God and the true alleagiance â—ow unto your Grace not to hide my Talent but to chaffer with it that it may increase to the pleasure of God to exhort your Gace to avoid and beware of those mischeivous Flatterers and their abominable wayes and Counsels for there are some that for fear of losing their worldly worship honour will not be convinced to leave their opinion But let these men remember that Paul as well as they both thought and called Truth Heresie before his Conversion but after he spent his strength and life to defend that which before he persecuted and I am sure saith he Paul before his Conversion was as holy and perfect in the outward works of the Law as any of these Bishops are now Wherefore Gracious King take heed of them and do nothing pleasing in your own sight without Gods word remember your self and pity your own Soul and think that the day is even at hand when you
the Commons for as their standing in the Church is not of God so their Excommunication is not of God John Claydon Richard Turming John Claydon and Richard Turming both Martyrs they did both affirm that the chief cause of the Persecution of Christians was the Prelates unlawfull keeping of temporalities and other superfluous goods which they are afraid to be deprived of for they know that they cannot hold them if the truth should take place and were publickly manifested by what unlawful means they hold their Temporalities and Tythes their Courts and Offices and the unlawfulness of their Dignities and Jurisdictions and the like Eneas Silvius Eneas Silvius who wrote the Book of the Council Basil he writing to Jasper Sthlick the Emperours Chancellor in his 54th Epistle saith That the way to remedy Schisme and make peace in the Church is for Kings and Princes to unite together and and conclude of Peace and this way neither Pope nor Council could withstand Unity may be concluded whether Pope or Council will or not and so Kings and Princes in their own Dominions may take the Temporalities and Tythes and so put in order things that are amiss whether Pope or Council will or not neither saith he do I see any of the Clergie so confident to death which will suffer Martyrdome neither for King or Pope for all we do lightly hold that Religion which our Princes hold if they would worship Idols we would do the same and not only deny the Pope but God also if the Secular power straines us thereunto for Charity waxeth cold and all Faith is gone however let us seek for peace and whether it come by a Council or a Synagogue or a Conventicle call it what you will I care not so we have peace Cardinal Aralatensis And Cardinal Aralatensis in the same Council of Basil said That all Bishops ought to understand that they come to have greater power then Priests only by custome and not by dispensation of the truth of God and that they ought to rule the Church together for a Priest is the very same that a Bishop is by divine Institution for there is such a concordance saith he between a Bishop and a Priest that Paul to Titus calleth Bishops Priests and Christ saith Blessed are the Poor in Spirit neither was there any rich Bishop in the Primitive Church neither did the antient Church reject Dionysius Bishop of Millan nor Eusebius Bishop of Vercellus Hillarie Bishop of Pictauia although they were never so poor but if we will grant the truth the poor are more apt to give right Judgement then the rich because riches causeth fear lest they should be taken from them and others poverty causeth liberty for the poor fear no Tyranny as rich men do who are given over to all kind of Vanity Idleness and sloath and will rather deny Christ than lose their riches whom not love to the Flock but love to Revenues makes them Bishops And farther to shew that Bishops will not own the truth against opposition for fear to lose their riches the same Eneas Silvius in his thirty eighth Epistle to Cardinal Julian saith those Cardinals which so magnified the Authority of the Church as though they were ready to spend their lives for the same and now at the sight of one Letter from their King wherein no death was threatned but only loss of their Temporalities and for fear of that they slipt away from the Council of Basil c. and in the same Epistle he said derideingly That they had rather lose their faith than lose their flock and preferment c. Hierome St. Hierome upon these words Vnsavory Salt saith That it is no easie thing to stand in the place of Peter and Paul and to keep the Chaire of them that reign with Christ This Unsavory Salt saith he is foolish and unprofitable Prelates unsavory in their places good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden down of Swine that is saith he of wicked Spirits which have dominion over wicked Prelates as their Flock and Herd Mr. Tindal Mr. Tindal in his book of the wicked Mamon page 45. saith seek the word of God in all things and without the word of God do nothing though it appear never so glorious for what soever is done without the word of God that count to be Idolatrous but by the word of God Prelates have no right to Temporalities Christ saith he took away the violence and power of the Law to make us free and set us at liberty from Ceremonies and other impositions which do consist in places persons garments meats and dayes c. so as their use should be to all men free and indifferent so that if the Pope would make all observations of Geremonies as Lent Fasts Holy-dayes Confession Masses Matins Reliques and all the rest free and indifferent he should not be Antichrist but the commanding them in the name of Christ he corrupteth the Church and suppresseth the Faith and whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin therefore by that means he advanceth Sin and becometh Antichrist and upon this account we have many inferior Antichrists under the Pope who to their power seek to establish the same Ceremonies c. and so become Antichrists Jacobus Selestadiensis In a Letter of Jacobus Selestadiensis to Maximilian and Emperor he said The goods of the Church as it is alleadged by the Fathers are the Vowes of the Faithful and Patrimonie of the poor for the faithful through the fervency of their faith and love of Christ have enriched the Church with their own goods that the poor might be refreshed and Captives redeemed wherefore such as have the administration of these goods ought diligently to be looked upon that they do not convert them to their own proper use and neglect them in whom Christ is fed and cloathed Prosper also saith That holy men did not challenge the Church goods as their own but as given to the poor to be divided to all them that have nothing neither ought they to give any thing to those that have of their own enough for that is but to cast things away Ex Illyrico Illyrico Reynold Peacok John Brothwick Reynold Peacock Bishop of Chichester said That the riches of Bishops are the good of the poor and that spiritual persons by the law of God ought not to have temporal possessions and that personal tythes is not due by Gods law that the Universal Church of Rome may erre in matters of faith and that it is not necessary to Salvation to believe what General Councils ordain and determine these points and other to this purpose he confessed he held and taught the space of twenty years and after the Bishop of Canterbury and other Bishops set themselves against him he was imprisoned during his life Also Sir John Brothwick Martyr in Scotland in the year 1540. said and did affirm that all temporal Possessions and Jurisdiction ought to be taken from the Prelates The
peoples pure alms thus by their fruit you may know them whether they be the followers of Christ or of Antichrist wherefore all Emperors Kings Lords Ladies and common people of every degree and state that know these things and will not withstand these enemies and traytors of Christ and of his Church ye strive saith he for Antichrist against our Lord Jesus Christ and shall bear the indignation of God Almighty without end if in time it be not prevented by repentance and amendment Walter Brute Wal. Brute before John B. of Hereford in K. Rich 2d's reign affirmed that under the Gospel tythes are alms he denied not but under the old law tythes were given to the Levites for their service in the Tabernacle and in the Temple but that service of the Levites ceasing at the coming of Christ who put an end to that Ceremonial law how can tyths now be demanded or received for that service which is ceased they may aswell demand the first fruits which was paid in the old law as well as tythes but if they claim tythes by force of the Levitical law then by the same law Prelates and Priests are prohibited to have any temporalities among their brethren no more then the Priests and Levites had then when they received tythes Christ gave no new Commandment of tything any thing when his Apostles said we have left all and followed thee what shall we have Christ did not say that he would give them temporalities and tythes and worldly dominion no that he forbad them it shall not be so among you Mat. 20.25 26. but upon their obedience to his commands he promised to give them an everlasting Kingdom they that will have tythes by virtue of the Levitical law they are bound to keep that law and by the works of the law no man can be justified Hierome Hierom writing to Nepotianus saith how can they be of the Clergie who pretend to be so who are commanded to contemn despise their own substance yet take the substance of others to take away from a friend is theft to deceive the Church take away that which should be given to the poor it is sacriledge so that by this testimony all Bps. Prelates Priests that hold temporalities tythes c. that belongs to the Church to the poor they are sacrilegions Mersiliu Also Mersilius of Padua taught that Bps. Priests should not enjoy temporal estates that the corrupt manners of the people did spring from the wickedness of Prelates Priests by their evil example Nicholas Herford Philip Ripingdon Robert Rigge Nich. Herford Phil. Ripingdon and John Ashton being altogether brought before Wil. Bishop of Cant. in K. Rich. 2d reign did all affirm and say that it is against the holy Scripture for Ecclesiastical persons to have temporal possessions and that temporal Lords may at their pleasure take away temporal goods from Church men offending and that tythes are pure Alms and that Parishioners may for the offence of their Curates detain the same and bestow them on others at their pleasure And Rob. Rigge Vice Chancel of Oxford was displaced for holding of these truths with these men the Popish Prelates did so rage Pope Alexander and 310. Bishops In a Council at Rome in the year 1179. it was decreed by Pope Alex. and 310 Bishops that none of the Clergy within orders should meale with any temporal business and that Priests should have but one benefice and that the Bishops should be charged to maintain such Priests as they did ordain untill they were promoted to some benefice but how these decrees as to the Clergies not medling with temporalities and maintaining such as the Bishops ordain untill they be promoted is manifest to the world for Popes and Bishops will do and undo at their pleasure for temporal profits D. Hall George Cassander Bishop Hall not many years ago in his book pag. 835. saith that George Cassander a learned Papist was set on work by two Emperors viz. Ferdinand and Maximillian to compose the quarrels of the Church and in his 56. p. he saith that the principal cause of the destruction of the Church is to be laid upon those who being puffed up with a vain insolent conceit of their Ecclesiastical power do proudly and scornfully contemn and reject them which rightly and moderately admonish their reformation wherefore my Opinion is saith he that the Church can never hope for any firm peace unless those which are in Ecclesiastical government will be content to remit somthing of their too much rigour and yield somthing for the peace of the Church and correct abuses according to the rule of divine Scripture from which they have swerved and if abuses be corrected according according to the rule then must their temporalities and tythes be taken from them and their Lordly titles and Jurisdictions and they made like other men By what is said above and proved by many Authors of Prelates worldly mindedness and their usurped dominion of temporalities and tythes which they rob and steal from the poor and needy by breaking the conditions for which temporalities and tyths were given and have falsified the trust reposed in them so that now there is no hope that they will yield any thing for truths sake to be reformed according to the Scriptures except Kings and Princes Lords and Commons as Angello Cararo the Venetian Embassador said of the Court of Rome unless they go about it roundly in express terms laying aside all Civility saith he it will be difficult to bring it about they are so setled upon their Lees But their is one text of Scripture which I think doth clear this point of the Lawfulness for Kings and Princes to take again their possessions from Bishops Prelates and Priests which all the forenamed Authors plead for for it doth not only Justifie the King and Princes in taking the temporalities from Prelates c. but it is a precept and law of God that ought to be obeyed and put in execution that the Kings inheritance be not imbezled and given away from succeeding Kings Ez. 46.16 17. Thus saith the Lord God Ezek. 46 16.17 If the Prince give a gift unto any of his sons the Inheritance thereof shall be his sons it shall be their Inheritance by a possession by an inheritance but if he give a gift of his Inheritance to one of his servants then it shall be his to the year of liberty or Jubile which was so named of the long sound of the Trumpet and Joyful shout because servants that were sold was then at liberty and joyful to the poor because their land that was sold or mortgaged was then at liberty and they returned to their possessions The year of Jubile or liberty was every fifty years but many fifty years are expired and still the usurping Prelates hold the temporalities both from the King c. and from the poor who should be relieved out of the profits of those