hath rooted out all other heresies beside Who haue now impugned the heresies of the Tritheists Anabaptists Familie of loue of Seruetus Valentinus Gentilis with others then Protestant writers witnesse the learned workes of Caluin Beza Bullinger Peter Martyr Iunius with the rest He hath therefore here made a good argument for the Protestants whose faith is therefore worthie to be of all receiued because thereby all heresie and impietie is subdued as Hierome saith Fides pura moram non patitur vt apparuerit scorpius illico conterendus Pure faith seeketh no delaies as soone as the scorpion appeareth it nippeth it on the head The second perswasion I Meane not the religion of Martin Luther so often recanted altered chaunged c. nor of licentious Caluin and a few artificers of Geneua or of Knox that galley-slaue of Scotland or of Edward Seimer or of King Edward a child of nine yeere old c. The Disswasion HEre many shamelesse vntruths are powred out together 1. It is vntrue that Luther at any time recanted his iudgement in religion in departing from the Church of Rome and forsaking her trumperie you would threap kindnes vpon Luther as you haue done of late in a lying pamphlet of reuerend Beza that he died one of your Catholikes If Luther altered in some priuate opinions it is nothing to vs who depend not vpon Luther Caluin or any other for our faith And if he did so it is no maruaile seeing it was hard for one man all at once to finde out the truth in euery point seeing the Apostle saith to the Philippians If ye be otherwise minded God shall reueale euen the same vnto you Faith is not perfected at once and as in other things the inuention of a thing and the perfection come not together as the Greeke Poet saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God at the first all things doth not shew But in processe of time they better doe grow So is it in religion But howsoeuer Luther might varie from himselfe what is that to vs the Protestants of England who are the greatest eye sore to these bleare-eyed Popelings It is well you cannot vpbraide the Church of England with any innouation of doctrine for these three score yeeres well nie since the first thorough reformation of religion in blessed King Edwards raigne 2. As for licentious Caluin and galley-slaue Knox the one is a malicious slaunder the other a scurrilous terme These men were both famous for their learning and reuerenced of all that knew them for their godly life I doe not a whit maruaile that the memorie of these men is odious to all Papists for Caluin hath so decalued made bare and bald their naked religion and Knox hath giuen it such a knocke and deadly blow in Scotland that I trust in God it shall neuer there rise vp againe 3. That King Edward a child of nine yeere old without any assent or assemblie of Parliament or other as Fox himselfe is witnes did reforme religion is a fiction of your owne First Master Fox witnesseth no such thing for although the King by the aduice of his Councell appointed a generall visitation ouer all the land for the redressing of certaine disorders yet was not the Masse abolished nor religion wholy altred till the Parliament held ann 1. Edward Nouemb. 4. Secondly indeed true it is that in Queene Maries time the Papists came before the law Preachers were prohibited Bishops depriued and diuers imprisoned as Bishop Cranmer Latimer Ridley Hooper Rogers Masse publikely solemnized Thirdly you had forgotten that the vsurped authoritie of the Bishop of Rome which you make the chiefest ground of your Cacolike religion throughout your whole dispute was with common consent of Parliament consisting of the three estates of the land the Lords spirituall and temporall and Commons abrogated by King Henry the eight of famous memorie so that no new acte was requisite in that behalfe in the entring of King Edwards raigne Fourthly King Edward a King of nine yeares of age by the aduice of the Parliament repealeth diuers Statutes and among the rest one made against Lollards ann 1. Richard 2. who was then but eleuen yeeres old I pray you what great ods in their ages might not the one build vp true religion at those yeeres when as the other pulled it downe or will you take exception against Iosias because being yet but a child he began to seeke the Lord and to purge religion or is the authoritie soueraigntie of the Prince the lesse because he is young or is the spirit of God tied to age and limited to yeares Doth not the Scripture say Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength And hereunto agreeth that saying of Cypriane Impletur apud nos spiritu sancto puerorum innocens aetas c. The innocent age of children with vs is filled with the holie spirit And so was it in this princely child the Iosias of this age of whom we may say with Ambrose Non moueat aetas imperatoris perfecta aetas est Est enim perfecta aetas vbi perfecta virtus Honorius iam pulsat adolescentiae fores prouectior aetate quā Iosias We should not respect his yeares the Emperours age is perfect age is perfect where vertue is perfect Honorius is now growing to be a young man elder then Iosias 4 Further it is a great vntruth which followeth the will and testament of King Henry being violated and his Bishops and Clergie committed to prison or depriued For neither doth he shew wherein the testament of the King was violated in the entrance of King Edwards raigne and therefore may be iustly suspected to be a falsarie neither doth he cite any author for it no such thing either by Maister Fox or Stowe to whom in these matters he appealeth being affirmed so that it seemeth his own phantasticall braine hath forged this fansie True it is indeede that the Protestant Bishops were depriued and excluded both from the Parliament and their Bishoprickes as Doctor Taylor Bishop of Lincolne Doctor Harley Bishop of Hereford with others in the entrance of Queene Maryes raigne But vntrue also it is that the Popish Bishops were depriued or committed to prison during the time of the Parliament when the act passed for reformation of religion which was in Nouember ann 1547. the Bishop of Winchester was not sent to the Tower til the morrow after S. Peters day the yeare following ann 1548. nor depriued before ann 1551. And Bonner was not commaunded to keepe his house till the 11. of August ann 1549. in the third yeare of King Edwards raigne This shamelesse man we see dare aduenture to vtter any thing 5 Of the like truth is that which followeth That the Protestants of this time without any disputation or aduice of any learned or Parliamentall
was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such is the shauing of Monks and for the like signification of a crowne as hath bene shewed before 8 The Priest of the Sunne among the Phenicians did weare a vestment of purple wrought with gold to shew the dignitie and excellencie of that priesthoode for the same cause haue Masse-priests their rich and costlie copes of diuers colours 9 In Boeotia they vsed to couer the Bride with a vaile and crowne her with flowers which vse is yet retayned in Poperie 10 The heathen vsed to cleanse themselues with sprinkling of water thinking thereby to be purified Thus in Poperie they thinke to purifie their houses the people with casting of holie-water vpon them Is not this now a goodlie religion that retaineth still the idolatrous and superstitious vsages of the heathen that instructeth the people by signes and figures euen as the Paganes preached to theirs May we not iustly returne vpon them the rebuke of the Apostle to the Galathians Seeing you know God how turne yee againe vnto impotent and beggerlie rudiments whereunto as from the beginning you will be in bondage againe Hierome sayth Ego libera voce reclamante mundo pronuntio ceremonias Iudaeorum perniciosas esse mortiferas Christianis quicunque eas obseruauerit in barathrum diaboli deuolutum I do freelie pronounce though the world say nay that the ceremonies of the Iewes are pernicious and deadlie to Christians and whosoeuer obserueth them to be throwne downe to hell much more are they in danger which obserue Pagane ceremonies and inuentions Therefore we take no great care to answere them for this matter resting vpon the words of our Sauiour Let them alone they are blind leaders of the blind Their owne blindnes and grossenes in their superstitious corruptions doth sufficiently bewray the badnes of their cause and madnes of their religion to whom that saying of Plutarch may fitlie be applied You neede not draw a superstitious man out of the temple for there is his punishment and torment So that which this figurecaster hath taken for an argument of their profession is found to be but a torment to their conscience and a punishment of their superstition The twelfth Perswasion 1 I Defend not that religion which denieth all things c. as their opinions all negatiue do witnesse 2 That hath taken away and conuerted from spirituall religious vses to priuate and temporall pleasures and preferments all monuments and foundations of deuotion c. 3 Vsing nothing necessarie to saluation 4 But that religion whose opinions are all affirmatiue 5 That hath founded Churches Schooles Colledges Monasteries 6 That obserueth all things that wanteth or omitteth nothing belonging or that can be required to true religion The Disswasion 1 NEither doth that religion which I defend denie any thing much lesse all things as it is falselie sclaundered that are found to be agreeable to the scriptures neither doth it consist of all negatiues affirming the scriptures to be sufficient and to conteyne all things necessarie to saluation that the Church and generall Councels may erre that the Pope is Antichrist that the scriptures ought to be read in the vulgar toong that Magistrates haue authoritie in spirituall causes that all sinnes in their owne nature are mortall that faith only iustifieth that Christ onely is our alone sufficient mediator that there are onely two sacraments of the new testament an hundred more opinions it holdeth affirmatiuely and the negatiues to these doctrines it refuseth And if our religion should be condemned because it holdeth some negatiues exception likewise might be taken against the Decalogue wherein of ten two commaundements only are affirmatiue the fourth in the first table and the first in the second all the rest are negatiuely propounded 2 An impudent sclaunder it is that the religion of Protestants hath taken away all foundations of deuotion 1. Seeing that Bishoprickes Cathedrall Churches all Colledges in the Vniuersities Hospitals parish Churches erected for maintenance of learning reliefe of the poore for the edifying of the people are yet standing and flourishing among vs. 2. Only those vncleane Cels of Monks the seminaries both of spirituall and corporall fornication are remoued though I denie not but they might better haue beene disposed of as was intended by example and warrant of vertuous Princes As Iosias ouerthrew the foundation of the Chemarims an idolatrous order of Priests erected by his superstitious predecessors Iehu destroyed the house of Baal and made a draught-house of it And things abused to idolatrie are iustlie confiscate to the Prince as Ambrose defendeth the taking away of the lands which were giuen to the maintenance of Pagane idolatrie Sublata sunt praedia quia non religiose vtebantur ijs quae religionis iure defenderent Their lands and manors were taken away because they did not religiouslie vse them which they defended vnder colour of religion 3. Neither were all Abbey-lands conuerted to temporall pleasures and preferments though we graunt too many were but diuers were giuen to Hospitals and Colledges and to other good vses And this is warranted by the imperiall lawes that things abused by false worshippers should be giuen to the vse of the Orthodoxall Church as may appeare by that lawe of the Emperours Valentinian and Martian Domum vel possessionem c. That house or possession which belongeth to heretikes Orthodoxae ecclesiae addici iubemus We will to be annexed to the orthodoxall Church 4. These lands and possessions were surrendred into the Kings hands by the voluntarie act of the owners thereof thereto not forced or constrained as is extant in the publike acts of Parliament and at such a time wherein the popish religion was not altered sauing in the Popes supremacie and therefore this is a false imputation to the Gospell And yet as is before shewed possessions abused by men of false religion by the Imperiall lawes are confiscate to the Prince as it was decreed by Anastasius Praedia possessiones quae in haereticas personas quocunque modo collata vel translata fuerunt fisci nostri iurib decernimus vendicari Lands and manors howsoeuer conferred or translated vpon hereticall parsons we decree to be forfeited to vs. 3 A foule slaunder is vttered of our Religion in the next place for nothing necessarie to saluation is wanting in the profession of the Gospell There is Baptisme for infants catechising for children preaching to beget faith the law to perswade repentance the Gospell for comfort the reading of scripture to increase knowledge the Sacraments to confirme it prayer prescribed if any be afflicted singing of Psalmes for those that are merrie in the Lord godly visitation for the sicke with assurance of remission of sinnes vpon their repentance comfort ouer the dead in the hope of the present rest of
Diuine all such then being depriued by the consent of vnlearned noble men Knights of shires c. enacted and decreed matters of religion For it is notoriouslie knowne that during the Parliament ann 1. Elizab. there was a conference and disputation held at Westminster betweene nine of the Popish Clergie Bishops and Doctors with as many of the Protestant Doctors and Diuines whereof one was a Bishop which disputation was broken off by the frowardnes of the popish disputers that wilfullie refused to obey the order appointed Neither as yet when matters of religion were treated of in Parliament were the popish Bishops depriued for the Archbishop of Yorke was then of the Councell and the Bishops of Winchester and Lincolne were not committed to the Tower but vpon their disobedience and contempt of authoritie in violating the prefixed order of the disputation And it is also euident that the acts which passed ann 1. Elizab. had the consent of the three estates of the realme as may appeare by the stile of them We your said most louing faithfull and obedient subiects representing the three estates of your realme in England And it is certaine that diuers learned Diuines were consulted with concerning the affaires of the Church as these reuerend men Scorie Coxe Whitehead Grindall Horne Sands Elmer Iewell with others the meanest of them farre more learned honest godlie then your Parliament diuine Storie who vttered this phranticke speech in the Parliament house that while they laboured about the sprigs they should haue striken at the roote c. with other mad words but he himselfe was happelie not long after rooted out and spued out from the earth as an vncleane thing wherefore there was more then the consent of the vnlearned c. to the things then enacted What a fardell now of lyes hath this glozing Frier bundled vp he hath vttred as many leasings as scribled lines he runneth along and maketh haste as though the truth could not ouertake him as Cypriane saith ita scelera festinant quasi contra innocentiam festinatione praeualeant impietie by haste thinketh to preuaile against innocencie I may compare this fellowes reports as Saleucus did the Locrensian lawes to a spiders webs a flye falling in was taken but a waspe did escape so his sillie and credulous disciples may be entangled with his talke but the discreet reader will deride his follie and breake his snares The third Perswasion I Defend that religion which all most learned and vertuous men of the whole Christian world twentie times gathered together in generall Councels haue euer concluded out of holie Scriptures which many thousands of nationall and prouinciall Synodes c. all Vniuersities Colledges Schooles lawes of all Christian Princes spirituall and temporall haue decreed c. The Disswasion 1 HE had said more trulie that the most vnlearned and vitious men of the world haue approued their religion not the most learned and vertuous which is an idle and fabulous speech Many of the Popes haue been most vnlearned Alphonsus saith Constat plures Papas adeo illiteratos fuisse vt grammaticam penitus ignorarent It is euident that some of the Popes haue been so vnlearned that they were ignorant of their Grammar The like ignorance hath raigned in times past not onely in the Popes but in the whole court and citie of Rome Arnulphus said openly in the Councell of Rhemes Cum hoc tempore Romae nullus sit vt fama est qui sacras literas didicerit c. Seeing there is none at this time in Rome as the fame is that hath studied the sacred scriptures with what face dare any of them teach vs that thing which they neuer had learned And such as was the citie of Rome the whole papall Clergie and priesthoode was not vnlike as what great learning their Massepriests had it may appear by that Canon where mentiō is made of a Priest that baptized In nomine patra filia spirita sancta such as was their latine such was their doctrine both barbrous false 2 Now what vertuous and holie men your Popes haue bin who are the great patrones of the Romane religion it may easily be seene whereas that Sea hath afforded in great numbers 1. Sorcerers such were Iohn 12. Benedict 8. Benedict 9. Gregory 6. Siluester 2. Gregory 7. Paulus 3. with others 2. Murtherers as Clemens 5. Vrbane 6. Iohn 23. Sixtus 4. Alexander 6. Paulus 3. 3. Adulterers as Innocentius 8. Alexander 6. Leo 10. Iulius 2. Iulius 3. Some incestuous Iohn 23. accused in the Councell of Constance that he had knowne his brothers wife Alexander 6. with his owne daughter Lucretia Paulus 3. with his owne sister committed vncleannes Nay these vnholie fathers haue not bin free from the touch of the vnnaturall sinne of Sodomie as Iulius 2. Iulius 3. Sixtus 4. Alexand. 6. Many of them haue been Atheists as is declared before 3 As true it is that all vertuous men haue approued Poperie Of the like truth is the next glosse that they haue 20. generall Councels of their side whereas Bellarmine himselfe numbreth but 18. generall orthodoxall and allowed Councels and fiue of them Lateran 1. Lateranens 2. Lugdunens 1. Lugdunens 2. Viennens are not extant and how then can it be knowne what they decreed 4 He telleth vs also of many thousands of nationall and prouinciall Synodes whereas he is not able to produce one thousand nor yet much aboue one hundred of such Synodes the generall excepted And of all these Synodes generall or particular Oecumenicall or prouinciall where he can shew one for poperie we will bring forth three against it and of all their Canons and Decrees we will vndertake to alleage three to one that shall testifie with vs against them 5 He may be ashamed to say that all Vniuersities haue decreed with them whereas both the Vniuersitie of Oxford gaue publike testimonie of Iohn Wickliffe his sound doctrine and honest life and publikely in the Vniuersitie of Prage his positions were defended by Iohn Husse And King Henry had the iudgement of ten Vniuersities that his mariage with his brothers wife was vnlawfull which notwithstanding was dispensed with by Pope Iulie 2. and ratified by Clement 7. And at this present God be thanked the Protestants haue as many Vniuersities if not more on their side in Germany Denmarke Heluetia the Lowe countries England Scotland and other nations then the Romanists haue for them 6 The Imperiall lawes Prophets Apostles Euangelists holie and learned Fathers Historians Synods Councels Lawes Martyrs Confessors all which this shamelesse popeling boasteth of are against them as hath been sufficientlie proued in more then 300. questions in controuersie betweene the Protestants and Papists 7 Yea he blusheth not to say that their religion is ratified by Sybils and Rabbines before Christ whereas in verie deede they are both
Pope himselfe for proofe he bringeth none We know what the Lawe saith Solam testationem prolatam c. nec causam probatam nulliu◠esse momenti That a witnesse produced and no cause or matter proued is of no force 3 A religion that hath publikely by the word of God and godlie lawes with full consent of Parliament abrogated and condemned all grosse papisticall errors as of iustification by works art 11. of works of supererogation art 14. of freewill art 10. of purgatorie art 22. of speaking in the congregation in an vnknowne toong art 24. of the fiue popish sacraments art 25. of the bodilie presence of Christ in the sacrament art 28. of receiuing in one kinde art 30. of the blasphemous sacrifice of the Masse art 31. of the vnlawfulnesse of Priests mariage art 32. of worshipping of images inuocation of Saints art 22. that the Pope hath no iurisdiction in England art 37. What will not this impudēt man now dare to say who boldly affirmeth that Poperie is not by publike authoritie condemned in England Now then because their Lawe saith Qui crimen quod obiecit non probauerit similem poenam sustineat He that proueth not the crime obiected shall endure the like punishment so this thing obiected redoundeth vpon his owne head For true it is that the faith of Protestants is not condemned by the auncient Canons and Decrees of the Romane Church but receiueth plentifull witnesse frō thence as is alreadie shewed in diuers hundred questions 4 A religion which hath continued these 1600. yeares in the true Church of Christ not as Poperie which for most of their opinions must come short of this computation by 800. yeares which is full of errors and contradictions in the Decrees of Popes and Councels For errors the Councell of Neocesarea ca. 7. decreeth that the Priest should neither giue consent to second mariage nor be present at the mariage feast but rather enioyne penance for it and so in effect condemneth second mariage Toletan 1. ca. 17. He that in steed of a wife hath a concubine is not to be repelled from the Communion This Councell is approued by Leo 4. as it may appeare Can. 21. and the other also Distinc. 20. ca. 1. In the sixt generall Synod Can. 2. the Councell vnder Cypriane that approued the rebaptizing of such as were baptized by heretikes is confirmed c. 72. Mariages betweene Catholikes and heretikes irritas existimari are iudged to be void contrarie to S. Paule 1. Cor. 7.13 Yet this sixt Synod cum omnib canonib with all the canons is receiued and approued by Adriane Distinc. 16. c. 5. Nicen. 2. act 5. it was concluded that Angels haue bodies of their owne and are circumscriptible multoties in corpore suo visi and haue been often seene in their own bodies which is a manifest error for Angels of themselues are inuisible spirits Nicolaus 1. de baptis decret 1. alloweth baptisme only made in the name of Christ without expresse mention of the Trinitie contrary to the scriptures Math. 28.19 Nicolaus 2. in a Councell at Rome where Berengarius recanted resolued vpon this conclusion Christi corpus sensualiter manib sacerdotis tractari frangi fidelium dentib atteri That the true bodie of Christ was handled sensiblie by the Priests hands broken and chawed by the teeth of the faithfull de consecr dist 2. c. 42. which grosse opinion the moderne Papists are ashamed of For contradictions Concil Carthag 3. c. 47. the Apocryphal bookes of Tobie Iudith Ecclesiasticus Macchabees with the rest are made Canonicall Laodicen can vltim these bookes are reiected out of the Canon and yet both these Synodes are confirmed by Leo 4. Distinct 20. c. 1. In a Councell at Rome vnder Stephen 7. all the acts and decrees of Pope Formosus are repealed in a Councell of Rauenna vnder Iohn 9. they were againe reuiued Gregor 3. epist. ad Bonifac. determineth virum vxore infirmitate correpta c. that the husband the wife being weake and not able to do her dutie may marrie an other Nicholas 1. decreeth the contrarie that the mariage of such ought not to be dissolued Alexander 3. forbiddeth mariage to be made with the sister of her that was betrothed and is deceased Benedict doth determine the contrarie Pope Alexander iudgeth matrimonie contracted with per verba de praesenti by words of the present tence and consummate with another to be voide Benedict determineth the contrarie that the mariage consummate though a contract made before in that forme with an other is not to be violated Nicolaus 3. Abdicationem proprietatis rerum c. That Christ did by his example abandon the verie propertie of things Ioannes 22. defineth the contrarie that the opinion of them that say Christ and his Apostles had nothing is erronea haeretica is erroneous and hereticall The Councell of Constance sess 13. doth excommunicate all those that receiue the Communion vnder both kinds The Councell of Basile graunteth to the Bohemians the vse of both kinds The Councels of Constance and Basile determined that a generall Councell hath authoritie aboue the Pope The contrarie was concluded Lateranens sub Leon. 10. c. 11. Many such contradictions in matters of faith and doctrine may be found in the Romane corporation which otherwhere are set downe more at large to the number of 250. and in another worke 300. more of their differences and repugnances are expressed Therefore this petifogger for poperie is detected of great vntruth that no error or contradiction was euer admitted in their religion Wherefore he being thus notoriouslie conuinced of a false testimonie is worthie to passe vnder the censure of the Epaunens Synode reus capitalis criminis censeatur c. to be held guiltie of a capitall crime And concerning this spirit of contradiction among the Romanists we may say with Ambrose Diuersa distantia prompserunt non locorum separati sed mendaciorum diuortio They haue vttered diuers and contrarie things not separated in place but differing in lying And as Melanthius said that the Citie of Athens was saued by the disagreement of the Orators so I doubt not but that this diuision among them shall tend to the further establishing of the truth For as Plutarke sayth of the contradictions of Poets that they will not suffer them to haue any great strength to do hurt so the manifold diuisions in Poperie shall haue no force to seduce such as are wise The eight Perswasion 1 I Defend not a religion c. which separateth man from his God and creator by so many sinnes and iniquities and yet hath no grace no sacrament for men of reason and actuall offences no meanes or preseruatiue to preuēt them c. for that instrument of iustifying faith which be no benefite vnto them which by their owne grounds haue no faith at all
or comfortlesse but prescribeth prayers to be vsed by the Elders and Ministers to be sent for the prayer of faith shall saue the sicke Iam. 5.15 and spirituall instruction and consolation to be ministred if there be a messenger with him to declare vnto man his righteousnes Iob. 34.23 7. Which doth not appoint orders to consecrate men to a blasphemous seruice to make the body of Christ and to install them Priests of the order of Melchisedech as that corporation doth of which order of Priesthood is none but Christ Psal. 110.4 Nor which maketh it no essentiall part of their ministrie to bee able to teach and instruct the people but especially requireth that Ministers should be apt to teach 1. Timot. 3.2 that they should be pastors and teachers c. for the edification of the bodie of Christ Ephes 4.11.12 Neither doth it teach that the grace of the spirit is actually conferred by orders but that men set apart to this calling not relying vpon their ordination should take heed to themselues and vnto learning thereby both to saue themselues and their hearers Which doth not denie the remedie of mariage to any condition of men as the Romane seignorie doth to their Clergie seeing the Apostle saith Mariage is honourable among all men Heb. 13.4 Neither doth it tie the grace of mariage to the matrimoniall solemnitie as this contradictor saith it giueth grace against the cares and difficulties of that condition pag. 27.7 but teacheth that the maried parties not relying vpon the ceremonie or solemnitie should giue themselues to fasting and prayer 1. Cor. 7.5 no doubt to obtaine among other matrimoniall graces Thus it is euident that not the Protestants faith but the Papists beleefe leaueth many without helpe and remedie As infants dying without baptisme are in their iudgement damned Priests not hauing the gift of continencie are denyed mariage Sick men haue no true comfort but a little greazing of the eyes and eares Sinfull men are by their popish penance made hypocrites their ordered Clerks are depriued of the principall part which is the preaching of the word Thus this cauiller for his false accusation shall haue Damasus fee Calumniator si in accusatione defecerit talionem accipiat A false accuser if he faile in his accusation shall receiue the law Talionis himself to incurre the same for it is in deed the popish irreligion that affoordeth no true comfort stay or remedie to their miserable disciples that a man may say to them as Iob to his deceitfull friends yee are physicians of no value And whereas they thinke to cure spirituall maladies with corporall medecines as with oyle chrisme salt holie water crossing to be defended against temptation it is as Ambrose saith vt qui latere laterem lauat as if a man should clense clay with clay magis se oblinebat luto such an one should defile himselfe more And as Diogenes said that Patacion the thiefe was no better then Epaminondas because he was professed or entred into religion no more is an euill man made better by such popish ceremonies The ninth Perswasion 1 I Defend not a religion where God is made author of all sinnes and thereby worthie no religion 2 Where the decision of spirituall doubts appertaine to temporall and vnlearned princes men women children 3 Where such sentences though neuer so much disagreeing and apparantlie false must be obeyed for the infallible word of God 4 Where man hath no libertie or freedome of will where our good works are necessitate 5 Where the predestination of God taketh away all election and indifferencie c. 6 But that religion that so accordeth the eternall prescience and predestination of God with the temporall cooperation of man that it both leaueth the first infallible and yet proueth the temporall action appetite c. to be voluntarie free in the power of man to be effected The Disswasion HEre is nothing else but an heape and pack of sclanderous vntruths which by one common answere of deniall might be easily remoued but somewhat more shall be said 1 The Protestants make not God author either of all or any sinne but the Papists rather that thus write They meane not that God is any way the author causer or mouer of any to sinne but onely by permission c. Ergo they grant that by permitting and suffering God is the author and causer of sinne And true it is that he which permitteth euill to be done and hindreth it not is consenting to it and a doer of it because accessorie to it But we say that God is not so much as a permitter or sufferer of sinne as it is euill and yet as he is a disposer of euill actions to good and an imposer of punishment is not only a permitter and beholder but an agent and doer euen in euill actions so that although sinne do no way stand with the will of God in approuing or consenting to it yet it standeth with his prouidence in ordering disposing and iudging of it As God is said to haue bid Shemei curse Dauid because he both disposed it to Dauids good for his further tryall and probation and iudged Shemei by it to his greater confusion Thus Origene well distinguisheth betweene Gods will and prouidēce Multa sine dei voluntate geruntur nihil sine prouidentia c. Many things are done without Gods will nothing without his prouidēce his prouidence is that whereby he dispenseth and prouideth his will whereby he willeth any thing or nilleth 2 The Prince challengeth not the decision of spirituall doubts but only to haue the rule ouer all manner persons within his realmes either Ecclesiasticall or Temporall so as no other forraine power shall or ought to haue any superioritie ouer them And againe in the booke of Articles it is thus conteyned We giue not to our Princes the ministring either of Gods word or sacraments but only that prerogatiue which we see to haue bene giuen alwayes to all good Princes c. in holie scriptures by God himselfe that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Temporall And beside the deciding of doubts is referred to the Ordinaries directlie and not to the Ciuill Magistrate 3 A most wicked sclaunder it is that we are bound to take such sentences for the infallible word of God The contrarie is euident in the Articles of religion set forth by authoritie of Parliament wherein the Church of England thus professeth It is not lawfull for the Church to ordaine any thing that is contrarie to Gods word written Againe things ordained by them that is general Councels as necessarie to saluation haue neither strength nor authoritie vnlesse it may be declared that they be taken out of holie scripture If Protestants attribute no greater authoritie to the whole Church
baptisme to acknowledge their Church and faith But this is a manifest error for as Augustine truly saith Non omnes qui tenent baptismum tenent ecclesiam sicut non omnes qui tenent ecclesiam tenent vitam aeternam All which hold baptisme doe not hold the Church as all that hold the Church doe not hold eternall life Wee confesse then that the Church of Rome hath legitimum baptismum lawfull and true baptisme in substance sed non legitimè but not rightfully or lawfully as Augustine distinguisheth And Aliud est habere aliud vtiliter habere It is one thing to haue it another to haue it profitablie Baptisme may without the Church be had but not profitablie or fruitfully had Wheresoeuer baptisme is had it is the baptisme of Christ not of men of the author not of the Minister and therefore it bindeth to the faith of the first institutor not to the doctrine of the corrupt imitator Neither yet doe the Papists baptize those againe which were initiated by that Sacrament among Protestants and afterward became Apostataes neither doe they thinke them to be tied by that baptisme to the Protestants faith as this Apologist confesseth he was borne in the Queenes raigne of parents conformable to the time pag. 52. and so baptized vnder the Gospell yet hath plaid fast and loose with vs notwithstanding that bond 2. Vntrue it is which in the next place is boldly affirmed for diuers of their Honours were borne since the raigne of King Henry the 8. and so not of yeeres then to discerne Some of them were in that time of the faith which they now professe The rest may say with S. Paul euery one for himselfe What they were in time past it maketh no matter to me Galath 2.6 By this rule neither Saint Paul that had been a circumcised Pharisie should haue been become a preaching Apostle nor yet Titus an vncircumcised Grecian a baptized and beleeuing Christian if a profession first receiued might not vpon better iudgement be reiected or an opinion once entertained might not with more mature aduice be reuersed As though a plant disliking the ground might not be remoued or the ayre for a mans health that is sickly chaunged Augustine to this purpose saith well that was chalenged of the Donatists because he had been a Manichee quantum ille accusat vitium meum tantum laudo medicum meum The more he blameth my disease I commend my Phisition The obiecting of former error doth tend to the praise of the reformer 3. The honourable Knights of the Garter neuer tooke any such oath to bind themselues to the obedience of the Papall faith but rather the contrarie as may appeare by the oath prescribed by statute to bee ministred vnto all her Maiesties officers and ministers whereby they acknowledge the Queenes highnes to be supreame gouernour in this Realme c. in all spirituall or ecclesiasticall causes as temporall and that no forraine Prince Prelate or person hath or ought to haue any iurisdiction power c. within this Realme Thus this slie merchant would entangle their Honours with repugnant oathes as though they should sweare one thing when they are enstalled into the honorable order of the Garter and the quite contrarie when they are sworne of the Councell 4. And as true it is that our late Queenes Maiestie did oblige her self by oath to maintaine the Popish religion which is a most notorious slaunder of her Highnes there being no such thing contained in that princely oath as shall afterward be shewed and her Maiestie hauing giuen her royall consent to the booke of Articles of religion confirmed by act of Parliament and to diuers statutes made for the abrogation of the Papall iurisdiction Thus wee see how disloyallie this Popes creature behaueth himselfe to his Prince being not farre from the imputation of periurie as though her Maiestie should haue promised one thing vpon her oath and performed the contrarie The Preacher aduiseth not to curse the King in thy thought But these malepart popelings dare aduenture not onely to thinke but to speake and practise euill against their Prince An euill requitall for her princely clemencie toward them of whom we may say as Ambrose of Theodosius Quasi parens expostulare malebat quam vt iudex punire c. vincere volebat non plectere Who had rather as a parent expostulate with them then as a Iudge punish them winne them rather with fauour then winnow them with rigour if her Highnes had not been otherwise by their vnnaturall proceedings prouoked And as Cleomenes said to the Argiues that vpbraided him in like manner with periurie It is in your power to speake euill of me but in mine to doe euill to you So these men doe not consider that for their lewd leasings her Highnes might haue iustlie recompenced them with sharpe proceedings The fift Motiue Neuer any Catholike subiect of England hitherto hath abused so much your Honours dishonoured the cause of religion for which we daily vndertake so many troubles c. to make so bold a challenge except he were able to performe it and my confident assurance is I shal not be the first vnhappie and vnaduised man to doe it The Remoue What your successe hath been in your challenges and how well ye haue performed the defence of the Popish cause is well knowne to the world which of your writers hath not been answered to the full or who is there of you that hath not been ouertaken in that he hath vndertaken Your great patrones Harding Saunders Bristow Martin Campion Stapleton with the rest haue had their hands full But which of you hath reioyned vpon B. Iuel D. Fulkes D. Whitakers D. Sutcliffes replies Your offers are brags rather then bickerings false charges rather then true chalenges There is saith the Wiseman that maketh himselfe rich and hath nothing Prou. 13.7 And such are those braggers that thinke no mens writings comparable to theirs and scornefullie rather contemne then soundly confute any thing brought against them You could doe little if you might not bragge but your vaine confidence wil soone faile you and your swelling words will soone abate and your vaine crakes will cracke vpon your owne heads as Hierome saith Cito turgens spuma dilabitur quamuis grandis tumor contrarius est sanitati The rising â—ome is soone dispersed and great swellings shew no soundnes Cicero well said Oratores imperitos ad vociferationem vt claudos ad equum confugere That vnskilfull Orators vse outcries as lame men horses the one cannot go vnlesse he be carried the other can say nothing vnlesse hee crie out And set the lowd outcries vaine bragges and bold facings of our aduersaries aside what are they and what is their cause It is not so among disputers as they say it is with Bee-masters That is iudged to be the best hiue which maketh the greatest noyse
The greatest crakers are not the best fighters nor the lowdest noyse sheweth not the best cause And as they haue sped hitherto the like successe let them looke for hereafter The sixt Motiue I will prooue the religion I defend to be conformable to the present forcible lawes of England established by our Queene Elizabeth c. I vndertake to prooue directly by the Parliament lawes and proceedings of Queene Elizabeth that their religion is false that we defend true c. The Remoue If this man were not past all shame hee would neuer haue been so audacious as to haue vttered this vntruth for it is a fiction without all colour he might as well haue told vs of the man in the Moone and the Sunneshine at midnight and as soone might he haue proued it as that which here he saith He goeth on and telleth vs he will proue by the proceedings of Queene Elizabeth that Christ is reallie present in the Sacrament of the altar As though the Church of England and all Protestants doe not hold Christs bodie to be reallie that is verilie and truly present to the faith of the worthy receiuer but if by reallie he vnderstand carnally present it is directly contrarie to the 28. article of religion which in direct words saith that transubstantiation is repugnant to the plaine words of Scripture and further addeth that the body of Christ is onely eaten after a spirituall and heauenly manner and the meane whereby it is eaten is faith He will proue that Saints and Angels are to be reuerenced and prayed vnto A reuerence who denieth but to pray vnto them is contrarie to the 22. article Inuocation of Saints is a fond thing That there is a Purgatorie which is contrarie to the 22. article the Romish doctrine concerning purgatory is vainly inuented That prayer almes and other good deedes are auaileable for the faithfull soules departed contrarie to article 31. that the sacrifices of Masses c. for the quicke and dead are blasphemous fables that onely faith iustifieth not contrarie to article 11. that wee are iustified by faith onely is a most holesome doctrine He will prooue that good workes are meritorious before God contrarie to article 12. good workes cannot put away sinnes and endure the seueritie of Gods iudgement That there is an externall Priesthood and sacrifice in the Church of Christ contrarie to article 31. the sacrifices of the Masse wherein it was commonly said that the Priests did offer Christ c. were blasphemous fables and daungerous deceits that wee are not iustified by an imputatiue iustice but grace and iustice are inherent and internall things contrary to article 11. we are accounted righteous before God onely for the merite of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ by faith and not for our owne workes or deseruings That there be seuen Sacraments in number Baptisme Confirmation Eucharist Penance extreame Vnction Orders and Matrimonie contrarie to article 25. There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospell that is to say Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord those fiue commonly called Sacraments that is to say Confirmation Penance Orders Matrimonie and extreame Vnction are not to be accounted for Sacraments of the Gospell These articles were first agreed vpon by the whole Conuocation of the Clergie of this land and put foorth by the Queenes authoritie anno 1562. and againe approued and allowed by the assent and consent of her Maiestie and subscribed vnto by the whole Clergie assembled in the Conuocation anno 1571. and established by act of Parliament anno 13. Elizab. c. 12. as may appeare by diuers branches of that act whereby they are punishable which refuse to giue assent to the said articles or doe teach any thing repugnant or contrarie vnto them Notwithstanding all this this shamelesse man blusheth not to tell vs that these his erroneous opinions directlie contrarie to the very expresse words of the said articles are conformable to the present forceable lawes and the proceedings of Queene Elizabeth Thus these fellowes would make vs beleeue that the blacke crow is white and that the Moone is made of greene cheese as the saying is or they might as well tell vs with Democritus that the Moone hath hils and dales with Metrodorus that the Sunne is made of stone with Philolaus of glasse with Epicurus of the earth with Heraclides that the earth moueth round as the wheele vpon the axletree with Philolaus that it is whirled about as the Sunne and Moone or what else he may tell vs that is most fabulous and incredible as well as this that the Romish religion is agreeable to the lawes in force in the Church of England As he is found tripping here so I trust his credit shall be in the rest Ambrose sayth Nerui sunt quidam artus sapientiae non temere credere It is as the sinewes and ioynts of wisdome not rashlie to giue credit And as Demosthenes was wont to say that the best preseruatiue against Tyrants was not to trust them so is it against liers not to beleeue them The 7. Motiue What reason should mooue me then very yong in yeares borne of parents conformable to the time in and vnder the Protestant Regiment of Queene Elizabeth brought vp in that Vniuersitie and other places which were alwayes least fauouring of that beleefe c. to be of a different and contrarie opinion when if I would haue bene of the same profession I might haue bene regarded as others of my condition The remooue The reason here vsed may be thus framed That is likely to be the right faith which a man leauing all possibilitie of preferment cleaueth vnto But so hath this man done in embracing the popish profession Ergo c. First if the proposition were true this argument might be retorted vpon them for in the late dayes of persecution in England many zealous Protestants did not onely forsake all expectation of worldly preferment but did willinglie forgoe their life for the truth sake and endured more for their conscience only then euer did any Papist therefore if he haue reasoned well for Poperie he hath reasoned better for Protestancie that it is in the right beliefe 2 Other reasons may be alleaged why many depart from the truth euen where they may liue with good conditions beside a conscience of religion As an ambitious desire of prefermēt caused some to start aside as is euidēt in the examples of Theobutes Valentinus Nouatus Marcion Montanus who for the thirstie desire to be made Bishops which they could not obtayne fell into heresie Some of a couetous greedie mind haue become singular thinking thereby to grow rich Such an one was Paulus Samosatenus Ex sacrilegijs ad summas diuitias peruenit By sacrilege he came to great riches So Cypriane testifieth of Nouatus Spoliati ab eo pupilli fraudatae viduae c. He robbed
shall not haue the custodie of the heire that holdeth of the king by free soccage of another by Knights seruice Hen. 3. an 9. Mag. chart c. 27. Ward 13.14 15. The King shall haue the ward and mariage of all that hold of him in chiefe Ed. 2. ann 17. praerogatiu reg c. 1.2.6 11 Women 2. That widowes of them that hold of the King in chiefe shall not marrie without the Kings licence praerogat reg c. 4. ann 17. Ed. 2. 12 Wreck 2. The King shall haue the wrecke of the sea throughout the realme praerogat reg c. 11. ann 17. Edward 2. Thus it is euident that these lawes by this pettifogger alleaged do not serue his turne at all neither is there to be found so much as one syllable sounding that way that these priuileges and graunts were for that reason and intent giuen vnto the Kings of England as he saith for the defence of the Popish faith so that he is euidētlie conuinced of so many vntruths as he hath here quoted lawes And beside let it be considered that all these prerogatiues were graunted in the raignes of Hen. 3. and Edw. 2. who impugned the iurisdiction of the Romane Bishop and therefore are reckned vp in the number of Kings of vnhappie successe by this Popes Register p. 77. How then is it like that these priuiledges were graunted them for defence of the papall seignorie to the which they so much opposed themselues 3 But concerning the dignities of the Church of England founded as he saith by their Catholike Kings we do possesse them with better right then the Popish Clergie did For 1. whereas they erected them to the honor of God which was the principall end of their deuotion though they fayled in the meanes we doubt not but that these erections are now better employed to Gods glorie then euer they were in time of Poperie and that they not we vsed those franke gifts contra formam collationis against the forme of collation and mind of the founder employing them to superstitious and idolatrous and riotous vses not pious and religious and therefore did forfeit their state according to the equitie of the lawe 2 Beside this is consonant to the lawes Imperiall that edificies abused to heresie and superstition should be added vnto the true Church and the reason of the lawe is yeelded Certum est quicquid à fide Christianorū discrepat legi Christianae esse contrarium It is certaine what soeuer differeth from the Christian faith is contrarie to the Christian lawe Such things then as were abused against true religion were out of the lawes protection 3 These ecclesiasticall dignities were first erected for the preaching of the word as the Apostle saith If wee haue sowen vnto you spirituall things is it a great thing if we reape your carnall things Therefore an vnpreaching Clergie such as the Popish Hierarchie is hath no right vnto them they were but vsurpers no true owners Therefore ye Popish Masse-priests and Baals shauelings are the miserable people spoken of worthie with Elie his posteritie to beg a morsell of bread and a piece of siluer rather then to beare the Priests office To whom that saying of Ambrose may fitlie be applied Nomen inane crimen immane honor sublimis vita deformis ne sit religiosus amictus irreligiosus profectus Let not your name be vaine your crimes certaine your honor hie your life awrie your habit holie but your hearts and works vnholie Such as Alexander said Antipater was He did weare white garments without and was all purple within Such is the Popish Clergie outwardlie clothed with sanctitie inwardlie full of hypocrisie The Apologie 1 NO place of error was left for those Kings pa. 66. li. 7. Ergo their religion is to be receiued that it is not likely that those auncient Catholike Kings could erre he would proue 1. by the confession of the Protestants That it doth appertaine to the title and iurisdiction of Christian Kings to determine matters and questions of religion pag. 64. lin 10. 2 Because of the zeale and deuotion of those Kings c. there is no comparison but rather Protestant Princes should erre then they pag. 64. lin 32. 3 Because of the number learning and pietie of them by whom they were counsayled pag 64. lin 30. as Cedde Anselme Dunstane Thomas Becket Lanfranke pa. 65. li. 30. 4 There was no place of error left for those Kings c. because no decree of faith without generall consent of the whole Christian word generall Councels c. except God would permit the whole world to be deluded c. pag. 66. lin 6.10 c. The Antilogie 1 TO proue the former Catholike Kings not to haue erred he beginneth himselfe with an error and fiction of his owne that Protestants referre the deciding and determination of questions of religion vnto Princes as though the resolution of all such doubts were layd vp and locked in the Princes breast We do attribute vnto our Christian Princes no absolute power to determine what they will nor priuiledge them from error as they do their Pope The allegations in the margent affixed are friuolous for neither did the Conuocation ann 1562. referre the deciding the questions of religion to her Maiestie but they were first agreed vpon by the Archbishops Bishops and the rest of the Clergie by the word of God whereunto her Maiestie afterward gaue her royall assent Neither can any such thing be shewed out of any acte of Parliament ann 1. ann 5. ann 13. Elizab. as he cunninglie according to his fraudulent manner foisteth into the margent only the chiefe gouernment of all estates and in all causes is giuen to her Maiestie and that they ought not to be subiect to any forraine iurisdiction artic 37. The author of Synopsis is also in this behalfe sclaundered for he speaketh not where that question is handled of deciding of questions of religion but of the constituting of Ecclesiasticall lawes the authoritie whereof is shewed to belong to the Prince with three limitations 1. The Prince is not to prescribe any lawes but such as require the true worship of God 2. He is to consult in these cases with the learned and godlie of his realme 3. Such canons and ordinances the execution whereof properlie belong vnto the Ministers of the Church are excepted and so it is concluded that no lawes ought to be made without the authoritie of the Prince which the Prince is bound to execute Now sir doth it follow hereupon that Christian Princes are absolutely to be obeyed in all ecclesiasticall lawes whatsoeuer vnlesse you could shew this by the confession of Protestants which you shall neuer do your reason is not worth a rush 2 Neither doth it follow because some of them were men of great sanctimonie as instance is giuen in King Alured of his deuout prayers godlie exercises charitable works pa. 64. whose singular vertues
for men in their sicknes to be troubled with illusions of Deuils and terrible visions seeing it is so vsuall a thing in Poperie and often happening to popish professors Did he thinke so to blind the world and possesse men with his strange reports that they could not call to minde the fearefull examples of Pope Siluester the second of Innocentius the fourth of Cardinall Crescentius whereof the first gaue his soule to the Deuill to obtaine the Papacie the second in the night was striken on the side by a certaine Bishop that appeared to him in vision and was left for halfe dead and not long after dyed the third being vicegerent for the Pope in the late Tridentine chapter sitting vp late to write letters to his vnholie Fatherhood was so frighted with the sight of a great black dog which appeared with flaming eyes and long eares that he fell by conceit thereof into a grieuous sicknes whereof he not long after dyed 5 Sir Frauncis Walsingham neyther dyed miserablie nor in despaire as he was in his life faithfull to his Prince a louer of his countrie a great patrone of schollers and martiall men sound in religion so we doubt not but he ended his dayes in comfort and peace of conscience This worthie Counsellers memorie honorable among Protestants and all that loue their countrie is odious to Papists because by his industrie and vigilant eye many dangerous conspiracies against Queene Elizabeth were discouered and by name that most horrible treason of Babington and Ballard with their accomplices in the 28. yeare of her Maiesties raigne wherein those trayterous Papists intended the vtter ouerthrow both of their countrie and religion to such indeede that excellent man was an aduersarie and for this cause this vile raker in dead mens ashes spitteth his venome at him Where he obiecteth the filthie stinke of his bodie c. as herein the testimonie of an aduersarie is little worth speaking vpon his owne bare word so he might haue remembred what is truely reported of Cardinall Wolsey that his bodie being dead was black as pitch and so heauie that sixe could scarse beare it and that it did so stinke aboue the ground that they were constrained to burie it in the night season The like end had Stephen Gardiner that great patrone of Poperie whose tongue before he died hung out of his mouth all swolne and blacke And I pray you what a sweete coâ—se was Bonners faâ— bellied carcasse that was buried full honourably as hee deserued betweene two theeues in S. Georges Churchyard in Southwarke As for the wanting of funerall pompe it is no disgrace to the dead but it was rather an honour to him whose liberall expences in the seruice of his countrie and beautifull reliefe to the liuing could leaue very little to be bestowed vpon himselfe when hee was dead Lazarus had but an homely buriall in the world yet was his soule attended vpon by Angels Augustine well saith Si aliquid prodest impio sepultura pretiosa obâ—rit pio vilis aut nulla If the wicked be profited by their sumptuous sepulture the godly is hindred by his meane buriall furniture We may say in this case of this honourable man as noble Agesilaus who forbad that any picture or monument should be made of him when he was dead giuing this reason If I haue done any thing well that shall be my monument if not no tombes or pictures are any thing worth So this mans worthie acts while he liued shall be his monument now he is dead which doe more commend him then the sumptuous pillers of some that lie not farre from him of farre vnlike desert The third Defence 1. HE taketh vpon him to proue that the Popish religion hath made the professors thereof honourable and glorious It was neuer yet saith he accounted dishonourable to any to be a professor of that religion which made him glorious pag. 82. 2. The children of the greatest Princes and Nobles were Priests and Bishops in England pag. 84. as S. Guitlacke S. Suitbert Thomas of Hereford sonne of the noble Cantilupus c. Cedda Dunstane c. pag. 83. 3. The onely order of S. Benedict hath had twentie Kings aboue 100. great Princes many Popes 1600. Archbishops 400. Bishops 15000. famous men 4. He rehearseth diuers Archbishops of Canterburie most honourable in their time Baldwine Hubert Kilwarbie Peccham Stratford Offord Braidwarden Islip Langhton with others pag. 84. The Answere 1. THe Popish religion is a dishonour to such Princes and Nobles that professe it vnlesse any man be so simple to thinke it was an honour for the Emperour Henrie the 4. to waite vpon the Pope Gregorie the 7. three daies and three nights in winter at the gates of Canossus or for Fredericke the 1. to yeeld his necke to be troad vpon by Alexander the 3. and to be rebuked for holding Pope Adrians stirrup on the wrong side or for Henriricus the 6. to suffer Pope Celestine to set the crowne on his head with his feete and to cast it off againe or for King Iohn to kneele downe at the feete of Pandolphus the Popes Legate and to surrender his Crowne to the Pope Doth not now this Popish profession adde great honour to Princes submitting themselues vnto it 2. That the sonnes of Princes haue become Priests and Bishops in the time of Poperie is not denied and so haue Priests and Bishops been made Kings and Princes as Adelualphus sonne of Egbrichus being Bishop of Winchester was made King of England anno 829. Daniel a Priest was elected King of France anno 719. It was not deuotion but ambition that made Bishops pricke forward to be Lord Chancellors Lord Treasurers chiefe Iustices of England as we finde in former ages neither was it the sanctitie of Poperie but the riches of the Clergie and their brauerie that allured vnto them the Nobilitie 3. If Bennets order haue brought foorth so many of all degrees it is more like that their fat offerings great reuenewes and idle bellies procured it then any deuotion of that sect wrought it neither is it a good argument to preferre those colours because so many haue worne them The Epicures sect had more schollers and disciples then any of the rest The Scribes and Pharisies had more followers then Christ and Diana of Ephesus was worshipped of all Asia and the whole world Act. 19.27 He hath said yet no more for the Benedictines then the Epicureans Pharisies Dianas worshippers can alleage for themselues that many Kings Philosophers Priests and many famous men were of their sects Lastly if these Iudasites haue indeed such a good opinion of Bennets rule what ailed Frier Parsons to bee so fierce against poore Barkworth a Masse-priest of the Colledge of Valledolid to cause him to be expulsed to be buffeted vpon the face and drawne by the heeles vpon the pauement because he was a