¶ A stronge DEFENCE OF THE maryage of Pryestes agaynste the Pope Eustachians and Tatanites of our time made dialogue wise by Iohn Veron betwixte Robin Papyste and the true Christian I. CORIN VII ♣ For auoyding of fornication let euery man haue his wife and euerye woman her husbande HEBRE XIII ¶ Wedlocke is honourable among all and the bed vndefyled but whoremongers and adulterers god wyl iudge ¶ Imprynted at London in Fletestrete nere to Sainct Dunstons Churche by Thomas Marshe ☞ To the worshypful Master George Basford Leather sealer Citezen of London c. Iohn Veron wysheth grace peace of conscyence and encrease in all godlynes from God the father throughe hys Sonne Iesu Chyrste oure Lorde FOr as much as many doe yet nowe at thys time in the whyche it hath pleased God our heauenlye father of hys mere mercye and goodnesse to visyte this floryshynge realme againe with his holy and sacred word and with the gospel of his sonne Iesu Christ kycke against the lawful marryage of the faythful ministers of the church holding stil opinion that it is not lawfull for them which are preachers of gods worde and do minyster the sacramentes to be couppled in Matrimonye A briefe sum of the whole doctrine that is taught in this booke I haue thought good somewhat to write of this matter to proue by manyfeste scriptures and by the autorytyes of the olde auncyent wryters that al they which haue not the gift of chastity may lawfully wythout any offēce of god mary Hebre xiii yea although they had by foolyshe and fonde vowes not commaūded of god bound them selues to the contrary that so they may auoide fornication with all kynde of vnclenlines and kepte them selues in that holy estate vndefiled members of our sauiour Iesu christ First and foremoste these are the wordes of thapostell Maryage is honourabell amonge all and the bed vndefyled Wherby this apostel doth admonish vs that as incontinency is a disease commen to men of all sortes and degrees so maryage beynge the remedie against it is offred by the free mercy and goodnes of god to al maner of men withoute anye respecte The moderate vse of a woman in lawfull Matrimony is reputed for no sinne and that the moderat vse of a womā in lawfull Matrimonie is not reputed for sinne for which cause he calleth the bedde of the godly maried vndefiled Wherunto doth that godlye aunciente father agree I meane Paphnutius who in the councel of Nice withstode those Sozo li. i. echi cap. xxiii Socrate constan Epiphanus li. ii cap. xiiil that wolde haue forbydden maryage vnto the minysters of the church cōfessing wedlocke to be honorabel and the cohabytacion of man with hys lawfull wyfe to be chastity Againe this holy Apostel in his firste epistel to the Corinthiās saieth plainely thus let euerye man haue hys wyfe and let euerye woman haue her housbande i. Cor. vii for auoyding of fornicatiō Which saying as it ought not to be extended to those that haue of God the syngular gifte of chastitie so it perteineth generally to al them that wantinge the same haue neede of the remedye whyche the creatoure of all knowynge best the complexcion and nature of men did institute and ordeine saing Gene ii It is not good for man to be alone And wheras the enemyes do affirme that this ought to be vnderstanded Obiection taken of those that be alredie couppled in Matrymonye that wee shoulde graunte that to be true what cā they gather of it but that the same commaūdmēt is also geuē Aunswere vnto thē that are vnmaryed If a man dyd vse this kynd or that kynd of meate and the phisicion shuld say vnto hym see that ye vse stil that meate and it shal preserue you from this sickenesse or that sicknes that ye are inclinde and geuen to if any other which vsed not that dyet and yet felte him selfe subiecte to that dysease heard this Phisicions counsel woulde not he yf he tendered his health thinke that this were spoken vnto hym also Euen so yf the Apostel should say to them that be alredye maryed See that ye abyde and contynew still in this holye state of Matrimony vsinge with all thankefulnes the remedye that god hathe appoynted for you and ye shal thereby auoyde whoredome and vnclenlynes and consequently euerlastynge damnation whyche is of God prepared for whoremongers and adulterers Who beyng vnmaryed and feelynge them selues subiecte to fornycation yf at leste they dyd tender the health and saluation of theyr owne soules woulde not thinke this to be spoken vnto them And that they are bounde to vse the same remedy against filthines vncleane liuinge i. Cor. vii that the maried folke are cōmaūded to vse this I am sure That is with the fyer of concupiscence I meane when mens will for lacke of the gifte of chastitye doth so geue place to the luste that tempteth that he can not call vpon god with a quyete conscience is spoken generally to al that haue not the gift of chastity Let the vnmaried and widowes yf they cānot absteine mary for it is better to marie then to burne Againe if thou takest a wife thou sinnest not likewyse if a virgine mary she sinneth not neuerthelesse suche shall haue trouble in theyr flesh Whereby he vnderstandeth the troubles and cares of theyr children and family and other lyke which do belong vnto the crosse that god wyl haue to be anexed to this estate Similitude And for the which they that be destitute voide of the gift of continencie ought in no wise to forbeare wediocke For that were as yf a mā belng extremely sicke shold say I haue nede of that Physike but because it is better I wyll not take it I had lyeffer dye than to suffer it to come wythin my lyppes Who would not iudge that man to be worse than madde But this goodly liberty that the holy ghost did geue vnto all men by his holy Apostel who saieth in another place I doe not speake thys to tangle you in a snare is clene taken awaye by the tirannye of that Antichriste of Rome who dyd laye on the neckes of hys cleargie a burdone heauier thā the mount Aethna as the commune by worde goeth Wherof Aethna is a mountaine in in Scicile that burneth continuallye and is of the Italians called mount Gibello many dyd very greuouslie complaine as it doth manyfestly appeare by theyr owne wrytinges These are the wordes of Baptista Mantuanus beinge a Carmelite in the life of Hilarius beinge byshop of Poetiers in Fraunce Baptista Mantuanus in vita Hilarii Integritas vitae legum prudentia cultus Caelituum tutela inopum diadema pedumque Pictauiense tibi dum nil mortalia euras Dum viuis tibi ▪ sorte tua contentus ah omni Ambitione procul populo applaudente tulerunt Non nocuit tibi progenies non obstitit vxor Legitimo coniuncta toro
non horruit illa Tempestate deus thalamos cunabula taedas Sola erat in praetio quae nunc incognita virtus Sordet et attrito viuit cum plebe cucullo Propterea leges quaesunt connubia contra Esse malas quidem perhibent prudentia patrum Non satis aduertit dicunt quid ferre recuset Quid valeat natura pati Ceruicibus aiunt Hoc insuaue iugum nostris imponere Christus Noluit istud onus quod adhuc quāplurima mōstra Fecit ab audaci dicunt pietate repertum Tutius esse volunt qua lex diuina sinebat Isse via vetērumque sequi vestigia patrum Quorum vita fuit melior cum coniuge quā nunc Nostra sit exclusis thalamis et coniugis vsu Which verses I wyll Englyshe as wel as I can folowynge rather the sense and meanyng then eyther the wordes or the Meter The integritye of lyfe And of lawes the science The worshipping of god And of them the defence Which pore and nedy were While thou liuedst not caring For worldly pompe and pryde Nor for rychesse passing But in all thy pilgrimage And life helde the content With that which god appointed And from ambition went By this periphrase he vnderstādeth the byshopryke Vnto the haue broughte Of Poetyers most famous The myter and croissier both Thereat being ioyous The people that in it dweld Nor yet did then thy wife Vnto the by the lawe ioyned Whych then was ryfe Nor thy lawefull issue That by her thou hadst had Hinder the any whit But that thou wast lad With the charge of the flocke Which Christ so deare had bought For then god in those dayes As of men well is thought Mariage allowed And that to it perteyned For then vertue alone Whereunto fewe attayned Praysed and allowed was And had in most price Whych nowe vnknowen is And dwelles among lyce Emongest them I meane That in ragges do go And in pouertye liue Miserye gryefe and wo Therfore those lawes I saye Which wedlocke do debarre To be wicked and nought Men in witte passing farre Do iudge and also saye That the forefathers prudence Weygh did not nor perceyue The hurtefull pestilence That thereof did ensue And that humayne nature Suche thinges to beare Refuseth this is sure That Christ would neuer laye On vs so vnpleasaunt Nor yet so hard a yoke That strength and might do want Such great burden say they Whych breadeth man monsters By it he vnderstandeth the straunge kinde of vnclenesse that was vsed among them Whych to many a one Will be in stede of wonders Did come and so procede Of bolde what should we it call Arrogancye not so But pitye they do all Or godlinesse terme it Howebeit they all affirmed All maner of mens inuentions cloked vnder the name and title of godlynesse That surer it had bene That way whych god confyrmed By his lawe to haue gone And of the fathers auncient The trade and steppes eke To haue folowed they ment Whose life was farre better With wife children and housholde Than our life is nowe That wifelesse life do hold ¶ Fyrst and foremoste we learne by Baptyst Mantuan who as I sayd was a Carmelite that Hilarius bishop of Poetiers was maried that neyther his wife nor his children that he had by her did let him to be a byshop Secondly howe that many did complaine that they were depriued of the libertie to marye hauing the intollerable burdone of cōstrained chastitie laid vpon their sholders wherby many not being able to beare it were driuē to commit those thinges that were vnlaweful most detestable in goddes sighte And therfore he did righte well conclude that the life of them in time past which had wiues children housholdes did farre excede passe in godlinesse the life of the wiuelesse cleargie of his time Siluianus also bishop of Massilia shewing the matrimony is lawful for the ministers of the church Siluianus li. v. De prouidentia dei doth speak thus of the forbidding of it Nouum pro sus est conuersionis genus licita non faciunt illicita committunt Temperant a coniugio et non temperant a rapina Quid agis stulta persuasio peccatae enterdizit deus non matrimonia That is to say Truly this a newe kind of conuersion They do not those thinges that be laweful commit those thinges that be vnlaweful They do absteine frō wedlocke but they do not absteine frō rapine What dost thou foolishe perswasiō God hath forbidden sinnes not matrimony Your dedes do not agre with your studies ye that say that ye are the workers of vertues ought not to be the friendes of sinnes This is not a cōuersion but an auersion or turning away Ye that a great while a go as the report goeth haue forsakē the worke of honest matrimonye ceasse at lenghte from wickednes Polidorus Virgilius de inuentoribus rerum li. v. cap. iiii So farre Saluianus vnto whom Polidorus Vergilius may be ioygned who in his bokes De inuētoribus rerum writeth on this maner This I am able to say that it is so farre of that this cōstreigned chastity did passe the chastity of maryed folkes that rather no enormytye of sinne hathe purchased and broughte greater infamy shame to the order more hurt or harme to the religion greater griefe to all good men Peraduēture may ryght wel be lefte than the blot or blemish of the priestes incontinency Therfore peraduenture it wold be bothe for the profite of the christian common weale and for the cōmodytie of the order that ones the right of publike mariage shold be restored vnto the priestes whyche they mighte rather kepe godlye withoute any shame than thus wyth such filthy vice of nature to defile them selues most vnclēly Ioha Anto. Titu Qui clerici vel vouentes matrimonia contra here possunt Ioānes Antonius byshop of Alexandria doeth plainely affirme that in the primitiue church it was lawfull for Pryestes to haue wiues yea being in the holy orders so that in the time of the celebration or ministration of the Sacramentes they shuld absteine from their wiues Afterwards a forbidding therof dyd begin in the occidental churche that they whych were in the holy orders should liue a continent life Farther more this cardynall doeth saye that this commaundement dyd mynister an occasyon to snare manye soules and that therfore he dyd beleue that as the Churche dyd brynge in that commaundemente of constreygned chastytye so she would reuoke or cal it backe agayne i. Cor. vii Whyche callynge backe should be agreable with this sayinge of Saincte Paule Panormitanus touching the Virgines I haue no commaundement but I geue consel The like in a manner doeth Panormitanus write whose wordes for auoydynge of tediousnesse and specially because that they do agre wyth them that I aleaged before I wil now omit doth not pope Innocentius the fourth set forthe the same doctryne sayinge receaued playnely
eaten vp with his horses so that men coulde haue no fode Doe they not wyth theyr shepe beinge in this poynte wourse than euer Diomedes was eate vp whole villages and townes so that where ther were .xl. or .lx. plowghes going ye shall now scarcely finde .ii. goinge And where good fermers dwelled and kepte great hospitalitie reliuing the whole towneship there they kepe a shepeheard with his boy and his dogge so that a man maye aswell breake hys necke as breake his faste there from whense afore no poore boy was suffered to go awaie emptie or vnrefreshed And yet they will seme to fauour hospytalytie for sothe But it muste be at other mens costes and that they theyr selues maie be feasted haue good cheare when they come to Master persons or to master Vicares For although the faythfull Mynister doeth to his power refresh his pore neighbours yet onelesse he doeth euerye foote feaste these great cobbes and make theim lustye cheare when soeuer they luste to come he is not coumpted to kepe any house at all Nowe if the paril of couetousnesse whyche they wyll haue the maried ministers to be so subiecte vnto can debarre them frō mariage which they graūt to be lawfull by goddes worde what myghte bee sayde of those that be in office vnder a prynce myghte it not wyth a better reason bee sayde that it were most parillous to suffer them to marrye No lesse paryl of couetousnes in thē that be in office vnder a prince than in the Minysters lefte beynge moued wyth an inordynate desire to leaue their wiues and children in a welthy and rich estate they shoulde pill and pole the people and pilfer from the prince For they can no more leaue theyr offices vnto their wyues and children thā the ministers can theyr liuinges Let any man that hath wit iudge in whether of those .ii. estates their is greater daunger of couetousnesse and in whether of theim couetousnes can be more hurtefull to the commune weale Howbeit thys as the reste is but accidentall For althoughe some amonge the ministers be striken wyth couetousnes yet manye god be praysed haue the feare of God before theyr eyes and do from the bottome of theyr hartes detest and abhorre couetousenesse It was not preiudicyall to the reste of the Apostels that Iudas beynge one of the .xii. was bothe couetous a thefe Neyther ought this to moue anye man where they say that onlesse they doe whylles they be alyue prouide for theyr wiues and children they must fyll the world full of beggers For they that are godlye wyll see theyr Children to be broughte vp that they shal be able to make honest shift for them selues Psa◠xxxvii after theyr parents deceasse Againe is not this Dauids sayinge I haue ben yonge and am olde yet I sawe neuer the righteous forsaken nor his sede beggynge breade Hereby do we learne that althoughe the Godlye dyeth yet his blessinges shal be extended to his posterytye But in the meane season thys is not remembred of them that their wifelesse priestes do fille the whole worlde with whoredome and vnclenlines and all mens houses with bastardes as muche as in them doth lie which thinge must nedes kindle the wrathe of GOD againste vs and at lengthe to brynge the same vengaunce vpon the whole worlde Genesis xix that was by the ryghteous iudgement of God poured vpon Sodome and Gomorre and al the countrey aboute Sith now therfore that I haue made a sufficient answere to the foolyshe and fonde obiections of our ghospellike worldlinges I wyll make an ende desirynge youre good Mastershyppe to take thys my rude laboure in good worthe whyche I offer vnto you nowe at this present for a signe of gratitude and thankefulnesse to declare that althoughe I haue not seen you this great while yet I am not vnmindeful of you nor of the gentle kyndenes that ye haue shewed to me warde at all tymes Thus the lyuinge God aboue who is the geuer of all goodnes preserue you and all yours and send you prosperous successe in all your godlye affayres to his glorye and youre euerlasting comfort The argument of the booke FIrst foremost I call the enemies of the ministers mariage pope Eustachians because that in this poynte they folowe those aunciente heretikes whom they called commonly Eustachians whithe about the yere of the lorde .324 helde opinion the maried ministers oughte in no wise to be estemed yea that no man ought to receiue the holy communion at the handes of theym that were coupled in matrimony whych opinion was thoughte is straunge that then a concill was gathered assembled agaynst in Gangris The canon of the concill Gangris a town of Paphlagonia wher it was proued to be directlye agaynst Gods worde and the truthe thereof And therfore this canon or decree was made agaynst them Qui coniugatum presbiterum discernit quasi occasione nuptiarum offerre non debeat ▪ et iam ab eius oblatione abstinet anathemas◠That is to saye he that doth discerne or maketh a difference of a maried priest although because of his mariage he can not offer or minister the holy communiō doth already abstayne from his oblation let him be accursed Whereby as I haue proued in my booke we can iudge none other but that the Popes catholykes whyche do so abhorre maryed ministers makynge no conscience at all to receyue the sacramentes at a sorte of whoremongers handes are by their owne canons anathema that is to saye accursed Agaynst them I haue here in this small treatise written Fyrste shewynge that all the scriptures that they do aleadge both out of the olde and newe Testamente for to impugne the maryage of priestes are shamefullye wrested and wrethed Secondly I haue proued that al the vowes that the religious persons or secular priestes dyd make for to binde them selues perpetually vnto single life are directly agaynste the holye and sacred Scriptures and worde of God and that therefore they maye lawefully breake theym and couple theym selues in honeste matrimonye that so liuinge in the feare of God they maye kepe them selues vndefiled members of oure sauiour Iesus Chryst Thyrdelye I haue declared moste manifestlye bothe by the examples of the Scriptures and also by stronge argumentes taken oute of the same that all religious persons or seculare pryestes that haue not the gyfte of chastitye oughte to marye in so muche that yf there be any that hauynge not the gyfte of chastitye wil not vse the remedye that God hathe appoynted for all men The Godlye Magystrates oughte to compelle theym and if they be disobedyente to depose theym least by their incōtinent liuinge thei be an offence and stumbling block vnto the church and a slaunder vnto the doctrine that thei haue taught and set forth These thinges haue bene done briefely and shortly meaninge hereafter if anye do kicke agaynste his doctrine to aunswere them fully by the leaue assistaunce of my lord
and sauiour Iesu Chryst To whom with the father and the holy ghoste be all prayse glorye and honour world without ende Amen DO they disaproue the Apostelles Peter and Philyp dyd beget children Philâ—p also did marrye his doughters to husbandes Neyther dothe Paule sticke in a certayne epistell of his to salute his wife whych he dyd not cary about that he might be the more readye to the ministerye Clemens Alexandrinus Ex Euschii historia lib. 3. Cap. 30. I Do not backebite the other blessed meÌ„ which were coupled in matrimony of whoÌ„ I made mention nowe For I wishe that beyng worthy of god I may be founde in his kingedome at theyr feete as Abraham Isaac and Iacob as Ioseph Esaye and other Prophetes as Peter Paule the other Apostels which were coupled in matrimonie whiche had wiues not for to fulfil the lusts of the fleshe but to haue issue and posteritye Ignatius in epistola ad Philadelphienses The Table A Conscience marked wyth a hot yron what it is 52 A notable history 36 A similitude 47 A foolyshe obiection 51 A comparison betwixt the pope and Mahomet 4 A prety remedye to bryng one to the deuell 23 A canon agaynst the makyng of vnaduised vowes 33 Aarons briesthood abolished 2 His priestes must haue no blemishe 14 Ambrose aleadged 24 All that haue not the gifte of chastitye ought to marye 6 All christians are priestes home 63. Arnobius 44 Augustine contra Cresco 57 Vpon 5. psalme 44 In libro heretico 53 His counsel 34 What he saith of them that marrye after the vowe 35 Baals priests and their markes 2 Baptisme and what wee doe vowe therein 31 By it we doe become the seruauntes of the lorde 32 By the popes lawes Pryestes maye not marrye 9 Canons and rules of the apostels 56 Christe and his doctrine contrary to the pope 56 Christes bodye offered once for euer 13 He hath put downe the ceremonyes of the olde lawe 18 He wyl haue vs to be free vnto him 38 He called maried men to be his apostels 45 Ciprians counsaile 34 Chrisostom ad populum antiochenum 58 Clemens Alexandrinus 51 Counsel of Gangris 53 And who are pronounsed accursed by that counsell 54 Churche of Christe is obedyente to his wordes 9 Conclusion of vowes 45 Distinction 55 Doctor martine proued a lyer 1 Eufrachians 53 Eusebius ecclesiastical historye 53 God what he wylleth 24. He hath appointed a remedye for theÌ„ that cannot liue chaste 17 He doeth alow the companye of man and wyfe to gether 19 Who they be that tempte hym 16 Godly Counsaile 24 Gregories repentaunce 36. He saith marryage maye not be broken for religions sake 48 Huldaricus ad nicolaum papam 36 If by priestes we do vnderstand mynisters all christians be not priestes 64 Isidorus counsaile vpon rashe promysses 33 Mahomets confession 3 Matrimonye alwaies in estimation among the gentiles 50 Marâ—us Antonius flaminius 44 Monkerye what it is amonge the Papist 49 Moses example can serue nothinge for the pope 11 What he dyd commaunde the people 10 Why he did byd them refraine from theyr wyues 10 Murtherers of them selues 16 Papist first argument of our time 10 Theyr seconde argumente of oure time 12 Their third argument 18 Their forth argument 21 Their shameles shiftes 11 Their fifth argument of oure tyme. 26 Their chastitie and to whome it is lyke 27 They haue their wife and Children sitting by other mens fiers 28 Their sixt argument of our time 29 Their thunder boltes 29 We must forsake theyr vowes 40 They are set forth with fayned chastitie 54 Their argument beaten vpon theyr owne heades 57 They haue put on whores faces 59 They be maryed to our lady 59 Paschal lambe 20 Paules counsayle to marryed persons 11 How his wordes ought to be vnderstande 26 Thre thinges to be noted vpon hys wordes 22 His saiyng doth nothing pertaine to the papist 26 Priestes of Baal 2 Pope doth blaspheme 4 Pope hathe all hys seruice in latin and why 6 He is worse than Mahomet whyche in some pointe doeth geue more honour vnto christ then the pope 7 Priestes what it doth signifie 8 and why they be so called 8 Priestes of the old law why they dyd absteine from their wyues 13 Priestes of the old law were maried 45 Popish vowes seperate vs from our true spouse Iesus christ 35 Preachers of our time and theyr cruell tirannye 32 Spiritual whoredom 36 Single lyfe a let to those that haue not the gift of chastitie 22 Sinedech and what it is 48 Tatius Martion and Manicheus enemies of matrimony 53 The conclusion or epilagus 64 True chastitie 24 The sixte sinode holden at Constantinople 55 Vowe what it is 29 How many thinges are to be consydered in making a vowe 30 We must make them no further theÌ„ it lieth in vs to performe them 31 What we vowe in baptisme 31 What an vngodly vowe is 37 We must vow nothing that may let vs in our vocation 38 What liberty and fredom we lese by popishe vowes 39 We must consider the intente of our vowe 40 We may vow those thinges that be indifferent and lie in our power 41 Conclusion of vowes 43 Wherein they of the olde lawe dyd confesse 44 What vowe god doeth require of vs 44 The ende of vowes 45 What marryed men myghte haue saide to the Apostels if they hadde forsaken their wiues 46 When the Apostels did leaue theyr wiues and when they did not 47 What sacrifices the priestes of the new testament do offer 63 What ceremonies the church doeth vse in chosinge or makynge of ministers 64 What god doth require of vs. 30 Who they be that geld them selues for the kingdom of heaueÌ„s sake 28 Why wydowes were receaued into the churche 41. FINIS ¶ A stronge defence of the mariage of preestes made dialogue-wise betwixt Robin Papist and the true christian ¶ The true Christian WEl met good neighbour and in a good tyme. I pray you where haue ye beene these manye daies Ye were not seen here almost this hole moneth ¶ Robyn Papyst ¶ Wil ye knowe wher I haue ben I haue bene at London I tell you where I haue heard manye goodlye sermons They be no lecherous priestes that take other mens wiues or that haue hariottes in euery corner and specially agaynst your lecherous and carnal priestes which be not ashamed to saie that they can not lyue wythoute wyues and so marye contrarye to all good order and also contrarye to all godlye constitutions ordinaunces and lawes of the catholyke church A reuerend father I warrant you But against them dyd one reuerende father Doctour Martyn wryte a moste learned and excellent worke whyche all the heretikes in the world shall neuer be able to aunswere or confute I wold for your owne sake that ye had read the hole booke through ♣ The true Chrystian ¶ I neuer reade Doctour Martyns booke but I haue read a most clerkely aunswere that a certayne godlye learned man
whiche nowe for the truth of gods worde Reade hys hole booke throughe and thou canst say no lesse but that he dooteth in deede is fayne to flee out of his owne naturall countrey hath made agaynst it Where youre Dooter Martine is so handeled that he may be ashamed thar euer he did set the pen to the booke For almoste in euery sentence or lyne that he hath wrytten he is proued to be a most shamefull lyer But we wyll let Martines booke alone wyth the aunswere that hath bene made vnto it and come to your goodly sermons that ye haue heard I pray you nowe what was the hole summe or effecte of them ¶ Robyn Papyst But it is lawfull for them to be whoremongers ¶ The hole summe or effect was that it is in no wise laweful for priestes to mary and also that mariage doth let a man to be a pryest The true Christian ¶ Of what maner of pryestes did they speake I beseche you Robyn Papyst ¶ What Question is this Be there pryestes of more sortes than of one The true Chrystian ¶ Whye should this question seeme straunge vnto you Do ye not know that there be priestes of Baal 2. king .xviii and priests after the order of our sauiour Iesu Chryste For Hebru vii of the priestes of Aaron I nede not to speake here sythe that the same pryesthode is wholy abalyshed by our sauiour Iesu Chryste oure souerayne pryeste whyche as saynt Paule sayeth lyueth for euer for to make intercession for vs. ¶ Robyn Papyst ¶ I knewe not so much Therfore I thoughte none other but that they spake of those that be pryestes after the order of our sauiour Iesu Christ ¶ The true Christian And which do ye thinke to be priestes after the order of our sauiour Iesu Chryst ☞ Robyn Papyst Those that we do commonly call syr Iohn The markes of Baalles pryestes syr Thomas sir William c. that haue shauen crownes and weare forked cappes with long side gownes and tippettes which do put on white surplyces on theyr garmentes whensoeuer they go to theyr deuine seruice whyche do cense ymages say the holy and blessed masse The true Christian Those are not priestes after the order of our sauiour Iesu Chryst For his priests do not disguise them selues after suche a sorte Read the .iii. chapter of the fyrst Epistell to Timothee and the fryste of the Epistel to Titus they are no such marked monsters but are knowen by other sygnes and tokens whych be expressely set out vnto vs in goddes booke Therfore those are rather the pryestes of that stynkyng beast and Idoll Baal Whych I do intend to proue most manifestlye vnto you Robin Papist What beast or Idoll is it that ye call Baall The true Christian Wyl ye haue me to tell it you Robyn Papyst And I pray you so to do The true Christian And wil ye not be angry wyth me Robyn Papyst Wherfore should I be angry with you for I knowe that for the amitie and frendshippe that hath bene betwixt you and me euer sins almoste that we were but yonge babes ye do wishe good vnto me and would that I shoulde do no worse then ye youre selfe The true Christian ¶ I do vnderstand by that beaste or ydoll whyche I call Baall the byshoppe of Rome whych ye do name your holy father the Pope Robyn Papyst I thought rather that by it ye dyd vnderstande that false prophete Mahomet The true Christian I do not denye but that Mahomet is most detestable and to be abhorred of all men But yet in comparyson of your holye father the pope in many thinges he may be accompted a saynct Robyn Papyst Howe can that be possible These your fayenges seeme vnto me very straunge yea mine eares do tinkle heare them The true Christian The confession of Mahomet touchyng our Sauyour Iesu Chryst Ye shall vnderstande that my sayenges are most true For although Mahomet be moste wycked and deuelyshe yet doth he confesse and acknowledge that oâ—re sauyour Iesus Chryst was conceyued and borne of a virgin that the same Iesus was in his time a gret prophete yea that he was the wysedome and soule of god But in this he is most wycked that he dothe preferre him selfe before Chryst calling him selfe a more excellent prophete than he was sayenge also that he is the last prophete of all and that none ought to be looked for after hym Agayne he sayeth that god hath reueled more largelye his secretes vnto him than to anye other prophete that was before him Moreouer he dothe write that he hathe shewed vnto him a more perfecte rule than the rule of the prophete Iesus This is the opinion of Mahomet Nowe let vs come to your holy father the pope A comparison betwixte the Pope and Mahomet The pope doth confesse that Iesus Christ was conceyued by the holy ghost borne of a virgine that he is the sonne of God and also that he was a greate prophete But afterwardes he sayeth as Mahomet that is to saie that he is a more excellente Prophete of God than euer Iesus Chryste was For he sayeth The blasphemous saiynge of the Pope that god hath reueled vnto him more of his secretes touching the saluation of men and touching the estate and rule of perfection than vnto our sauiour Iesu christ and his apostles Robyn Papyst I thinke none other but that ye do slaunder him shamefullye He is slaundered of the trueth For if he should saye so he were a verye Antichrist and not worthy to be accompted a chrysten man The true Christian Ye shall be iudge your selfe For I do not intende to make a lye vppon any man It is a shame to make a lye of the deuell Nowe marke well what I wyll saye and prynte in your mynde the wordes that I shall speake and then I trust that ye wil say as I say except ye be vtterly blynded and geuen ouer into a reprobate sence Robyn Papyst I tell you neyghbour as I do se the world to go nowe a dayes I do not intend to set my selfe styflye agaynst the truth The true Christian Ye will graunt me that these are the wordes of our sauiour Iesu christ Wythout me ye can do nothyng Meanynge thereby Iohn xv.i that withoute his speciall grace we can do nothing that is acceptable or pleasaunt vnto god And therfore saynct Paule sayeth ii Cor. iii. that of our selues we be not able to thynk as much as a good thought Agayne Philippe ii that it is god that worketh in vs both the will and also the dede But your holye father the pope sayeth that it lyeth in mans power or that man hathe of his owne nature libertye to do good or euell By the doctryne also of oure sauioure Iesu Christ and of his apostelles we do learne that no man is able to fulfyll the lawe of god Roma iii. Mathe. v. Gala. ii
which hath not the gift of chastitie oughte to be the husbande of one wife Extripartita historia li. 2. capi 13. dist 31. canone nicena that by his chaste and holy conuersacion or dwellinge with his lawefull yokefelowe wife for Paphnutius did call it chastitie to companye with his owne wife onelye whereunto agreeth Chrisostomes sayeng Chrisost ad populum Antiochenam the firste degree of chastitye is virginitie the seconde faythfull matrimony He should be an example of like godlinesse vnto al the hole flocke Robyn Papist Obiection Doth not sayncte Paule saye the like of the widowe whiche he will haue to be receyued vnto the ministerye of the church For there it is written say they on this maner i. Tim. v. Thys goodly texte did gardener aleadge agaynst me Let no widowe be chosen vnder threscore yeres olde and such a one as is the wife of one man Yf ye wil haue this to be taken as it is wrytten and admitte no exposicion how can she be both a widowe and the wyfe of one man As then the blessed apostel saynct Paule must be vnderstanded in this place so must he be vnderstanded in the other textes that haue bene aleadged before The true Cristâ—an Answere This I saye that these Antichristes shall make an aunswere before the iudgement seat of almighty god for falsifyenge and wrastinge his holye and sacred scriptures This is the very texte Let no widowe be chosen vnder three score yeares olde and suche a one as was the wife of one man whiche translation doth agree both with the Greeke and the latine But they are ashamed of nothynge they haue put on whores faces The papistes haue put on whores faces So that they may by hooke or by crooke maynteyne their kingdome whych is altogither leasing and falsehode they care not what they prate or say Be it right wronge it shall out and all for to dasell the eyes of the simple ond ignoraunt people But the most righteous lorde will not alwayes wincke at their wickednesse and vngodlye doinges ii Thesso iii. but will when he seeth his time wake oute of sleepe and wyth the breath of his mouthe ourthrowe their tirannous and vngodly kingdome Robyn Papyst There be some A substantial exposition and worthy to be written in god bachus booke that by the same one wife that the bishop or priest shold haue do vnderstand one benefice As though Paule should saye The byshoppe or priest muste be contente witho one benefice These do vnderdand by the bishops or priestes house nothinge els but the churche and by their children those that are committed vnto their charge Some againe do say that pauls meaning is that they oughte to haue none other wyues but the Church The true Christian Answere Gaye syrs I tel you for to be the husbaÌ„ds of the church How doth it chaunce then that they say that they be maried vnto our ladie The holy scriptures doe testyfye vnto vs the only christ is the husband of the church Therfore she wyll neuer acknowledge such wilde lustye stalantes or rather stincking goates for her husbands Againe yf Sainct Paule doth meane by these wordes let the bishop or priest be the husbaÌ„d of one wife that they oughte to content them selfes with one benefice how doth it come to passe that some of them haue so many benefices that they do scarcely know the nuÌ„ber of them Is this to kepe the Canons rulers of the apostels Moreouer where they say We wil kepe them as long as it is for our profyte yâ— by the bishop or priests house the church nothing els is vnderstaÌ„ded it is a plaine manyfest lye as anye man that doeth but onelye reade the texte shall easelye perceaue The wordes are these i. Timo. iii. If a man can not rule his owne house howe shall he care for the congregatioÌ„ of christ Meaning thereby that if a man can not rule his owne houshold or bring vp his youth godlye and in the feare of god he is not worthy to be put in trust with the church congregation of Christ Ponder and weygh the texte diligentlye your selfe and ye shall finde that it is none otherwise than I saye Robyn Papyst Is this worde oportet or must Obiection of such importaunce that generally all bishops and priestes must mary and haue wiues This question also did Gardener aske me Howe doth it happen then that Latimer Doctour Ridley bishop of London and doctour Tailour bishop of Lincolne wyth many other which I could reherce whom ye do recken al to be honest and godly men had no wiues The true Christian It is of such importaunce Answere that by it all Byshoppes and priestes that haue not the gifte of constinencie or chastitie are bound to marye and haue wyues of theyr owne Wolde God this were obserued and kepte in all places in so much that if there were any bishops or priestes that hauing not the gift of continencie would not mary the magistrates if there were anye godlines or feare of god in their hearts ought to compell them to mary and if they will not obey to depose them least by processe of time they should fall into whoredome and so be an open slaunder to the churche As for those blessed martirs of GOd maister doctour Hugh Latimer and the reuerende father mayster doctour Ridley most worthy byshop of London all their aduersaries can say none other but that they had a most special gifte of chastitye whyche they did so declare in their liuing and conuersation all the dayes of their life that no man could euer laye anye thynge to their charge This can I iustyfye For I haue heard them doe it touchinge that matter and yet both they and also Doctour Taylour with many other mo whyche were gelded or made chaste from aboue did stoutelye defende alwaies the maryages of priestes of al other ministers of the church of Christ ¶ Robyn Papyst Yf so be that al they Obiection that haue not the gifte of chastytye or continencye are bound to mary How doeth thys come to passe that Sainct Paule beinge tempted with the intemperancie of the fleshe did not marry The true Christian Bothe Ignatius Aunswere Eus ecclesiasticae historia li. iii. cap. xxx and also Clemens Alexandrinus whyche were verye nighe the Apostelles time do plainelye testifie that Sainct Paule had a wife But let vs graunte that he had neuer none where doe ye reade in al the newe Testament that Saincte Paule was tempted with the incontinencie of the fleshe Robyn Papyst These be his wordes There was geueÌ„ vnto me vnquietnesse through the flesh euen the messenger of Sathan to buffet me ii Corin. xii What should we vnderstande and by this but the filthy lustes incoÌ„tynency of the flesh The true Christian Howe saynte Paule ought to be vnderstanded in the place afore aleaged There Sainct Paule vnderstandeth no suche