our ignorance is equal wyth the ignorance of our leaders we are lost they cannot fynde vs we are sicke they can not heale vs we are hongry they cannot feede vs except they leade vs by other mennes lights and heale vs by saying a prescript forme of seruice or else fede vs with homilies that are too homely to be set in the place of Gods scriptures ☞ are not the people wel nodifyed thinke you when the homily of sweping the church is red vnto them ☞ But drunken they are and shewe theyr owne shame that striue so egarly to defend their doyngs that they wyll not only not acknowledge their imperfections but wyll enforce other men to allowe them 2 In thys booke also it is appointed that after the Creede if there be no sermon an homilie must folowe eyther already set out or hereafter to be set oute Thys is scarse plaine dealing that they wold haue vs coÌ„sent vnto that which we neuer sawe and which is to be set out hereafter we hauing had such cause already to distrust them by that which is already set out being corrupt and straunge to maintain an vnlearned and reading minysterie and syth it is playne that mennes woorkes oughte to be kept in and nothing else but the voyce of God and holy Scriptures in which only are contained all fulnesse and suffyciencie to decide controuersies must souÌ„d in his church for the very name Apocrypha testifieth that they were red in secrete and not openly 3 In thys booke dayes are ascribed vnto Saintes and kept holy with fastes on theyr euenes prescript seruice appointed for them which beside that they are of manye superstitiously kepte and obserued are also contrary to the commaundement of god Sixe dayes shalt thou laboure and therefore we for the superstition that is put in them dare not subscribe to allowe them 4 In thys booke we are enioyned to receaue the Communion kneeling which beside that it hath in it a shew of popish idolatry dothe not so well expresse a supper neyther agreeth it so well wyth the institution of Chryste as sitting dothe Not that we make sitting a thing of necessytie belonging vnto the Sacrament neyther affyrme we that it may not be receyued other wyse but that it is more neare the Institution and also a meane to auoide the daunger of Idolatry whiche was in tymes past too common and yet is in the hearts of many who haue not forgotten their bread god so slenderly haue they bene instructed Agaynst which we may set the coÌ„maundement Thou shalt not bow downe to it nor worshyp it 5 As for the halfe Communion whych is yet appoynted like to the commemoration of the Masse we say little of it sauing that we may note how neare the translator bounde himselfe to the Masse booke that wold not omit it We speake not of the name of priest wherwith he defaceth the minister of Christ bicause the priest y translated it would perhaps fayne haue the ministers of Christ to be ioyned with him seeing the offyce of Priesthode is ended Christ being the last priest that euer was To call vs therefore priestes as touching oure offyce is eyther to call backe agayne the old priesthode of the law which is to deny Chryst to be come or else to keepe a memory of the popish priesthode of abhomination stil amongst vs As for the fyrst it is by Christ abolished and for the second it is of Antichrist therfore we haue nothing to doe with it Such ought to haue no place in our church neither are they ministers of Christ sent to preach his gospel but priests of the Pope to sacrifyse for the quick the dead that is to creade vnder theyr feete the bloude of Christ Suche ought not to haue place amongst vs as the scriptures manifestly teache Besides that we neuer read in the newe Testament that this word priest as touching offyce is vsed in the good parte except it speake of the Leuiticall priesthode or of the priesthode of Chryste 6 Sixthly in this boke three or foure are allowed for a fyfte number to receiue the communion and the priest alone together wyth one more or wyth the sicke man alone may in tyme of necessytie that is when there is any common plague or in time of other visytation minister it to the sicke man and if he require it it may not be denyed This is not I am sure like in effect to a priuate masse that scripture drinke ye all of thys maketh not againste this and priuate communion is not agaynst the scriptures 7 And as for priuate baptisme that wil abide the touchstone Goe ye sayth Christe and teache baptising them c. Now teaching is deuorsed from communions and sacraments They may goe alone without doctrine Women that may not speake in a congregation may yet in tyme of necessytie minister the sacrament of baptisme and that in a priuate house And yet thys is not to tie necissitie of saluation to the Sacraments nor to nowsell men vp in that opinion This is agreable with the scriptures therfore when they bring the baptiâ—ed childe they are receiued with this special commendation I certefye you that you haue don wel and according vnto due order c. But now we speake in good earnest when they answer this Let them tell vs howe thys geare agreeth wyth the scriptures and whether it be not repugnant or agaynst the worde of God But some will say that the baptisme of women is not commaunded by law If it be not why doe you suffer it and wherfore are the children so baptised accordingly common experience teacheth that it is vsed almost in all places and fewe speake agaynst it And thys I am sure of that when it was put in the booke that was the meaning of the most part that were then present and so it was to be vnderstande as common practise without controlment doth plainly declare 8 The publique baptisme that also is full of childishe superstitious toyes First in theyr prayer they say y God by the baptisme of his sonne Iesus Christ did sanctify the floud Iordan and all other waters to the mysticall washing away of synne attributing that to the signe whych is propre to theâ— worke of God in the bloud of Christe as though vertue were in water to washe away sinnes Secondly they require a promisse of the godfathers and godmothers as they term them whych is not in theyr powers to perform Thirdly they prophane holy baptisme in toying foolishly for that they aske questions of an infante whych can not answere and speake vnto them as was wont to be spoken vnto men and vnto suche as being conuerted answered for themselues were baptized Which is but a mockery of God and therefore agaynst the holy scriptures Fourthly they do superstitiously and wickedly institute a new sacrament which is proper to Christ only marking the
letters commendatorie of some one man noble or other tag rag learned and vnlearned of the basest sorte of the people to the sclaÌ„der of the gospell in the mouthes of the aduersaries are freely receaued In those daies no idolatrous sacrificers or heathnish priests were apointed to be preachers of the Gospel but we allow and like wel of popish masse mongers men for all seasons King Henries priests Queene Maryes priests who of a truth if Gods word were precisely folowed shoulde from the same be vtterly remoued Then they taught others now they must be instructed themselues and therefore like yong children they must learne cathechismes and so fyrst they consecrate them and make them ministers and theÌ„ they set them to scole Then election was made by the Elders with the common consent of the whole church now euery one picketh out for himselfe some notable good benefyce he obtaineth the next aduowson by mâ—ny or by fauoure and so thinketh himselfe to be suffyciently chosen Then the congregation had authoritie to cal ministers in stead therof now they run they ride and by vnlawfull sute and buying preueÌ„t other suters also Then no minister placed in any congregation but by the consent of the people now that authoritie is giuen into the haÌ„ds of the bishop alone who by his sole authoritie thrusreth vpon them such as they many times aswell for vnhonest life as also for lacke of learning may and do istly dislike Then none admitted to the ministerie but a place was voide before hand to which he should be called but nowe bishops to whom the right of ordering ministers dothe at no hand appertaine do make 60. 80. or a 100. at a clap send them abrode into the country like masterlesse meÌ„ Then after iust triall and vocation they were admitted to their function by laying on of the handes of the company of the eldership onely Now there is neither of these being loked vnto required a surples a vestiment a pastoral staffe beside that ridiculus as they vse it to their new creatures blasphemoâ—s saying receaue the holy ghoste Then euery pastor had his flock and euery flock his shepheard or elâ— shepheards Now they do not only run fysking from place to place a miserable disorder in Gods church but couetously ioyne liuing to liuing making shipwracke of theyr owne consciences being but one shepherd nay wold to God they were shepherds and not wolues haue many flockes Then the ministers were preachers nowe bare readers And if any be so well disposed to preache in their owne charges they may not without my Lordes licence In those dayes knowne by voice learning and doctrine now they must be discerned from other by popish and Antichristian apparel as cap gowne tipper c. Then as God gaue vtterance they preached the word only Now they read homilies articles iniunctions c. Then it was painfull now gainfull Then pore and ignominious in the eies of the world now rich glorious And therfore titles liuings and offices by Antichrist deuised are geuen to them as Metropolitane archbishop Lords grace Lord Bishop Suffragan Deane Archdeacon Prelate of the garter Earl Countie Palatine honor high commissyoners iustices of peace quorum c. All which together with their offyces as they are strange vnhard of in Chrystes church nay plainly in gods word forbidden So are they vtterly with spede out of the same to be remoued Then ministers were not so tâ—ed to any one forme of prayers but as the spirit g moued them and as necessitie of time required so they might poure forth harty supplicatioÌ„s to the lord Now they are bound of necessytie to a prescript order of seruice and boke of common prayer in which a great number of things contrary to Gods word are contained as baptism by women priuate Communions Ierrish purifyings obseruing of Holydaies c. potched if not all together yet the greatest peece out of the Popes portius Then feding the flocke diligently nowe teaching quarterly Then preaching inseason and out of season Now once in a moneth is thoughte of some suffycient if twice it is iudged a worke of supererogation Then nothing taught but Gods word Now Princes pleasures mennes deuices popishe ceremonies and Antichristian rites in publike pulpits desended Then they sought them Now they seeke theyrs ☞ These and a great many other abuses are in the ministerie remayning which vniesse they be remoued and the truth brought in not onely Gods iustice shall be powred forth but also Gods church in this realme shall neuer be builded For if they which seeme to be workemen are no workemen in deede but in name or els worâ— not so diligently in such order as the works me from commaundeth it is not onely vnlikely that the building shall go forwarde but altogether impossible that euer it shal be perfyred The way therfore to avoid these inconueniences and to reform these deformities is this Your wisedomes haue to remoue aduousons patronages impropriations and bishops authoritie claiming to themselues therby right to ordayne ministers to bryng in y old and true election which was accustomed to be made by the congregation You must displace those ignorant and vnable ministers already placed in theyr rowmes appoint such as both can and will by Gods assystauce feede the flock You must plucke down vtterly ouerthrow wythout hope of restitution the court of faculties from whence not only licences to enioy many benefyces are obtained as Pluralities Trialities Totquote c. but all things for the most part as in the court of Rome are sette on sale licences to marry to eat flesh in tymes prohibited to lye from benefyces chargrs and a greate number besyde of such lyke abhonâ—â—â—ations Appoint to euery congregation a learned diligent preacher Remoue homylies articles iniunctions that prescripte order of seruice made out of the masse boke Take away the Lordshyp the loytering the pompe the idlenesse and liuings of bishops but yet employ theÌ„ to such ends as they were in the old church appoynted for Let a lawful and a godly seignorie loke y they preach not quarterly or monthly but contynually not for fylthy luker sake but of a ready mynde So God shal be gloryfyed your conscyences discharged and the flocke of Chryst purchased wyth hys owne bloud edyfyed Now to the second poynt whych concerneth mynystratyon of Sacraments In the olde tyme the worde was preached before they were minystred nowe it is supposed to be suffycyent if it be red Then they were minystred in publike assemblies now in priuate houses Then by ministers only now by midwiues and Deacons equally But because in treating of both the sacraments together we should deale confusedly we wyll therefore speake of them seuerallye And fyrst for the Lordes supper or holy communion They had
time is at hand that the wrath of God shall be declared from heauen vppon all vngodlynesse of those seducers that withholde the truth in vnrighteousnesse and set his commaundements at naught for theyr owne traditions WHereas immediatly after the laste Parliament holden at Westminster begon in Anno. 1570. and ended in Anno. 1571. the ministers of gods holy word and sacraments were called before her maiesties hygh commissyoners and enforced to subscribe vnto the Articles if they would kepe theyr places and liuyngs and some for refusyng to subscribe were vnbrotherly and vncharitably intreated and from theyr offyces and places remoued May it please therefore thys honorable and high court of Parliament in consyderation of the premisses to take a view of such causes as then dyd wythhold and now doth the foresayd ministers from subscribing and consenting vnto those forsaid articles by way of purgation to discharge theÌ„selues of all disobedience towards the church of God and theyr soueraigne and by way of most humble intreatie for the remouing away and vtter abolishing of all suche corruptions and abuses as withhelde them throughe which thys long time brethren haue bene at vnnaturall warre and strise among themselues to the hinderance of the gospel to the ioy of the wycked and to the grefe and dismay of all those that professe Christes religion labor to attain Christian reformation The fyrst Article First that the booke commonly called the booke of common prarers for the church of England aucthorised by Parliament and all euery the contents therin be such as are not repugnant to the worde of God. Albeâ—t righte honorable dearly beloued we haue at all times borne with that which we could not amende in this boke and haue vsed the same in our ministerie so farre sorth as we might reuerencing those times those persons in which and by whom it was first authorised being studious of peace and of the building vp of Christes churche yet nowe being compelled by subscription to allowe the same to confesse it not to be against the word of God in any poynt but tollerable We must nedes say as foloweth that this boke is an vnperfect boke culled picked out of that popishe dunghil the Portuise and Masse boke ful of all abhominations For sâ—me many of the contentes therin be suche as are againste the worde of God as by his grace shal be proued vnto you And by the way we caÌ„not but much maruel at the crafty wilines of those meÌ„ whose partes had bene fyrst to haue proued eche and euery coÌ„tent therin to be agreable to the word of god seing that they enforce men by subscription to consent vnto it or els send them packing from theyr callings 1 They shuld fyrst proue by the word that a reading seruice going before and with the administration of the sacraments is according to the word of God that priuate Communion priuate baptisme baptisme ministred by women holydayes ascribed to saincts prescript seruices for them kneeling at communioÌ„ wafer cakes for theyr breade when they minister it surplesse and coape to do it in churching of women comming in vailes which is not commaunded by lawe but yet the abuse is great by reson that superstition is grown therby in the hartes of many and others are iudged y vse it not abusing the Psalme to her I haue lifted vp mine eyes vnto the hilles c. and suche other fool she things are agreable to the wrytteÌ„ word of the almighty But theyr craft is plain Wherin they deceiue them selues standing so much vpon thys word repugnant as thoughe nothyng were repugnant or agaynste the word of God but that whych is expresly forbiddeÌ„ by plain commaundement they knowe wel inoughe and wold confesse if eyther they were not blinded or else theyr harts hardned that in the circumstaÌ„ces eche content wherewith we iustly fynde faulte they too contentiously for the loue of theyr liuings maintain sinelling of their old popish priesthode is against the worde of god For besides y this prescript forme of seruice as they call it is full of corruptions it maintayneth an vnlawfull ministerye vnable to execute that offyce By the word of God it is an offyce of preachyng they make it an offyce of reading Christe sayde goe preache they in mockery giue them the Bible and authoritie to preache and yet suffer them not except that they haue new licences So that they make the chefest part which is preching but an accessory y is as a thing without which theyr offyce may and doth consist In the scriptures there is attributed vnto the ministers of God the knowledge of the heauenly mysteries therfore as the greatest toke of theyr loue they are eniâ—yned to fede Gods Lambes and yet with these suche are admitted and accepted as only are bare readers that are able to say seruice and minister a Sacrament according to theyr appoyntment And that thys is not the feeding that Chryste spake of the scriptures are plain For bare reading of the word and single seruice saying is bare-feeding yea it is as euil as playing vpon a stage worse too For players yet learne theyr partes wythout boke and these a many of them can scarsely read within boke These are emptie feeders darke eyes ill workemen to hasten in the Lords haruest messengers that cannot call Prophets y cannot declare the wil of the Lord vnsauery salte blinde guides sleepie watchmen vntrustie dispensers of Gods secretes euill deuiders of the worde weake to withstand the aduersary not able to consute and to conclude so farre from makyng the man of God perfect to all good works that rather the quite contrary may be confyrmed By this booke bare reading is good tilling and single seruice saying is excellent building and he is sheapheard good inough that can as popishe priestes coulde oute of theyr Portuise say fairely theyr diuine seruice Nay some in the fulnesse of their blasphemie haue sayde that much preaching bryngeth the woorde of god into contempt and that fower preachers were inoughe for all London so farre are they from thinking it necessary and seeking that euery congregation should haue a faithfull pastor Paule was not so wise as these politique men When he sayde we can not beleeue except we heare and we can not heare wythout a preacher c seing we may heare by reading and so beleeue without a preacher Folishly he spake when he saide he must be apt to teache sith euery man of the basest sort of the people is admitted to thys function of such as Ieroboam did sometimes make hys priestes We wil say nomore in this matter but desire you to consider with vs what small profyt and edifycation this seely reading hath broughte to vs these 13. yeres paste except perhaps by some circumcelion or newe Apostle we haue had now then a fleeing sermon surely our synnes are growne ripe
and presidents to the people of all superstitions 14 Their pontificall which is annexed to the boke of common prayer and whereunto subscribing to the Articles we must subscribe also whereby they consecrate Bishops make ministers deacons is nothing else but a thing woorde for woorde drawne out of the Popes pontifycal wherin he sheweth himselfe to be Antichrist most liuely And as the names of Archbishops Archdeacons â–ª Lord bishops Chancelers c. are drawne out of the Popes shop togither with theyr officers So the gouernement which they vse by the life of the Pope which is the Canon law is Antichristian deuillish and contrary to the scriptures And as safely may we hy the warrant of Gods worde subscribe to allow the dominion of the Pope vniuersally to raigne ouer the church of God as of an archbishop ouer an whole prouince or a Lorde bishop ouer a diocesse which containeth many shyres and parishes For the dominion that they exercise the archbyshop aboue them they aboue the rest of theyr brethren is vnlawfull and expresly forbidden by the word of God. 15 Againe in that they are honoured with the titles of greate rulers as Lord Lords grace â–ª Metropolitane primate of al England honor c. it is against the worde of God. Moreouer in that they haue ciuill offyces ioyned to the Ecclesiasticall it is againste the woorde of god As for an Archbishop to be a Lord president a Lorde bishop to be a countie Palatine a Prelate of the garter who hath much to do at S. Georges feast when the Bible is caryed before the procession in the crosses place a iustice of peace or iustice of Quorum an highe Commissioner c. and therefore they haue theyr prisonnes as clinkes gatehouses colehouses towers and castles whych is also againste the scryptures This is not to haue keyes but swordes plaine tokens they are that they exercise that whyche they woulde so faine seeme to want I meane dominion ouer theyr brethren ☞ And which of them haue not preached againste the Popes two swordes Nowe whether they vse them not them selues â–ª 16 In that the Lorde Bishops theyr suffraganes ArchdeacoÌ„s ChaÌ„celers Officials proctors Doctors sumners and such rauening rablers take vpon them which is moste horrible the rule of Gods Churche spoyling the pastor t of his lawful iurisdiction ouer hys own flocke giuen by the word thrusting away most sacrilegiously that order which Christ hath left to hys church which the primatiue churche hath vsed they shewe they holde the doctrine with vs but in vnrighteousnesse with an outward shewe of godlynesse but hauing denyed the power therof entring not in by Christ but by a popishe and vnlawfull vocation We speake not howe they make Ministers by themselues alone and of theyr sole authoritie and that in secrete places of theyr election and probation that it is of him to whom by no right it belongeth And that when they haue made them either they may tariye in theyr Colledge and leade the liues of loytering losels as long as they liue or else gad abrode with the bishops bulles like to Circumcelions to preache in other mens charges where they liâ—t or else get benefices by frendship or mony or flattery where they can catch them or to conclude If all these faile that they may go vp and down like beggers fall to many follies or else as many haue don set vp bils at Paules or at the Royall exchange in such publike places to see if they can hear of some good maisters to entertain them into seruice Surely by the Canon law by which y bishops raigne rule they ought to keepe those ministers which they make as long as they haue no liuings and places We know three or foure Bishops in this realm wold haue kept such houses as neuer none did in this laÌ„d if this rule had beene obserued They clapt them out so fast by hundreds and they make them pay wel for their orders and surely to speake the truth they were worthy for the Bishops what ods so euer there were of theyr gifts yet in theyr letters gaue them all a like commendation They put on their surplesses or else subscribed like honest men Fie vpoÌ„ these stinking abominatioÌ„s 17 We should be too long to tell your honoures of Cathedrall churches the dennes of or sayde of all loytering lubbers wher master Deane master Vicedeane master Canons or Prebendaries the greater master pettie Canons or Canons the lesser master Chanceller of the churche master treasurer otherwyse called Iudas the purssebearer the cheese chauntor singing men specyall faâ—ourers of religion squeaking queresters organ players gospellers piâ—telers pentioners readers vergeries c. liue in great idlenesse and haue theyr abiding If you woulde knowe whence all these came we can easely answere you that they came from the Pope as oute of the Troian horses bellye to the destruction of Gods kingdome The churche of God neuer knewe them neither doth any reformed churche in the world know them 18 And birdes of the same fether are couetous patrones of benefices persones vicares readers parishe priests stipendaries and riding chaplaines that vnder the aucthoritie of theyr maysters spoyle theyr flockes of the foode of theyr soules Suche seeke not the Lord Iesus but theyr owne bellies clouds they are without raine trees without frute paâ—â—ted sepulchres full of dead bones fatted in all aboundaÌ„ce of iniquitye and leane locustes in all feeling knowledge and sinceritie 19 What shoulde we speake of the Archbyshops court syth all men knowe it and your wisedomes can not but see what it is As all other courts are subiecte to this by the Popes prerogatiue yea and by statute of this realme yet vnrepealed so is it the fylthy quaue mire and poysoned plashe of all the abhominations that doe infect the whole realme We speake not of licenses graunted out of this courte to marry in forbidden times as in lent in aduent in the gang weke wheÌ„ the priest in hys surplesse singing gospels makyng crosses rangeth about in many places vpon the Emberdayes and to forbidden persons in exempt places We make no mention of lycences to eate whyte meat and flesh in Lent that wyth a safe conscience for ryche men that can buy them wyth money nor we say nothing how derely men pay for them As for dispensations wyth benefycâ—d boys tollerations for non residents bulles to haue two benefyces to haue three to haue more and as many as they list or can get these are so common that all godly and good men are compelled wyth grefe of heart to cry out vpon such abhominations We omit excommunication for money absolution for the same and that by absoluing one man for another which how contrary it is to the scriptures the complaints of many learned men by propositions in opeÌ„ scholes proposed by wrytings in printed bokes set oute and by preaching in
open pulpits haue beene suffyciently witnessed To conclude this fylthy courte hath full power together wyth the aucthoritie of thys pettie pope Metropolitane and primate of all Englande to dispense in all causes wherein the pope was wont to dispence vnder whych are contained more cases and causes then we are able to recken As for the Archbyshop of Yorke we deale not with him We referre him to that learned Epistle which Beza wrote vnto hym about these matters 20 And as for the commissaries court that is but a pettie little srinking ditche that floweth oute of that former great puddle robbing Christes church of lawfull pastors of watchfull Segniors and Elders and carefull Deacons In thys court as in the other * one alone doth excommunicate one alone sitteth in iudgement and when he will can drawe backe the iudgement whych he hath pronounced hauing called vpon the name of God and that for money which is called the chaunging of penaunce In this courte for non paiment of two pence a man shall be excommunicated if he appeare not when he is sent for if he doe not as hys ordinarie would from whome he had his popishe induction institution and to whom he hath sworne Canonicam obedientiam Canonicall obedience if he learne not hys Catechisme like a good boye wythoute booke when it were more meete he shoulde be able to teach others To conclude if he be not obedyent to all these Lord bishops officers by and by he must be cut of by excommunication And as it is lightly graunted and giuen forthe so if the money be paide and the court discharged it is as quickly called in again Thys courte poulleth parishes scourgeth the poore hedge priestes ladeth Churchwardens wyth manifest periuries punysheth whoredomes and adulteryes wyth toyishe censures remitteth without satisfying the congregation and that in secrete places giueth out dispensations for vnlawful mariages and coÌ„mitteth a thousand such like abhominations God deliuer al Christians out of this Antichristian tyrannye where the iudges aduocates and proctors for the most part are papists and as for the scribes and notaries as greedy as cormorantes and if they all should perhappes see this wryting they wold be as angry as waspes and sting like hornets Three of them would be inowe to sting a man to death for why they are highe commissioners All this we say springeth out of this pontifical which we muste allowe by subscription setting downe oure hands that it is not repugnant or against the word of god we meane this antichristian hierarchie and popishe ordering of ministers strange from the word of god and the vse of all wel reformed churches in the world 21 We haue almost let passe one thing worthy the remeÌ„brance which is that they take vppon them blasphemously hauing neither promise nor commaundement to say to theyr newe creatures receaue the Holie ghost As though the holy ghost were in their power to geue without warrant at theyr owne pleasure And thus much be spoken as touching this booke against which to staÌ„d is a wonder to two sortes of meÌ„ the one ignorant the other obstinate The Lorde geue those that be his vnderstanding in al things that they may haue iudgement as for the other whome the god of this world hath blinded least they shuld see and confesse the truth and so be saued and that doe in the full growth of wickednes maliciously resist the truth God confound them that peace may be vpon Israell and his sauing health vpon this nation Amen The .2 Article That the manner and order appointed by publique authoritie about the administration of the sacraments and common prayers and that the apparell by sufficient authoritie appointed for the ministers wythin the church of England be not wicked nor against the word of God but tollerable and being commaunded for order and obedience sake are to be vsed For the order of administration of Sacramentes and common prayer enough is said before all the seruice and administration is tyed to a surplesse in Cathedrall churches they must haue a coape they receiue the Communion kneelyng they vse not for the moste part common bread according to the word of god and the statute but starch bread accordyng to the Iniunction They commonly minister the Sacramentes wythout preaching the worde And as for the apparell though we haue bene long borne in hande and yet are that it is for order and decencie commaunded yet we know and haue proued that there is neither order nor cumlines nor obedience in vsing it There is no order in it but confusion No â—â—mlines but deformitie No obedience but disobedience both against God and the Prince We maruell that they could espie in their last Synode that a gray Amise which is but a garment of dignitie shoulde be a garment as they say defyled with superstition and yet that copes caps surplesses tippeâ—s and suche lyke baggage the preaching signes of popishe priesthode the popes creatures kept in y same forme to this end to bryng dignitie and reuerence to the Ministers and Sacramentes shoulde be retayned styll and not abolyshed But they are as the garments of the Idole to which we should say auant and get thee hence They are as the garments of Balamites of popishe priests enemies to God and all Christians They serue not to edifycation they haue the shewe of euyll seeing the popish priesthode is euyll they worke discorde they hinder the preaching of the Gospel they kepe the memorie of Egipt still amongst vs and put vs in minde of that abominatioÌ„ whervnto they in times past haue serued they bryng the ministerie into contempte they offend the weake they encourage the obstinate Therfore can no authoritie by the woord of God with any pretence of order and obedience commaund them nor make them in any wise tollerable but by circumstances they are wicked and against the word of God. If this be not playne enoughe by that whyche is already set forth we mynde by Gods grace to make it playner and should doe it better if it were as lawfull for vs as for our aduersaryes to publish our mindes in Printe Neyther is the controuersie betwixt them and â—s as they wold beare the world in hand as for a cap a tippet or a surplesse but for great matters concerning a true ministery and regiment of the churche according to the word Which things once established the other melt away of them selues And yet consider I pray you whether theyr owne argument dothe not choke them selues for euen the verye name of trifles dothe plainly declare that they oughte not to be maintained in Christes church And what shal our bishops win by it Forsothe that they be maintainers of trifles and trifling bishops consuming the greatest part of theyr time in those trifles whereas they shoulde be better occupied We striue for true religion gouernment of the churche and shewe you the righte way to throw out Antichrist both head