and printed by authoritie 3 The testimonie of the principall Diuines in Europe 4 The vntoward ruling of the Bb. 5 And the apparant vtilitie by gouerning Elders doe lye as offensiue stumbling blockes in their way To the ende that these men may haue more mercifull acceptation and may not be subiect and lie open to the bloudie desires of their aduersaries whereof no doubt some bee hollowe harted papistes and some without God in this worlde who neither regarde Religion Prince Bishop or Countrie but with their own ease and aduantage I haue vnder the fauour of better iudgement taken in hande to pleade not for any landes or tenementes but for the liues of your Maiesties most loyall subiectes and Gods faithfull seruauntes for God may haue great interest in them though they erre in Discipline whom some do drawe within the statute of Newes because they doe write for Reformation The wordes of the statute Be these If anie shall aduisedly and with a malicious intent deuise vvrite c. anie manner of booke writing c. containing false seditious and slaunderous matter to the diffamation of the Queenes Maiestie that nowe is or to the incouraging stirring or mouing of rebellion or insurrection within this Realme hee shall suffer and forfait as a felâ—n From this law it is thus reasoned VVhosoeuer write bookes to the diffamation of her Maiestie and to raise rebellion doe offende against this Statute and are felons They that write for Reformation make bookes to diffame the Queene and raise rebellion Therefore the writers for Reformation offende against this statute and are felons They proue the first parte of the Minor in this mâ—ner They that diffame the Bb. who bee members of hâ—r Maiesties body politike and vphelde by hir lawes doe diffame the Queene They that write for Reformation diffame the Bb. c. Touching the second point in the Minor the followers of the Bishops would proue that the seekers of Reformation doe write to stirre and moue Rebellion First by argument drawnâ— from the generall scope of their writings Secondly by particular supposed mutinous and rebellius sentences scattered in the bookes written in defence of Reformation Their generall argument is to this effect They that write to worke discontentment in the mindes of the subiects against the gouernement receiued doe write to mooue a rebellion For Discontentment is the mother of Rebellion The Seek of Reformation write to worke a discontentment in the mindes of the subiectes against the gouernment receiued Therefore they write to moue a Rebellion The supposed mutinous speaches which they gather out of the bookes which speake for Reformation are these D. Banc. sayeth that Martin threatneth Fists Others obiect a place in Martin Senior where hee mentioneth a hundred thousande handes and saith That these so manie togither would strâ—ke a great stroke D. Cosins citeth one Fran. Iunius pag. 28. who holdeth That people may resist the Princes that hinder the Presbyteries And that in the seconde Admonition pag. 29. it is sayd That many thousandes in Englande desire that platforme and that greate troubles wil come of it if they be withstoode in their deuises c. If I were perswaded that any seeker of ReformatioÌ„ did intende either to diffame hir Maiestie or to raise rebellion I am so farre from approuing his fact or writing in his defence that I adiudge him rather to be punished as a traytor then a felon But because I assure my selfe that they bee guiltlesse of these crimes in tender regarde of innocencie and of hir Maiesties most godly lawes which ought not to bee peruerted I haue at tempted to aunswere the quarelles of their aduersaries in this behalfe Saluo semper meliore iudicio Which clause I will haue to runne and reache from the beginninge to the midsts from the midsts to the endâ— of all this treatise For answere to the first point in the argument I doe make good that Admit the Seek of Reformation doe diffame the Bb. who bee members of her Maiesties bodie politike and vphelde by hir lawes yet they doe not diffame the Queene as this statute intendeth In my vnderstanding there be two generall Bodies politike in this lande The one the Bodie politike of the Realme the other The Bodie politike of hir Maiestie The bodie politike of the Realme is All the people in the common wealth contracted and distinguished into the Three states of the Parliament The first is the Queenes Maiestie The second The Lordes The thirde The Commons The Bb. be not one of the Three states though Matthewe Sutcliffe shoulde affirme it twenty times vnlesse he will turne out either the Queene the Lords or the Commons and assigne their place to the Bishops Although the Bb. since the time of H. 11. Haue beene present in the Kings Courtes with other Barons till the matter came to the losse of limme or life for at such time by the lawes they are to auoyde the place And although they are de facto intituled as Authours of our Statutes yet I holde that this is onelie of grace and fauour and de iure or by necessarie right For our Princes as was conuenient at the assembly of their Parliamentes haue vsed to call the Bb. so long as they vvere taken for godly and learned into their consultations that did concerne the state of the Church but yet they haue not so inthralled themselues to the aduise and assent of Bb. as if no statute might be of force without them as the Bishops doe nowe to boldelie insinuate For many lawes haue bin made and do yet stande in force the Bb. being absent or vtterly refusing to assent vnto them as is expresly proued and shewed out of the statutes and Parliament rolles by Maister Iewell Maister Nâ—well Maister Fox Maister Bilson and Maister Lambert a learned lawier of Lincolns Inne Wherefore seeing the Bb. according to their dignities bee none of the three states of the Parliament or of the Bodie politike of the Realme no otherwise then common subiects be in which respect they are not diffamed it can not be taken that in this sence they bee members of hir Maiesties Body politike and therefore the diffaming of them doeth no more touch the Queene then the diffamation of a common subiect whicâ— fault is otherwise preuented then by the punishment due to felons The generalâ— Bodie politike of hir Maiestie is as I conceiue all the Officers and Magistrates of this lande who deriue all their authoritie either mediatelie or immediatelie from the Queene In which regarde the Bb. be members of hir bodie politike drawing from hir Highnes their ciuill authoritie and lordship For their ecclesiasticall authoritie hath bene heretofore deduced from hir Maiestie but I see that of late they begin to claime it from God as the Queene doeth hir Crowne But howsoeuer the Bishops claime their worldly state or spiritual primacie the
Seek of Reformation doe mainteine that their iurisdiction is contrary to the worde of God Not condemning externall honor which is good and godly in it selfe but misliking that it should be accepted by such persons as are disabled and made vncapable there of by the Scripture Thus much for better vnderstanding of this question To proceed 1 There must diuers things concurre to make bookes felonious by this statute First they must be written Aduiseâ—ly against the Queene that is of purpose wittingly not of simplicitie or ignorance Ignorantia factâ— excusat Ignorance of the fact excuseth the fault And therefore as the Prell dealt miâ—â—iouslie with Richard Carmicheill in Scotland in compelling him to burne his bill because in his dreame hee did crie out The Diuell take away the Priestes for they are a greedy packe so if any man in his sleepe or at vnwares shal cast forth diâ—â—amatory wordes against the Queene he is not within this statute Secondly the booke must be writen of malicious intent and as the preamble of the statute is by one ill affected to hir Maiestie and therefore if a man vse such a speach as Burder the Marchant did when he saide He would make his sonne the heire of the crowne meaning his house at the signe of the Crowne not intending any hurt to the King or Crowne of Englande he could not without great iniustice be drawne within this or the like statute Thirdlie the wordes must conteine false and seditious matter therefore if a man shoulde haue saide that the King William Rufus did wickedly who to geâ—t mony of the Iewes caused some coÌ„uerted to Christianity to returne to Iudaisme the fact beeing trew and words not seditious he could not iustly be punished by this or any like statute The Seekers of Reformation hâ—ue not neither doe write Aduisedlie to diffame the Queene for they name not hir Maiestie to any diâ—honor in any of their bookes If the contrary can be proued Currat lex let the offender be punished as he deserueth They onely seeke to haue as they thinke the corruption of the tâ—â—e redressed as â—he Prophetes the holy men of God haue done heretofore without â—â—tending anie dishonour to good Princes such as her Maiestyâ—s The Seek of Reformation write against ignoraunt and vnlearned ministers so the Prophet Esaâ—e liuing vnder the godly king did call the priestes that wanted knowledge Dumbe dogges such as can not barke The Seekers of Reformation write against such as be careles and negligent in feeding the soules that depende vpon them that take the fleece turne ouer the care of the flocke to other so Esaâ—e reprooueth the priestes of his time That lye and sleepe and delight in sleâ—ping And another Prophet taxeth them that did not Keepe the ordinaunces of holy thinges them selues but set other to take charge of the sanctuarie The Seekers of Reformation doe cry out against plurified persons that can not be content with a competent liuing but insatiablie by dispensations and qualifications doe ioine benefice to benefice and charge to charge rather to enriche them selues then benefite the Church against such men did Esaie complaine calling them Greedie dogges that can neuer haue inough euerie one of them looking to his owne waie and to his owne aduantage The Seekers of Reformation write against the ciuill authority and rule of Ministers So Ieremy in the dayes of Iosiah a vertuous Prince condemned Priestes For bearing rule The Seekers of Reformation write to haue the Church throughly purged of all remnants of popery idolatry So the spirit of God did note as a fault euen vnder most excellent Kings That the hâ—e places remained vnremoued All these and many other witnesses of the trueth did speake and write against the state of the Church in Iudah and were not I trust aduised deâ—famers of the Princes vnder whome these corruptions had gotten strength In like maner the writinges of the Seek of Reformation against such thinges as they verilie beleeue to be enormious corruptions can not iustly bee deemed aduisedly and of purpose diffamaâ—orie to hir Highnesse When persecution was most furious in Englande they that wrote most vehemently against the Bishops their proceedings contenanced by lawe were neuer accounted aduised diffamers of the Prince for then they should haue bene reputed and punished as traytours or rebells râ—ther then as sâ—ismatikes and heretikes Neither hath their bene in all the thirtie yeares of her Maiesties most flourishing raigne till within 2. or 3. yeares last part any such conclusion euer made though the same lawes in substance haue bene in force and occasion giuen of great extremity I am perswaded that vpon hearing the matter debated by learned I awiers on the part of the defendantes as lawe and reason would in this matter of difficulty that toucheth life that our reuerende Iudges would at the first make a quaere whether the aduised diâ—â—amation of the Bb. were an aduised diffamation of the Queene Therefore it may well come vnder the title of Newes that the Seekers of Reformation should resolue in a point of lawe wherein the best lawiers may stand in doubt â—f my father were a â— Bishop or a Noâ—resident and â— would write against the state of the Bb. or Nonresidence to make men conformable to the lawe of God it were adsurde to affirme that I did write of purpose and aduisedly to diffame my Father So in our case mutatis mutandis c. Neither doe the Seekers of Reformat write against the iurisdiction of Bb. of any hatred or Malice to the Queene For whosoeuer were King or Queene of England though it were Dauid him selfe they would vvrite to the same effect that they doe nowe It is not like that they malice her Maiesty for sauing the matters in variâ—nce no man can charge them with any shewe of disloyall behauiour They are instant for hir Maiesty in prayer both publike and priuate They detract no duety no imposition no taxe or subsidie as becommeth duetifull and louing subiests It was neuer heard that any one no not one of them did euer attempt any hurt to hir Royall person Search the Rolls looke the Recordes it will appeare that some oâ— them whom England while England indureth shall still with thankfulnes remember haue hazarded themselues asmuch for her Maiesties safety and Englands good as any subiect what soeuer When the Spaniards intended an inuasion the establishment of a forraine potentate in the Sea Royall and the conuersion of this lande into Aâ—eldama a fielde of bloude the Ministers that seeke Reformation gaue great assurance of their affection and loyalty to the Queenes maiesty and the seate They were importunate with the Lord by priuate and publike prayer fasting for the safety of her Royal person before the Bishops or their followers were seen to goe about any such matter And being interdicted by the Bishops such was their zeale to the
be true In Parliaments that concerned the Bb. as parties they haue bene excluded But the law and state of England you will say accouÌ„t these things False So the lawes of other nations account them true In matters of God as is the gouernement of the Church the lawes of God ought to determine trueth and falâ—hood They only should informe the conscience of Iudges There is not alia veritas Theologica alia Philosophica one trueth in Diuinitie another in Philosophie or humanity That distinction is false and contradictory God is one his worde one his worke one his trueth one We may aswell say There be two Sunnes as two Truethes respectiuely in one thing The worde of God not lawe of man is the touchstone of this trueth Iustice Gascoine being demaunded of King Henrie the 4. what he would doe if a man guiltles in his owne knowledge vvere founde guilty of murther by verdict afore him made this aunswere although the verdict was as good in lawe as any lawe That hee would respite iudgement and craue the Kings pardon for the partie conuicted With which answere the King was well pleased Whereby we learne that our owne knowledge and the lawe of God assured in our conscience ought rather to guide our iudgement then the verdict of law or testimonie of men Seeing then that the seekers of Reformat haue not writen neither doe write Aduisedly Maliciously or Falslie muchlesse both Aduisedlie Maliciouslie and Falslie to diffame her Maiesty for the wordes be in the copulatiue I conclude in this generally negatiuely to the aduersaries argument though I should admit it to be true yet considering these things doe not coÌ„curre in writing of bookes for Reformation that they bee not within compasse of this statute 2 This statute is not meant of her maiesties lawes her politike members or state of Bb. but only of her Highnes Royall person as appeareth by wordes and drift thereof It is taken almost verbatim from an act made by King Philip Queene Marie which throughout still aimeth at their owne persons Of whom the statute saieth but could not meane of their members politike or lawes Wee are forbidden by Gods lawe so much as to thinke ill much lesse to speake ill This act determined with Queene Maries life In this statute of 23. the preamble importeth that it vvas made to suppresse such persons as were ill affected to her maiestie The body of the lawe bendeth against them onely that slaunder the Queenes most excellent Maiestie that nowe is By the last prouiso in it this acte hath no longer continuaunce then during the naturall life of hir Maiestie that nowe is The state of Bb. vnles God shorten it and the politike members and lawes if speciall prouisoes doe not choake them are to continue euer Wherefore this statute being meant of her Maiesties naturall person which is subiect to mortality aswell as other and not of her body politike which liueth euer they that diffame the members of the body politike can not be truely saide to diffame the Queene as this statute doeth intende 3 By the wordes of this statute If any offendâ— in vvriting bookes to the diffamation of the Queene the same offence not beeing made treason by any other statute such diffamation shalbe deemed felonie By the wordes Other statute is meant among the rest a lawe made 13. Eliz. c. 1. Whereby it is enacted that whosoeuer shall publâ—she that her Highnes is an heretike schismatike tyraÌ„t c. shalbe punished as a traytor By comparing these statutes which haue apparant relation the one to the other it should seeme that by the one namely that of 23. her maiesties honour is protected from peâ—ite slaunders such as in temperancy vncleanenesse and such like and by the other grand slanders are preuented as heresie schisme tyranny and such like The one adiudged felony the other treason Out of which statutes I reason thus If the Seekers of Reformation diffaming her maiesties lawes and members politike doe diffame the Queene and are there fore felons by the statute of 23. Eliz. then they that in a higher degree diffame the lawes and body politike doe diffame her Highnes and are traytours by the statute of 13. Eli. But the papistes diffaming her maiesties lawes in making the articles of Religion established by law flat heresies and accounting of the Bishops as hereticall schismatical and vsurping doe diffame the lawes and members politike of the Queene in a higher degree then the Seekers of Reformation yet were neuer taken and punished as traytours for diffaming the Queene though they haue by monstrous conspiracies horrible practises giuen cause of extreame rigour Therefore the seekers of reforma diffaming the Queenes lawes and body politike doe not diffame the Queene nor are felons by the statute of 23. Elizab. 4 Euery penall lawe concerning life is to be expounded strictly according to the literall and grammaticall sence not by inference or equity as appeareth by these examples There is a statute that whosoeuer doeth call her Maiestie heretike bee traytours as I noted before The papistes call all Protestants in generall Heretikes yet they be not for such speeches drawne within the statute though they doe inclusiuely call the Queene heretike Moreouer None that feloniously steale horses shall haue their cleargie Accessories to stealers of horses be stealers of horses both by the lawe of God before whome euery sinner is a principall and by the lawe of this lande For if they cannot reade they shall suffer as felons Yet accessories to stealing of horses shall haue their cleargie though in nature there is the greatest proximity and in argument the most equall inference and easie slide from the generall 〈◊〉 the speciall that can be imagined Lastlie because I will not insist in a matter so common the same statute of stealing of horses affordeth the like learning Therein it is saide that No stealer of horses in the plural number shall haue his cleargie Which number is often in common speach and in penall lawes touching landes goods taken Synecdochechios for the singulare Yet King Edwardes Iudges pursuing the precise letter of the statut were so scrupulous for the life of a man that they durst not deny the benefite of the Cleargie to him that had stolne one horse Whereupon the wise of Englande whome we are more to regarde then any one man made a newe I awe That whosoeuer stole any horse should not be admitted to his cleargie These Iudges that would not wrest a law one heare breadth against a horse stealer would haue bene as fauourable to honest Christians But some thinke that we haue cheuerel lawes that may be recked stretched at mens pleasure wheras penall lawes that touch mans life haue beene alwaies expounded in a most strict sence This statute of 23. is a penall lawe concerning the body life of man The expresse syllables and wordes directed onely against them that diffame
suâ—plication as before hee had mentioned to her maiesty that they vvould make aunswere that to deale in such a suite were to rebell to pull the Crowne off her Highnes head to make a faction to vvrest the scepter out of her Maiesties hande and to shake off all authoritie A wonderfull thing sayeth heâ— it is that humblie and duetifullie to entreate should in the English tongue signifie by vnbrideled force vnduetifullie to compell and that to seeke the remoouing of vnlawefull callinges out of the Church should bee to threaten that the lawefull Magistrate shoulde bee thrust out of the common vvealth Thus farre writeth this Martin explaning fullie that though it was like the Bb. woulde peruert and miâ—conster his wordes as if he meant to moue rebellion that yet notwithstanding he went about no other thing but to incline the magistrate by his owne authority to reforme all matters that were amisse That an hundred thousand hands would strike a great stroke in this suite hath no other sence then this that if her maiesty should vnderstand that an hundred thousand of her most louing and loyall subiectes should subscribe to such a petition it would greatly mooue her Highnes to accept the same This phrase is vsuall and knovven to an English man For we vse to saye the cause hath receyued a great blowe or a great stroke So D. Bridges writing against Lordship of Bb. sayeth that vos autem non sic striketh dead that is vtterlie ouerthroweth Lordly authorâ—tie in the Ministers A man by wresting of such speaches as this might make the best subiect in this Realme a very traytor if his writing and speaking were well obserued But let traitours be traitours and rebels be rebells and suffer as is due to traytours or rebells God forbid that a Tropologicall or Metaphoricall speach without intendement of anie harme should come within the compasse of treason or rebellion Touching the wordes of Franc. Iunius we desire D. Consins to take a little paines in shewing which Franc. Iunius he meaneth If he vnderstand Fraâ—ciscus Iunius the famous learned man who with Tremellius translated and of late hath reviewed the Bible who hath also writen a whole booke in defence of the Eldership and Discipline he doeth that worthie man exceeding wrong It can not be proued that euer he wrote any such thing But if he meane one who calleth him selfe Stephen Iunius in a booke against tyrants whom peraduenture it pleased D. Cosins of purpose to call Franc. Iunius that men might suppose a louer of the Eldership to be a fauourer of treason I aunswere that this Stephen Iunius doth not mention the Praesbyteries in all his booke And whether he doth approue any such Eldership it doeth not appeare or if hee helde anie such frensie as D. Cossins fasteneth vppon him the Seek of Reform doe disclaime him That many thousandes in Englande Desire the Discipline is true and the number doeth increase daily That great trouble would come of it if it were not admitted hath appeared For we see howe schismatikes doe trouble the Church and what endles writing is on both sides and all touching this Discipline that yet wanteth But what is here that carieth the countenance of any sedition or rebellion vnlesse D. Cosins thinketh there can bee no trouble but in rebellious and warlike order D. Bancroft not finding pregnent matter for his purpose at home to giue shewe that the Seekers of Reformation bee rebellious he maketh roade into Scotlande challenging those Churches as his friendes the Papistes had done before That the Scottishe Ministers who fauour Discipline haue abused their King preaching factions and seditious doctrine treading vpon his scepter imitating the papall iurisdiction labouring to establishe an ecclesiasticall tyrannie of an infinite iurisdiction putting the King in daunger of his life whereupon the King ouerthrewe their presbytertes and restored the Bishops to their places And galloping on the way in this order he making in effect that right noble Christian King hir Maiesties most neere friende and knisman a â—lat hypocrite grounding himselfe vppon a booke counterfait by the gracelesse Archbishop of S t Andrewes in the Kings name Wherevnto the King neuer assented as the Ministers can shewe by his Royall letters yet reserued in Edinborowe the wicked Prelate since that time hauing sought to be reconciled to the Ministers whome hee slaundered Which thing you may the rather beleeue if you consider that the King hath taken so good liking of the Ministers the Presbyteries that he hath made publike protestation to mainteine the fame while he liueth And to subiect the Nobilitie therevnto Likewise when the King reade D. Banc. booke and came to the pag 75. where the Doctor chargeth him to be an hypocrite or dissembler The King vppon the margent of the booke did write these wordes My speking vvriting and actions were and are euer one vvâ—tthout dissembling or bearing vp at any time what euer I thought Ergo Castes the libell ne quid asperius that is Therefore the Doctor sayeth vntruely that I vse no rougher wordes Signed thus I. R. that is Iacobus Rex Iames the King The same Doctor bringeth in some forraine authoures whom he saieth were fauoures of Discipline yet brochers of rebellious and straunge propositions These authours did write either against such as they accounted vsurpers or Princes by election popishe tyrants such as hated our religion they did not write aginst any protestant Prince neither in defence of the Disciplice but rather of the doctrine which is nowe mainteined in Englande As D Bancroft doth alleadge these authours to proue the Discipline to bee trayterous and rebellious so the papistes do alleadge the same meÌ„ to proue that the doctrine of the Protestantes is seditious The allegation doeth holde against both alike Our Religion doeth not depende vpon the opinions of one or two men Where one fauourer of the Eldership hath written trayterously I coulde produce fiue hundred who were mainteiners of the Hierarchie and ranke traytors Our English Bish. haue resisted rebelled and deposed many kings of England They haue most sawcilie abused the Nobilitie as might bee shewed I heare of none that either attempted or effected treason or rebellion against hir Maiesty but papists all such do approue the principâ—lity and iurisdiction of L1 Bb. Thus farre haue â— proued as I hope sufficientlie that it is not lawfull or agreeable to the trewe intent of this staâ—ute to iudge these writers for Reformation as diffamers of hir Maiestie or rebels and therefore that they ought not suffer as felons Some haue helde that though it be not consonant to the lawes of England that the Bishops should presse the othe ex officio as they vse to doe yet that it is expedient they shoulde continue their proceedings as they haue begunne if any in the same conceite should holde that albeit it is not lawfull to execute the Seekers of
should be sung in a â—laine tune likewise the Gospâ—ll and Epistle yet I haue not knowen this vsed in Cathedrall Churches 18 The names of Communicantes before they receiue should be signified to the Curaâ—e yet this is not regarded in most places 19 The Curat be he neuer so base shoulde not suffer notorious ill liuers such as haue wronged â—y by woorde or deede neither men out of charitie by they Earles Counseilloures or others to bee partakers of the Communion till they have declared them selues openlie to be repentant and reclaimed yet notorious lewde persons be admitted and men of state without exception are not hindred nor anie open consession of sinne is vsed by any offendour but whom the Officiall appointeth though the authours and confirmers of the coÌ„munion booke doe generally wish it 20 The Minister should vse the ornamentes appointed by King Edward yet not he alone but the Clearke also doeth vse a surplice in many churches 21 In Cathedral Collegi Churches the Communion should be ministred euery Sundâ—y at the least This is not practised The Aduertisement appointeth the first Sunday in euerie moneth But the Bishops Articles tie Ministers to vse the forme prescribed in the communion booke and no other 22 The Godfathers and Godmothers are commanded that they 1. shall call the children for whome they promise to heare sermons 2. They must prouide that they bee taught to learne all thinges necessarie for Christians 3. That they bee vertuouslie brought vp Which thinges al Godfathers and Godmothers might bee inâ—orced to doe for the lawe will not commaunde a thing without allowing a meane to â—ffect yet the Bishops doe neuerinforce this by ecclesiasticall censures thoughe infinite children doe for want of this helpe perishe in ignorance 23 bishops are commaunded to confirme children yet diuers Bb. doe not vse it albeit by lawe noe man shoulde receyue the Communion till hee were first confirmed A good plea for papistes to refuse the communion this confirmation would cause children to learne the principles of ReligioÌ„ for none should be confirmed till he could say the Lords praier Ten commandements and the short cacechisme 24 Curates of euery Parishe ought vppon sundaies and hâ—lidaies halfe an howre before euen-songe openlie instruct and examine childâ—en seruauntes and prentices in the Catechisme A profitable worke seldome or neuer vsed by the Bishops followers By the booke of Canons the Curate may examine any of what age or degree soeuer be they olde or younge noble or vnnoble The Bishops account it tyranny in some Ministers to expect or exact this thing 25 None must be admitted to the Communion that can not say the Catechisme Therefore â—urates should examine Communicantes and seclude them that be found wanting in knowledge but this is not regarded 26 Banes should be asked three seuerall Sundâ—yes in the open Church yet Biâ—hops dispence with asking banes Non obstants this booke confirmed by ParliameÌ„t as if a Bishop might dispence with penall Satutes Out of the booke of ordring Deacons c. 27 The partie presented to the Bb. should weare A plain Albe by the booke of ordering Ministers confirmed by Parliâ—ment yet this garment in not vsed 28 The Deacon by part of his office ought to searche for the sicke poore impotent of the 〈◊〉 and intimate their estates to the Curate c. But nowe the office of a Deacon is accounted meere spirituall 29 The Deacon must read the Gospell in the day of his Ordination putting on a Tunicle but â—his vesture is scarcely knowen at this day 30 The Bish. must tell the Minister at his Ordination That if his Church or anie member thereof doe take anie hurte by his negligence that a horrible punishment vvill ensue to him Hee chargeth him neuer to cease his labour care and diligence till hee haue done vvhat lyeth in him according to his duetie to bringe all that are committed to his charge that there bee no error in Religion or viciousnes in life left in them yet it is manifest that the Bb. Priestes and Chaplens are most negligent in their charge turning ouer their trauell to other vvhich they are charged here to performe in their owne perâ—on 31 The booke would haue them to giue themselues wholy to the ministeriâ—all vocation asmuch as lieth in them to apply themselus to that one thing to drawe all their care studies that waie to that ende yet they attende eiuiâ—â—ll offices and worldly affaires imperâ—â—nent to the charge here giuen to them 32 The Bish. chargeth and the Priest promiseth to Minâ—ster the discipline of Christ as the Lorde hath commaunded And as this Realme hath 〈◊〉 the same according to Gods commaundements not otherwise For the worde And noteth two distinct thinges in that clause where all Ministers are authorized to excommunicate as well as â—b for the Lorde hath commaunded this Discipline of Excom to all Ministers alike also they may admonish and suspenâ—e from the Lordes supper for this Realme hath receyued these cenâ—ures and giuen them to euerie Minister according to Gods commaundement in that behalfe yet the Bishops doe retaine the power of Excommuniâ— in their owne handes assigninge it to such as please theÌ„ most 33 The Bish. likewise chargeth and the priest promiseth to vse not onely publik but also priuate admonition and exhortations both to the sicke and to the whole within his cure yet their Chapleins and Doctors accompte their duetie discharged if some time they preach publikelie and neuer conferre priuâ—tely with their flocke in pointes of religion For Christ say they knewe not the persons and faces of his flocke neitheir is this expected of his Ministers both which bee vntrue 34 The booke at the ordination of euery Minister directeth the Bish. to say to the Minister Take thou authoritie to preache the vvorde of God and to Minister the holy Sacramentes in this Church In which wordes wee obserue 1. That the booke and Parliament which confirmed it doe intende that euerie Minister should be a Preacher This also may be proued by many other circumstances in this booke 2 A full licence authoritie is giuen to euerie Minister to preach therefore he may alwayes after this authoritie giuen aswell preache as minister the Sacramentes without a licence neither is it materiall that the Iniunctions or Aduertisements do will that a Minister shoulde haue a licence to preache for this booke of Ordering Ministers beeing authorized 8. Eliz. cap. 1. and 13. Eliz. cap. 12. In the Articles of Religion Artic. 36. doeth countermâ—unde the Iniunctions and Aduertisementes that went before 3. No Minister hath authoritie to preach out of any booke but Gods worde 4. The Ministers and Deacons should bee ordeined in the Congregation to which they are presented not in
that is to be ordeined and put a pastorall staffe into his hande If the Archbishops did not esteeme these as vaine ceremonies they would vrge them with as great vehemency vpon Bb. as they doe Surplesses vpon ministers 3 My L. of Canterb in his booke against Maister Cartw. sayeth That Chauncellours who are not Ministers should not excommunicate The authours of the Remonstrance and Matthewe Sâ—tcliffes bookes defenders of the Hierarchie by writing thinke it a most vnmeete thing that such as bee no ministers of the worde should meddle with the keies of the Church yet the contrary is daily vsed 4 The Bishop of London confesseth That he made his Porter minister and the other Bb. doe acknowledge That manie lewde and vnlearned ministers haue beene made of late in Englande which they will not seeme to defende Besides they say Wee haue yet but a tollerable manner of reformation all which doe euince a further reformation 5 D. Cosins one of the high Commissioners writeth That the punishment of Adulterie is to milde 6 A learned man and friend of the Bb. noteth as abuses Their vrging of Subscription Their oth ex officio Their excommunication for trifles and easie silencing of ministers 4 The suspicious and doubtfull handling of the controuersed matters imployeth some neede of reformation and conference 1 My L. of Cant. speaking of the maine controuersie touching gouernement By Seni. or Elders sayeth That hee knoweth that the primitiue Church had in euery Church certaine Seniors to whome the gouernement of the Congregation was committed In a booke against the Marprelate subscribed as I haue heard by the Archb. of Cant. the Bb. of Winch. Linc. London it is affirmed that the gouernement by Elders was vsed vnder the Lawe and practised vnder the Gospell by the Apostles though not fit for our times But repenting this plaine confession they haue caused certaine wordes importing the contrarie to be printed vpon a shred of paper which paper was pasted in all the bookes of the first impression to couer conceale their former assertion 2 The Remonstrance comming after holdeth there vvas neuer any gouernement by Elders in the Church but yeeldeth that if the Eldership begun in the Lawe and continued in the Gospell that then it shoulde stande to the worldes ende For somuch as is prescribed in the new lawe no prescription ought to bee made against it Vpon which crosse assertions laide one vppon another the aduerse partie may presse out the conclusion of all the controuersie If the Eldership begun in the Lawe and continued in the Gospell then no prescription may be made against it but it shoulde stande for euer So saith the Remonst But the Eldership begun in the Law and continued in the Gospell So say the Bb. Therefore no prescription may be made against the Eldership but it shoulde stande for euer 3 But one Matthewe Sutcliffe comming after these controlleth both for he protesteth there was neuer anie gouernment by Elders vnder the Gospell or if there were yet the gouernement vsed by the Apost is changeable not of necessitie to bee continued Not content herein to make the rent of our Church deeper then euer it was hee hath openlie in latine defaced forreine Churches of whom D. Whitgift and other haue alwayes written honorably that wee might not onely be at warre within our selues but with straungers also Whereby it is likely there will arise as daungerous trouble to the Churches about Discipline as hath growen by the question of Consubstantiation to the great offence of the common aduersarie and generall disquiet of all Christendome Touching the state of Bb. diuers who nowe most egerly defende when they were nearest to God that is in miserie anguishe of soule did speake against it but afterwarde inclining to the worlde with their conditions they altered their opinions 1 Maister Elmar nowe Bishop of London writeth thus Christ sayeth Luc. 1. 2. Who made me a Iudge betweene you As though hee woulde saie It belongeth not to my office to determine matters of pollicie and inheritance that belongeth to the ciuill Magistrate If hee had thought it had beene within the compasse of his function why and with what conscience refused bee to set them at one who were at strife and to put that out of doubt which was in sute If hee might doe it and woulde not hee lacked charitie and did not his duetie If it belonged not to him howe belonged it to anie of his Disciples or successours Had not bee as large a commissâ—on as he gaue Or coulde bee giue that he had not But hee knowing his office as the Prophete Esay had foretolde to preach the 〈◊〉 and woulde doe nothing without warrant And therefore being asked if hee were a King answered siâ—plie and by a plaine negatiue My kiâ—gdome is not of this worlde If his kingdome were not here neither the ordering of pollicies c. Yea when they woulde haue taken him vp to haue made him a King as one that refused that belonged not to him hee conueyed him-selfe from amonge them If Imperiall iurisdiction belonged to him why refused hee his calling If it did not where had Paul or any other anie authoritie to meddle with that which hee refused Seeing hee sayeth As my Father sent mee so sende I you In another place Christ knowinge the bondes of his calling woulde not medle with externe pollicie c. Diuines methinkes by this example shoulde not giue them-selues too much the bridle and too large a scope to meddle too farre with matters of pollicie If these two offices I meane ecclesiasticall and ciuill bee so â—umbled in both functions there can bee no quiet or well ordered common wealth And againe Princes of the Nations doe heare rule like Lords it shall not bee so with you It falleth not into an Apostles or Church-mans office to meddle with such matters For none going to warre intangleth him selfe with the affaires of this life it is enough for them to waite vpon one office to attende as sole priestes not as errant Baylliffes And elswhere Come off yee Bishops away with your superfluities yeelde vp your thousandes bee content with hundreds as they bee in other reformed Churches where there be as great learned men as you are Let your portion bee priestlike and not Princelike Let the Queene haue the rest of your temporalities to mainetaine warres and to builde schooles throughout the Realme that euerie parishe Church may haue his Preacher euery Citie hir Superintendent to liue not pompeouslie Which will neuer bee vnless your landes bee dispersed and bestowed vpon manie which nowe feede and fat but one Remember that Abâ—nelech when Dauid in his banishment woulde haue dined with him kept such hospitalitie that hee had no breade to giue him but the Shewbâ—ead Where was all his superfluitie to keepe your pretended
hospitalitie For that is the cause that you alleadge you must haue thousandes as though you were commanded to keepe hospitalitie rather with a thousande then with an hundred This booke was written in defence of the lawefull regiment of women but now the authour laboureth to suppresse this booke tenderinge more the state of the â—b then the Queenes Crowne 2 Maister Bullingham before hee was Bishop being arriued at Embden after many stormes wrote vnto a godly man in this manner Would God Master Bull that all the Prelates in Englande had beene with mee when wee fell to cutting off Cables reding at anchor in the raging seas There woulde haue beene tearing of square cappes renting of Rochets defyiâ—g of Bâ—shoprickes despising of pompe promising a newe life crâ—ing for mercy O what a tragedie woulde there haue beene VVell well though nowe they walke drâ—e shoode in their pallaces there is a God that will trie them and all his people by fire or by water vnlesse wee hartilie repent Grace to repent graunt vs O Lorde without delaâ—e Amen Amen 3 D. Bridges before he intangled himselfe with the Disciplinarie controuersies writing against the papists vseth these woordes Christ hath put such a barre betweene Bb. and Princes that his spirituall Bb. cannot haue earthly kingdomes And againe where the papists helde that the Pope was not properlie but vnproperly aâ—â— orde to take awaye this he addeth Christ simply debarreth all his spirituall Ministers from ruling of temporall kingdomes Christ hath both properly and vnproperly debarred them Vos autem non sic You shall not doe so These wordes strike deade Maister Sanders Further whereas the papists account Aerius and al Protestants heretikes because they holde that by Gods booke A Bishop and a Priest are all one D. Bridges doeth therein iustifie Aerius and the Protestantes out of Hierome Peter Lambarde Durand and the Institution of Collen But sithens that time writing in defence of Bishops he mainteyneth their Lordshippe and accounteth his brethren Aerian heretikes This doublinge by such as defende the Hierachie must needes cast great doubtes in the heartes of all men 5 Testimonies of learned men imply some further Reformation These followers of Reformation giue greater colour to their cause by the testimonie of auncient and late writers whom they pretend to speake against the manner of our gouernement by Bishops and for the gouernement of their Elders 1 Against the authoritie and practise of our Bb. they alleadge the Canons of the Apostles the Councels of Carthâ—ge Calcedone Constans Turon and Macra the testimonie of Cyprâ—an Tertullian Augustine Hierome Ambrose Chrysostome Gregorie Hillarie Synesius Nazianzene Origene and Bernard 2 Touching late reformed Churches they mainteyne that there is no protestant Church in all Hungarie Poleland Denmark Friselande Swevelâ—nd Heluetia Saxony Auspurg of in anie part of Germanie in France Scotlande the lowe Countries or in any nation truely prosessing the Gospell in all the world that doth either by their doctrine or practise attribute so much authority ciuill and ecclesiasticall in sole excoÌ„munication and ordination of Priestes as is now vsed and challenged by English Bishops 3 Among late writers they drawe to this purpose Luther Melancâ—â—â—on Bucer Martyr Caluâ—â— Beza Bullinger Zanchius Daneus Erastus Gualter Munster and many other 4 Lastly out of our owne English Writers they fetch matter against the Bb. 1 Harding woulde proue by the example of Moses who exercised both a Priestes and Princes office that the Pope may vse ecclesiasticall and ciuill authoritie Master Iewell answereth thus Christ him selfe sayeth to the Pope and to all other Priestes and Bb The kings of the nations rule ouer them and they that are great exercise authoritie ouer the people but it shall not bâ—e so among you Hee addeth the saying of Cyprian Christ by seuerall dueties and distinct honours both set a difference betweene the offices of both powers Also he vrgeth an effectuall speach of Bernard to the Pope That hee cannot be both a successour of the Apostles and a Lord. For doubtles hee was forbidden the one of them Yet our Bb. be both 2 Mai. Nowell Deane of Paules saieth that Christ refused pompe riches and dominions when the Deuill offered them Hee denyed his kingdome to bee of this worlde and forbad his true Disciples the possession of such riches and vvorldelie dominions as the Pope nowe clymeth In another place Christ forbad his Ministers all Dominion and worldly gouernement Mat. 20. And againe S. Peter forbiddeth Ministers to exercise Dominion or Lordship ouer their flockes 3 D. Bilson Warden of Winch. hath thus writen Christ expresly forbiddeth his Apostles to be rulers of Nacions The Kinges of the nations rule ouer their people c. with you it shall not bee so In which wordes Christ doeth not traduce the power of Princes as vniust but distinguisheth the calling of the Apostles from the manner of regiment which God hath allowed the Magistrate Christ saieth not Princes are tyrants you shall deale more courteouslie but he saieth Princes be Rulers by Gods ordinaunce you shall not be so c. Then he proueth that Katakyrieuein is not meant of Tyrannical but of Rule with authority and shutteth vp his argument in this sorte Therefore the conclusion is ineuitable That Princes may lawfullie compell and punish their subiectes buâ— Bishops may not This manner of reasoning against the papistes hath incensed men vehemently against L. Bb. If these reasons be not good Maister Iewell Maister Nowell and D. Bilson haue much to aunswere 5 On the other side these whoâ—e pursuers of Reformation haue had great inducementes to enforce the â—Idership 1 That there was a gouernement by Elders assisting the ministerie in the primitiue Church is collected obscurely out of Ignatius Tertullian Cyprian Augustine More clearely out of Ambrose Hierome Possidonius Socrates and the Canon lawe 2 The Diuines of later time almost generally doe gather the Eldership out of the Script namely Zuinglius Martyr Aretius Caluâ—â— Illiricus Hemingâ—â—s Hiperius Iunius Bucer Beza Piscator Oleuian Bulliâ—ger Szegedinus Musculus Heshusius Robert Stephen Daneus an Italian Bertrand de Lâ—ques Bastingius Morneus Sadâ—ell Nowell Fulk Whitakers Snecanus Vâ—sinus and Trelcaâ—ius Lastly the Churches in the lowe Countries France â—eluetia and Scotlande doe consent herein 3 That the same gouernement by Elders should continue vnder the Christian magistrates is agreed by Iohn Alasco Vâ—enhouius Microâ—â—us Zuinglius Oecolampidius Zuichius Capito Miconius Farell Viret Melancthon Bucer Caluin Martyr Iunius Beza Zanchius
let him doe alwaies his best diligence If hee be so necessarie for the Court that in ciuâ—ll causes hee can not bee spared let him vse that vocation and spare the other It is not possible hee should doe both well It is a great ouersight in Princes thus to charge them with two burthens If this excellent and right famous man were now aliue and should say thus much hee might peraduenture if some had their will be martyred once againe Hee addeth further That the primitiue Church had no such Bb. as we They had such Bishops as did preach many godly Sermons in lesse time then our Bb. horses bee a bridling Their house was the schoole and treasure house of Gods Ministers If it bee so nowe let euery man iudge The Magistrates that suffer the abuâ—â— of these goods bee culâ—able of the fault If the fourth part of the Bishoprâ—ck remained to the Bishop it were sufficient The third part to schoolemaisters The second to the poore and souldiers were better bestowed If any be offended with me for this my saying hee loueth not his owne health nor Gods lawes nor mâ—ns Out of which I am alwaies readie to prooue the thing I haue saide to be true Further I speake of loue not hatred This was writen by this noble Maâ—tyr against the protestant Bb. vnder king Edward the sixt In these words he doeth not obscurely reproue the King and all Princes that mainteine the state of Bb. yet neither the Bb. nor Iudges in King Edwards time did adiudge this holy man to be a diffamer of princes His bookes touching this maâ—â—er haue bene publikely printed and solde and euen nowe are to be solde vnder hir maiestie Father Latimer another man of God and holy martyr was a Bishop in King Henry the eight his time but he gaue ouer his Bishoprike as also Shaxton Bishop of Salisburie did at the same time being diuested of his Bishoplike habite he skipped for â—oy as maister Foxe reporteth feeling his shoulders so light and being discharged as he said of so heauie a burthen Thus he speaketh of the Bishops in King Edwarde the sixts dayes in his sermon of the ploughe Ye that be Prelats looke well to your office for right Prelacâ—e is busie labouring and not Lording Thus much I say that since Lording and Loitering hath come vppe preaching hath come downe contrarie to the Apostles times They preached and Lorded not And nowe they Lorde and preache not They that bee Lordes will ill to ploughe It is no meete office for them If the ploughmen that nowe be vvere made Lordes they would cleane giue ouer ploughing and fall to Lording out right and let the ploughe stande By the loytering and lording of Prelates preaching and ploughing is cleane gone They are occupied some in the Kinges matters some are Embassadours some of the priuie Councell some to furnishe the Court some are Lordes of the Parliament some are Presidentes and Controllers of Minâ—es Well Well is this their duetie is this their office If the Apostles might not leaue preaching to be Deacons shall one leaue it for minting Heare my country Englande as Paul saâ—â—d in his first Epistle to the Corinths 6. chap. Is there vtterly among you no wise man to be arbitratours in matters of iudgement What none that can chuse between brother and brother c. Ad erubescentiam vestram dicâ— I speake to your shame So Englande I speake to thy shame Is there neuer a Noble man to bee a Lord Preâ—iaent but it must bee a Prelate Is there neuer a wise man in the Realme to bee a controller of the Mâ—nâ—e I speake it to your shame I speake it to your shame If there bee neâ—er a wise man make a Waterbearer a Tiâ—ker a Cobler a Slaue a Pagâ— controller of the Minte Make a meane Gentleman a Grome a Yeoman make a poore begger Lorde President This I speake not that I would haue it so but to your shame if there bee neuer a gentleman meete nor able to bee Lorde President It is a slaâ—â—der to the Noble men as though they lacked wisedome and learning to bee able for such office or else vvere men of no conscience or else vvere not meete for such offices A Prelate hath a charge and a cure otherwise and therefore hee cannot bee both a Lorde President and discharge his duetie too For a Presidentship requireth a vvhole man and a Bishop can not be two man Let the Priest preache and let the Noblâ— man handle temporall matters Then he proceedeth and telleth who is the most diligent Bb. in all England euen the Diuell who is alwaies in his Cure and Dioces keeping alwaies Residence He is no vnpreaching prelate Hee is no lordly loyâ—erer from his cure but a busie ploughman Therefore yee vnpreaching prelates learne of the Diuell to bee diligent in dooing of your office Learne of the Diuell if you will not learne of God nor good men For shame learne of the Diuell Ad erubescentiam vestram dico I speake it to your shame And in a Sermon before the King Though I say that I vvould wishe moe L. Presidents I meane not that I vvould haue Prelates Lorde Presidentes The office of a President ship is a ciuill office and it cannot bee that one man should discharge both offices well Thus Puritan-like wrote Father Latimer the famous martyr yet he vvas neuer esteemed a troubler of the state a Marprince and a diffamer of the King though in deede he was a Mar-bishop and Mar-prelate His Sermons containing this matter are publikelie to bee solde with authoritie testified in these wordes seene and allowed according to the order of the Queenes inâ—â—nctions And Matâ—hewa Sutcliffe saieth That bookes which passe with this approbatioÌ„ doe conteine nothing contrary to the State of this Realme Therefore it were straunge that the Seekers of Reformation should suffer as felons for writing against the ciuill offices of Bishops against their authority in the Parliamâ—nt in the councell and such like ciuill places seeing writings to that effect be seene solde and allowed as not preiudicall to our estate neither diffamatorie to her maiesty Maister Nowell in his Catechisme fully grounded on Gods worde and receyued and allowed by the church of England as the Bishops say and commaunded to be learned of ministers taught of all schoolemaisters doeth write thus of the Eldership If the Church were well ordered there should be in it a gouernement by chosen Elders or ecclesiasticall Magistrates such as was in the primitiue Church Shall men suffer as felons for such things as are fully grounden on Gods worde and receyued allowed and coÌ„maunded to be taught in the church and schooles of Englande The Lord forbid Doctor Rainolds the iewell of Englande publike professor of Diuinitie in Oxforde at the appointement and charges of the right vertuous and noble Earle of Essex did alleadge in open
Reformation as felons that yet it is Expedient I answere that if such law be admitted it will be the most daungerous perillous practise that euer was receiued within this Realme of Englande For neither the Prince the Councellours the Magistrates Bishops Iudges or best subiectes can liue in security If men may violate law and iustice vpon a colour or pretence of Expediencie what endlesse mischieâ—es may insue vnto the common wealth What kinde of president would this be to al succeding ages To what purpose haue our auncestours prouided that there shoulde bee euery yeare or oftner a Parliament to supply the defectes of law if vppon a surmise of experiencie men might goe beyond the listes and limites of lawe If the reuerende Iudges of the lande who ought to preserue the integrity and honour of the lawe shoulde admit any such learning besides that it would ouerthrow both the common and statute law it would indaunger the keeping of their oth giue their goods landes and liues to the Princes pleasure Some will expect that I shoude answere the charge against the writer of the Demonstration if one man made both the Epistle and the booke which I haue not as yet hearde to bee proued but seeing he is conuicted by the verdict of 12. men the proceeding against him notoriouslie knowen the accusation and woordes wherevpon hee was conuicted in euerie mans mouth I leaue it to the iudgement of the great day when the Iudge all Iudges shalbe iudged before the Iudge of heauen and earth who will rewarde euery man according to that which he hath done good or ill Precious in the eies of the Lorde is the death of his Saintes O earth thou canst not couer bloude It still cryeth in the eares of the Lord for vengeance saying How long Lorde holy and true doest not thou Iudge and auenge our bloude on them that dwell on the earth Surelie he that preserueth the haires of the head and putteth the teares of his seruantes into a bottel will much more preserue in his bottel the drops of the bloude that fall from the bodies of his saintes Therefore be warned bee wise and take heede what you doe ye Iudges of the earth It is one thing to deale with a theefe and murtherer another thing to iudge a Minister preacher of the Gospell of Christ your redeemer and that in matters of religion wherein God knoweth you haue small vnderstanding Thus haue I runne ouer the obiections made to proue the writers of Reform against the Hierarchie to bee diffamers of hir Maiestie and rebelles I will proceede a little further to shew that if men would be curious in their writings that deale for the Bb. and if their wordes were a little inforced as they might be by M. Dolion or some such factor for the Bish I feare they might incurre the daunger of this â—tatute as easily as others The Bb. in their booke doe write That it is not lawfull to bestowe such liuings vpon late men as are appointed by 〈◊〉 to Preachers of the worde Though this might stande good and yet ouerthrowe many of our Bb. states honors who preach not the word yet this doeth reproch hir Maiestie who doeth imploy some of the â—b liuings oâ—tentimes to better vses then Bb doe bestowe them M. VVicleve that famous protestant taught another lesson 〈…〉 And who will not thinke the superfluitie of a Bb. liuing better bestowed vppon such a man as Sir Frauncis Walsingham that right honorable Councelor and benefactor of the Church and Countrie then vppon any Bb. that referreth al abondance to the aduancement of his house and posteritie D. Brâ—ages mainteineth in writing That a Priest maie haue a moderate Lordely iurisdiction ouer all the Lordes allotment and 〈◊〉 Which implieth and externall â—ordely iurisdiction ouer hir Maiestie vâ—les he will say That she is none of Gods heritage both which might be made a daungerous doctrine D. Bancroft writeth That her Mâ—iestie is a Pâ—ty pope and ascribeth to hir all the iurisdiction that the Pope euer had by vsurpation M. Iewell saieth That the popish Prelates gaue K. Henrâ—â— the 8. the strange and vnvsed â—ule of head of the Church to bring him into the slander and taske of the worlde And the Parliament for auoyding scandale changed the title of Supreme heade to Suprem Gouernour If Maist. Iewell misliked that thâ— Queene should be called Supreme heade what would he haue thought of Pety pope or howe can the Parliament beare this Do not the Protestantes detest in the pap their woman pope The Archb. of Canterb. would bee displeased and I can not blame him if a man should call him Pope Notwithstanding the Pope saide of one of his predecessors Includamus hunc in orbe nostro tanquam 〈◊〉 orbis Papam Let vs include this Aâ—selme in our woorlde as Pope of another worlde meaning great Britaine called by the auncient writers a world by it selfe yet it is thought nothing to call hir Maiestie a Peâ—y pope Doctor Whitakers sayeth That the Name authoritie and person of the Pope all Protestantes doe abhorre and accurse to the Prince of darknesse whence it came The papistes doe slaunder hir Maiestie to be a Pope or Pety pope but M. Nowell telleth the papistes and D. Bancroft also That wee doe not teach that the Princes be either Popes or Pety popes The papistes also doe abuse hir Highnes as D. Bancroft doeth saying That vve take the Supremacie from the Pope and giue it to the Prince But Doctor Rainolds aunswereth That the Supremacie which vvee take from the Pope vve giue to no mortali creature Prince or other But D. Banc. who thinketh himselfe a great Clerke as if he were a deeper Diuine then either M. Nowell or M. Rainolds whom he vseth to call a Precâ—fian maketh hir Maiestie a Petie pope assigneth hir not some of the Popes power but ALL honors dignities preeminences iurisdâ—ctions priuileges authorities profites and commodities which by vsurpation did at anie time appertaâ—e vnto the Pope If a man can diffame by foolishe flatterie then D. Bancâ—s the most notorious diâ—â—amer of hir Maiestie in al England Neither lawe reason religion or good manners doeth waâ—rant this God forbid that like extremity were extended for these faultes as hath bin vsed against the Seek of Reformat I doe not recount them for that purpose but onely that the Bb. and their friendes seeing their owne case if hir Maiestie vvere not mercifull may deale more curteously with their brethren Conclusion Considering the doubtfulnes of these controuersies I trust your Maiesty will take some good order for the peaceable debating compounding of them In the meane time we hope that these things which are here writen being well weighed your gratious and tender heart will neuer suffer one drop of bloud to fall to ground for these causes of Reform till
the Bishops Chappell else the book would not say Take authoritie to preach in this Congregation For it can not be imâ—gined that all the Priestes which a Bishop maketh haue authoritie to preach or exercise their office in the Bish. Chappell when they list Yet notwithstanding the authority of this booke the Bb. admit ministers who be no Preachers whereas this book and their owne authoritie by Lawe Artic Cler. cap. 13. might aunswere any Quare impedit if they would refuse a Clearke for non abilitie of preaching Also notwithstanding this booke to get mony for if that bee not their purpose let them doe it gratis but then they would not stick at it they compell men beeing ordered after this book to take new licences to preach not beeing contented when they shewe them their letters of orders which the Bishops at their pleasure vpon a supposed misdemeanor doe vse to take from them Furthermore sundrie of the Prelates doe preache and take their texts out of the Apocripha wherein they goe beyonde their commission vnlesse the Apocripha be a parte of the scripture as one of the Bishops doeth intitle it Lastly notwithstanding the intent of this booke they ordeine Ministers at large in nubibus without a cure they neuer ordeyne them in the Congregration to which they are presented that the people of the Church who are likelie to be most inquisitiue into his conuersation that â—halbe their Pastor might except against them for the Bb. willeth the people present to speake if they knew any impediment or crime in the person presented that may hinder him from the ministery Which by all likelihoode can not be meant of a people of a stâ—aunge parish nor of the Bishops family vnlesse the Bish. famely be like the knights of the post in Westminster who know al men their conditions lands and estates though they neuer saw or heard of them before 35 All the Bishops that be present at the consecration of Bishops should we are Coapes and Surplesses hauing their Pastorâ—ll Staues in their handes they reteâ—ne the Surplesse seldome the Coapes but they neuer vse their Pastorall Staues Out of the Queenes Iniunctions 36 By the Queenes Iniunctions which should be executed in all her Highnes Realmes and Dominions all ecclesiasâ—icall persons hauâ—â—g cure of soules ought to preach in their church and 〈◊〉 other cure they haue one sâ—imon euery moneth And in their owne person they should preach once euery quarter or else read an Homely so that in euery parishâ—â— England Ireland Wales there should haue bin twelue sermos preached euery yeare either by the Minister or his deputy as it is expounded and the minister in proper person should haue preached foure sermons or read foure Homilies euery yeare since her Maiesty began hir raigne yet there bee many hundred churches within theese Dominions especially in Wales Irelande the Northen Western partes that haue scarcely had twelue sermons in twelue yeares and there be many persons that cry formality that come not twise in a yeare at their charge to benefite the people by any duty 38 Erasmus Paraphrases should bee had in all Churches yet the Bishops wilbe more carefull to enquire if euery parish haue a suâ—plesse rather then to enjoyne any booke learning 38 Ecclesiastical persons should not play at dice cardes tables or any other vnlawful game but vse some other honest exercise as shooting but the Bb. chaplens and followers that pretend most obedience to the Queenes lawes doe more offende in these matters then any other Ministers 39 All Nonresidents which may dispende aboue twentie pound yearly ought to distribute the 40. part of their liuing to the poore of the parish but this is lightly regarded of the most as I suppose 40 Whosoeuer Parson Vicar c. may dispend in ecclesiasticall promotions aboue 100. pounde yearely should giue for euery 100. pound three pounds six sâ—illings and viij pence yearely to so many poore schollers in the Vniuersitie or Grammer schooles as he hath hundred poundes that hauing profited in learning they might bee made partners of their Patrons cure and otherwise be imployed for the good of the common wealth The Bishops doe not inioyne their Chapleins their Deanes and Doctours to subscribe to this article though if this one article had beene obserued by our formall Prelates who be accompted the onely obedient subiectes as it should haue bene and yet bee if our Bishops and regarde the Queenes orders there would haue growed and hereafter growe more profite hereby to the Church state vnder hir Maiesty then hath ensued by all episcopall subscription for these huÌ„dred yeares Marke Bish. it is your fault that learning decayeth and that there wanteth a continuall supply of learned Ministers If this Article had bene performed there might haue bene relieued yearely euer since her Maiest came to the Crown aboue 1000. poore schollers who for want of maintenance haue applyed her time trauell to other matters Blush at your negligence herein 41 The Queenes Iniunctions ought to be read in the Churches openlie once euery quarter But this were no wisedome for then the people would expect many things at the Bishops and their Pâ—â—estes handes that are not conuenient to be knowen of the common sort 42 The holidaies should be spent in hearing Gods word in priuate and publike prayers in reconciliation of enemies receyuing the Sacramentes and visiting the poore vsing all sobernes and godly conuersation yet the Bb. themselues and their Priests who should be ensamples to the flocke bestow these daies prophanely at bowles hearing Commedies and Tragedies c. Which be farre from the dueties both here in the scriptures commaunded 43 All superstitious pictures paintings in walles and glasse windowes should be abolished out of Churches and houses yet many Church-windowes bee full of such pictures and as I heare the Bb. be not without such paintings in their Chambers 44 The Wiues of Ministers and Deacons should be allowed by the ordinarie and two Iustices of peace Many foreward Chapleins regard not this 45 All Cleargie people should weare their habits sqare cappes c. and noâ— hattes in iourneying yet there bee a number of the Bishops Priestes that breake this order as well as the Ministers that seeke reformation 46 The Iniunctions allow a man to be absent from common prayer at his owne parish Church and to resort to another in the same Towne to heare a sermon yet the Bishops and their Oâ—â—iciâ—lles punishemen in such cases vnlesse they will giue them a Marke or such like see for a licence of absence 47 Where Musicke is vsed in churches it should bee in such a distinct modest song that the same might be plainlie vnderstood as if it were read without singing But the curiosity of Cathedrall churches doth disdaine this simplicity 48 None