ioy and felicitie and he saide that this his comming should be signified by his Heralt and forerunner who should come in the vertue and spirit of Elias This nowe is the thirde order of the Doctours of the Church of the faithfull that is to say of the Prophetes whose gouernement endured about 600. yeares The gouernours and high priestes be in the fourth rable and order of the doctours of the Church of God after the returne from the captiuitie of Babylon euen vntill Iesus Christe the sonne of God which is the true king and euerlasting high priest of the people of God 38 Mardocheus who yelded him selfe captiue vnto Babylon with the king Iechonias he was exalted vnto dignitie in the 12. yeare of king Assuerus which was in the yeare after the creation of the world 3453. as Philo reciteth Mardocheus liued 197. yeares 39 Iosue or Iesus who returned againe into Iewrie with the conductor Zorobabel 536. yeares before the Natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christe he gouerned in the roome of an high priest 36. yeares Philo thinketh that it is he that compiled the booke of Iudith 40 Ioachim succéeded his grandfather and gouerned by the space of 48. yeres Some there be that say it was but 28. yeares This man is reported to haue written the historie of Hester Esdras gouerned with these men before named who was sent backe againe with the people to Ierusalem for to build vp againe the Temple and citie and that was in the seuenth yere of Artaxerxes which is in the yeare since the creation of the world 3505. Moreouer Nehemias gouerned with them who in like sort was sent backe againe to Ierusalem in the 20. yeare of Artaxerxes for to reedifie and build vp the Temple and citie It is thought that he liued more then 120. yeares as appeareth by his historie for he liued vntill the time of great Alexander and in the 12. Chapter he speaketh of Iaddo the high priest who receiued Alexander into Ierusalē Furthermore in his time the high priestes began greatly to abuse their office and authoritie making them selues great and mightie men and for this cause they were sharply reproued by Nehemias And after this folowed a great and horrible confusion and tyrannie in the dignitie of priesthood for as much as they applyed them selues rather to heap vp riches and to get honours then to serue in the Temple and to worship God and they sought the alliance of such kings as dwelt neare about them We must therefore let passe such monsters and only make mention of the faithful by whome the true doctrine of God hath bene garded and set foorth 41 Now in that time amongest others that administred best in their charge were Simon and Eleazar two brethren the sonnes of Onias In the time of this Eleazar moe then a hundreth thousand Iewes which were captiues in Egypt were set at libertie by Ptolomeus Philadelphus for euery head of whome he payed at his owne cost 12. crownes This king Ptolome caused thrée score and tenne men to come out of Iewrie into Egypt the which translated the bookes of the old Testament into the Gréeke tongue whose translation is vnto this day called The translation of the seuentie interpreters And after that he had rewarded them with greate presentes he sent them home againe to their owne houses It is reported that this translation was finished and made perfect in the 17. yeare of Ptolomeus Philadelphus which was in the yeare since the foundation of the world 3694. 42 Simon the iust gouerned 28. yeares Iesus the sonne of Syrach praised and estéemed him greatly who did write his booke in the time of this Simon which is called Ecclesiasticus about the yeare after the creation of the world 3735. The religion and holinesse of this Simon the sonne of Onias the great is praised in the second booke of Machabées Chap. 3. This man was slaine in pursuing his brother Menelaus which was called Onias the younger who seifed vpon the office of the high priest by force hauing displaced his other brother 43 At this time Mattathias was high priest in the stead of Ioarib who was of Ierusalem the father of the Machabées in which time Antiochus Epiphanes exercised terrible cruelties against the Iewes as these things are largely described in the bookes of the Machabées Then beganne this furious beast Antiochus to reigne in the yeare of the Gréekes reigne 137. which was in the yeare after the creation of the worlde 3769. Through the holinesse and vertue of this Mattathias the crueltie of Antiochus Epiphanes was repressed and the true doctrine mainteined the true seruices of God ordained in the lawe kept inuiolate These things were done 165. yeares before the natiuitie of our Lord Iesus Christ 44 Iudas Machabeus the first of the Hasmoniens or Simonensiens gouerned the publique affaires 6. yeares His déedes and the déedes of his brethren also be written in the first booke of the Machabées Then for as much as like as Daniel had fore-prophecied that the people should be miserably afflicted about this saide time therefore the Machabées were diuinely raised vp to the intent that by this meane the people might be somwhat refreshed and finde some succour Daniel 11. 45 Ionathas the brother of Iudas Machabeus succéeded him who was gouernour 18. yeares bicause of the wickednesse and negligence of the priestes the dignitie of the priestes office fell into his handes with the gouernement ciuill for Ianneus surnamed Hircanus the second was the last gouernour of the tribe of Dauid Ionathas was called to the dignitie of the priesthoode in the 9. yeare of his gouernement and in the yeare before the natiuitie of our Lord Iesus 150. 46 After that Ionathas had bene cruelly slaine with his two sonnes by Triphon his brother Simon the third sonne of Mattathias was elected in his place in the yeare before the Natiuitie of Iesus Christ 140. The actes of which Simon be described in the first booke of Machabées from the 14. chapter vnto the end of the booke he continued gouerning about eight yeares Thus then the pure doctrine and true seruices that God had ordained were mainteined and kept safe among the people vntill the comming of the sonne of God the Lorde Iesus through the vertue and religion of these foure Hasmoniens Matathias and his thrée sonnes so as it may easily be knowne when and of what people the Messias must be looked for 47 Iohn Hircanus the great of whome mention is made in the end of the first booke of Machabées succéeded Simon his brother in the office of priesthood and in the ciuill gouernement In his time came vp the sects of Pharisées Saducées and Esseniens by whome the doctrine was darkened This man did great thinges for he destroyed Samaria with the temple of Garezim in the time of Alexander the great He wan Idumea and many cities of Syria he gouerned 31. yeares After his discease great chaunges and horrible confusions happened many times and
the time of Traian the Emperour about the yeare of Iesus Christ 101. In that time were likewise other Bishops as Titus Bishop of Crete and others of whom mention is made in the Acts and in the Epistles of S. Paul that is to wit Apollo Aristarchus Gayus Derbée Iason Erastus Sosipater Tychicus Secundus Syluanus Tertius Quartus Sosthenes Epaphras Iesus the iust Demas Archippus Bishop of the Colossiās Eubulus Pudens Linus Artenas and Zenas and Dionifius Areepagita Bishop of the Athenians 64 In the yeare 65. Annianus was ordeyned Bishop of Alexandria and he gouerned the Church 22. yeares looke the historie Ecclesiasticus booke 2. chapter 23. In the yeare 66. beganne the first persecution which was in the 10. yeare of Nero and it abode vntill his death By the commaundement of this tyrant the citie of Rome was set on fire and for to shunne the report of such an act he laide the fault vpon the Christians and caused them to be executed with sundry kindes of death Those that named thē selues Christiās which name was thē so odious as if they had bene enimies to all mankinde and those that were accused hereof by the prisoners besides the other hurtes and abuses that they suffered abode this approbrie that being clad in beastes skinnes they were bayted torne in pieces with dogs some were attached and hanged on the crosse others burned in the fire so as of them were kindled fires for to giue light in the night Thus Cornelius Tacitus witnesseth 65 Ignatius a disciple of S. Iohn the Euangelist was ordeyned the second Bishop of Antioch he was caried prisoner vnto Rome for to be cast amongest the wilde beastes and to be made a spectacle vnto the people He going through Syria to Rome and passing through the countrey of Asia preached in all places where he went to the people and to the congregation the Christian faith and he exhorted the Christians to perseuere in the trueth and to beware of the infections of heretiques which then beganne to budde and that they should kéepe diligently the doctrine that they had receiued of the Apostles The cause of this persecution was for that hauing reproued in Antioch the idolatry of Traian he was apprehended as a seditious person and as being culpable lesae maiestatis and he was deliuered in charge to tenne souldiers or rather tormentors for to be caried to Rome and to be deliuered to the Lyons Whereof Ignatius him selfe saith I haue fought against beastes from Syria vnto Rome by sea and by land night and day among tenne Leopards c. Ireneus in his 5. booke speaking of Ignatius condemned to be cast vnto beastes affirmeth that he saide I am the wheate of Iesus Christ and I shall be ground with the téeth of beastes so as I may be made the bread of God 66 In the time of Domitian the Emperour who raised vp persecution against the Christians Clement Bishop of Rome which was martyred vnder Traianus instituted in his time Notaries for to write the actes of the martyrs their constancie and patience for an example and perpetuall memorie In the yeare of the Lord Iesus 88. Albilius was ordeyned Bishop of Alexandria and was Bishoppe there twelue yeares 67 Anacletus Bishop of Rome of the nation of Gréekes an Athenian gouerned the Church thrée yeares and two monethes He ordeyned that Ecclesiasticall persons should twise in the yeare haue a Synode or cōgregation for the affaires of the church He by his writings exhorted the people amongest other things that they should honor and reuerence their ministers Who so speaketh euill of the ministers saith he speaketh euill of Christ and he iudgeged him separated from Christ He was martyred in the reigne of Traianus Looke the first volume of Councels 68 Euaristus Bishop of Rome who was martyred in the last yeare of the Emperour Traian ordeyned that there should be elected seuen Deacons in euery citie the which should marke and watch the Bishop in preaching and teaching to the people and these he ordeyned for a testimonie of the worde of God and to the end that none should lay to his charge that he had preached euill and against the trueth He ordeyned that mariage should be openly celebrated in the Church That the Church should obey the Bishop and that the Bishop should neuer forsake his Church so long as he liued no more then the husband should forsake his wife or the wife her husband 69 Quadratus Bishop of Athens a disciple of the Apostles presented a booke of Apologie to Adrian the fiftéenth Emperour for the defence of the Christian faith Aristides an Athenian Philosopher being a faithfull man composed a like booke Wherevpon Adriā sent to Minutius Fondanus deputie in Asia that he should no more persecute the Christians but that if they did any thing contrarie to the lawes he would that iudgement should procéede according to the qualitie of the crime That if any body accused thē slaunderously he willed such a one should be punished for his maliciousnesse and that they shuld haue no harme 70 Polycarpus the disciple of Iohn the Euangelist and Apostle was Bishop of Smyrna in Ionia which is in Asia the lesse beneath Ephesus he liued till he was very olde Ireneus saith that he was ordeyned Bishop there by the Apostles it is very likely in déede that he beganne his ministerie in the second or thirde yeare of Traian S. Hierome in his catalogue saith that he was sent by Saint Iohn the Euangelist he offended in the 68. yeare after the passion of Christ as it is reported Ireneus saith of him that one day as Marcion met him he saide vnto him Take counsel and knowledge with vs Polycarpus aunswered him againe I knowe that thou art the chiefest sonne of Sathan The remnant of the life of Polycarpus was in the time of Marcus Antonius and of Lucius Verus the Emperours The chiefest gouernours of the Empire did then stirre vp such persecution against the christians that it extended to them of the citie of Smyrna whereof Polycarpus had bene Bishop long time and there he was burned when he had serued the Church of God about 70. yeares this was in the seuenth yeare of this saide Emperour As some say he was 80. yeares olde The prayer of Polycarpus that he made before his death is in the fourth booke of the Ecclesiastical historyes 71 In the time of Antonius Pius in the 10. yere of his raigne Marke comming from the Gentlyles was elected byshop of the Church at Ierusalem the which citie after the sacking and spoyle made by Tytus vntill that of Adrian had succéeding by order fiue chiefe Bishops Eusebius maketh mention of them in his third booke and first chapter Then after the spoyle made by Adrian there was no more any Church and congregation gathered together there saue of the Gentyls and they appointed Bishops amongst themselues for the Iewes then bearing armes against the Romaines were at the last discomfited and there were killed
At Constantinople was assembled a councell by the aforenamed Emperour in the fourteneth yeare of his Empyre whereas were 300. and thirtie bishops there was commaundement giuen that all the images of sainctes shoulde be taken away and burned Also the Emperour made his subiects to sweare that they shoulde no more worshippe any image of God nor of sainctes but condemned to the death al those that shoulde call vppon the virgin Marie for helpe and those that should haue in their houses any reliques of sainctes He commaunded the Monkes to marry and the Nonnes to follow the estate of marriage Sig. Afterwards he sent to the Pope the conclusions of this councell commaunding him to cast the images out of Churches Sabin king of Bulgarie caused all the images in his kingdome to be beaten downe after the example of Constantine wherupon he gat fauour with the Emperour Naucl. 112 In the yeare 782. or thereaboutes after the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ wās Alcuin otherwise called Albin the disciple of worthie Beda a monke and afterwardes Abbot of S. Martins in Tours maister to Charlemaigne he composed thrée bookes of the trinitie and many other bookes At that time raigned Constātine the sixte of that name the 76. Emperour of Constantinople the son of Leo the fourth who against the will of his mother Hierene caused the images of the temples to be beaten downe about the which not long before she had assēbled a councel at Nice at the request of Pope Adrian and of Therasius Archebishop of Constantinople as Sig. In this councel there were 325. bishops Naucl. And there it was decréed not onely that they should haue images but also that they shoulde of right be worshipped and that all the gainsayers shoulde be excomunicated But this decrée was shortly abolished by Constantine as is afore saide Chron. Euseb Moreouer within a while after that is to say in the yeare 792. was holden a Synode in Spaine in a citie called Elyberis or Granato whereas did assemble ninetene bishops thirtie and sixe priestes or ministers Felix Bishoppe of Aquitaine was there president There it was concluded especially amongst other poynts that that there should not be in Churches any images or payntings 113 During the raigne of Charlemaigne king of Fraunce who was Emperour though that hee had not gotten the imperiall crowne in the yeare of our Lord Iesus Christ 801. was Ansegisus the Abbot who made foure bookes of the decrées of Charlemaigne of Lewis his sonne Amongst all other things and aboue al things hee would that the Bishopps shoulde preache vnto the people the true doctrine gathered out of the holy scriptures and no otherwise alleaging therefore the saying of Gregorie That a minister who is without the sunne of preaching kindleth against himselfe the wrath of the hidden iudge He also ordeined that no person shoulde make profession of Monachisme without lycence of the king for to shunne many deceypts He would that there should be but a fewe feasts ordeyned he repressed the superfluitie of ministers ordeyning that they shoulde be nourished with the reuenewes of the Church with the poore Furthermore in the time of Charlemaigne and in the meane time whilest he passed his Winter at Francfort vpon the Meine a Councell was holden of a great multitude of Bishops in which the decrée of the councell of Nice concerning worshipping of images holden by Hierene as is aforesaide was pronounced false and condemned of all men c. Charlemaigne caused to be published a booke in his name against images the which agréed with the articles of the saide Councell Furthermore hée made aunswere to two bookes which were founde to haue bene written by Adrian the Pope to Therasius the Patriarch and to the Emperour of Constantinople By this writing Charlemaigne taxed and secreatly condemned Adrian without naming of idolatrie There was also one councell holden at Cauaillon vnder Charlemaigne in which amongst other superstitions that were there condemned the going of Pilgrimage for religions sake was sharpely repressed in the 45. Canon alleaging the saying of S. Hierome No man ought to be praysed for that hée hath séene Ierusalem but for that hee hath lyued well c. It is saide of Charlemaigne that he reproued the Archbishoppe of Mayence named Boniface because hée had a crosse all couered with golde beset with pretious stones for occasion so offering hee checked him and saide that it was rather the furniture of an Emperour then of a pastour 114 Haymo Byshop of Albastat scholler of Alcuinus did write vpon all the bookes aswell of the olde as of the newe Testament as is euident yet at this present He dyed in the raigne of the Emperour Lewis the sonne of Charlemaigne in the yere of Christ 834. In his time was also Rabanus who was first a Monke of the order of S. Benit and Abbot of Fulden afterward he was archbishop of Mayence who was also a disciple of Alcuinus he also made commentaries vpon all the bookes of the Byble He dyed in the yeare of our Lorde 855. Strabus was his scholler of whom it is founde written that he was the first that collected the ordinary glose of the writings of the fathers and doctours the which glose was afterwarde augmented by many others who added sentences therto 115 Bertrand a Priest a learned man well instructed in the true Godlynesse flourished in the time of the Emperour Lotharie in the yeare 840. He wrote many good workes of which it is saide that they did not come all to our hands He wrote a very commendable worke to King Charles the brother of Lotharie that is one booke of predestination and one other of the bodie bloud of our Lorde Iesus Christ The cause why he composed that booke wherein he writeth very learnedly of the supper of the Lorde was by the aduise and commaundement of King Charles le chauue that he might bring the people into one and the true opinion who were then deuided touching the said misterie So that one sort saide that Christ was therein taken and eaten in misterie and was figured vnder the Elements of breade and wine some saide on the contrarie that all that which was séene in the saide misterie was chaunged and conuerted and as many doe say vnto this day transubstantiated into the body and bloud of Christ Some said that it was figuratiuely or euidētly this was the proper bodie of Christ which he tooke of the wombe of the virgin Mary with the which he is ascended into heauen others saide that it was the spirituall bodie that is the misterie representation figure vnderstanding and spirituall apprehension of the proper bodie and bloude of Christ deliuered to the death for our sinnes and risen againe for our iustification All which opinions are founde remayning till this present for some holde still transubstantiation others impanatiō others a metaphore but somewhat reall Others there were who acknowledged nothing els but méere breade and wyne all which doubtes be
in the said booke briefly dissolued vnder these two questions to wit whether Christ be there in misterie and figure or according to the trueth Whither this bodie of Christ be the proper body which he tooke of the wombe of the virgin Marie or not The which two questions hee debateth aswell on the one partie as on the other affirming concerning the first aswell by naturall reasons drawne from common vnderstanding as by euident testimonies of the holy scriptures and auncient doctours that the bodie and bloude be therin taken vnder the vaile and couerture of breade and wine figuratiuely and shadowed not visibly and euidently the which he calleth according to the trueth Also not clearely and openly but secreatly Concerning the other question by one and the same processe hee sheweth by infringible and inuincible argumentes that in this misterie is the spirituall bodie that there is a mistical and spirituall vnderstanding thereof and not the verie same bodie that he tooke of the virgin Marie He saith verely that the bodie of Christ is there inasmuch as the spirite of Christ is in the sacrament that is to say the power of the word of God the which doth not only féede the soule but also purgeth and cleanseth it For to sée this matter more at large you may reade the booke that is at this day extant in French and published abroade 116 In the yeare 964. Huldricke Bishoppe of Auspurge in Allemaigne did greatly withstand the decrées of Pope Nicholas he wrote vnto him one Epistle shewing among other thinges that he did amisse when he went about to compell the Clearks whom he ought to haue exhorted that they shoulde kéepe the chastitie of marriage by force and vyolēce to abide in continencie Saying also that this is deemed of all men violence when any bodie is constrayned to kéepe any particuler decrée contrary to the institution of the Gospel and against the doctrine of the holy Ghost He shewed plainely that the Lord in the old Testament hath constituted and ordeyned marriage for priests and that we do not reade that afterward he forbad it That euery one folowing the saying of the Apopostle in the 7. Chapt. to the Corinthians ought to haue his wife That hypocrites doe corrupt this sentence and falsely say that it appertayneth onely to the lay people and yet notwithstanding they make no difficultie of conscyence in any holy order whatsoeuer they be placed to abuse other mens wiues Also he sheweth that this sentence of the Apostle that is that euery one shoulde haue his wife excepteth no person but him that maketh profession of cōtinencie or him that hath determined to perseuer in virginitie according to the Lords will That the vowe of man cannot breake the commaundement of God That he who cannot contain ought to marry 1. Cor. 7. He also alleageth the Canons that is that the Bishop or minister ought in no wise put away his wife vnder a colour of Religion and that if he forsooke her he should be excomunicated and that if he abode in that obstinacie he should be vtterly dismissed and cast of from his calling That the bishop must be vnreproueable and the husbande of one wife and howe that the Apostle to the end that none should conuerte this sentence to one Church or congregation alone added consequently He that knoweth not howe to gouerne his housholde how shal he gouerne and guide the church of God he also sheweth that the glose of those is false who will expounde the Church to be the onely wife Also that those which alledge for their patrone and defendour S. Gregorie be ignoraunt not vnderstanding that perilous decrée made by S. Gregorie whiche was afterwarde purged by a worthie fruite of repentance for it is said that on a certaine day as the saide Gregorie sent to his poole for fish he had drawne vp out of the saide poole which he saw aboue sixe thousande heades of yong children wherat he being moued with true repentance beganne to wéepe and confessing that the decrée that he had made concerning the continencie of Priestes had béene cause of such a murther he then amended his fault as it is said by a worthy déede of repentance And after that he had condéemned his said decrée he praysed the councell of the Apostle to wit that it is better to marrie then to burne adding more on his part that it is better to marrie then to giue occasion of murther In the ende he confounded by many testimonies of the holy scripture the horrour of vowing continencie and following the saying of S. Paul 1. Timo. 4. he declared that it is the doctrine of Diuels to forbidde marriage Wherby we must note that the Lord in the middest of the furie and madnesse of the world rayseth vp some faithful ministers for to withstand the horrible spoyles of the aduersaries He that would sée at large the saide Epistle published nowe in French read the firste of Crespin vppon the estate of the Church out of the which I haue gathered some parte of these collections 117 In the yeare 869. was Iohannes Scotus it was not Iohn the Frier a learned man who was sent for out of France into England by Alfridus king of Englande who founded the Schoole or vniuersitie of Oxenforde whereas the said Scotus was president but afterward becomming a Monk he was slain by the Monks of the Conuent as he was teaching thē He wrot like as Bertrand did touching properly the body and bloude of Christe in the supper In that time or thereabouts the Normands being vanquished receiued the faith Naucl. The king of Bulgaria also about this time receiued the faith and willingly forsaking publike affaires he was made a Monke and left the realme to his sonne who reiected the faith so that his father came out of the monasterie and went againste him in battaile and hauing gotten the victorie he caused his eyes to bee digged out and kepte him in prison and gaue the kingdome to his yonger sonne and after he returned to the Monastery againe Naucle and Sigeb Adrian the Pope sent thrée legats vnto the Bulgarians being newly conuerted to wit Siluester Leopard and Dominicke for to institute ordinances concerning the affaires of the Church according to the Komaine forme and fashion but afterwarde they being persuaded by the Grekes reiected the latine ministers which thing bread great hatred betwixt the latine Church and the Greeke Church and all the contention of the said Churches happened through this Primate and for the diuersitie of ceremonies Naucl. Edmund the last king of the East Englishmen was slaine by the Paganes of Denmarke in the yeare 871. and is canonised a martyre 118 In the yeare 938. Ratherius Bishop of Verone wrot against the herisie of Anthromorphites which was renewed againe in that time saying that God had a corporall forme In the same time Spireneus Duke of Bohemia receiued the Christian faith thorough the persuasion of the Emperour Henricus Suppl Chro. Aldebert
a fained thing as which neither did stande with any lawe or righte For which he he was taken of many for an heretike He complained moreouer very much the preaching of Gods worde to be omitted and in stede thereof the the vaine fables of monkes and friers to be preached and beléeued of the people and so the flocke of Christ to be fed not with the foode of the Gospell but with winde The pope saith he of a pastor is made a wolfe to wast the Church of Christ and to procure with his cleargie not the worde of God to bee preached but his owne decrées In his canticle of purgatorie he declareth the Pope to be the whore of Babylon And to their ministers to some hee applyeth two hornes to some fower As to the Patriarches whome he noteth to be the tower of the said whore Babilonicall Ex libris Dantis Italicè 130 In the yeare of our Lorde Iesus Christ 1306 was Peter Cassiodorus an Italian a noble man and well instructed in the worde of God who wrote an Epistle to the Englishmen whereof because of the aduertisment and instruction contained therein I iudge it best I write it here downe by articles as it were for to giue vnderstanding the better vnto the simple sort of that that is contained therein First he sheweth that the Romaine princes to wit the Pope and Cardinals bee enemies to the Church calling them Scribes and Pharisees that sit in Moyses chaire destroying the Church lading it with sorrow making their philacteries larg desiring to enrich themselues with the Maribones thereof laying thereon importable charges bringing it into all manner seruitude which hath beene alwayes frée That the Pope did often call to remembraunce this sentence of the Prophet against the sence wherof he applyed himselfe to robberie Isay 8. Take thée a great volume and write therein after the fashion of men make hast to spoyle dispatch and be nimble in filching and pilling That it doth nothing lesse belong to the Pope then the saying of the Apostle to the Hebrewes chap. 5. that is that the high prieste being taken of men is constituted by men for the thinges that belonge vnto God That such a high priest was not ordeyned for to apply himselfe to spoyles rapine for to lay tributes and yearely rentes vpon men nor yet for to kill men That it is not profitable to vse the ministerie of the Church in the synister part as the Pope and his doe but in the right part by which ministerie the diuel is vanquished and a greate many soules led vnto Iesus Christ That none can serue both God and Mammon togither and to please his will cleaue to the reuelations of the fleshe and the bloud and offer to Christ giftes and presentes such as are due vnto him And without doubt that pastour that watcheth not for the edifying of the flocke doeth on the contrarie prepare a way for the roaring Lyon who seketh to deuour euery one That the Pope taketh away from the flockes the good pastours and that in the roume of them he setteth his nephewes and kinsefolkes and other ignorant persons that are deafe and dumbe who vnderstande not the bleating of the sheepe and that doe not regarde the byting wolfes that they deale like hirelinges reaping other mens haruestes whose handes are fit to tosse the potte their backs do they turne away from burthens Also that it doth appeare euidently that the office of Elders which they call priestes is left and that the seruice due vnto God is withholden and that the custome of giuing almes is abolished by which the holy deuotion of kinges princes and other Christians is brought to naught Also that the Pope standeth in contention against Iesus Christ For in steade that hee commaunded to pay tribute vnto kinges for himselfe and for Peter he contrarie to his will whose vicar he sayth he is hath neglected kingdomes and the iudgementes of the worlde laboureth to bring vnder his subiection kinges and princes vnder title of hys style That he taketh away from the Church al what soeuer him lusteth and notwithstanding he is not content to take the tenth part of the lands therof but he will haue the first fruites of the benefits at the ministers handes to the intent that aswell for himselfe as for those that be of his bloude he may constitute a newe patrimonie of the good willes of foūders Also that he enioyeth his lakeyes whome he sendeth into Englande that they shall bring not onely the liuinges and rayment of the Church but also that they shall teare their skinnes and fleshe like dogges Also that the Pope may bee iustly compared to Nabuchodonosor who destroyed the temple and robbed it of the vessels of gold For looke as hethen dealt euen so doth he also He afore named spoyled the ministers of the house of GOD and depriued them of that which was necessarie for the seruice this doth euen as much That there is no sorrowe like vnto that that is in the Church For already because of the great dolour thereof and for the teares that it hath spread the face is become more blacke then coales so as in some places it is no more knowen That the Pope who saith that he is the father of the Church hath brought it into dreadful darkenes and that he hath made it dronken with wormwood and gall After this the saide Cassiodorus made an outcrie vnto God and saide O Lorde looke vppon the affliction of thy people and heare their mourning and come downe for the heart of this man is more hardened then was the hart of Pharao who would not suffer the people to depart in libertie but onely by thy power Also that the saide Pope doth afflicte not onlye on earth but also after death for that after death he deuoureth the goods of all Christians generally vnder colour that they be deceased without making testament Also that the conspiracie of this man shall bee cause of a newe enemie against Englande and that because by his meanes the treasures doe decrease That it is expedient for the health of the church least it shoulde fall into a further miserie that the king and nobilitie of the realme who haue bestowed verie liberally vppon the Church would be diligent to maintaine the Church and to withstand the coniurations conspiracies of the pride and arrogāeie of this man who hath no regard vnto God but for the thinges aforesaide and for to enrich himselfe and his kinsefolke and for his neast labouring to set it vp as high as the Egle by such and other like cosening trickes he heapeth vp by a newe domination all the money of England Also that the simplicitie of the world dissembling in this place is no cause of the ruine of the Church and of the Realme and that there is no great remedie added That God taketh away the vaile from the heart of this man and giueth him an humble and contrit heart and maketh him to
the same spirite of him whose voyce they vnderstoode who for as much as he would teach them knewe also very wel that all should be said in vaine if they were not inspired with this spirite of knowledge and beléeuing And thus this eternall word the sonne of GOD hath from the beginning taught the first mā Adam Whereby we must marke that God hath continually assisted and doth assist his Church and instructeth it and maintayneth it and gouerneth it as is euidently to be proued and manifest experience declareth that the Church and his doctrine could not haue had power to continue so long time against such horrible assaultes of sathan of tyrants and of wicked men if the Church had not had these guarders and defenders Which alwayes were accounted the Fathers and Patriarches Abraham Isaac and Iacob which Iacob being gouernour of the Church of GOD in his time hath made plaine demonstration of the true Messias so many times afore promised to be his guarder And therefore he saith in the 48. of Genesis in the 16. verse The Angel that hath guarded me from all euill blesse these children Thus we may sée in this place and in many others how he calleth the Messias that is to say the sonne of God Angel calling him his guarder or kéeper attributing vnto him the power and authoritie for to be able to blesse him That which he vnderstoode only of an Angel he hath not so fully spoken being as it were plucked back with the spirite of God bicause he had attributed that vnto an Angel which was due vnto God vnto whom alone Iacob continually ascribed all power blessing honour and glory as vnto God alone it doth belong And in like sort Esaie being moued by the same spirite that Iacob was said in the 63. chapter verse 9. The Angel of his face hath saued them the same hath redéemed them through his loue and mercy hath holden them vp and exalted them continually Also for to giue likewise to vnderstand that in this diuine essence the holy spirite is resident that he wil alwayes thereby assist his Church in the 59. chapter verse 21. he saith Behold mine aliance with them saith the Lord. My spirite which is in thée and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouth shall not slide out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy séede for euer And infinite places be there where is giuen to vnderstand that God hath always assisted his Church as wel by his holy spirit as also promising all fauour comfort and blessing by the mediation of him through whom he had made all things whome he had promised to send at his appointed time to the end that by him he might purchase vnto him selfe a holy people being by him sanctified which should be cloathed with his holinesse as he promised that all such shall be as do beléeue and put their trust in him and that they shall remaine so eternally through him And for this purpose also bicause it is not in our facultie and power to beléeue he promised and doth promise as hath bene afore declared in Esaye the assistance of his spirite without which the preaching of the word is vnprofitable And thus we must vnderstand that all the Fathers and Patriarches haue infallibly knowne and beléeued who were instructed through visions or Oracles and also were somwhat taught from hand to hande as were consequently the true faithfull people their successors hauing had by the operation of Gods spirit unprinted in their hearts such an assurance of doctrine Neither is it to be doubted but that God hath alwayes ratified this holy instruction the which for that it might the better continue in strength from age to age for to helpe better the memory of men he hath willed to be put in writing by Moses who was for to write these matters called elected and that he shuld set them foorth before their eyes like as he had vnderstood and truely knowen through the spirite of God who created man in such puritie and when man had sinned called him to repentance by this same word by which he had made him promising and assuring him of satisfaction for his sinne And for this cause the auncient Doctours saide that the sonne of God is called the word for as much as it hath spoken to the Fathers Beholde what Tertullian saith in his booke against the Iewes in the first chapter Then Iesus said vnto Cain where is Abel thy brother And Iraeneus writing against heresies in the 14. chapter saith The sonne from the beginning assisting and helping his handie worke maketh manifest the father to all them that he will and when he will and how he will To conclude we sée howe that from the beginning of the world God by his sonne and spirit was made knowne to the first man giuing him vnderstanding of his good will the which he made more and more to vnderstand and knowe thereof to all them of his Church of the which Church ensued the chiefe and principall Doctours After that Adam had bene taught of the Sonne of God 1 Adam was ordeined a Bishop and Doctor by the promise made of the séede of the woman he hath instructed his posterity of al the articles of the doctrine of the time that he liued in He liued 930. yeares And vndoubtedly Adam had good abilitie to teach what the excellency and worthines of man was before that he had transgressed what sinne is and how horrible a thing it is and how greate the wrath of God is how that his mercy is excellent that he would by the meanes of his sonne redéeme mankind from eternal death wherein it was plunged through their owne proper fault He then taught others to the end that beeing warned by his example they might take héede that they did not fal into sinne and the through faith they might lay holde vpon the promise made of the séede of the woman by which séede mankinde being lost of it selfe might be forthwith restored againe vnto life vnto blessednes to euerlasting righteousnes From this Doctor all good sciences and all humane wisedome is issued as out of a fountaine this is he that appointed names to all the beastes and birdes of the ayre and to all liuing creatures in the fielde gaue them names agréeing to their nature With Adam was his Sonne 2 Abel a true and faithfull seruitour in the Church offered vnto God of the first borne of his flockes Gen. Chap. 4. vers 4. This doth sufficiently declare that father Adam instructed his sonnes in the true seruice of God But Caine was an hypocrite presenting vnto God outwarde sacrifice and nothing inwardly in spirite wherin doth consist the true seruice of God wherefore he displeased God so as he regarded not his oblations Then Caine beeing inflamed with anger rose vp against his brother and béeing led with a diuelish enuie slewe him In this place began the persecution of holy personages and this is a dreadful
shewe for this murder happeneth for no other cause then for the seruice of God which when it is done purely the deuil can in no wise abide it and for this occasion he pricked Caine forward to put his brother to death to the end that by that meanes the word of God and his pure doctrine might be extinguished And this déede sheweth sufficiently howe vehement the ire anger and rage of this subtil Sathan is howe great enuie it is that he hath borne to our first parents so that Caine béeing moued by him conceiued the same anger against his brother Now here God giueth vs alwayes to note what care he hath of those that be his which although he séemeth to giue ouer into the hands and will of the wicked and that whilest there is no body bringeth euidence or accusations against the wicked for their misdealinges yet he worketh so that by one meane or other the reuenge of his seruants is wrought 3 Seth was substituted in Abel his roome vnto the ministerie and had a sonne whom he called Enos and then did men begin to cal vpon the name of the euerlasting Whereby we haue to vnderstand that this word D'inuoquer to inuocate or call vpon doth comprehend all the true seruice of God Then is it very true that God was before that time called vpon honored and serued but the true religion went to wracke through the Cainish Church and there was then no more any semblance of the true Church the which was redressed in the time of Enos Seth was borne in the yeare of Adam and Eue 130. And liued with Adam his father 800. yeares and Seth liued 912. yeares Gene. 5. 4 Enos was borne in the yeare of his Father Seth 105. He liued 905. yeares Adam his grandfather liued with him 695. yeares Cainan was born in the yeare of Enos 90. He liued 910. yeares and Adam liued with him 605. yeares Malalehel was borne in the yeare of Cainan or kenan 70. He liued 895. yeares and Adam with him 535. yeares Iared was borne in the yeare of Malalehel 65. He liued 962. yeares And Adam with him 470. yeares 5 Henoch was borne in the yeare of Iared 162. He liued 365. yeares and was transported by God out of this miserable life to an euerlasting life God would that the faithful should learne hereby to waite for another life wherevnto they shal be translated The scriptures do beare witnesse that this man was one of the most exellent Doctors of the Church amongst the fathers and that he published with great feruencie a farre of the promise of the séede of the woman and that he sustained great combats against the mischieuous doctrine of the Cainishe Church and against the superstitions and idolatries then vsed in as much as they doe giue him great praise and do beare of him one excellent testimony aboue others the fathers where as it is said he walked before God and was no more séene Likewise the Epistle of Saint Iude doth shewe well with what vehement zeale and ardent affection he exhorted men in his time vnto repentaunce and reproued the sinnes of the wicked for marke what S. Iude saith Enoch the seuenth man after Adam prophecied two yeares saying Beholde the Lord wil come with his Saints which are by millions to execute iudgement vpon al men and to reproue all the vngodly for all the workes of wickednesse that they haue wrought vnfaithfully and for all the filthy wordes that the vnbeléeuing sinners haue vttered forth against God Adam liued with this Henoch 308. yeares 6 Mathusalem was borne in the yeare of Henoch his father 65. He liued 969. yeres There was no man that liued so long as he since the creation of the world He dyed in the yere of the vniuersal floud Adam liued with him 243. yeares 7 Lamech was borne in the yeare of Mathusalem 187. Gen. 5. He liued 777. yeares Adam liued with him 55. yeares These before named great and excellent personages were in the time of Adam and helped him in the workes of the Church and to set foorth and publish the doctrine of the promise made of the séede of the woman and to instruct the true seruants of God Thus Adam gouerned the Church of God together with his newe workfellowes the space of 930. yeares After them succeeded in the gouernement of the Church 8 Noe was borne in the yeare of his father Lamech 182. Gen. 5. This man ought of right to be named amongst the principall Doctours and Bishops of the Church of God It is easie to be considered what disdaine what iniuries and persecutions he hath abidden for to maintaine the doctrine of God for at that time men did greatly begin to be multiplyed vpon earth and to waxe froward and to excel in all manner of sinnes and iniquities And as it is saide in Genesis chap. 6. vers 5. That God sawe the malice of man that it was very great vpon earth and that al the imaginations of his heart was at al times none other but euill By this thē is declared that they liued dissolutely in dishonest manners in despising the worde of God and his seruice applying themselues vnto leacherie adulterie and tyrannie and to all sortes of wickednesse For this cause did the Lorde God threaten the world and purposed to confound and destroy it by a deluge of waters And one hundreth yeres before this thing came to passe Noe preached vnto them to the end that they might conuert and be saued Nowe when Noe with his wife and his thrée sonnes Sem Cham and Iaphet and their wiues were entred as God had cōmanded them into the Arke with some of al sortes of liuing creatures the inundation or floud came and slue and destroyed the residue both of men and beastes And there were after the creation of the world vntill the floud one thousand sixe hundred fiftie and sixe yeares What man is there able to expresse the bitter dolours that this good and mightie personage hath endured when he sawe before his eyes all mankind to perish through the deluge of waters and howe that onely he with a fewe moe was saued and further after that this so horible and dreadfull a punishment men forgetting all the euils that were passed fell againe into all impietie and into all maner of mischiefes and abhominable beastlines For he liued after the floud 350. yeares Thus we may sée that these Fathers were greatly martyred and haue suffered grieuous torments through the impietie of the wicked 9 Sem was borne in the yeare of Noe his father 500. Like as Noe was a true Doctour of the Church of God so there is no doubt but that Sem his sonne was also a true Doctour in his roome for that he had instructed his children in the true doctrine of God of the promise already made from the beginning of the world concerning the Messias to come And moreouer he hath bene able to declare also that which he had séene before
of the supper the accidents be not without the subiect that is to say that the whitenesse and roundnesse of the breade be not without the bread to wit that contrary to transubstantion which the priests haue forged the breade abideth bread and the wine contynueth in the proper substance Moreouer the conclusions proposed by him at the towne of Lambeth be these If that any Princes or Lordes or any others haue made any donations vnto the mynisters of the Church there is therin a secreate condition to wit that God shoulde be honoured and that the faithfull should be edified And if this condition ceasse then they may take away from wicked pastours that which they had giuen them any excommunication or other whatsoeuer to the contrary notwithstanding That if these dealinges of men were let alone the cleargie which were of couetous persons will bring all the world into their hands Also that the Pope may lawfully be reproued by those whom he kéepeth in obedience vnder him and that for the vtilitie of the Church he may be accused both of the clearks and lay people That the Pope as great a Lord as he reporteth himselfe to be must thinke that he is a brother vnto others and that if he sinne he ought to be brotherly corrected and heare corrections brotherly And when as by the holy scripture his heresie or errour is shewed him he ought not to be obstinate And by many other conclusions he shewed euidently the abuse of the Pope and of the cleargy and how that their possessions of so great reuenewes be vniust To conclude he was assaulted by many and amongest others the begging monkes who rose against him by greate flockes But the Lorde gaue him for a protectour the Kinge Edwarde vnder whose raigne he had some lybertie to speake the truth Richarde the successour of the said Edwarde persecuted and banished him Within a while after he was called again from banishment and returned vnto the parrishe of whiche he was pastour and there like a lustie champion of the Lorde he aboade alwayes constant euen vntill the death he died in the yeare of our Lorde 1388. fortie and one yeares after his death he was digged vp againe by the commandement of the Pope and his bones were burned and the ashes thereof cast into the water but Iesus Christ dieth not in his faithful ones vse the tyrants what cruelty they can He composed many bookes the which were burned in the citie of Oxenford in the yere 1410. there be certaine notwithstanding reserued still for to declare that God hath alwayes some faithfull seruantes who doe resist the errours of the world Amongest his writinges there is an Epistle which he sent to Pope Vrbane He that woulde sée more at large of him and of his historie let him looke in the booke of Martyrs 134 In the persecution raysed vp against Wiclief and in the yere 1400. Sautree a priest imbraced with zeale of true pure religion craued and requested in the ful Parliament the audience might be granted him for the cōmon profit of all the Realme Then albeit that his request was honest and ciuill and that he gaue to vnderstande that he coulde bring great profite yet he was not hearde for the bishops perceiuing that he came caused him to be attached of heresie and for the seauen articles condemned disgraded and burned him Looke Fabius in his Chronicles and Iohn Crespin in the booke of martyrs William Thorpe an Englishman was also a valiant martyre of our Lorde Iesus Christ He sustayned great assaultes of many prelats of of the Church of Rome without forsaking his vocation which was to instruct the people according to the pure word of God And therefore he woulde not agrée to preach the superstitions and humaine inuentions which he declared to be contrarie to the institution of the holy scriptures he was condemned hauing yeelded a testimonie of his faith Nowe of many pointes well worth the noting vpon the interrogations propounded to him I will recite for to auoyde great prolixitie one onely that is that he being demaunded of the Archbishop of Canterburie primate of Englande and Chauncelour of the whole Realme what the Church did signifie he answered that it is Iesus Christe and the companie of saincts Which thing the said Archbishop confessed to be true in respect of heauen but he demaunded further what the Church was here below on earth It is deuided into two partes answered the said Williā Thorp the one of the two parts which is the better hath obtained victorie ouer the enemies and triumpheth nowe with Christe in great ioy the other part fighteth here still on earth by the sworde of faith against the continuall bulwarkes of Sathan of the fleshe and of the worlde There is no strength so violent no pompe so proud no fire of afflictions and persecutions so burning no tyrannie so cruel no reasons of Doctours so discording nor opinions so diuerse which can withdrawe them from the right rule of faith and of the holy scriptures For they be fortyfied by the worde of God in Christ and firmely stablished as vppon a sure rocke that can not be remoued Looke Iohn Crespin in his booke of martyrs Within a while after the death of Iohn Wiclief there arose greate persecution in Englande against the faithfull for the truth of the Gospell which then began to take déepe rooting The worthiest men in the Realme were not then spared the lord Cobham a knight of the order one of the peeres of England was there apprehended but he was executed after these that we nowe speake off And therefore according to the order of time we will hereafter speake of him more at large for he was an excellent martyr of our Lorde Iesus Christ King Henrie then by publike ordinaunce made an edicte and set foorth through the persuasions of the bishoppes and prelates terrible punishmentes for all them that should follow the doctrine of Wicliefe vsing so great seueritie against them that he helde them not onely for heretikes but also as guiltie of treason And for this cause it was ordeined that they should be punished with two sortes of punishmentes that is that they should be both hanged and burned and there was neither fréedome nor any priuiledge whereby they coulde enioye profite so maliciously were they bente againste the faithfull séeking all meanes againste them and in that time they called al them Wicleffians who read the scriptures in the vulgar tongue and which made their assemblies in secrete places in the darke preaching in woodes and bushes Then the Bishops being armed with this edicte of the king exercised great tyrannie against manie good people and many poore innocentes and amongest other against Roger Acton a knight of the order and a true nobleman adorned with great vertues he abhorred the wicked traditions of the Pope had his affections withdrawen from him and from all his assistants For that cause it is reported that he was hated amongest the
prelats and became odious so as they could in no wise abide him Finally this seignieur Acton was taken condēned by the saide edict of the kinge and hanged and burned There was executed also with him a gentleman one M. Browne And M. Iohn Beuerlai a minister and preacher of the word of God And that was in the yeare 1413. Iohn Maior witnesseth in his Scottish historie lib. 6. chap. 9. that about this time many others to the number of 36 and all of a noble stocke were condemned as heretikes by the bishop were burned according to that cruell edict This was in the very same yeare There were also two others of whome Fabius in his Chronicles speaketh to wit Iohn Claydon cordwayner and Richard Turmin Baker who also according to the seueritie of the ordinance were condemned and put to death To conclude we sée that there is neither estate neither order nor condition whereof God is not skilfull enough to drawe some for to stande in defence and to crie out against the superstitions false traditions of prelates 135 In the yeare 1405. or thereabout the Lord raised vp Iohn Hus of Bohemia who hauing studied in the vniuersitie of Oxeforde in England and hauing reade certeine bookes of Wicklief beganne to publishe that which hee had receiued concerning the trueth in a Temple of the Bohemians whereas he was chosen for the preacher and Preached both of festiuall dayes and holy dayes There he commended the doctrine of Wicklief vnto the people In the ende the Bohemians being instructed with this doctrine beganne to iudge of the Pope as he deserued not estéeming him the most excellent any longer nor of any higher degree then other bishops and therevpon they went about to reforme their doctrine by conclusions and articles following That the dignitie made not the minister or bishop the more honourable but the holines of life and good doctrine That the soules separated from the bodies goe streight way eyther to eternall blessednesse or else to euerlasting paines That there is no testimonie in all the holy scriptures by which it can be proued that there is any purgatorie after this life For to make oblations and sacrifices for trespasses is the inuention of couetous Priestes That the images of God or of sainctes the blessing of waters and other like thinges bee forged by men contrarie to the word of God That the order of begging friers were inuented by diuels That baptisme ought to bee administred with water without adding of oyle spittle or such filthi That the Temple of God is the worlde That those which build Temples Monasteries and oratories for to cloase him in doe goe about to locke vp his maiestie which is incomprehensible That the ornaments of Priestes as the chasubles corporals chalices platters c. are but vanity That in vaine do men séeke for helpe at the handes of sainctes and that it is but lost time to singe houres canonicall That fasting doeth merite nothing That the eucharistie ought to bee ministred vnder both kindes They reiected the Masse and kept only the communion of the supper the worde and the prayer and many other articles drawen out of the holye scripture Thus as the most parte of the schollers of the vniuersitie of Prague did followe Iohn Hus with many moe renoumed in knowledge and so did the most part of the nobilitie the Pope hauing assembled a councell at Constance caused the Emperour Sigismonde to fende for him who sent him his safe conducte And being there he was gretly sollicited to leaue off his opinion but he was constant vpholding his propositions and reasons to wit those which were grounded vppon the trueth of the holy scriptures Saying that the end principal scope of his doctrine was for to teache men repentance and remission of sinnes according to the trueth of the sonne of God the exposition of the holy doctours That if any were able to proue that he did the contrarie he was ready to acknowledge his faultes otherwise rather to suffer death then leane vnto mens traditions repugning to the doctrine of the Gospell After many disputations forasmuch as hee allowed not all that them liked he was at the laste condemned to be burned being beset with woode rounde aboute as the fire beganne he cryed thrise with a loude voyce O Iesus Christ the sonne of the liuing God haue pitie on me and thus he yelded vp the Ghost His ashes were caste by commaundement into Rhein to the intent that nothinge of him might be left vppon the earth neuerthelesse his memory can neuer be defaced in the hearts of the faithfull neyther by fire nor water nor anye manner of tormentes Whoso woulde se thereof more at large let him reade Iohn Crespin his booke of martyres 136 In the yeare after the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ 1415. Hierom of Prague a Bohemiā beinge maruelously troubled for that he had heard that his countrie was oppressed by houshoulde enimies and neighboures by many false slaunders and that Iohn Hus was vilanously vsed by the said councell he went to Constance and there being ad uertised that the people went about to entrap him he retyred backe for certaine daies vnto a place not farre off for that he might not séeme to intrude him selfe wilfully into daungers He requested of the Emperour a safe conducte for to enter into the cittie and there to answere vnto such crimes and misdéedes as shoulde be brought against him and séeinge that he coulde get no safe conduit he was going home againe and was taken by the way by treason carried to Constance wheras in the presence of the Bishopes and prelates he made open confession of his faith True it is that he hauing béen altogeather pined away with longe kéepinge in prison and throughe many horrible threatnings he was vanquished by the weakenes of the flesh partly dreadinge the horrour of the torments and partly hoping to escape out of their vilanous and cruell handes he recited publikely before them all an abiuration which they had giuen him in writing Moreouer he was enioyned to say that Iohn Hus had ben worthily burned but for all this he escaped not but hee returned agayne to the same stincking and infectuous pryson where he was afore being there no better handled then before tyme. Then did the lord who neuer forsaketh his cause him to seale in his conscience his vile misdeed And therefore desiring to be brought agayne in to the whole assembly he first affirmed that he héeld with the Catholike and vniuersal Church al things the it holdeth which church abhorreth all errours an heresies Lastly he addeth this that of all the sinnes where with he euer had offended Gods diuine maiestie there was none that so much charged and gréeued his conscience as did this offence that hee had committed in the chaire of pestilence and execration whether he being fallen by infirmitie and by the horrour of death he was was constrained to goe back and