and Leo Iuda were preachers at this time in Zuricke after their owne interpretation opening thereby whole dores and windowes to discord and dissention Albeit of their doctrine they were not certaine what they did teach yet what inconuenience folowed vpon their doctrine they had to much experiēced For now all fasting was layd downe and all daies were alike to eate both flesh egges as well one as an other Priests religious persons both mē women brake their vowes ranne out of their order and fell to marying Gods seruice was decayed singing in the church left and prayer ceased Priests grewe in contēpt Religious men were thrust out of their cloisters Confession and penance was neglected so that men woulde not sticke to presume to receaue at the holy aultar without any confession made to the Priest before The holy masse was dirided and scorned Our blessed Lady and other saintes blasphemed Images pluckte downe broken in peeces neither was there any honour geuen to the Sacraments To make short men now were growen vnto such a licence and liberty that vnneth the holy host could be safe within the Priests hands c. The disorder of all which thinges as it is of no small importaunce so it was sayd they to them so greuous and lamētable that they thought it their part to suffer the same no lōger Neither was this the first time they said of thys their complaining when in their former assemble they sent vnto them before the like admonition wryting to them by certaine of the Clergye and crauing their aide in the same Which seing it is so they did now againe earnestly cal vpō them touching the premisses desiring them to surcease frō such doings and to take a better way cōtinuing in the religion of their old aunceters which were before them And if there were any such thing wherein they were greeued offended against the Bishop of Rome the Cardinals Bishops or other Prelates either for their ambition in heaping exchanging and selling the dignities of the Church or for their oppressiō in pilling mens purses with their indulgences or els for their vsurped iurisdiction and power which they extend too farre corruptly apply it to matters externe politicall which onely ought to serue in such cases as be spirituall if these and such other abuses were the causes wherewith they were so greeuously offended they promised that for the correction reformation therof they would also themselues ioyne their diligence and good will thereto for somuch as themselues also did not a litle mislike therewith therfore would conferre their counsailes together with them how by which way such greuaunces might best be remoued To this effect were the letters of the Heluetiās written to the Senate Citizens of Zuricke Whereunto the Tigurines made their aunswere agayne the xxi day of March the same yeare in maner as here foloweth ¶ An answere agayne of the Tygurines to the Letter aforesayd FIrst * The letter of the Tigurines aunswering againe the letter of the Heluetiās declaring how their Ministers had laboured and trauailed amongest them teachyng and preachyng the word of God vnto thē the space now of v. yeares Whose doctrine at the first seemed to them very straunge and nouelle because they neuer heard the same before But after that they vnderstoode and perceiued the * If the scope of doctrine be well marked betwene the Papistes and the Protestātes ' it will not be hard for any mā to iudge which is the truer doctrine For the whole ende and scope of the Popes doctrine tendeth to set vp the honour and wealth of man as may appeare by the doctrine of supremacy of confession of the masse of the Sacramēt of the aultar c. all which do tend to the magnyfiyng of the Priests like as Purgatory obsequies pardons and such other serue for their profite Contrarywise the teaching of the Protestantes as well touching iustification originall sinne as also the Sacramentes and inuocation and all other such like tende onely to the setting vp of Christ alone and casting downe of man No iniurye to Saints if Christ onely be worshipped scope of that doctrine onely to tende to this to set forth Christ Iesus vnto vs to be the pillar and refuge of all our saluation whiche gaue his life and bloud for our redemption and which onely deliuered vs also sinnefull misers from eternall death and is the onely Aduocate of mankynde before God they could no otherwise do but with ardent affection receaue so wholesome and ioyfull message The holy Apostles and faythfull Christiās after they had receaued the Gospell of Christ did not fall out by and by in debate and variunce but louyngly agreed and consented together and so they trusted sayd they that they should doe if they would likewise receaue the worde of God settyng aside mens doctrines and traditions dissonant from the same Whatsoeuer Luther or any other mā doth teach whether it be right or wrong it is not for the names of the persons why the doctrine whiche they teach should be either euill or well iudged vpon but onely for that it agreeth or disagreeth from the rule of Gods word for that were but to goe by affection and were preiudiciall to the authoritie of the word of God which ought to rule man and not to be measured by man And if Christ onely be worshipped and mē taught soly to repose their confidence in him yet neither doth the blessed Uirgine nor any Saint elles receaue any iniurie thereby who beyng here in earth receiued their saluation onely by the name of hym And where as they charge their Ministers with wrastyng the Scripture after their owne interpretation God had styrred vp such light now in the hartes of mē that the most part of their Citie haue the Bible in their hand and diligently peruse the same so that their Preachers cā not so winde the Scriptures awry but they shall quickly be perceaued Who be they that wraste the scripture Wherefore there is no danger why they should feare any sectes or factions in them but rather such sectes are to be obiected to those who for their gaine and dignitie wrast the word of God after their owne affections and appetites And where as they and other haue accused them of errour Errour many times obiected where none can be proued yet was there neuer man that could proue any errour in them Although diuers Byshops of Constance of Basill of Curiake with diuers Uniuersities besides also they themselues haue bene sundry times desired so to do yet to this present day neither they nor euer any other so did neither were they nor any of all the foresayd Bishops at their last assemble being requested to come so gentle to repaire vnto them saue only the Schashusians and Sangallians In the which foresayd assemble of theirs all such as were then present considering throughly the whole case of the matter condescended together with
vp chaffe Who shall graunt vnto vs the God shall say I haue looked downe and beholden the affliction of my people which is in Aegypt and haue heard theyr sighes and am come downe to deliuer them But whether hath thys zeale caryed me whether after knowledge or not I dare not say it perteyneth to you reuerent father to iudge thervpon Now you do looke y t I should shewe vnto you at large as you write how that they ought sincerely to preach to the better edefying hereafter of your flocke Here I coÌ„fesse I was afraide that you had spokeÌ„ in some derision vntill that I well perceiued that you had written it with your owne hand Then agayne I beganne to doubte for what intent Tonstall should require that of Bilney an old soldiour of a young beginner the cheife Pastor of London of a poore silly sheepe But for what intente so euer you did it I trust it was of a good minde And albeit that I am weake of bodie yet through the grace of Christ geuen vnto me I will attempt this matter although it doe farre passe my power vnder the which burden if I be oppressed yet I will not deceiue you for that I haue promised nothing but a prompte and readye will to do that which you haue commaunded As touching that pertayneth to y e preaching of the Gospell I would to God you would geue me leaue priuately to talke w t you that I mighte speake freely that which I haue learned in the holy Scriptures for the consolation of my conscieÌ„ce which if you will so do I trust you shall not repent you All things shal be submitted vnto your iudgement Esay 42. who except I be vtterly deceaued will not breake the reede that is bruised and put out the flaxe that is smoking but rather if I shal be found in any error as in deed I am a man you as spirituall shal restore me thorough y e spirite of gentlenesse considering your selfe least that you also be tempted For euery Byshop which is taken from among men Hebr. 5. is ordayned for menne not violentlye to assaulte those which are ignoraunt and do erre for he hymselfe is compassed in with infirmitie that he beyng not voyde of euils should learn to haue compassion vpon other miserable people I desire you that you will remember me to morrowe that by your ayde I may be brought before the tribunall seate of my Lorde Cardinall before whome I had rather â—â—and then before any of his deputies Yours Thomas Bilney A letter of M. Bilney fruitfull and necessary for all Ministers to read MOst reuerent father salutations in Christ. You haue required me to write vnto you at large 〈…〉 God preach their owne traditions Priestes of the Popes church â—ewe learned in the Scriptures Preachers in the popish tyme haue wâ—asted the Scriptures wherein men not preached as they ought how they should haue preached better This is a burdeÌ„ too heauy for my strength vnder y t which if I shall faint it belongeth to you which haue layd this burden vpon my shoulders to ease me therof As touching the first part they haue not preached as they ought which leauing the word of God haue taught theyr own traditioÌ„s of y e whiche sort there are not a few as it is very euideÌ„t in y t they do report those which preach y e worde of God sincerely to teach newe doctrine This is also no smal testimony therof y t in al England you shal scarse find one or two that are mightye in the Scriptures and what meruaile is it if al godly things do seeme newe vnto them vnto whom the Gospell is new and straunge being nousled in mens traditions now a long tyme Would to God these thinges were not true whiche I vtter vnto you but alas they are to true They haue also preached euill which either haue wrasted the scriptures themselues or haue rashly gathered theÌ„ out of olde rotten papers being wrasted by others And howe shoulde it bee but that they shoulde wrast them or els howe shuld they iudge them being falsly interpreted by others when as they haue not once read ouer the bible orderly Of this sort there is truely a very great number froÌ„ which number many great Rabines or maisters shal hardly excuse themselues whom the people haue hitherto reuerenced in stead of Gods And these are they whiche nowe serue theyr bellies Balaams Asieâ—â— nâ—t to be despysed â—eâ—tyng forth Gods woâ—d ergo much lesse other 〈◊〉 1. Cor. 1. seeking theyr owne glorye and not the true glory of God which might be set forth euen by Balaams Asse muche lesse then ought we to contemne such abiectes which preach the worde of God We haue sayth S. Paule â—his treasure in brickle vesselles that the glorye of the power might be of God and not of vs. God hath chosen the foolish thinges of the worlde to confounde the wise and the weake thinges God hath chosen to confound the mighty and vile things of the world and despised hath he chosen and things that are not to bring to nought thinges that are that no flesh shoulde glory in his sight But now all men in a maner will be wise therfore they are ashamed of the simple Gospel they are ashamed truely to say with Paule and to performe it in deede I brethren wheÌ„ I came vnto you 1. 〈…〉 did not come with excellency of wordes or of wisedome preaching the testimony of Christ for I esteemed not my selfe to know any thing amongst you but onely Iesus Christ and him crucified O voyce of a true Euangelist But now we are ashamed of thys foolish preachyng by the which it hath pleased God to saue all those which beleue in him being puffed vp w t our own fleshly minde chuse rather proudly to walke in those thinges whiche we haue not seene preaching fables and lyes and not the lawe of God Psâ—l 18. which is vndefiled conuerting soules But how should they teach the law of God which they haue not once read in the bookes much lesse learned at the mouth of God But in a Pastor and a Byshop this is required 〈…〉 of the 〈◊〉 of God in Prelate noted 〈◊〉 3. Thou sonne of man sayth God lay vp in thy hart al my wordes which I do speake vnto thee c. And shortly after hee sayth Thou sonne of man I haue ordayned and geuen thee a watchman vnto the house of Israel I haue geuen thee sayth hee not comming in by ambition nor thrusting in thy selfe nor clyming in another way but I gaue thee when thou lookedst not for it that thou shouldest attend thereupon and geue warning from the toppe of the watch Tower if any enemies shoulde approche I haue geuen thee vnto the house of Israell and not the house of Israell vnto thee God gâ—â—eth to his 〈◊〉 and not hys floâ—â—e to pastâ—â—rs The 〈…〉 sitteth 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 but 〈…〉 that thou shouldest acknowledge
commaunding Leo then Bishop of Rome to come vnto the same And albeit Leo neither liked the tyme which he would for a season shoulde haue bene deferred nor yet the place for he wold haue had it in Italy wheras the Emperour by hys owne commaundement had called it to Calchis in Asia yet he answered the Emperor that he would gladly obey his commaundement and sent thither his agentes to appeare there for him as doth appeare in the Epistles of Leo to Martiane then Emperoure xli.xlvii.xvliij and in the xlix Epistle to Pulcheria the Empres. And likewise desireth Theodosius the Emperour to commaund a Councell of Bishops to be called in Italy for taking away such contentions and troubles as at that tyme troubled the quietnes of the Churches And in many moe Epistles of the same Leo it doth manifestly appeare that the Emperoures alwayes assembled generall Councels by theyr commaundementes And in the sixt generall Councel it appeareth very playnly that at that time the Byshoppes of Rome made no clayme nor vsed anye title to call themselues heades vniuersall ouer all the Catholicke Churche as there doth appeare in the superscription or salutation of the foresayd Synodicall preamble which is this word for word To the most godly Lordes and most noble victors and conquerours the welbeloued Children of God and our Lord Iesu Christ Constantine the great Emperour and to Heraclius and Tiberius Cesars Byshop Agatho the seruaunt of the seruaunts of God with all the cōuocations subiecte to the Councell of the See apostolicke sendeth greeting And he expresseth what Countryes he reckoned and comprehended in that superscription or salutation For it followeth that those were vnder hys assembly whiche were in the North and East partes so that at that time the byshop of Rome made no such pretence to be ouer and aboue all as he nowe doth by vsurpation vendicating to hymselfe the spirituall kingdom of Christ by which he raigneth in the heartes of all faythfull people and then chaungeth it to a temporall kingdome ouer and aboue all kinges to depose them for hys pleasure preaching thereby the flesh for the spirite and an earthly kingdome for an heauenly to hys owne damnation if he repent not Pet. 2. Where hee ought to obey hys prince by the doctrine of S. Peter in his first Epistle saying Be ye subiect to euery ordinaunce of man Rom. 14. for the Lordes sake whether it be to the king as to the chiefe or vnto gouernours as sent of hym to the punishment of the euill doers and to the prayse of the good Agayne S. Paule Let euery soule be subiect to the higher powers With other thinges before alledged So that this his pretensed vsurpation to be aboue all kings is directly agaynst the scriptures geuen to the Churche by the Apostles whose doctrine whosoeuer ouerturneth can be neyther the head nor yet the least member of the Church Wherfore albeit ye haue hetherto sticked to the sayd wrongfully vsurped power moued thereto as ye write by your conscience yet sithence now ye see further if ye lust to regarde the meere truth and such auncient authours as haue bene written to you of in tymes past we would exhorte you for the wealth of your soule to surrender into the Byshoppe of Romes handes your redde hatte by whiche he seduced you trustyng so to make you beyng come of a noble bloud an instrument to aduaunce his vayne glory whereof by the sayd hat hee made you participant to allure you thereby the more to his purpose In whiche doyng yee shall returne to the truth from whiche yee haue erred doe your duetye to your soueraigne Lord from whom ye haue declined and please thereby almightie God whose lawes ye haue transgressed and in not so doyng ye shall remayne in errour offendyng both almightie God and your naturall soueraigne Lord whome chiefly yee ought to seeke to please Which thyng for the good mynde that we heretofore haue borne you we pray almightie God of his infinite mercy that you do not Amen When all other kynges subiectes Anno 1535. and the learned of the Realme had taken and accepted the othe of the kynges supremacie onely Fisher the Byshop of Rochester Syr Thomas More refused as is aforesaid to be sworne who therfore fallyng into the daūger of the law were committed into the Tower and executed for the same an 1535. This Iohn Fisher aforesayd had written before agaynst Oecolampadius whose booke is yet extant and afterward agaynst Luther Iohn Fysher Bishop of Rochester enemye to Christes Gospell Also amongest other his actes he had bene a great enemy and persecuter of Iohn Frith the godly learned Martyr of Iesus Christ whom hee and Syr Thomas Moore caused to be burned a yeare and a halfe before and shortly after the said fisher to his confusion was charged with Elizabeth Barton called the holy maid of Kent and founde guilty by act of Parleament as is aboue recorded For his learning and other vertues of life this Bishop was well reputed and reported of many and also much lamented of some But whatsoeuer his learning was pitie it was that he being indued with that knowledge should be so farre drowned in such superstition more pitie that he was so obstinate in his ignoraunce but most pitie of all that he so abused the learning he had to such crueltie as hee dyd But thus commonly we see come to passe as the Lorde saith That who so striketh with the sworde shall perishe with the sworde 〈…〉 with 〈◊〉 and they that staine their handes with blood seldome do bring their bodies drie to the graue as cōmonly appeareth by the end of bloudy tyrantes and especially such as be persecuters of Christes poore members Byshop Fysher and Sir Tho. More persecutors In the number of whom was this Bishop and sir Thom. More by whom good Iohn Frith Teukesbery Thomas Hytten Bayfild with diuers other good saintes of God were brought to their death It was sayde that the Pope to recompence Byshop Fisher for his faithfull seruice had elected him Cardinal and sent him a Cardinals hat as far as Calice but the head it should stand vpon was as hie as London bridge ere euer y e Popes hat could come to him Thus Bishop Fisher and Syr Thomas More which a litle before had put Iohn Frith to death for heresy against the Pope Byshop Fysher Syr Tho. More beheaded were themselues executed and beheaded for treason against the king the one the xxij of Iune the other the vi of Iuly ann 1535. Of sir Tho. More some thing hath bene touched before who was also recounted a man both wittie learned but whatsoeuer he was beside a bitter persecuter he was of good men The lying bookes of Syr Tho. More and a wretched enemie against the truth of the Gospel as by his bookes leaft behind him maye appeare wherein most slanderously and contumeliously he writeth against Luther Zwinglius Tindal Frith Barnes
of heresy and so prohibited by Bishops for to preach the worde of God Wrongfull prohibytion oughte not to stoppe the preaching of Gods worde that they ought for no mans commaundement to leaue or stop though they do neuer purge themselues afore them for such will admitte no iust purgation many times but iudge in theyr own causes and that as they lust which me thinketh is not all comely Therfore in the old law the priestes and other Iudges do sit together hearing of matters that were in controuersy Yet this I thinke reasonable that a man iustly and not causelesse suspect Popish prelates iudges in their owne causes and namely if he be so found faultye of heresy ought to cease from preaching after he is inhibited vntill he haue made his purgation before some Iudge But in my rude opinion it were necessary and conuenient that our heades should not be ouer ready of suspition Swiftnes of suspition reproued and so inhibiting men approued from preaching specially in this Session when the people doth suspect them to doe it more for loue of themselues and mainteining of their priuate lucre or honor then to do it for loue of God and maintenance of his honor In the xxij where you demaund whether I beleue that it is lawfull for all Pristes freely to preache the woorde of God or no Answere to the 22. article and that in all places at all seasons to al persons to whom they shall please although they be not sent I say that priestes are called in Scripture by two distinct wordes that is to wit Praesbiteri Sacerdotes The fyrst is to say auncient men Seniors or elders and by that word or vocable Priestes whether they ought to preach though they be not sent are the seculer iudges or such like head officers sometime also signified as we reade in Daniel that they were called which defamed and wrongfully accused Susanna that this is seldome and nothing so customably as those to be called Praesbiteri which are set to be Prelates in the Church to guide the same by the word of God and his blessed doctrine Episcopi and Praesbyteri all one that is the roode of direction and the foundation of Christes fayth And Priestes thus called Praesbiteri in the Primitiue Church what time were but few traditions and ordinaunces to let vs from the strayt trade or institution made by Christ and his Apostles were the very same and none other but Bishops as I shewed you in the first part of mine aunswere by authoritye of Saynt Hierome Paul also recordeth the same right euidently in the first to Titus in this fourme I left thee Titus quoth blessed Paule behinde me in Crete that thou shouldest set in a due order such thinges as lacke or be not els perfectly framed and that thou shouldest set priestes in euery towne Priestes haue two names in Scripture Presbyteri Sacerdotes like as I did appoynt thee if any be without reproche or blamelesse the husbande of one wife hauing faythfull children not geuen to ryote or that be not vnruely for so ought a Bishop to be c. These are not my words but S. Paules in the Epistle to Titus Tit. 1. Where you may see that a priest called Praesbiter shuld be the same that we call a byshop whom he requireth a litle after to be able by wholesome doctrine of Gods Scripture Descripâ—â—â—â— of a 〈◊〉 Priest Gainesayâ—â—â— of truth 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 by scriptures 〈◊〉 by authority only oâ— traditions of men made in generall Councels What miâ—â—sters be 〈◊〉 to exhort the good to â—olow the same doctrine if any shall speake agaynst it to reproue them thereby And marke you how he would haue a bishop otherwise called an auncient man or a priest to make exhortation by holy scripture therby to reproue them that shall speake agaynst the trueth not to condemne them by might or authority onely or els by traditions of men made in generall Councels And as many as are in this wise Priestes whiche are called commonlye Praesbiteri otherwise Bishops such as in the church are set to take cure of soule and to be spirituall pastors ought to preach freely the word of God in all places and times conuenient and to whom soeuer it shall please theÌ„ if they suppose and see that theyr preaching should edify and profite And where as you adde this particle Though they were not sent I say that all suche are chosen to be preachers and therfore sent for of this speaketh S. Gregorye in his Pastorals in this wise Grigor in Pastoral Praedicationis quippe officium suscipit quisquis ad sacerdotium accedit Whosoeuer taketh priesthood vpoÌ„ him taketh also vpon him the office of preaching Yea your lawe reporteth in like maner Distinct. 43. where it is thus sayd A Priest ought to be honest that he may shew honesty both in wordes and conditions Dist. 43. Wherfore it is sayd in the Canticles The Cheekes of the spouse that is to wit of preachers are to be compared to a Turtle doue Where is moreouer added He must also haue the gift of teaching because as sayth S. Hierome innocent coÌ„uersation without speach or preaching how much it is auaylable by example geuing so much doth it hurt agayn by sileÌ„ce keping for wolues must be driueÌ„ away by barking of dogs by the shepheards staffe which as y e glose sheweth signifieth preaching sharpe words of the priest And this I vnderstaÌ„d of such as should be priestes elect both by god and men in Gods church whose office is to preach And though many of them which now doe minister in the church and are elect by bishops otherwise theÌ„ after the maner of Christes institution and the forme of the primitiue Church neither do ne can preach Multitude serueth for authority yet ought not the multitude of such to be layd for an authority agaynst me or other that are compelled to shew the truth and right ordinance of the apostles that was vsed afore time in the Primitiue church God bring it in agayn Neither ought we for the negligence of bishops which haue chosen such an ignorant multitude wherby the principal duty of priestes is growen out of knowledge when we do shew you therof to be so enforced by a booke othe and therfore noted as heretickes imprisoned and burned Sacerdotes Other be called priestes in the new Testament by thys word Sacerdotes that is to say I thinke sacrificers And thus as Christ was called Rex Sacerdos Kyng Prieste so be all true Christen men in the newe Testament as is testified Apocal. 1. by Christ made Kinges and Priestes The wordes in the Apocal. be thus Apoc. 1. To Iesu Christ whyche hath loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes through his bloud and made vs kinges and priestes vnto God euen his father vnto him be glory and rule for euer and euer Amen
outward ceremony And so Paule by that saying confuteth this opinion Ex opere operato that the Sacramentes should make men righteous iust before God for y e very outward work without faith of them that receiue them And after this manner doth Paule speake vnto the Ephesians Eph. 5. that Christ doth sanctify his church through the bath of water in the word of life And for as much as he ioyneth the word vnto the ceremony and declareth the vertue and power of the word of God Sacramentes onely to be gathered out of the word of God that it bringeth with it life he doth manifestly teach that the word of God is the principall thing and euen as it were the very substaunce body of the Sacrament and the outward ceremony to be nothing els then a token of that liuely inflamation whych we receiue through fayth in the word and promise Saint Paule also in ministring the sacrament of the Lordes supper doth manifestly adde the woordes of Christ He tooke bread sayth he and when he had geuen thankes he brake it and sayd take ye this and eate ye this for it is my body Item Do ye this in my remembrance The institution of Christ ought not to be altered 1. Cor. 11. Beside this he teacheth euidently y e onely Christ and none but he had power to institute a sacrament that neither the Apostles nor the Church hath any authority to alter or to adde any thing vnto his ordynaunce whereas he saith For I haue receiued of the Lord that which I deliuered vnto you c. To what purpose shoulde he go about to mooue the people to beleue him and to winne theyr hartes with this protestation if it had bene lawefull for him to haue made any sacramentes or to haue altered the forme and maner of ministring this sacrameÌ„t as some men both wickedly and shamelesly do affirme that the Apostles did alter the forme of Baptisme When he had spoken thus much The aunswere of the Bishop of London agaynst Alesius the B. of LondoÌ„ dyd interrupt him and sayd Let vs grauÌ„t that the sacraments may be gathered out of the word of God yet are you farre deceiued if ye think that there is none other word of God but that which euery sowter and cobler doe reade in theyr mother tongue And if ye thinke that nothing pertayneth vnto the Christian fayth but that onely that is written in the Bible then erre ye playnely with the Lutherans Iohn 21. 2. Thess. 2. For S. Iohn sayth that Iesus did many thinges which be not written And S. Paul commaundeth the Thess. to obserue and keep certeine vnwritten traditions ceremonies Actes 16. Vnwritten verities and traditions of fathers in equall force with Gods written word 2. Thes. 2. Moreouer he himselfe did preach not the scripture onely but euen also the traditions of the Elders Act. xvj Finally we haue receiued many things of the Doctors Councels by times which although they be not written in the Bible yet for as much as the olde Doctors of the Churche do make mention of them we ought to graunt that we receiued them of the Apostles and that they be of like authority with the Scripture and finally that they may worthily be called the word of God vnwritten Now when the right noble Lord Cromwell The vnwritten word of God Stokesly laughed to scorne the Archbishop with the other Bishops which did defend the pure doctrine of the gospel heard this they smiled a litle one vpoÌ„ another forasmuch as they saw him flee euen in y e very beginning of the disputation vnto his old rusty sophistry and vnwritten verities Then Alesius would haue proceded further with the Bishop to haue confuted this blasphemous lye but the Lord Cromwell bade him be coÌ„tent for the time began to go away and it was xij of the clock and thus he made an end w t his protestation Right reuerend mayster Bishop you deny that our christen fayth and religion doth leane only vpoÌ„ the word of God which is written in the Bible which thing if I can proue and declare then you will graunt me that there be no sacramentes but those that haue the manifest word of God to confirme theÌ„ Unto this he did consent and then immediatly that assemble was dissolued for that day The next day when the Bishops were set agayne the Archbishop of Canterbury sending his Archdeacon commaunded Alesius to abstayne from disputation wherupon he wrote his minde and deliuered it vnto Cromwell who afterward shewed the same vnto the Bishops Thus through the industry of Cromwell the colloquies were brought to this end that albeit religioÌ„ could not wholy be reformed yet at that time there was some reformation had throughout all England How desirous and studious this good Cromwel was in y e cause of Christs religioÌ„ The publicke care of Cromwell for the commoÌ„ wealth exaÌ„ples need not to be broght His whole life was nothing els but a continuall care and trauell how to aduaunce and further the right knowledge of the Gospell and reforme the house of God As by so many Proclamations aboue specified by his meanes set forth may well appeare wherein first he caused the people to be instructed in the Lordes Prayer and Creede in English then procured the Scripture also to be read and set forth in the same language for euery English man to vnderstand after that to rescue the vulgar people from damnable Idolatry caused certaine of the most grossest pilgrimages to be destroyed And further for the more commodity of the poore sort which get their liuing with their dayly labor worke of their handes he prouided that diuers idle holidayes were diminished Item he procured for theÌ„ liberty to eate egges and whitmeat in Lent Furthermore by him it was also prouided for y e better instruction of the people that beneficedâ—meÌ„ should be resident in their Cures and parishes there to teach and to keepe Hospitality with many other thinges els most fruitfully redressed for the reformation of Religion and behoofe of Christes Church as by the ProclamatioÌ„s Read afore pag. 1069.1070.1071.1072 c. Iniunctions and necessary articles of Christian doctrine aboue specified set forth in the kings name by his meanes may more aboundauntly appeare pag. 1069.1070 c. Now to adioyne withall his priuate benefites in helping diuers good men and women at sundry times out of troubles and great distresses it would require a long discourse Briefly his whole life was ful of such examples being a man to that intent ordeined of God as his deedes well proued to do many men good and especially such as were in daunger of persecutioÌ„ for religions sake Amongst other infinite stories one or two examples shall suffice for a testimony of his worthy doinges ¶ How Cromwell holpe a poore woman with childe out of great trouble longing for a piece of meat in time of Lent Persecuters Persecuted The
Pope Leo with what heape of tragicall wordes and exclamations doth he fare and rage agaynst y e true seruant of God poore Luther for disturbing y e church of God when it is the Pope onely his fathers house that troubleth and long hath troubled the true Church of the Lord as by his doings all the world may see enough to much In the meane time read I besech thee with iudgement this impudent false slaunderous Bull of the Pope with the appeale also of Luther agayn from the sayd pope The copy wherof because they be rare to be gotten hath not bene hetherto commonly sene being before omitted I thought to coÌ„mit here to history as I had it out of certayn Registers the maner tenor wherof is this as foloweth A copy of the Bull of Pope Leo x. no lesse sclaunderous then barbarous agaynst Martin Luther and his doctrine Leo Papa .x. LEo Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei ad perpetuam rei memoriam Exurge Domine iudica causam tuam The Bul of pope Leo agaynst M. Luther Memor esto impropriorum eorum quae ab insipientibus fiunt tota die Inclina aurem tuam ad preces nostras quoniam surrexerunt vulpes querentes demoliri veneam cuius tu torcular solus calcasti ascensurus ad patrem eius curam regimeÌ„ Que sequntur vide superiore aeditione Pag. 1459. administrationem Petro tanquam capiti tuo vicario eiusque successoribus instar triumphantis Ecclesiae commisisti c. ¶ The sayd sclaunderous and barbarous Bull of Pope Leo the x. agaynst Luther in English with the aunswere of Luther ioyned to the same LEo Byshop seruaunt of the seruauntes of God for a perpetual memory hereof Rise vp O Lord iudge thy cause Remember the rebukes wherewith we are scorned all the day loÌ„g of foolish rebukers Encline thy eare to our prayers The Popes Bull in Engliâ—he for Foxes are risen vp seeking to destroy thy vineyarde the vinepresse wherof thou onely hast trodeÌ„ and ascending vp to thy Father hast committed the charge and regiment therof vnto Peter as chiefe head and to thy Uicare and his successors The wilde Bore out of the woode seeketh to exterminate and roote vp thy Uineyard Rise vp Peter and for this thy pastorall charge committed to thee from aboue enteÌ„d to the cause of the holy Church of Rome the mother of all churches Note here and marke good reader how the Church of Rome holdeth by the bloud of S. Peter not by the bloud of Christ. and of our fayth which thou by the commaundement of God didst consecrate wyth thine owne bloud agaynst which as thou hast foretold vs false lyers haue risen vp bringing in sects of perdition to their owne spedy destruction Whose touÌ„g is like fire full of vnquietnes and replenished with deadly poysoÌ„ who hauing a wicked zeale and nourishing contentions in theyr harts do bragge and lye agaynst the verity Rise vp Paul also we pray thee which hast illuminate the same Church with thy doctrine and like martyrdome For now is sprong vp a new Porphecy who as they said Porphyry then vniustly did sclaunder the holy Apostles so semblably doth this man now sclaunder reuile rebuke byte and barcke agaynst the holy Byshops our predecessors not in beseeching them but in rebuking them And where he distrusteth his cause there he falleth to opprobrious checkes rebukes after the wonted vse of heretickes whose vttermost refuge is this as Hierome sayth y t wheÌ„ they see theyr cause go to wracke then like Serpentes they cast out theyr venime with theyr toung and when they see themselues neare to be ouercome they fall to rayling For though heresies as thou sayest must needes be for the exercise of the faythfull yet least these heresies should further encrease and these Foxes gather strength agaynst vs it is needfull that by thy meanes and helpe they be suppressed and extinguished at the beginning Finally let all the whole vniuersall Churche of Gods Saynts and Doctours rise vp whose true expounding of holy Scripture being reiected certayne persons whose hartes the father of lyes hath blinded and wise in theyr owne conceites as the maner of heretickes is do expouÌ„d the scriptures otherwise then the holy Ghost doth require folowing onely theyr owne sense of ambition and vayne-glory yea rather do wrast and adulterate the Scriptures so that as Hierome sayth now they make it not the gospel of Christ but of man or which is worse of the deuill Let all the holy church I say rise vp wiâ—h the blessed Apostles together make intercessioÌ„ to almighty God that the errors of all schismatickes being rooted stocked vp his holy Church may be conserued in peace and vnity For of late which for sorrow we can not expresse by credible information and also by publick fame it hath come to our eares yea we haue seene also read with our eyes diuers and sundry errors of which some haue bene condemned by counsels and constitutions of our predecessors containing expresly y e heresies of the Greekes of the Bohemians Respectiuely some agayn respectiuely either heretical or false or sclaunderous or offensiue to good eares or such as may seduce simple myndes newly to be raysed vp by certayne false pretensed Gospellers who by curious pride seeking worldly glory against the doctrine of the apostle would be more wise then becommeth them whose babling as S. Hierome calleth it without authority of the Scriptures should finde no credit vnlesse they should seme to coÌ„firme theyr false doctrine euen with testimonies of the scripture but yet falsely interpreted Which worketh vs so much the more grief for y t those heresies be sprong in y e noble nation of the Germaines vnto the which natioÌ„ we with our predecessors haue alwayes borne speciall fauor and affection For after the Empyre was first translated by the Church of Rome from the Greekes vnto the Germaines the said our predecessors and we haue alwayes had them as speciall fautors defenders of this our Church and they haue alwaies shewed themselues as most earnest suppressors of heresies as witnes wherof remaine yet those laudable coÌ„stitutions of the Germane Emperors set forth and confirmed by our predecessors for the liberty of the Church and for expulsing heretickes out of all Germany and that vnder greuous penalty and losse of al theyr goods and lands Which constitutioÌ„s if they were obserued this present day both we and they should now be free from thys disturbaunce The Germaines in olde tyme most addicted to popery aboue al other nations Furthermore the heresy of the Hussites Wicleuistes of Hierome of Prage being condeÌ„ned and punished in the CouÌ„cel of Constance doth witnes y e same Moreouer doth witnes the same so much bloud of y e Germanes spilt fighting agaynst the Bohemians To coÌ„clude the same also is confirmed witnessed by the learned true confutatioÌ„ reprobation and condeÌ„nation
fight agaynst the Turkes is to repugne agaynst God visiting our iniquities by them Freewill after sinne is a title and name onely of a thyng and while a man doth that which lyeth in him he sinneth deadly Purgatory cannot be proued out of holy scripture whiche is Canonicall Soules in Purgatory be not certaine of their safetie at lest not all neither is it proued by reasons or by scriptures that they bee vtterly out of the state to deserue or encrease charitie * * Soules in Purgatory do sinne without intermission so long as they seeke rest and dread punishment The soules beyng deliuered out of Purgatory by the prayers of the liuyng be lesse blessed then if they had satisfied for themselues Ecclesiasticall prelates worldly princes should not doe amisse if they would scoure away all the bags of begging Friers All which errors there is no man in his right wittes but he knoweth the same in their seueral respects how pestileÌ„t they be how pernitious how much they seduce godly and simple minds and finally how much they be against all charitie and agaynst the reuerence of the holy Church of Rome the mother of all faythfull and maistreesse of the fayth it selfe and agaynst the sinews and strength of ecclesiasticall discipline which is obedience the fountayne and welspring of all vertues and without the which euery maÌ„ is to be conuinced easily to be an Infidel We therfore desiring to proceede in the premisses more earnestly as behooueth in things of most importaunce and meanyng to cut of the course of this pestiferous and cankered disease lest it should spread it selfe further in y e Lords field like hurtfull brambles or bryers and vsing vpon the sayd errors and euery of them diligent triall debatyng strait examination ripe deliberation And further weying and thorowly sifting all and euery of the same together w t our reuerend brethreÌ„ the cardinals of the church of Rome the priors of the orders regular or ministers generall also with diuers other professors and maisters of Diuinitie of both the lawes and those the best learned do finde the foresayd errors or articles respectiuely as is aforesayd not to be the catholike nor to be taught as Catholike but to be agaynst the doctrine or tradition of the catholike Church aâ—d against the true interpretation of holy Scripture receyued by the same to whose author Augustine thought we ought so much to leane that he would not as he sayd haue beleued the Gospell if the authoritie of the Churche had not thereto mooued hym For by these errours or at least by some of them it followeth consequently that the same Church which is guided by the holy Ghost now doth euer hath erred which is vtterly agaynst that which Christ at the tyme of his ascension as we read in the holy Gospell of Mathew promised to his Disciples saying I am with you vntill the ende of the world c. and also agaynst the determination of the holy Fathers against the expresse ordinances or Canons of Councels and head bishops whom not to obey hath always bene the cause and nurse of all heresies and scismes as Cyprian doth witnesse The articles of 〈◊〉 condemned Wherefore by the counsaile and assent of the sayde our reuerend brethren vpon due consideration of all and singular the premisses by the authoritie of almighty God of the blessed Apostles of Peter and Paule and our owne we do condemne reprooue and vtterly reiect all and singular the Articles or errors aforesaid respectiuely as some to be hereticall some to be slaunderous some offensiue to godly eares or els seducing simple mynds and repugnant to the catholike truth and by the tenor hereof we here decree and declare that they ought of all christen people both men and women to be taken as damned reprooued and reiected And therfore forbidding here vnder payne of the greater curse and excommunication loosing of their dignities whether they be Ecclesiasticall or temporall and to be depriued and made vncapable of all regular orders priuiledges geuen and graunted by the Sea Apostolike of what condition so euer they be also of loosing theyr liberties to hold generall schooles to read and professe any science and facultie of loosing also their tenures and feoâ—ements and of inhabilitie for euer to recouer the same agayne or any other moreouer vnder payne of secludyng from christian buriall yea and of treason also and incurring such paynes and punishments expressed in the lawe as are due for all heretickes and fautors of the same wee charge and commaund all and singuler Christen people both men and women as well of the laitie as of the Clergie both secular also regular of what order so euer they be and brieflye all other persones of what degree or condition so euer they bee or in what dignitie so euer they are placed either ecclesiasticall or temporall as first y e cardinals of the holy church of Rome Patriarkes Primates Archbishops Bishops with the prelates and heads of the churches Patriarchall Metropolitane Beholde how kinges come after bagges and wallets and begging Fryers or other cathedrall Collegiate and other small and inferiour churches to all clerkes and other persons ecclesiasticall as Abbots Priors or ministers generall or perticular brethren or religious men exempt and not exempt also Uniuersities of schooles and all other as well secular priests as regular and religious persons of all orders yea of the begging friers also Item kings Electors of the Imperiall crowne princes Dukes Marquesses Barons captains conductors and seruitures and all Officers Iudges Notaries whether they be ecclesiasticall or secular comminalties vniuersities dominions cities castles lordships and places with the inhabiters of the same and finally all other persons whatsoeuer ecclesiasticall or regular dispersed in whatsoeuer places through the whole * * Here may be a doubt whether the man in the Moone be exempted wiâ—h his bushe of thornes on his necke out of this Bull or not vniuersal world or which shall be hereafter dispersed but especially in high Almany that they shall not presume publikely or priuately vnder any maner of pretence or colour colourably or expressely or how els soeuer to hold maintaine defend The bookes of M. Luther condemned preach or fauour the foresayd errors or any of them or any such peruerse doctrine Ouer and besides for so much as the foresayd errors and many other are conteined in the bookes or writings of the foresayd Martin Luther therefore we condemne reprooue and vtterly reiect and hold for vtterly condemned reprooued and reiected the foresayd bookes and al the writings of the sayd Martin with his preachings in what tongue so euer they are found wherein the sayd errours or any of them is conteined willing and commanding vnder the vertue of holy obedience and incurring the penalties aforesayd to all and singular christen people both men and women aboue rehersed that they presume not by any maner of waies directly or indirectly
talke they departed ¶ The talke of Doctor Heth Archbishop of Yorke and day Byshop of Chichester with Maister Bradford THe xxiii of the same moneth the Archbishop of Yorke and the Bishop of Chichester came to the Counter to speake with Bradford When hee was come before them Talke bâ—â—tweene Byshopâ— Bradford they both and especially the Bishop of York vsed him very gently they would haue him to sit downe and because he would not they also would not sit So they all stode whether he woulde or not they would needes he shoulde put on not only his night cap but his vpper cap also saying vnto him that obedience was better then sacrifice Now thus standing together my Lord of Yorke began to tell Bradford howe that they were not sent to him but of loue charitie they came to him and he for that acquayntance also whiche he had with Bradford more then the Bishoppe of Chichester had then after commending Bradfordes godly life he concluded w t this question how he was certaine of saluation and of his Religion Brad After thankes for theyr good will Bradford aunswered by the word of God euen by the Scriptures I am certayne of saluation and Religion Yorke Uery well sayd but how do ye know the worde of God and the scriptures but by the Church Bradford In deede my Lorde the Churche was and is a meane to bring a man more speedely to knowe the Scriptures and the worde of God as was the woman of Samaria a meane that the Samaritans knewe Christ but ⧠Certayne Bishops talking with Maister Bradford in prison as when they had heard him speake they sayde nowe we know that he is Christ not because of thy wordes but because wee our selues haue heard him so after we came to the hearing and reading of the Scriptures shewed vnto vs and discerned by the Church we doe beleue them and knowe them as Christes sheepe not because y e Church saith they are the Scriptures but because they be so being thereof assured by the same spirite whiche wrote and spake them Yorke You knowe in the Apostles time at the first the word was not written Bradford True if you meane it for some books of the new Testament but els for the old Testament Peter telleth vs Firmâ—orem sermonem propheticum habemus We haue a more sure worde of prophecie not that it is simply so but in respect of the Apostles which being aliue and compassed w t infirmitiâ— attributed to the worde written mâ—re firmitie as wherewith no fault coulde be found where as for the infirmitie of their persons men perchaunce might haue found some faulte at their preaching albeit in very deede no lesse obedience and fayth ought to haue bene geuen to the one then to the other for all proceedeth foorth of one spirite of truth Yorke That place of Peter is not so to be vnderstand of the word written Brad. Yea syr that it is and of none other Chic Yea in deede Maister Bradford doth tell you truely in that poynt Yorke Well you know that Irenaeus and others doe magnifie much and alleage the Church agaynst the heretickes and not the scripture Bradford True for they had to do with such heretickes as did deny the scriptures and yet did magnifie the Apostles so that they were inforced to vse the authoritie of those Churches wherein the Apostles had taught and whiche had still retayned the same doctrine Chic You speake the very truth for the heretickes dyd refuse all scriptures except it were a peece of Lukes Gospel Brad. Then the alledgyng of the Church cannot be princially vsed agaynst me whiche am so farre from denying of the Scriptures that I appeale vnto them vtterly as to the onely iudge Yorke A pretty matter that you will take vppon you to iudge the Churche I pray you where hath your Churche bene hetherto For the church of Christ is Catholicke and visible hetherto Brad. My Lord I doe not iudge the Church when I discerne it from that congregation those whiche be not the Church I neuer denyed the Church to be Catholicke visible althought at some times it is more visible then at some Chic I pray you tell me where the Church which allowed your doctrine was these foure hundreth yeares Brad. I will tell you my Lord or rather you shal tell your selfe if you will tell me this one thing where the Churche was in Helias his time when Helias sayde that hee was left alone Chic That is no aunswere Bradford I am sory that you say so but this will I tell your Lordship that if you had the same eyes wherwith a man might haue espied the Churche then you woulde not say it were no answere The true 〈…〉 euery man hath not eyes to see it The fault why the Church is not seene of you is not because the Churche is not visible but because your eyes are not cleare inough to see it Chic You are much deceaued in making this collation betwixt the Church then and now Yorke Uery well spoken my Lord for Christ sayde aedificabo Ecclesiam I will build my Church and not I doe or haue built it but I will build it Bradford The â—ishops 〈◊〉 to an 〈…〉 My Lordes Peter teacheth me to make thys collation saying as in y e people there were false Prophetes which were most in estimation afore Christes comming so shall there be false teachers amongest the people after Christes comming and very many shall follow them And as for your future tense I hope your grace will not therby conclude christes Church not to haue bene before but rather that there is no building in the Church but by Christes worke onely for Paule and Apollo be but watterers Chichester In good fayth I am sory to see you so light in iudging the Church Yorke He taketh vpon him as they all doe to iudge the Church A man shall neuer come to certaintie that doth as they do Brad. My Lordes I speake simply what I thinke desire reason to aunswere my obiections Your affections sorrowes can not be my rules If that you consider y e order and case of my condemnation I can not thinke but y t it should somethyng moâ—e your honours You knowe it well enough for you heard it no matter was layd against me but what was gathered vpon mine owne confession Because I did denye Transubstantiation and the wicked to receaue Christes body in the Sacrament therefore I was condemned and excoÌ„municate but not of the churche although the pillers of the church as they be taken did it Chichester No. I heard say the cause of your imprisonmeÌ„t was for that you exhorted the people to take the sword in the one hand and the mattocke in the other Brad. My Lord I neuer ment any such thing nor spake any thing in that sort False surmâ—â—e agaynst Bradford Yorke Yea and you behaued your selfe before the Counsel so stoutly at the
misery ye make in all regions N ow your fraudes be almost at their latter cast O f God sore to be reuenged at the last ¶ P oore people to oppresse ye haue no shame Q uaking for feare of your double tyranny R ightfull iustice ye haue put out of frame S eeking the lust of your God the belly T herefore I dare you boldly certifie V ery little though ye be thereof a gast Y et God will be reuenged at the last By these and such like sayinges whiche may be collected innumerable it may soone be seen what harts iudgements the people had in those dayes of the Romish Clergy Which thing no doubt was of God as a secret prophecie that shortly religion shoulde be restored according as it came to passe about thys present tyme whē Doct. Martin Luther first began to write Laurentius Valla. Picus Mirādula Erasmus Roterodamus M. Luther The article of our free iustification beateth downe all errours after that Picus Mirandula and Laurentius Ualla last of all Erasmus Roterodamus had somewhat broken the way before hadd shaken the monkes houses But Luther gaue the stroke pluckt downe the foundation all by opening one vayne long hid before wherein lyeth the touchstone of all trueth doctrine as the onely principall origine of our saluation which is our free iustifying by faith onely in christ y e sonne of God The laborious trauailes and the whole processe the constant preachings of this worthy mā because they be sufficiētly declared in the history of Iohannes Sleidanus I shall the lesse neede to stand long thereupon but onely to runne ouer some principall matter of his life actes as they are briefly collected by Phillip Melanthon ¶ The history of D. Martine Luther with his lyfe and doctrine described MArtine Luther after he was growne in yeares The history of M. Luther with his life doctrine described being borne at Isleben in Saxonie an 1483. was set to the Uniuersity first of Magdeburg thē of Erford In this Uniuersitie of Erforde there was a certayne aged man in the Couēt of the Agustines who is thought to be Weselus aboue mentioned wyth whom Luther beyng then of the same order a fryer Augustine had conference vppon diuers thinges especially touching the Article of remission of sinnes the whiche Article the sayd aged father opened vnto Luther after this sorte declaring that wee must not generally beleue onely forgeunes of sinnes to be or to belong to Peter to Paule to Dauid or suche good men alone but that Gods expresse commaundements is that euery man should beleue particularly hys sinnes to be forgeuen him in Christ and further sayd that thys interpretation was confirmed by the testimonies of S. Barnerd and shewed him the place An excellent declaration of S. Bernard touching fayth in the Sermon of the Annunciation where it is thus set forth But adde thou that thou beleuest this that by him thy sinnes are forgiuen thee This is the testimony that the holy Ghost giueth thee in thy heart saying Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee For this is the opinion of the Apostle that man is freely iustified by fayth By these wordes Luther was not onely strengthened but was also instructed of the full meaning of S. Paule who repeateth so many tymes this sentence We are iustified by fayth And hauing read the expositions of many vppon this place he then perceiued as well by the purpose of the old man as by the comfort he receiued in his spirit the vanitie of those interpretations which he had read before of the scholemen And so reading by litle and litle with cōferring the sayinges and examples of the Prophetes Apostles and continuall inuocation of God and excitatiō of fayth by force of prayer hee perceiued y e doctrine more euidently Then began he to read Saint Augustines bookes where he founde many comfortable sentēces among other in the exposition of the Psalmes and specially in the booke of the Spirite and Letter The profite of S. Augustines bookes which confirmed this doctrine of fayth and consolation in hys hart not a little And yet he layd not aside the Sentenciaries as Gabriell and Cameracensis Also he read the bookes of Occam whose subtilty he preferred aboue Thomas Aquine Scotus He read also and reuolued Gersō but aboue al the rest he perused all ouer S. Augustines workes with attentiue cogitation And thus continued he his study at Erford y e space of 4. yeares in the Couent of the Augustines About this tyme one Staupicius a famous mā The institution of the Vniuersitie at Wittenberge Staupitius who ministring his helpe to further the erection of an Uniuersitie in Wittenberg and endeuouring to haue schooles of Diuinitie founded in this new Uniuersitie when he had cōsidered the spirite towardnes of Luther he called him from Erford to place him in Wittenberg in y e yeare .1508 and of his age xxvi There his towardnes appeared in y e ordinary exercise both of hys disputations in the schooles preaching in churches where as manye wise and learned mē attentiuely heard Luther namely D. Mellerstad This Mellerstad would oftentimes say that Luther was of suche a marueilous spirit and so ingenious The iudgement of Doct. Mellerstad vpon M. Luther that he gaue apparant signifcation that he would introduce a more compendious easie and familier maner of teaching and altar and abolishe the order that then was vsed There first he expounded the Logick and Philosophy of Aristotle in the meane while Luther sent to Rome intermitted no whit his study in Theolagy Three yeares after he went to Rome about certayn contentions of the Monkes and returning the same yeare he was a graded Doctour Fridericke Duke of Saxonie Luther commensed doctour at the expenses of Elector Fredericke Duke of Saxonie according to the solemn maner of scholes for he had heard him preach well vnderstanded the quickenes of his spirite dilligently considered the vehemency of hys wordes and had in singular admiration those profound matters whiche in hys Sermons he ripely and exactly explaned This degree Stanpicius against his will enforced vpon him saying merely vnto him that God had many thinges to bring to passe in hys Church by him And though these wordes were spoken merely yet it came so to passe anone after as many predictions or presages proue true before a chaunge Doct. M. Luther beginneth to read the Epistle to the Romains After this he began to expound the Epistle to the Romayns consequently the Psalmes where he shewed the difference betwixt the lawe and the Gospell He also confounded the errour that raigned then in schooles and Sermons teaching that men may merite remission of sinnes by their proper works and that they be iust before God by outward discipline as the Phariseis taught Luther dilligently reduced the mindes of men to the sonne of God As Iohn Baptist demonstrated the lambe of God that
them their office The aunswere of Luther to the place of S. Iohn Pasce Oues meas doeth teache what is to feede and what he ought to be that feedeth After thys Eckius came to the authoritie of the Councell of Constance alleging this amongst other articles De necessitate salutis est credere Rom. pontificem Occumenicum esse That is that it standeth vpon necessitie of our saluation to beleeue the Bishop of Rome to bee supreme heade of the Churche The authoritie of the councell of Constance alleging moreouer that in the same Councell was debated and discussed that the general Councel could not erre Whereunto Martin Luther againe did answere discreetly saying that al the articles which Iohn Hus dyd holde in that Councell were not condemned for hereticall with much other matter more Againe of what authoritie that Councel of Constance is to be estemed that he leaft to other mens iudgemeÌ„ts This is most certain said he that no Councell hath such authoritie to make newe articles of faith Here M. Luther began to be cryed out of by Eckius and his complices for diminishing y e authority of generall Councels Although in deede he meane nothing lesse but euer labored to confirme the authority of the same yet was he called hereticke schismaticke and one of the Bohemes faction with many other termes moe of reprochful contumely Eckius then graunted the authoritie of the Apostles to be equal yet not to folow therby the authoritie of all Byshops therefore to be equall For betwene Apostleship and ministerie sayd he there is great difference To conclude Eckius in no case coulde abide that anye creature shoulde decline from any worde or sentence of the Popes decrees or the coÌ„stitutions of the forefathers To this againe Luther answeared grounding him selfe vpon the place ad Gal. 2. where S. Paule speaking of the principall Apostles Gala. 2. sayeth And of them which seemed to be great what they were before it maketh no matter to mee for God accepteth no mans person neuerthelesse they that were of some reputation dyd auayle nothing at all c. Eckius to this said that as touching the authoritie of the Apostles Here is good doctrine of Eckius I trowe they were all chosen of Christ but were ordeyned Bishops of Saint Peter And whereas Luther brought in the constitution of the decree which sayeth Ne Romanus pontifex vniuersalis Episcopus nominetur c. Yea let not the Bishop also of Rome bee called vniuersal Bishop c. To this Eckius aunsweared on this sort that the Bishop of Rome ought not to be called vniuersal Bishop yet he may be called sayd he Byshop of the vniuersall church And thus much touching the question of the Popes supremacie From this matter they entred nexte to Purgatorie wherein Eckius kept no order The question of Purgatorie For wheÌ„ they should haue disputed what power the Pope hath in Purgatorie Eckius turneth the scope of the question and prooueth that there is Purgatorie allegeth for him the place of Machab Luther leaning vpon the iudgement of Hierom affirmeth the booke of Machabees not to be Canonical 2. Mach. 12. Eckius againe replyeth the booke of Machabees to be of no lesse authoritie then the Gospels Also he alleged the place 1. Corinth 3. 1. Corint 3. Hee shall bee saued yet so as it were by fyre Moreouer he inferred the place of Math. 5. Agree thou with thine aduersary while thou art in the way with him Math. 5. least he commit thee into prison from whence thou shalt not escape tyll thou hast payed the vttermost farthing Psal. 65. c. To this he added also the place of the Psalmes We haue passed through the fire and water The question of Indulgences c. Howe these places be wrasted to purgatory let the reader discerne and iudge Then was inferred the question of indulgences wherof Eckius seemed to make but a toy a matter of nothing and so passed it ouer The question of Penaunce At last they came to the question of penance touching which matter the reasons of Eckius digressed much from the purpose which went about to proue that there be some maner of paynes of satisfaction whiche thing Luther dyd neuer deny But that for euery particuler offence such particuler penaunce is exacted of Gods iustice vpon the repeÌ„tant sinner as is in mans power to remitte or lâ—lease as pleaseth him such penance neither Luther nor anye other true Christian did admit And thus haue ye the chiefe effect of this disputation betweene Luther and Eckius at Lypsia When Vldericus Zuinglius came to Tigurie Which was in the month of Iuly an 151â— About the beginning of the same yeare 151â— Uldericke Zuinglius came first to Zuricke and there began to teach Who in the 16. article in his booke of articles recordeth that Luther and both at one time one not knowing nor hearing of an other began to write against the popes pardons and indulgences Albeit if the time be rightly counted I suppose we shall finde that Luther began a yeare or two before Zuinglius Luther and Zuinglus began both at one tyme to write against the Pope Notwithstanding this doth Sledan testifie that in this present yeare when Sampson a Franciscan came with the popes pardons to Zurick Uldericke Zuinglius did withstand him and declared hys chaffer and pardons to be but a vayne seducing of the people to inueagle away their money Ex Sled Lib. 1. The next yeare ensuing Luthers bookes condemned at Louen and Colen Pope Leos Bull against Luther which was 1250. the Fryers and Doctours of Louane and also of Colen condemned y e bookes of Luther as hereticall Agaynst whom Luther agayne effectuously defended himselfe and charged them with obstinate violence and malicious impiety After this within fewe dayes flasheth out from Rome the thunderbolt of pope Leo against the said Luther notwithstanding he so humbly and obediently before had reuerenced both the person of the pope and agnised the authoritie of his see and also had dedicated vnto him Lutherus de libertate Christiana and bookes intituled De Christiana libertate that is of Christian libertye In which booke these two poyntes principally hee discusseth and prooueth 1 That a Christen man is free and Lorde of all thinges and subiect to none 2 That a Christen man is a dilligent vnderling and seruaunt of all men and to euery man subiect Moreouer in the same yeare he set out a defence of all his articles which the popes Bull had before condemned An other book also he wrote to the nobilitie of Germanie Lutherus ad Nobilitatem Germaniae Three wall or bulwarkes of the papistes in the which booke he impugneth and shaketh y e three principall walles of the papistes the first whereof is this 1 Where as y e papistes say that no temporal or prophane magistrate hath any power vpon the spiritualtie but
to y e doctrine of the Gospell and the opinions of the auncient Fathers are to be iudged erroneous and reproued If then I shall reuoke these I can do none other but adde more force to theyr tyranny and open not onely wyndowes but wide gates to theyr impiety whiche is like to extend more wide and more licenciously then euer it durst heretofore And by the testimonie of this my retractation their insolent kingdome shal be made more licencious and lesse subiect to punishment intollerable to the cōmon people and also more confirmed and established especially if this be bruited that I. Luther haue done this by the authoritie of your most excellent maiestie and the sacred Romaine empyre Oh Lord what a couer or shadow shall I be then to cloke theyr naughtines and tyranny The rest or thyrd sort of my bookes are such as I haue written against certaine priuate and singular persons to wyt against such as with tooth and nayle labour to maintaine the Romish tyranny and to deface the true doctrine and religion which I haue taught and professed As touching these I playnly confesse I haue bene more vehemēt then my religion and professeion required For I make my selfe no Sainct and I dispute not of my life but of the doctrine of Christ. And these I cannot without preiudice cal back For by this recantacion it will come to passe that tyrannie and impietie shall raigne supported by my meanes and so shal they exercise crueltie against people more violently and ragyngly then before Neuertheles for that I am a man and not God I can none otherwise enterprise to defend my bookes He requireth to be instructed if he haue erred then did my verye Lorde Iesus Christ defende his doctrine Who being examined of his learning before Annas and hauing receiued a buffet of the minister sayd If I haue spoken euill beare witnesse of the euill If the Lord who was perfect and could not erre refused not to haue testimony geuē agaynst his doctrine Iohn 18. yea of a most vile seruaunt howe much the more then I that am but vile corruptiō and can of my selfe doe nothing but erre ought earnestlye to see and require if any will beare witnesse agaynst my doctrine Therfore I require for Gods mercy your most excellent maiesty your graces and right honorable Lordshyps or what so euer he bee of high or lowe degree here to lay in his testimony conuict my errours and confute me by the Scriptures either out of the Prophetes or the Apostles and I will be most ready if I be so instructed to reuoke any maner of errour yea and will be the first that shall cōsume mine owne bookes and burne them I suppose hereby it may appeare that I haue perpended Dissentions and diuisiōs folow the doctrine of Christ not for anye cause in the doctrine but in the aduersary and well weyed before the perils and daungers the diuisions and dissentions which haue risē throughout the whole world by reason of my doctrine wherof I was vehemently and sharply yesterday admonished Concerning which diuisions of mens minds what other mē do iudge I know not as touching my selfe I conceiue no greater delectation in any thing then when I behold discords and dissensions styrred vp for the word of God For such is the course and proceeding of the Gospell Iesus Christ sayth I came not to send peace but a sworde Math. 10. I came to set a man at varyance with his father And further we must thinke that our God is maruellous and terrible in his Coūcels least perhaps that which we endeuour with earnest study to atchieue and brynge to passe if we begynne first with condemning of hys worde the same rebound agayne to an huge sea of euill and least the newe raigne of this younge and bounteous Prince Charles in whome next after GOD we all conceaue singular hope be lamentable vnfortunate and miserably begunne I could examplify this with authorityes of the Scriptures more effectually Mans counsaile with out Gods worde and his feare be vnfortunate as by Pharao the King of Babylon and the Kinges of Israel who then most obscured the bright sunne of theyr glory and procured theyr own ruine when by sage councels they attempted to pacify and establish theyr Gouernementes and Realmes and not by Gods Counselles for it is he that intrappeth the wilye in theyr wylynesse and subuerteth mountaynes before they be ware Wherefore it is good and Gods worke to dreade the Lord. I speake not this supposing that so politique and prudent heades haue need of my doctrine or admonition but because I would not omit to profite my countrey and offer my duty or seruice that may tend to the aduancement of the same And thus I humbly commend me to your most excellēt maiesty and your honorable Lordships beseching you that I may not incurre your displeasures neyther be contemned of you Luther prouoked again to submit hym selfe through the pursute of my aduersaryes I haue spoken These wordes pronounced then Eckius the Emperors Prolocutor with a sterne countenance beganne and sayd that Luther had not aunswered to any purpose neyther it behoued him to call in question thinges in time past concluded and defined by generall Councels and therefore they required of him a playne and direct aunswere whether he would reuoke or no. Then Luther considering sayde he your soueraigne maiesty Luthers absolute aunswere and your honors require a playne aunswere thys I say and professe as resolutely as I may without doubling or sophistication that if I be not conuinced by testimonies of the Scriptures by probale reasons for I beleeue not the Pope neither his generall Councels which haue erred many times and haue bene contrary to themselues my conscience is so bound and captiued in these scriptures and word of God which I haue alledged that I will not nor may not reuoke any maner of thing considering it is not godly or lawfull to do any thing against cōsciēce Herevpon I stand and rest I haue not what els to say GOD haue mercy vpon me The princes consulted together vpon this answere geuen by Luther and whē they had diligently examined the same the prolocutor began to repell him thus Martin sayd he thou hast more immodestly aunswered Eckius againe replieth then beseemed thy person and also litle to the purpose Thou deuidest thy bookes into three sorts in such order as all that thou hast sayd maketh nothing to the interrogation proponed and therefore if thou haddest reuoked those wherein the greatest parte of thine errours is contayned the Emperours Maiesty and the noble clemency of other would haue suffered the rest that be sound to susteyn no iniury But thou doest reuiue and bringest to light againe all that the generall Councell of Constance hath condemned the which was assembled of all the nation of Germany now doest require to be conuinced with scriptures wherin thou errest greatly For what auayleth
Adrian sent his letters in maner of a briefe A dyet of the Princes kept at Norenberge with an instruction also vnto his Legate Cheregatus to informe him how to procceede and what causes to alledge agaynst Luther before the Princes there assembled His letter with the instruction sent because they are so hypocritically shadowed ouer with a fayre shew and colour of paynted zeale and Religion Paynted pretences ought to be examined and beareth resemblaunce of great trueth and care of the Church able to deceaue the outward eares of them which are not inwardly in true Religion instructed I thought therefore to geue to the Reader a sight therof to the intent that by the experieÌ„ce of them he may learne hereafter in cases like to be prudent circumspect in not beleuing ouer rashly the smoth talke or pretensed persuasions of men especially in Church matters vnlesse they carry with them the simplicity of playne truth goyng not vpon termes but grouÌ„ded vpon y e word and reueled wil of God with particular demonstrations prouing that by the Scripture which they pretend to perswade First the letter of this Pope conceiued directed agaynst Luther proceedeth in this effect * Adrian Pope vi to the renowmed Princes of Germanye and to the Piers of the Romayne Empyre greeting and Apostolique benediction RIght honourable brethren and deare children The exaâ—ple of 〈◊〉 Adrians â—â—â—ter sent to the princes of Germany greeting and Apostolique benediction After that we were first promoted through Gods diuine prouidence to the office of the see Apostolick he which hath so aduanced vs is our witness how we both daye and night reuoluing in our mindes did cogitate nothinge more then how to satisfye the partes of a good Pastour in attending the health and cure of the flock both vniuersally singularlye committed vnto vs If these pastors caâ—â— any thing 〈◊〉 the sheepe it is onely for the wolle so that there is no one particular sheepe through the whole vniuersall flock so infected so sicke or so farre gone astray whome our desire is not to recouer to seeke out and to reduce into the Lordes folde agayne And chiefely from the first beginning of our pastorall function our care hath alwayes bene as well by our messengers as our dayly letters howe to reclayme the mindes of Christian Princes from the intestine wars and dissensions among themselues to peace and concorde or at least if they woulde needes fight that they woulde conuert theyr streÌ„gth and armour agaynst the coÌ„moÌ„ enemyes of our fayth And to declare this not onely in worde but rather in deede God doth knowe with what charges and expences wee haue burdened our selues to extend our subsidy and reliefe to the souldiers of Rhodes for defence of themselues and of the Christian fayth agaynst the Turkish tyranny by whom they were besieged And now to bend our care from these forreyne matters and to consider our inwarde troubles at home we heare to the great griefe of our hart Rather a new raseâ—â— of the olde doctrine of the Patriarches Prophets and Apostles that M. Luther a newe rayser vppe of olde and damnable heresyes first after the fatherly aduertisemeÌ„tes of the See Apostolique then after the sentence also of condemnation awarded agaynst him and that by the assent and consent of the best learned and of sundy Vniuersityes also and lastly after the Emperiall decree of our well beloued sonne Charles elect Emperour of the Romaynes and Catholique king of Spayne beyng diuulged through the whole nation of Germanye yet hath neyther bene by order restrayned Termes without truth nor of himselfe hath refrayned from hys madnesse begunne but daily more and more forgetting and contemning all Christian Charity and Godlynesse ceaseth not to disturbe and replenish the worlde with new bookes fraught full of errours heresyes contumelyes and sedition whether vppon hys owne head or by the healpe of other and to infect the country of Germany and other Regions about with this pestilence Euill called good and good euil and endeuoureth still to corrupt simple soules and maners of men with the poyson of his pestiferous tongue and which is worst of all hath for his fautours and supporters not of the vulgare sort onely but also diuers personages of the Nobility in so much that they haue begunne also to inuade the goodes of priestes whiche perhappes is the chiefe ground of this styrre begunne contrarye to theyr obedience which they owe to ecclesiasticall and temporall persons and nowe also at last haue growen vnto ciuill warre and dissention among themselues which thing how vnfortunately it falleth out now at this present season especially amongest vs Christians you may soone repute with your selues and consider For although the Apostle hath tolde vs before 1. Cor. 11. that heresyes must needes be that they which be tried may be made manifest c. yet was there neuer time either so vnconuenient to rayse vp heresyes or so necessary for the repressing thereof when any such are raysed as now For whereas the Deuill the perpetuall enemy of mankinde roaring in the shape of a Lyon by the power of the Turkes doth continually inuade the flocke of Christ how can we then resist the violent inuations of him oppressing vs without so long as we nourish at home the same Deuill Who soweth these heresies but he which will not let the Scriptures take place vnder the coulour of a wyly Dragon sowing such heresyes discordes and seditions among our selues And albeit it were in our power easily to vanquish these forreigne aduersaryes yet were that but labor lost seruing to no profite to subdue our enemyes without and at home with heresyes and schismes to be deuided We remember before the time of our Papacy when we were in Spayne many thinges we heard then of Luther and of his peruerse doctrine Which rumours and tydinges although of theÌ„ selues they were grieuous to be hearde yet more gireuous they were for this because they proceeded out of that countrey where we our selfe after the flesh tooke our first beginning but yet thys comfort we had supposing that either for the iniquity or els for the foolishnesse thereof being so manifest this doctrine woulde not long holde reputing thus with our selfe that such pestiferous * * He meaneth the doctrine of Iohn Hus translated into Germany plantes translated from other countryes into Germanye would neuer grow vppe to any proofe in that ground which was euer woont to be a weeder out of all heresyes and infidelity But now since this euill tree whether by Gods iudgement correcting the sinnes of the people or by the negligence of suche as first should haue resisted such beginninges hath so enlarged and spread his braunches so farre you therefore both Princes and people of Germanye must this consider and prouide leaste you which at the first springing vp of this euill might peraduenture be excused as no doers therof now through this your ouermuch
the which Martin Luther first to stand against the Pope was a great miracle to preuaile against the Pope a greater so to die vntouched may seme greatest of all especially hauing so many enemies as he had Againe neither is it any thing lesse miraculous to consider what manifold dangers he escaped besides as when a certeine Iewe was appointed to come to destroy him by poison yet was it so the will of God that Luther had warning thereof before and the face of the Iewe sent to him by picture whereby he knew him and auoided the perill Another time as he was sitting in a certaine place vpon his stoole M. Luther miraculously preserued a great stone there was in the vault ouer hys head where he did sit which being stayd miraculously so long as he was sitting as soone as he was vp immediatly fell vpon the place where he sate able to haue crushed him all in peeces if it had light vpon him And what should I speake of his praiers which were so ardent vnto Christ that as Melancthon writeth they which stoode vnder his windowe where he stood prayeng might see his teares falling and dropping downe Againe with such power he prayed that he as himselfe confesseth had obteined of the Lord that so long as he liued the Pope should not preuaile in his countrey after his death sayd he let them pray who could M. Luther vehemeÌ„t mighty in prayer And as touching the maruelous workes of the Lorde wrought heere by men if it be true which is credibly reported by the learned what miracle can be more miraculous then that whiche is declared of a yong man aboute Wittenberge who being kept bare and needy by his father was tempted by way of sorcery to bargaine with the Diuell or a familiare as they call him to yeeld hymselfe body and soule into the Diuels power A miraculous worke of the Lorde in deliuering a young man out of the deuils daunger by Christian prayer vpon condition to haue his wish satisfied with money So that vpon the same an obligation was made by the yong man written with his owne bloud and geuen to the Diuell This case you see how horrible it was and how damnable now heare what followed Upon the sodeine wealth and alteration of this yong man the matter first being noted began afterward more more to be suspected and at length after long and great admiration was brought vnto Martin Luther to be examined The yong man whether for shame or feare long denied to confesse and woulde bee knowne of nothing Yet God so wrought being stronger then the Diuell that he vttered vnto Luther the whole substance of the case as well touching the money as the obligation Luther vnderstanding the matter and pitiing the lamentable state of the man willed the whole congregation to pray and he himselfe ceased not with hys praiers to labour so that the Diuell was compelled at the last to throw in his obligation at the window and bade him take it againe vnto him Which narration if it be so true as certeinely it is of him reported I see not the contrary but that this may well seeme comparable wyth the greatest miracle in Christes Church that was since the Apostles time Furthermore as he was mighty in his prayers so in his Sermons God gaue him such a grace that when hee preached they which heard him thought euery one hys owne temptations seuerally to be noted and touched Whereof when signification was geuen vnto him by hys frends and he demaunded how that could be mine owne manifold temptations said he and experiences are the cause thereof Ex Phill Melanct in orat funebri Ex Hierony Wellero For this thou must vnderstand good reader that Luther from his tender yeares was much beaten and exercised with spirituall conflicts as Melancthon in describing of his life doth testifie Also Hieronymus Wellerus scholer and disciple of the sayd Martin Luther recordeth that he oftentimes heard Luther his maister thus reporte of himselfe that he had bene assaulted and vexed with all kindes of temptations sauing onely one Luther â—â—â—uer in all his life tempted with coueteousneâ—s M. Luther how long he liued â— taught which was with couetousnes With this vice he was neuer said he in all his life troubled nor once tempted And hetherto concerning the life of Martin Luther who liued to the yeare of his age 63. He continued writing and preachyng about 29. yeares As touching the order of his death the words of Melancthon be these In the yeare of our Lord 1546. and the 17. of February Doctour Martin Luther sickened a little before supper of his accustomed maladie to wyt of the oppression of humours in the orifice or opening of his stomacke whereof I remember I haue seene him oft diseasid in this place The sickneâ— of Luther This sickenes tooke him after supper with the which he vehemently contending required secesse into a bye chamber and there he rested on his bed two houres all whych time his paynes encreased And as Doctor Ionas was lieng in his chamber Luther awaked and praied him to rise and to call vp Ambrose his childrens scholemaister to make fire in another chamber Into the which when he was newly entred Albert Earle of Mansfield The quiet death of Luther with hys wife and diuers other whose names in these letters for haste were not expressed at that instant came into hys chamber Finally feeling his fatall houre to approche before nine of the clocke in y e morning the xviij of February he coÌ„mended himselfe to God with this deuour praier ¶ The Prayer of Luther at his death MY heauenly father eternall and mercifull God thou hast manifested vnto me thy deare sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ. The prayer of Luther 〈◊〉 his death I haue taught him I haue knowne him I loue him as my life my health and my redemption whome the wicked haue persecuted maligned and with iniurie afflicted Draw my soule to thee After this he sayd as ensueth thryse I commend my spirit into thy hands thou hast redeemed me O God of truth GOD so loued the world that he gaue his only sonne that all those that beleeue in him shoulde haue life euerlasting Iohn iij Hauing repeated oftentimes his prayers he was called to God vnto whome so faithfully he commended his spirit to enioy no doubt the blessed societie of the Patriarks Prophets and Apostles in the kingdome of God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Let vs now loue the memory of this man and the doctrine that he hath taught Let vs learne to be modest and meeke Let vs consider the wretched calamities and marueilous chaunges that shall follow this mishap and dolefull chance I beseech thee O sonne of God crucified for vs and resuscitated Emanuell gouerne coÌ„serue and defend thy Church Haec Melancthon Fridericus Prince Electour died long before Luther in the yeare of our Lord 1525. leauing no issue
as for the vowe and coaction of their single life it came sayd he of the diuell and a diuelish thing it is And therefore Priestes mariage whereas the said Heluetians had such a rite and custome in their townes and pages that when they receiued anie new Priest into their Churches An olde vse of the Heluetians to forewarne their priests to take concubines they vsed to premonish him before to take his concubine least he should attempt any misuse with their wiues and daughters he exhorted them that they would no lesse graunt vnto them to take their wiues in honest matrimonie then to take concubines and harlots against the precept of God Thus as Zuinglius continued certaine yeares Zuinglius resisted by aduersaries labouring in the word of the Lord offence began to rise at thys new doctrine and diuers stept vp namely the Dominicke Friers on the contrary side to preach inuey against him But he keping himselfe euer within the Scriptures protested that he would make good by the word of God that which he had taught Upon this the Magistrates and Senate of Zuricke sent forth their cōmandemēt to all priests and ministers within their dominion to repaire to the citie of Zuricke Disputatiōs at Zuricke about religion against the xxix day of Ianuary next ensuing this was anno 1523. there euery one to speake freely and to be heard quietly touching these controuersies of religion what could be said directing also their letters to the Bishop of Cōstance that he would either make his repaire thether himselfe or else to send his deputie When the day appointed came and the Bishops vicegerent which was Ioannes Faber was also present Ioan. Faber Stapulensis against Zuinglius Ex Sled lib 3. the Consull first declaring the cause of this their frequencie and assemble which was for the dissention newly risen about matters of Religion required that if any there had to obiect or inferre against the doctrine of Zuinglius he should freely and quietly vtter and declare his minde Zuinglius had disposed his matter before Lxvij. articles of Zuinglius and cōtriued al his doctrine in a certaine order of places to y e number of lxvij Articles which articles he had published also abroad before to the ende that they which were disposed might resort thether better prepared to the disputation Whē the Consull had finished that which he would say and had exhorted other to begin then Faber first entring the matter begā to declare the cause of his sending thether and afterward wold perswade that this was no place conuenient nor time fit for discussing of such matter by disputation Iohn Faber refuseth disputation but rather that the cognition and tractation thereof belonged to a generall Councell which he saide was already appointed and now neere at hand Notwithstāding Zuinglius still continued vrging and requiring him that if he had there any thing to say or to dispute he would openly and freely vtter his minde To this he aunswered againe that he would cōfute his doctrine by writing This done with a few other words on both sides had to and fro whē no man would appeare The assēble of Zuricke brake vp without disputation The Gospel publickly receaued in Zuricke Traditions of men abolyshed there to offer any disputation the assemble brake and was discharged Whereupon the Senate of Zuricke incōtinēt caused to be proclaimed through all their dominion and territorie that the traditions of men should be displaced and abandoned and the Gospell of Christ purely taught out of the old and new Testament an 1523. Ex Ioan. Sled lib. 3. When the Gospell thus began to take place and to florish in Zuricke and certaine other places of Heluetia the yeare next following ann 1524. another assemble of the Heluetians was conuented at Lucerna where this decree was made on the contrary part That no man should deride or contemne the word of God which had bene taught now aboue a thousand four hūdreth yeares heretofore nor the Masse to be scorned wherein the body of Christ is consecrated to the honour of God and to the cōfort both of the quicke the dead That they which are able to receiue the Lords body at Easter shall confesse their sinnes in Lent to the Priest and do all other things as the vse and maner of the Church requireth That the rites and customes of holy Church be kept That euery one obey his owne proper pastor and curate and to receaue the Sacramēts of him after the maner of holy Church and to pay him his yearely duties That honour be geuen to Priests Constitutions made in the councell of Lucerne Item to absteine from flesheating on fasting dayes and in Lent to absteine from egges and cheese That no opinion of Luther be taught priuely or apertly contrary to the receaued determination of holy Church and that in tauernes and at table no mention be made of Luther or any new doctrine That Images and pictures of Sainctes in euery place be kepte inuiolate That Priests and Ministers of the Church be not compelled to render accompt of their doctrine but only to the Magistrate That due ayde and supportation be prouided for them if anie commotion do happen That no person deride the reliques of the holy spirit or of our Lady or of Saint Anthony Finally that all the lawes and decrees set foorth by the Byshop of Constance be obserued These constitutions whosoeuer shall transgresse let them be presented to the Magistrate and ouerseers be set ouer them that shall so transgresse After these things concluded thus at Lucerna the Cantons of Heluetia together direct their publicke letter to the Tygurines or men of Zuricke The letter of the Heluetians to the Tygurines wherein they do much lament and complaine of this new broched doctrine whych hath set all men together by the eares through the occasion of certaine rash and newfangled heads which haue greatly disturbed both the state of the Church and of the common wealth and haue scattered the seedes of discorde whereas before time all things were well in quiet And although this sore sayd they ought to haue bene looked to by time so that they should not haue suffered the glory of Almighty God and of the blessed Uirgine and other Saints so be dishonored but rather should haue bestowed their goodes and liues to mainteine the same yet notwithstanding they required them now to looke vpon the matter which otherwise would bring to them destruction both of body and soule as for example they might see the doctrine of Luther what fruit it brought The rude and vulgare people now sayde they coulde not be holden in but woulde burst foorth to all licence and rebellion as hath appeared by sufficient proofes alate and like is to be feared also among themselues and all by the occasion of Zuinglius and of Leo Iuda which so take vpon them to expound the word of God Zuinglius
of Sainct Iustice. I aske mercye sayth he of God and hys Iustice but the Uirgine blessed S. Mary I neuer offended nor did that thinge for the whiche I should aske her mercy From thence he passed forward to the Churche of S. Legia preaching still as he went Then spake one of the souldiours to the driuer or carter Iohn 8. Filioli custodite vos a simulachris 1. Iohn 5. willyng him to driue a pase for here is preaching sayd he enough To whō sayd Aymond He that is of God heareth the wordes of God c. In passing by a certain Image of our Lady great offence was taken agaynst him because he alwayes called vpon Christ Iesus onely and made no mention of her Whereupon hee lifted his voyce to God praying that he woulde neuer suffer him to inuocate any other sauing him alone Comming to the place where he should suffer he was tumbled out of the cart vpon y e groūd testifying to the Magistrates to the people standing by y t he dyed for the Gospell of Iesus Christ for his word More he would haue spoken but he coulde not be suffered by y e tumultuous vexing of the officers crying dispatch dispatche him let him not speake Thē he speaking a few wordes softly in y e eare of the litle Carmelite whō he had conuerted was bid to stepp vp to y e stage Where the people beginning to geue a litle audiēce thus he said O Lord make hast to helpe me tary not do not despise the woorke of thy handes The wordes of Aymond to the studentes And you my brethren y e be students scholers I exhort you to study and learne the Gospell for the word of God abideth for euer labour to knowe the will of God and feare not them that kill the body but haue no power vpon your soules And after that my fleshe sayde hee repugneth merueilously against the spirit but shortly I shall cast it away My good maysters I beseech you pray for me O Lord my God into thy hands I commend my soule The death and martyrdome of Aymondus As he was oft repeting the same the hangman tooke and haled him vpon the steppes in such sort that he strangled hym And thus y e blessed Sainct gaue vp his life Whose body afterwarde was with fire consumed  Fraunces Bribard An. 1144. Fraunces Bribard was sayde to be the secretarye of the Cardinal of Bellay Fraunces Bribard Who being also for the Gospel condemned after hys tongue was cutte off did with like constācie susteyne the sharpenes of burning Ibidem The high Court of Roan A widowe keeping a vitailing house in the suburbes of Roan William Husson an Apothecary At Roan An. 1544. William Hussan Apothecary William Husson Martyr comming frō Bloys to Roan was lodged with a certaine widow in the suburbs of the Cittye Who asking of her at what tyme the Counsayle or Parliament did ryse she sayd at x. of y e clock About whiche tyme houre hee went to the Pallace and there scattered certayne bookes concernyng Christian doctrine and the abuse of mens traditions Whereat the counsayle was so mooued that they commaunded all the gates of the Cittye to be locked and dilligent search to be made in all Innes and hostles to finde out the authour Then the widow told of the partye which was there and asked of the rising of the Counsayle shortly vpon the same took hys horse and rode away Thē were postes set out thorough all quarters so that the sayd William was taken by the waye riding to Diepe and brought agayne to Roan Who there being examined declared hys fayth boldly and howe became of purpose to disperse those bookes in Roan and went to do the like at Diepe The boldnes of a constant Martyr The weeke ensuing hee was condemned to be burned aliue After the sentence geuen he was brought in a cart accompanyed with a Doctor a Carmelite Frier before the great churche who puttynge a torche in hys hand required hym to doe homage to the Image of our Lady Custodite vos a simulachris Iohn 5. which because he refused to do his tongue was cut out The Fryer then making a Sermon when he spake any thing of the mercies of God the sayd William harkened to hym but when he spake of the merites of Sayntes and other dreames he turned awaye his head The Fryer looking vppon the countenaunce of Husson lifte vpp his hand to heauen saying with great exclamation that he way damned and was possessed with a deuil When the Fryer had ceased hys Sermon this godly Husson had his handes and feete bound behynde his backe with a pully was lifted vp into the ayre and when the fire was kindled Crueltie of the aduersaries he was let down into the flame where the blessed Martyr with a smyling and cheerefull countenaunce looked vp to heauen neuer mouing nor styrryng till he let down his head and gaue vp hys spirite All the people there present were not a little astonyed thereat and were in diuers opinions some saying that he had a deuill other mayntayned the contrary saying if hee had a deuill he should haue fallen into dispayre This Carmelite Fryer abouesayde Frier Delāda conuerted was called Delanda which after was conuerted and preached the Gospell Ex. Gallie hist. Ioan. Crisp. Lib. 2. Three popish priests The Duke of Loraine· Iames Cobard a Scholemaster and many other taken the same time An. 1545. This Iames scholemaister in the Citty of Sainct Michael in the Dukedom of Barens in Loraine Iames Cobard Martyr disputed with three priests that the sacrament of Baptisme and of the Supper dyd not auayle vnlesse they were receaued with fayth which was as muche to saye as that the Masse dyd profite neither y e quick nor the dead For the which and also for hys confession which he being in prison sent of hys owne accorde by hys mother vnto the Iudge hee was burned and most quietly suffered Ex. Ioan. Crisp. The Franciscan Friers The Doctours of Sorbone and others Peter Clerke brother to Iohn Clerke burnt before Stephanus Manginus Iames Bouchbeck Iohn Brisebar Henr. Hutinote Tho. Honorate Iohn Baudouinus Iohn Flesch Iohn Picquere Peter Piquere Io. Matheston Philippe Little Michaell Caillow Fraunces Clerke Couberon a Weauer At Meaux An. 1546. These xiiij dwelt at Melda Xiiij. Martyrs a Cittye in France x. myles from Paris Where William Briconetus beyng there Bysh. did muche good Pet. Clerke Ioh. Clerke brethrē and Martyrs brought to them the light of the Gospell and reformed the Church Who straightly beyng examined for the same relented but yet these with many other remained constāt Who after the burning of Iames Pauane before mentioned and seeing superstition to grow more and more Xiiij. blessed martyrs at Meaux began to congregate in Mangins house to set vp a churche to themselues after the example of the French Churche in Strausburgh A
contrary according as Christ doth tell vs of the scribes phariseis admonishing vs to followe theyr doctrine not their liues Mat. 23. but there is great difference Math. 23. whether they y t take the gouernance of the church do sit in Moses chayre which is the seate of truth or els doe sit in the chayre of abhomination spoken of by Daniell also by S. Paule where he sayth 2. Thes. 2. That the man of perdition shal sit in the temple of God vaunting hymselfe insolently aboue all that is called God 2. Thes. 2. And as touching the keyes of binding loosing geuen to Peter Christ therein assigned to Peter The keyes of binding loosing other apostles the office of preaching the word of the gospell whiche they did also well obserue in preaching nothing els but onely the word in the whiche word is al the power conteyned of binding loosing Neither is it to be granted the Church to haue two heades one in heauen an other in earth The head whereof is but one whiche is Iesus Christ whome the father hath appoynted to be head alone both in heauen and earth Ephes. 1. Colos. 1. as S. Paul in many places of his Epistles doth teach Ephes. 1. Colos. 1 c. The Fryer You haue no vnderstanding how to expound the Scriptures But the olde doctors haue expounded the scriptures holy Councels Auricular confession whose iudgements are to be followed But what say you to auricular confession The Martyr I know no other confession but that which is to be made to God and reconciliation towardes our neighbour which Christ and his Apostles haue commended to vs. The Fryer Haue you not read in the Gospell howe Christ doth bid vs to confesse to the priest where hee commaunded the leper being made whole to shew hym selfe to the priest The Martyr The true church of the Lord Iesus Christ neuer obserued this straunge kinde of confession to carrye our sinnes to the priestes eare And though the churche of Rome haue intruded this maner of confessing it followeth not thereby that is to be receiued And as touching the leper whome the Lorde sent to the priest he was not sent therefore to whisper his sins in the Priestes care but onely for a testimony of hys health receiued according to the law Of the other confession whiche is to be made to God we haue both the examples and testimonyes of the prophet Dauid full in the psalmes 32.51.106 where he sayth Psal. 32.51.106 That he confessed his sinnes vnto the Lord and receiued forgeuenes of the same The Fryer After this the fryer proceeding further to make comparison betweene the churche of Rome The Church of Rome and of Geneua compared and the churche of Geneua would proue that the pope hath power to set lawes in the Church without anye expresse worde of God For so it is written sayd hee That there were many other thinges besides which are not written in this booke Ioan. 21. Also where Christ promiseth to his Disciples to send vnto them the holye ghost which shuld induce them into al truth Moreouer such decres ordinances which are in y e church were decided sayd he and appoynted by the doctors of y e church by al the Councels directed no doubt by the holy Ghost Furthermore he inferred that y e church also of Geneua had theyr ordinaunces and constitutions made without any word of God And for example he brought forth the order of the psalms and seruice publiquely obserued and appoynted vpon wednesday in the churche of Geneua as though that day were holyer then an other The Martyr To this the martyr answered agayne declaring that the ordinaunce of those publicke prayers and psalmes vppon wednesday in the churche of Geneua was not to bynde conscience or for anye superstitious obseruation or for any necessitie whiche eythere should bind conscience or could not be altered at their arbitrement but onely for an order or commoditie for publike resort to heare the word of god according as ancient kings temporall Magistrates haue vsed in old time to doe in congregating the people together not to put any holines in the daye or to bind conscience to any obseruation as the pope maketh his lawes but onely for orders sake seruing vnto commoditie And as touching that any thing should be left for doctors and counsels to be decided without the expresse word of God that is not so for that al things be expressed and prescribed by the word whatsoeuer is necessary eyther for gouernment of the Church or for the saluation of men so that there is no neede for doctours of the Church or Councels to decide anye thing more then is decided already Rom. 15. 2. Iohn Paule sayth that he durst vtter nothing but that the Lord had wrought by him Rom. 15. S. Iohn speaking of the doctrine of Christ Iesu willeth vs to receaue no man vnles he bring with him the same doctrine 2. Ioan. S. Paule warneth the Gallat not to beleeue an angell from heauen The Church ought to be gouerned only by the voyce of the Lords word 1. Pet. 5. bringing an other doctrine thē that which they had already receiued Gal. 2. Christ callyng himselfe the good shepheard noteth them to be his sheep which heare his voyce and not the voyce of others Ioh. 11 And S. Peter admonishing the pastors of y e churche forewarneth them to teache onely the woorde of God without any seeking of Lordship or dominion ouer the flocke From the which moderation how far y e forme of the popes church doth differ the tyranny whiche they vse doth well declare The Fryer In the old churche priestes and ministers of the church were wont to assemble together for deciding of such thinges as pertained to the gouernment and direction of the church whereas in Geneua no such thing is vsed as I can proue by this your owne testament here in my handes that you the better may vnderstand what was then the true vse and manner of the Churche The Martyr Churches may be instituted without the Pope What was the true order and manner that the Apostles did institute the church of Christ I would gladly heare and also would desire you to consider the same and when you haue well considered it yet shall you finde the institution and regiment of the Church of Geneua not to be without the publicke counsell and aduisement of the magistrates elders ministrs of that church with such care and diligence as Paule and Silas took in ordering the church of Thessalonica Birrhea c. wherin nothing was don without the authoritie of Gods word as appeareth Act. 17. As likewise also in stablishing the Church of Antioch when the Apostles were together in counsell for y e same there was no other law nor doctrine folowed but onely the word of God as may appere by the wordes of the Councell Quid tentatis Deum
diuinitie a frier Iacobine named Bassinet who then answered againe with this Oration This is a weyghty matter sayd he and of great importaunce The oration of Bassinet answering to the Byshop of Aix We muste therefore proceede wisely and in the feare of God and beware that we do nothing rashly For if we seeke the deathe and destruction of these poore and miserable people wrongfully whē the King and the Nobilitie shall heare of suche an horrible slaughter we shall be in great daunger least they doe to vs as we reade in the Scriptures was done to the priestes of Baal For my parte I must say and vnfainedly confesse that I haue too rashly and lightly signed many processes against those which haue bene accused of hereticall doctrine but nowe I do protest before God whyche seeth and knoweth the hearts of men that seeing the lamentable end and effect of mine assigments I haue had no quietnesse in my conscience considering that the secular iudges at the reporte of the iudgement and sentence geuen by mee and other Doctours my companions haue condemned all those vnto most cruel death whome wee haue iudged to bee heretickes The godly repentance of Bassinet And the cause why in conscience I am thus disquieted is this that now of late since I haue geuē my self more diligently to the reading cōtēplatiō of the holy scriptures I haue perceiued that the most part of those Articles which they that are called Lutheranes doe maintayne are so conformable and agreeing to the Scriptures The testimony of Bassinet for Lutherans that for my part I can no longer gainesay them except I should euen wilfully and maliciously resist and striue against the holy ordinances of God Al be it hetherto to maintaine the honour of our holy mother the Churche and of our holy father the Pope and of our order I haue consented to the opinions doings of the other Doctours as well through ignoraunce as also because I woulde not seeme to attempt any thing against the will and pleasure of the Prelates and Vicares generall But now it seemeth vnto mee that wee ought not any more to proceede in this matter as wee haue done in time past It shall be sufficient to punish them with fines or to banish them which shall speake too intemperately or rashly against the constitutions of the Churche and of the Pope and such as shall be manifestly conuicted by the holy Scriptures to be blasphemers or obstinate heretickes to be condemned to deathe according to the enormity of the crimes or errours or els to perpetuall prisone And this my aduise and counsaile I desire you to take in good part With this counsaile of Bassinet al the company was offended but especially the Bish. of Aix who lifting vp his voyce aboue all the rest sayd thus vnto hym O thou man of litle faith God and the Pope and the obedience to them two compared together whereof art thou in doubt Doest thou repent thee of that thou haste well done Thou haste tolde heere a tale that smelleth of fagottes and brimstone Is there any differēce thinkest thou betwene herisies and blasphemies spoken and mainteined againste the holy Scriptures and opinions holden against our holy mother the Church and contrary to our holy father the Pope a most vndouted and true God in earth Iohn 3. Art thou a maister in Israel and knowest not these things Then said the Bishop of Arles could any man entreat better of the little Barke of Christ Iesus then my Lorde of Aix hath done Then stoode vp Bassinet agayne and made thys Oration It is true that my Lorde the Bishop of Aix hathe very well set out the manners and state of the Clergie An other Oration of Bassinet and hath aptly reprooued the vices and heresies of this present time and therefore so soone as mention was made of the shippe of Christ Iesus it came in my minde first of all of the high Bishop of Hierusalem the Priestes the Doctours of the lawe the Scribes and Phariseys whyche sometime had the gouernaunce of this shippe being ordeined pastours in the Church of God But when they forsooke the lawe of God and serued him with mennes inuentions and traditions he destroyed those Hypocrites in his great indignation and hauing compassion and pitie vppon the people which were lyke sheepe without a shepheard hee sent diligent fishers to fishe for menne faithfull workemen into his haruest and labourers into hys vineyeard which shall all bring foorth true fruites in their season Secondly considering the purpose and entent of the reuerent Lord Bishop of Aix I called to minde the saying of the Apostle in his ◠Epistle and 4. chapter vnto Timothe That in the latter daies some shall fall away from the faith following after deceitfull spirites and the doctrine of deuils And the Apostle geueth a marke whereby a man shall know them Likewise our Lord Iesus Christ in the 7. chapter of Mathew sayeth That the false Prophetes shall come clothed in sheepes skinnes but inwardly they are rauening Wolues and by their fruites they shall be knowen By these two and diuers such other places it is easy to vnderstand who are they that goe about to drowne this little barke of Christ. False pastors in Christes church described Are they not these which fill the same wyth filthy and vncleane thinges With mire and dirt with puddle and stinking water Are they not those which haue forsaken Iesus Christe the fountaine of liuing water and haue digged vnto them selues pittes or cesternes whych will holde no water Truely euen those they are which vaunt themselues to be the salte of the earth and yet haue no sauour at all which cal them selues pastours yet are nothing lesse then true pastours for they minister not vnto the shepe the true pasture and feeding neither deuide and distribute the true bread of the word of life And if I may be bolde to speake it would it not be at this present as a great wonder to heare a Bishop preache as to see an Asse flie Are not they curssed of God whych glorye and vaunte them selues to haue the keyes of the kingdome of heauen and neither enter in them selues Math. 23. nor suffer them that wold enter to come in They may be knowen right well by their fruites for they haue forsaken faith iudgement and mercy there is no honest cleane or vndefiled thing in them but their habite theyr rochet theyr surplesse and such other Outwardly they are exceeding neat and trimme but wythin they are full of al abhomination rauine gluttonie Take heede of those that come to you in shepes skinnes but inwardly they are rauening Wolues filthy luste and all manner of vncleannesse They are like painted sepulchers which outwardly appeare beautifull faire but wythin they are full of filth and corruption A man shal know I say these rauening Wolues by their fruites which deuour the quicke and the dead
tuum Pasce gregem tuum vt cum venerit Dominus The wordes of Tho. Bilney to Doct. Warner inueniat te sic facientem That is Feede your flocke feede your flocke that when the Lord commeth he may finde you so doing and farewell good M. Doctour and pray for me and so he departed without any answere sobbing and weeping And while he thus stood vpon the ledge at the stake certayne Friers Doctours and Priors of theyr houses beyng there present as they were vncharitably and malitiously present at his examination and degradation The Fryers 〈◊〉 Bilny 〈◊〉 for them c. came to him and sayd O M. Bilney the people be perswaded that we be the causers of your death and that we haue procured the same and thereupon it is like that they will withdraw theyr charitable almes from vs al except you declare your charity towards vs and discharge vs of the matter Whervpon the sayd Tho. Bilney spake with a loud voyce to the people and sayd I pray you good people be neuer y e worse to these men for my sake as though they should be the authors of my death It was not they and so he ended Then the officers put reed and Fagots about hys body and set fire on the reed which made a very great flame which sparcled and deformed the visour of his face he holding vp his handes and knocking vpon his brest crying sometimes Iesus sometimes Credo Which flame was blowne away froÌ„ him by the violence of the winde which was that day 2. or 3. dayes before notable great in which it was sayd that the fieldes were maruellously plagued by the losse of corne and so for a litle pause The pacient death Martyrdome of M. Bilney he stoode without flame the flame departing recoursing thrise ere the wood tooke strength to be the sharper to consume him and theÌ„ he gaue vp the ghost and his body being withered â—owed downeward vpon the chayne TheÌ„ one of the officers with his halbard smite out the staple in the stake behinde him suffered his body to fall into the bottome of the fire laying wood on it and so he was consumed Thus haue ye good readers the true history Martyrdome of this good man that is Saint Bilney of blessed Saint Bilney as M. Latimer doth call him without any recaÌ„tation testified and ratified by the authority abouesayd By the which authority and party being there present yet aliue it is furthermore constantly affirmed that Bilney not only did neuer recant but also that he neuer had any such bill or script or scrolle in his hand to read either softly or apertly as M. More per licentiaÌ„ Poeticam would beare vs downe M. Moâ—â—s false report refuted Wherfore euen as ye see M. More deale in this so ye may trust him in the residue of his other tales if ye will ¶ Mayster Stafford of Cambridge AS the death of this Godly Bilney did much good in Northfolke where he was burnt so his diligeÌ„t trauel M. Bilney the cheife 〈…〉 Apostle of Cambridge in teaching and exhorting other and example of life correspondent to his doctrine left no small fruite behinde him in Cambridge beyng a great meanes of framing that Uniuersity drawing diuers vnto Christ. By reason of whoÌ„ and partly also of an other called M. Stafford the word of God begaÌ„ there most luckely to spread and many toward wittes to florish In the company of whom was M. Latimer D. Barnes D. Thistell of Penbroke hall M. Fooke of Benet Colledge and M. Soude of the same Colledge D. Warner aboue mentioned with diuers other moe This M. Stafford was then the publicke reader of the Diuinity lecture in that Uniuersity Who as he was an earnest professour of Christes Gospell so was he as diligeÌ„t a folower of that which he professed as by this exaÌ„ple here folowing may appeare For as the plague was then sore in Cambridge The notable zeale of M. Stafforde in sauing a damnable Priest and amongest other a certaine Priest called Syr Henry Coniurer lay sore sicke of the sayd plague M. Stafford hearyng therof and seing the horrible daunger that his soule was in was so moued in conscience to helpe the dauÌ„gerous case of the Priest that he neglecting his owne bodely death to recouer the other from eternall damnatioÌ„ came vnto him exhorted and so labored him that he would not leaue him before he had conuerted him and saw his coniuring books burned before his face Which being done maister Stafford went home and immediatly sickened shortly after most christianly deceased Ex fideli testimonio D. Ridlei Edmund Episcoporum Lond. Concerning which M. Stafford this moreouer is to be noted how that M. Latimer being yet a feruent and a zealous Papist M. Latimer asketh M. Stafford forgeuenes standing in the Schooles when M. Stafford read bad the Scholers not to heare him and also preaching agaynst him exhorted the people not to beleue hym and yet the sayd Latimer confessed himselfe that he gaue thankes to God that he asked him forgeuenesse before hee departed And thus much by the way of good M. Stafford who for his constant and godly aduenture in such a cause may seeme not vnworthy to goe with blessed Bilney in the fellowship of holy and blessed Martyrs ¶ The story of M. Symon Fish BEfore the time of M. Bilney and the fall of the Cardinall M Symon Fishe author of the booke called the supplication of Beggars I should haue placed the story of SimoÌ„ Fish with the booke called the Supplication of Beggars declaring how and by what meanes it came to the kynges hand and what effect therof folowed after in the reformation of many thinges especially of the Clergy But the missing of a few yeares in this matter breaketh no great square in our story though it be now entred here which shold haue come in sixe yeares before The maner and circumstaunce of the matter is this After that the light of the gospell working mightely in Germany began to spread his beames here also in England great styrre alteration folowed in the harts of many so that colored hipocrisy and false doctrine paynted holynes began to be espyed more and more by the reading of Gods word The authority of the Bishop of Rome and y e glory of his Cardinals was not so high but such as had fresh wits sparcled with Gods grace began to espy Christ from Antichrist that is true sincerity from counterfait religion In the number of whom was the sayd M. Simon Fish a gentleman of Brayes Inne It happened the first yeare that this Gentleman came to LondoÌ„ to dwel which was about the yeare of our Lord 1525. that there was a certayne play or interlude made by one M. Roo of the same Inne gentlemaÌ„ in which play partly was matter agaynst the Cardinall Wolsey And where none durst take vpoÌ„ theÌ„ to play that part which
his word will be aboue theyr gouernours in refusing to obey them Secondly beside this rebellious disobedience in these Bishops of Rome not sufferable The pride of the Pope described theyr pride moreouer so farre exceedeth all measure that they will haue theyr princes to whoÌ„ they owe subiection prostrate vpon y e ground to adore them by godly honor vpon the earth and to kysse theyr feet as if they were God where as they be but wretched men and yet they looke that theyr princes should do it vnto them and also all other christen men owing them no subiection should do the same And who be these I pray you that men may knowe them Surely sayth he the Bishoppes of Rome be these whom I do meane Who following the pride of Lucifer theyr father make themselues fellowes to God and do exalâ— theyr seate aboue the starres of God and do ascend aboue the cloudes and will be like to almighty God The starres of God be ment the aungels of heauen for as stars doe shew vnto vs in part the light of heauen so do Aungelles sent vnto men shew the heauenly light of the grace of God to those to whom they be sent And the cloudes signified in the olde Testament the Prophettes and in the new doe signify the Apostles and Preachers of the woord of God For as the cloudes do conceiue and gather in the skye moysture The Pope 〈◊〉 aboue the cloudes and the 〈◊〉 of heauen which they after poure downe vpon the ground to make it thereby more fruitfull so the Prophets in the olde Testament and the Apostles and Preachers in the newe do poure into our eares the moysture of theyr heauenly doctrine of the word of God to make therewith by grace our soules beinge scere and drye to bring foorth fruit of the spirite Thus doe all auncient expositours and amongest them Saynt Augustine interpret to be ment in Scripture starres and cloudes in the exposition of the 45. Psalme But S. Iohn the Euangelist writeth in the 19. chapter of the Apocalips Apoc. 19.22 in the 22. also that wheÌ„ he would haue fallen downe at the Aungels foote that did shew him those visions there written to haue adored him with godly worship the Aungell sayd vnto him See thou do not so for I am the seruaunt of God as thou art Geue adoration and Godly worship to God and not to me Here it appeareth that the Bishops of Rome suffering all men prostrate before them to kisse theyr feet yea the same Princes The Pope exalted aboue Angels to whom they owe subiection do clime vp aboue the starres and Aungels too offering their feet to be kissed with shoes and all For so I saw my selfe being present 34. yeares ago wheÌ„ Iulius theÌ„ Bishop of Rome stood on his feet and one of his chamberlaynes held vp his skyrâ— because it stood not as he thought with his dignity that he should do it himselfe that his shoo might appeare whiles a noble man of great age did prostrate himselfe vpon the ground and kissed his shoo which he stately suffered to be done as of duety Where me think I saw Cornelius the Centurion Captayn of the Italians â—and spoken of in the tenth Chapiter of the Actes submitting himselfe to Peter and much honoring him but I saw not Peter there to take him vp and to bidde him rise saying I am a man as thou art as Saynt Peter did say to Cornelius The Pope climeth aboue the Apostles so that the Bishops of Rome admittting such adoration due vnto God doe clime aboue the heauenlye cloudes that is to say aboue the Apostles sent into the world by Christ to water the earthly and carnal hartes of men by theyr heauenly doctrine of the word of God Thus Bishop Tonstall hauing described the passing pride of the Pope surmounting like Lucifer aboue Byshops Apostles Aungelles and starres of heauen proceeding then further to the latter ende of his Sermon commeth to speake of his rage and malice most furious and pestilent The Pope stirreth vp warre agaynst England in that he being iustly put from his kingdome here to wreake his spitefull malice styrreth vppe warre against vs bloweth y e horn of mischief in geuing our land for a spoyle and pray to all whosoeuer at his setting on will come and inuade vs. The treason of Cardinal Poole But let vs heare his owne wordes preaching to the king and all Englishmen touchyng both the popes malice and the treason of Cardinall Poole Now sayth he because he can no longer in this realm wrongfully vse his vsurped power in all thinges as he was wont to do and sucke out of this Realme by auarice insatiable innumerable summes of money yearely to the great exhausting of the same he therefore moued and repleat with furious ire and pestilent malice goeth about to styrre all Christen nations that will geue eares to hys deuillish enchauntmentes to moue warre agaynst this realme of England geuing it in pray to all those that by hys instigation will inuade it And here expounding these foresayd wordes to geue in pray he declareth what great mischiefe they conteyne and willeth euery true Englisheman well to marke the same First to make this realme sayth he a pray to all veÌ„turers The Pope geueth England away for a pray all spoylers all snappehaunses all forlornehopes all cormorantes all rauenors of the world that will inuade this Realme is to say thou possessioner of any landes of thys Realme of what degree soeuer thou be from the highest to the lowest shalt be slayne and destroyed and thy lands taken from thee by those that will haue all for themselues thou mayest be sure to be slayne for they will not suffer thee nor none of thy progeny to liue to make any claime afterwarde or to be reuenged for that were theyr vnsurety Thy wife shal be abused before thy face thy daughter lykewise defloured before thee thy children slayne before thine eyes thy house spoyled thy cattell driuâ—n away sold before thy visage thy plate thy mony by force taken froÌ„ thee all thy goodes wherin thou hast any delight or hast gathered for thy children rauened broken and diâ—tributed â—n thy presence that euery rauenour may haue his share Thou Marchaunt art sure to be slaine for thou hast either money or ware or both which they search for Thou Byshoppe or priest whatsoeuer thou be shalt neuer escape because thou wouldest not take the Bishop of Romes part and rebell agaynst God and thy Prince as he doth If thou shalt fiâ—e and escape for a season whatsoeuer thou be thou shalt see and heare of so much misery and abhomination that thou shalt iudge them happy that be dead before for sure it is thou shalt not finally escape For to take the whol realme in pray is to kill the whole people and to take the place for themselues as they will do if they can And the Bishop of Rome now
by some meane be brought to passe that as the Serpent deceiued Eue thorow wilines so your mindes may be corrupt from the simple veritie that is in Christ. And also in his Commentaries vpon the epistle to the Coloss vpon this text In Christ Iesus is all treasure of wisedome and in other diuers places of the same worke 2. Tim 3. Chrysost. in Epist. Paulâ— in opere imperfecto The preacher must not sweâ—â—e neither on the right hand or left from the expresse word of God S. Chrysostome also in his Commentaries vppon Paul declaring this saying Omnis scriptura diuinitus inspirata c. The whole Scripture giuen by inspiration of GOD. c. And in his Booke called Opus imperfectum I wote not precisely vpon what text but there you shal finde that he would haue a true preacher of gods law not swaruing therefro neither vpon the right hand neither vpon y e left but keeping thereafter according to the teaching of SalomoÌ„ for he that should thervnto adde or withdraw should enterprise as sayeth Chrysostome to be wiser then God These or els such like wordes doth he say I will be deemed by the booke brought forth because my remembraunce cannot retayne perfectly all such thinges S. Cyprian mainteineth well the same in an Epistle that â—e writeth ad Cecilium fratrem Cyprianus ad Ceciliâ—â— fratrem Which I woulde to God were in English that al men might learn the deuout goodnes in it conteined In the same he teacheth clearely how we ought to heare Christ onely and his learning not regarding ne attending to the traditions of men lyke as he doth also in many other places And this agreeth well with Scripture which is called the word of Saluation Scripture how many names it hath the administration of righteousnes the word of truth yea and the truth it selfe the rod of direction our spirituall food the spirituall sword that we ought to fight with against all temptations and assaultes of our ghostly enemies the seede of God the kingdome of heauen keyes of the same the power of God the light of the worlde which who so followeth shal not be ouercome with darknes the law of God his wisedome and Testament Of which wordes and such like The word sufficient 〈◊〉 all our direction euery one will giue matâ—er of substantial argument that we following the same doctrine onely shall haue sufficient safe conduict to come vnto the inheritaunce promised albeit none other wayes or meanes were annexed with the same And certaine I am that in this blessed doctrine of Christ is taught Scripture sufficient to saluation without any other addition Psal. 25. howe we ought to do truth and mercy which is all that we neede to do as testifieth the Psalme in these wordes Vniuersae viae domini misericordia veritas c. All the wayes of the Lorde are mercie and truth And againe the Prophet willing vs to do as he did sayth in this maner Adhaesi testimonijs tuis domine noli me confundere I haue cleaued to thy testimonies O Lord confound me not In lyke maner the sayd whole Psalme warneth vs. Psal. 118. Yea all the Scripture biddeth vs sticke fast to the steady and true worde of God saying that he is verax viae eius veritas omnis autem homo vanitas mendax For he is true and all his wayes are trueth but all men are vaine and lyers For that is the sure foundation which cannot fayle them that grounde therevppon as reporteth Christ Euery one sayth he that heareth my words doth them is like to a wise man that buildeth vppon a sure foundation And there ought to be none other foundation to christen men but only the vndoubted truth of Iesus to build our faith vpon and direct our liuing thereafter as sheweth s. Paul saying FundamentuÌ„ aliud nemo c. Other foundation can no man lay then that which is laid which is Iesus Christ. And likewise in the Epistle vnto the Ephesians 1. Cor. 3. where he sayth I am non estis hospites aduenae sed conciues sanctorum domestici dei c. Nowe ye are no more strangers and forreiners but Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God 〈◊〉 1. And in the same epistle S. Paul dilating of Christes benificence sheweth how that he ordained in the Churche diuers officers to the edifying of Christen people that he calleth Christes body vntill all we may come vnto the vnitie of faith which coÌ„meth by following of one doctrine whiche is Christes wherby wee may growe to bee perfect men and that we should not be here like to children caried about with euery winde of doctrine by deceipte and wilines of men that study to deceiue vs. Heb. 13. In like forme doeth he warne vs in the Epistle to the Hebrues that we should not be caried about as the wind with diuers and straunge doctrines but continue in that which euer continueth like and all one agreeable for all men in all partes The inconstancy and variablenes of mens coÌ„stitutions The popes lawes were neuer wholy receiued of all men and that at all times not being chaungeable as mens constitutions be whereof looke what one doth counsaile or ordaine to be of effecte another annulleth the same according as mens mindes doe alway alter and are full vnstedy Neither doe such pertaine vnto all men for the Greekes with other whome the Pope ne none of his people wil yet deny to be of Christes Church will in no condition admitte such neither for men to liue after them nor to beleeue them as pertaining to theyr faith But they allowe well the doctrine that perseuereth euer one Heb. 13. and is immutable as sheweth Saint Paule saying Iesus Christ yesterday and to day is all one and so euer shal be He is white breade without any sower leuen of Pharisaical traditions veritie without guile light without any darkenes the very straight way that hath neither hooke ne croke From this ought we not to turne neither vpon one hand ne other vnlesse we will go from him that is our felicitie and anker of safetie But what should I more entreate of this excepte I would recite all scripture which in euery parte is full of admonitions exhorting and warning vs to cleaue fast vnto this way which is the doctrine of the Gospel which God I beseech him graunt vs all both to knowe and loue taking heede that in no wise wee be seduced therefro by lawes doctrines of men Looke also in the ij chap. to the Colossians and in the epistle of Timothe and Titus So that I conclude in holy scripture to be conteined sufficiently enough of doctrine The chiefe article obiected againsâ— Iohn Lambert for the regiment and saluation of our soules And this because learned men do call the head Article laid against me I would that all men should well note it and record my saying
and bringer vp of the Secte of the Nazarens which was also minded to haue polluted our temple c. Truth taken for falshode Christ taken for a seducer In what causes men forbidden ought not to cease from preaching This is to call by peruerse iudgement trueth falsehoode And thus did theyr predecessours speake of the Prophets yea and of Christ himselfe calling him a seducer and preacher of heresy which is written for our instruction And men thus being suspected as I woulde none were ought in no wise therefore to cease neither from preaching ne teaching Ensample of this we haue in the Actes of the apostles where is shewed that whē Peter Iohn had done a myracle vpon a man that had bene lame frō his natiuity whō by the power of Christ they healed Act. 4.5.6 caused to go where he pleased the people hearing of this came running about Peter Iohn Peter seeing this did exhort the people in a sermon that they should not thinke him his felow S. Iohn to haue done this wōderfull thing by their own power or holynes but by the vertue of Christ whom they theyr head rulers had slayne While they were thus speaking with the people there came vpō them the priestes officers of the temple accompanyed with the Saduces being sore displeased that they should enterprise to teach the people and preace that men should arise from death by the name of Christ whom they had caused to be crucified and therewith they layd handes vpon them and put them in warde vntill next day The next day they sent for the Apostles before them demaunding by what power and in whose name they did this myracle Peter made aunswere Act. 4. If you quoth he that are head rulers ouer the people lust by examination to knowe by what meanes we did it we woulde you should all know that we did it throvgh the name of Christ Iesu of Nazareth whom you did crucify but God did cause him to arise agayne In the vertue of hys name doth this man that afore was lame now stand before you here both whole and found For Christ is that high corner stone whō you cast away which should haue builded the peoples fayth vpon him neither is there any saluation without him These great men seing that Peter spake so freely and that he with his felow Iohn were simple men without any pompous apparel or great garde of seruaunts being like ideots and men vnlearned wondred therat At the last they did commaunde them to depart out of theyr Councell house whiles they should cōmon more largely of y e matter Peter and the Apostles prohibited by the Phariseis to preach Christ. Afterward they called y e Apostles afore them agayde commaunding them that they should no more preach ne teache in the name of Iesus But the Apostles aunswered saying I beseeche you iudge better ought we to obey you more then God or no For certaynely we must needes testify of those thinges which we haue both heard and seene Then the head Priestes threatning them sore did geue them strait charge Act. 4. not to breake theyr precept and so did let them goe not knowing any cause why they might punish them for they feared least the people would haue taken part with the Apostles for the people gaue glory to God for the myracle shewed by them Notwithstāding al these great threats Peter wrought miracles still amongst the people Peter disobeyed the precepte of the Phariseis doing thē to know that glory therfore ought to be geuē to Iesus by whose power and name they were done Wherwith the harts of the people melted for ioy so that they folowed after the Apostles whyther soeuer they went The primate of the priestes hearing of this and all that were about him repleate with indignation layd handes vpon the Apostles putting them in the common Prison But the Aungell of God in the night opened the Prison dores and brought them out saying Peter deliuered out of prison Goe you into the Temple and stand there preaching vnto the people all the wordes of life That is to say Christes doctrine and so they did earely in the morning Then came foorth the chiefe Priest and they whom he vsed to haue about him and called a Councell in which were all the Priestes of Israel or auncientes of Israel So they sent vnto the prison house for to haue the apostles brought forth before them When theyr seruaunts came to the prison house found the apostles gone thence they returned to theyr maisters saying we found the prison fast shut round about in euery part the keepers watching at the dores without full diligently But when we had opened the prison we could find no body within Then as the high priestes officers of the temple heard this they were in a great perplexity doubting what wold therof come Act. 5. Then came one vnto them shewed thē saying Behold the men that ye put in prison are standing in the temple preaching vnto the people Then wēt they thither and brought the apostles with thē without any violence but they were afrayd lest the people would haue beaten them downe with stones Then they caused the apostles to be brought into their Councell house the high priest beginning his proposition agaynst the apostles in this forme Haue we not straytly commaunded you sayd he that you should not preach in the name of Christ And see you haue filled all Hierusalem with your doctrine Will you bring this mans bloud vpō vs God to be obeyed more then men Act. 5. that we should vnrighteously haue caused him to suffer death Then aunswered Peter and the other Apostles saying We ought to obey God more then any man The God of our fathers hath raysed Iesu from death whom you did slay hanging him vpon a tree Him notwithstanding hath GOD raysed and by his power aduaunced to be our king and Sauiour by whom shal be geuen to all Israel that will take repentaunce forgeuenes of sinne These great rulers hearing this their harts were therwith clouen a sunder and they coūselled together for to slay the apostles But one good man amōg theyr multitude aduised them otherwise whose aduise they did approue Thē they called the apostles againe afore them causing them to be scourged charged them no more to preach in the name of Iesu and so did let them depart Then went they away out of the Councell reioycing that God had made thē worthye to suffer such rebukes for his name sake The counsell of Gamaliell But yet they neuer ceased to teach preach of Iesus Christ euery day in the temple and in all houses that they came into This is written in the 4.5 and 6. of the Actes of the apostles for our instruction doubt you not for such practise is shewed in all ages So that hereby you may set Act. 4.5.6 when men be wrongfully suspect or infamed
he which is our accuser should also be our iudge The Popes honor first gotten by superstytion borne by ignorance nourished by ambition increased by violence defended by false vnderstanding wrasting of scriptures His pretended honor first gotten by superstition after encreased by violence other waies as euill as that his power set vp by pretence of religion in deed both against religion and also contrary to the word of God his primacie borne by the ignorancie of the world nourished by the ambition of Bishops of Rome defended by places of Scripture falsely vnderstande these three things wee say which are fallen with vs and are like to fall in other Realmes shortly shall they not be established agayne if he may decide our cause as him lusteth if he may at his pleasure oppresse a cause most righteous and set vp his most against truth Certainely he is very blinde that seeth not what ende we may looke for of our controuersies if suche our enemie may geue the sentence We desire if it were in any wise possible a Councell where some hope may be that those things shall be restored which now being deprauate are like if they be not amended to be the vtter ruine of Christian Religion And as we do desire suche a Councell and thinke it meete that all men in all their praiers should desire craue it of God euen so we thinke it perteineth vnto our office to prouide both that these Popishe subtilties hurte none of oure subiects and also to admonishe other Christian Princes Prouision to be made agaynst popishe â—â—â—tyltieâ— that the Bishop of Rome may not by their consente abuse the authoritie of kings either by the extinguishing of the true preaching of Scripture that nowe beginneth to spryng to growe and spreade abroade eyther to the troubling of Princes liberties to the diminishing of Kings authorities and to the great blemish of their princely maiestie We doubt nothing but a Reader not parciall wyll soone approue such things as we heere write not so muche for our excuse as that the worlde may perceiue both the sundrye deceites craftes and subtleties of the papistes also how much we desire that controuersies in religion may once be taken away All that we sayde there of Mantua may here well be spoken of Uincence This Councell of Manâ—us which the pope 〈◊〉 he afterward transferred to Vincence This was the yeare 1537. They do almost agree in al poyntes Neither is it like that there will be any more at this couÌ„cell at Uincence then were the last yere at Mantua Truely he is worthy to be deceiued y t being twise mocked wyll not beware the third time If any this last yeare made forth toward Mantua and being halfe on theyr way then perceiued that they had taken vpon them that iourney in vayne we do not think them so foolish that they will here after ride farre out of towne to be mocked The time also and the state of thinges is such that matters of Religion may rather now be brought further in trouble as other things are theÌ„ be commodiously intreated of and decided For whereas in maner the whole world is after such sorte troubled with warres This time 〈◊〉 for a generall Councell and why so incombred with the great preparations that the Turke maketh can there be any man so against the setling of religion that he will thinke this time meet for a generall Councell Undoubtedly it is meer that such controuersies as we haue with the Bishop of Rome be taken as they are that is much greater then that they may either be discussed in this so troublesome a time or els be committed vnto proctors without our great ieopardy albeit the time were neuer so quiet What other princes will doe we can not tell but we will neither leaue our realme at this time Neyther the iudge nor the place conuenient for a general Councell neither wil we trust any Proctor with our cause wherein the whole stay and wealth of our Realme standeth but rather we will be at the handling thereof our selfe For except both an other Iudge be agreed vpon for those matters and also a place more commodious be prouided for the debating of our causes albeit all other thinges were as we would haue them yet may we lawfully refuse to come or send any to this pretended Councel We will in no case make him our arbeter which not many yeres past our cause not heard gaue sentence agaynst vs. We will that such doctrine as we folowing y e Scripture do professe be rightly examined discussed and brought to the Scripture as to the onely touchstone of true learning We will not suffer them to be abolished ere euer they be dicussed Spoken like a king ne to be oppressed before they be known much lesse we will suffer them to be troden down being so clearly true No as there is no iote in Scripture but we will defend it though it were with ieopardy of our life and peril of this our Realme so is there nothing that doth oppresse this doctrine or obscure it but we will be at continuall warre therew t. As we haue abrogated al old popish traditions in this our Realme which eyther did help his tyranny or encrease his pride so if the grace of God forsake vs not Would God the king here had kept promise when he made the 6. articles we will well foresee that no new naughty traditions be made with our consent to blinde vs or our Realme If meÌ„ will not be willingly blind they shall easily see euen by a due and euident proofe in reason though grace doth not yet by the word of Christ enter into them how small the authority of the Bishop of Rome is by the lawfull deniall of the Duke of Mantua for the place For if the Bishop of Rome did earnestly intend to keepe a CouÌ„cell at Mantua and hath power by the law of God to call Princes to what place him liketh why hath he not also authority to chuse what him listeth The Bishop chose Mantua the Duke kept him out of it If Paule the Bishop of Romes authority be so great as he pretendeth The Duke of Mantua deniethe the Pope his Citie fâ—r his Councell why could he not compell Fridericus the Duke of Mantua that the Councell might be kept there The Duke would not suffer it No he forbad him his towne How chaunceth it that here excommunications flee not abroade Why doth he not punish this Duke Why is his power that was woont to be more then full here empty wont to be more then all here nothing Doth he not call men in vayn to a Councell if they that come at his calling be excluded the place to the which he calleth them May not kinges iustly refuse to come at his call when the Duke of Mantua may deny him the place that he chooseth If other Princes order him as the Duke of Mantua hath done If
quemquam cunctis prodesse fauorem Et populare lucrum pellere mente manu Cui vestis textura rudis cui non fuit vnquam Ante sitim potus nec cibus ante famem Quem pudor hospitium statuit sibi quamque libido Incestos superat tam superauit eam Quem natura parens cum mundo contulit inquit Degenerant alij nascitur iste mihi Quaeque vagabatur penè reliquerat orbem Inclusit sacro pectore iustitiam Vir sacer à puero qui quantum praeminet orbi Fama adeò famae praeminet ipse suae Fama minor meritis cùm totum peruo let orbem Cùm semper crescat non erit aequa tamen Vir pius atque grauis vir sic in vtroque modestus Vt liuor neutro rodere possit eum Liuor enim destet quem carpserat antea nec tam Carpsit odit eum quam modo laudat amat Quà m prius ex vita tam nunc ex morte gemiscit Et queritur celeres huius abisse dies Vir verè sapiens parte beatus ab omni Qui coelos anima corpore ditat humum Post obitum secum viâ—ram precor ac requiescam Nec fiat melior sors mea sorte sua Althoughe in this time of Berengarus whyche was about the yeare of oure Lorde 1060. as ye haue heard this errour of transubstantiation began to growe in force and strength by the supporting of certaine popishe monkes aboue rehearsed as Lancfrancus Guimundus Algerius Hugo Bishop of Lincolne Fulbertus of whom it is said in stories that our Ladie gaue him sucke being sicke wyth her owne brestes and such other yet notwythstanding all this while the sayd TransubstantiatioÌ„ was decreed for no publicke law Transubstantiation first decreed for a general law by pope Innocent 3. The general Councell of Laterane nor doctrine to be holden by any general coÌ„sent either of the Church of Rome or any other Councell before the Councel of Laterane vnder Pope Innocent the 3. who in the yeare of our Lorde 1215. celebrating in the church of Laterane a generall councel of 1300. bishops enacted there diuers constitutions as of yerely coÌ„fession and the communion to be vsed of the whole multitude once a yeare through euery parish church Item for the recouery of the holy land with a subsidie also to be leauied for the same Item for the abolishing of the bookes and wrytinges of Ioachim Abbas and also the opinions of Almaricus afore mentioned notwithstanding that y e said Ioachim did subscribe with his owne hand that he held the same doctrine Ex Antonin part 3. tit 19. c. 1. which was in the church of Rome and also submitted hys bookes to be presented to the Sea of Rome there to bee corrected or approoued And yet was he iudged though not an heretike yet to be erroneous especially in those bokes which he wrote against Peter Lombard calide afterward the master of Sentence In the sayde Counsel besides diuers other constitutions and the Articles of the Creede there in order repeated Extrau De Sum. trin cap. 1. sirmit credimus as appeareth Extr. De summa trinit fide Catholica cap. 1. firmiter there was also enacted decreed and establyshed the fayth and beliefe of Transubstantiation in these woordes following There is one vniuersall Church of the faithful without which none can be saued in the which Church the self same Iesus Christ is both Priest and also the sacrifice The wordes of the Councell whereby transubstantiation was first established whose body and bloude are truly contained in the Sacrament of the aulter vnder the formes of breade and wine the breade being transubstantiated into the body and the wine into the bloud by the power and workinge of God so that to the accomplishing of thys mysterie of vnitie wee might take of his the same which he hath taken of ours And thys sacrament none can make or consecrate but hee that is a prieste lawfully ordained according to the keyes of the Church whych Iesus Christ hath left to his Apostles and to their successours c. And thus was the foundation layd for the building of transubstantiatioÌ„ vpon the consent of these foresayd 1300. Byshops in the yeare of our Lorde aboue specified vnder pope Innocentius and the doctrine therof intruded for an article of fayth into the church necessarily to be beleeued of all men vnder payne of heresie But yet all this while notwithstanding that the substaunte of bread and wine was nowe banished out of the sacrament Eleuation and adoration brought in by Pope Honorius the 3. ¶ Anno. 1220. and vtterly transcorporated into the substaunce ot Christes very body and bloud yet was not this body eleuated ouer the priestes head nor adored of the people till the dayes af pope Honorius the 3. succeeding after Innocentius who by his counsaile likewise commaunded adoration and eleuation to be ioyned with transubstantiation as one idolatry commonly bringeth forth an other Agayne the sayd sacramedt of the Lordes supper being now consecrated transubstantiated eleuated and adored yet it was not offered vp for a sacrifice propitiatory for the quicke and the dead nor for a remedye of the soules in Purgatory nor for a merite operis operati sine bono motu vtentis c. before that other popes comming after added still new aditions to the former inuentions of theyr predecessours And thus haue you the whol order and origine of these Idolatrous partes of the masse described by theyr times ages Consecration Transubstantiation Eleuation Adoration Oblation whiche first began with consecration and the forme therof which were wordes of the Canon Then came traÌ„substantiation by Innocentius and after eleleuation adoration by Honorius and last of all came the oblation meretorious and propitiatory for the quicke and dead in remission of sinnes Ex opere operato Which thinges being thus constituted by the to muche vsurped authority of the church of Rome Persecution first beginning in these latter dayes shortly after followed persecution tyranny and burning among the christians first beginning with the Albingenses and the fayth full congregation of Tholouse neare about the tyme of the sayd Innocentius as is afore remembred pag. 271. And thus much for the first article of transubstantiatioÌ„ which as ye haue heard was not admitted into y e Church for any generall doctrine of fayth before the yeare and time aboue assigned of pope Innocent the third and therefore if any haue bene otherwise perswaded or yet doe remayne in the same perswasion still of this doctrine as though it had bene of a longer coÌ„tinuance then froÌ„ the time aboue expressed let him vnderstand that by ignoraunce of hystories he is deceiued and for the more satisfyinge of his mynde if he credite not me Read before pag 271. Read before pag 257. Ioh. Duns in Ii 4. lib. Sentent let him beleeue the wordes of one of hys owne catholike sort Iohn Duns I meane
the maried life of priestes is more auncient in the Church then is the single life then the law I meane commaunding the single life of Priests Which may soone be proued to be true by the true count of times and search of hystories For first at the Councell of Nice it is notorious that this diuelish law of mariage to be restrained was stopped by Paphâ—â—tius 2. Before this Councell of Nice in the yeare of our Lord 180. we reade of Polycrates B. of Ephesus who dissenting from Pope Uictor about a certaine controuersie of Easter day alledgeth for himselfe how his progenitoures before him 7. together one after another succeeded in that seate and he now the 8. after them was placed in the same vsing this his discent of his parents not only as a defence of his cause but also a glory to himselfe c. 3. Pope Syricius about the yeare of our Lord 390. wrote to the priests of Spaine about the same matter of putting their wiues from them if his Epistle be not counterfeyte These Spanish priestes had then with them a Byshop of Terragon Who aunswering to Syricius in this behalfe alledged the testimonies of S. Paule that Priestes might lawfully retaine their wiues c. To this Syricius replyed againe if his writing be not forged most arrogantly and no lesse ignorauntly reprouing the Priests that were maried and for the defence of his cause alledged this sentence of S. Paule Si secundum carnem vixeritis moriemini That is If ye shall liue after the flesh ye shall die c. Whereby may appeare not onely howe they in Spaine then had wiues 〈◊〉 8. but also how blinde these men were in the Scriptures which shewed themselues such aduersaries against Priests Mariage 4. To be short the further we go nearer to the auncient time of the church the lesse auncient we shall finde the depriuation of lawfull matrimony amongst christian ministers beginning if we will with the Apostles their examples and Canons who although were not all maried yet diuers of them were and the rest had power and libertie to haue and keepe their wiues witnessing S. Paule where he writeth of himselfe Non habemus potestatem sororem mulierem circumducendi sicut reliqui Apostoli That is to say haue not we power to leade about a sister to wife as also the other Apostles haue Whereby is to be seene both what he might do and what the other Apostles did Also Clemens Alexandrinus whiche was CC. yeares after Christe Lib. Strom 7. denieth not but that Paul was maried beyng an Apostle as well as Peter and Philp. And as the sayde Apostles in their doctrine admonishe all men to marrie that can not otherwise doe sayeng to euery one beeyng in daunger of temptation Vnusquisque suam vxorem habeat ne tentet vos Satanas c. That is Let euery man haue his owne wife least Sathan tempt you c. So likewise the same Apostles in their Canons as in the Popes Decrees cited do precisely charge that no Bishop nor priest shoulde sequester from him his wife for any matter or pretence of religion saieng If anye shall teach that a priest for religion sake ought to contemne his owne wife let him be accursed c. As for the Glose there in the margent whiche expoundeth this word contemning for exhibiting things necessarye for her sustenance all the worlde may see that to bee a Glose of meere Sophistry And because I haue here made mention of Clemens Alexandrinus it shal not be to our purpose impertinent to inferre the wordes of this worthy writer wherewith he doth defend Priests lawfull matrimonie against certayne vayne bosters of virginitie in his time Dicunt gloriosi isti iactatores se imitari dominum qui neque vxorem duxit neque in mundo aliquid possedit se magis quam alios Euangelium intellexisse gloriantes That is These glorious braggers doe vaunte themselues to bee the followers of the Lord who neither had wife nor yet possessed anye thing heere in the worlde c. And it followeth Eis autem dicit scriptura deus superbus resistit humilibus autem dat gratiam Deinde nesciunt causam cur dominus vxorem non duxerit primum quidem propriam sponsam habuit ecclesiam Deinde vero nec homo erat communis vt opus haberet etiam adiutore aliquo secundum carnem c. To these the Scripture maketh aunswere God withstandeth the proude and geueth grace to the humble Agayne they consider not the cause why the Lorde tooke no wife First he had his owne peculiar spouse which is y e Church Moreouer neither was he as a common man that hee shoulde stand in such neede of a helper after the fleshe c. And in the same booke a little after alleadging against them that abhorre matrimonie 1. Tim. 4. he inferreth the wordes of S. Paule how that in the latter dayes some shall fall from the faith attending to spirits of errour and to doctrine of deuils forbidding to marry and to absteyne from meates c. Which place of Saint Paule Clement heere applieth not against the Nouatians and them that condemne matrimony in generall in all men as naught but he applyeth it only against suche as forbid mariage in part and namely in Priests c. Câ—â—cilium 〈◊〉 This Clement wrote after Christ two hundreth yeres and yet if we come downeward to lower times we shall finde both by the Councell of Gangren CCC yeares and also by the Councel of Nice CCCC yeares after Christe the same libertie of priestes mariage established and enacted as a thing both good and godly The wordes of Gangren Councell be these Si quis discernit Praesbyterum coniugatum tanquam occasione nuptiarum quod offerre non debeat Distinct. 28. ab eius oblatione ideo abstinet anathema sit c. That is If any do iudge that a Priest for his mariage sake ought not to minister and therefore doth abstaine from the same let him be accursed Moreouer proceeding yet in times and Chronicles of the Church we shall come to the sixt Councell called Synodus Constantinopolitana Concilium ConstantinopolitanuÌ„ Distinct. â—5 ca. Quoâ—â—â— almost seauen C. yeares after Christ the wordes of the which Councell be alleadged in the Decrees and be these in Latine Quoniam in Romani ordine canonis esse cognouimus traditum eos qui ordinati sunt Diaconi vel Presbyteri confiteri quod non suis iam copulentur vxoribus antiquum sequentes canonem Apostolicae diligentiae constitutiones sacrorum virorum legales nuptias amodo valere volumus nullo modo cum vxoribus suis eorum connubia dissoluentes aut priuantes eos familiaritate adinuicem in tempore oportuno c. That is Because in the order of the Romaine Canon we know it so to be receaued that such as be Deacons and Priestes shall professe themselues to haue no more copulation with
defende and maintaine with tooth and naile for the Articles nowe passed are craftely picked out They confirme all humane traditions in that they establish solemne vowes single life and auricular confession They vpholde and aduaunce not onely their pride and authoritie but all errours wythal in retaining the priuate Masse Thus haue they craftily prouided that no reformation can take any place that their dignitye wealth may still be vpholden And this to be the purpose of the bishops experience it selfe doth plainly teach vs. Nowe what man will not lament to see the glory of Christ thus to be defaced For as I sayde before this matter concerneth not onely these Articles whyche be there enacted but all other Articles of sound doctrine are likewise ouerthrown Marke 7. if such traditions of men shal be reputed as necessary and to be retained For why doeth Christe say For they worship me in vaine wyth the precepts of men or why doth S. Paule so oft detest mennes traditions It is no light offence to set vp new kindes of worshipping and seruing of God without his worde God will not be worshipped but after his worde Prou. 3. or to defend the same Such presumptioÌ„ God doth horibly detest which wil be knowen in his word onely He wil haue none other Religions inuented by mans deuise for els all sorts of religions of all nations might be approued allowed Leane not sayth he to thine owne wisdome But he sent Christ and commaundeth vs to heare him not the inuention of subtile and politike heads which apply religion to their own luker and commoditie Furthermore priuate Masses â—owes the single life of Priestes numbring vp of sinnes to the Prieste wyth other thinges moe being but mere ordinaunces of men are vsed for Gods true seruice and worship For although the Supper of the Lorde was truely instituted by Christe yet the priuate masse is a wicked prophanation of the Lords supper For in the Canon what corruption is coÌ„tained in this where it is said that Christ is offered and that the worke it selfe is a sacrifice which redemeth the quicke and the deade These things were neuer ordained of Christ yea manifold wayes they are repugnaunt to the Gospell Christ willeth not him selfe to be offered vppe of Priestes neither can the worke of the offerer or of the receiuer by any meanes be a sacrifice This is manifest Idolatry and ouerthroweth thâ— true doctrine of faith and the true vse of the Sacraments By faith in Christ we are iustified and not by any worke of the Priest And the Supper is ordained that the Minister should distribute to others to the intent that they repeÌ„ting for their sinnes shoulde be admonished firmely to beleeue the promises of the Gospell to pertaine vnto them Heere is sette a plaine testimonie before vs that we are made the members of Christ and washed by hys bloude And thys is the true vse of that Supper whyche is ordained in the gospel and was obserued in the primatiue Churche 300. yeares and more from the which we oughte not to be remooued For it is plaine impietie to transferre the Lordes institution to any other vse as wee are taughte by the seconde commaundement Wherefore these priuate Masses for asmuche as they swarue from the right institution of Christ manifold waies as by oblation sacrifice application and many other ways besides 1. Cor. they are not to be reteined but to be abolished Flie sayeth S. Paule from al Idolatrie In these priuate masses muche Idolatrie is committed which we see our bishops now so stoutly to defeÌ„d and no maruell Maâ—â— â— For in the latter times y e scripture plainly sheweth that great Idolatrie shall raigne in the Church of God As Christ himselfe also signifieth saying When ye shal see the abhomination of desolation which is foretold of the Prophet Daniel standing in the holy place he that readeth Dan. â—â— lette him vnderstande And Daniel in the 11. chapter And he shall worship the God Maozim in his place and shall adore the God whom his fathers knew not with gold siluer and precious stones Both these places speake of the masse Thys kinde of worship and horrible prophanation of the Sacrament God abhorreth For howe many sundry kindes of manifest impiety are here committed in this one action of the Masse First it is set foorth to sale Secondly they that are vnworthy are compelled to receyue whether they will or no. Thirdly it is applied for meritorious and satisfactorie for the quicke and the deade Fourthly many thynges are promised thereby as prosperous nauigation remedies against diseases both for manne and beast wyth other infinite moe These be most manifest and notorious abhominations But besides these there be other also no lesse to be reprehended whych the simple people doe not so plainly see Such worshipping and seruing of God is not to be set vp after the phantasie of men Wherfore they do wickedly when they offer sacrifice to God without his commaundement For when of this woorke they make a sacrifice they imagine that priuate Masses are to be done because God would be worshipped after this sorte And we see that Masses are bought with gold and siluer great riches and sumptuous charges also the Sacrament to be caried about in gold and siluer to be worshipped whereas the sacrament was neuer ordeined for any such purpose Wherfore seeing the commandement of God biddeth flie from Idolatry priuate Masses are not to be maintained And I maruell what they saye that such priuate Masses are necessarily to be reteyned when it is euident that in the olde time there was none such Shal we thinke that thinges perteining to the necessary worship of GOD could so long be lacking in the primatiue Church 300. yeares after the Apostles and more What can be more absurde and against all reason We see these priuate Masses to be defended with great labour and much a doe of some for feare lest their gayne should decay of some because they would serue the affection of the vulgare people whiche thinketh to haue great succour therby and therefore are loth to leaue it rather then for any iust cause or reason to lead them But howsoeuer they do a most manifest euident cause there is why these priuate Masses ought to be abolished For first their application vndoubtedly is wicked neither doth the work of the priest merite any grace to any person but euery one is iustified by his owne fayth Neither againe would God haue any man to trust vpon any ceremony but only to the benefite of Christ. And most certaine it is that the application of these Masses for the dead is ful of great errour and impietie But here come in blinde gloses albeit to no purpose to excuse this application Application of the Masse 〈◊〉 For vniuersally amongest all the people who is he that thinketh otherwise but that thys worke is auaylable for the whole Church Yea the Canon
monkes weede According as in the stories of this Realme is to be seene howe in the tyme of Dunstane Archbishop of Canterbury Monke of lay in 〈◊〉 made Clergy men Pope Iohn 13. wrote to K. Edgar that one should be made Bishops but Monkes of Ethelwold Byshop of Worcester and of Oswald Bishop of Winchester Pope Iohn 13. writing to king Edgar willed him in hys letters to see in his Cathedrall Churches none to be promoted to be Bishops but such as were of the Monasticall religion and willed him moreouer to exclude the secular prebendaries at Winchester and to place in Monkes and that none of the secular Clerkes there should be chosen bishop but either taken out of the same Couent of that churche or of some other Abbey So was also king Henry the second commauÌ„ded to do in the house of Waltham Secular Priestes put out and Monkes intruded into Churches where the secular Canons were remoued out and regular Canons intruded The same did Oswald Bishop with the Church of Worcester likewise in their Sees did Dunstane Archbishop of Canterbury Osketellus Archbishop of York Ethelwold Bishop of Worcester who in storye is reported to be Multorum fundator Monasteriorum Leswinus also Bishop of Dorcester with other Bishops moe about the time and raign of king Edgar â—do Archbishop of Caunterbury before Dunstane an 934. after his election refused to take that dignity vpon him before he had receiued the habite of a monk in the Abbey of Florence in Fraunce because as the story telleth if it be true Nullus ad id tempus nisi monachali schemate indutus Ex Guliel Malmesh in vita Odonis Ex Neaburgens lib 4. cap 33. Archiepiscopus fuisset c. That is Because all the Archbishops of Caunterbury before him had bene Monkes c. In like maner Baldwinus also an 1114. after he was elected Archb. of Canterbury tooke vpon him the habite and profession of Mereton Abbey And so did Reginaldus his next successor after him c. Monkes first lay men theÌ„ made regulars and votaryes at length made Churchmen Pope Boniface As concerning therfore the origene of Monks ye haue heard how first they began of lay meÌ„ onely leading a straiter life from the society of other persons who then folowing the rule of S Benet were called regulars votaries and yet all this while had nothing to do with any Ecclesiasticall ministery til the time of Pope Bonifacius y e fourth an 606. who then made a decree that monkes might vse the office of preaching of the christening of hearing confessions and assoyling theÌ„ of their sinnes differing from priestes onely in this Difference betweene Mâ—nkes Priestes that they were called Regulares and priestes were called Seculares the monkes were votaries the priestes had free liberty to haue wiues til the time of Lanfranke and Anselme as is aforesayd Albeit Athanasius in his Epistle Ad Dracontium witnesseth also that he knewe Monkes in the olde time and Bishops which were marryed and had children Furthermore as ignorance superstition with time encreased so the number and swarme of monkes still more and more multiplied in such sort as not onely they thrust out secular Priestes froÌ„ their houses but also out of them were made Popes Cardinalles Archbishops and Bishops to gouerne Churches Of which nuÌ„ber began Austen the first Archbishop of the See of Cant. and the most part of all other Archbishops after him vntill the time of the Conquest and after All this while the Friers were not yet come neyther the discipline of S. Dominike The comming in of the â—ryers nor the Testament of S. Fraunces nor the order of the Austen brothers nor of the Carmelites was yet heard of Which last of all came in w t theyr pageans and played theyr part likewise an 1220. being much more full of hipocrisy blindnesse Idolatry and superstition then were the monkes So that what with monkes of y e one side w t the friers of the other side while all thinges were ruled by the Rules of S. Benet by y e Canons of the Pope by the doctrine of S. Dominike and by the Testament of S. Fraunces Christes Testament was trode vnder foote the rule of Gods word neglected true Christian religion defaced fayth forgotten the right way of saluation abolished sound doctrine oppressed Christes seruants persecuted and the peoples soules vncomforted yea and the true Church of Christ almost cleane extirped had not almighty God who can not forgette his promise prouided remedy in time in raysing vp this Cromwel his seruaunt and other like champions to cut vppe from the roote of the houses of them which otherwise would vtterly haue rooted vp the house of the Lord had subuerted a great part already Wherefore whosoeuer findeth himselfe agreeued with Cromwels doinges in suppressing these Monasteryes of Monkes and Fryers let him wisely consider with hymselfe first the doctrine lawes and traditions of these men which he shall find rebelling to the religion of Christ The lyfe of Monkes and Fryers considered pernitious to our saluation derogatory to Christes glory full of much blasphemy and damnable idolatry Secondly let him likewise wel aduise the horrible and execrable liues of these Cloysterers or at y e least search out the rolles and registers of matters found out by inquisition in king Henry the eight his dayes agaynst them which here is not to be spoken of vnles we will speake as Mathew Paris speaketh of the Court of Rome Cuius foetor vsque ad nubes fumum teterrimum exhalabat That is Whose filthy stinch saith he did breath vp a most pestiferous fume euen vnto the cloudes of heauen c. All which thinges well considered The Lord Cromwell defended in suppressing Abbayes what maruell is it then if God of his iust iudgement did set vp the foresayde Lord Cromwell to destroy these sinfull houses whoÌ„ theyr owne corruptions could suffer no longer to stand And as touching the dissipation of theyr landes and possessions to the handes of such as they were bestowed vpon if it so pleased the king in bestowing those Abbey landes vpon his Nobles and Gentlemen Dissipation of Abbay landes in England expedient either to restore them againe vnto them from whence they came or els to gratifie hys nobility by that meanes of pollicye not to mislike his doings what is that to Cromwel But they might say you haue bene much better employed to other more fruitfull vses Briefely to aunswere thereunto what may be done presently in a common wealth is not enough to say but what may also folow must be considered If thys throwing downe of Abbeys had happened in such free and reformed cities or countryes as are amongest the Germanes where the state gouerned directed by lawes rather then by rulers remayneth alwayes alike and vnmutable who doubteth but such houses there standing still y e possessions might well be transposed to such vses abouesayd without any
seate do as they teache but not as they do Thus confesse they that they are abhominable c. Heere followe other heresies and errours collected by the Byshops out of the booke named the obedience of a Christian man with the places of the booke annexed to the same 1. HE saieth we are bounde to make satisfaction to our neighbour but not to God fol. 132. Satisfaction is a full recompence or amends making to him whome we haue offended which recompence we are able to make one man to another and are bound so to do but to God no man can make any mends or recompence but onely Gods owne sonne Christ Iesus our Sauiour For else if man could haue made satisfaction to God then had Christ died in vayne Gal. 2. Loe what heresie or errour is in this Article 2 He sayth that children ought not to marry without the consent of theyr parents fol. 120. The wordes of Tindall in the obedience be these Let the fathers and mothers marke howe they themselues were disposed at all ages and by experience of their owne infirmities helpe their children and keepe them from occasions Let them prouide marriages for them in season teaching them also to know that she is not his wife which the sonne taketh nor he her husband which the daughter taketh without the consent or good will of their Elders or them that haue authoritie ouer them If their friendes will not marry them then are they not too blame if they marry themselues Let not the fathers and mothers alwayes take the vttermost of their authoritie of their children but at all times suffer with them and beare theyr weakenes as Christ doth ours c. 3 He saith that vowes are against the ordinance of God fol. 109. They that say that this Article is an heresie Let them shew where these vowes in all the new testament be ordeyned by God â— article especially such vowes of single life and wilfull pouertie as by the canon law be obtruded to yong Priests and Nouices S. Paule playnely forfendeth anye widowes to be admitted vnder the age of threscore yeres Is not heere trow you a perilous heresie 4 He saith that a christian man may not resist a prince being Infidell and an Ethnike This taketh away free will fol. 113. 4. article S. Peter willeth vs to be subiect to our princes 1. Pet. 2. S. Paule also doth the like Rom. 13. Who was also hymselfe subiecte to the power of Nero and although euerye commaundement of Nero against God he did not follow yet he neuer made resistaunce against the authoritie and state of Nero as the Pope vseth to do against the state not only of Infidels but also of Christen Princes 5 Whatsoeuer is done before the spirit of God commeth and geueth vs light is damnable sinne This is against morall vertues fol. 113. 5. article What heresie Aristotle in his Ethikes can finde by thys article I can not tell sure I am that the word and spirite of God well considered can finde none but rather wyll pronounce the contrary to be a damnable heresie 6 He reproueth men that make holy Saints their Aduocates to God 6. article and there he sayth that Saints were not rewarded in heauen for their holy workes fol. 114. The words of Tindall be these They turne from Gods word and put their trust and confidence in the Sainct and his merites and make an aduocate or rather a God of the sainct The place aâ—â—exed c. They ascribe heauen to their imaginations and mad inuentions and receiue it not of the liberalitie of God by the merites and deseruing of Christ c. 7 God moued the harts of the Egiptians to hate the people Likewise he moued Kings c. fol. 118. 7. article The words in the obedience be these In the 107. Psalme thou readest He destroyed the Riuers and dried vp the springs of water The place annexed and turned the frutefull land into barrâ—nnes for the inhabitaunces thereof When the children of Israell had forgotten God in Egypt God moued the harts of the Egyptians to hate them and to subdue them with craft and wilines Psalme 105. In the second chapter of the first booke of the Kings God was angry with the people and moued Dauid to number them when Ioab and the other Lords wondered why he would haue them numbred and because they feared least some euill should follow disswaded the King yet it holpe not God so * God sometimes hardneth the harte of good Princes for the wickednes of the people The place annexed hardened his hart in his purpose to haue an occasion to sley the wicked people c. 8 Paule was of higher authority then Peter fol. 125. The words in the Obedience be these I suppose sayeth he speaking of Paule that I was not behinde the hygh Apostles meaning in preaching Iesus Christ and his Gospell and in ministring the spirit And in the same cha he proueth by the doctrine of Christ that he was greater then the high Apostles For Christ saith to be great in the kingdome of God is to do seruice and take payne for other Upon which rule Paule disputeth sayeng If they be the ministers of Christ I am more in labours more aboundant in stripes aboue measure in prison more plenteous in death oft c. If Paule preached Christ more then Peter and suffered more for his congregation then is hee greater then Peter by the testimonie of Christ c. 9. article The place annexed 9 A Priest ought to haue a wife for two causes fol. 133. The words of Tindall be these He must haue a wife for two causes One that it may thereby be knowne who is meete for the rowme he is vnapt for so chargeable an office Truth turned into heresie which had neuer houshold to rule An other cause is that chastitie is an exceeding seldome gift and vnchastitie exceeding perillous for that degree in as much as the people looke as well vnto the liuing as vnto the preaching and are hurt at once if the liuing disagree and fall from the faith and beleeue not the word c. 10 He condemneth auricular confession fol. 140. 10. article Of this reade aboue page 1166.1167 Read afore pag. 1166.1167 11 Euery man is a Priest and we neede no other Priest to bee a meane for vs vnto God fol. 144. 11. article The words in the obedience be these There is a worde called in Latin Sacerdos in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Hebrue CohaÌ„ that is The place annexed a Minister an Officer a Sacrificer or a Priest as Aaron was a priest and sacrificed for the people and was a mediatour betweene God and them and in the English it should haue had some other name then Priest But Antichrist hath deceiued vs with vnknown and strange terms to bring vs into confusion and superstitious blindnes And made vs Kinges
22. article Christ sayde to Peter Feede my sheepe Iohn 21. And thou being conuerted confirme thy brethren Luke 22. And to his Apostles he sayd Goe ye into all the world and preache the Gospell This heresie is onely to the Pope but none at all to God c. Againe S. Paule 1. Corinth 1. sayth That Christ sent him not to baptise but to preache To what other office or function he sent the Pope let thē iudge which consider the Scriptures 23 If thou binde thy selfe to chastitie to obteyne that whyche Christ purchased for thee so surely art thou an Infidell fol. 175. 23 article Reade and conferre the place of Tindall which is thys Chastitie canst thou not geue to God further then God lendeth it thee The place annexed If thou canst not liue chaste thou art boūd to marry or to be damned c. For to what purpose thou bendest thy selfe must be seene If thou do it to obteyne thereby that which Christ hath purchased for thee so art thou an Infidell Chastitye and hast no parte with Christ. If thou wilt see more of this matter looke in Deuteronomy and there shalt thou finde it more largely intreated c. 24 He denieth rebuketh and damneth miracles fol. 176. 24. article The words in Tindals Obedience be these And when they crie miracles The place annexed Miracles how farre to be beleued miracles remember that God hathe made an euerlasting Testamente whiche is in Christes bloud against which we may receiue no miracles no neither the preaching of Paule himselfe if he come agayne by his owne teaching to the Galathians neither yet by the preaching of the Aungels of heauen c. The end of Gods miracles is good the end of these miracles is euill For the offerings which are the cause of the miracles do but minister and maintaine vice sinne and all abhomination and are geuen to them that haue too much so that for very aboundance they some out theyr owne shame and corrupt the whole world with the stinch of their filthines c. 25 He sayth that no man should serue God with good intent or zeale 25. article for it is playne Idolatry fol. 177. The place is this in the Obedience Remember Saule was cast away of God for euer for his good intente God requireth obedience vnto his word The place annexed Good intentes without Gods word God abhorreth and abhorreth all good intents and good zeales which are without Gods worde for they are nothing else but playne Idolatry and woorshipping of false Gods c. ¶ Heere followe other heresies and errours collected by the Byshops out of the booke called the Reuelation of Antichrist with the places of the booke out of the which they were gathered annexed to the same 1. TO binde a man perpetually to any vowe of Religion is without doubt an errour fol. 19. Articles out of the booke called the reuelation of Antichrist The place of the booke called the Reuelation whence this Article is gathered is this as foloweth Whiche the Fathers did neither make nor keepe he meaneth vowes but with the libertie of the spirite binding no man perpetually to them For if they did without doubt they erred according to mans fragilitie 2 To say the constitutions of Religion are good because holy men did ordeyne them 2. article as Augustine Benedict Fraunces Dominicke and such other and to folow such examples of Fathers is to leaue the fayth fol. 19. The place of the article is this But they obiect the statutes and ordinances are good Holy men did make them The place annexed as Augustine Benedict Bernard Fraunces Dominicke and such other To this I aunswer That is euen it that Christ and the Apostles did meane that these works shuld be like to those things which are taught in the Gospell for that they call counterfeiting of the doctrine and priuily bringing in of sectes and heresies because they take only of the fathers examples of workes and leaue the faith c. 3 All morall diuines haue a wicked conscience full of scrupulositie 2. Pet. 2. fol. 3. 3. article Morall diuines be they whose doctrine and hope of saluation consisteth in morall vertues rather then in christian faith apprehending the free promises of God in Christ. And they that be such can neuer be certified in conscience of their saluation but alwayes be full of feare and scrupulositie S. Paule therefore sayeth It is therefore of faith that it might come by grace and y e promise might be firme and sure to the whole seede Rom. 4. Rom. 4. 4 Morall vertues as iustice temperance strength chastitie described by naturall reason maketh a Synagogue ◠article and corrupteth Christes fayth fol. 64. The place of this Article gathered out of the Reuelation is this So many he the Pope he meaneth corrupteth as he hath subdued and led vnder his lawes and imperie The place annexed And who is he in the world that is not subiect vnder him except they be infants or peraduenture some simple persons which are reserued by the inscrutable counsell and prouision of God O thou man of sinne O thou sonne of perdition O thou abhomination O thou corrupter O thou author of euill consciences O thou false maister of good consciences O thou enemie of faith and christen libertie who is able to rehearse yea or to comprehend in his mind the infinite waues of this monstrous * By this king he meaneth the king of 〈◊〉 which Daniell speaketh of 〈◊〉 the 8. chapter Kings euils If he had ordeined these his lawes in those workes of vertues that are commended in the ten precepts or else in such as the philosophers and naturall reason did describe as are iustice strength temperance chastitie mildnes truth goodnes and such other peraduenture they shoulde only haue made a Sinagoge or else haue ordeyned in the world a certaine ciuill iustice for through these also fayth should haue bene corrupted as it was amōgst the Iewes Howbeit nowe hee keepeth not himselfe within these boundes but runneth at riot and more at large raising infinite tempests of mischiefe entising and drawing vs to ceremonies and his owne fayned traditions and bindeth vs like asses and ignorant fooles yea and stockes vnto them c. 5 Christ tooke away all lawes and maketh vs free and at liberty and most of all he suppresseth all ceremonies fol. 65.63 5. article The place of this Article gathered out of the Reuelation is this Christ taking away all lawes to make vs free The place annexed and at libertie did most of all suppresse and disanull the ceremonies which did consist in places persons garmēts meates dayes and such other so that their vse shoulde be to all men most free and indifferent c. What he meaneth by taking away all lawes he declareth a little before saieng he hath not deliuered vs from the law but from the power violence
thereof Peter and Paul wherof the one of thē dareth not freely vtter or speake of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by hymselfe for the obedience of the Gentiles The other exhorteth that if any man speake he should speake the praises of God but I condemne those lawes which the bishops of Rome haue made accordyng to their owne will and mynde and say that they are spirituall pertainyng vnto the soule and necessarie vnto euerlastyng lyfe For so much as the writyngs of the Apostles doe euidently declare that there was no authoritie knowen amongest them to make or ordayne any ordinaunces or lawes Furthermore the Scriptures do manifestly shewe the same how oftentimes euen by the Lordes owne mouth this foresayd authoritie is taken from the Ministers of the Church so that no excuse for them remayneth but that they be playne rebelles agaynst the worde of GOD how many so euer doe presume or take vppon them to appoint or set any new lawes vpon the people of GOD whiche thyng is more manifest and euident then the lyght it selfe in many places of the Scripture For in the 23. chapter of Iosue it is written you shall obserue and doe all that is written in the lawe of Moyses neyther shall you swarue from that eyther to the ryght hande eyther to the lefte hand But that which is written in the twelfth chapter of Deuteronomium ought to mooue them somewhat the more Whatsoeuer I commaund sayth the Lorde that you shall obserue and doe thereunto you shall adde nothing neyther shall you take any thyng from it The lyke he had sayd before in the fourth chapter of the same booke And agayne Moyses in the xxx chapiter of the same booke doth witnesse that he dyd put foorth lyfe and blessing vnto Israell when as he gaue them that lawe which he had receiued of the Lord. How can they then excuse themselues of periury which ordaine new lawes to liue by But let vs proceede further and see what authoritie the Priestes of Leuies stocke had to make lawes I doe not denye but that God in the xvij chapter of Deuteronomie ordayned vnder a great penaltie that the authoritie of the Priestes should not be contemned but had in reuerence But in the ij of Malachie He also declareth vnder what condition they are to be heard where as he sayth he hath made a couenaunt with Leuy that the law of truth should be in hys mouth and by and by after he added the lips of the Priest shall keepe and maintayne wisedome and the law they shall require at hys mouth which is the messenger of the Lord of hostes Therefore it is fitte and necessary that if a Priest will be heard that he doe shew himselfe the messenger of God that is to say faythfully to report and declare the commaundements which he hath receiued of the Lorde For where as Malachie speaketh of hearyng of them he putteth this specially that they doe aunswere accordyng to the lawe of the Lorde Therefore lyke as the Leuiticall Priestes did breake theyr couenaunt made with GOD if they do teache any other lawe then that which they had receyued of hym So likewyse these men muste eyther acknowledge themselues to be couenant breakers or els they may not bynde the consciences of men with no new lawe Furthermore what power the Prophetes had vniuersally it is very liuely described in Ezechiel in his xxxiij chapter Thou sonne of man sayth the Lord I haue made thee a guide vnto the house of Israel thou shalt heare the word out of myne owne mouth Ezechiel cap. 55. and declare it vnto them from me He then which is commaunded to heare of the mouth of the Lord is he not forbidden to rehearse or speake any thing of hymselfe For what other thyng is it to speake from the Lord but so to speake that he may boldly affirme and say that it is not his word but the word of the Lorde which he speaketh Further God by his Prophet Ieremy calleth it chaffe what so euer doth not proceede from hymselfe Wherefore none of the Prophetes haue opened theyr mouthes at any tyme to speake but beyng premonished before by the worde of GOD. Whereupon it happeneth that these wordes are so often pronounced by them The worde of the Lord The charge or burden of the Lord The vision of the Lord Thus sayth the Lord The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Now that we may also confirme that which is before spoken by the examples of the Apostles that they haue taught nothyng but that whiche they haue learned of the Lorde the law which Christ prescribed vnto them when as he endowed them with the dignitie and honour of the Apostleship is somewhat more profoundly to be repeated In the last chapiter of Mathew he commandeth them to go foorth and teach not such thyngs as they themselues did rashly inuent or deuise but those things which he had commaunded them Furthermore Paule in the second to the Collossians denieth that he hath any dominion or rule ouer the fayth of the Corinthians albeit he was ordayned by the Lorde to be their Apostle If you require and desire a further reason of the moderation of Saint Paule read the tenth chapter of his Epistle to the Romaines where as he teacheth That fayth commeth by hearyng it commeth not by the dreames of the Bishop of Rome or by any other Bishop but onely by the worde of God neyther ought any man to thinke it straunge that neyther Christ restrayned hys Apostles by the lawe that they should not teache any thyng but that which they had learned of the mouthe of the Lord. He set the same law vppon himselfe because it should not be lawfull for any man to refuse it My doctrine sayth Christ is not myne but hys which sent me my fathers he which hath bene the onely and eternall counseller of the father which also is ordayned by the Father the Lord and Maister ouer all for so much yet as he doth the office and part of a Minister he doth by hys example prescribe vnto all Ministers what rule and order they ought to followe in teachyng wherfore the power of the Church is not such that it may at hys owne wyll and discretion teach new doctrines eyther as they terme it frame new Articles of fayth either establish new laws but is subiect vnto the worde of the Lorde and as it were included in the same But now let vs beholde what defence they do bryng for their constitutions The Apostles say they and the Elders of the Primitiue Church established a decree besides the commandement of Christ wherby they did commaunde all people to abstayne from all things offered vnto Idols suffocation and bloud The Church subiect to the word of God Reasons wherewith they defēd their constitutions If that were lawfull for them so to doe why is it not lawfull for their successour as often as necessitie shall require to imitate
aforesaid we theÌ„ folowing the doctrine of the apostle which teacheth vs to auoyd an heretical person after the first and second correction as wel now as before and as wel before as now declaring by our authoritie the said Martin his abettors fautors adherents mainteiners and receyuere as withered braunches not remainyng in Christ but teaching and preaching contrary doctrine repugnaunt to the Catholike faith slaunderous and damnable to the great offence of Gods maiestie to the detriment and slaunder of the vniuersal church and catholike faith and despising the keyes of the church to be and to haue bene notorious and obstinate heretikes do condemne the same for such by the tenor hereof willing and commanding them to be holden and taken for such of all christen people aforesayd Ouer and besides we forbid vnder the incurring of all and singular the penalties afore expressed in so doing All the bookes of Luther both good and badde coÌ„deÌ„ned 〈◊〉 the Pope that no man presume by any maner of way directly or indirectly secretly or expresly priuily or apertly to read holde preach praise print publish or defend either by theÌ„selues or by any other the sayd bookes and writings not onelye those wherein the errors aforesayd are conteined but also all others whatsoeuer haue bene or shall be set forth written or made by the sayd Martin vehemently suspected as a pernitious enemy of the Catholike faith to the intent y t his memory may vtterly be rooted out from the fellowship of all christian people or rather with fire to consume them as is afore declared We admonish moreouer al and singular Christes faithful people vnder the said payne of the great curse to auoid or cause to be auoided so much as in them doth lie the foresaid heretikes not obedient to our commandements and to haue no fellowship or any conuersation or communion with them or with any of them neither to minister to theÌ„ things necessary And moreouer to the more confusion of the said Martin with his abettors adherents and retainers aforesayd Apocal 〈◊〉 And he 〈◊〉 haue 〈◊〉 coÌ„mauâ—â—dement vâ— euery coâ—â—pany anâ— people a tongue a nation â— thus being declared and condemned as heretikes after the expiring of the terme aforesayd we command all and singular Christes faithfull people both men and women as Patriarchs Archbishops Prelates of Churches eyther Patriarchall Metropolitane and other Cathedrall Collegiate and other inferiour Churches to Deanes Chapters and other Ecclesiasticall persons secular and of all other orders euen of the begging Friers also namely of that congregation where the sayd Martin is professed The Popâ— here dreaâ—meth of â— drye Sumâ—mer thinâ—â—ing all thâ— world to subiecte vâ—â—to him· or hath his abode also to regular exempt and not exempt Item to all and singular Princes what dignity or calling so euer eyther Ecclesiasticall or Temporall they be of to Kings Princes Electors Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Captaynes Conductors Seruitours Comminalties Uniuersities Dominions Cities Landes Castles and places or the Citizens and inhabitauntes thereof and briefly to all and singular other aforesaid through the Uniuersall world dispersed specially in Almany that they and euery of them vnder all and singular penalties aforesayd doe personally apprehend the sayd Martin hys abettors adherents receyuers and fautours and to retaine them being apprehended at our instance and to send them vnto vs who in so doyng for their good worke shal receiue of vs and the Sea Apostolike condigne reward and recompence or at least that they vtterly driue them and euery one of them out of their Metropolitane cathedrall Collegiate and other Churches Houses Monasteries Conuents Cities Dominions Uniuersities Comminalties Castles Landes and places respectiuely as well the Clergy men as the regular and lay men all and singular aforesayd Those cities dominions landes castles villages comminalties holdes townes and places where so euer they be situate respectiuely Metropolitane Cathedrall Collegiate and other Churches Monasteries also Priories Couents and religious and deuout places or what order so euer as is aforesaid vnto the which it shall chance the sayd Martin to come so long as he or they shall there remayne and three dayes after their departing from thence we here geue ouer to the Ecclesiasticall interdiction And that the premisses may be knowen to all men we commaund moreouer all Patriarches Archbishops Bishops Prelates of Patriarchall Metropolitane other cathedral collegiate churches to Deanes and Chapters and other persons ecclesiastical of what order els soeuer aforesaid to regular brethren religious monkes exempt not exempt aforesaid wheresoeuer they dwell and especially within Almany that they and euery of theÌ„ vnder like censures and paynes do publikely denounce cause and commaund to be denounced of others the said Martin w t all and singular his foresaid adherents which shall not obey our commandements and monitions within y e terme aforesayd vpon euery sonday and other Festiuall dayes within their churches when as the greatest concourse of people shal resort to diuine seruice to be declared and condemned for heretikes and that all Christes faithful people shall auoid them vnder the said censures and penalties as be afore expressed and that they do set vp these presents or cause to be set vp or the transcript of them made vnder the forme hereafter ensuing in their churches Monasteries houses Conuents and other places there openly to bee seene and read Item we do excommunicate and curse all and singuler persons of whatsoeuer state degree condition preheminence dignitie or excellencie they be which shal procure or cause to be procured by themselues or other priuily or apertly directly or indirectly secretly or expressely wherby these presents or the copies transcript or the examples of them can not be read set vp and published in their landes and dominions c. Let no man therefore be so bold to dare to infringe or with rash presumption to contrary this writyng of our damnation reprobation reiection decree declaration inhibition will commandement exhortation beseching request admonition assignation graunt condemnatioÌ„ subiection excommunication curse And if any person persons dare presume to attempt the same let him know and be sure that he shall incurre the indignation of almightie God and of his blessed Apostles Peter and Paule Geuen at Rome at S. Peters an 1520.17 Calend. Iulij and of our Popedome the viij yeare Although it was somewhat long before this Bull aforesaid of Pope Leo being sent dispersed through all other places abroad â— Luther â—â—swering 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Popes 〈◊〉 could come to the hands of Luther yet so soone as he by meanes of his friendes might get a sight thereof he shaped againe an answer to the same in such sort as I am sure the Pope himselfe wil say that his Bull was neuer so baited and so welfauoredly shaken in al his days 〈◊〉 Popes â—â—bayting as by the handling of the matter and reading of his answer may euidently appeare The contentes
copy of the which answer I thought here next after the said Bull immediatly to exhibite to the christian reader that who so is disposed to conferre the one with the other hauing theÌ„ both at hand 〈◊〉 Pope â—â—scribed in 〈◊〉 colours may iudge the better of the whole matter cause and also may see the true Image of the Pope out of his paynted visour appeare in his owne perfect colours The answer now to the Bull here followeth IESVS Martinus Lutherus Christiano Lectori gratiam Christi in salutem aeternam FAma peruenit ad me Christiane Lector exijsse Bullam quandam aduersum me 〈◊〉 answer M. 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 Bull 〈◊〉 Latin penè in omné terrá prius quam ad me in quem vnice fuerit cui maximè erat inferenda veniret Fortè quod noctis tenebrarum scilicet filia timult lucem vultus mei Hanc tamen ipsam noctuam vix tandem multum adiuuaÌ„tibus amicis in imagine sua datum est videre c. 〈…〉 vide 〈…〉 pag. â—65 ¶ Here followeth the same aunswer of Martin Luther agaynst the execrable Bull of Pope Leo in English MArtin Luther to the christiaÌ„ reader wisheth the grace of Christ to eternall saluation 〈◊〉 copy of 〈◊〉 Luthers â—â—swere to 〈◊〉 Bull of â—â—pe Leo â—nglishe I heard a fanie a farre of Christian reader that a certayne Bull was past out against me and sent almost ouer al the world before it came to me against whom it was especially directed to whoÌ„ most chiefly it appertained For what cause I cannot tell except peraduenture it was for that the sayd Bull like vnto a nightcrow and as a bird of darkenesse hatched in the night durst not flie in y e day nor abide to come in my sight Notwithstanding the said night foule after long tyme by helpe of friends was caught at length brought vnto me in his owne likenes to behold Which causeth me yet to be vncertaine what to thinke whether my papists do dally iest with me in setting out such famous libels without any name against me or whether in truth and earnest they play the mad men so against me at Rome or no. For first neither do I see here the stile as it is called nor y e processe of the court of Rome obserued And againe which maketh me more to doubt herein be brought condemned such articles which it is plaine and manifest to be most christian whereby it seemeth to me most like the said monster to be hatched by Iohn Eccius a man wholy compact and framed altogether of lies dissimulations errors heresies The said suspition this also partly confirmeth for that I heare it so bruted abroad that y e sayd Eccius is thought and sayd to be the Apostle of such a goodly Bull. And not vnlike when none could be more meet an Apostle for such an Apostleship then he And in deed I heard no lesse long since that a Bull was in working agaynst me at Rome partly by the workemanship of Eccius which because as the stile and composition therof declareth it displeased the good and learned men there was therefore differred and should haue bene suppressed But whatsoeuer the matter be it semeth to me not vnlike wheresoeuer this apostle Eccius beareth rule there to be the kingdom of Antichrist and all kind of madnes there to reigne In the meane tyme I will so deale that I wyll not seeme to beleue Pope Leo the x. with his learned cardinals to be the authors of this furious madnes which I doe not so much for the honor of the Sea of Rome as because I will not be puft vp to much with pride and seeme to my selfe as one worthy to suffer such so great so glorious things for the veritie of God For if it were so in deed that the bishop of Rome did so furiously rage against me who were then so happy before God as Luther to be condemned for so manifest a truth of such a proude Prelate Wherein what were more to be wished for of me then that I should neuer be absolued reconciled nor haue any part with that so doltish and vnlearned wicked and furious Antichrist Happy were that day happy were that death and to be receiued with all ioy and thankfulnes to God if it might be my happe at any tyme in such a cause as this is to be apprehended and to suffer death M. Luther thenketh himselfe not worthy to suffer in so good a cause But geue the honour of this cause vnto others and let this matter fynde his Martyr worthy for the same I for my sinnes am not worthy to come to that honour Let other men therfore thinke of these Romanists what they list Thus I thinke that whosoeuer was the author of this bull he is a very Antichrist and against Antichrist these thinges I write to redeeme the veritie of Christ so much as in me lieth which he laboreth to extinguish And first that he shall obtayne no part of his will in any thing agaynst me M. Luthers protestation here I protest before God and our Lord Iesu Ehrist and his holy angels and all the world that I disseÌ„t with all my hart from the condemnatioÌ„ of this bull which Bull I also do curse and execrate as an enemy a Churche robber and blasphemy against Christ the sonne of god our Lord. Amen Furthermore I hold defend and imbrace with the ful trust of my spirit those articles in the said Bul condemned and excommunicate Marke here how Luther recanteth and affirme that the same oughe to be holden of all faithful christians vnder paine of eternal malediction and that they are to be counted for Antichristes who so euer haue consented to the sayd Bull whom I also together with the spirit of all them which purely know do vtterly shun them according to the precept of our Lord Iesu Christ. Amen And let this stand for thy reuocation O Bulla verè Bullarum filia i. O thou Bull which art the very daughter of all vayne Bulla in Latin signifieth as much in English as a bubble in the water bubbles This my confession and protestation made for witnes whereof I take all them that shall read these presents before I proceed to defend declare these foresaid Articles I will first begin with certaine arguments for the confutation of the sayd Bull whereof the first I will take of the blind ignoraÌ„ce of this blockish Antichrist Titus 1. For the Apostle Peter so commandeth that we should be redy to render a reason of that faith and hope which is in vs. And the apostle Paule willeth a bishop to be mighty to exhort in souÌ„d doctrine to refute the gaynesayers And these thinges be they which now 3. yeres agoe I haue desired looked for out of Rome or from them which take part with Rome The Papistes will not abide the triall of the Scripture Which things
the Christian Preachers Vnorderly proceeding of the aduersaryes aâ—gainst Goâ—â— people their goodes and bookes taken from them and they slandered to be most hainous heretikes their enemies themselues being both witnesses accusers and Iudges belying slandering and misreportyng your said subiectes at their pleasure whereas your sayd subiectes beyng straightly kept in prison cannot yet be suffred to come forth and make aunswer accordingly In consideration whereof it may please your most excellent Maiesties and this your high court of Parliament graciously to tender the present calamitie of your sayd poore subiects and to call them before your presence graunting them liberty either by mouth or writing in the playne English tong to aunswer before you or before indifferent Arbiters to be appointed by your Maiesties vnto such articles of controuersie in religion as their sayd aduersaries haue already condemned them of Request of the Preachers to stand to thâ— triall of their doctrine befoâ—â— indifferenâ— Iudges as of hainous heresies Prouided that all things may be done with such moderation quiet behauior as becommeth subiectes and children of peace that your said subiects may haue the free vse of all their owne bookes and conference together among themselues Which thing beyng granted your said subiects doubt not but it shall plainly appeare that your sayd subiects are true and faithful christians neither heretikes neither teachers of heresie nor cut of from the true catholike vniuersal church of Christ Yea that rather their aduersaries themselues be vnto your Maiesties as were the charmers of Egypt vnto Pharao Sedechias his adherents vnto the king of Israel Actes 1â— and Bariesu to the Proconsul Sergius Paulus And if your said subiects be not able by the testimonie of Christ his prophets Apostles godly fathers of his church to prooue that the doctrine of the church homilies and seruice taught and set forth in the tyme of our late most godly prince and king Edward the 6. is the true doctrine of Christes Catholicke church and most agreeable to the articles of the christian fayth your sayd subiects offer themselues then to the most heauy punishment that it shall please your maiesties to appoynt Wherfore for the tender mercy of God in Christ which you looke for at the day of iudgement your sayd poore subiectes in bonds most humbly beseech your most excellent maiesties and this your high court of Parliament beningly and graciously to heare and graunt this their petition tendyng so greatly to the glory of God to the edifiyng of his church to the honor of your maiesties to the commendation and maintenaÌ„ce of iustice right and equitie both before God and man And your sayd subiectes according to their bounden duety shall not cease to pray vnto almighty God for the gracious preseruation of your most excellent maiesties long to endure ⧠The ende of the tenth Booke Anâ—â— 1554. â—â—bruaâ—◠¶ Here beginneth the eleuenth Booke wherein is discoursed the bloudy murthering of Gods Saintes with the particular Processes and Names of such good Martyrs both Men and Women as in this tyme of Queene Mary were put to death ⧠The Story Life and Martyrdome of Maister IOHN ROGERS THE fourth daye of February suffered the constant Martyr of God M. Iohn Rogers concernynge whose life examinations and suffring here followeth in order set forth And first touching his lyfe and bringing vp Iohn Rogers brought vp in the Uniuersitie of Cambridge where hee profitably trauelled in good learning â— Rogers â—haplayne 〈◊〉 the â—archaunt 〈…〉 Rogers brought to the03 Goâ—pell 〈◊〉 M. W. 〈◊〉 〈…〉 at the length was chosen and called by the Merchants Aduenturers to be their Chaplaine at Antwerpe in Brabant whome he serued to their good contentation many yeares It chaunced him there to fal in company with that worthy seruant and Martyr of God William Tindall and with Miles Couerdale which both for the hatred they bare to popish superstition and idolatry and loue to true religion had forsaken their natiue country In conferring with them the scriptures he came to great knowledge in the Gospell of God in so much that he cast of the heauy yoke of Popery perceiuyng it to be impure and filthy Idolatry and ioyned himselfe with them two in that paynefull most profitable labour of translating the Bible into the Englishe tongue which is intituled The Translation of Thomas Mathew He knowing by the scriptures that vnlawful vows may lawfully be broken and that Matrimony is both honest and honourable amongest all men ioyned hymselfe in lawfull matrimonye and so went to Wittemberge in Saxony where he with much sobernes of liuyng did not onely greatly encrease in all good and godly learnyng but also so much profited in the knowledge of the Dutch tong that the charge of a congregation was orderly committed to his cure In which ministery he diligently and faithfully serued many yeares vntil such tyme as it pleased God by y e faithfull trauell of his chosen and deare seruant king Edward the sixt vtterly to banish all Popery forth of England to receiue in true Religion settyng Gods Gospell at liberty He then beyng orderly called hauyng both a conscience and a ready good will to helpe forward the worke of the Lord in his natiue country left such honest and certaine conditions as he had in Saxony and came into England to preach the Gospel without certaintie of any condition In which office after he had a space diligently and faithfully trauailed Nicholas Ridley then bishop of London gaue him a Prebende in the Cathedrall Churche of Paules and the Deane and the Chapter chose hym to be the Reader of the Diuinitie lesson there wherein he diligently trauailed vntill such tyme as Queene Mary obtaining the crowne banished the Gospell and true religion and brought in the Antichrist of Rome with his Idolatry and superstition After the Queene was come to the Tower of LondoÌ„ he beyng orderly called thereunto made a godly and vehement Sermon at Paules Crosse confirmyng such true doctrine as he and other had there taught in K. Edwards dayes exhortyng the people constantly to remayne in the same and to beware of all pestilent Popery Idolatry and superstition The Councel beyng then ouermatched with popish and bloudy bishops M. Rogers called to accompt for his Sermon at Paules Crosse. called hym to accompt for his Sermon To whom he made a stout wittie godly answer and yet in such sort handled himself that at that time he was clearely dismissed But after that Proclamation was set foorth by the Queene to prohibite true preachyng he was called agayne before the Counsel for the bishops thirsted after his bloud The Counsell quarelled wyth hym concerning his doctrine and in conclusion commanded hym as prisoner to keepe his owne house and so hee did although by flying he might easily haue escaped their cruell hands and many thyngs there were M. Rogers agaâ—ne called before the Counsell and commaunded
people of God and theyr aduersaries into whose handes they were putte and deliuered and that of GOD and by hys good will and pleasure were Idolatrers and the people of the Deuill but they woulde be called the chiefe members of God and reioyced that they hadde the true God and that it was nowe declared by myracle that the Israelites hadde but a false God and a false religion seeing they were deliuered into the Babylonians handes And all the other the Herodes and Pharao I meane plainely determined that if the menne whiche they killed and handled euil hadde bene Goddes people God would neuer haue suffered them to come into their hands but rather haue done the contrarye and haue lette Iohn Baptist kill Herode and the Israelites Pharao and Nabuchodonosor Euen the like is nowe to be seene in vs and in our most cruell aduersaries They are not therfore the catholike Church because our merciful God hath at this present geueÌ„ our liues into their handes neyther are wee therefore heretickes because wee suffer punishment at theyr handes as the Lord Chauncellour by hys reioycing seemeth to gather the contrarye is hereby to be gathered that we be the members of the true Catholike church because wee suffer for the same Doctrine which Iohn Baptiste Iames the Israelites yea Christe the Apostles did teache of which none taught any thing of oure aduersaries doctrine namely that the rotten Antichristian heade of Rome shoulde be the heade of Christes church But they haue manifestly taught the contrary specially Paule 2. to the Thessalonians the 2. chapter Iohn in the Apocalipse Dan. 11. which thing if I might haue life and Bookes I would so by Gods grace set foorth that all the world should see it and that our aduersaries with their Antichristian head are the members of the Deuils church as they vndoubtedly are And in like case as the aboue meÌ„tioned holy men though they in their dayes were counted to be heretickes seditious and disturbers of the whole worlde for vnto Iohn Baptiste it was sayde Iohn 1. Wherefore baptisest thou if thou be not Helias nor that Prophet c. As who saye thou haste no such authoritie to beginne a newe Ceremonie in the Churche For we be in ordinarie possession of the churche and of vs thou haste receiued no such power We abide by our circumcision and the like coulde I declare of Iames and of all the Apostles and Prophetes and of our Sauiour Christe him selfe that were all condemned as heretickes blasphemers of God and disturbers of the whole world Paule and Silas Act. 16. heard like woordes of the Philippians these men trouble our Citie seeing they are Iewes and preache institutions whych are not lawful for vs to receiue seeing we be Romaines And in 17. In Athens the wise menne of this world suche as gaue their endeuour to wisedom said by S. Paule Quid vult spermologus hic dicere That is What will this prater as my Lord Chancelour sayd to me shall we suffer this felow to prate wheÌ„ I would faine haue sayd that thyng that I haue heere wrytten trifler newes caryer or â—ringer that telleth what so euer men will haue him for gaine and aduauntage that will for a piece of bread say what yee will haue hym c. And an other sayd in the same place hee seemeth to be a preacher of newe Deuelles c. And Actes 21. The Iewes say by Paule laying handes on hym helpe O yee Israelites saye they this is the manne that teacheth all men euery where against the people meaning the Iewes and the law and this place meaning Ierusalem and yet was neuer a woorde of these true And Actes 22. the same Iewes sayde of Paule out of the earthe wyth that man or away wyth him For it is not lawfull for him to liue or he is not woorthy to liue And howe many moe of these examples are to be found in the Bible Although I say these men were in their dayes taken for heretickes of them that were then in authoritye and of the great multitude of the worlde yet it is nowe wel knowen yea and very shortly after their deathes this was known yea and euen in theyr liues also vnto the true Catholicke Churche that they were not onely the chiefe and speciall members of the true Catholicke Churche but also the founders and builders thereof notwithstanding the sinister iudgement that the wise and mighty menne and the great multitude of the worlde hadde of them and in theyr consciences they were alwayes assuredlye certified of the same Euen the same shall the world find true in vs shortlye after oure deathes as also there be at thys houre the Lorde be thanked therefore not a fewe that already know it as we our selues also are by Gods grace assuredly certified in our consciences that we are no heretikes but members of the true catholike church and that our aduersaries the bishops and popish cleargie which wil haue that title are the members of Sathans churche and theyr Antichristian head of Rome wyth them But here they wil crie out loe these men wil be stil like Iohn Baptist the Apostles and the Prophets c. I answere we make not our selues like vnto them in the singular vertues and giftes of God geuen vnto them as of miracles doing and of many other things The similitude and likenesse of them and vs consisteth not in all things but only in this that is that we be like them in doctrine and in the sufferinge of persecution and infamie for the same We haue preached theyr very doctrine and none other thing that we are able sufficiently to declare by theyr wrytings by wryting for my part I haue profered to prooue the same as is now often sayd And for this cause we suffer the like reproche shame and rebuke of the worlde the like persecution leesing of our liues and goodes forsaking as our maister Christ commandeth father mother sister brethren wiues children and all that there is being assured of a ioyfull resurrection and to be crowned in glorye wyth them according to the vnfallible promises made vnto vs in Christ our onely and sufficient mediatour reconciler priest and sacrifice which hath pleased the father and quieted and pacified his wrath against our sinnes made vs wythout spot or wrinkle in his sight by imputation although wee off and in our selues are bespotted be blotted w t many filthy sinnes which if the great mercy graunted in Christ did not put away by not imputing them vnto vs of his measurelesse vnspeakeable mercye and loue to saue vs they woulde haue brought vs to euerlasting damnation and death perpetuall Heerein and in no other doe we affirme our selues to be like vnto our head Christe and all his Apostles Prophetes Martyrs and Saintes And heerein oughte all Christian menne to be like them and heerein are all true Christen men and women lyke them euery one according to the measure of y e faith that
Saincts whilest a most pleasant refreshing did issue from euery part and member of the body vnto the seate place of the hart and from thence did ebbe and flow to and fro vnto all the partes againe This Saunders continued in prison a whole yeare and 3. moneths In all which space he sent diuers letters to diuers men as one to Cranmer Ridley and Latimer and other to his wife and also to others M. Saunders in prison a yeare and 3. monthes certifying them both of the publike calamitie of the time and also of his priuate afflictions and of sondry his conflictes with his aduersaries As in writing to his friend he speaketh of Weston conferring with him in prison whereof you shall heare anone by the leaue of the Lorde as followeth in the story In the meane time the Chauncellor after this little talke with M. Saunders as is aforesaid sent him to the prison of the Marshalsey c. For the Caiphas Winchester I meane did nothing but bayte him with some of his currish eloquence and so committed him to the prison of the Marshalsey where he was kept prisoner one whole yeare and a quarter But of his cause and estate thou shalt nowe see what Laurence Saunders himselfe did write ¶ A parcell of a Letter of Laurence Saunders sent to the Byshop of Winchester as an aunswere to certayne thyngs wherewith he had before charged hym TOuching the cause of my imprisonment A fragmeâ—â— of M. Sauâ—â—ders letter I doubt whether I haue broken any law or proclamation In my doctrine I did not forasmuch as at that time it was permitted by the proclamation to vse according to our consciences such seruice as was then established He meane the proclaâ—mation of which meâ—â—tion is 〈◊〉 before Satis peceâ—â—uit qui reâ—â—stere non potâ—it My doctrine was then agreeable vnto my conscience and the seruice then vsed The Act which I did he meaneth publike teaching of Gods word in his owne parish called Alhallowes in Breadstreete in the Citie of London was such as being indifferently weyed sounded to no breaking of the proclamation or at the least no wilfull breaking of it forasmuch as I caused no bell to be roong neyther occupyed I any place in the Pulpit after the order of Sermons or Lectures But be it that I did breake the Proclamation this long time of continuance in prison may be thought to be more then a sufficient punishment for such a fault Touching the charging of me with my Religion I say wyth S. Paule This I confesse Act. 24. that after the way which they call heresie so worship I the God of my forefathers beleeuing all thyngs which are written in the lawe and the Prophets and haue hope towards God c. And herein study I â—o haue alway a cleare conscience towardes God and towards men A good tâ—â—stimony oâ— good conscience so that God I call to witnesse I haue a conscience And this my conscience is not grounded vpon vayne fantasie but vpon the infallible veritie of Gods word with the witnessing of his chosen Church agreeable vnto the same It is an easie thing for them which take Christ for theyr true Pastor and be the very sheepe of his pasture to discerne the voice of their true shepheard from the voyce of wolues hyrelings and straungers for as much as Christ sayeth Iohn 10 My sheepe heare my voice yea and thereby they shall haue the gift to know the right voice of the true shepeheard and so to follow him and to auoyde the contrary as he also sayeth The sheepe follow the shepheard for they knowe his voyce A straunger will they not follow but will flie from him for they knowe not the voice of a stranger Such inward inspiration doth the holy Ghost put into the children of God being in deede taught of God but otherwise vnable to vnderstand the true way of their saluation Math. 7. And albeit that the Wolfe as Christ saith commeth in sheepes clothing yet he sayth by their fruites yee shall knowe them How the Wolfe is known 〈◊〉 the true shephearâ— For there be certayne fruites whereby the Wolfe is bewrayed notwithstanding that otherwise in sondry sortes of deuoute holines in outwarde shew he seemeth neuer so simple a sheepe That the Romish religion is rauening woluish it is apparant in 3. principall points First it robbeth God of his due and only honour Secondly it taketh away the true comfort of coÌ„science The incoâ—â—uenience the Româ—â— religion 〈◊〉 3. poyntes in obscuring or rather burying of Christ and his office of saluation Thirdly it spoyleth God of his true worship and seruice in spirit and truth appointed in his prescript commaundementes and driueth men vnto that inconuenience against the which Christ with the Prophet Esay doth speake sharply This people honoureth me with their lips but their hart is far from me Esay 26. Math. 25. They worship me in vaine teaching the doctrine and precepts of men And in another place ye cast aside the commaundemente of God to mayntayne your owne traditions Wherefore I in conscience weying the Romish Religion and by indifferent discussing thereof finding the foundation vnstedfast and the building thereupon but vayne and on the other side hauing my conscience framed after a right and vncorrupt religion ratified and fully established by the word of God and the consent of his true Church I neyther may nor do entend by Gods gracious assistance to be pulled one iot from the same no though an Angell out of heauen should preach another Gospell then that which I haue receyued of the Lord. And although that for lacke either of such deepe knowledge and profound iudgement or of so expedite vttering of that I do know and iudge as is required in an excellent clarke I shall not be able sufficiently to aunswere for the conuincing of the gaine-sayer yet neuerthelesse this my protestation shall be of me premised that for the respect of the grounds and causes before considered albeit I cannot * Explicitâ—â—ides is 〈◊〉 a man haâ— to aunsweâ— to euery poynt of 〈◊〉 â—ayth by sufficient 〈◊〉 ground anâ— learning explicita fide as they call it conceiue all that is to be conceiued neither can discusse all that is to be discussed nor can effectually expresse all that is to be expressed in the discourse of the doctrine of this most true religion whereunto to I am professed Yet do I bind my selfe as by my humble simplicity so by my fidem * implicitam that is by faith in generalty as they call it to wrap my beliefe in the credit of the same that no authority of that romish religion repugnant thereunto shall by any meanes remoue me from the same though it may hap that our aduersaries will labour to beguile vs with entising wordes and seeke to spoyle vs through Philosophy and deceitfull vanity after the traditions of men and after the ordinances of the world and
M. Fecknam still busie with matter of the sacrament I do not beleeue that Christ is in the sacrament as ye will haue him which is of mans making Both their answeres thus seuerally made they were again commanded to depart for that time to appeare the next day in the consistory at Paules betweene the houres of one and three of the clocke at after noone The last appearaunce of M. Causton and M. Higbed before Boner AT which day and houre being the ninth day of march they were both brought thether M. Causton and M. Higbed appeare agayne before the bishop Where the Bishoppe caused M. Thomas Caustons articles and answeres first to be read openly and after perswaded with him to recant and abiure his heretical opinions and to come home now at the last to their mother the catholicke Church and saue hymselfe But M. Thomas Causton answered agayn and said No I wil not abiure For I came not hither for that purpose M. Causton and M. Higbed do exhibite a confession of their fayth and therwithall did exhibite in writing vnto the Bishop as well in his owne name as also in Thom. Higbeds name a confession of theyr fayth to the whiche they would stand and required leaue to read the same whiche after great suite was obteined and so he read it openlye in the hearing of the people as followeth ☞ The confession and fayth of Thomas Causton and Thomas Hygbed which they deliuered to the Bishop of London before the Mayor and Sheriffes and in the presence of all the people their assembled Anno. 1555. the 9. of March were condemned for the same in the sayde Consistory in Paules Church the yeare and day abouesayd 1 FIrst we beleue and professe in Baptisme to forsake the Deuill and his workes and pompes The confession of M. Causton and the vanities of the wicked world with all the sinfull lustes of the fleshe 2. We beleue all the articles of our Christian fayth 3. We beleue that wee are bound to keepe Gods holye will and commaundementes Abrenouncing of the world The Articles of the Creede The commaundementes The Lordes prayer The Catholick Church and to walke in the same all the dayes of our lyfe 4. We beleue that there is contayned in the Lords praier all thinges necessary both for bodye and soule and that we are taught thereby to pray to our heauenly father and to none other saint or angell 5. We beleue that there is a catholicke Church euen the Communion of Saintes Built vppon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles as S. Paule sayth Christ being the head corner stone For the which Church Christ gaue himselfe to make it to himselfe a glorious congregation without faulte in his sight 6. We beleue that this churche of her selfe and by her owne merites is sinfull The Church of it selfe is sinfull by imputation righteous and must needes say Father forgeue vs our sinnes but through Christe and his merites shee is freely forgeuen For he in his owne person sayth saint Paule hath purged her sinnes and made her faultles in hys sight Anno 1555. February Besides whome there is no Saueour sayeth the Prophete neyther is there saluation sayth Sainct Peter in any other name 7 We beleeue as he is our onely Sauiour so is he our onely Mediatour Christ onely our mediatour For the holy Apostle S. Paule sayeth There is one God one Mediatour betweene God and man euen the man Iesus Christ. Wherefore seeing none hath this name God and man but Iesus Christ therefore there is no mediator but Iesus Christ. 8 We beleeue that this Church of Christ is and hath bene persecuted by the wordes of Christe saying As they haue persecuted me The condition of the Church to be persecuted so shall they persecute you For the disciple is not aboue his maister For it is not onely geuen vnto you to beleeue in Christ sayeth Sainct Paule but also to suffer for his sake For all that will liue godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution 9 Wee beleeue that the Churche of Christe teacheth the worde of God truely and sincerely putting nothing to nor taking any thing fro The Churche onely is directed by Gods worde neither adding nor taking fro and also doth minister the Sacraments according to the Primitiue Church 10 We beleeue that this Churche of Christ suffereth all men to reade the Scriptures according to Christes commaundement saying Search the Scriptures for they testifie of me We reade also out of the Actes that when Sainct Paule preached the audience dayly searched the Scriptures The true church forbiddeth none to read the scriptures whether he preached truely or no. Also the Prophet Dauid teacheth all men to pray with vnderstanding For how shall the vnlearned saith S. Paule say Amen at the geuing of thankes when they vnderstand not what is sayde And what is more allowed then true faith which S. Paule saith commeth by hearing of the word of God 11 Wee beleeue that the Churche of Christe teacheth that God ought to be worshipped according to his word God onely to be worshipped after his word and not after the doctrine of men For in vayne sayth Christ ye worship me teaching nothing but the doctrine of men Also we are commaunded of God by hys Prophet saying Gods preceptes to be followed and not the constitutions of men Walke not in the traditions and preceptes of your Elders but walke sayth he in my precepts do that I commaund you put nothing thereunto neyther take any thing from it Likewise saith Christ you shall forsake father and mother and folow me Whereby we learne that if our Elders teach otherwise then God commaunded in that point we must forsake them The Lordes supper is not to be chaunged from the institution of Christ. 12 We beleeue that the Supper of the Lord ought not to be altered and chaunged for as much as Christ himselfe being the wisedome of the father did institute it For it is written Cursed is he that chaungeth my ordinaunces and departeth from my Commaundements or taketh any thing from them Now we finde by the scriptures that this holy supper is sore abused The Lordes supper how many wayes it is abused The second abuse First in that it is geuen in one kind where Christ gaue it in both Secondly in that it is made a priuate Masse where Christ made it a Communion for he gaue it not to one alone but to all the Apostles in the name of the whole Church The third abuse Thirdly in that it is made a sacrifice for the quicke and the dead wheras Christ ordeined it for a remembraunce of the euerlasting sacrifice which was his owne body offered vpon the aultar of the Crosse once for all as the holy Apostle sayth Euen the full and perfect price of our redemption and where there is remission of sinne saith he there is no more sacrifice for sinne
garland of our Lady compiled by the said S. Bonauenture wherein these words are to be red as followeth O Mediatrix betweene God and man the Lorde hath worthily magnified thee Blasphemye The Rosary or Garland of our Lady called Corenâ— beatae Mariae Mary made a commaunder of Christ. that thou onely shouldst conceyue hys sonne c. Wherefore O good Mary our mediatrix mother of Grace and mother of Mercy c. And moreouer within fewe lynes it followeth in these woordes Therefore O our Empresse and Lady most bountifull by the authoritie of a Mother commaund commaund I say thy welbeloued sonne that he wil stirre vp our myndes from the loue of worldly thyngs to heuenly desires c. Item O the Aduocate of the miserable the eyes of thy seruants be directed to thee c. To these premisses I might also adioyne the horrible and most blasphemous wordes of the said Bonauenture in the said booke Fol. 100. pag. 2. col 1. which I besech thee to read and note Quae maior bonitas quam quod Christus i. What greater goodnes can be then that Christ is content to be captiue vpon the aultar Whereupon he speaketh in the person of Ieremy saying Behold I am in your hands do with me as you see good c. Where note sayth he that when any Duke or prince â—s taken prisoner for hys subiectes he is not let goe before he paye some great summe of mony for hys ransome Christ made a captiue and a prisoner in the Popes Church Euen so neither we ought to let Christ go out of our hands beyng our prisoner and captiue except he graunt vnto vs remission of our sinnes and his heauenly kingdome The priest therfore lifteth vp the body of Christ vpon the aultar as though he sayd thus behold hym whome the whole world is not able to comprehend he is holden here our captiue wherfore let vs hold hym fast and not let hym go before we obtayne of hym our requests c. Notes The Church of Rome examined Is not here good Catholike stuffe christen Readers trow you Conferre I beseech you this doctrine wyth the doctrine of the Apostles which teach vs that we are fullye complet in Christ and I wil referre me to no better iudge then to your own conscience And now therfore if any maÌ„ haue bene in doubt in tymes past of the doctrine and proceedings of the church of Rome The Church of Rome connâ—ct of manifest idolatry whether it be rightly charged with blynd errors with blasphemy intollerable Idolatry abominable or not here now may he be fully certified resolued For where was euer idolatry or blasphemy to be found if it be not here in this Mattins Psalter of our Lady Our Lady made equall with God in the Church Rome If Idolatry be to make an idoll to bee worshipped as God which is no God what doe we here but make an idoll of our Lady as we call her to be worshipped with no lesse dignity glory authority reuerence and seruice then is the Lord God himselfe As he is called our Lord so she is called our lady And if he be kyng yet she is the queene of heaueÌ„ The doctrine of the Romish Church directly against the first commaundemeÌ„t of God And though he haue the name of god yet she bereth so the title of the mother of God that as mothers haue authority ouer their children so she is willed to shew her selfe to be his mother to cause him to graÌ„t our petitions Finally if he be our patron yet is she our patronesse The commandement saith Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and hym only shalt thou serue And what worship or seruice can we geue to God more then we doe ascribe vnto her Or what benefit is to be asked at y e hands of Christ our Sauiour which is not equally asked of her To saue our soules to geue vs peace to graunt grace to comfort the desperate to loose our captiuity to release our sinnes To trust and beleeue in our Lady to deliuer from the fiend to bryng to heauen c. to her we pray we cry we creepe we sigh we grone wee knock and kneele to her we trust and if we beleue not also in our Lady Our Lady hath her Church as well as Christ. we be heretikes ipso facto Furthermore as Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour hath his Church and Congregation which professeth hys name of whom we are called Christians so neither is she likewise without her chapels her cloisters her Chapters fraternities and brotherhoods which professing her name in like sort are called our Ladies brethren or white friers besides an innumerable sort of other patrons of churches of whom euery one hath his peculiar church and religion by himselfe yet all these together be included vnder the generall deuotion of our Lady their supreme patronesse and gouernesse Now to proceed further to the other prrt of the commaundement which sayeth Him onely shalt thou serue What seruice hath the Lord in all the church but our Lady also iointly with him hath the lyke Her Masse her Mattins her Euensong her Houres and Complin her Rosaries her Anthems her Collects her Primer her Psalter her holydaies likewyse yea fiue to one Finally as y e Lord hath his prayer called the Lordes prayer so hath shee her Aue Maries yea x. Aues to one Pater noster yea read further in the said Bonauenture 10. 〈◊〉 to one Pâ—â—ter nosteâ— and ye shal see her also to haue her Te Deum her Benedictus her Magnificat and also her Quicunque vult If the Lorde our God had not expressed vnto vs hys own will by playne worde limiting vnto vs by expresse iniunction what to beleue what to folow how to worship and serue him how to receiue from him our saluation but had left vs to the imagination of our owne inueÌ„tions euery man to shift for himself after his own pollicy then peraduenture this way taken by the Popes Church to make frends mediators betwene God and vs for reconciliation remission saluation might haue some ryme or reason but now gods word doth bynde vs doth prescribe and limite vs precisely in euery point touching saluation what to beleue what to do shewing vs plainly that we cannot be saued but by the bloud of hys sonne only neither caÌ„ be iustified but by faith only in y e same Christ his sonne Wherfore not to beleue that which he hath promised is infidelitie and to follow any other beliefe then he hath set vs is plaine idolatry Infidelity Idolatrye The which ij special errors most commonly doe followe the doctrine of the Romish church as not only in this primer and psalter of our Lady aforesaid but also in all their proceedings teachings and preachings besides may well appeare The 〈◊〉 of Rome charged with Infidelitye 〈◊〉 Idolatryâ— The church of Rome neyther taketh 〈◊〉
peoples eyes but to go vpwardes that you can neuer do and this is the true tryall Brad. Anno 1555. â—â—ly Yee must and will I am assured geue me leaue to follow the scriptures and examples of good men Harps Yea. Brad. Well theÌ„ Stephen was accused and condemned as I am that he had taught new and false doctrine before the fathers of the Church then as they were taken Stephen for his purgation improoueth their accusation But how doth he it by going vpwardes no but by coÌ„ming downwardes beginning at AbrahaÌ„ and continuing still till Esayas tyme and the peoples captiuitie From whence he maketh a great leape vntill y t time he was in whiche was I thinke vpon a 400. yeares called them by their right names helhoundes rather then heauen hounds On this sort will I proue my fayth that can you neuer do yours Harpsfield Yea sir if we did knowe that you had the holye Ghost then could we beleue you Here Bradford woulde haue answered that Steuens enemies would not beleue he had the holy Ghost and therefore they did as they dyd but as he was in speaking M. Harps arose vp the keeper and others that stode by began to talk gently praying Bradford to take heede to that maister Archdeacon spake who still sayd that Bradford was out of the church Bradford Syr I am most certaine that I am in Christes Church and I can shew a demonstration of my Religion from time to time continually God our father for the name and bloud of his Christ be merciful vnto vs and vnto al his people and deliuer them from false teachers and blinde guydes through whome alas I feare mee much hurt will come to this realme of England God our Father blesse vs and keepe vs in hys truth and poore Churche for euer Amen Then the Archdeacon departed saying that he would come againe the next morning ¶ The next dayes talke betweene Doctour Harpsfield and Maister Bradford VPon the xvi of February in the morning the Archdeacon and the other two with him came again â—rchdeacon â—arpsfield â—â—meth 〈◊〉 to M. â—â—adford and after a few by wordes spoken they sate downe Harps Maister Archdeacon began a very long Oration first repeting what they had said and how farre they had gone ouer night and therw t did begin to proue vpwards succession of Bishops here in England for 800. yeares in Fraunce at Lyons for 1200. yeares M. Harpsâ—â—eld agayne 〈◊〉 his â—hurch by 〈…〉 in Spayne at Hispalen for 800. yeares In Italy at Milan for 1200. yeares labouring by this to proue his Church He vsed also succession of Bishops in the East Church for the more confirmation of his wordes and so concluded with an exhortation and an interrogation the exhortation that Bradford would obey this church the interrogatioÌ„ whether Brad-could shew any such succession for the demonstratioÌ„ of his Church for so he called it which followed â—radfordes 〈…〉 M. Harpsâ—â—â—â—des 〈◊〉 Bradford Unto this his long Oration Bradford made this short answere my memory is euill so that I cannot aunswere particularly your Oration Therfore I wil generally do it thinking because your Oration is rather to perswade then to proue that a small aunswere will serue If Christ or his Apostles being here on earth had bene required by the Prelates of the churche then to haue made a demonstration of that churche by succession of such high Priestes as had approued the doctrine which he taught I think that Christ would haue done as I do that is haue alledged y t which vpholdeth the church euen the veritie y e word of God taught beleeued not by the high Priests which of long time had persecuted it but by the Prophetes and other good simple men which perchaunce were counted for heretickes of the Church which Church was not tied to succession but to the word of god And this to thinke S. Peter geueth me occasion when he sayth that as it went in the Churche before Christes comming so shall it go in the Church after his comming but then the pillers of the church were persecutors of the true Church therfore the like we must looke for now Harps I can gather and proue succession in Ierusalem of the high Priestes from Aarons tyme. Bradford I graunt but not such succession as allowed the trueth Harps Why did they not allow Moses law Bradford Yes and keepe it as touchyng the bookes therof as you doe the Bible and holye Scriptures But the true interpretation and meaning of it they did corrupt as you haue done doe and therefore the persecution which they sturred vpp against the Prophetes and Christ was not for the lawe but for the interpretation of it For they taught as you do now The Iewes corrupt the law as the Papists doe the Scriptures A comparison betweene thâ— old Phariseys our new Papistes that we must fetch the interpretation of the scriptures at your handes But to make an end death I looke dayly for yea hourely and I think my time be but very short Therfore I had need to spend as much tyme with God as I can whilest I haue it for his helpe comfort and therfore I pray you beare with me that I do not now particularly and in moe wordes aunswere your loÌ„g talk If I saw death not so neare me as it is I would then weigh euerye peece of your Oration if you woulde geue me the summe of it and I would answere accordingly but because I dare not nor I will not leaue of looking preparing for that which is at hand I shal desire you to hold me excused because I do as I do and hartely thanke you for youre gentle good will I shall hartily praye God our father to geue you the same light and life I do wish to my selfe so Bradford began to arise vp Harps But then began Maister Archdeacon to tell hym that he was in very perilous case Bolde confideÌ„ce and hope of Gods word and promise semeth strange among them which are not exercised in mortification and that he was sory to see him so setled As for death whether it be nigh or farre of I know not neither forceth it so that you did die well Brad. I doubt not in this case but y t I shall dye well for as I hope and am certaine my death shall please the Lord so I trust I shall dye chearfully to y e comfort of his childreÌ„ Harps But what if you be deceiued Bradford What if you shoulde say the sunne did not shyne now and the Sunne did shine through the windowe where they sat Harps Well I am sory to see you so secure and carlesse Bradford In deed I am more carnally secure and carelesse then I shuld be God make me more vigilant But in this case I cannot be so secure for I am most assured I am in y e trueth Harpsfield That are ye not for you are out of the
Catholicke Church Bradford No though you haue excommunicate me out of your Church yet am I in the Catholicke Churche of christ and am and by Gods grace shal be a childe an obedient childe of it for euer I hope Christ will haue no lesse care for me Transubstantiation to beleeue or not to beleue many hundreth yeares after Christ. then he had for the blinde man excommunicated of the Synagoge and further I am sure that the necessary Articles of the fayth I meane the twelue Articles of the Creede I confesse and beleue with that which you call the holy church so that euen your church hath taken somthing to much vpon her to excommunicate me for that which by the testimonye of my Lorde of Duresme in the booke of the sacrament lately put forth was free many an hundred yeare after Christ to beleue or not beleue Harps What is that Brad. Transubstantiation Harps Why ye are not condemned therfore onely Brad. For that and because I deny that wicked men do receiue Christes body Harpsfield You agree not with vs in the presence nor in any thing els Bradford How you beleue you know for my part I coÌ„fesse a presence of whole Christ God and man to the fayth of the receauer Harpsfield Nay you must beleue a reall presence in the sacrament Brad. In the Sacrament Nay I will not shut him in nor tyâ— him to it otherwise then faith seeth and perceiueth Christ not included really in the Sacrament If I should include Christ really present in the sacrament or tye hym to it otherwise then to the faith of the receiuer then the wicked men should receiue him which I doe not nor will by Gods grace beleue Harpsfield More pitty But a man may easely perceaue you make no presence at all and therefore you agree not therein with vs. Brad. I confesse a presence and a true presence but to the fayth of the receauer Christes body present to the fayth of the receauer What quoth one that stoode by of Christes very bodye which dyed for vs. Brad. Yea euen of whole Christ God man to feed the fayth of hym that receiueth it Harps Why this is nothing els but to exclude y e omnipotency of God and all kinde of miracle in the sacrament Brad. I do not exclude his omnipotencie but you doe it rather for I beleue that Christ can accoÌ„plish hys promise None denyeth omipotencye more then the Papistes which say that Christes body cannot be in the sacrament vnlesse the substance of bread be away the substaunce of bread and wyne being there as well as the accidents which you beleue not When we come to the Sacrament we come not to feede our bodies and therfore we haue but a little peece of bread but we come to feed our soules with Christ by fayth whiche the wicked doe want and therefore they receiue nothing but Panem domini as Iudas did not Panem Dominum as y e other Apostles did Harps The wicked do receaue the very body of Christ but not the grace of his body Brad. They receiue not the body For Christes bodye is no dead carcase he that receaueth it receaueth the spirite which is not without grace I trow Argument who so receaue the body of Christ do receiue the fruite and grace of lyfe no wicked do receiue fruite and grace of lyfe Ergo no wicked men receiue the bâ—dy of Christ. Masse in S. Ambrose tyme. That is false for Scolasticus was not before S. Ambrose tyme. The chiefe parts of the Popish Masse Harps Well you haue many erroures You count the Masse for abhomination and yet S. Ambrose sayd Masse and so he read out of a book written a sentence of S. Ambrose to proue it Brad. Why sir the masse as it is nowe was nothing so in S. Ambrose time Was not y e most part of the Canon made sithen by Gregory and Scolasticus Harps In deede a great peece of it was made as ye say by Gregory but Scolasticus was before Saint Ambrose tyme. Brad. I weene not howbeit I will not contend S. Gregory sayth that the Apostles sayd Masse without the Canon onely with the Lordes prayer Harps You say true for the Canon is not the greatest part of the Masse the greatest part is the sacrifice eleuation transubstantiation and adoration Brad. I can away with none of those Harps No I thinke the same but yet Hoc facite telleth plainely the sacrifice of the Church Brad. You confound Sacrifices not discerning betwixt the sacrifice of the Church Sacrifice of the Church Sacrifice for the Church and for the Church The sacrifice of the Church is no propiciatory sacrifice but a gratulatory sacrifice And as for Hoc facite is not referred to any sacrifising but to the whole action of takyng eatyng c. Harps You speake not learnedly now for Christ made his supper onely to the twelue Apostles Note this doctrine good reader not admittyng his mother or any of the seuenty Disciples to it Nowe the Apostles do signifie the Priestes Brad. I thinke that you speake as you would men should vnderstand it for els you would not keepe the cup away from the Laitie Wee haue great cause to thanke you that you will geue vs of your bread For I perceiue you order the matter so as though Christ had not commanded it to his whole Church Harps Then Harpsfield would haue proued Eleuation by a place of Basilius Brad. Eleuation was not brought in indeede before the time of pope Honorius 3. I haue read y e place which seemeth to make nothing for eleuation but be it as it is this is no tyme for me to scan the doubtfull places of the doctors with you I haue bene in prison long without bookes and al necessaries for study and now death draweth nye and I by your leaue must now leaue of to prepare for him Harps If I could do you good I would be right glad eyther in soule or body For you are in a perillous case both wayes Brad. Syr I thanke you for your good will My case is as it is I thanke God it was neuer so well w t me for deathe to me shal be life Creswel It were best for you to desire maister Archedeacon that he woulde make sute for you that you might haue a time to conferre Harps I will do the best I can for I pittie his case Bradford Sir I will not desire anye body to sue for tyme for me I am not wauering neither woulde I that anye body should thinke I were so But if you haue the charity and loue you pretend towardes me and thereto do thinke that I am in an errour I thinke the same shuld moue you to do as ye would be done to As ye thinke of me so doe I of you that you are farre out of the way and I do not only thinke it but also am thereof most assured And in thys and such like gentle
do teach vs for they witnes that Christ sayd that he would drinke no more of the fruit of the vine which was not bloud but wine and therfore it foloweth that there is no transubstantiation Chrysostome vpoÌ„ Mathew and S. Cyprian do affirme this reason 5. As the bread in the Lordes Supper is Christes naturall bodye so is it his mysticall body for the same spirit that spake of it This is my body The same spirit which sayeth This is my body sayth also We many are one bread and one body c. The words doe not transubstaÌ„tiate the cup into the new testament Ergo neyther the bread into the body did say also for we many are one bread one body c. but now it is not the mysticall body by transubstantiation and therfore it is not his naturall body by transubstantiation 6. The wordes spoken ouer the cup in S. Luke and Paule are not so mighty and effectuall as to transubstantiate it For then it or that which is in it should be transubstantiate into the new Testament therfore the wordes spoken ouer the bread are not so mighty as to make transubstantiation 7. All that doctrine which agreeth with those Churches whiche be Apostolicke mother Churches or originall churches is to be counted for truth in that it holdeth that which these Churches receiued of the Apostles the Apostles of Christ Christ of GOD. But it is manifest that the doctrine taughte at this present of the church of Rome concerning transubstantiation doth not agree with the Apostolicke and mother Churches in Grece of Corinthus The doctrine of the Church of Rome for transubstantiatioÌ„ agreeth not with the Apostles Church nor with the Greke Churches nor with the olde Romain church of Phillppos Colossia Thessalonica Ephesus which neuer taught transubstantiation yea it agreeth not with the doctrine of the Churche of Rome taught in times past For Gelasius the Pope setting forth the doctrine which that sea did theÌ„ hold doth manifestly confute the error of transubstantiation and reproueth them of the sacriledge which deuide the mistery and keepe from the Laity the cup Therefore the doctrine of transubstantiation agreeth not with the truth This was the writing which Weston pulled out of his bosome yet before he began to read it he shewed Bradford that he asked of his conuersatioÌ„ at CaÌ„bridge sithen his last being with him and quoth he Mayster Bradford because you are a man not geuen to the glory of the world I will speake it before your face Your life I haue learned was such there alwayes as all men euen the greatest enemyes you haue can not but prayse it and therefore I loue you much better then euer I did but now I will reade ouer your argumentes and so we will conferre them Such they are that a man may well perceiue you stand on coÌ„science therfore I am the more redy glad to pity you So he began to read the first to the which he sayd that though the word transubstantiatioÌ„ began but lately yet the thyng alwayes was and hath bene sithen Christes institution Brad. I do not contend or hang vpon the worde onely but vpon the thing which is as new as the word West Then went he to the seconde and there brought out S. Augustine The wordes of Austen guilefully wrasted by Weston how that if an euill man goyng to the deuill did make his will his sonne heyre would not say his father did lye in it or speak tropically much more Christ going to God did neuer lye or vse any figuratiue spech in his last wil and testament Do you not remember this place of S. Augustine sayd he Brad. Yes Syr but I remember not that S. Augustine hath those wordes tropicè or figuratiue as you rehearse theÌ„ for any man may speak a thing figuratiuely and lye not so Christ did in his last Supper West After this he went to the thyrd and brought foorth Cyprian howe that the nature of the bread is turned into flesh Here sayth he my Lord of Caunterbury expoundeth nature for quality by Gelasius the which interpretatioÌ„ serueth for the answere of your third argument y t Christ called bread his body that is the quality forme apperance of bread And further the Scripture is wont to call things by the same names whiche they had before Simon though he were called the leper yet he was seene to be no leper But bread is seene still to be bread and therfore hath his name not of that it was but of that it is Cyprian expounded by Gelasius as Symon the Leaper he was not so preseÌ„tly but because he had bene so Brad. Cyprian wrote before Gelasius therefore Cyprian must not expouÌ„d Gelasius but Gelasius Cyprian and so they both teach that bread remaineth stil. As for things hauing still the names they had is no aunsweare except you could shew that this nowe were not breade as easily as a man might haue known sene then Symon to haue bene healed and cleare from his Leprosye West After this he went to the fourth of the cup the which he did not fully read but digressed into a long talke of Cyprians Epistle De Aquarijs also of S. Augustine expounding the breaking of breade by Christ to his two Disciples going to Emaus to be the Sacrament with such other talk to no certaine purpose and therfore Bradford prayed him that in as much as he had written the reasons that stablished his fayth agaynst Transubstantiation Weston â—â—â—quired 〈◊〉 write 〈◊〉 reasonâ— so hee woulde likewise doe to him that is aunswere him by writing and shew him moe reasons in writing to confirme Transubstantiation Which Doctor Weston promised to do sayde that he would send or bring it to Bradford agayne within three dayes Thus when he had ouer read the argumentes here and there spokeÌ„ litle to the purpose for the auoiding of theÌ„ and Bradford had prayed him to geue him in writing hys aunsweres then he began to tell Bradford how and what he had done for Grimoald and how that Bradford neded not to feare any reproch or sclaunder he should suffer Grimoalâ— subscribeâ—â— meaning belike to haue Bradford secretly come to theÌ„ as Grimoald did for he subscribed Brad. Maister Deane I would not gladly that you should conceiue of me that I passe of shame of men simply in thys matter I rather would haue you to think of me M. 〈◊〉 playne aâ—â—firme in confessiâ—â— the truth as the very truth is that hitherto as I haue not sene nor heard any thing to infirme my fayth agaynst Transubstantiation so I am no lesse setled in it then I was at my coÌ„ming hither I loue to be playne with you and to tell you at the first as you shall finde at the last West In good fayth maister Bradford I loue you the better for your playnnes do not think otherwise of me but that you shall finde me playne in all my talke
mayster Syriac Peters sayd Virtus altissimi obumbrauit Truth sayd mayster Archdeacon it was the power of God sent by the holy Ghost They had forgotten that genitus fuit ex substantia patris Or els they perceiued wherunto this question tended An other â—uestion of M. Bland to D. Haâ—psâ—â—eld â—he aunâ—were of D. 〈◊〉 â—o the queâ—â—ion and so both I and they left it by what words I can not tell but I sayd sir shall I aske one other And he sayd yea Is there in the sacrament after the consecration Christes naturall body with all the qualities of a naturall body or no. Harps Harke sayd mayster Archdeacon heare ye this hereticke He thinkes it an absurdity to graunt all the quantities of Christes natural body to be in the sacrament But it is no absurditye For euen that naturall body that was borne of the virgin Mary is glorified and that same body is in the Sacrament after the consecration But perceyue ye not the arrogancy of this hereticke that will put me to answere him and he will not aunswere me he thought to put me to a pinche with his question for I tell you it is a learned question Blad Syr if ye be so muche discontented with me I will say no more yet I woulde all men hearde that ye say the glorified body of Christ is in the Sacrament after the consecration Harps I may call thee grosse ignorant Thou grosse ignoraunt is not the same body glorified that was borne of the virgin Mary is it then any absurdity to graunt that to be in the sacrameÌ„t And whiles he spake many other words I sayd to mayster Petit that the Sacrament was instituted deliuered and receiued of his apostles before Christes body was crucified and it was crucified before it was glorified which saying mayster Petit partly recited to maister Archdeacon Harps Thou art without all learning Was not Christes body geuen to his Apostles as in a glorified acte and yet no incoÌ„uenience although his naturall body was not crucified for when he was borne of the virgin Mary without payne was not that the acte of a glorified body And wheÌ„ he walked on the water and when he came into the house to his apostles the dores being shut fast were not these actes of a glorified body Douer Then my Lorde of Douer helped him to a better place and sayd when Christ was in Mount Thabor he was there glorified in his apostles sight Harps Ye say truth my Lord he was glorified in the sight of three of his apostles Bland This me thinke is new doctrine Harps Well seing he will by no other way be reformed let the people come in and proue these matters agaynst hym And therewith the Archdeacon brought forth a copy of the Byll of complaint that was put agaynst me at Christmas and about that we talked a litle And then Mayster Archdeacon rose vp and said see ye good people Thomas Austen chargeth M. Bland witâ— an other vntruth that know this matter that ye come in and proue it agaynst him Wherevnto aunswered Thomas Austen I pray you sayde hee let vs be no more troubled with him And theÌ„ spake Iohn Austen and Heath with one eie and began to accuse me but no aunswere they could haue of me but do to me what ye can by lawe and I will aunswere it Then sayde Thomas Austen Bland ye were once abiured Bland Ye say not truely goodman Austen I was neuer abiured Either sayde he ye were abiured or els ye had the kinges pardon Neither of both ye speake this of malice with many other brabling woordes moe Then M. Archdeacon departed and leâ—t maister Collins to coÌ„mauÌ„d me to appeare the nexte day Howbeit for certayne other vrgent businesse that I had I did not appeare but wrote a letter to M. CoÌ„missary desiring him to respite the matter till my comming home agayne and if he would not I would be content to submitte my selfe to the lawe when I came home Now about the xxviij day of Iune I came to mayster Commissary to shewe him of my returne and offered my selfe to satisfy the law if it were proceeded agaynst me before M. Cockes of Sturray and Markes the Apparitor but M. Commissary sayd gently he had done nothyng agaynst me M. Bland appearing at Sessions in Crambroke And so appoynted me to appeare before hym the friday seuennight after Nowe in the meane time was the Sessions holden at Crambroke where I was bounde to appeare and carying suretye with me to hee bounde agayne for I looked for none other did appeare the thyrd day of Iuly Sir Iohn Bakers talke with M. Bland M. Bland brought vp by D. Lupton Prouost of Eaton Colledge Syr Thomas Moyles wordes M. Bland layd in Maydstone Gayle M. Bland caryed to the Assise at Rochester And sir Iohn Baker sayde Bland ye are as we heare say a Scot where were ye borne and brought vp And I sayd I was borne in England And he sayd where And I sayd in Sedber and brought vp by one Doct. Lupton Prouost of Eton Colledge Wel said he I know him wel Remayne in your bond till after noone Then sayd sir Thomas Moyle Ah Bland thou art a stiffe harted felow Thou wilt not obey the lawe nor aunswere when thou art called No will quoth sir Iohn Baker Mayster Shiriffe take him to your warde and the Bayliffe set me in the stockes with other and woulde not heare me speake one word so we remayned in the gayle of Maidston till a fourtnight before Michaelmas or therabout then we were caried to Rochester to Assise holden there where we were among the prisoners two dayes when we were called the Iudges of Assise asked our causes when my cause was rehearsed M. Barrow Clarke of peace sayd that I was an excommunicate person Then M. Roper of Linsted talked with the Iudges but what I am not able to say But the Iudge of Assise sayd Take them to Maidston agayne M. Bland caryed agayne to Maydstone Castle M. Bland appeareth at Sessions in Greenewich and bring them to the Session that shal be holden nexte at the towne of Maldin howbeit the Shiriffe did not sende for vs so that wee taryed at Maydstone till the Sessions holden at Grenewich the xviij and xix of Februarye I and other beyng within the Barre amongst the felons and yrons vpoÌ„ our armes were called out the latter day by the Gaoler Bailiffes and eased of our yrons and caryed by them into the towne to sir Iohn Baker master Petit maister Webbe other two whom I know not ¶ An other examination of Mayster Bland before Syr Iohn Baker BAker Bland wherfore were ye cast into prison Bland I can not well tell Your maystership cast me in Baker Ye but wherfore were ye in before that time Bland For an vniust complaynt put vpon me Baker What was the complaynt Band. I told him as truely and briefly as I could Baker Let me