inflicted on those that denied the Queens Supremacy ann 1559. but the loss of their Goods and such as refused to take the Oath did only lose their Imployments Whereas to refuse the Oath in King Henrys time brought them into a Premunire and to deny the Supremacy was Treason But against this Bill of Queen Elizabeths first Parliament the Bishops made Speeches in the House of Lords the rest of the Bishops opposed it the rather because they had lately declared so high for the Pope that it had been very indecent for them to have revoked so soon pag. 386 387. 2. vol. The Bishop of Chester said in Parliament that the Bill was against both Faith and Charity meaning the Bill for the new Service that Acts of Parliament were no Foundations for a Churches Belief that it was an insolent thing to pretend that all our Fathers lived in Ignorance That the Prophets oftentimes directed the Israelites to enquire of their Fathers Matters of Religion could not be understood by the Laiety Jeroboam made Israel to sin when he set up a new way of Worship Gallie by the Light of Nature knew that a Civil Judge ought not to meddle with matters of Religion In the Service-Book that was then before them there was no Sacrifice for Sin c. and for these reasons says Burnet he could not agree to it But if any thought he spoke this because of his own concern or pitied him for what he might suffer by it he would answer in the words of our Saviour Weep not for me weep for your selves p. 393. After him spake Fecknam Abbot of Westminster he said There had been great Order and Obedience in Queen Marys Reign but now every where great Insolencies were committed by the people with some very indecent Prophanations of the most holy things He recommended to them in St. Austins words the adhering to the Catholique Church the very name Catholique which Heretiques had not the confidence to assume shewed their Authority The Consent of the whole Church in all Ages with the perpetual Succession of Pastors in St. Peters Chair ought to weigh more with them than a few new Preachers who had of late distracted both Gemany and England Burnet pag. 393. 2. vol. Then see his Appendix to 2. vol. p. 408. where setting down these words of Nicholas Sanders That the Laws concerning Queen Elisabeths Supremacy passed the House of Lords with great difficulty all the Bishops opposing them Burnet answers It is true all the Bishops did oppose them c. But to all the Changes that were made in King Edwards time they submitted c. Why then were they turned out by King Edward and Protestants substituted in their places Thus Reader it appears by Burnets own Confession that the Reformation was not the Act and Deed of the old Clergy or Convocation of England or the major part thereof but impos'd on the Nation by the Power and Interest of a few persons And so I leave you to think what you please of Mas William Kings Confidence the Preacher of St. Warbroughs affirming as you have heard that Cranmer in all he did had the unanimous Consent and Vote of the major part of the Convocation the universal Submission of the Clergy c. Answ p. 25. A. But supposing he had the major Vote of his side as he had not could that have justified his Reformation B. Not at all for being all made Priests after that Form Accipe Potestatem offerre Sacrificium Deo missasque celebrare tam pro vivis quam pro defunctis c. they had no more Authority to abrogate the Mass than the present Archbishop of Canterbury with the major Vote of the Protestant Bishops to abolish the Common Prayer By their Protestant Orders they cannot do it A So much for his Priesthood You said he was consecrated Bishop in the year 1533. what were the Words of his Consecration B. You may find them in the Roman Pontifical First he was interrogated Vis Traditiones orthodoxorum Patrum Decretales sanctae Apostolicae sedis constitutiones veneranter suscipere docere ac servare R. Volo Vis beato Petro Apostolo cui à Deo data est Potestas ligandi ac solvendi ejúsque Vicario Domino nostro N. Papae suisque Successoribus Romanis Pontificibus fidem subjectionem obedientiam secundum Canonicam Auctoritatem per omnia exhibere R. Volo Credis sanctam catholicam Apostolicam unam esse veram Ecclesiam in qua unum datur verum Baptisam vera peccatorum omnium Remissio R. Credo That is Will you reverently receive teach and keep the Traditions of the orthodox Fathers the Decrees and Constitutions of the holy and Apostolique See He answered I will. Will you shew Fidelity Subjection and Obedience to St. Peter the Apostle and his Successors the Bishops of Rome in all things according to the Canons He answered I will. Do you believe one holy Catholique and Apostolique Church in which there is true Baptism and true Remission of Sins He answered I believe After which the Bishop consecrating authorizes him in these Words viz. Accipe Evangelium vade praedica populo tibi commisso Receive thou the Gospel go and preach to the people committed to thy charge R. Amen A. Why by this Consecration he had no more Authority to preach the Doctrine of 39 Articles than the present Archbishop of Canterbury to preach the Doctrine of the Council of Trent B. No more You see how he obliged himself to pay Fidelity Subjection and Obedience to the Bishops of Rome in all things according to the Canons then in force And reverently to receive teach and keep the Constitutions of the holy and Apostolique See. And upon these terms he receiv'd his Commission to go and preach the Gospel A. The matter is plain All his Changes were unwarrantable and his Reformation but a Castle in the air without a Foundation if you set aside Acts of Parliament B. And besides all this he swore that Oath to the Pope which you have heard page 28. of this Catechism Then what if all the Bishops had consented with him they had but violated their Engagements and Vows as he did being all sent and ordained after that Form. Reader I pray look into the Form and Manner appointed by the Church of England for consecrating of Bishops and Archbishops and there observe how Protestant Bishops do oblige themselves to preach Gods Word according to the Authority committed unto them by the Ordinance of this Realm and no otherwise that is to say according to the Doctrine of Thirty nine Articles Then enquire a little further what Commission had Cranmer or Matthew Parker to impose or preach the said Articles A. Enough of Cranmer What is Burnets Character of those few Bishops that were of his Party B. Those were Latimer Shaxton Barlow who were rather Cloggs than Helps to Cranmer says Burnet Latimers Simplicity and Weakness made him be despised Shaxtons proud and litigious
Dublin Castle Oct. 28. 1687. Let this Discourse be printed Tho. Sheridan By the Lords Diae Lunae 3. Januarii 1680. ORdered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament Assembled That the Thanks of this House be given to Dr. Burnet for the great Service done by him to this Kingdom and the Protestant Religion in writing the History of the Reformation of the Church of England so truly and exactly And that he be desired to proceed in the perfecting what he further intends therein with all convenient speed Jo. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum By the Commons Jovis 23. Die Decemb. 1680. ORdered That the Thanks of This House be given to Dr. Burnet for the Book Intituled The History of the Reformation of the Church of England Will. Goldesbrough Cleric Dom. Com. Mercurii 5. Die Januarii 1680. ORdered that Dr. Burnet be desired to proceed with and compleat that good Work by him begun in Writing and Publishing The History of the Reformation of the Church of England Will. Goldesbrough Cler. Dom. Com. A REFORMED CATECHISM IN TWO DIALOGUES CONCERNING The ENGLISH REFORMATION COLLECTED For the most part Word for Word out of Dr. Burnet John Fox and other Protestant Historians PUBLISHED For the INFORMATION of the PEOPLE IN REPLY to Mas William Kings ANSWER to D. Manby's Considerations c. The FIRST DIALOGUE By Peter Manby D. of Londonderry Memento dierum antiquorum cogita generationes singulas interroga Patrem tuum annunciabit tibi Majores tuos dicent tibi Deut. 32.7 Printed by Nathaniel Thompson in the Old Spring-Garden 1687. TO THE READER Reader HE that would undertake to shew us a new or better way to Heaven then either we or our Forefathers have been acquainted with ought in all reason to recommend himself as the Apostles did by some other Authority then a bare pretence to Scripture which every body claims as well as he unless we would be tossed too and fro as Saint Paul speaks and carried about with every Wind of Doctrine with the various Lights of all Reformers Cranmer was this new undertaker who had neither Mission from Heaven nor consent of the English Bishops to Authorize his Reformation nor yet any great mind to dye a Martyr for the same as will appear in the ensuing History Now I pray observe these words of Mas William King page 21. of his Answer to Mr. Manby viz. We own what he contends for that both true Doctrine and external and lawful Mission are generally necessary to a regular Preacher of the Gospel and if either of these are wanting the Person is not to be received Here if it can be demonstrated that Cranmer had no Orders either as Priest or Bishop but only to celebrate Mass to preach the Doctrine of the Church of Rome to bind and absolve Sinners there is an end of the Controversie If he had no Mission at all to preach the Doctrine of XXXIX Articles then by Mas William King's own Confession he was not to be received And for this Reader be pleased to read from page 81. of this Catechism to page 91. And where he says page 25 of his Answer that Cranmer in all he did had the unanimous vote and consent of the major part of the Convocation the universal submission of the Clergy and approbation of the People c. And a little after but if the Clergy in a National Council and the people in obedience to them or from their own Inclinations did comply in earnest what an idle question is it for Mr. M. to ask by what Authority Cranmer condemned that Church from whom he received his Mission and Holy Orders when she concurred in all he did and approved nay made all the Alterations in her Liturgy Sacraments and Constitutions that were made Now if it appear that all the English Bishops except a very few during the Reign of Henry VIII were utterly against his pretended Reformation and that almost all the Bishops under Edward VI. were turned out of their Sees for dissenting from it and others substituted in their places what shall we think of Mr. Kings Confidence thus imposing upon his Readers What shall become of his Answer to Mr. M. the whole strength whereof depends upon these words that the major Vote of the Convocation concurred in all he did and approved all the Alterations that were made page 25. Read Burnet relating the concerns of the Church upon King Edward's Succession to the Crown and you shall find all affairs dispatch'd by the Privy Council and two Houses of Parliament the Bishops generally dissenting The Convocation says Heylin ad annum 1547. the first year of King Edward was not impowr'd to act in any publick business for ought appearing on Record Hist Reform p. 50. Third Edition And further Note what he says ad annum 1551. the fifth year of King Edward but notwithstanding the remove of so many Bishops there still remained one rub in the way which did much retard the Progress of the Reformation the Princess Mary having been bred up in the Romish Religion could not be won by any Perswasions to change her Mind c. page 102. Burnet says several of the Bishops under King Edward submitted to the Reformation against their Consciences Which only amounts to what I affirm in this Catechism that the Reformation was not the Act and Deed of the old Clergy but impos'd on the Nation by the Power and Interest of a few persons for their own advantage Let us imagine if the late Duke of Monmouth had prospered and then summoned an Assembly of the English Bishops to reform the Church as he and his Party had designed and they generally dissenting should carry all things by strong hand whether such a Reformation passing with the consent of a few Bishops and a few other Clergymen could be reputed the Act aod Deed of the Church of England But if you would see an Instance of Mr. Kings modest way of writing against the Pope and Church of Rome read pag. 35. of his Answer where he tells you of the Popes wicked Management of the Goods of the Church and giving the Patrimony of the Church to Lay-men to useless and idle Monks and Fryars c. And for an Instance of his Loyalty see page 37. where he excuses Cranmer for subscribing to a Letter for Excluding his lawful Sovereign the Princess Mary from Succession to the Crown It was a point of Law saith he in which Cranmer was not singular Mr. M. takes the liberty to question Queen Elizabeths Title and sure it was no greater fault in Cranmer to question Queen Marys after the Opinion of the Judges given against her mark that There is a great difference between Rebellion against the King of undoubted Title and being engaged on a side where the Title is really doubtful c. that is to say Cranmer was engaged on the side of Lady Jane Grey Queen Marys Title being really doubtful And why was it doubtful Mr. King gives you the
acknowledge that there was a signal Providence of God in raising up a King of his Temper for clearing the way to that blessed Work that followed and that could hardly have been done but by a man of his Humour So that I may very fit'y apply to him the witty simile of a Writer who compares Luther to a Postilion in his waxed Boots and oiled Coat lashing his Horses through thick and thin and bespattering all about him This Character befits King Henry better saving the Reverence due to his Crown who as the Postilion of Reformation made way for it through a great deal of mire and filth Pref. pag. 6. A. What more B. Whatever Reproaches those of the Church of Rome cast on the Reformation upon the account of this Kings Faults may may be easily turned back on their own Popes Pref. pag. 8. Gregory 7. Boniface 8. Julius 2. Leo 10. Clement 7. Paul 3. and if the Lives of those Popes who have made the greatest advances in their Jurisdiction be examined particularly Gregory 7. Boniface 8. Vices more eminent than any can be charged on Henry 8. will be found in them ibid. p. 8. A. So that all he has to answer for Henry 8. amounts to this that others were as bad as he this is a sort of Apology which we call Recrimination Does that excuse any mans Crimes B. No the blemishing them viz. the Popes will not I confess excuse our Reformers therefore other things are to be considered for their Vindication saith the Doctor pag. 10. Pref. to his first vol. A. What are those other things B. Why may not saith he an ill King do so good a work as to set a Reformation forward Gods ways are a great deep who has often shewed his Power and Wisdom in raising up unpromising instruments to do great Services in the world not always employing the best men in them Jehu did an acceptable Service to God in destroying the Idolatry of Baal though neither the way of doing it is to be imitated being grossly insincere nor was the Reformation compleat since the Worship of the two Calves was still kept up And it is very like his chief design in it was to destroy all the party that favoured Ahabs Family yet the thing was good and was rewarded by God. So whatever this Kings other Faults were and how defective soever the Change he made was and upon what ill motives soever it may seem to have proceeded yet the things themselves being good we ought not to think the worse of them because of the Instrument or manner by which they were wrought Pref. pag. 9. Thus the Doctor thinks he has sufficiently justified the English Reformation against the Objections that may arise from the Impieties or Vices of Henry 8. NOTE Let the Reader observe here how the Doctor takes that for granted which is the matter in question namely that the English Reformation was a good work and that God raised up Henry 8. to set it forward Nay the Doctor knows it is utterly deny'd by the most considerable part of Christendom both Greeks and Latins that God raised him up otherwise than he is said to have hardned Pharaoh's heart when he only gave him up to the Lusts and Cruelties of his own Heart If the Doctors meaning be that Henry 8. was raised up by an impulse or inspiration of Gods Spirit to reform the Church let him make that appear by some other Evidence than this further Character and we will believe him A. What is that further Character B. It will surprise some saith the Doctor concerning his first Volumn to see a Book of this bigness written of the History of our Reformation under the Reign of Henry VIII since the true beginnings of it viz. Reformation are to be reckoned from the Reign of Edward 6. mark the Antiquity of the Protestant Church in which the Articles of our Church and the Forms of our Worship were first compiled and set forth by Authority by what Authority shall appear anon and indeed in King Henrys time the Reformation was rather conceived than brought forth and two Parties were in the last eighteen years of his Reign struggling in the Womb having now and then advantages on either side as the inconstant humour of that King changed and as his Interests and often as his Passions swayed him For being boisterous and impatient naturally which was much heightned by his most extravagant Vanity and high Conceit of his own Learning strange Evidence of a Divine Mission he was one of the most uncounsellable Persons in the World. Pref. pag 5 and 6. A. What was King Henry's Religion to his dying day B. Indeed in the whole Progress of those Changes saith our Historian the King's design seemed to have been to terrifie the Court of Rome and cudgel the Pope into a complyance with what he desired For in his Heart he continued addicted to some of the most extravagant opinions of that Church such as Transubstantiation and the other Corruptions of the Mass so that he was to his Lives end more Papist than Protestant page 7. Preface to 1 Vol. NOTE Reader King Henry went to Mass to his dying day So did all these three Kingdoms to the first or second year of Edward VI. Here is yet no Evidence of God's having raised him up by any Impulse or Inspiration of his Holy Spirit to Reform the Church if that were the Doctors meaning only that God permitted him as he does other Sinners to Act those things for which they shall one day pay dearly That some Popes have been no Saints I shall not dispute it with the Doctor But let him shew if he can that any of the first Reformers Henry VIII Ann Bolen Cranmer Cromwell Somerset Northumberland Ridly c. were sent or raised up by God to reform the Faith or Manners of the Church and there is an end of the Controversie The Doctor instances in David Solomon Jchu who all had their failings but how does that recommend or excuse our Reformers who without any Comission or Inspiration from God presumed to reform that is to say subvert the Church wherein they were Baptized and set up another after their own Fancies who said let us take to our selves the Houses of God in Possession Psal 83.12 Never any Pope had the Wickedness to do such things And therefore to affirm that God raised up such Persons to Plunder the Church under pretence of Reforming it what is it better or worse then to make God the Author of their Sacriledge and Hypocrisy A. But what say you to the Doctors words Pref. page 7. that every National Church is a compleat Body within it self so that the Church of England with the Authority and Concurrence of their Head and King may examine and reform all Errors whether in Doctrine or Worship c. If this be true what needs any special Commission or Inspiration from God to Reform the Church Why may not every National Church do
and she had such different Interests that they could not both subsist together resolved upon that course which Nature and Self-preservation seemed to dictate to her but finding that the Pope was too well intrenched to be dislodged upon the sudden it was advised by Cromwell made Master of the Rolls upon her Commendation to begin with taking in the Outworks first meaning the lesser Monasteries to the number of about 376. which being gained it would be no hard matter to beat him out of his Trenches p. 262. Those Houses were dissolved by Act of Parliament anno 1535. to the passing whereof the Bishops and Mitred Abbots which made the prevalent part of the House of Peers contributed their Votes and Suffrages as others did whether it were out of Pusillanimity as not daring to appear in behalf of their Brethren or out of a weak hope that the Rapacity of the Queen mark this and her Ministers would proceed no further it is hard to say Heylin page 263. Certain it is says he that by their improvident assenting to the present Grant they made a Rod for their own Backs as the saying is with which they were sufficiently scourged within sew years after though the new Queen observe for whose sake Cromwell had contrived the Plot did not live to see it Ibid. page 263. NOTE She makes Cromwell Master of the Rolls and he to serve her Interest advises the King to suppress the Religious Houses Heylin remarks further When she thought her self most safe and free from Danger she became most obnoxious to the Ruin prepared for her It had pleased God on the eighth of January 1535. to put an end unto the Calamities of the Vertuous but unfortunate Queen Katherine into whose Bed she had succeeded The News whereof she entertained with such Contentment that she caused her self to be Apparrell'd in lighter colours than was agreeable to the season or the sad occasion Whereas if she had rightly understood her own Condition she could not but have known that the long Life of Katherine was to be her best preservative against all Changes page 263. A. I pray let us hear Doctor Burnet's Character of Queen Katherine B. She was a devout and pious Princess and led a severe and mortify'd Life In her Greatness she wrought much with her own Hands and kept her Women well employed about her as appeared when the two Legates came once to speak with her She came out to them with a Skein of Silk about her Neck and told them she had been within at work with her Women She was most passionately devoted to the Interests of the Court of Rome and in a word she is Represented as a most wonderful good Woman But Queen Ann did not carry her Death so decently for she expressed too much Joy at it both in her Carriage and Dress Burnet page 192. 1 Vol. When Queen Katherine found her Sickness like to prove Mortal she made one about her write a Letter in her name to the King. In the Title she called him her Dear Lord King and Husband She advised him to look to the Health of his Soul She forgave him all the Troubles he had cast her into and concluded I make this Vow that mine Eyes desire you above all things Ibid. page 192. A. Does he relate nothing further of Queen Katherine B. When her Cause was to be heard before the Legates Anno 1529. the King and she came personally into the Court. When the King and Queen were called on the King answered Here. But the Queen left her Seat and went and kneeled down before him and made a Speech She said ' She was a poor Woman and a Stranger in his Dominions where she could neither expect good Council nor indifferent Judges She had been long his Wife and desired to know wherein she had offended him That she had been his Wife twenty years and more and had born him several Children and had ever studied to please him and protested he had found her a true Maid about which she appealed to his Conscience She said her Lawyers who were his Subjects and assigned by him durst not speak freely for her So she desired to be excused till she heard from Spain ' Then she rose up and made the King a low Reverence and went out of the Court and although they called after her she made no Answer but went away and would never again appear in Court. She being gone the King did publickly declare what a true and obedient Wife she had always been and commended her much for her excellent qualities Burnet page 73. 1 Vol. A. Do you find that Ann Bolen ever repented her Carriage in reference to this good and vertuous Princess B. Not a Syllable of that have I met with in Burnet or Heylin After Queen Ann's Death a Parliament was called to Repeal an Act of a former Parliament concerning the Succession of the Grown to the Issue of the King by her In this Parliament saith the Doctor the Attainder of Queen Ann and her Complices is confirmed In the new Act of Succession she is said to have been inflamed with Pride and Carnal desires of her Body and having confederated her self with her complices to have committed divers Treasons to the danger of the King 's Royal Person for which she had justly suffered Death and is now attainted by Act of Parliament Burnet page 210. 1 Vol. A. I pray of what Church did she dye B. The Doctor says nothing of that the Church of England was not then in being Mass being said at that time in all Churches of the Nation and above ten years after The Church of Romes Authority was then excluded by Act of Parliament and that by her interest So that of what Church she dyed I cannot resolve you unless it were King Henry's Church and that was no Protestant Church the Doctrine of the six Articles being then in request However she dyed 2 Saint if you believe her own words And some think 't is no matter of what Church they Live or Dye provided they be no Papists But King Henry's Church was then scarcely three years old A. Enough of your first Reformer Ann Bolen for whose sake King Henry fell out with the Pope and made a Rupture in the Catholick Church She was not the first nor will be the last Female Incendiary of Mischief and Quarrels in the World. Who was the next Reformer under Henry VIII B. Thomas Cromwell A. What Tokens of an extraordinary Mission does Burnet observe in him B. He was a Man of mean Birth but noble Qualities only he made too much haste to be Great and Rich. He joyned himself in a firm Friendship to Cranmer and did promote the Reformation very vigorously Burnet 1 Vol page 172. The Suppression of the Abbies was wholly laid at his door page 276. He was attainted by Act of Parliament Anno â—540 Wherein it is said expressly that the King having raised Thomas Cromwell from a base degree to
ibid. pag. 400. A. I pray if you have read Foxes Book of Martyrs what is his Character there B. In Causes pertaining to God or his Prince no man more stout or more constant than he 3. vol. p. 633. A. Then let us hear the words of his Recantation set down by Fox which he signed thrice says Burnet B. I Thomas Cranmer late Archbishop of Canterbury do renounce abhor and detest all manner of Heresies and Errors of Luther and Zuinglius and all other Teachings which be contrary to sound and true Doctrine And I believe most constantly in my heart and with my mouth I confess one holy and Catholique Church visible withotu the which there is no Salvation And therefore I acknowledge the Bishop of Rome to be Supream Head on Earth whom I knowledge to be the highest Bishop and Pope and Christs Vicar unto whom all Christian people ought to be Subject And as concerning the Sacraments I believe and worship in the Sacrament of the Altar the very Body and Blood of Christ being contained most truly under the forms of Bread and Wine the Bread through the mighty Power of God being turned into the Body of our Saviour Jesus Christ and the Wine into his Blood. And in the other six Sacraments also like as in this I believe and hold as the Universal Church holdeth and the Church of Rome judgeth and determineth Furthermore I believe that there is a place of Purgatory where Souls departed be punished for a time for whom the Church doth godly and wholsomly pray like as it doth honour Saints and make prayers to them Finally in all things I profess that I do not otherwise believe than the Catholique Church and the Church of Rome holdeth and teacheth I am sorry that ever I held or thought otherwise And I beseech Almighty God that of his Mercy he will vouchsafe to forgive me whatsoever I have offended against God or his Church And also I desire and beseech all Christian people to pray for me And all such as have been deceived either by mine Example or Doctrine I require them by the Blood of Jesus Christ that they will return to the Unity of the Church and the Supream Head thereof So I submit my self unto the most excellent Majesties of Philip and Mary King and Queen of this Realm of England c. and to all other their Laws and Ordinances being ready always as a faithful Subject to obey them And God is my Witness that I have not done this for favour or fear of any Person but willingly and of mine own mind as well to the Discharge of mine own Conscience as to the Instruction of others A. Did he not afterwards retract these words B. Yes when he saw no hopes of his Pardon and being brought to the Stake he made a very good Exhortation to the people saying as Fox relates it It is an heavy case to see that so many Folk so much dote upon the Love of this false World and so careful for it it seems a Spanish Fryar had given him good hopes of his Life but without any Authority from the Queen as Fox confesses that for the Love of God or the World to come they seem to care very little or nothing therefore this shall be my first Exhortation that you set not your minds overmuch upon this glozing world but upon the world to come I wish he had seriously thought upon this when he so obsequiously followed all the Appetites of Henry 8. by divorcing him first from his most vertuous and innocent Wife Q Katherine then from Ann Bolen then from Ann of Cleves and to learn to know what this Lesson meaneth which Saint John teacheth that the Love of this world is enmity against God c. And now for as much as I am come to the last end of my life I shall therefore declare unto you my very Faith how I believe without any colour or dissimulation for now is no time to dissemble whatsoever I have said or written in times past mark that and now I come to the great thing that so much troubleth my Conscience more than any thing that ever I did or said in my life and that is the setting abroad of a Writing he means his Recantation contrary to the Truth which now here I renounce and refuse as things written with my hand contrary to the Truth which I thought in my heart c. And as for the Pope I refuse him as Antichrist c. Fox 3. vol. p. 669 670. A. What further instances have you met with in Fox of his Constancy to his Religion B. He did adventurously oppose himself against the whole Parliament disputing and replying three days together against the Statute of Six Articles pag. 641. that was in the year 1539. A. What was the true Reason of so much Courage at that time in a man of such Prudence that before and after still went along with the Stream B. Dr. Burnet will inform you The third Article of that Statute was this That Priests after the Order of Priesthood might not marry by the Law of God. And if any Priest did still keep any Woman whom he had married and lived familiarly with her as his Wife he was to be judged a Felon c. This says Burnet touched Cranmer to the quick for he was then married p. 257 259. 1. vol. A. Does Fox say nothing of Cranmers Marriage B. He tells you page 647. that the King extended such especial Favour unto him that being not ignorant of his Wife Neece to Osiander whom he had married at Norimberg and of his keeping her all the time of the Six Articles contrary to Law he both permitted the same and kept Cranmers Counsel A. What other particulars have you observed in Fox B. The Lord Cromwell was wont to say unto Cranmer My Lord of Canterbury you are most happy of all men for you may do and speak what you list and say what all men can against you the King will never believe one word to your detriment I am sure I take more pains than all the Council besides and spend more largely on the Kings Affairs as well beyond the Seas as on this side yea I assure you for very Spyes in foreign Realms at Rome and elsewhere it costs me above a Thousand Marks a year and do what I can to bring matters to light for the commodity of the King and the Realm I am every day chidden and many false Tales now and then believed against me and therefore you are most happy for in no point can you be discredited with the King. The Archbishop answered If the Kings Majesty were not good to me I were not able to stand one whole week p. 643. 3. vol. Fox tells you further how certain of the Council declared plainly to the King about that time that the Realm was so infected with Heresies Heretiques that it was dangerous for His Highness further to permit it lest peradventure by long
cometh hurt to all men for it wearieth the stedfast troubleth the doubtful and ensnareth the weak and simple yet because he saith he is not bound to answer your Lordship sitting for the Popes Holyness because of a Premunire and the Word of God as he pretends I think good somewhat to say that all men may see how he runneth out of his race of Reason into the rage of common Talk. And as the King and Queens Majesty will be glad to hear of your most charitable dealing with him so will they be weary to hear the blundering of this stubborn Heretick And where he alledgeth Divinity minling fas nefásque together he should not have been heard For shall it be sufficient for him to alledge the Judge is not competent and shall we dispute contra cum qui negat principia Although there be here a great company of learned men that know it unmeet so to do yet have I here a plain Canon whereby he is convicted ipso facto The Canon is this Sit ergo ruinae suae dolore prostratus quisquis Apostolicis voluerit contraire Decretis nec locum deinceps habeat inter Sacerdotes sed exors à sancto fiat Ministerio c. He hath alledged many matters against the Popes Supremacy but maliciously Ye say that the King in his Realm is Supream Head of the Church Well Sir you will grant me that there was a perfect Catholique Church before any King was Christened Then if it were a perfect Church it must needs have a Head which must needs be before any King was member thereof For you know Constantinus the Emperor was the first Christian King that ever was and although you are bound as St. Paul saith to obey your Rulers and Kings have Rule over the People yet doth it not follow that they have Cure of Souls For à fortiori the Head may do what the Minister cannot do but the Priest may consecrate and the King cannot therefore the King is not Head of the Church And where the Apostles do call upon men to obey their Princes cui Tributum Tributum cui Vectigal Vectigal the Exhortation extendeth only to Temporal matters they perceiving that men were bent to Liberty and Disobedience were enforced to exhort them to Obedience and Payment of their Tribute And again where you say that the Bishop of Rome maketh Laws contrary to the Laws of the Realm that is not true for this is a maxim in the Law Quod in particulari excipitur non facit universale falsum And as touching that monstrous talk of your Conscience that is no Conscience that ye profess it is but privata Scientia and Secta As yet you have not proved for all your glorious Babble that by Gods Laws ye ought not to answer the Popes Holiness The Canons which be received in all Christendom compel you to answer And although this Realm of late time through such Schismatiques as you were hath exiled and banished the Canons yet that cannot make for you for you know your self that pars in totum nihil statuere potest Wherefore this Island being indeed but a member of the whole Church could not determine against the whole And the same Laws that were put away by Parliament are now received again by a Parliament having as full Authority now as they had then And these Laws will now that ye answer to the Popes Holiness Therefore by the Laws of this Realm ye are bound to answer him This was materially replied to Cranmers words that he would never consent that the Bishop of Rome should have any Jurisdiction in England Wherefore my good Lord all that this Thomas Cranmer I cannot otherwise term him confidering his Disobedience hath brought for his Defence shall nothing prevail with you Require him therefore to answer directly to your good Lordship command him to set aside his Trifles and to be obedient to the Laws and Ordinances of this Realm take witness here of his stubborn Contempt against the King and Queens Majesties and compel him to answer directly to such Articles as we shall here exhibit against him and in refusal your good Lordship is to excommunicate him Thus Dr. Story Fox page 654 655. NOTE Here his Fidelity to the Laws so long as they serve his turn the King Queen Parliament and Laws were then Popish He was for the Laws made by himself and the Duke of Somerset under the Childhood of Edward 6. A. Did he answer nothing further to the Charge of Heresie B. Nothing but this He pulled an Appeal out of his left Sleeve says Fox which he dellvered to the Court saying I appeal to the next General Council And further I intend to speak nothing against one holy Catholique and Apostolical Church or the Authority thereof the which Authority I have in great Reverence and whom my mind is in all things to obey pag. 663. 3 vol. The very words of his Appeal A. What did he mean by one holy Catholique Church B. His Definition of it you may find in the Thirty nine Articles of the Church of England which Articles were framed as Burnet thinks by him and Ridley and first published anno 1551. p. 166. 2. vol. The visible Church of Christ saith the 19th Article is a Congregation of faithful men in the which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacraments duly ministred aceording to Christs Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same Now in the year 1556. when Cranmer presented this Appeal there could not be in his opinion any such National or Catholique Church visible on the face of the Earth A. I pray make that appear B. By an Induction of all the Churches in the world that then professed themselves Christians as the Roman the Eastern the Church of England the Lutherans Calvinists Anabaptists c. the Roman in his opinion was but the Synagogue of Antichrist The Greek Church consented with the Roman in most of the Doctrines controverted betwixt Papists and Protestants as the Sacrifice of the Mass Adoration of the Eucharist Veneration of Images Invocation of Saints Prayer for the Dead c. and do consent at this day The Church of England was then newly reconciled to Rome and Catholique Bishops restor'd to their own Sees by Act of Parliament The Lutherans did then and at this day adore a corporal presence in the Sacrament and therefore cannot be said in his opinion to have the pure Word of God preached and the Sacraments duely administred according to Christs Ordinance The Calvinists had no Orders of Priests and Bishops consequently no Church at all A. How no Church at all for want of Priests and Bishops let that appear I pray you B. Read the Church of Englands Preface to the Form appointed by her for making and consecrating of Bishops Priests and Deacons and there observe these words viz. It is evident unto all men diligently reading holy Scripture and ancient Authors that from the Apostles time
as blind Guides of the blind fell both into the pit of damnable Idolatry In the which all the World as it were drowned continued until our Age by the space of above eight hundred years unspoken against in a manner c. A. But don't you wrong the Church of England in Attributing this Doctrine to her that Christ had no Church upon Earth for the space of eight hundred years and more before the Reformation Since a Church may be drowned in damnable Idolatry and yet as Protestants say be a true Church of Christ at the same time Does not Mr. King the Preacher of St. Warbroughs Dublin a young man of that profound Learning that he can see as far into a Milstone as another make it out evidently against D. Manby as the common sense of Protestant Controvertists that the Idolatry charged on the Church of Rome is consistent with the Being of a Church There is a sort of Idolatry which men incur by giving some part of that honour to a Creature saith he which God has reserved for himself or asking those things of Creatures which God only can give and 't is with this the Church of Rome stands charged Answer page 58. B. Remember the Church of England's Description of Christ's Church Article 19 The Visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of Faithful Men in which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacraments duly ministred according to Christ's Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same and tell me ingeniously whether you think Mr. King's Charge of Idolatry is consistent with such a Visible Church of Christ And where that Visible Church of Christ dwelt upon the face of the Earth before the Reformation A. Well so much for his defence against the Charge of Heresie and appealing to a General Council Go on to the other particulars of Perjury and Incontinency B. As to his Perjury observe the discourse between him and Doctor Martyn Fox page 655. 3 Vol. Martyn But Sir You that pretend to have such a Conscience to break an Oath I pray did you never swear and break the same Cranmer I remember not Martyn I will help your memory did you never swear Obedience to the See of Rome Cranmer Indeed I did once swear unto the same Martyn Yea that ye did twice as appeareth by Records and Writings here ready to be shewn Cranmer But I remember I saved all by Protestation that I made by the counsel of the best learned men I could get at that time Martyn Hearken good people what this man saith he made a Protestation one day to keep never a whit of that which he intended to swear next day Was this the part of a Christian If a Christian man should bargain with a Turk and before he maketh his Bargain should protest solemnly before one or two that he minds not to perform whatsoever he shall promise to the Turk I say if a Christian man should serve a Turk in this manner that the Christian were worse than the Turk What would you say then to this man that made a solemn Oath and Promise unto God and his Church and made a Protestation before quite contrary Cranm. That which I did I did by the best learned mens advice I could get at that time Martyn I protest before all the learned men here that there is no Learning will save your Perjury herein Will you have the truth of the matter King Henry 8. even then meant the lamentable Change which after came to pass And to further his pitiful proceeding from the Divorce of his most lawful Wife to a detestable departure from the blessed Unity of Christs Church this man made the aforesaid Protestation And on the other side he letted not to take two solemn Oaths quite contrary and why for otherwise by the Laws and Canons of this Realm he could not aspire to the Archbishoprick of Canterbury Cranm. I protest before you all never man came more unwillingly to a Bishoprick than I did to that in so much that when King Henry did send for me in Post that I should come over I prolonged my Journey by seven weeks at the least thinking that he would forget me in the mean time Martyn You declare well by the way that the King took you to be a man of good Conscience who could not find within all his Realm any man to set forth his strange attempts but was inforced to send for you in Post out of Germany What may we conjecture hereby but that there was a Contract between you being then Queen Anns Chaplain and the King Give me the Archbishoprick of Canterbury and I will give you License to live in Adultery Cranm. You say not true Martyn Let your Protestation joined with the rest of your Talk give Judgment Hinc prima mali labes Of that your execrable Perjury and his coloured and too shamefully suffered Adultery came Heresie and all Mischief into this Realm And thus have I spoken as touching the Conscience you pretend for breaking your Heretical Oath made to the King. But of breaking your former Oath made at two sundry times both to God and his Church you have no Conscience at all And now to answer the other part of your Oration wherein you bring in Gods Word that you have it on your side and no man else and that the Pope hath devised a new Scripture contrary to the Scriptures of God. Ye play herein as the Pharesees did who cried always Verbum Domini Verbum Domini the Word of the Lord the Word of the Lord when they meant nothing so This betters not your Cause for Basilides and Photinus the Heretiques said they had Gods Word to maintain their Heresie so Nestorius so Macedonius so Pelagius and briefly all the Heretiques that ever were pretended Gods Word for themselves Yea and the Devil the Father of Heresies alledged Gods Word for himself saying scriptum est it is written so said he to Christ mitte te deorsum cast thy self downward which you applied most falsely against the Pope And if you mark well the Devils language it agreed with your proceedings most truly For mitte te deorsum cast thy self downward said he and so taught you to cast all things downward down with the Sacrament down with the Mass down with the Altars down with the Arms of Christ and up with a Lyon and a Dog down with the Abbies Hospitals Chauntries and Colledges down with Fasting and Prayer yea down with all that good and godly is all your proceedings and preachings tended to no other end but to fulfill the Devils request mitte te deorsum and therefore tell us not that you have Gods Word for God hath given us by his Word a mark to know that your Teaching proceeded not of God but of the Devil and that your Doctrine came not of Christ but of Antichrist For Christ foretold there should arise against his Church Lupi rapaces ravening Wolves and
Pseudo-Apostoli false Apostles But how shall we know them Christ teaches us saying ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos by their fruits ye shall know them Why what be their fruits St. Paul declareth Post carnem in concupiscentia immunditie ambulant Potestates contemnunt c. they walk after the flesh in concupiscence and uncleanness they contemn Dominions Again in diebus novissimis erunt periculosa tempora erunt seipsos amantes cupidi elati immorigeri Parentibus Proditores c. in the later days there shall be perilous times men lovers of themselves covetous proud disobedient to Parents Treason-workers c. Whether these be not the Fruits of your Gospel I refer me unto this worshipful Audience whether the said Gospel began not with Perjury proceeded with Adultery was maintained with Heresie and ended in Conspiracy Now Sir two points more I marked in your raging discourse that you made here the one against the holy Sacrament the other against the Popes Jurisdiction and Authority of the See Apostolique Touching the first you say you have Gods Word yea and all the Doctors I would here ask but one Question of you whether Gods Word be contrary to it self and whether the Doctors teach Doctrine contrary to themselves for you Master Cranmer have taught concerning this high Sacrament of the Altar three contrary Doctrines and for every one ye pretended Verbum Domini Cranmer Nay I taught but two contrary Doctrines in the same Martyn What Doctrine taught you when you condemned Lambert the Sacramentary in the Kings presence at Whitehall Cranm. I maintained then the Papists Doctrine Martyn That is to say the Catholique and Universal Doctrine of Christs Church And how when K. Henry died did you not translate Justus Jonas's Book Cranm. I did so Martyn There you defended another Doctrine touching the Sacrament by the same token that you sent to Lynne your Printer that whereas in the first Print there was an Affirmative that is to say Christs Body really in the Sacrament you sent then to your Printer to put in a not wherby it came miraculously to pass that Christs Body was clean conveyed out of the Sacrament Cranm. I remember there were two Printers of my said Book but whether the same not was put in I cannot tell Martyn Then from a Lutheran ye became a Zwinglian which is the vilest Heresie of all concerning the high Mystery of the Sacrament and for the same Heresie you did help to burn Lambert the Sacramentary which you now call the Catholique Faith and Gods Word Cranm. I grant that then I believed otherwise than I do now and so I did until my Lord of London Dr. Ridley did confer with me and by sundry Persuasions and Authorities of Doctors drew me quite from my Opinion Martyn Now Sir as touching the last part of your Oration you denied the Popes Holiness was Supream Head of the Church of Christ Cranm. I did so Mart. Who say you then is Supream Head Cranm. Christ Mart. But whom hath Christ left here on Earth his Vicar and Head of his Church Cranm. No body Mart. Ah why told you not King Henry this when you made him Supream Head and now no body is This is Treason against his own Person as you then made him Cranm. I mean not but that every King in his own Realm and Dominion is Supream Head and so was he Supream Head of the Church of Christ Reader Observe here how he makes the Catholique Church an Hydra of many Heads instead of that one holy Society which he pretended to believe in the two Creeds Martyn Is this always true and was it ever so in Christ's Church Cranm. It was so Martyn Then what say you to Nero was he Head of Christs Church Cranm. Nero was Peters Head. Martyn I ask whether Nero was Head of the Church or no If he were not it is false that you said before that all Princes be and ever were Heads of the Church within their Realms Cranm. Nay it is true for Nero was Head of the Church that is in respect of the temporal Bodies of Men of whom the Church consisteth for so he beheaded Peter and the Apostles And the Turk too is Head of the Church in Turky Martyn Then he that beheaded the Heads of the Church and crucified the Apostles was Head of Christs Church and he that was never Member of the Church is Head of the Church by your new-found understanding of Gods Word Fox pag. 655 656 3. vol. NOTE If the Turk be Head of the Church under Christ he must be so in all Spiritual things or causes as well as temporal according to the Oath of Supremacy contrived by Cromwell and Cranmer and at this day sworn by Protestants A. What is Foxes opinion of this Dialogue B. It is not to be supposed otherwise but much other matter passed in this Communication between them especially on the Archbishops behalf whose Answers I do not think to be so slender nor altogether in the same form of words framed if the truth as it was might be known But so it pleased the Notary thereof being too partially addicted to his Mother See of Rome in favour of his Faction to diminish and drive down the other side either in not shewing all or in reporting the thing otherwise than it was as the common Guise is of most Writers and of Fox himself to what side their Affection most weigheth their Oration commonly inclineth Fox p. 657. 3. vol. A. It seems then Fox likes not these Answers given by Cranmer and therefore suspects the Pen-man or Notary of partiality in reporting the same B. But I believe it a true Report for two reasons first the cause would admit of no satisfactory answers 2. Let the Reader see the Contents of Cranmers Appeal set down by Fox and there observe these words viz. And when I refused the Bp. of Glocester to be my Judge for most just causes which I then declared he nevertheless went on still and made Process against me contrary to the Rules of Appealing which say A Judge that is refused ought not to proceed in the cause c. And with this my Protestation made and admitted I made answer but mine Answer was sudden and unprovided note this and therefore I desired to have a Copy of mine Answers that I might put to take away change and amend them and this was also permitted me nevertheless contrary to his promise made unto me no respect had to my Protestation nor license given to amend mine Answer the said reverend Father Bishop of Glocester as I hear commanded mine Answers to be enacted contrary to the equity of the Law in which thing again I feel my self much grieved Fox p 664. NOTE Here he excuses the weakness of his own Answers by saying they were sudden and unprovided But let the Reader imagine what better Answers in brief could be returned to the Questions of Dr. Martin Cranmer having sworn that the King was Supream
Humour drew hatred on him Barlow was not very discreet Burnet pag. 255. 1. vol. And then it follows Many of the Preachers whom they cherished meaning the new Preachers whether out of an unbridled forwardness of Temper or true Zeal that would not be managed and governed by politick and prudent measures note this were flying at many things not yet abolished See the rest Burnet ibid. This was in the year 1538. A. Give me leave to ask you one Question B. What 's that A. What is your meaning by all this History of Cranmer and his Associates B. Nothing but to shew the unwarrantableness of all the Changes they made in Religion having neither extraordinary nor ordinary Mission to recommend them nor yet the major Vote of the Convocation Ordinary Mission they had none but what you have heard out of the Roman Pontifical Extraordinary things they never pretended to besides what I have told you out of Burnet and Fox Now Reader remember that wonderful Answer of Mas William Kings page 18. viz. Although therefore the first Reformers had their Orders from Bishops in Communion with the Church of Rome Yet it was as Christian Bishops they ordained and as English Bishops that they admitted the first Reformers to their Charges But suppose they the first Reformers had no other Orders but what they received from the Bishop of Rome himself all that can be concluded from thence is that we are obliged to own that the Orders of Priest and Bishop given by Roman Catholicks are valid and capacitate a Man to perform all the Duties belonging to those Offices in a Christian Church which we readily acknowledge observe that and charge the Popish Priests and Bishops not with want of Orders but with abusing the Orders they have to ill intents and purposes by whose Authority do you pass this Censure The Roman Catholick Bishops do not confer Orders as Roman but as Christian Bishops their Orders are Christian Orders Mark Reader what he says Roman Catholick Bishops are Christian Bishops and their Orders Christian Orders why then did the first Reformers so notoriously transgress them And those we hold sufficient to all intents and purposes of the Reformation and must do so till Mr. Manby or some body else prove them insufficient In short a Man is ordained neither a Protestant nor a Papist but a Christian Bishop his Mission is a Christian Mission page 19. Now Roman Catholicks will be apt to ask what needs any more to recommend their Doctrine then Christian Bishops and a Christian Mission Mr. King allows their Mission and denyes their Doctrine They deny both his Mission and his Doctrine When Doctrines are disputed and Scriptures alledged by both Parties how shall a Church prove the verity of her Doctrine but by the certainty of her Mission Did not our blessed Saviour answer that question of the Jews by what Authority doest thou these thing by appealing to the Evidence of his Mission The works that I do testifie of me that I am sent from God A. But Mr. King's meaning is this that Roman Catholicks have exceeded their Commission by teaching false Doctrine B. But I would fain know of him who shall be Judge of that he knows very well that 's as easily deny'd as 't is affirm'd And I appeal to the indifferent Reader which of the two Parties have been the greatest Transgressors of those Orders now mentioned A. But don't you observe one admirable passage in him B. What is that A. Why that Mr. M. proceeds on an ignorant supposition that every Man is ordained to preach the Tenets of his Ordainers Whereas the ordained are no more accountable to their Ordainers upon the account of being ordained by them then a Man is accountable to a Lord Chancellor for the use of his power because he set the Seal to his Patent by which he claims his power page 19. B. Very good then if Mr. King were ordained by the Protestant Archbishop of Dublin or of Tuam he is not accountable to them for his Doctrine because the Ordainers are only instruments but his Power is from Christ A. Mark what he says he is not accountable to his Ordainers upon the account of being ordained by them page 19. What can be the meaning of this but that Ministers are not bound to preach the Tenets or Doctrines of those that sent them although Our Saviour himself says my Doctrine is not mine but his that fent me John 7.16 B. I observe he may prove a shew'd Man if he lives and set up for a new Reformer and then justifie it by saying It s an ignorant supposition to think every man is ordained to preach the Tenets of his Ordainers or else must have no Mission The Ordainers being only instruments but the Power from Christ page 19. Reader May not a Man receive Orders from the Church of England and afterwards make a step to New England and there preach against Common Prayer by vertue of this assertion A. But what say you to that scurrility and uncleanliness of Language wherewith he treats Mr. M. from one end of his Answer to the other B. You must Pardon him he had many Reasons for that first to shew a good example to his Flock 2. To prove himself a Gentleman and a well bred Scholar 3. To entertain his Friends with whom that sort of Language may be more taking perhaps then the most modest Expressions 4. To shew his Zeal for the Church and how much better a Dutiful Child may love a good Foster Mother the Church of Ireland then his own natural Mother the Church of Scotland c. A. Let us adjourn this Discourse till to Morrow And Conclude this first Dialogue with Burnet's Character of those two worthy Persons that dyed for the Catholick Religion under Henry VIII Sir Thomas More and the Bishop of Rochester On the first of July anno 1535. Sir Thomas More was brought to his Tryal The special matter of his Indictment was that on the 7th of May preceding before Cromwell Bedyll and some others that were pressing him concerning the Kings Supremacy he said he would not meddle with any such matter And was fully resolved to serve God and think upon his Passion and his own passage out of this World. That he had also sent divers Messages by one George Gold to Bishop Fisher to encourage him in his obstinacy and said the Act of Supremacy is like a Sword with two Edges for if a man answer one way it will confound his Soul and if he answer another way it will confound his Body That he had said the same thing on the third of June in the hearing of the Lord Chancellor the Duke of Norfolk and others And that he would not be the occasion of the shortening his own Life This and other particulars which passed betwixt him and Rich the Kings Sollicitor were laid together and judged to amount to a Denyal of the Kings Supremacy Judge Spelman writes that More being on
thereof then the matter were not so great but in this we do forsake the first four General Councils which none ever forsook We renounce all Canonical and Ecclesiastical Laws of the Church of Christ we renounce all other Christian Princes we renounce the Unity of the Christian World I suppose he means by inventing to our Selves a Church of England divided from all the rest of the Christian World and so by leaping out of Peters Ship to be drowned in the unstable Waters of Heresie Sects Schisms and Confusions For the first General Council of Nice acknowledged Sylvester the Bishop of Rome his Authority to be over them by sending their Decrees to be ratifyed by him The Council of Constantinople did acknowledge Pope Damasus to be their Chief by admitting him to give Sentence against the Hereticks Macedonius Sabellius and Eunomius The Council of Ephesus acknowledged Pope Celestine to be their chief Judge by admitting his Condemnation upon the Heretick Nestorius The Council of Calcedon acknowledged Pope Leo to be their chief Head and all General Councils of the World ever acknowledged the Pope of Rome only to be Supream Head of the Church under Christ And now shall we set up another Head or one Head in England and another in Rome 3. We deny all Ecclesiastical Laws which do wholly depend upon the Authority of the Apostolick See of Rome 4 We renounce the Judgment of all other Christian Princes whether they be Protestants or Catholicks Nay by this argument Nero and Herod must have been Heads of the Church of Christ The Emperour must be Head of the Protestant Church in Germany And the Church of Christ must have never a Head at all till about three hundred years after Christ Fifthly The Kings Majesty is not susceptible of this Donation Ozias for medling with the Priests Office was resisted by Azarias thrust out of the Temple and told that it belongs not to his Office. Now if the Priest spake truth in this then is not the King to meddle in this business if he spake amiss why did God plague the King with Leprosie for this and not the Priest King David when the Ark of God was bringing home did he place himself in the head of the Priests Order did he so much as touch the Ark or execute any the least Office properly belonging to the Priestly Function or did he not rather go before and abase himself amongst the people and say that he would become yet more vile so that God might be glorified All good Christian Emperors have evermore refused Ecclesiastical Authority for at the first General Council of Nice certain Bills were privily brought unto Constantine to be ordered by his Authority but he caused them to be burnt saying Dominus vos constituit c. God hath ordained you Priests and hath given you Power to be Judges over us and therefore by right in these things we are to be judged by you but you are not to be judged by me Valentine the Good Emperor was desired by the Bishops to be present with them to reform the Heresie of the Arrians but he answered Forasmuch as I am one of the Members of the Lay people it is not lawful for me to define such Controversies but let the Priests to whom God hath given the charge thereof assemble where they will in due Order Theodosius writing to the Council of Ephesus saith It is not lawful for him that is not of the holy Order of Bishops to intermeddle with Ecclesiastical matters And now shall we cause our King to be Head of the Church which all good Kings have abhorred the very least thought of and so many wicked Kings have been plagued for so doing Truly my Lords I think they are his best Friends that disswade him from it and he would be the worst enemy to himself if he should obtain it Lastly If this thing be farewel all Unity with Christendom for as that holy and blessed Martyr St. Cyprian saith all Unity depends upon that holy See as upon the Authority of St. Peters Successors for saith the fame holy Father all Heresies Sects Schisms have no other Rise but this that men will not be obedient to the chief Bishop and now for us to shake off our Communion with that Church either we must grant the Church of Rome to be the Church of God or else a Malignant Church If you answer she is a Church of God and a Church where Christ is truly taught his Sacraments rightly administred c. how can we forsake how can we fly from such a Church certainly we ought to be with and not to separate our selves from such a one If we answer The Church of Rome is not of God but a Malignant Church then it will follow that we the Inhabitants of this Land have not as yet received the true Faith of Christ seeing we have not received any other Gospel any other Doctrine any other Sacraments than what we have received from her as most evidently appears by all the Ecclesiastical Histories wherefore if she be a Malignant Church we have been deceived all this while and if to renounce the common Father of Christendom all the General Councils especially the first Four which none renounce all the Countreys of Christendom whether they be Catholique Countreys or Protestant be to forsake the Unity of the Christian World then is the granting of the Supremacy of the Church unto the King a renouncing of this Unity a tearing of the Seamless Coat of Christ in sunder a dividing of the Mystical Body of Christ his Spouse limb from limb and tayl to tayl like Sampsons Foxes to set the Field of Christs holy Church all on fire and this is it which we are about wherefore let it be said unto you in time and not too late Look you to that The End of the First Dialogue containing the History of the First Reformers and Anti-Reformers The Second treats of the Reformation it self and the natural Fruits thereof Jealousy and Distraction amongst the People Decay of Sincerity c. Now Reader wer't thou to choose thy Religion consider which of these two Guides thou wouldst follow Cranmer or the Bishop of Rochester the former having no Mission from Heaven nor major Vote of the Convocation to authorise his Reformation nor yet any great mind to dye a Martyr for the same the later frankly exposing his Life to Stemm that Inundation of Sacriledge Schism and Confusion that was breaking in anno 1535. FINIS