p 549. And not in a Font in the Stâ—ple-house and they baptized men and women after they belived In the first plantation of Christianity among the Gentiles such only as were of full age after they were instructed in Christian Religion were admitted to Baptism and that but twice in the year at Easter and Whitsuntide except upon urgent necessity Cambd. pag. 768. In Northumberland Paulinus baptized many thousands at a River Here was no Font. King Sigebert proffered them in old time that preached the Gospel Worldly Wealth and riches descended by inheritance but they refused and contemred them saying It became not them to embrace other mens riches who for Christs sake had forsaken their own Cambd. Record of Ireland p. 67 68. And the Bishops of Britan seemed no less to have despised riches and was but poor and had nothing of their own But now they are altered from that who will take all they can lay their hands on and imprison and persecute them they do not preach to if they will not give them Goods and Money and so will have both their own and other mens but forsake neither for Christs sake King Agharus being grievously diseased in his body and incurable by the skill of man was cured by Thadeus one of Christs Disciples without Medicine for which King Agharus commanded Gold coined and uncoined to be given him but he received it not saying I so much that we have forsaken our own how can we receive other mens This is not like the Pope and the Bishops wit is their great Parsonages and Revenues And the Irish Bishops had no more nor no other Rents and Revenues then three Milch-kine which the Parishioners charged for three other Kâ—ne when they were dry Camb. p. 1â—6 But the Bishops of our age and tâ—e Priests are changed from them sâ—â—hâ—â— age One Patrick a Britan â—orn Saint Martin's Sisters Son he was sold into Ireland where he became a Hereiman to King Milne and he Catechised there in the Christian Faith â—nd about that time he cryed â—ut against the shaving of Friens and said it was Simon Magus his shaving and not Saint Peters Can b. p. 10 108. Paulinus aforesaid came into Northumberland with the King and â—uâ—â—en and abâ—de thirty six dayes there employed wholly in Catechsing Baptizing and Instructing the people from Morning to Evening and being instructed he baptized them to the forgiveness of their sins in the River of Glen which was hard by the Kings Mannor-House Camb Brit. page 815. Here was no Fonts used at this time One Malachy in Ireland was the first that denied â—riests should marry where Armachanas detested against such voluntary Begging-Fryars p. 109. Robert Abbot of Molisme in Burâ—undy perswaded his own Disciples to live with their handy-labour and to forsake Tythes and Oblations p. 110. At â—ell the Steeple-houses in Ireland were built with Timber but when one Malachy caused them to be built with stone the people cryed out saying What mean you to bring into our Countrey this new fashion for we are not French The first Duke in England was made by Edward the third who made his Son Duke of Cornwall The title of Marquess came in by Richard the second of late years Earls came in by the Geâ—mâ—ns who ordered the Earls should always give attendance to their Princes and be at band in matters of Council Afterwards came in the Viscounts new title not heard of with us till Henry the Sixth Barons signifeth in the Geâ—man tongue Hard Soldiers Knights took their Names sâ—â—e the No man Conquest by serving with Horses Esquire doth signifie Shield-bearer Yeoman signifies Free-born or Freeholder lawful men of Forty shillings a year of Free-land Gentlemen some are from great Famillies and some take the Name from being raised in Wealth The Normans began the first Sealing with Print and Wax But before men made Bargains of Lands and Houses without Script Chart or Deed and many Tenements were demised with a Spur or Horse-Curry-comb with a Bow and some with an Arrow being given as a token of the thing Camb. p. 444. And when the King made any free and granted liberty these were the words without writings As free make I thee As Heart may think or Eye may see The Heathen-Priests under pretence of Religion wasted the Britant Goods and Claudius had a Temple in Britan whom they prayed to as God Canutus King of England and of Denmark said All things in his Realm was at his Command and therefore commanded his Chair to be set on the Sea-shore and when the Sea began to flow in the presence of many he said to the Sea as it flowed Thou art part of my Dominion and the ground on which I set is mine neither was there ever any that durst disobey my Command and went away free and unpunished wherefore I charge thee that thou come not upon my Land neither wet the clothes or body of thy Lord. But the Sea according to its usual course flowing still without any reverence of his Person wet his feet Then he retiring back said Lâ—t all the Inhabitants of the Earth know That vain and frivolous is the power of Kings and that none is worthy of the Name of a King but he to whose Command the Heaven Earth and Sea by bond of an Everlasting Law are subject and obedient And never after that time set he the Crown upon his Head Cambd. Brit. p. 262. CHAP. XV. Concerning Singing of Psalms IN the Year 383 Psalms begun to be sung brought in by Damasius Bishop though not turned into Meeter Benedictus an Abbot of the Monastery of Peter and Paul at Wirr brought with him from Rome one John the Arch-Chanter who first taught in England how to sing in the Quire after the manner of Roâ—e Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. p. 164. Anno 724. Laews made by the Saxon Kings in England concerning singing Psalms In the year 747 at the beginning of King Edgberts Reign the Synod of Bishops disputed the profit of singing of Psalms in the Church and made a Decree that with a modest voice they should sing in the Church so called In the year Nine hundred twenty four King Ethelston alias Atelston made a Law That fifty Psalms should be daily sung in the Church as he called it for the King Beza being much diverted with Poetry made his pastime to become a part of the vulgar devotion Hence thâ—â— have been stiled by some Geneva-Jigs These are the express words of the Injunction given to the Clergy and Laity by Queen Elizabeth Item Because in divers Collegiate and also some Parish Churches heretofore there hath been Livings appointed for the mainrenance of men and children to use singing in the Church by means whereof the Laudable Science of Musick hath been had in estimation and preserved in knowledg the Queen willeth and commandeth that first no alteration be made of such assignments of Living as heretofore hath been appointed to the use of Singing or Musick in
Relict of his Brother made an Act that no more Annal should be paid for Bulls or Pardons to the Pope nor no Appeals be made to him but that all should appeal to the King for pardon Abâ—ut this time the whole Clergy of Englaâ—d was charged by the Kings Council to be in a Praemunire for supporting and maintaining the Popes power and were called to answer in the Kings Bench but before their day of appearance came they in their Convocation concluded an Humble Submission in Writing and offered the King One hundred thousand pounds to pardon them which after some labour the King promised them pardon in which Submission the Clergy called the King Supream Head of the Church Bakers Chron. This Pardon was signed by the Kings hand Mark The King turning and denying the Popes Supremacy the Priests turn and deny their old Head of the Church called Peter's Successor And in the year 1535 the Popes Authority in England was abolished by Parliament and about two years after an Act was made which gave the King all Religious Houses and all their Lands and Goods And then an Oath was ministred to the Clergy which they took That they should renounce the Popes Authority and swear to be true and faithful to the King his Heirs and Successors of life and limb and to live and dye with him against all people and to acknowledg their holding their Bishopricks of the King only beseeching him to make restitution of the temporalities of the said Bishoprick So God me help and aell Saints said they About this time the Bible was first permitted to be read in English and Injunctions were set forth by the Lord Cromwel That the Creed Lords Prayer ten Commandments and Articles of the Christian Faith should be read in English which caused twenty thousand people to rise in arms in Lincolnshire being headed by a Monk and others and they were scarcely appeased but there arose forty thousand in the North where on one side of thâ—ir Ensigns they had Christ hanging on the Cross and on the other side the Cup and Bread of the Sacrament but they were suppressed In September 1537 by the special motion of the aforesaid Cromwâ—l all the Images unto which were made any special Pilgrimages and Offerings were taken down and burnt and forthwith by the means of the said Cromwell all the Orders of Fryars and Nunns with their Cloisters and Houses were suppressed and put down After all this and notwithstanding this Reformation Popery had so much power in the hearts both of King and people that one Nicholson alias Lambert being accused for denying the presence in the Sacrament he appealed to the King and the King heard him openly but all would not do neither would the King pardon him and shortly after he was drawn to Smithfiâ—ld and there burnt and this was done about the thirteenth year of his Reign And in the thirty seventh year of his Reign the Parliament gave him all the Colledges and Chantries And one John Smith was burnt in Smithfield and one Andrew Howet a Taylor for denying the Real presence in the Sacrament And further in the thirteenth year of his Reign was set forth by the Bishops the Book of the six Articles condemning all for Hereticks and to be burnt that should hold 1. That the Body of Christ was not really present in the Sacrament after Consecration 2. That the Sacrament might not truly be administred under one kind 3. That priests entred into holy Orders might maâ—ry 4. That vows of Châ—stity entred into upon mature deliberation were not to be kept 5. That private Masses were not to be used 6. That Auricular Confession was not necessary in the Church These Articles and the Penalty annexed to them were called a whip with six strings which penalty was they were to be burned to death and forfeit their Estates real and personal to the King After King Henry the Eighth succeeded Edward the Sixth Son to King Henry the Eighth in whose time new injunctions were set forth for pulling down and removing all Images out of Churches also Homilies wee appointed to be read for peoples instruction and that the Sacrament should be ministred to lay-people in both kinds Also Marriage was allowed to the Clergy Auricular Confession was forbidden and prayer for the dead and in his fifth year the Book of Common prayer was established After King Edward succeeded Queen Mary about whose coming to the Crown there was some combustion to whom first the Suffolk men resorted who being always forward in promoting the proceedings of the Gospel and promised her their aid and to help her so that she would not attempt the alteration of the Religion which her brother King Edward had before established To make the matter short unto this condition she agreed and made promise to them that no alteration should be of Religion being a Papist and setting Popery up the people and priests generally turned that way and all Bishops that had been deprived in the time of Edward the sixth were restored to their Bishopricks and all Beneficed men that were married and would not forsake their opinion and turn were turned out of their Livings and in her time the Mass was again sung in Latin and the Popes authority was by Act of Parliament restored in England and the Mass commanded in all Churches to be used In her second year the Realm was absolved and reconciled to the Church of Rome by Cardinal Pool and the first Fruits and tenths were restored to the Clergy but this was soon revoked the Council finding the necessity of it for the Queens support In her fourth year Monastaries were begun to be re-edified the number of those that dyed for Religion in her time which was but six years was two hundred fourscore and thirteen men and women Now see the Oath which the Clergy took to the Pope They swore to be true to Saint Peter the holy Church of Rome and to the Pope the holy Father and to defend it against all men and to acknowledg the Rules of the holy Fathers Decrees which to my power say they I shall keep and cause to be kept and all Hereâ—icks and Schismaticks to our Holy Father I will persecute to my power So help me God and the holy Evangelists In the year 1559 Queen Mary being dead Queen Elizabeth began to reign and she with the advice of the Parliament soon made an Act for Uniformity of prayer and administration of the Sâ—craments And the title of Supream Head of the Church was confirmed to Queen Elizabâ—th by the Parliament and they gave first fruits and tenths to her The Supremacy thus confirmed to the Queen the Oath was tendred to the Bishops and others who had been Papists in Queen Maries dayes and as many as refused to take it were deprived of their Livings and of the number of above Nine thousand Priests Bishops Deans Prebends Masters of Colledges Arch-Deacons Abbots who had then been in place in Queen Maries
before him never thought of Johannes Patriarch of Constantinople put forth himself and would needs be called the Universal Bishop of the World But the Bishop of Rome in no case would suffer that but put a stop to it but after the Bishop of Rome could take it to himself CHAP. VI. Concerning the several Reliques and Superstitious Practises in the Church of Rome Who were the first Institutors of them and what and how much of their Idolatry is still upheld by the Protestant Professors in England at this day which was set up since there was a Vniversal Pope IN the Year after Christ Six hundred and two Phocas murthered Mauritius his Master the Emperor and slew two of his Sons and put his Daughters and his Wife to death And then this Phocas this Murderer was crowned Emperor and Boniface the third Bishop of Rome he obtained of this Murderer Phocas to be the Universal Bishop over all the Bishops and so that the Bishop of Rome should be called Pope And here got in the Pope by murder Platina Christ Misseus Hen. Panteleon c. Epist lib. 4. Epist 32 33 34. cap. 76 77. See Becon sol 295. And then the Bishop lost the greatest part of Christendom and all the Churches went together by the ears about him and the Emperor lost the greatest part of his Empire And here you may see the Pope was set up six hundred and 〈◊〉 years after Christ And this Pope in the year 605 first decreed That white Linnen Clothes should be laid on the Altar And further in another Author concerning Phocas which murthered Mauritius his Master who was a Noble and Virtuous Mâ—n he obtained through Treason the Empire he also treacherously slew his Children that none of his should claim the Crown 〈◊〉 him This Murdering Tyrant set up the Bishop of Rome contraaâ—◠〈◊〉 Châ—ists command who said You are all Brethren And so the Bishop of Rome Boniface the third Lucifer-like exalted in pride above all his fellow Bishops challenged to himself the Supremacy and Authority that he and his Successors after him for ever should be taken for the chief Bishop and Universal Head of the Church throughout all the world And that from that day forward the Church of Rome should be called the Head Church of all the whole World And that the Church of Rome should be in subject on to no other Church but that all other Churches should be in subjection to it For until that time Constantinople Church was counted the highest where the Emperor dwelt and before that time the Church in Jerusalem was called the highest for Constantine was a Christian but in Rome there was Heathen Emperorâ— a long time after Christ Otho frisin Gen. Chron. lib. 5. cap. 8. Marrian Scot. in Anno 608. Vsperg in Phoca Becon fol. 295. It is before recorded that Joseph of Arimathea first preached the Gospel in England amongst the Britans in the year sixty four and about six hundred and two the Pope sent over to them Augustiâ—â— to spread his Doctrine with his silver Cross his Letany his Procession Images Reliques Canticles and Books of Ceremonies charging the Britans that they did many things contrary to the Custom of the Church of Rome in their preaching Baptism and keeping of Easter c. and that they regarded not mans traditions but the Britans refusing to follow his Commands he threaâ—â—ed them with Warr and to revenge it by death which immediately ensued Read Beda in his Ecclesiastical History of England the second Book and second Chap. Here all people may see that Christianity was planted in 〈◊〉 some hundreds of years before the Popes Rudiments Candâ—◠〈…〉 Letany Procession and Images with the rest of his Trumpery 〈◊〉 into England who lyeth in saying that Christianity came fiâ—st in by them who came in by Murder and the outward Sword and hath held up his outward Tradition by Murder and the outward Sword ever since Chron. Ranulph Chest Bec. fol. 323. In the year 606 Boniface the fourth he instituted the Feast of All-Souls and All-Saints and he got the Temple of Phocas built by Agrippa and consecrated it to the Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs Plat. volat Polydore Bec. fol 355. In the year 645 At Rome where Meletus was present it was ordered that Monasteries should be erected in England in Boniface the fourth's days and this Boniface the fourth instituted the Feast of All-Souls In the year 637 England first divided into Parishes In the year 640 Lent was first set up in England in Pope Severinus's time Carcumbertus King of England commanded the people to keep Lent in England Segeb. in Chron. Pautal In the year 643 Pope Martin the first ordained that a man should not lye with his Wife till the Priest had hallowed or blest his Bed and the same year he ordained Mass to be sung openly with a loud voice and that Churches should be trimmed and dressed on Holy-days Pol. Paulel Bec. fol. 322. In the year 650 Pope Eugenius the first ordained that Monks should be shut up in Cloisters for before that time they did go up and down Euseb Chron. Cantz In the year 603 Pope Sabiniani commanded Lamps should be kept continually burning in the Church he also instituted Bells in the Church and called them Saints Bells Plat. Albert. Crantz de Barns c. He also decreed in the same year That the People should be assembled together to their Servâ—ce by ringing of Bells Plat. Durand de Barns Plantal Bec. fol. 322. In the year 636 the University of Cambridg founded or enlarged by Segebert King of the East-Angles So these things were not set up by the Apostles but by the Pope In the year 622 Honorius decreed That none should keep company with excommunicated persons He also devised the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross Plat. Pant. Bec. fol. 355. In the year 622 About this year being fifteen years after the Pope came Mahomet the Turk In the year 635 the first Cross was set up in England by Oswald King of No thumbeâ—land who fighting against Cadwalda in the same place set up a Cross kneeling and praying there for Victory In the year 653 Pope Vicilianus brought in Organs first into the Church to make the people merry Chron Volat. Plat. c. Eugenius the fourth was the first that appointed Bâ—shops to have Prisons of their own to punish people in In the year 664 a Controversie was in England about the observing of Easter In the year 676 Pope Leo the second devised the Pax and that it should be kissed of the people Plat. festi temp In the year 684 the Election or chusing of Popes without the Emperors approbation was granted by the Emperor Whereby it may be noted that before that time the Emperor had power to chuse the Pope In the year 666 Pope Bennet the second obtained of the Emperor Constantine that the Bishop of Rome for ever after should be taken of all men for Christs true Vicar
be accursed without the ground of Gods Word And the man said Sir our Priests say That they curse men thus by Authority of Gods Law And I said Sir I know not where this sentence of Cursing is Authorized now in the Bible and therefore Sir I pray you that you will ask the most cunning Clerk of this Town that ye may know where this sentence of cursing them that tythe not is now writ in Gods Law for if it were written there I would right gladly be learned where and I said to this man in this wise In the old Law which ended not fully till the time that Christ rose up again from death to life God commanded tythes to be given to the Levites for the great business and daily travel that pertained to their Office but Priests because their travel was mekil more easie and light then was the Office of the Levites God ordained the Priest should take for their livelihood to do their office the tenth part of those tythes that were given to the Levites But now I said in the new Law neither Christ nor any of his Apostles took Tythes of the people nor commanded the people to pay Tythes neither to Priests nor Deacons but Christ taught the people to do Alms that is Works of Mercy to poor needy men of surplus that is superfluous of their temporal Goods which they had more then them needed reasonably to their necessary livelihood and thus I said not of tythes but of pure alms to the people But as Cisterniensis telleth in the year 1274 one Pope Gregory the tenth ordained new Tythes first be given to the Priests Now in the new Law the words of the Law are these That it should not from thenceforth be lawful to give their Tythes as their own pleasure where they would as it had been before but pay all their Tythes to the Mother-Church The Judgment of David Pareus of Hidleburgh in the Palatinate concerning Tythes He saith that Tythes or Tenths were free and Arbitrary before the Law as appears by the Example of Abraham and Jacob a man might give them a man might now them or he might not as he pleased under the Law they were commanded by God to be given to the Priest Lev. 27. And the reasons thereof are clear First The tenths were a compensation unto the Levites for the twelfth part of the Land which ought to have fallen otherwise to their shares Moreover they were the Sallaries of Priests and Levites and maintenance of the poor for God instituted three tenths First the tenths of the Levites Lev. 27. Secondly the tenths of tenths or the hundredth to be paid by the Levites to the Priests Numb 18.26 Thirdly the poor mans tenths which was to be paid every three years after the Jubile unto the Poor Strangers Widows and Orphans Deut. 14.28 Therefore saith he when the Levitical Priesthood did cease then did the right of that Priesthood cease and the right of Tythes did revert to the giver of them Laws and Canons for Tythes among the Saxons In the year 786 in the time of Offâ—â— which was in the time of Hepterchy in England there was a great Couned holden in Merciâ— by two Legats sent from Pope Adrian the first wherein as it is reported tythes were first established in England so that the first Law for payment of tythes came from the Pope and decreed by his Agents in Mercia being but a seventh part of England and afterwards as Popery encreased so tythes also were established in other parts of England by the several Kings thereof King Ethelbert King of Kent coming to the Court of Offâ— King of Mercia the said Offa murthered him in or about the year 793 and at length understanding the innocency of the said Ethelbert and to mitigate the hainousness of the Fact gave the tenth part of his Good to the holy Church and to the Church of Hereford in the remembrance of this Ethelbert and after wards went up to Rome for his Poâ—◠〈◊〉 where he gave to Peter's Church so called a penny through every House in his Dominion which is called Peter's pence or Romes shot and there was transformed from a King to a Monk and this was 794 years after Christ so was not set up by Christ and his Apostles See Seldens History of Tythes This Pope Adrian bestowed cost on Altars dead mens Tombs bones and Steeple-houses he attributed more Worship to Images then ever any did and wrote a Book of the honour and profit of them and appointed them instead of Scriptures to be Lay-mens Calenders He condemned in a Council those that detested Images This Adrian clothed the Image of Peter all in silver and covered the Altar of Paul with a Pall of Gold And this Pope set up Tythes 794 year after Christ In the year 797 after Christ Alchwin School-Master to Charles the Great in his Letter to the said Charles who was a Romish Emperor and had ordained Tythes to be paid wrote touching the Exaction of Tythes which he calls Jugum decimarum that is The Yoke of Tenths and Exaction of something from every house of the Huns and Saxons who were but then lately conquered by the said Charles and had newly made profession of the Christian Faith And the said Alchwin further advised in his Letter for the Christian Cause to omit it amongst them and not to put the yoke of Tythes as he said upon the people and not to exact something from every house but to shew that we are the Apostles sent of God and Christ into the world to preach and rather to give to them that ask or want then to exact Tythes for it is better to lose them then to destroy the peoples faith See Seldens History of Tythes King Athelstone King of the West-Saxons about the year 940. to pacifie the Ghost of his murthered Brother Edwin to whose death he is said to have consented did not only undergo seven years pennance but also built certain Monasteries and made a Law that people should pay Tythes viz. himself his Bishops and Officers hoping thereby to expiate his sins These following are the words of the Law Book of Martyrs p. 193. vol. 1. I Athelstone King Charge and Command all my Officers thorough my whole Realm to give Tythes unto God of my proper Goods as well in living Cattel as in Corn and fruits of the ground and that my Bishops likewise of their proper Goods and mine Aldermen and mine Officers and Head-men shall do the same Item This I will That my Bishops and other Head-men do declare the same to those that be in their Subjection and that to be accomplished at the Term of St. John the Baptist This was in the time of Popery Edmund King of England ordained Tythes to be paid for every Christian man in the year 941. Book of Martyrs vol. 1. p. 195. Edgar about the year 959 is said to have confirmed the payment of Tythes upon as bad a ground as Athelstone did See
ERasmus testified that for above Four hundred years after Câ—â—â—â— the Bishops did not seek the help of the Emperors againâ—◠〈◊〉 Hereticks and when they did seek it against the insufferable wickedness of the Donatists it did not please the good people that they should then seek the help of the Civil Powers for they then judged that it became not the Bishops to use any other Weapons or to have any other help then the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God although the evil was incurable yet would they have excluded it by Excommunication which is said to be the greatest Judgment or Punishment that then the Church had The Histories also sheweth how that some of the Clergy have said That the Princes ought to kiss the Son and to use their power for to preserve and defend Religion against all their Enemies though their Lands should therefore be spoiled In the year 553 Pelagius Bishop of Rome instituted first of all That Hereticks and Apostates should be forced by external compulsion And Clement the fifr made Laws that Hereticks should be burned Gerandus Naviomagns sheweth how that the Laws for putting Hereticks to death came not by the free-will of the Emperors but through the earnest importuning of blood-thirsty Bishops whose constant recourse was a burden to the Emperors so that finally they obtained what they desired but when the Clergy could not prevaâ—l with one Emperor they excluded him out of Italy and excommunicated him and brought him in suspension and freed the Subjects from the Oath and stirred them up against the Power And thus have the Clergy handled when they could not have their wills And it might be plentifully manifested how that it hath been blood-thirsty Bishops with others of the Clergy that have provoked Kings and Potentates of the Earth to cruelty and who have counselled them to make bloody Laws like the Bishop Nestorius who in his Sermon spake unto the Emperor and said Oh Emperor give me a Land cleansed of Herticks and I will give thee Heaven help me against â—he Hereticks and I will help thee O subdue the Persians thy Enemies In the years 1538 and 1546 In like manner the Inquisitors and Clergy stirred up the Emperor the Kings of Spain and France to terrible persecution laying it upon their consciences to quit themselves severely against Hereticks if they would escape the Lords repâ—oâ—â— In the year 1545 Pope Paul the third counselled and entreated the Emperor Charles and King Ferdinandus to compel the Protestants to forsake their error CHAP. XXIV How since the Apostacy from the Truth the Pope Kings and Rulers makes Ministers and none must preach except they have a Licence from them IN the days of King Henry the Fourth it was agreed upon by the King and the Bishops with other Lords that no man within this Realm or other of the Kings Majesties Dominions presume to take upon him to preach privily or otherwise without special Licence of the Ordinary of the same place Statute Ex Officio Râ—g Hen. 4. And in the dayes of the same King Henry the Fourth Constitutions were made by Tho Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and others That no person being authorized to preach shall take upon him to preach in English to the Clergy and Laity except he first present himself and be examined of the Ordinary of the place For first the King he nominated who should be Bishop of such a Diocess and then being presented to the Pope he was to approve of him and being approved he was consecrated by the Arch-Bishop in England But when King Henry the Eighth cast off the Pope then it was enacted by King and Parliament that no Bishop should be commended to the Pope but that the King should both nominate them and approve of them to be sufficient Ministers In the year 1547 in Edward the Sixth's time Injunctions were set forth That none should preach except sufficiently Licensed In the Reign of King James Injunctions were made That none should preach except they were lawfully Licensed thereunto by the King or the Bishop Fox Acts and Mon. Vol 2. And likewise in the dayes of Queen Mary none was to preach but such as should be licensed or allowed by her Authority or by the Arch Bishop c. or by the Universities of Oxford and Cambridgâ— Anno 1. Mary 1 Pat C. 1. In the year 1559 Injunctions were likewise made in the first year of Queen Elizabeth that none should appear to preach not be admitted thereto but such as should be Licensed thereto by the Queen or the Arch Bishops or Bishops And thus she followed the Papists who were the first that set up this Oâ—der In the year 1644 the Parliament made an Ordinance to give power to the Presbyter-Assembly of Divines for the Ordination of Ministers according to the Directory for Ordination and they gave the Assâ—mbly of Divines Rules for Examination of them they ordained He that was to be ordained was to bring a testimony that he had sworn and taken the Covenant of the three Kingdoms and how long he had been in the University and what Degrees he had taken and whether he was twenty fâ—ur years old c. Note This was upâ—olding Popery still notwithstanding there was a pretence of Reformation And an Ordinance was made by Oliver Cromwel and his Council for Approbation of publick Preachers and for this end Commisioners were appointed and were authorized to judg of the Ability and Fitness of any man before he was admitted to any publick place to preach O. C. 1653 Can. 39. and Can. 57. CHAP. XXV Concerning the Priests turning as the Rulers turned to every Power that came up rather then they would lose their Benefices and how they petitioned several Parliaments and Rulers That they might have their Tythes paid them and that they would suppress the People called QVAKERS IN the year 1531 Pope Julius being angry with the King of France sent King Henry the Eighth the Cap of Maintenance and the Sword and gave him the title of Christianssimo that is The most Christian King And because King Henry wrote a Book against Luther the Pope â—ave him the title of Defender of the Faith In the year 1531 being the twenty second year of Henry the Eighth Tyndal did translate the New-Testament into English for reading of which many were sharply punished and the reading of it was forbidden by the Chancellor of England and the Papist-Bishops then in power caused all the Books to be brought into Pauls-yeard and there to be burned and the said Tyndal was shortly after burned beyond Sea for translating the same In the same year one Camphjus being sent Legate from the Pope in to England was at first in great request with King Henry the Eighth and had many honours conferred on him and great Benefices but the King taking dislike of the Popes proceedings with him concerning a Divorce the said Legate brought from the Pope to Divorce the King from his Wife who was the
THE Arraignment OF POPERY BEING A Short COLLECTION taken oâ—â— of the CHRONICLES and other Books of the State of the CHURCH in the Primitive Times Also The State of the Papists and how long It waâ— before the Universal POPE and MASS was set up and tâ—â— time of bringing in all their Rudiments and Traditions Beacâ—â—â—â— and Images Purgatory Tythes and Inquisitions Also A Relation of their Cruelties they acted after the Pope got up being worse then the Heathen and Turk New Rome having proved like Old Also What the People of England worshipped before they were Christians With several other things which may be profitable for people to read over wherein they may see the Worship of the Beast and Whore where all that fear God may see read try and give judgment by the Spirit of Truth â—o which is added The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the CHVRCH By G. F. and E. H. LONDON Printed in the Year 1667. The Contents Rulers makes Ministers and none must preach exâ—â—â—â— have a Licence from them Chap. 24. Pagâ—â— Concerning the Priests turning as the Rulers turned to 〈◊〉 Power that came up rather then they would lose their â—â—â—fices and how they petitioned several Parliaments and Fâ—â—lers that they might have their Tythes paid them and that they would suppress the People called Quakers Ch. 2â— Pag. 73. A Relation of some of the Cruelties insticted on the Christians by the Heathen Chap. 26. Pag. 81. An Abstract of the Bloody Massacre in Ireland by the Instigation of the Jesuits Priests and Fryars c. in the year 1642. Chap. 27. Pag. 84. In the History of the Churches of Piedmont collected and compiled by Samuel Morland in the year 1658. Chap. 27. Pag. 96. List of some of the Accusations for which the aforesaid people suffered in the Valleys of Piedmont by the Papists Chap. 28. Pag. 99. Te Doctrines of Christ and Antichrist distinguished Chap. 29. Pag. 103. A Discourse betwixt a Quaker and a Papist Ch. 30. P. 106. THE ARRAIGNMENT OF POPERY CHAP. I. The State of the Church in the Primitive Times and tho Time when the Apostacy from the Truth began Also a Relation of those few that were raised up from time to time to testisie against the Idolatry brought in and set up in every Age since the Apostles dayes From the Year Sixty four to the Year One Hundred and Fifty CHristianity was first brought into England in the Year 64 by Joseph of Aramathea and twelve Disciples sent by the Apostle Philip so that Christianity came into England long before the Universal Pope was Euseb lib. 3. John for preaching the Gospel was banished by Domitian into the Isle of Pathmos about the Year 97 and after the death of the aforesaid Domitian was released again under Peruâ—â— the Emperor and came to Ephesus Anno 100 where he continued until the time of Trajan and lived until he was ninety nine yâ—â—â— of age Between the Years One hundred and One hundred and fifty Ignatius in the Persecution of Trajan the Emperor was for the Christian Faith delivered to wild Beasts to be devoured Euseb lib. 3. chap 35 36. It is written of him That as he passed through Asia being under the most strict Custody of his Guarders he strengthned and confirmed the people every where as he went and admonished them especially and before other things to beware and shun Heresies and vain Superstitions newly risen up and that they should cleave only to the Apostles Doctrine Ex Hierom in Calassanct Eccles The Church at Jerusalem in or about One hundred and ten years after Christ writeth That until that time she was as an uncorrupt Virgin there was no false Doctrine sown there From the Years One hundred and fifty to Two hundred Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna resisted Annasetus Bishop of Rome â—nd withstood divers Ceremonies then beginning to be set on foot Iraneus Bishop of Lyons in France wrote in the name of his Brethren in France unto Victor Bishop of Rome reproving him for offering to excommunicate the Churches of Asia who withstood his Traditions touching the time of the Celebration of Easter he was reprehended of divers Bishops but sharply of Iraeneus About this time there was six Synods held in Asia touching the Celebration of Easter where the Bishop of Rome had no more Authority then the other Bishops and when he challenged Authority Iraeneus reproved him From the Year two hundred to the Year two hundred and fifty Polycrates Bishop of Antioch was a married Bishop he together with divers other Bishops of Asia withstood Victor Bishop of Rome and opposed certain Constitutions by him urged about observation of Dayes Meats Drinks and Vestures Euseb lib. 5. chap. 26. From the Year Two hundred and fifty to Three hundred Fabian Chanimon of Nilus and Fructuosus of Tarracona were married Bishops Asclepiades a Bishop of Antiochia of whom Alexander Biâ—â—â— Jerusalem being the Prisoner of Christ in Caesaria wroâ—â— the people in Antiochia That it was a comfort unto him 〈◊〉 made his imprisonment the more easie that he heard of the 〈◊〉 constancy of Asclepiades Euseb lib. 6. chap. 11. Note in thâ—â— the true Bishops were no Persecutors but persecuted Narcissus Bishop of Jerusalem was a great Enemy to Super on Euseb lib. 5. cap. 6. From the Year Three hundred to Three hundred and fifty Silvester Bishop of Rome Three hundred and fourteen years 〈◊〉 Christ when Constantine offered him a Golden Scepter he refâ—â— it as a thing not fit for a Priests Function Sabel Euseb Chron And you may see there was a great difference between this Bishop and Popes when they got up And do you think that a Protestant Bishop Priest would refuse to take a Golden Scepter if it were offered him The same Bishop also ordained in the year following That â—â—ry Priest should be the Husband of one Wife according to thâ—â— postles Doctrine This was before the Popes Laws were made agâ—â—â— Marrying The Councils of Ancyra Nice Tyrus Gangra in which condemned the Heresie of Eustatius speaking against Marriâ—â— and eating of flesh c. Eliberis Carthage where the Bishoâ— Rome was stoutly withstood Antioch and Sardica were all suâ—â—ed at the Commandment of the Emperors not of the Pope 〈◊〉 Concil Basilius Magnus Bishop of Caesaria in Cappadocia in his â—â—â—tings he complaineth of the pride of the Western Churches and â—â—â—demneth their seeking of Supremacy Basil Transmarin Epist 〈◊〉 and Epist 10. ad Eusamos Gregorius Nazianzenus testified against the pride of Preâ—â—â— seeking Supremacy over others Zozam lib. 7. cap. 5. Gregorius Nyssenus was a married Bishop Niceph. Chalist Iâ—â—â— cap. 19. Eusebius Caesariensis wrote against the Bishop of Romes â—â—â—â—cy Lib. 2. de vit Const 3 37. He wrote against Images Lib 3. de presp Evang. And 〈◊〉 against Popish Injunctions of Fasting Lib. 5. Eccles Hist cap. 23. Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria whose Name was famous in the Church wrote much against Traditions Epist de Synod Nicen. Decr.
Prince of the Priests or Highest Priest but only the Bishop of the chief See that is Seat A Council held at Hippo Decreed That Bishops and Priests should look well to their Children That the Head-Bishop of the Head See should not be called the chief Priest and that no Scripture should be read in the Church but Canonical that is such as they approved by exact Rule The Council held at Taurinum was for the Reformation of the Clergy which then was corrupted but now much more The Council of Malta condemned the Pelagians and Dâ—â—â—â— and concluded that Infants were to be baptized The Council of Agatha decreed that none should be made Prieâ—â— before they were thirty years old and that the Clergy should 〈…〉 such attire as became their Profession with many other Conâ—â—â—tions The first and second Council held at Vasio decreed that in such Churches where Preachers were not the Deacons should read â—â—milies A Council held at Carpentoracte decreed that the Bishop shâ—â—â—â— not poll the Parishes A Council held at Venice decreed that no Clergy-man should 〈◊〉 at Wedding-Dinners Dancing and hearing of wanton Sonnets 〈◊〉 vain Songs All the Bishops of Africk came together by the commandment of Hororicus the Arrian where his Heresie was confirmed and Four hundred forty four Bishops exiled or banished Anno 490 A Synod of Seventy Bishops were called together at Rome where the Canonical Scriptures were severed from such as rhey counted Apocrypha A Synod met at Epaunis decreed that no Clergy-man should either Hunt or Hawk and that throughout the Province such Divine Service at the Metropolitan or chief City liked of should be retained Euseb Note the Apostles decreed no such things as this that we read of 〈◊〉 Scripture A Council held at Aurelia decreed that Lent should be solemnly kept before Easter the Rogation with the Ember-Dayes about the Ascention A Council held in Gerundia in Spain decreed that every Province should observe one Order of Divine Service that Baptism should be Ministred only at Easter and Whitsuntide and at other times is necessity so required and that the Lords Prayer should be said at Evening and Morning-Prayer Euseb A Council held at Caesar Augusta accursed such as received the Sacrament and eat it not in the Church A General Council was held at Constantinople which decreed that Mary should be called the Mother of God The First and Second Synods were called at Lyons for the removing of Schism raised in the Church Six Synods were held at Rome touching the Election of a Bishop and the Preservation of Church-Goods CHAP. V. Concerning the state and condition of the Church as it was before there was a Vniversal Pope Also what Decrees and Institutions were made by Bishops for the first six hundred years after Christ and how the Apostacy begun to overspread the Church NOvatius a Priest of Rome two hundred fifty four years after Christ abhorred second Marriage he was condemned as an Heretick at a Synod held at Rome the same year Eusâ—b lib. 6. cap. 48. Apostalici were Hereticks in Pisidia who two hundred and fifty five years after Christ condemned Marriage and said the Apostles were unmarried men Which is a lye for several of the Apostles were married men Aug. lib. de Haeres Ephip Haer. 61. Originiani were Hereticks Anno 273 they prohibited Marriage but committed Fornications and all uncleanness and filthiness and rejected some Books of the Old and New-testament which made against them Ephip Haeres 63. About three hundred and ten years after Christ one Lucina a holy Maid of Rome dying made Maâ—cellus Bishop of Rome her heir and gave him all her great Substance From that time forth saith Pollidore Lib. 6. the Bishops of Rome were greatly enrâ—ched and then came to be pust up in pride Which riches the Apostles denyed Pol. lib. de Invent. cap. ult In the year three hundred and ten Macarius was Bishop of Jerusalem he was the means with Helena that the Cross of Christ was found So there was no Cross before among the Apostles Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 6.9 In the year 308 Dioclesian the Empetor of Rome was so puffed up with pride that he would needs be worshipped as God saying 〈◊〉 brother to the Sun and Moon and adorned his shoes with 〈◊〉 and precious stones he commanded the people to kiss his 〈◊〉 which practice the Popes afterwards followed And this Eâ—â—â—â—â—â— caused the Christians to be persecuted in the Tenth Persecution Euseb lib. 7. c. 29. lib. 8. c. 2 3 14 19. Soc. lib. 1. c. 2. In Three hundred and eighty years after Christ the Name Catholick beginneth being instituted by Damacius a Bishop of Rome In the year 391 Set-hours to Prayers instituted by St. Jerome In the year 394 in Bishop Ciricius time the word Massâ—â— was brought first into the Church In the year 398 Anastatius Bishop of Rome decreed That men should stand up at hearing the Gospel read In the year 412 Cirilius succeeded Theophilus in the See of Alexdâ—ia and withall he challenged to himself more Authority than ever any other Bishop before him From that time forth he took to himself also the Government of Temporal Matters and banished all the Jews And this Bishop went contrary to Christs command which saith You are Brethren Foelix Bishop of Rome appointed the Feast of Michael the Arch-Angel called Michaelmas In the year 528 Justinian instituted swearing by the Gospel Hore swearing came in In the year 533 Agapetus Bishop of Rome first commanded the people to go a Procellioning and to follow the Cross Plat. Polid. Deborus c. This is contrary to Christ and the Apostles Philosophy was not taught in Christian Schools before nor in the time of Justinian the Emperor who began to reign in the year of Christ 527. Part. 2. Chap. 26. Pag. 89 90. In the year 560 Gregory Bishop of Rome commanded That neither flesh nor any thing that hath affinity with flesh as Cheese Butter Milk Eggs c. should be eaten on such dayes as are appointed to be fasted on In the year 569 King Conwall had alwayes a silver Cross carried before him and caused Crosses to be first set upon every Steeple in England In the year 578 Pelagâ—us Bishop of Rome decreed That Sub. Deacons should either leave their Wives or else their Offices All this is contrary to the Apostles In the year 590 Gregory Bishop of Rome approved and allowed the Feast of Trinâ—ty Gulielm Durand In the same year he set up Prayers for Saints Sacrifices for the Dead and Purgatory in the Church In the year 595 a certain wicked woman an Emperess requested of Theodore Bishop of Rome that Images might be set up in their Churches and it was agreed that it should be by the said Theodore and his â—ouncil This is contrary to the Primitive Church In the year 600 Benedictus was the first Founder of the Order commonly called St. Benedicts He presumed to invent new wayes which all the godly Fathers
on Earth and Saint Peter's lawful Successor Anselmus Rid. Achilles Rerminius Sebastianus Franc. c. Bec. fol. 295. This Pope also brought it to pass that the Bishop of Rome only should be called Pope that is to say the Father of Fathers for before that time all Bishops generally were called Popes In the year 684 Pope Sergius the first invented the Agnies Dei and commanded that it should be sung of the Clergy and People together at the Communion Flat Durand de Barns Bec. fol 341. The same Pope in the same year devâ—sed first the Clothes of the Saints to be kept for Relâ—ques and confirmed the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary Segeb. Pant. Bec. fol. 356. In the year 714 a Council of Pope Gregory the second was against Marriages of Priests and was for the worshipping of Images in England In the year 729 the same Pope confirmed the having of Images in Churches and excommunicated the Emperor for abolishing them and stirred up his Subjects to rebel against him Blondus Chron Bec. fol. 324. In the year 752 Pope Zachary devised Oyl for the Lamps and invented the Priests Apparel Chron. Achil Bee fol. 304. In the year 768 Pope Paul the first devised the Service for Lent The same Pope also commanded that in the time of Lâ—nt the Divine Service should be done before the sixth hour in the Morning Pope Constantine the second decreed That no Lay-man should be Pope Also he condemned the seventh Council of Constantinople as Heretical for condemning the worshipping of Images and wrote a Book of worshipping Images calling them Lay-mens Calendars In the year 769 Pope Constantine he condemned the Emperor for destroying Images and made a Decree to establish them in their Churches Plat. Pol. Bec. fol. 324. In the year 740 Gregory the third commanded Oblations and Sacrifices to be offered by the Priests at their Mass for the dead and made a Law that Images should not only be had in Churches as Lay-mens Books but that they should be worshipped and had in greater Reverence then ever they were and whoever was of the contrary Opinion should be condemned for a Heretick Seg. Bland Plat. Sabel Becon fol. 324. In the year 772 Pope Stephen the third decreed That Images should not only be had in Churches but that they also should be senced Seg. Plat. volat Bee fol. 324. In the year 796 Pope Adrian the first in his time there was a Council held at Frankford in the which it was decreed That whosoever did any Service in the Church he should wear a Surplice upon his back in Service time and no man to go in his common Apparel without a Surplice no not so much as the Sexton Christ Massaeus Becon fol. 323. These things are all contrary to Christ and the Apostles The same Pope about the same time ordained the Impropriation of Benefices and granted Priviledges to Monks Nunns Canons and the Gloisters In the year 817 Pope Leo the third ordained Sencing and a Council held at Rothemage commanded that the Altar should be Senced after the Gospel Lib. Conc. Durand Beo. fol. 338. The same Pope in the same year decreed That all Sundays should be kept holy Volat. Pantal. Sabel Pope Leo the third appointed That when the child is either Christned or Bishopped he should have but one Godfather be it a Man-child or a Woman-child De Consect dist cap. 4. Guil Durand Joan. Stell c. These things are all contrary to the Scriptures In the year 827 there was a Council held in the time of Pope Paschalis at Aquisgranum who ordained that no Ecclesiastical persons should wear any sumptuous Garments or Rings nor Ouches on their fingers but Bishops only when they were saying Mass in their High-Priests Robes Christian Massaeus lib. Concil Becon fol. 303. In the year 834 the Feast of Holy Trinity instituted by Gregory In the year 848 Pope Sergius the second his Name being Osporci that is Swines-snout or Hogs-mouth he changed his Name to Sergius And after that the Popes of Rome took it foâ—â— special priviledg to change their Names So that if he had been a Malefactor before he was a Pope he called himself Boniface which signifies Goodness And if he had been a Coward then he termed himself Leo a Lyon And if he had been a defamed person then he called himself Benedictus which signifies good Name and Fame Chron. Polichron c. Lib. 4. cap. 10. de Inventor Cerum In the year 850 Pope Leo the fourth he ordained that no Lay-man should come near to the Priest in the time of the Mass nor Into the Quire Seg. Plat. Becon fol. 343. This Pope was the first that had the Golden Cross carried before him Which is contrary to the Apostles In the same year in the same Popes time the Monkish Religion of the Camaldinenses was devised their Cowle and Cloak and all that ever they wear from top to toe was white They were to go bare-footed and lye on the ground He also instituted the Heart of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary that it should be kept holy eight dayes Pol. Chron. Lib Germ. Bec. fol. 313. Lib. Concil Seg. â— â—oan Functius In the year 858. this Pope Leo was the first that offered his â—eet to kiss to Princes Volat. Plat. rant Becon fol. 298. In the year 870 Pope Nichelas about this time was the first that decreed That the Popes Laws and Letters should be of equal Authority with the Scriptures He a so decreed that the Service should he in Latin and that Priests should not marry He also decreed that Gloria in Excelsis that is Glory in the Highest should be sung on Maurday Thursday in Lent De Consist dist 1. glor Becon fol. 343. In the year 863 Pope Bennet the third commanded that Priests should wear Apparel meet for their degree He also ordained that the Priests should be present at the Burial of the Bishops and sing prayers for their souls and that Bishops should do the like for them Fascit temp Chron. Becon fol. 304. Chron. Rlat In the year 871 Pope Nicholas made a Law That no Wife should be held lawful except she was first blest with a Priest The same year the same Pope first decreed That no Marriage ought to be in the time of Lent Gret Chron. Bec. fol 331. Which is now observed and is contrary to the Apostles There was also a Decree made in the Council at Illerdonse That from Septuagessima unto the Octaves of Easter and three weeks before John Baptist and again that from Advent to Twelftide after Christmas Marriages was forbidden to be solemnized and if any did marry in those forbidden times they should be separated Quest 23. Chap. 4. non oporte In the year 891 was the University of Oxford sounded by King Alfâ—ed which was before a place Dedicated to the Muses Isaackson Chron. In the year 913 In Pope Sergius the thirds time the Order of Clunasences Monks came up and their clothing
them that believe and that unto all such as receive thee thou mayest be health of soul and body and that from out of the place thou shalt be sprinkled may flye away all Fancy Wickedness and Craftiness of the Devils subtilty and every foul spirit The Papists Conjurations of Water I conjure thee thou Creature of Water in the Name of Cross God the Father Almighty and in the Name of Cross Jesus Christ his Son our Lord and in the Vertue of Cross the Holy Ghost that thou become a Conjured Water to expel the power of the Enemy Here the Pope is smothered with his own smoak Pope Leo the thrid Pope John the seventh Pope Adrian the first with others made Decrees for establishing of Images Leo the third Emperor of Greece decreed that Images should be taken out of the Churches and burnt openly at Constantinople The said Emperor threw out of the Temple all the Images and burnt them in the open Market This was contrary to the Pope Pope Eugenius decreed that Children which were to be Christned should have a God-father and a God-mother A Council held at Rotomage decreed that their Sacrament the Priests should put it into the Lay-peoples mouths and that they should not touch it with their hands contrary to the use and practice of the primitive Christians many hundred years after Christ Lib. Concil Bec. fol. 329. In Pope Urban the First 's time was the Order of the Nunnes of Saint Briget invented by Brigeta and that the Nunnes should be closed above in a Closet and the men beneath Popâ— Nicholas the first ordained that no temporal man whether King or Emperorâ— should have ought to do with those things that appertain to the Priest In the time of Pope Alexander the third there was one Victâ—r a Pope so Alexander got his Popedom by money and force of Ships and Arms in the year One thousand one hundred sixty one And this Pope compelled Lewis King of France and Henry King of England to be his Lacquies and to run on foot by him holding his horse bridle one of the right hand and the other of the left leading him thorough the street in his pomp This is like the Glory of the world this is not like Peter In the year 757 Stephen the third he was the first Pope that was carried on mens shoulders Where was Christ or Peter so carried Pol. vit Pant. In the year 1075 the Emperor deposes the Pope and the Pope excommunicates the Emperor and ill requites the Emperor for his love who gave him power to be chosen Pope without his Election Pope Gregory the ninth ordained that the Sacring-Bell should be rung when the Priest lifteth up the Mystal-Bread and Chalice above his head to move the people to behold that new-found god which they worshipped in knocking kneeling and lifting up of hands to a piece of Bread Crates Malleotes a Heathen he brought the study of Gramar into Rome in the year of the World Three thousand seven hundred eighty nine Pope Boniface the seventh procured a company of men to take his part by whose means he took Pope John the fifteenth and put out his eyes and then threw him into prison Boniface dyed not many days after who after his death was drawn by the feet through the streets of Rome in the year Nine hundred seventy-six Pope Stephen the sixth so envied the Name of his predecessor Forâ—â—osus that he abrogated and dissolved his Decrees and taking up his body after it was buried he cut two of his fingers off his right hand and commanded them to be cast into the River Tyber Pope Sergius caused the body of Formosus where it was buryed to be taken up and afterwards sitting in the Papal See first degraded him then commanded his head to be smitten off with the other three fingers that were left as Sigeberius writeth which done he caused his body to be thrown into Tyber deposing all such as by the said Pormosus before had been consecrated and invested By this Murderer Pope Serâ—ius first came up the use to bear about Candles on Candlemas-day for the purifying of the Virgin Mary Anno 684. Durand G. Achil. Becon fol. 351. It is recorded of Pope Hidlebrand thaâ— he enquired of the Sacrament a Divine answer against the Emperor and because it did not speak he threw it in the fire and burned it Sure the Papists will allow this Pope erred After the death of Pope Clement the fifth the Romish See stood vacant two years and three months Book of Mart. vol. 1 p. 487. Pope Gregory the third was the first that brought into the Masse the Canon or clause for Reliques also he brought into the Memorial the Offering and Sacrifice for the dead Pope Zachary brought in the Priests Vestures and Ornaments Constantius was the first that gave his feet to be kissed of the Emperors about the year Seven hundred Book of Mart. Volume 1. p. 176. Henricu the Emperor with his Wife and Child bare-footed and bare-legged waited on Pope Hidlebrand three days and three nights at the Gates of Conusium before he could be suffered to come in Pope Sylvester the second was accounted a great Sorcerer Pope Alexander the second was forced into a Chamber by Soldiers and there beaten by Pope Hidlebrand This is contrary to the Apostle who said A Bishop must be no striker King Ines ordained in England before the Conquest that Infants should be baptized within thirty days Pope Vrban the second amongst many other Enormities concluded that no Priests son should be capable of Orders And yet Priests must not marry Pag of Popes fol. 87. Bishop Bonner said If an Image be made a god it is no Idol Thus you may see the Papists are contrary to the Scriptures and God who forbiddeth to make Images of him or the likeness of any thing in Heâ—â—â—â— boâ—◠〈◊〉 Earth beâ—â—ath Fox Vol. 3. p. 262. CHAP. VII Concerning Hereticks Judas Iscariot was the first Apostate that fell from the truth who sold his Master to the covetous Priests for thirty pieces of silver and slew his Father married his Mother and in the end hanged himself Read Euseb Chrâ—n In the year 163 Demas which Paul spake of forsook the truth and became an Idol-priest at Thessalonica Pilate that gave sentence upon Christ afterward slew himself Mâ—rcellina the Heretick worshipped and offered Incense unto the Images of Jesus and Paul c. In the year 81 Cerinthus the Heretick dreamed that the Kingdom of Christ should become Earthly and that Christ should reign on the Earth a thousand years Montanus the Heretick forbad Marriage and commanded abstinence from certain meats as unlawful In the year 287 Marcellâ—nas the Heretick Bishop of Rome denied Christ and offered sacrifice unto Idols for which he was condemned by a Council of three hundred Bishops called together at Sin 〈◊〉 Whereby it appears the Bishop of Rome erred and was fallible In the year 340 Eustathius the Heretick forbad Marriage 〈◊〉 Laws
Osburn 's Case of Tythes This Edgar was of a vicious life favourable to the Monks he displac'd the marryed Priests and brought in Monks of single life to possess their places he built and prepared several Monasteries and Nunneries He was cruel to Citizens and a deflowerer of Maidens he was joyned in the Act in shedding the blood of Earl Ethelwold that he might enjoy Elfâ—ida his Wife Canutus also the first Danish King who being guilty of the blood of Edward and Edmund Sons of Iron-side and Heirs to the Crown about the year 1016 confirmed Tythes and built the Abbey of St. Bennet so called in Norfolkâ— and in Suffolk he with great Devotion built the Monastery of St. Edmund so called which Saint he most dreadfully feared for the seeming Ghost of him often affrighted him for which cause as also to expiate the sins of his Fathers he confirmed Tythes See Osburn 's Case of Tythes Thus its plain that Tythes were given for the satisfaction of the sins of the Donor and to maintain the Popish Clergy to say and sing Mass to pray for the souls of the Donors Ethelwolfe King of England in the year 844 in his Devotion to holy Church and Religious Orders and for the remedy of their souls and that their sins might be remitted he gave the Tythe of all his Goods and Lands in West-Saxony with liberty and freedom from all servage and civil charge in the days of Pope Jone which Pope fell in labour as she was going a Procession and died being accompanied with Cardinals Patriarchs Arch-Bishops Bi-Deacons Monks Fryars and Nuns Pope Paschal about the year 1110 a Council being held in his time by his order it was decreed that it should be Heresie for any to deny obedience to the Pope and made a Canon for paying of Tenths to Priests concluding it sin against the Holy Ghost to sell the Tenths he renewed an Excommunication against the Emperor and thrust him from his Crown and Princely Title and provoked his Son Henry the Fifth and armed him to rebel against his Father The great Decree which speaks most plainly and till which nothing was given forth which did directly constitute them but rather still supposed them as due by some former right was made at the Council of Treat under Pope Plus the Fourth about the year 1560 and yet that great Council followed the Doctrine of their Fathers and said they were due to God and had no new Authority for their great Decree which they commanded to be obeyed under the penalty of Excommunication But notwithstanding the many Laws Canons and Decrees of Kings Popes and Councils and Bishops that every man ought to pay the tenth part of his encrease yet was it left to the Owners to ofter it where they pleased which made so many rich Abbeys and Monasteries And till the year 1200 or thereabouts every one gave their â—ythes as their own pleasure which made Pope Innocent the third send his Decretal Epistle to the Bishop of Canterbury commanding him to enjoin every man to pay his temporal goods to those that ministred spiritual things to them which was enforced by Ecclesiastical Censures And this was the first beginning of general Parochial payment of tythes in England and this Popes Decree is recorded by Cook in the second part of his Institutes who saith That because the Popes Decree seemed reasonable it was admitted and enjoyned by the Law of the Nation the King and People of England being then Papists Yet notwithstanding our English Parliaments not willing wholly to forget the poor for whose sakes tythes were chiefly given did make divers Laws that a convenient portion of the tythes should be set apart for the maintenance of the poor of the parish for ever 2 R. 15 16.4 H. 4 as the Statutes at large do witness The Pope having brought in tythes and made a pretended Title by prescription set up Courts to recover them which were called Ecclesiastical Courts where his own Creatures were Judges Afterwards Henry the Eighth King of England being a Papist and believing the Popes Doctrine as also did his Parliament That Tythes were due to God and holy Church made a Law that every one should set out and pay Tythes He made a second Law in his time to the like purpose in pursuance of the former and great reason he had and need there was for them for having dissolved many Monasteries after he denied the Pope to be the Supream Head of the Church and took it to himself which Monasteries had many Tythes and Rectories appropriated to them and either had them in his own hands or sold them to others to be held as Lay-possessions And they having no Law to recover them by the Popes Laws not reaching to Lay-persons so called he was nocessitated to make new Laws to enfore the payment of them but still restrained the Tryal of Tythes to Ecclesiastical Courts After him Edward the Sixth in pursuance of his Fathers Laws and upon the same grounds makes another Law for the payment of Predial and Personal Tythes uader penalty of double damages and cost who also restrains the Tryal of them to the Ecclesiastical Courts So here you may see the Papists were the first that set up Tythe and forced Maintenance and the Spiritual Courts contrary to Christ and the Apostles in the primitive times CHAP. XIV Concerning the Religion and Customs of the old Britans before they were Christians and after they were Christians VVHen they were Heathen in old time in England in their Worship they offered mens blood thinking that to be the most precious Sacrifice of all others and when the Priest by Lot cast who should dye they had all their brains knockt out at one 〈◊〉 and then they sought out the veins of the heart and drew 〈◊〉 blood and struck it upon the head of his friend then they hoâ—â—â—ed up the Sails And this they thought pleased their God The Danes and Normans in the Province of Selon every ninth year sacrificed and killed unto their gods ninety nine men and as many horses and dogs and cocks for Hawks which their gods sent them and said by the same they should please them And the blind ignorant people the Britans had Altars and they worshipped the Heads of great Rivers Camb. p. 698. Crysanthus was Bishop in Bâ—itan and of all his Ecclesinstical Revenues and Prosits was wont to reserve for himself but two toaves of bread only on the Lords day Camb. p. 84. But u w-a-dayes neither Bishop nor Priest will think this sufficient but they would scorn it being grown so old in oppression In the River called Swale in Yorkshire Augustin baptized an innumerable multitude of Women and Children Camb. p. 136 137. Then they had no Fonts Augustin the bishop caused the people to enter into the Water and they were baptized And here was no talk of a Cross nor God-fathers Pauli us Bishop of York baptized the Inhabitants of Nottinghamshire in the River Irent Caâ—â—h
vowing and natural Languages And others that be not in these things you call Lay-people Judge people of the Papists distinctions which is contrary to the Apostles and do not you think that Pilare that set Hebrew Greek and Latin a top of Christ when he crucified him would not have made the Pope a fine spiritual man For does not the Pope crucisie Christ afresh Has he not put him to open shame and persecuted Christ in his Members and set his spiritual mens Tongues over him to watch his Sepulchre from Christ arising with all his Guards and Inquifitions And is it not said in the Revelation The Beast has power over the Tongues and the Wohre she sits upon the Tongues which are waters So here all may see your spiritual men are waters and the Where and the Beast has power over your spiritual Function And doth not the Apostle say Tongues must cease Then your spiritual men must cease and the Lay-people will remain And none but such as they of your spiritual Function as you call it must meddle with Divine things and all the rest that be not of your Orders you call Lay-people and such must not meddlewith those things which you call Divine which indeed are nothing but your own Inventions and Traditions and pelting Ceremonies which you have not from the Apostles as your Canons manifesteth but in this your ignorance is seen of the mind of God Christ and the Scriptures So Jacob Moses and David were keepers of sheep and Amos a Herdsman and Elisha a Plough-man and Peter John and Andrew fishermen and Luke a Physician Matthew a Tole-gatherer Paul 4 Tent-makor Was not all these lookt on as Lay-people by the Priests of their Ages And would not they all be lookt o n as Lay-people by you had they been in your age because they were not bred up in your Schools which you have set up and there made your spiritual men since the Apostles days who are made of man and by man and not of God or Christ nor by him nor of him yea would not you have burnt these Tradesmen to ashes if they had been in your days Was not the Vniversities first set up by the Roman Emperor when he conquered this Nation of England to learn Philosophy where he brought the people to learn the Laws and manner of the Roman-Heathen And then after he did turn to make them Priests and serve seven years time like a Prentice Lad and so become a Company like other Company of Trades-men Did not the Papists make his Jesuits and Priests there And doth not the Protestants still make their Priests there Is it not the Philosophy that was set up there by the Roman Emperor the Heathen Whether or no did not the Heathen Romans there teach the Gramar the Logick and most of the seven Arts except it be the patcht-up Divinity The Cross of Christ it is the Power of God This was the Cross in the Primitive Times and was for about Three hundred years after Christ. And then after came up the Wooden Stone and Iron Cross and then the true Church went into the Wilderness which was persecuted by the Dragon and the woman was fed of God a Time and Times and half a Times a Time a Year Two Times Two Tears Half a Time Half a Year One thousand two hundred and threescore days Then the Prophets prophesied in sackeloth and ashes which is a mournful state One thousand two hundred and sixty Dayes the Dragon having given his power to the Beast and he persecuted the Saints and power was given to him over all Kindreds Tongues and People and all that dwelt upon the Earth should worship him and the Whore and false Church got on the Beast which had got two Horns like a Lamb and he should continue forty two Months which is One thousand two hundred and sixty days Then came up the Wood and the Stone Church when the true Church was sted into the Wilderness which wore the fine linnen going in white which is the righteousness of Christ and the righteousness of the Saints Then the false Church set up the Surplices as you may read what Pope he was And also you may see how the Popes and Papists who say they are infallible and cannot err how they contradicted one another and killed one another and many things might be mentioned which is out of the bounds of Civility and Modesty to mention which might be instanced out of Records of them But here you may read how all these things came up by the Papists and others and never set up by Christ and his Apostles as you may read in the Scriptures of the New-Testament These things which have been decreed by the Popes were not decreed by Christ and his Apostles which they have persecuted people for not observing which Christ and the Apostles did not persecute any for not observing that which they commanded Where is plainly seen that the Popish Church is a Schism rent from the True Church in the Apostles dayes and to be out of the Power and Spirit of Christ and the Apostles and their Faith And so their Sacrifices is not like Abels but Cains which God has no respect to and so with the Life Spirit and Power the Apostles were in they are seen over and comprehended Glory to the Lord God for ever whose Righteousness and Glory shines and spreads over all Glory be to God blessed for ever who is over all King of Saints the Beginning of all the Creator of all whose Omnipotent Power is seen by such that are on the Rock of Ages who was the First and the Last Beginning and Ending who hath revealed the knowledg of the Father to them who is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah which slayes with the Sword and kills with the Sword the words of his mouth and the Lamb shall have the victory who destroys the Beast the Dragon the false Church the Devil and his works who reigns whose Right it is Ninus the Son of Bealus was the Third King of Babylon He set up his Fathers Image and proclaimed free pardon to all Offenders if they would fall down and worship it which they did and after that many simple people in plain Devotion did the like This Ninus was the first that began this gross Idolatry He began to Reign in the year of the world 1906 and before Christ 2056. He built Niniveh and after he was slain And by Ninus his ill president other Princes set up their Fathers Images and caused people to commit Idolatry with them and the Devil in his willingness to procure man unto wickedness would often times give answer by these Iaols and thereof came the Name of Bell Baal Bell-Phyor and Belzebub Read Jerom Austin Eusebuus Pliny and Berisus From Heber came the Jews which are called Hebrews after his Name at the Division or Confusion of Languages the Hebrew Tongue remained only in his House In this time the Hebrew Speech was called