Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	bishop_n	john_n	winchester_n	2,521	5	11.9222	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09105	A manifestation of the great folly and bad spirit of certayne in England calling themselues secular priestes VVho set forth dayly most infamous and contumelious libels against worthy men of their owne religion, and diuers of them their lawful superiors, of which libels sundry are heer examined and refuted. By priestes lyuing in obedience.	Parsons, Robert, 1546-1610.	1602 (1602)	STC 19411; ESTC S119803	191,126	270

ouerthrow therby the Popes institution of the Archpriest their intention must needs be consequently to exclude all Papal authority and iurisdiction from the kingdome of England except the prince of what religion soeuer agree thervnto VVhich doctrine of what quality it is no man can but see And for better explication therof we are in this place to aduertise the Reader that albeit we haue said so much already in our Apologie about this matter as was needful for that place and the obiections made by these people did require yet hauing both thought and sought more of that poynt since by occasion of the often vrging it we find somwhat to be added heere to wit that the Appellation to Rome in the first instance which there we mentioned was rather an antecedent or preamble to the law it selfe of Premunire then the cheefe substance therof which preamble was begon specially vnder K. Henry the second in the cause of S. Thomas of Canterbury about the yeare 1170. and continued on vntil towards the later end of the raigne of K. Edward the 3. to wit about the yeare 1375. which was but a yeare before the said Kings death when VVickclif now had begone to styrre against Cleargie men and the king being impotent permitted the gouernment most to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster his fourth some at great variance in those dayes with the bishops namely VVickam and Courtney the first of VVinchester the second of London and himselfe not a litle incensed with Iohn VVickcliffes new diuelish persuasions against the cleargy and religious men VVherfore a contention being in those dayes about the collation of benefices and bishopricks in England wherof the Popes were wont to dispose for the most part they concluded in England after many contentions and disputes and many sendings forth and back to Auinion in France where the Popes at that tyme resided that such prouisions of benefices should not be sought nor made from the Pope immediately for the tyme to come but only in England by consent of the prince and confirmation afterward of the Pope for the most principal benefices and dignityes and whosoeuer should contrary to this procure prouisions immediately from the Pope or any other power or iurisdiction contrary to this lawe should incurre the penaltyes therof And this to haue byn the only true meaning and intent of the said law and lawmakers that were Catholiks is euident by all authors that haue wrytten therof And in this sense there is no controuersy among vs for that later Popes haue eyther agreed thervnto or permitted the same and we see the like in vre also in other Catholike countreys at this day by agreement and composition betwene the Sea Apostolike Princes and Catholike Cleargie But besides this sense and meaning of the law there hath byn another inuented by heretiks and enemyes synce that tyme as though by this law all external iurisdiction of the bishop of Rome should be vtterly excluded from England not only in prouiding of benefices whervnto are annexed temporalityes but euen in matters also meere spiritual In which sense K. Henry the eight Father of her Maiestie was persuaded by some of his Counsel infected with Luthers Doctrine at that tyme to condemne the Card. of Yorke and all his English Cleargie in the losse of all their temporalityes by pretence of this law for admitting the authority and iurisdictiō of the Popes legats Campegius the said Cardinal without the kings expresse licence And in this sense also hath the Popes authority byn called forrayne and external and vtterly excluded from England by diuers lawes statutes oathes set forth by Protestants against the same since that tyme. And in the same sense and signification being plainly false and heretical as yow see do these libellers vrge it now against the Archpriest and others that admit and approue his authority though meerly spiritual as all the world seeth as hauing nor benefice nor temporality annexed to it or ioyned with it And so we see with what kynd of people these men are drawen by passion to conspire and iump The third point of their argumēt in this book is to shew that nether the Pope nor any other ecclesiastical power what soeuer hath any authority to restrayn punish or presse by way of force or armes immediatly or by others any Christian tēporal prince whatsoeuer for any delict of heresy Apostasy impugnation of Christian faith extirpation of religion or other cryme whatsoeuer though neuer so much danger or damage should e●s●e by his default to the commouwealth or to the rest of Christendome And this irreligious paradox they go about to maintayne throughout their whole book alleadging fond childish argumēts for the same as that the word of the spirit not the swords of the flesh or any arme of man is that which giueth life and beauty to the Catholike Churche and that the promise made to S. Peter is a sure and sufficient ground to defend Catholike religion without armes And other such fācies which the Anabaptistes do vse to proue that there should be no external force or ciuil magistrate vsed by Christians and as Martyn Luther disputed when he would prooue that warre was not to be waged against the Turke for religion especially at the Popes direction And yet are our men so confident in these their follies as they are not ashamed to say in the same place to Catholiks Giue no eare deare Catholikes to any priuate VVhisperings or Iesuitical persuasions to the contrary all arguments that can be brought assure your selues are false and vnlearned sophistifications Thus they say and thus they assure Catholiks but much more sure are wee that this is pride ignorance ●olly and falshood in them for that they cannot but know that all the Catholike learned men of Christendome are against them in this position and that the proofes and reasons which they alleadge for the same called by these men heere priuate VVhisperings Iesuitical persuasions and vnlearned sophistications are so learned and weighty as they are not able to answere one of them and if we should heere set downe the ranke of authors that haue wrytten of this point within these 400. yeares as also in our dayes against heretikes and atheists and conuinced the same by most learned demonstrations both out of scriptures councelles fathers and theological reasons to wit that albeit directly the supreme pastor of Christs Churche according to the cōmon opinion of diuynes haue not temporal dominion or iurisdiction ouer christian temporal princes that are supreame in their owne states yet indirectly for conseruation and defence of religion when it is impugned or put in hazard by them he may also vse the sword or help of temporal forces for his restraint eyther immediatly from himself or by other princes at his direction if we say we should cyte heere all the learned Catholike authors of all nations that haue wrytten and

set it downe also being wrytten as is euident before these broyles fel out VVherfore let vs heare yf yow please his words Fourthly saith he the facility and commodity that there is and wil be in England to make this perfect reformation whensoeuer God shal reduce that countrey doth greatly conuite and oblige vs to the same for we shal not fynd that difficulty resistance by the grace of God in England which good men do find in diuers other Cath. Countreyes for bringing in of any reformation that is attempted and that which the very Prophets found euer among the Iewes and that Christ himselfe did find among the scribes and pharasyes to wit the repugnance of corrupt peruerse stubborne people that wil contradict and resist their owne benefit we are not like to find I say the infinite mercy of our Sauiour be blessed for it eyther backward bishop or dissolute priests or licentious religious men or women to oppose themselues against so holy a designment as this our reformation is or if any one such should creep in among the rest he would not dare to shew himselfe nor should he fynd followers all is now zeale and integritie in our new Cleargy almighty God be thanked for it and no lesse in our laity and Catholike gentlemen of England that haue borne the brunt of persecution for so many yeares so as if we should want the effects of a true and sound reformation at the next change againe it would be for want of some zealous men to sollicite and procure the same For on the behalfe of the Realme Countrey I persuade my selfe most certaynly that there will be no difficulty which ought to animate such as feele the zeale of gods glory within their breasts to ioyne hands togeather as S. Luke sayth all Apostolike men did in the primatiue Church and each one to seek aboue other to haue a part in the happy procuration of so holy and important a worke These are his words And by this now may any man consider what euil mynd F. Persons had in gathering these notes of Reformation and whether he were deceaued or no in his opinion and hope of these priests good concurrance therin that impugne so fearsely now the very name of Reformatiō saying that it was made to put Iesuits in gouerment wheras throughout the book we find not so much as once any mention to be made of them but all the high Counsel of Reformation as scoffingly they cal it to be comytted by name to Bishops and Noble men to be appoynted by the Prince and parlament c. The second chapter is intituled thus what maner of Reformation is needful in Englād c. And the third How this Reformation may best be procured and what disposition of mynds is needful for it in all partyes c. And the fourth How all sorts of people to wit Catholiks Schismatiks and heretiks may be charitably dealt withall at the next chaunge of Religion VVhich fourth Chapter beginneth thus being forced for breuitie to pretermit the other wholy After vnion and good disposition of mynd in all a harty reconciliation to almighty God wil be necessary a sweet pious and prudent manner of dealing and proceeding as wel with such as haue byn frends as enemyes as wel Catholiks as Schismatiks protestants persecutors And as for knowne Catholiks which haue byn constant and borne the brunt in tyme of persecutiō though for their owne parts they ought to follow the most holy and secure counsel of our Sauior Cùm omnia feceritis dicite quia serui inutiles sumus quod debuimus facere fecimus nothing presuming of themselues or vaunting ouer others but expecting their reward with humility at Gods hands yet is it euident that in all reason and iustice and law of gratitude they are to be cheefly respected c. Thus he wryteth with much more of this first sort of men which we are forced to passe ouer for auoyding prolixitie and no lesse charitably wryteth he of the second sort called commonly Schismatikes of whome he sayth thus As for Schismatikes or close or weake Catholiks that haue fallen denyed or dissembled their religion if they haue done it of frailty and haue not byn persecutors the more compassion is to be had of their estate and the more sweetnes to be vsed in raysing restoring them to the vnity of Gods Church againe c. Thus he wryteth and then sheweth the best and most pious manner of reconciling them and from thence passeth to the third poynt which concerneth heretikes as wel such as easily wil returne whome he iudgeth most courteously to be dealt with all as with those that are obstinate towards whome and their reduction he persuadeth most charity labour and patience to be vsed standing longest vpon this poynt of all other And surely to shewe the charitable disposition of this man most contrary to that which the enuy of his emulators do point out and ascribe vnto him we are resolued in this place contrary to our former purpose to set downe some good part of his speech in this behalfe which is this ensuing And this sayth he for them that wil returne but as for enemyes and obstinate heretikes whether they be of malice or of ignorance another course seemeth necessary to be taken for their reduction and satisfaction which is to endeauour by all wayes to conuince them yf it be possible of their errors this by reason and sweet meanes as farre as may be wherof I shal touch some particulars in this place And first of all perchaunce it would be good considering the present state of the Realme and how generally and deeply it is hath byn plunged in all kynd of heresyes not to presse any mans conscience at the beginning for matters of religion for some few yeares to the end that euery man may more boldly and cōfidēntly shew his wounds and be cured therof which otherwise he would eyther couer deny or dissemble to his greater hurt and more daungerous corruption of the whole body But yet it may be prouided ioyntly that this toleration be only with such as lyue quietly and are desyrous to be informed of the truth and do not preach or teach or seek to infect others And by experience it hath byn seene that this kind of suffering and bearing for a tyme hath done great good and eased many difficultyes in diuers townes rendred vp in the low countreyes which being mitigated at the beginning with this entrance of clemency neuer greatly cared for heresyes afterwards This is the beginning of his discourse wherof he addeth afterwards many reasons setteth downe also diuers meanes wayes in particular how heretikes might best be persuaded or conuinced wherof one is free publike and in different disputation to be graunted them with most equal and sure Lawes and conditions wherof he saith thus But for conuincing their vnderstanding in matters of controuersy I could