to the King yielding and rendering unto him onely the Style of Supreme Head next under Christ of the Church of England all other Service Subjection and Obedience to be given to any other forein Potentate which should be prejudicial to the Kings Highness in this behalf being excluded and that both frankly and freely of their own voluntary motion and also upon the faith and fidelity of their Priesthood as by their own words and handwriting may appear in form as hereunder followeth The Oath of Stephen Gardener Bishop of Winchester made to King Henry VIII EGO Stephanus Wintoniensis Episcopus pure sponte The Oath of Stephen Gardener to the King absolute in verbo Pontificio profiteor ac spondeo illustrissimae vestrae Regiae Majestati singulari ac summo Domino meo Patrono Henrico Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Regi Fidei Defensori Domino Hiberniae atque in terris Ecclesiae Anglicanae Supremo immediate sub Christo Capiti quod posthac nulli externo Imperatori Regi Principi aut Praelato nec Romano Pontifiei quem Papam vocant fidelitatem obedientiam c. Translated into English thus I Stephen Bishop of Winchester do purely of mine own voluntary accord and absolutely in the word of a Bishop profess and promise to your Princely Majesty my singular and chief Lord and Patron Henry the Eighth by the grace of God King of England and of France Defender of the Faith Lord of Ireland and in earth of the Church of England Supreme Head immediately under Christ That from this day forward I shall swear promise give or cause to be given to no forein Potentate Emperour King Prince or Prelate nor yet to the Bishop of Rome whom they call Pope any Oath or Fealty directly or indirectly either by word or writing but at all times and in every case and condition I shall observe hold and maintain to all effects and intents the quarrel and cause of your Royal Majesty and your Successors and to the uttermost of my power shall defend the same against all manner of persons whomsoever I shall know or suspect to be Adversaries to your Majesty or to your Successors and shall give my faith truth and obedience syncerely and with my very heart onely to your Royal Majesty as to my Supreme Prince I profess the Papacy of Rome not to be ordained of God by holy Scripture Stephen Gardener abrenounceth the Pope but constantly do affirm and openly declare and shall declare it to be set up onely by Man and shall cause diligently other men likewise to publish the same Neither shall I enter any Treaty with any person or persons either privily or apertly or shall consent thereto that the Bishop of Rome shall have or exercise here any Authority or Iurisdiction or is to be restored to any Iurisdiction hereafter Furthermore that the said Bishop of Rome now being or any that shall succâ—ed him hereafter in the said See is not to be called Pope nor Supreme Bishop or Vniversal Bishop nor most holy Lord but onely ought to be called Bishop of Rome and Fellow Brother as the old manner of the most ancient Bishops hath been This I shall to my power openly maintain and defend And I shall firmly observe and cause to be observed of other to the uttermost of my cunning wit and power all such Laws and Acts of this Realm how and whatsoever as have been enacted and established for the extirpation and suppression of the Papacy and of the Authority and Iurisdiction of the said Bishop of Rome Neither shall I appeal hereafter to the said Bishop of Rome nor ever consent to any person that shall appeal to him neither shall I attempt prosecute or follow any Suit in the Court of Rome for any cause of right or justice to be had or shall make answer to any Plea or Action nor shall take upon me the person and office either of the Plaintiff or Defendent in the said Court And if the said Bishop by his Messenger or by his Letters shall make any means or signification unto me of any matter whatsoeuer it be I shall with all speed and diligence make declaration and advertisement thereof or cause the same to be signified either to your Princely Majesty or to some of your secret Council or to your Successors or any of their privy Council Neither shall I send or cause to be sent at any time any writing or messenger to the said Bishop or to his Court without the knowledge or consent of your Majesty or your Successors willing me to send writing or messenger unto him Neither shall I procure or give counsel to any person to procure Bulls Briefs or Rescripts whatsoever either for me or for any other from the said Bishop of Rome or his Court. And if any such shall be procured against my will and knowledge either in general or in special or else howsoever they shall be granted unto them I shall utter and disclose the same and not consent thereunto nor use them in any case and shall cause them to be brought to your Majesty or your Successors Furthermore for the confirmation hereof I give my faith and truth by firm promise and in the faith of a Bishop that against this my foresaid Profession and Promise made I shall defend my self by no Dispensation Exception nor any remedy or cautel of Law or Example during this my natural life And if heretofore I have done or made any Protestation in prejudice of this my Profession and Promise here made the same I do revoke at this present and for ever hereafter and here utterly do renounce by these presents Whereunto I have subscribed and underwritten the name both of my self and of my Bishoprick with my proper hand and thereto also have put to my Seal in perpetual and undoubted testimony of the premisses Given the tenth day of February Anno 1534 and of our Sovereign Lord King Henry the eight twenty six Stephanus Wintoniensis The same Bishop of Winchester's Reasons against the Pope's Supremacy MOreover the said Gardener in the forenamed Book De vera Obedientia what Constancy he pretendeth Steph. Wint. a Lutheran in his Book De vera obedientia what Arguments he inferreth how earnestly and pithily he disputeth on the Kings side against the Vsurped State of the Bishop of Romes Authority by the words of his Book it may appear whereof a brief Collection here followeth IN the process of his foresaid Book The Sword of the Church how far it extendeth he alledging the old distinction of the Papists wherein they give to the Prince the Regiment of things Temporal and to the Church of things Spiritual comparing the one to the greater Light the other to the lesser Light he confuteth and derideth the same distinction declaring the Sword of the Church to extend no further than to Teaching and Excommunication and referreth all preheminence to the Sword of the Prince alledging for this the
An Advertisement AT the earnest request of some Friends I have been prevailed with to publish this small Treatise which had been sooner done had it not been seized in the Press in the Year 1667 by which the Reader will easily see what a prospect the Author then had of the Miseries we now groan under and with what Zeal he then earnestly laboured to open the eyes of Englishmen against the cursed Plots and Contrivances of the bloud-thirsty Papists M. D. June 18. 1681. THE INCREASE OF Popery in England Since the Reformation made by King Henry VIII SHEWING The great encouragement that Priests Jesuits and other Promoter of that bloudy Religion have had from Persons of Power and Authority The Discouragements and notorious Hardships even to Silencing and Banishment from Cities and Corporations that have been the portion of many able and faithful Protestant Ministers that have eminently opposed it With an Essay towards what may possibly befall the Churches of Christ from the Hellish Contrivances and Damnable Plots of Romish Emissaries With a faithful Extract out of the most Authentick Records of the most memorable things referring to the Reformation viz. King Henry VIII his Reasons given in his Proclamation for taking away the Popes Usurped Power His Protestation against the Pope His Injunctions to his Clergy Bishop St phen Gardener's Oath or Protestation and his Reasons against the Popes Supremacy in England And the publick Agreement of the whole Clergy of England as confirmed and ratified in the Book called The Bishops Book published in the Year 1534. Intended to be published in the Year 1667 but seized at the Press by R.L.S. and others By the late Reverend William Dell sometime Rector of Yelden in Bedfordshire LONDON Printed for Richard Janeway 1681. THE PREFACE FOrasmuch as the great and sudden growth of Popery in these three Nations especially in England which hath now for a long time through the Merciful Goodness of God flourished and been happy in the True Reformed Protestant Religion is now sufficiently manifest to all who have not either blinded their own Eies or been blinded by Satan And forasmuch as the means whereby this great Misery and Mystery of Iniquity hath been brought thus far to this dreadful and unhappy success are also as fully manifest to wit First The great Countenance and Incouragement that this Heretical and Bloudy Religion hath had from Persons of Power and Authority together with all the detestable Professors and Promoters thereof Papists Priests and Jesuites who have their daily Councils and Cabals in the Highest Places to promote this great Design of the Devil and of his First-Born on Earth the Pope even to set up the old Damnable Superstition and Doctrine of that Man of Sin whom the Weekly Pamphleteer terms very devoutly His Holiness and yet is no other indeed and truth than His Wickedness the Old Enemy of Christ and his true Christians and Followers the Son of Perdition the Angel of the Bottomless Pit the Destroyer and Murderer of Souls and Bodies the impudent Agent of Hell upon Earth the Devils chief Servant and Factor for his Kingdom of Darkness the Monster of Monsters who hath abused abased and vassalized all Christian Princes made himself superiour to them yea their very Lord and Master even in their own Dominions who hath inforced all their People not only by his frivolous Excommunications but also by Fire and Faggot by Imprisonments Tortures and all manner of exquisite Cruelties which are the only Weapons of his Warfare to bow down to this Beast and to own him as God sitting in the Temple of God not only directly against God but most Proudly and Insolently above him Who hath pilled and polled them of all their Money and Riches which is the only Fish this great Fisher of Rome fishes for who hath disturbed interdicted disordered wasted and overturned whole Empires Kingdoms and Nations at his Wicked Pleasure and hath been no other through all Ages than Satans eminent Vicegerent upon Earth This this prodigious and unparalell'd Wretch must now in the midst of three Protestant Nations be publickly stiled His Holiness forsooth who only is holy as Satan is holy for it may truly be said of him above any other He is of his Father the Devil and of his works he doth I say the countenancing of this Damnable Religion and of this abominable Sect and of the chief H ad of it the Pope is one great cause of the new Increase of this Catholique Herâ—siâ— amongst us Secondly Another cause is The open and notorious discountenancing discouraging silencing displacing and banishing from the Chief Cities and Towns in England all the ab e faithful and godly Ministers of Jesus Christ Who being the diligent painful and sincere Teachers of his true Doctrine set forth in his Gospel for the salvation of Souls and for the reducing the lost Sheep to the fold of the true Shepherd were the greatest and strongest Bulwark against Popery in the Nation For His Wickedness i. e. the Pope and his Wicked Followers knew well enough that Popery could never tâ—ke root again and prosper in these Nations if these Mens Mouths were open They knew well enough that their dark Doctrine and Kingdom could never prevail where the clear light of the Gospel shines And therefore they used their chief Artifices and Satanical Subtilties to seduce the Secular Authority to run on their Errand and to do their Drudgery even to Suppress Imprison and Banish Thesâ— upon slight and forged Pretences and in their stead to foist in a number of ignorant unlearned loose worldly profane and debauched Priests in every City Town and Parish Men generally who neither understand the Law nor the Gospel neither know God nor Themselves nor are endued with any sound and serious knowledge of any th ng that so these keeping away the Light of the Knowledge of the Truth from the people they poor Souls might walk in darkn ss and not know whither they go though they should be led into Popery again which is the Open Broad Way to Hell Thirdly Another Cause is The letting loose the reins to all mannâ—r of Ungodliness and Unrighteousn ss whatsoever that Men not onely without controul but with countenance may be as wicked as they can be in the World may Whore commit Adultery Revel Drink Swear Blaspheme Reproach the Holy Word of God Vilifie his Ministers Abuse and Persecute his People in the greatest freedom the Devil can give whereby Hell is let loose upon Earth and the Smoak of the Bottomless Pit that is Sin and Wickedness of all Sorts and Sizes hath filled and darkened the Nation and Men are gone to the highest extent of Wickedness that can be practised on Earth that if they would be worse they must go to Hell in Hell And that which hath had a Stretched-out Arm to bring about this Kingdom of the Devil amongst Men is the frequent acting and frequenting of Stage-Plays wherein the most Holy and Dreadful Name
to be denied for first he confessed first he taught the Iews first he stood in defence of the Verity and was the first and chief Prolocutor among them but yet that maketh not that he should therefore vindicate a general Primacy and Rule over all other States and Potentates of the world no more than Apelles because he is noted the first and chief of all Painters therefore ought to bear rule over all Painters or because the Vniversity of Paris is nominate for the first and chief of other Vniversities shall therefore the French King and all other Princes in their publick Administration wherein they are set of God become Subjects and Vnderlings to that Vniversity Thus after many other reasons and persuasions contained in the said Book De obedientia for I do but superficially skim over the top onely of his Probations and Arguments finally in the end of his Peroration he concludeth the whole summ of his mind in this effect first denying that the Bishop of Rome had ever any such extern Iurisdiction assigned to him absolutely from God to reign over Kings and Princes for the probation whereof he hath alledged sufficiently as he saith the examples and doings of Christ himself which ought to be to us all a sufficient Document And as concerning the term of Primacy albeit it be used sometimes of the Fathers yet the matter being well considered and rightly expounded maketh nothing for the large Dominion of the Bishop of Rome which now he doth usurp Also as for the Prerogatives granted unto Peter by the which Prerogatives our Saviour would crown his own Gifts given unto him crowning not the flesh and bloud of Peter but the marvellous testimony of his Confession all this maketh nothing for the Popes purpose Likewise as concerning the Local Succession of Peter Succession of Peter the Pope hath nothing thereby to claim If he will be Successor of Peter he must succeed him in Faith Doctrine and Conditions and in so doing he neither will neither yet shall need to seek for Honour but shall be honoured of all good men according as a good man should be and that much more than he being a good man would require Steph. Wint. takes his Vale of the Pope but not his Vltimum Vale. And thus Stephen Winchester taking his leave and bidding the Pope farewell endeth with a friendly Exhortation willing him to be wise and circumspect and not to strive stubbornly against the truth The light of the Gospel saith he so spreadeth his beams in all mens eyes that the works of the Gospel be known the Mysteries of Christs Doctrine are opened both learned and unlearned Men and Women being English born do see and perceive that they have nothing to do with Rome nor with the Bishop of Rome but that every Prince in his own Dominion is to be taken and accepted as a Vicar of God and Vicegerent of Christ in his own bounds And therefore seeing this Order is taken of God and one in the Church should bear the Office of Teaching The Office of Teaching another should bear the Office of Ruling The Office of Ruling which Office is onely limited to Princes he exhorteth him to consider the truth and to follow the fame wherein consisteth our true and special Obedience c. A Letter of the University of Cambridge against the Usurped Power of the Bishop of Rome UNiversis Sanctae Matris Ecclesiae filiis ad quos praesentes Literae perventurae sunt coetus omnis regentium non regentium Academiae Cantabrigiensis salutem in omnium salvatore Jesu Christo Cum de Romani Pontificis potestate c. Translated into English thus TO all and singular Children of the holy Mother Church to whose hands these presents shall come A Letter of the University of Cambridge the whole Society of Regents and not Regents of the Vniversity of Cambridge sendeth greeting in our Saviour Iesus Christ Whereas now of late it hath risen up in question among us concerning the Power of the Bishop of Rome which he doth both claim to himself by the holy Scripture over all Provinces and Nations in Christendom and hath now of long time exercised in this Realm of England And forasmuch as our Censure concerning the cause is required to wit Whether the Bishop of Rome hath any Power or Authority in this Kingdom of England allotted to him by God in the Scripture more than any other forein Bishop or no We thought it therefore good reason and our duty for the searching out of the verity of the said Question that we should imploy therein our whole endeavour and study whereby we might tender and publish to the world what our reason and censure is touching the premisses For therefore we suppose that Vniversities were first provided and instituted of Princes to the end that doth the people of Christ might in the Law of God be instructed and also that false Errors if any did rise might through the vigilant care and industry of learned Divines be discussed extinguished and utterly rooted out For the which cause we in our Assemblies and Convocations after our accustomed manner resorting and conferring together upon the Question aforesaid and studiously debating and deliberating with our selves how and by what order we might best proceed for the finding out of the truth of the matter and at length choosing out certain of the best learned Doctors and Batchelors of Divinity and other Masters have committed to them in charge studiously to insearch and peruse the places of holy Scripture by the viewing and conferring of which places together they might certifie us what is to be said to the Question propounded The Censure of the University of Cambridge against the Popes Supremacy Forasmuch therefore as we having heard and well advised and throughly discussed in open Disputations what may be said on both parts of the foresaid Question those Reasons and Arguments do appear to us more probable stronger truer and more certain and sounding much more near to the pure and native sense of Scripture which do deny the Bishop of Rome to have any such power given him of God in the Scripture By reason and force of which Arguments we being persuaded and conjoyning together in one Opinion have with our selves thus decreed to answer unto the Question aforesaid and in these writings thus resolutely do answer in the name of the whole Vniversity and for a Conclusion undoubted do affirm approve and pronounce The Bishop of Rome hath no more State in England than hath any other Bishop That the Bishop of Rome hath no more State Authority and Iurisdiction given him of God in the Scriptures over this Realm of England than any other extern Bishop hath And in testimony and credence of this our Answer and Affirmation we have caused our common Seal to be put to these our foresaid Letters accordingly At Cambridge in our Regent House Anno Dom. 1534. The publick and general
he be be he Bishop of Rome or of any other City Province or Diocese do presume to take upon him Authority or Iurisdiction in causes or matters which appertain unto Kings and the civil powers and their Courts and will maintain or think that he may so do by the Authority of Christ and his Gospel although the Kings and Princes would not permit and suffer him so to do no doubt that Bishop is not worthy to be called a Bishop but rather a Tyrant The Bishop os Rone judged to be a Tyrant and Usurper and as Vsurper of other mens rights contrary to the Law of God and is worthy to be reputed none otherwise than he that goeth about to subvert the Kingdom of Christ For the Kingdom of Christ in his Church is a spiritual and not a carnal Kingdom of the world that is to say the very Kingdom that Christ by himself or by his Apostles and Disciples sought here in this world was to bring all Nations from the carnal Kingdom of the Prince of darkness unto the light of his spiritual Kingdom and so himself to reign in the hearts of the people by grace faith hope and charity And therefore â—ith Christ did never seek nor exercise any worldly Kingdom or Dominion in this world but rather refusing and flying from the same did leave the said worldly Governance of Kingdoms Realms and Nations to be governed by Princes and Potentates in like manner as he did find them and commanded also his Apostles and Disciples to do the semblable as it was said before whatsoever Priest or Bishop will arrogate or presume to take upon him any such Authority and will pretend the Authority of the Gospel for his defence therein he doth nothing else but in a manner as you would say crowneth Christ again with a Crown of Thorn and traduceth and bringeth him forth again with his Mantle of Purple upon his back to be mocked and scorned of the world as the Iews did to their own damnation This Doctrine was subscribed and allowed by the witness and testimony of these Bishops and other Learned Men whose Names hereunder follow as appeareth in the Bishops Book before named TESTES Testimonies of Biâ—hops and Doctors of England against the Pope Thomas Cantuariensis Edouardus Eboracensis Johannes Londonensis Cuthbertus Dunelmensis Stephanus Wâ—ntonlensis Robertus Carliolensis Johannes Exoniensis Johannes Lincolniensis Johannes Bathoniensis Rolandus Coventr Lichfield Thomas Eliensis Nicolaus Sarum Johannes Bangor Edouardus Herefordiensis Hugo Wigorniensis Johannes Roffensis Richardus Cicestrensis Gulielmus Menevensis Robertus Assavensis Robertus Landavensis Guilielmus Norwicensis Richardus Wolman Archidiacon Sudbur Guilielmus Knight Archidiacon Richmond Johannes Bell Archidiacon Gloucester Edmundus Bonner Archidiacon Leicester Gulielmus Skippe Archidiacon Dorset Nicolaus Heth Archidiacon Stafford Cuthbertus Marshall Archidiacon Nottingham Richardus Curten Archidiacon Oxon. Guilielmus Glife Galfridus Dounes Robertus Oking Radulphus Bradford Richardus Smith Simon Matthew Johannes Pâ—in Guilielmus Buckmaster Guilielmus May Nicolaus Wotton Richardus Cox Johannes Edmunds Thomas Robertson Johannes Baker Thomas Barret Johannes Hase Johannes Tyson These were Doctors of Divinity and both Laws A Protestation in the name of the King and the whole Council and Clergy of England why they refuse to come to the Popes Council at his call SEeing that the Bishop of Rome calleth Learned Men from all parts conducting them by great rewards The Kings Protestation why he sends not to the Popes Council making as many of them Cardinals as he thinketh most mâ—et and most ready to defend Frauds and Vntruths we could not but with much anxiety cast with our selves what so great a preparance of Wits should mean As chance was we guessed even as it followed We have been so long acquainted with Romish Subtilties and Popish Deceits The Popes craft espied that we well and easily judged the Bishop of Rome to intend an Assembly of his Adherents and men sworn to think all his Lusts to be Laws we were not deceived Paul the Bishop of Rome hath called a Council to the which he knew well either few or none of the Christian Princes could come both the time that he indicted it and also the place where he appointed it to be might assure him of this But whither wander not these Popish Bulls whither wander they not astray What King is not cited and summoned by a proud Minister and Servant of Kings to come to bolster up Errors Frauds Deceits and Vntruths and to set forth this feigned General Council For who will not think that Paul the Bishop of Rome goeth sooner about to make men believe that he pretendeth a General Council than that he desireth one indeed No who can less desire it than they that do despair of their Cause except they be Iudges and give sentence themselves against their Adversaries The King not bound to come at the Popes call We which very sore against our will at any time leave off the procurement of the Realm any common weal need neither to come our selves nor yet to send any Procurators thither no nor yet to make our Excuse for either of both For who can accuse us that we come not at his call which hath no Authority to call us But for a season let us as a sort of Blindlings do grant that he may call us and that he hath Authority so to do yet we pray you may not all men see what availeth it to come to this Council Who be they that have place in the Popes Council where ye shall have no place except yâ— be known both willing to oppress truth and also ready tâ— confirm and stablish Errors Do not all men perceive 〈◊〉 as we with what integrity fidelity and religion these men go about to discuss matters in controversie that take them in hand in so troublesom a time as this is Is it not plain what fruit the Commonweal of Christendom may look for there The place of the Council not indifferent whereas Mantua is chosen the place to keep his Council in Is there any Prince not being of Italy yea is there any of Italy Prince or other dissenting from the Pope that dareth come to this Assembly and to this place If there come none that dare speak for trodden truth none that will venture his life is it marvel if the Bishop of Rome being Iudge No reason that the Pope should be Judge in his own cause no man repining no man gainsaying the Defenders of the Papacy obtain that Popish Authority now quailling and almost fasten to be set up again Is this the way to help things afflict to redress troubled Religion to lift up oppressed truth Shall men this way know whether the Roman Bishops which in very deed are The Bishop of Rom in learning and life far under other Bishops if ye look upon either their Doctrine or Life far under other Bishops ought to be made like their Fellows that
is to be Pastors in their own Diocese and so to use no other power or else whether they may make Laws not onely unto other Bishops but also to Kings and Emperours O boldness meet to be beaten down with force and not not to be convinced with Arguments Can either Paul that now Lordeth or any of his earnestly go about if they alone or at the least without any Adversary be thâ—â— in a corner assembled together to heal the Sicknesses to take away the Errors to pluck down the Abuses that now are crept into the Church and there be bolstered up by such Councils as now is like to be at Mantua Paul the Pope proleth for his own profit Is it very like that these which prole for nothing but profit will right gladly pull down all such things as thâ—â—â— Forefathers made onely for the increase of Money Whâ—â—â— as their Forefathers when their Honour Power anâ—â—macy was called into question would either in despighâ—â—f Gods Law maintain their Dignity or to say better their intolerable Pride Is it like that these will not tread in their steps and make naughty new Canons whereby they may defend old evil Decrees Howbeit what need we to care either what they have done or what they intend to do hereafter England taketh her leave of the Pope for ever forasmuch as England hath taken her leave of Popish Crafts for ever never to be deluded with them hereafter Roman Bishops have nothing to do with English People the one doth not traffick with the other at least though they will have to do with us yet we will none of their merchandise none of their stuff we will receive them of our council no more England refuseth the Popes Merchandise We have sought our hurt and bought our loss a great while too long Surely their Decrees either touching things set up or put down shall have none other place with us than all Bishops Decrees have that is if we like them we admit them if we do not we refuse them But lest peradventure men shall think us to follow our senses too much and that we moved by small or no just causes forsake the Authority Censures Decrees and Popish Counsels we thought it best here to shew our mind to the whole world Wherefore we protest before God and all men that we embrace profess and will ever so do the right and holy Doctrine of Christ All the Articles of his Faith no jot omitted be all so dear unto us that we should much sooner stand in jeopardy of our Realm than to see any point of Christs Religion in jeopardy with us England goeth not from the unity of Faith although it goeth from the Pope We protest that we never went from the unity of his Faith neither that we will depart an inch from it No we will much sooner lose our Lives than any Article of our Belief shall decay in England We which in all this cause seek nothing but the glory of God the profit and quietness of the World The Faith of England Catholick England ready to send to any General Council where truth may be advanced protest that we can suffer Deceivers no longer We never refused to come to a General Council no we promise all our labour study and fidelity to the setting up of trodden Truth and troubled Religion in their place again and to do all that shall lie in us to finish such Controversies as have a great while too long vexed Christendom Onely we will all Christian men be admonished that we can suffer no longer that they be esteemed willing to take away Errors which indeed by all the ways their Wits will serve them go about this alone that no man under pain of Death may speak against any Error or Abuse We would have a Council we desire it yea and crave nothing so oft of God as that we may have one But yet we will that it be such as Christian men ought to have that is frank and free where every man without fear may say his mind We desire that it be an holy Council What a true General Council ought to be where every man may go about to set up Godliness and not apply all their study to oppressing of Truth We will it be General that is to say kept at such time and in such place that every man which seeketh the glory of God may be present and there frankly utter his mind Conditions of a true General Council For when it shall seem General either when no man that dissenteth from the Bishop of Rome is compelled to be from it or when they that be present are not letted by any just terror to say boldly what they truly think for who would not gladly come to such a Council except it be the Pope his Cardinals and Popish Rishops On the other side who is so foolish whereas the chief point that is to be handled in this Council is the Popes own Cause Power and Primacy to grant that the Pope should reign should be Iudge should be President of the Council If he which indeed can never think himself able to defend his Cause before any other Iudge The Pope would be Judge in his own cause be evermore made his own Iudge and so Controversies not decided but Errors set up what can be devised in the Commonwealth of Christendom more hurtful to the truth than General Councils The Pope hath no power to summon Councils And here to touch somewhat their impudent Arrogancy By what Law Power or honest Title take they upon them to call Kings to summon Princes to appear where their Bulls command them In time past all Councils were appointed by the Authority Consent and Commandment of the Emperour Kings and Princes why now taketh the Bishop of Rome this upon him Some will say It is more likely that Bishops will more tender the cause of Religion gladlier have Errors taken away than Emperours Kings and Princes The world hath good experience of them and every man seeth how faithfully they have handled religious matters Is there any man that doth not see how vertuously Paul now goeth about by this occasion to set up his Tyranny again The Pope how he can watch his time Is it not like that he that chooseth such a time as this is to keep a Council much intendeth the redress of things that now are amiss that he seeketh the restoring of Religion that now calleth a Council the Emperour and the French King two Princes of great power so bent to Wars that neither they nor any other Christian Prince can in a manner do any thing but look for the end of this long War Go too go t o Bishop of Rome occasion long wish'd for offereth her self unto you take her she openeth a Window for your Frauds to creep in at call your Cardinals your own Creatures shew them that this is a jolly time to deceive Princes in O
Fools O wicked men may we not justly so call you Are ye not Fools which being long suspected not onely of Princes but of all Christian People in a manner that in no case you could be brought to a General Council plainly shew the whole world that by these your Conciliables your Hutter-mutter in corners you take away all hope of lawful Catholick and General Council Are you not wicked which so hate Truth Truth mâ—y be pressed â—â— cannot be oppressed that except she be utterly banished ye will never cease to vex her The living God is alive neither Truth his Dearling he being alive can be called to so great shame contumely and injury or if it may be called to all these yet can it come to none of them Who is he that grievously lamenteth not men to be of such shameful boldness The Pope Enemy to Christ to shew apertly that they be Enemies unto Christ himself On the other side who will not be glad to see such men as foolish as they be wicked The World is not now in a light suspicion as it hath been hitherto that you intend no reformation of Errors but every man seeth before his eyes your deceits your wicked minds The Popes hatred against the truth your immortal hatred that ye bear against the Truth Every man seeth how many miserable Tragedies your pretence of an Vnity and Concord hath brought into Christendom They see your fair face of Peace hath served Sedition and troubled almost all Christian Realms The Pope troubler of all Christian Realms They see ye never oppugn Religion more than when ye will seem most to defend it They be sorry to see that great Wits a long season have spent their whole strength in defence of Deceits Reason to put his whole power to the promoting of Pride and Vngodliness Vertues to serve Vices Holiness to be slave to Hypocrisie Prudence to Subtilty Iustice to Tyranny They be glad that Scripture now fighteth for it self and not against it self They be glad that God is not compelled to be against God Christ against Christ They be glad that Subtilty hath done no more hurt to Religion in time past than now Constancy doth do good to Truth The Popes marks whereat he shooteth They see the Marks that ye have shot at in all your Councils past to be Lucre Money Gains they see you sought your Profit yea though it were joyn'd with the Slaughter of Truth They see ye would ever that sooner injury should be done to the Gospel than that your Authority that is to say arrogant Impudency should in any point be diminished And we pray you The Popes craft in stealing a General Council what may Paul the Bishop of Rome seem now to go about which seeing all Princes occupied in great affairs would steal as he calleth it a General Council What other thing than hereby to have some excuse to refuse a General Council hereafter when time and place much better for the handling of matters of Religion shall be given unto Princes of Christendom He will think he may then do as Princes now do he will think it lawful not to come then because Princes now come not We pray God that we ever brawl not one with another in Religion and whereas Dissention is amongst us yet for our parts we do say that we as much as men may defend the better part and be in the right way We pray God that the world may enjoy peace and tranquillity and that then we may have both time and place to settle Religion For except first Princes agree and so War laid aside seek peace he loseth his labour that seeketh a General Council If the Bishop of Rome may keep his Council while they thus be together will not there be made many pretty Decrees If they which would come if they had leisure be absent and we which though we safely might come will not lose any part of our right trow you in all our absence that the Bishop of Rome will not handle his Profit and Primacy well The time and plâ—ce presently picked of the Pope Paul how can any of ours not refuse to come to Mantua through so many perils a City so far set from England so nigh your Friends Kinsmen and Adherents Is he not unworthy of Life that where he may tarry at home will pass through so many Ieopardies of Life Can he which cometh to Cremona a City not far from Mantua be safe if he be taken not to be the Bishop of Romes Friend What an Heretick is among the Papists that is as the common sort of deceived people doth interpret an Heretick And if there come to Mantua such a number as would furnish a General Council may not Mantua séem too little to receive so many Guests Put these two together all the way from England to Mantua is full of just perils and yet if ye escape all those the very place wâ—ere the Council is kept is more to be suspected than all the way Do ye not know all Civil Laws to compel no man to come to any place where he shall be in jeopardy of his Life all the way We have no safe conduct to pass and return by the Dominions of other Princes And if we had a safe conduct yet should not we be charged with rashness that where just terror might have dissuaded us from such a journey The way to Mantua long and dangerous we committed our selves to such perils Surely he that the time being as it is things standing as they do will go from England to Mantua may be careless if he lack not wit sure of his arrival or return from thence he cannot be For who doth not know how oft the Bishops of Rome have plaid false parts with them that in such matters have trusted to their safe conduct How oft have they caused by their Perfidie such men to be slain The falshood of Popes no new thing as they have promised by their Faith before that they should both come safe and go safe These be no news Popes to be false Popes to keep no promise neither with God nor Man Popes contrary to their oaths to defile their cruel hands with honest mens bloud But we tarry too long in things that as well touch all men as us We will these now laid apart turn our Oration unto such things as privately touch both us King Henry the Eighth and all Englishmen Is it unknown to any man what mind Paul the Bishop of Rome beareth to us King Henry the Eighth to us his Nobility to us his Graces Bishops and to us all his Graces Subjects for the pulling down of his usurped Power and proud Primacy for expelling of his usurped Iurisdiction and for delivering of our Realm from his grievous bondage and pollage Who seeth not him even enflamed with hatred against us The hatred of the Pâ—pe against England and the flames to be much greater
and other of the Clergy of this our Realm should set forth declare and preach to them the true and syncere Word of God and without all manner colour dissimulation and hypocrisie manifest and publish the great and innumerable Enormities and Abuses which the said Bishop of Rome as well in the Title and Style as also in Authority and Iurisdiction of long time unlawfully and unjustly hath usurped upon us and our Progenitors and also other Christian Princes have therefore addressed our Letters unto the Bishop of the Diocefe straitly charging and commanding him in the same that not onely he in his own proper person shall declare teach and preach unto the People forthwith upon the receipt of our said Letters unto him directed every Sunday and other high Feasts through the year the true mere and syncere Word of God and that the same Title Style and Iurisdiction of Supreme Head appertaineth onely to our Crown and Dignity Royal. Likewise as the said Bishop and all other the Bishops of our Realm have by Oath affirmed and confirmed by Subscription of their Names and setting to their Seals but also give warning monition and charge to all manner Abbats Priors Deans Archdeacons Provosts Parsons Vicars Curats and all other Ecclesiastical Persons within his said Diocese as well to teach preach publish and declare in all manner Churches our aforesaid just Title Style and Iurisdiction every Sunday and high Feast through the year and further to monish and command all other Schoolmasters within his said Diocese to instruct and teach the same unto the Children committed unto them as also to cause all-manner Prayers Orisons Rubricks Canons of Mass-books and all other Books in the Churches wherein the said Bishop of Rome is named or his presumptuous and proud Pomp and Authority preferred utterly to be abolished eradicate and razed out and his Name and Memory to be never more except to his contumely and reproach remembâ—ed The Popes Name and Memoâ—y aboliâ—â—ed but perpetually suppressed and obscured And finally to desist and leave out all such Articles as be in the general Sentence which is usualâ—y accustomed to be read four times in the year and do tend to the glory and advancement of the Bishop of Rome his Name Title and Iurisdiction Whereupon we esteeming and reputing you to be of such singular and vehment zeal and affection toward the glory of Almighty God and of so faithful loving and obedient heart towards us as you will not onely do and accomplish with all power wisdom diligence and labour whatsoever should or might be to the preferment and setting forward of Gods Word but also practise study and endeavour your self with all your policy wit power and good will to amplifie defend and maintain all such Interest Right Title Style Iurisdiction and Authority as is in any wise appertaining unto us our Dignity and Prerogative and Crown Imperial of this our Realm have thought good and expedient not onely to signifie unto you by these our Letters the particularities of the Charge Monition and Commandment given by us unto the said Bishop as before is specified but also to require and straitly charge and command you upon pain of your Allegeance and as you shall avoid our high Indignation and Displeasure at your utmost peril laying apart all vain affections respects or other carnal considerations and setting onely before your eyes the mirror of truth the glory of God the dignity of your Sovereign Lord and King and the great concord and unity and inestimable profit and utility that shaâ—l by the due execution of the premisses ensue to your self and all other faithful and loving Subjects ye make or cause to be made diligent search and wait and especially in every place of your Shirewick whether the said Bishop do truly and syncerely and without all manner cloke colour or dissimulation execute and accomplish our will and commandment as is aforesaid And in case ye shall hear perceive and approvably understand and know that the said Bishop or any other Ecclesiastical Person within his Diocese do omit and leave undone any part or parcel of the premisses or else in the execution and setting forth of the same do coldly and feignedly use any manner sinister addition wrong interpretation or painted colour then we straitly charge and command you that forthwith upon any such default negligence or dissimulation of the said Bishop or any other Ecclesiastical Person of his Diocese contrary to the true tenour meaning and effect of the said Charge by us to him appointed aforesaid ye do make indelayedly and with all speed and diligence declaration and advertisement to us and our Council of the said default and of the behaviour manner and fashion of the same And forasmuch as we upon singular trust and assured confidence which we have in you and for the special love and zeal we suppose and think ye bear toward us and the publick and common Wealth Vnity and Tranquillity of this our Realm have specially elected and chosen you among so many for this purpose and have reputed you such men as unto whose wisdom discretion truth and fidelity we might commit a matter of such great weight moment and importance as whereupon the Vnity and Tranquillity of our Realm doth consist If ye should contrary to our expectation and trust which we have in you and against your duty and Allegeance towards us neglect or omit to do with all your diligence and wisdom whatsoever shall be in your power for the due performance of our mind and pleasure to you before declared in this behalf or halt or stumble at any part or specialty of the same be ye assured that we like a Prince of Iustice will so extremely punish you for the same that all the World besides shall take by you example and beware contrary to their Aliegeance to disobey the lawful Commandment of their Sovereign Lord and Prince in such things as by the faithful execution whereof ye shall not onely advance the Honour of Almighty God and set forth the Majesty and Imperial Dignity of your Sovereign Lord but also bring an inestimable weal profit and commodity unity and tranquillity to all the common State of this our Realm whereunto both by the Laws of God Nature and Man ye be utterly bound Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the 9. day of June Furthermore that no man shall cavil or surmise this fatal fall and ruine of the Pope to have come rashly upon the Kings own partial affection or by any sensual temerity of a few and not by the grave and advised Iudgment Approbation and Consent generally and publickly as well of the Nobles and Commons Temporal as also upon substantial grounds and the very strength of truth by the discussion and consultation of the Spiritual and most Learned Persons in this Realm It shall be requisite moreover to these premisses to adjoyn the words and testimonies also of the Bishops own oaths and profession made
Agreement of the whole Clergy of England confirmed and ratified in their own publick Book called The Bishops Book Anno 1534. with the Names of the Witnesses WE think it convenient Teâ—timonies out oâ—â—he Bishops Book against the Popes Supremacy that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach the People committed unto their spiritual charge that whereas certain men do imagine and affirm that Christ should give unto the Bishop of Rome power and authority not onely to be Head and Governour of all Priests and Bishops in Christs Church but also to have and occupy the whole Monarchy of the World in his hands and that he may thereby lawfully depose Kings and Princes from their Realms Dominions and Seigniories and so transfer and give the same to such persons as him liketh that is utterly false and untrue for Christ never gave unto S. Peter or unto any of the Apostles or their Successors any such Authority And the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul do teach and command that all Christian People as well Priests and Bishops as others should be obedient and subject unto the Princes and Potentates of the World although they were Infidels And as for the Bishop of Rome it was many hundred years after Christ before he could acquire or get any Primacy or Governance above any other Bishops out of his Province in Italy since the which time he hath ever usurped more and more And though some part of his power was given to him by the consent of the Emperours Kings and Princes and by the consent also of the Clergy in General Councils assembled yet surely he attained the most part thereof by marvellous subtilty and craft How the Bishop of Rome rose by ambition and especially by colluding with great Kings and Princes sometime training them into his Devotion by pretence and colour of Holiness and Sanctimony and sometime constraining them by force and tyranny Whereby the said Bishops of Rome aspired and rose at length unto such greatness in Strength and Authority that they presumed and took upon them to be Heads Concilium tertium Cartha inense cap. 6. and to put Laws by their own Authority not onely unto all other Bishops within Christendom but also unto the Emperours Kings and other the Princes and Lords of the world and that under the pretence of the Authority câ—â—mitted unto them by the Gospel First the General Council of Nice decreed that the Patriarchs of Alexandria and Antiochia should have like power over the Countries about those Cities as the Bishops of Rome had over the Countries about Rome In the Council of Milevitan it was decreed that if a Clerk of Africk would appeal out of Africk unâ—o any Bishop beyond the Sea he should be taken as a person Excommunicate In the General Council of Constantinople the first it was likewise decreed that every Cause between any persons should be determined within the Provinces where the matters did lie and that no Bishop should exercise any power out of his own Diocese or Province And this was also the mind of holy S. Cyprian and of other holy men of Africa To conclude therefore the Pope hath no su h Primacy gâ—ven him either by the words of Scripture or by any General Council or by common consent of the holy Caâ—holick Church â—â—â—rein the said Bishops of Rome do noâ— nely abuse and pervert the true sense and meaning of Christs Word but they do also clean contrary to the use and custom of the Primitive Church and so do manifestly violate as well the holy Canons made in the Church immediately after the time of the Apostles as also the Decrees and Constitutions made in that behalf by the holy Fathers of the Catholick Church assembled in the first General Councils And finally they do transgress their own profession made in their Creation For all the Bishops of Rome always when they be consecrated and made Bishops of that See do make a solemn profession and vow that they shall inviolably observe and keep all the Ordinances made in the first eight General Councils among the which it is specially provided and enacted that all Causes shall be finished and determined within the Province where the same begun and that by the Bishops of the same Province and that no Bishop shall exercise any Iurisdiction out of his own Province Gregorius l. 4. Epistolarum indictione 13. Epist 13. and divers such other Canons were then made and confirmed by the said Councils to repress and take away out of the Church all such Primacy and Iurisdiction over Kings and Bishops as the Bishops of Rome pretend now to have over the same And we find that divers good Fathers Bishops of Rome did greatly reprove yea and abhor as a thing clean contrary to the Gospel and the Decrees of the Church that any Bishop of Rome or elsewhere should presume usurp or take upon him the Title and Name of Vniversal Bishop or of the Head of all Priests or of the Highest Priest or any such like Title For confirmation whereof it is out of all doubt that there is no mention made neither in Scripture nor in the Writings of any authentical Doctor or Author of the Church being within the time of the Apostles that Christ did ever make or institute any distinction or difference to be in the preheminence of Power Order or Iurisdiction between the Apostles themselves or between the Bishops themselves but that they were all equal in Power Order Authority and Iurisdiction And that there is now and since the time of the Apostles any such diversity or difference among the Bishops it was devised by the antient Fathers of the Primitive Church for the conservation of good order and unity of the Catholick Church and that either by the consent and authority or else at the least by the permission and sufferance of the Princes and Civil Powers for the time ruling c. And shortly after followeth And for the better confirmation of this part we think it also convenient that all Bishops and Preachers shall instruct and teach the people committed unto their spiritual charge that Christ did by express words prohibit that none of his Apostles nor any of their Successors should under the pretence of the Authority given unto them by Christ take upon them the Authority of the Sword that is to say the Authority of Kings or of any Civil Power in this world yea or any Authority to make Laws or Ordinances in causes appertaining unto Civil Powers Truth it is the Priests and Bishops may execute all such Temporal Power and Iurisdion as is committed unto them by the Ordinance and Authority of Kings or other Civil Powers and by the consent of the people as Officers and Ministers under the said Kings and Powers so long as it shall please the said Kings and People to permit and suffer them so to use and execute the same Notwithstanding if any Bishop of what estate or dignity soever
much better no place to be named than to name such as he purposed not to come to for so should he break no promise which maketh none And so going forward in his Oration toward the later end he thus inferreth by his words of Protestation saying No Princes as theâ— gave the Pope Primacy so they take it from him again we will the Pope and his Adherents to understand that which we have oft said and now say and ever will say He nor his hath no Authority nor Iurisdiction in England we give him no more than he hath that is never a deal That which he hath usurped against Gods Law and extorteth by violence we by good right take from him again But he and his will say we gave them a Primacy We bear them well we gave it you indeed if you have Authority upon us as long as our Consent giveth it you and you evermore will make your plea upon our Consent then let it have even an end where it began we consent no longer your Authority must needs be gone If we being deceived by false pretence of evil-alledged Scriptures gave to you that ye ought to have refused why may we not our Error now perceived and your Deceit espied take it again We Princes wrote our selves to be inferiour to Popes as long as we thought so we obeyed them as our Superiours Now we write not as we did and therefore they have no great cause to marvel if we hereafter do not as we did both the Laws Civil and also the Laws of God be on our side For a Fraeman born doth not lose his Liberty no nor hurt the plea of his Liberty though he write himself a Bondman Again if they lean to Custom Custom we send them to S. Cyprian which saith That Custom if Truth be not joyned with it is nothing but Erroris vetustas that is an old Error Christ said Ego sum via veritas vita I am the way the truth and the life he never said Ego sum consuetudo I am the Custom Wherefore seeing Custom serveth you on the one side and Scripture us on the other are ye able to match us In how many places doth Christ monish you to seek no Primacy to prefer your selves before nobody no to be obedient unto all Creatures Your old Title Servus Servorum evil agreeth your new forged Dignity The Popes Title and his Dignity agree not together But we will not tarry in matters so plain we onely desire God that Caesar and other Christian Princes would agree upon some holy Council where truth may be tried and Religion set up which hath been hurt by nothing so sore as by general not General Councils Errors and Abuses grow too fast Erudimini qui judicatis terram Get you Learning you that judge the earth and excogitate some Remedy for these so many Diseases of the sick Church They that be wisest do despair of a General Council Best that every Prince reform his own Realm and tarry not for General Councils wherefore we think it now best that every Prince call a Council Provincial and every Prince to redress his own Realm We make all men privy what we think best to be done for the redress of Religion if they like it we doubt not but they will follow it or some other better Our trust is that all Princes will so handle themselves in this behalf that Princes may enjoy their own and Priests of Rome content themselves with that they ought to have Princes as we trust will no longer nourish Wolves Whelps they will subscribe no more to Popish Pride to the Papacy c. Favour our doings O Christian Princes your Honour and ancient Majesty is restored Remember there is nothing peetaining so much to a Princes Honour as to set forth Truth and to help Religion Take you heed that their Deceits work not more mischief than your Vertue can do good and everlasting War we would all Princes had with this Papacy As for their Decrees so hearken to them that if in this Mantuan Assembly things be well done ye take them but not as authorized by them but that Truth and things that maintain Religion are to be taken at all mens hands And even as we will admit things well made so if there be any thing determined in prejudice of Truth for the maintainance of their evil grounded Primacy or that may hurt the Authority of Kings we protest unto the whole world that we neither allow it nor will at any time allow it Ye have Christian Readers our mind concerning the General Council we think you all see that Paul and his Cardinals Bishops Abbats Monks Friers with the rest of the Rabblement do nothing less intend than the Knowledge of Truth Ye see this is no time meet Mantua no place meet for a General Council and though they were both meet yet except some other call this Council you see that we neither need to come nor to send You have heard how every Prince in his own Realm may quiet things amiss If there be any of you that can shew us a better way we promise with all our hearty desire to do that that shall be thought best for the settling of Religion and that we will leave our own Advices if any man shew us better Which mind of ours we most heartily pray God that gave it us not onely to increase in us but also to send it unto all Christian Princes all Christian Prelats and all Christian People Injunctions given by King Henry VIII to the Clergy of his Realm IN the Name of God Amen In the Year of our Lord God 1536 and of the most Noble Reign of our Sovereign Lord Henry VIII King of England and of France Defender of the Faith Lord of Ireland and in the earth Supreme Head of the Church of England the twenty eighth c. I Thomas Cromwell Knight Lord Cromwell Keeper of the Privy Seal of our said Sovereign Lord the King and Vicegerent to the same for and concerning all his Iurisdiction Ecclesiastical within this Realm to the glory of Almighty God to the Kings Highness Honour the publick weal of this Realm and increase of Vertue in the same have appointed and assigned these Injunctions ensuing to be kept and observed of the Dean Parsons Vicars Curats and Stipendaries resident or having Cure of Souls or any other Spiritual Administration within this Deanry under the Pains hereafter limited and appointed THE first is that the Dean Parsons Vicars and other having Cure of Souls any where within this Deanry shall faithfully keep and observe and as far as in them may lie shall cause to be kept and observed of all other all and singular Laws and Statutes of this Realm made for the abolishing and extirpation of the Bishop of Romes pretended and usurped Power and Iurisdiction within this Realm Confirmation of the Kings Supremacy and for the establishment and confirmation of the Kings Authority
and Iurisdiction within the same as of the Supreme Head of the Church of England and shall to the uttermost of their Wit Knowledge and Learning purely syncerely and without any colour or dissimulation declare manifest and open by the space of one quarter of a year now next ensuing once every Sunday and after at the least twice every quarter of a year in their Sermons and other Collations that the Bishop of Romes Vsurped Power and Iurisdiction Against the Popes Primacy having no establishment nor ground by the Law of God was for most just causes taken away and a bolished and that therefore they owe unto him no manner of Obedience or Subjection and that the Kings Power is within his Dominion the highest Potentate and Power under God to whom all men within the same Dominion by Gods commandment owe most Loyalty and Obedience afore and above all other Potentates in earth Item Whereas certain Articles were lately devised and put forth by the Kings Highness Authority and condescended unto by the Prelats and Clergy of this his Realm in Convocation whereof part were necessary to be holden and believed for our Salvation and the other part do concern and touch certain laudable Ceremonies Rights and Vsages of the Church meet and convenient to be kept and used for a decent and politick order in the same the said Dean Parsons Vicars and other Curats shall so open and declare in their Sermons and other Collations the said Articles unto them that be under their Cure that they may plainly know and discern which of them be necessary to be believed and observed for their Salvation and which be not necessary but onely do concern the decent and politick order of the said Church according to such commandment and admonition as hath been given unto them heretofore by the Authority of the Kings Highness in that behalf The Kings Articles to be read to the people Moreover that they shall declare unto all such as be under their Cure the Articles likewise devised put forth and authorized of late for and concerning the abrogating of certain superstitious Holydays according to the effect and purport of the same Articles and persuade their Parishioners to keep and observe the same inviolably as things wholsom provided decreed and established by the common Consent and publick Authority for the Commonweals commodity and profit of all this Realm Images abolished Besides this to the intent that all Superstition and Hypocrisie crept into divers mens hearts may vanish away they shall not set forth or extoll any Images Reliques or Miracles for any superstition or lucre nor allure the people by any intreatments to Pilgrimages Pilgrimages Forbidden of any Saints otherwise than is permitted in the Articles lately put forth by the Authority of the Kings Majesty and condescended unto by the Prelats and Clergy of this his Realm in Convocation as though it were proper or peculiar to that Saint to give this Commodity or that seeing all Goodness Health and Grace ought to be both looked and asked for onely of God as of the very Author of the same and of none other for without him it cannot be given but they shall exhort as well their Parishioners as other Pilgrims that they do rather apply themselves to the keeping of Gods Commandments and the fulfilling of his works of Charity persuading them that they shall please God more by the true exercise of their bodily Labour Travel or Occupation and providing for their Families than if they went about to the said Pilgrimages and it shall profit more their Souls health if they do bestow that on the poor and needy which they would have bestowed upon the said Images or Reliques Also in the same their Sermons and other Collations Prayers in the Mother Tongue the Parsons Vicars and other Curats aforesaid shall diligently admonish the Fathers and Mothers Masters and Governours of Youth being within their Cure to teach or cause to be taught their Children and Servants even from their Infancy the Pater noster the Articles of our Faith and the Ten Commandments in their Mother Tongue and the same so taught shall cause the said Youth oft to repeat and understand And to the intent this may be the more easily done the said Curats shall in their Sermons deliberately and plainly recite of the said Pater noster Articles or Commandments one Clause or Article one day and another another day till the whole be taught and learned by little and little and shall deliver the same in writing or shew where printed Books containing the same be to be sold to them that can read or will desire the same and thereto that the said Fathers and Mothers Masters and Governours do bestow their Children and Servants even from their Childhood either to Learning or to some honest Exercise Occupation or Husbandry exhorting counselling and by all the ways and means they may as well in their said Sermons and Collations as otherwise the said Fathers Mothers Masters and other Governours being under their cure and charge diligently to provide and foresee For bringing up of Youth in some Art or Occupation that the said Youth be in no manner wise kept or brought up in idleness lest at any time afterward they be driven for lack of some Mystery or Occupation to live by to fall to begging stealing or some other unthriftiness forasmuch as we may daily see through sloth and idleness divers valiant men fall some to begging some to theft and murther which after brought to calamity and misery impute a great part thereof to their Friends and Governours which suffered them to be brought up so idly in their Youth where if they had been brought up and educated in some good Literature Occupation or Mystery they should being Rulers of their own Families have profited as well themselves as divers other persons to the great commodity and ornament of the Commonweal Placing of good Vicars and Curats Also that the said Parsons Vicars and other Curats shall diligently provide that the Sacraments and Sacramentals be duly and reverently ministred in their Parishes And if at any time it happen them either in any of the cases expressed in the Statutes of this Realm or of special Licence given by the Kings Majesty to be absent from their Benefices they shall leave their Cure not to a rude and unlearned person but to an honest well learned and expert Curat that may teach the rude and unlearned of their Cure wholsom Doctrine and reduce them to the right way that they do not erre and always let them see that neither they nor their Vicars do seek more their own profit promotion or advantage than the profit of the Souls that they have under their Cure or the glory of God Every Parish to provide a Bible in English Item that every Parson or Proprietary of any Parish Church within this Realm shall on this side the Feast of S. Peter ad