of England the kyng to the pope c ¶ The lorde of al lordes Ihesus chryst which doth gouerne and rule both celestiall and terrestriall Alia carta eiuâ—dem withelmi regis The epistle of kyng wylliam conquerour to the hye bysshop of rome thinges for euer hath of his deuine goodnes exalted you to the appostolical dygnite for to remoue put awaye all offensions to put away al Iuperdies to set forwarde the profyt of his people ¶ Therfore we desiring as we ar bounde to prouyde that that is necessarye and withstand and put awaye al maner Iuperdis from the People of god of whome by the sufferaunce of god I am ruler wolde also gladly defende encrease in our tyme the honour and liberties of the noble church of England and that that is our ryght by inheritaunce which our predecessors worthe of eternal memory did nobly defeÌ„d wherfore certen thinges specyallye before all other whiche troble our minde in puryte of sprite we haue opened and certified to your holines He calleth the church of englond our mother The church of England our mother which amongest al other churches of the worlde doth excell and abounde in Temporal possessions in the seruis and honour of god and in the diligence of deuoute ministers in the workes of mercy and hospitalite and euer hath florishede with prerogatiues of noblenes and honur wyle the abundance therof was at the dispensacion of her owne chyldreÌ„ to the seruis and ministers therof which were called to those dygnities The promissions of the bysshops of rome intollerable here in England not bi ambicion but by god Nowe by Importable Tapis and exceding prouisions made by the apostolical see indifferently as wel to straÌ„gers as to Englishemen we being had in suspecion and hatred for the most parte our peticions made for euer lerned and discrete well be loued vtterly contemned it is so wasted kept vnder diminished fortroubled because the profettes of mani dignites fate benefices be geuen to Aliens and foren persons which be not resident vpon the promocions The dignites of the churche were geuen to Aliens whereby cam moche decaye of vertue and great hurte to the realme and know not them selfe and vnderstand not the tong but oneli seke for there Temporal lucre I wyl not speake of other shamefull vices Therby comethe and riseth moche sclaunder and the profeccion of the ecclesiasticall discipline is lytle regarded the charg of soules is neglecte the honour seruyce of Chryste is diminyshed The habitacions of the clargy go to decaye whych the predecessors dyd sumptuously buylde hospitalite is lest and the almes that were wonte to be geuen be kepte awaye by whiche the deuocioÌ„ of many is falleÌ„ awai Was this the first entent and wyl and the liberall minde of the founders and prences that the almes and patrimonies of kinges and other which were assined and geuen to the ministers of the church for the excercise of the honour of god and for workes of charyte shulde come and remayne to the profette of Aliens or straungers Was landes geueÌ„ to the churche of EnglaÌ„d to fede Aliens and let ther own childer in hunger and penurye Is this pleasyng to god that the church so endued with possession which bringeth forthe so manye dyscrete and wyse chyldeÌ„r profetable and necessary to take cure and ministracion of here shulde let her owne childer be in honger and penury and geue her pappes to Aliens and straungers not onely to take sucke of theÌ„ but rather to teare and pulle them in peces for the chylder sucke the Mylke strangers wringe oute the blod letting nothyng remaine that they may smatche and plucke amongest whome we do not mene nor speake of the ryght reuerente fathers Cardinalles of the church of Rome which being assistent aboute your holynes The chyldreÌ„ sucke the mylke straungers wring out the blod may ease and heale the mothers dyseases help her continualye for when the treasure of the Realme is spente and wasted the church therof dystroiwed the Realme shulde be moche weaker in aduersityes By suche promisions the realme is made moch weaker and porer which thiÌ„g perchance ouer enemyes do craftelye coniecture and cast ⧠Wherfore we seynge before these grefes and other such incommodites whiche if we shulde disâ—anul any longer myght be occasioÌ„ of gretter Wherfore by the aduise councell of our faythfull people lerned councel gethered together we beseche your holines with meker and humblye prayers that ye wyll ponder the primissis in the balaunce of right IudgemeÌ„t with abundaÌ„s of paciens and deuocion and were as we and our realme ouer clargi and our people hetherto haue bene before al other obedient to your se Therfore your holines of your nobilite and weldisposed kyndnes ought to fauour and releue not to opresse them that ye of your customable benignite which doth suppresse Auerice and abhorreth Simony wold vochesafe so to moderate your reseruacions and prouisions Popes required and did exâ—ort tapis inportable and the goodes of theÌ„ that dyed intestate and money bequethed to the holy lande with other thinges â—â—o chefely for Alyons strangers and suche tapis by your holines required and oftymes extorte bi inportune calling vp on of them that be ambitius and other commyssions for the goodes of them that be ded vnder colour that the dyed intestate and of suche money that is bequethed for the socour of the holy land and al suche goodes as be bequethed vncertaynlye by whyche our people by the subtiltie of your officers I wil not say malice contrary to your minde as we trust hath ofttymes wrongfuly be wexed that the Cathedral churches and other churches of our realme may haue fre elections and efficacite after the grauntes and confessions geuen by our aunceters kinges of Englonde and confyrmed by the apostolical se Bysshops were electe by the cathedrall ses And that clarkes that be patrones lose not libertye of there patronage and that this burden whiche werethe they shulders of the chyldren maye be taken awaye leeste that necessyte cause them at the laste to caste of those burdens whyche can not be borne longe withoute ouermoche detriment ¶ But that the deuocion of vs ours maye encrease to the apostolycal se we instantly desire you that the grefes and burdens maye cease for we can not alwayes be sluggardes but as we are bounde for our power we must auoide and expel al suche grefâ—es and daungers And therfore kyng Edgarus that he might showe the rule and gouernaunce of his people in suche causes to partaine to him Oratio regis edgari ad clerum Anglie made to his clargye an oracion whyche here foloweth consequentli Bycause our lord god hath abundantli showed his mercie amongest vs it is mete reuerent fathers that we shuld be correspondent to his innumerable benifittes in worthye workes For we do not possesse the erthe by our
for our sinnes which from the bosome of Sibilla stinkes in the skyn of astraÌ„ge mouse that trymmes her eares that becomes her fingers that bindeth her delicate body in sylke and purple O father is the profette of my almes is this the fecte of my desire and of your promise what answer wyl ye make to the complaynte of my father I knowe this well yf thou sawest a thef run thou didest not run with hym nor thou dydest not take thy parte with adulters / thou hast rebuked thou hast desired for goddes sake thou hast blamed thy wordes be not regarded We must come to punishement ye haue here with you the reuerent father Edward bysshop of winchester The correctioÌ„ of the clargye commytted to the bishops to put out the viceÌ„ous to put in them that be good Ye haue the honerable bishop of Worceter Oswalde I commytte this busines to you that by the authoryte of the bisshops and power of the kinge the that liue viciousli be put oute of the church and they that lyue wel be put in ther sted Besides that also the temporall lordes and the perliament of England when the bysshoppe of Rome was aboute to take vpon hym that he wolde knowe of the tytle for the kiÌ„gdome of ScotlaÌ„d which the king of EnglaÌ„d did chaleÌ„ge The leâ—â—erâ— wrytton from the perliameÌ„â— of England to the bysshop of rome wrote letters to the bysshop of rome on this wise that foloweth The holimother church of Rome by whose mynistery the Christon world is gouerned in his actes As we fyrmelye beleue and holde doth alwaye procede with mature deliberacyon soo that it wylles too be preiudycyall to no man But lyke a louynge mother wolde that all ryght and Iustyce of euery man aswell in other men as in herself shulde be conseruyd incorrupte and withoute breeche In a parlyament lately sygned at Lyncolne by oure mooste gracyous and noble lorde Edward by the grace of god Kynge of Englond Oure gracyous lorde dyd cause certeyn letters Apostolycall whych he receuid from you concerning certayn busynes aboute the condicion and stare of the Realme of Scotland to be deliueryd to vs and ernestly to be expounded and pondred Which letters hard diligeÌ„tli vnderstaÌ„d we hard such thinges coÌ„teiÌ„ed in theÌ„ as we merueled at suche thynges as was neuer fo harde of before Scotland hath alwais partayned to the kings of England We knowe holye father it is manifest in the parties of England / and openlye knowen to many other that from the fyrst institucion of the kingdom of England that as well in the tyme of the brittons as you the time of the Englishmen the very certen trewe dominion of Scotland by succession of tyme hath ê‘tained to the kiÌ„gs of England to the same realme in temporalites bi no tytle or right ê‘tayneth to the church afore named But also the same Realme of ScotlaÌ„d of olde time hath bine tributer to the ancestors progenitoures of our forsayde lordes that were kinges of England to him also Also the kynges of Scotland the realme were neuer vnder aniother then the kings of England or were wonte to be subiecte to ani other Nor the kinges of EnglaÌ„d vpoÌ„ ther ryght in the forsayd realme or any other Reges anglie de statu reguâ— coraÌ„ nullo liâ—â—gare coguÌ„tur themperaltyes of theres haue answered or weare bouÌ„de to answere before any ecclesiastical Iudge or seculer Iudge bi the reason of his fre peminence of his state regal dignite custome obserued wtout any contradiccion wherfore with diligent councell mature deliberacion vpon the contentes in your letters spokeÌ„ of before this is the holie comeÌ„ one conseÌ„t of al singuler of vs shal be for euer with the grace of god wtout variacion That our forsaid lord kiÌ„g shal not with in any Iudiciall corte answere before you Negani respoÌ„dere cord episcopo romano vpoÌ„ the right tytle of his Realme of Scotland or ani other temporalties of his nor be obedieÌ„t to Iudgment in any wise or bring his forsaid ryght in any doute nor shal sende any proctors or messengers to your presens specially because that the premisses shulde manifestli be to the disheriting of the right of the Crowne of EnglaÌ„d the kinges The whole ê‘liament denyeth to answer in anye suche cause before the bysshop of rome for it shuld be preiudicial to the realme dignitie the manifest subuersion of the state of the same realme and also preiudicial to the libertis customes and to the lawes of our fathers vnto the obseruacion defeÌ„ce of the which we ar bound by our othes geuen which also we wil hold with al our power defende with al our strenght by the helpe of god nor also we wyl not suffer nor we cane not nor we ought not to suffer our forsayd lorde king althoughe he were wyllinge to do or any wayes to atemte such premisses not vsed and we ought not to do preiudicial neuer harde of before wherfore humbli desyre your holines that where as our forsayde lorde king of England hath euer more behaued him self faithfull catholike amoÌ„gest all other chrysten princes of the world euer obedient to the church of rome that ye wyll louingly suffer him quietli peaceably to possesse to remaiÌ„e iÌ„corrupt al his riches liberties custoÌ„es lawes wtout ani dimunicioÌ„ dysquietnes inwitnes wherof our seales as wel for vs as for the holecoÌ„munalte of the forsayd realme we haue set to this present writing geueÌ„ at Lincolne the yere of our lord M. CCCCCx Epistola Cassiodori there is also a Epistle of one Cassidore to the church of England of the abusis of the bysshops of rome after these wordes To the noble church of England doyng seruice in lime and stonne Peter the sonne of cassiodore a christen knight a deuout chaunpion of chryst wysseth helth and the abaccion of seruituÌ„de and bondage and the receyuinge of the reward of libertye to whome shall I compare the or els to whom shall I lyken that my doughter HierusaleÌ„ to whome shal I matche the virgin doughter of Syon for thy contricion is grette as the se IheroÌ„ i Thou arte lefte alone with out solace IheroÌ„ ii all day wasted with sorowe thou arte put in his handes whence thou canste not ryse without helpe of a lyfter vp The bisshops of rome be called scribes phariseys For the scribes and pharyseis fytting vpon the seate of Moyses the lordes of rome be enemyes to the set abrode ther philacteris go aboute to enriche them selfe with the mari of the bones the laye burthens ouer heuye and importable on the neckes of they ministers further then is comly or conuenieÌ„t thei set the vnder tribute which in olde tyme wast fre The bysshope of rome hath maryd the churche of the gentyls and so is mad father
The true dyffereÌ„s betwen the regall power and the Ecclesiasticall power Translated out of latyn by Henry lord Stafforde ¶ To the hygh myghty prynce Edward by the grace of God Duke of Somerset Erle of Hertfor be Viscount Beauchamp lorde Seimour vncle to the kinges highnes of England Gouernor of his most rial persone and Protector of al his Realmes dominions Subiectes Lieuetenaunte generall of al his Maiesties Armies both by lande and see Threasaurore and Erlâ— Marshall of Englande Gouernor of the Isles of Garrisey Iersey and Knight of the moste noble ordre of the Garter Henry Lorde Stafford to his grace most bounden wyssheth helth felicite with encrease of honour AMong other great Plages that this Realme of Englande encreced whylest the scryptures were vnknowen ryght excellent prynce there was none greater thaÌ„ that by mere ignoraÌ„ce of godes worde by a long processe of yeres falshed was receyued for trouthe euyll for good superstytion for true religyon Wherof ensued no lesse peryll to oure selfes than manyfest dysorder in the publike estate gouernaunce whylest the people habandonyng the obedience due to theyr souerayn Lyege lorde Kyng dyd in stead of hym adhere and clene to an vsurper and tyrant who not onely kepe theyr bodyes but theyr soules also in most myserable seruytude and subiection I meane that Antechrist and head of al abhomination the Bisshop of Rome whose bondage and thraldom that we be now delyuered and made fre The hole cause and benefyte is to be ascrybed to the illustration and setting furth of goddes holy worde And as the thanke therof is geuen to almyghtye god who admytteth no partenets of his glori So next vnto hym aboue all Mortal meÌ„ are we bound to the worthy Prynce of eternall memory kynge Henri the eyght Who puttyng on the armour of gods worde droue out of this Realme the wronge vsurpâ—t of hys power and auctoryte Regall and delyuered his people fro the captyuyte wherin the Byshops of Rome hadde longe tyme kept them Yet lyke as the temple of God in Hierusalem was begon by Dauyd and fynyshed by SalomoÌ„ so many kindes of supersticioÌ„ wer abolished by the sayd good Kyng and no fewer left to be reformed by hys gracyous and most lauful sonne oure new soueraygne lorde Kynge Edward the syxt By whose happy and bly syd procedynge hytherto it is euydent to the world that god is his guyd directyng his passage to the parfectyon of al vertue and godlynes A notable experyment wherof we haue by the holsom and holy lawes that procede from his grace in thys hys mynoryte and chyldhed to the aduauncement of Goddes worde and extyrpatyon of al hypocrysy and fals religyon For the whyche benefyte how moche the realme of Englande to bounden to hys magesty my pen can not suffycyentlyâ— set it furth But thys must al men confesse that as long as the memory therof shal remayne so long shal the honorable fame and prayses of hys grace be fresshe and grene in al true Englyshmens hartes Whych I sucke not so moche for the syngular benefytes by your grace extendyd too me preuayle as for the greate wealth and commodyte redoundyng to al men vnyuersally Wherfore deuysyng wyth my selfe in what wyse I myghte showe my selfe thankful or at the least not vnmyndfull oâ— so ample merytes me thought I could do nothyng eyther more gratefull to your grace or more profytable to my countree than to helpe forward in this cause of relygyon And seing the manyfold errour and confusyd heretofore sproyng in this Realme by reason that the true dyfference betwene the power regal ecclesiastycal was eyther not wel knowen or not wel defyned I bethought me of a boke lent me by my frend master Morison writeÌ„ in the laten tongue wherin the dyfference of those two powers with the lymytâ—s of eyther of them is so playnly set oueâ— so pureli explaned and so dystincâ—lye dysclosed by scriptures as no man I suppose oneles he be to set drowned in the dregges of popery and superstytion can be in ony doubt of the throuth the vtylyte of whych worke wel weyed with the late controuersy about the same matter moeued me fyrst to the translation therof maruaylynge that a matter so prouffytable and necessary to be knowen shold be so longe suppressed or that the hygher powers had not in so longe tyme prouyded to set hir abrode as well the Englyshe tongue as it is in the latyn Neuer the lese rather than my Countre shuld be vtterly frustrate of so great fruyte as myght growe by redynge therof I thought it a well bestood labour to euen it into Englyshe the translacion wherof I submyt to the indyfferent Iudgement of al lerned reders requeriÌ„g theyr ayde where eyther I haue erred or else not parfytly reÌ„dred the sentence of the autor Wherfore pondryng my weykenes and want of connyng I praye ayde of your grace to whome for my better defence I dedycate my labours that they may passe forth vnder your protection of whome yf in stead of praise I receiue pardoÌ„ of my boldnes it shal be to my suffycyent recompence Almyhty god long preserue your grace to the aduauÌ„cement of his glory to the honoure of the kynges Magesty and prouffyt of his People Amen ¶ Here after foloweth the Table of this boke ¶ Ambrose of the vicare of Christe folio ix Augustyn folio xiii All preistes in Peter receiued the keyes of heueÌ„ fo xiii Another texte whereby papistes chalenge authorite for the bysshop of rome folio xiiii Al bishops prestes haue equal autorite with Pe. fo xv An euyll preiste of his pristhed gettith rebuke folio xvii Alexandre and Antiochia were the seates of Peter before rome folio codem AugusteÌ„ of the questions of the new TestameÌ„t fo xxi A priste and a bysshop al one folio xxvi At Alexandria pryestes chose one of them selfe to be ruler and called him bysshope folio xxvii A saing of saint Augustin a sermoÌ„ to the people fo xlvi A priuate lawe is writton in the harte of men folio lii All thynges were done in the house oâ— God at the commaundement of the Kinge folio lxvi Almen ought to praye for Kinges folio lxxi Athanasius complayneth to Constantyne Fol. lxxvii An acte made by Kinges that no man shulde apele out of the Realme folio lxix A preiste for murdre and vycyouse lyuing shall be deprauyd of ordre and promocion folio lxxxi Adelston kinge dyd make a lawe of tenthis Fol. lxxxii Aluredus Kinge folio lxxxiii A prest that denyeth baptime shal dye folio lxxxiiii Abbotte of batel may saue a thefe fo lxxxvii B. ¶ Byshoppes that were mooste vertuouse toke leeste vppon them Folio v Bysshoppes of Rome symonyackes folio viii By Peter is vnderstaÌ„did the vniuersal church Fol. xiii Bysshops haue suffred the contrary to their lawe to be kept and knowe it folio xl Boniface the thyrde gate prymacye by the helpe of the Emperoure Folio xxx Boniface dyd arme the see of rome
to confyrme the law of god Fo. lxxix In Fraunce they eate flesshe all Saterdayes betwene Chrystinas and Candelmas fo codeÌ„ K Kinges shulde be chosen of the same nacion folio lviii King Saul gaue senteÌ„ce of deth vpon chymeleche the hye bysshope folio lxi Kinges dyd put in and electe the hye preyst folio lxvi Kinges made ordeined bysshops fo lxxxiiii Kynges dyd institute Iudges as leuites fol. lxiii L Lawes of popes be innumerable folio xxxvi Lawes be two folio lii Laurence Archebysshop of Cantorbury dyd refuse all such foren power fo liiii Lawes made by kinge Camula concerninge spyrituall thinges folio lxxxi Littera willi regis folio lxxxvi Landes geuen to the churche of Englande fo lxxxxi Letters wrytten from the parliamente of Englande to the bisshop of rome folio lxxxxvii M Magna est veritas foli i Mark the word of Gre. to the church of EnglaÌ„d fo lv Many shal receue the SacrameÌ„te iii in the yere fo lxxxx Many resisted the bysshoppe of Rome folio C. v Many be rycher when they be religious meÌ„ then wheÌ„ they wer secular folio xlv N Nother power ryches nor humilite can make a Bysh hyer or lower fo xxvii None ought to be called the chefe or bed bisshop or his prest folio xxviii Negligence in the seruice of god and mysbehauor in the clerge folio lxxxxiiii Nabugodonosor correcte by miracle made a lawe that no man shulde blasâ—eme god folio lxxiii Noman can dispence with the lawe of god folio liii None expoundeth this texte of the ecclesiastical power but papystes c. folio lxx O. Obediens is necessary in the bysshop of Rome foli xi Our father dyd not admitte al the cannons fol. xxxvii Of fornicacion with a mans wyfe folio lxxxiii Of seruauntes working on the sonday foli eodeÌ„ Oratio regis Edgari folio lxxxxiii Of them that were within orders Folio lxxxii Of tenthes payeng folio eodem Of sorcere and wytche crafte folio eodem Of a wyfe commyttyng aduoutery folio lxxxi Of hym that coÌ„mitteth theft being in orders fo lxxxiiii P ¶ Peter nor his successores were not they agaynste whome the gates of hel dyd preuayll but the confession of Peter folio viii Peter was coÌ„pelled to make aunswer of his faith fo xi Peter made solemp sermon folio xviii Peter was Bysshop of Antioche before rome folio xix Patriarkes were not subiecte one to another foli xxiiii Phecas Emperour folio xxix Prelates shulde not medell with the Emperor fo xxxiiii Paul was Iudged before lay Iudges folio eodeÌ„ Powere of punishement longeth to kinges folio lxi Pristes and prophetes were the expounders of the law of god fo lxiiii Popes require dyd extort tapis in portable fo lxxxxii Paul apelid to Cesar the Emperor fo lxxv Pope AdryaÌ„ gaue clarkes auctoryte to chuse the bysshope of Rome folio lv Q Quomodo regibus anglie coÌ„petat authoritas in rebus diuinis folio lxxix Quicquid coÌ„cedit regali Autoritate concedit et estendit regaleÌ„ autoritateÌ„ fo lxxxvii R Rome is called Babulon folio xx Ryches and possessions which draweth maÌ„nes mynd â—â—o god fo xliii S Super omnia venit benignitas fo i. Sume graunt power geueÌ„ to bisshops but by maÌ„s law folio v Symon is interpretate obedyence fol. xi Some good men that were Bysshoppes of Rome dyd refuse primaci foli xxix Salomon condemned the bysshop Abiathares folio lxi Salomon did ordre the office of pristes fol. lxii Some by the swerde vnderstand power ecclesâ—astical folio lxx Some say there was no power geuen to kiÌ„ges in spiritual thynges fo lxxi Some bysshops of Rome dyd not deny but gaue kiÌ„ges power Ecclesiastical fo lxxxiiii Saynt Dunstan gaue councell to the kiÌ„ge to buyld many monasteris fo lxxxxvi ScotlaÌ„d hath alwais pertained to EnglaÌ„d fo lxxxxviii The dyfference of the regall and ecclesiasticall power must be sought by scrypture folio iiii The opynion of them that interpretate scripture sumpti of Ecclesiastical power fo eodeÌ„ The church was not bild vpon the persoÌ„ of peter fo viii The text of Mat. was not spokeÌ„ of the persoÌ„ peter fo ix The church is the multitude of faythfull people folio x The nomber of Chrysten people is of more superioritâ— then the Citie of Rome folio xii The power of bindyng and losing was geuen to all the Apostles fo eodem To fede the shepe of Chryste is to confyrme them that beleue in Chryst folio xiiii The thyrd text wherby they chalenge prymacy fo xiiii That was spokeÌ„ to Peter was spokeÌ„ to al the apo fo xv There was but one flocke which was fedde of al the apostles fo eodem The Gospel is the seat of peter folio xvi They that tech their one tradicioÌ„s be fals prophets fo eo The seat doth not make the priest fo eodem They that teach not the law of Christ syt in their own chayres and entring at the window as theues fo eod The Gospell is the seat of peter fo eodem There contynuyth succession in the seates but not in vertu and merites fo xviii The miracles of peter in Hierusalem .. fo xix The apostles stroue for superiorite folio xxii The appostles were equal Folio eod The dygnyte of the apostles was estemyd by priorite of tyme. fo xxiii The interpretacion of this worde patriarke fo xxiiii The bysshopes be superior to preistes by custome noâ— by the lawe of god fo xxvi These dyd contynue at anynion a long season fo xxxi The churche hath no power to constrayne fo xxxiii The kyngdom of god is not of this worlde fo xxxiiii The offyce of a bysshope fo xxxv The ordynaÌ„ces of the apo were not al receiued fo xxxvii The Canons haue not shoyre authorite by the maker Folio xxxviii The clarge kepeth not the faste of lx dayes before Ester Folio eodem The power was deuyd with kynges prynces fo xii The largenes of theyr power is lyke a streme of water Folio xlii The clargye shulde refuse possessyons Folio xliii The interpretacion of this wordy clarke Folio xliiii They that be seperte of our lorde can possesse nothynge besides the lorde Fo xiv The power of the Cyty of RoÌ„e is not so large by god fo l The comen lawe geueth place to the priuate lawe Fo liii The see of Rome cannot dyspense norchaunge statutes of the olde fathers Folio eodem The good of the church are the goods of the power Fo xlix The hye prestes called the kynges theyr lordes Fo lx Thurstan Archbysshop of Yorke Fo lxxx The examynacyon of the manners lyuing of the clarge partayneth to the kynge Fo lxxxxiii The whole perliament denyeth to aunswere before the Bysshope of Rome Fo lxxxxix The Shepcherd that hath dyspersed the Peple of god shal be greuously ponysshed Fo C iiii Thelesphorius ordeyned the clergy to fast xl dayes before Easter fo xxxviii They put downe kynges when it pleaseth theÌ„ set vp
other fo xiii The papystycal power hath oftentymes troubled England fo liiii The pope calleth the kynge vycar of god fo lxxxiiii The vowe of Wyllyam conquerour fo eodem The power of the bysshope of Rom neuer stode a mans lyfe wythout resystence fo xxxix The opynyon of the papystes concernyng the power of the bysshope of Rome fo iiii The opynioÌ„ of theÌ„ that make al meÌ„ equal with smal wisdoÌ„ confyrmed fo v The power ecclesyastycal was geueÌ„ to al Apostls fo xxi The bysshops of the east resyst the bysshopes of roÌ„e fo xxv The bysshopes of RoÌ„e wer not content to haue the tenthe fo C. ii The tyme is hâ—â—y whan men may se the trouth fo Cvi W ¶ What is comprehendyde vndre the Ecclesyastycall power fo vi Wydows shal not mary within .xii monethes fo .xxxi We must be Iustifyed by fayth whych worketh by charyte foli vii What soeuer is the foundacion of the church chryst must be the hedde fo vii What is vnder standed by the gates of hell fo viii WheÌ„ he was called peter which was called Symon before fo ix What is vnderstandyd by the sete of Moyses fo xv Why peter was called the hed of the apostles fo lxviii Why bysshopes were ordened and made fo xxvi What partayneth to a bysshop fo xxxv What the crowne of prest betokeneth fo xliiii What is laweful for laye people fo eodem What thyng a prest muste forsake fo xlvi What authoryte is geuen to kynges by god folio lvi We shuld not abhore the true name of honor fo li What loÌ„geth to akiÌ„g or a prince what to a P fo lviii What the duetye and authoryte of a kyng fo lix What is the proper offyce of a kynge fo lxxv What authoryte kiÌ„gs had iÌ„ coÌ„secracioÌ„ of Bys fo lxxxv Vrban made an act that no clarkes shulde take any promocyon spyrytual of any kynge and Lay men fo eodem What thyngs be more spirytual fo lxxxv What pertayneth to a kyng of a realme fo lxxxxiii What text of scrypture is prynted in the hart of the bisshop of Rome fo Ci â—ozimus bysshop of Rome fo liii Finis tabule SYth it weth is of suche preemyneÌ„ce dingnitie that she nether gyueth Super omiÌ„a vicit veritas iii esdre iii place to tyme Auctorite nor power but alwaies resideÌ„t iÌ„ hir hygh ê‘fection trone giueth eueri man an entre oftymes surely very harde also encombryd by maÌ„nes malice manifolde forsenses and yet neuertheles blameles in the iudgement of god and also laudable by the confessyon of meÌ„ if any wold ernestli and with good intent labour to come therto Magna est veritas quo preualet iii hesdre iiii this labour which we take vpon vs is not to be disalowed syth the honour and zele of reuerende treweth hath moued vs to treate the thynges that followe here after with diligence mature deliberacion The thynges which we entend to speake of shall wante the entysement of Nouelties But euen the asisteryte and roughnes of the treweth shal sufficiently contente the good nether is it taken as a thing ratified bi iudgement whan ani senteÌ„ce is pronouÌ„ced against the truth we shall therfore thynke it sufficiente to pleade the truthes cause to take our way to hir Iudgement seate to bestowe our labour in the Illustracion and settynge furthe of hir name so that all Dyssymulacion Dysdayne enuy pertinacyte with al'maliciouse and Corrupte affleccions be exiled from vs whiche we for our parte do most abhorre but yf none of these thynges canne be imputed to vs lette those impedymentes of foryn iudgementes be also remoued from vs whiche we Laufully obiecte and lay agaynst the yll frowarde lest thorough pretense of the truth while they set forth their awne malice thei disturbe the publike quieter let the former IudgemeÌ„tes of the good stop the mouthes of the ill that it be not laufull for euerye man to entre medel with euery thinge but that that is done with godly entente that is set fourth with moderacioÌ„ soughte with great reuerence let it also procede furth with gret fauour liberti so that we beare no blame for rehersynge those thinges whiche other men haue both writen and done with prayse we wil not leaue to our owne Iudgement we will not folow our owne brayne we wyl invente nothyng we wyll fayne nothyng we wyll nothyng blame or ê‘uerte vniustly but faythfulli sincerely incorruptelye we shall reherse the holy Scriptures and the senteÌ„ses actes and dedes of other men whiche Determine and agre vpon the thinge that we propone ¶ Nether take we this studi with oute avisement ne came to this laboure and prouince bi his enduced by sensual affections but religion moued vs charite dyd exhorte vs a zele of the truth draue vs forth and compelled vs beinge otherwyse lothe to medle For he dyd certenly se in how laborious busynes in howe inextricable maase thys power named ecclesesiastical hath entangled manye meÌ„ which of what soeuer beginnynge it sprange vp first surely nowe it is depraued corrupted with wily crafte we were not ignorante that the malice of men is great vpon erth and that nothing is so good vnder the sone which the iniquite of al persones doth not subuerte But there with al it came to our remeÌ„braunce that god dothe greatlye regarde those thynges which he him self hath peculiarly ordened that he hath geueÌ„ his holy Scripture contaynynge that ys necessarye to be Knowen most vndoubted professores of the treuth further that though the ryches of goddes wysedome be depe and vnsercheable yet it is geueÌ„ by Scrypture to mannes knowlege that some time by the frut we mai know the tre and after that proue the Spyryttes whether they be of god or of men and yf it be in your power to proue to discerne good from yll it is no maruel if relygioÌ„ hath moued vs charytie hath perswaded vs finali zele of the treuth hath thus for dryueÌ„ vs as profouÌ„dely to study depely to caste in our mynde furste what may be the reason of the aÌ„biguite of this power and after that to marke well and considre whether al thyngs be consonante vnto the rule of the verite that is to saye to the testymonyes of Scripture whereby thys ecclesiastical power and what soeuer at this tyme is contayned vndre that apellacioÌ„ is bolstard vp stayed For thus thought we with our selues yf thys power was fyrste constituted by the ordynaunce of god hauyng so larg and ample fundacyon if so huge a buildinge was so reared vp with so ample fundacion as in this time it semeth to be vsurped than list we only to make this exclamacion the inserutable deuises of god whose providence we se not in these bodyes full of darkenes But if this auctorite hath been only permytted by god for our traÌ„sgressyons that we myght be scourged and that we might be wayle our sinnes we ar in