onely begynnyng And that the pope of Rome onely if we may beleéue the Popes Parasites must now be Lord of Lordes and Kyng of Kynges to whoÌ„ is due the fulnes of all power more then Princely authoritie ouer all maner of subiectes All which beyng so vndoughtedly true ratified with the generall consent of all Historiographers that no man can be able to deny it I beseéch you Osorius by your beautyfull foreheaded if you haue not rubbed all shamefastnes away from it where is shame become where is fayth where is Catholicke obedience so many tymes bragged vpon by you wherewith you affirme boldly that you do not refuse the commauÌ„dement of any lawfull authoritie for the coÌ„futation of which wordes of yours what shall I say vnto you so much as the liues of them whoÌ„ you defend most do most of all bewray you to be a great lyar though I held my peace Chronicles and Hystories are full of examples complainyng of no one thyng more greéuously then of a certeine singular continuall and vnappeasable rebellion of this your holy order agaynst the lawfull Magistrates Call to remembraunce Osorius how discretly and humbly Pope Iohn the 12. of that name behaued him selfe who conspiryng first with Berengarius the 3. afterwardes agayne with his sonne most trayterously supported their treachery agaynst Otto the first beyng the lawfull Magistrate And how afterwardes beyng sommonned to the Councell by the Emperour he disobeyed his lawfull commaundement and refused to come And for that cause beyng deposed from his Ecclesiasticall function by the generall consent of the whole Councell did not yet so geue ouer his trayterous practizes agaynst the lawfull Maiesty Anno. 963. It would make a great Uolume to gather together all the seditions and contentions one after other that happened betwixt the Emperoures the Popes afterwardes I will here there touche and runne ouer some as many as shall suffice for the present purpose And first of all What shall I speake of Gregory the 7. of whom I can neuer speake sufficiently enough Who after that he had contrary to the auncient Decreés and receaued custome of the Elders wrested wroong out of the handes of the Emperour Henry the 4. all right of chusing the Pope of disposing the promotions of the Church of callyng Councels not satisfied as yet with this horrible treason agaynst the Imperiall Maiestie Rusheth moreouer most furiously like a brute sauadge Tyger agaynst the Emperour his own person thundereth out excommunications agaynst him dispencing with his subiectes for their Oathe of allegiance which they had sworne vnto him what shall I say that this most arrogaunt Mastigo would scarse after threé dayes admit to come within the walles of Canusium the Emperour him selfe with his Empresse and young Sonne threé dayes I say submittyng them selues bare-footed and barelegged in frost and snow at the gates of the Citie And yet beyng not herewith contented did notwithstanding not absolute him from his fault which was none at all without doing a whole yeares penauÌ„ce Besides all this the greédy Cormoraunt beyng not yet with all these reprochefull iniuries fully gorged became so monstruously madd as to prouoke by all meanes possible Rodolphe Duke of Sueâ—ia to driue him out of his Empire in the yeare 1074. Not long after this Gregory succeéded Vrbane 2. Pascalis wherof the one did teaze Conrade sonne heyre of the same Emperour by his first wife to wage warre agaynst his naturall Father the other after that Conrade was slayne enlured Henry the 5. his other sonne vnto like outrage agaynst his own Father the Emperour In the yeare 1300. O miraculous and Catholicke reuerence towardes the higher powers to speake nothyng in the meane tyme of the warres that Pascalis mainteyned agaynst Ptolome and Stephen Cursus a Romane Citizen of great power and agayne how the same Pope prouoked Anselme Archb. of Canterbury to pricke proudely and insolently agaynst Henry 1. Kyng of England After the death of the Emperour Henry the 4. succeéded in the Empire HeÌ„ry the 5. who beyng no more courteously entreated of Pascalis and Gelasius 2. and of Albert Arch. of Meniz through whose deadly practizes and infinite seditioÌ„s the Emperour beyng throughly worne out was driueÌ„ at the last to that extremitie that maugre his hart he must agreé to the Popes commaundement yeld to his will stand to his courtesie and deliueryng ouer the preéminence of the Imperiall scepter was coÌ„strained of necessitie to thrust his necke into the yoake of the Ponrificall tyranny 1122. By meanes of which submission and yeldyng of Henry 5. it is scarse credible to be spoken how monstruously these holy Fathers raysed their crestes what outragious atteÌ„ptes they practized afterwardes whereby they might bryng to passe to haue the Empire vtterly troden vnder their feéte which them selues had miserably wasted and taken out of the Emperours handes before and withall how they might reteigne vnto them selues the authoritie of the keyes of the whole Church wherof they had vnlawfully likewise dispoyled the Emperour preteÌ„ding an authoritie from aboue geuen vnto them by Christ him selfe whereby they were made Lordes my Iudges of all Churches Byshops Pastours Kyngs finally Lordes of whole ChristeÌ„dome in all causes aswell Ecclesiasticall as Temporall WhereupoÌ„ they enforced the Byshoppes to purchase their Election at the popes handestand to these keyes they annexed freé and absolute power to ordeyne dispence with and to coyne new lawes the breach and violatyng of the which must be taken for as haynous offence as if they had Sinned agaynst the holy Ghost according to the Decreé of Demasus For euen so they spake of them selues besides this also they armed them selues with those terrible gunneshottes of Excommunications of Decreés enioynyng of penaunce and cursinges and withall did rake vnto them selues a certeyne Heauenly power out of the very Heauens and exercized the same vpon the earth so that from thence forth no humane creature might be so hardy as once to mutter agaynst this new vpstart Peacocke whereupon the Decretalles of Gratian had bestowed no small plumes of gay glitteryng feathers euen now hatched and peépyng abroad at the first to establish an absolute monarchy power by the Decreés Councels of Byshops of let purpose as it were to ouerthrowe the Maiesty Imperiall Now these holy Fathers beyng thus throughly garded with this munition and engynes hauyng also subdued the highest power of the world do begyn to bende their force agaynst the Inferiour powers Potentates And first Innocent 2. choppes away at one blow the auncient order dignitie of Senatours of Rome and doth besiege Rogerius in the Castell of Gallucius in the yeare 1130. How execrable the insolency was of Alexander 3. the Cardinalles agaynst Fridericke Barbarossa agaynst whom beyng their liege Lord most worthy Emperour besides horrible thuÌ„derâ—rakes of curses they raysed all Italy and the Venetians is
vs turne out penne towardes Spayne though swaruyng but litle frō the question Not many Monethes agoe arriued there an English Shyppe richly laden with English wares in the same besides sundry Passengers were xx Mariners more or lesse who beyng vnder sayle on Seaborde did worshyp the Lord after their countrey maner in their owne mother toung This shyppe whether carried in her right course or forced by Tempest arriued at the length vpon the coast of Spayne The Shippe had scarse thrust her nose into the Hauen but by what occasion I know not the holy Inquisitours beyng flocked together flew into the shyppe They Sommon the Mariners to appeare before the Inquisition and by constraint of oathe enforced them to shew the bookes of their Common Prayers hereupon threw into prison Queéne Elizabeth hauyng intelligēce of the matter addresseth Letters vnto Kyng Phillippe for the deliuery of her Subiectes The Kyng desirous to graunt her request made aunswere that there wanted no good will in him to do what he might to the vttermost and that he had also to his power and Princely authoritie entreated for them very earnestly but that the Maiestie of the Sacred Inquisition in his kingdome was of such force that him selfe must neédes be obedient vnto it do ye not seé here a notable kyng Osorius who may commaunde nothing more in his kyngdome thē shall like the subiectes are ye wont in this sorte to obey the cōmmaundement of your kyngs Yes ye obey in deéde but such ordinaunces as your selues do make not such as they commaunde nor do ye otherwise obey then as it may serue your owne turnes and when you list your selues About fiue hundred yeares sithence more or lesse how fewe kyngs haue bene in this litle Brittaine that haue not bene greéuously molested by beggerly Monckes and amōgest all others by the Monckes of Caūterbury chiefly how insolently did Anselme withstand William Rufus and Henry 1. kynges of Englād how proudly did Theobald behaue him selfe agaynst kyng Stephen How great vnspeakeable Tragedies played Thomas Archb. of Caunterbury agaynst Henry 2. Which Thomas your holy fathers for his treachery and Treason haue shryned for a Sainte The Byshop of Elye an execrable Traytour not onely to kyng Richard 2. his own person but to all the Nobilitie of England besides it is a wonder to seé what a sturre he kept No man is ignoraunt of the manifold iniuries that kyng Iohn suffred at the handes of Stephen Langton No lesse trayterous was Edmund Archb. of Canterbury agaynst Henry the 3. Which Henry succeéded Edward his sonne whom Iohn Peccham resisted wonderfull obstinately leauyng after him a successour Robert who degeneratyng nothyng at all from his successours trechery was at continuall iarre with the kyng ech of them an Archbishop eche of them a Traytor to the Maiestie What shall we say of Gualter the Archb whom sufficed not to take away Adrian Byshop of Herford frō the Temporall Iudges in despight of the kyng and his Counsell and to set him at libertie vnpunished but he must also become a confederate of Queéne Isabels conspiracy agaynst kyng Edward the 2. And to passeouer in the meane space the sundry outragies conspiracies and seditions agaynst their owne Princes by Ludeines of that coate was there euer so beggerly a Moncke or so lowsie a cowled lozell that being supported by the popes authoritie and armed with the granneshotte of his excommunicatiō would not quickely contemne and set at nought any Potentate or Magistrate were he neuer so mighty Whereas an auncient custome was established by solemne consent amongest the auncient antiquitie that Byshopprickes the dignities and possessiōs Ecclesiasticall should not be disposed and geuen but by speciall cōfirmation of Kynges and Princes and that no Appeale should be made to the Pope of Rome for any cause without the kyngs consent Popish ambition preuailed so farre forth immediately after the enthronizyng of Hildebrand That kynges were called kynges onely in name but the rule order and administratiō of all causes caught away from kynges should remaine with Monckes and such like shauelynges who would both rule the roast and the game After Becker was slayne Kyng Henry 2. made earnest intercession with cappe in hand to the Monckes of Caunterbury Priour wherof was one Odo that for his sake they would vouchsafe an Archb. of his admittaunce and withall nominated him The request was honest yea it was a request of one which neéded not to desire it but might of very iustice by the prerogatiue Regall institute and appoint Byshops within his owne kyngdome All which notwithstandyng in contempt of the kynges authoritie and without any regard had to his humble petition was an other chosen not whom the kyng desired but whom the Monckes them selues liked best in the yeare 1173. The like vnto the same was done also in the Election of Baldwyne the next successour in the yeare 1184. In which Election the kyng was compelled to yeld to the Monckes whether he would or no. And where is now that Catholicke obedience of Monckes towardes their Monarches where is the commaundement of the Apostle Wherein kinges are commaunded to be honored I will adde hereunto one example more for to recken vppe all would make a great peéce of worke Pope Gregory the 9. sent his Legate Otto by name into England as the other Popes were accustomed before him to doe to gather vppe his haruest sheaues together plentyfull enough I warrant you they call it Procuraria This haruest was on this maner That euery particuler Church throughout all England should pay one yearely reuenew of foure Markes to the pope the summe was infinite Letters were deliuered to the Archb. And Byshops commaundyng them to assiste the Legate in gatheryng this money and withall should prouide threé hundreth of the fattest Benefices to be employed vpon iij. C. Italians of the popes appointment Kyng Henry 3. vnderstandyng the matter calleth a Synode of Byshops caused cōference to be vsed with the Byshops in their cōuocation house first addresseth his Letters to the pope touchyng their aūswere aswell in his owne name as in the behalfe of his Subiectes when he could not this way preuayle he openeth the matter to his Counsell and states assembled in Parliament writeth to euery particuler Byshop declareth vnto them the great inconueniēce that would ensue by meanes of that collection humbly beseécheth them that they would not be so earnestly affected towardes Straungers as to seéke the vtter spoyle and vndoyng of their natiue Countrey wherein they were borne nor would so empouerish their owne Churches Afterward he doth threaten them yea denounceth the penaltie of the lawes and auncient Statutes of his Realme agaynst them openly Finally vpō their allegeaunce chargeth them that they deliuer no money out of the Realme whereby the Common weale may be empouerished If ye consider the authoritie of him that doth commaūde what could
vnam Sanctam What kinde of obedieÌ„ce popes vse towardes Magistrates A conspiracie of Iohn 12. most abhominably practized against Otto the Emperour ContentioÌ„â— raysed betwixt the Emperours and the popes rehearsed out of Hystories A singuler president of the popes obedience towardes the lawfull Magistrate Conrade his brother HeÌ„ry the 5. teazed agaynst their own father through the popes faction Anselme agaynst HeÌ„ry 1. Kyng of England Henry 5. is enforced to yeld to the popes commauÌ„demeÌ„t 25. Quest. 1 violatores The popes of Rome do challenge a certeine heauenly power vpon earth Gratian his booke of Decretalls Ionocent 2. ouerthroweth the order of Senatours in Rome The cruelty of Alexander 3. agaynst the Emperour Fridericke Barbarossa The singuler insolency of Hadrian 4. in banishyng the dignitie of Consulshyp The troublesome seditions of HadriaÌ„ the pope Hadrian choaked with a flye 1159. The seditious tumults of AlexaÌ„der the pope agaynst Caesar his soueraigne Lord and Prince The vnspeakeable pride of a seditious pope A president of the popes pryde farre passing Tarquines pride Iudas â— Nazianzen Oration vpon the holy Penthecost The incredible fury and outrage of Innocent 3. of Honor. and Gregory 9. agrynst Frederick 2. Extimo Concil 49. Pag. 639. The filthy gaynes of the pope Innocent 4. doth sette vpon the same Frederick the Emperour Agaynst the Successours of Frederick do Vrbane 4. and Clement 4. kept warre The pope Clement doth conspire the death of Conrade Frydericke Nicholas 3. doth sowe the seedes of discention betwixt Charles King of Sycile and Peter Kyng of Arragon The seditiouse troubles of Boniface 8. agaynst Celestine agaynst the Family of Columne agaynst phillyppe the Frenche kyng and agaynst Albert the Emperour Clement 5. doth prescribe lawes to Emperours Ludouick the Emperour most shamefully abused by Clement 6. Charles 4. appoynted Emperour agaynst Ludouick the true Emperour by the procuremeÌ„t of Clement 6. The onely popes of Rome the common pestilence of Christianes and of all Europe How little the Romish obedience doth agree with the Rule of Paules obedience Chilpericke the French kyng Henry 2. kyng of England Iohn kyng of England Victor a Byshoppe Phillippe the French kyng Henry 6. the Emperour Wicked practize of Pius 2. agaynst the Emperour Out of Recordes of Germany Henry the 8. kyng of EnglaÌ„d excommunicated by pope Clement the 7. Pius the 5. keepeth a sturre agaynst Elizabeth Queene of England Osori pag. 170. B. The maner of Popishe obedieÌ„ce to their Princes The horrible crueltie of the Spanish Inquisitours against English Marchauntes The king of Spayne subiect to his owne subiectes Inquisitours How the Catholicks be obedient subiectes to their owne kynges Anselme Theobald Thom. Archb of cauÌ„terbury Byshop of Ely Stephen Langton Edmund Archb. of Caunt Iohn Peccham Rob. Wilkelse Gualter Archb. The froward coÌ„tumacy of Monckes agaynst their kyng Out of Mathewe Parisâ— vpon the lyfe of Henry 3. Math. Parisiensis The proude rebellion of the pope the Bishops agaynst the kyng A tenth of all moueables in EnglaÌ„d and in Scotland graunted to the pope Mathaeus Parisiensis The auncient lawes and ordinaunces of Emperours enfringed by Popes Dist. 63. Out of the Englishe Chronicles Osor. The Troumpetour of the Romishe Ierarchy Pag. 170. The picture of the crosse must be worshipped Images of Sainctes Sanctusâ—es Lord for the bloud of Thomas graunte our prayers to wend c. No Nation in the world hath any pictures or grauen Images in their Churches but Papistes onely Osorius doth defend pictures to be as Kalenders of remeÌ„braunce Osorius pag. 17. The monument of the Brasan Serpent and the bookes of SalomoÌ„ de curandis morbis abrogated by Ezechias for the abuse Osorius pag. 171. How the Fayth of the Catholickes is ioyned with hope and feare Confidence of workes by Osor. Fayth How feare ought to be ioined with the fayth of the gospell Of workes Osorius pag. 172. Of Ceremonyes and Sacraments Pag. 171. Of Confession Osori pag. 172. 1. Iohn â— Pag. 172. Plaut in Bacchid Luke 10. The Charecter of the priest The Character of the Beast in the Apocalips Math. 9. Luke 7. Mar. 5. Mar. 9. Luke 4. Chrisost. vpon the 51. Psalme Homel 2. Actes 15. Actes 26. Actes 10. The Reformation of Confession The Superstition of SatisfactioÌ„ A poena culpa Osori pag. 172. Osori pag. 173. FroÌ„ wheÌ„ce that so holy lyfe and so great chastitie of the papistes doth proceede The incredible force and efficacy of the Masse Osori pag. 173. Osorius reason to proue that the rude people should be restrayned froÌ„ readyng the Scriptures Vnknowne tounges in the Papists churches Osor. pag. 173. Smale care had of preaching the word in the popes churches The senteÌ„ce of Barnard To muche light or no light at all How light must bee quallified according to Barnard that there be not too much light nor to litle Psal. 19. Psal. No man ought to be forbidden from reading the Scriptures Ephes. 3. Ephes. 1. The cause is fouÌ„d out why the Byshoppes do fle so much the light of the scriptures What kinde of authority it is of the Popes and Byshoppes in the Popish church Osor. pag. 173. Out of the Trepartite history 9. Booke cap. 35. Si non caste tameÌ„ cauté How farre the lawfull authority of the church extendeth it selfe Luk. 10. Ioh. 20. The Ecclesiasticall dignitye wherein it consisteth There is one power of the church an other of this world Iohn 5. Of the Rites and state holy dayes of the Romish churche Osori pag. 174. How great occasion of idlenes and dronkennes the multitude of holy dayes do engender How blasphemous Idolatrous the songes of the Romish Churchebe Christemasse day Pag. 175. Ashewednesday Palmesonday Good Friday Easter EueÌ„ Easterday Ascention day Whitsonday All HolleÌ„day What thingeâ— be reproued in the papistes holy dayes ceremonies Esay â— Popish worshyppyng compared with the worshyppyng of the Iewes in the olde law The superstitioÌ„ of the people in their state holy dayes ceremonies ought to be reformed Osori pag. 175. Esay 58. Gala. 4. Osor. pag. 176. Principles of Osorius Religion How much commodity and necessity there is in outward ceremonies and signes in Osorius iudgement Sarcasmus a nipping skoffe An Aunswere to Osorius mocke The papists acquayntaunce with mortall fragility The vow of chastity What Ceremonies are necessary with the Christians Baptisme The Communion All Ceremonies are not to be coÌ„demned yet in the allowaunce of Ceremonies Reason and choyse must be â—â—dâ— Osorius spightfull â—nuectiue by a Rhetoricall figure wrest back vpon the Lutheranes Pag. â—77 Osor. pag. 178. Osor. pag. 179. Osorius bauld Rhetorick The confutation of Osorius inuectiue Luther Phillippe MelancthoÌ„ Martin Bucer Huldricke Zuinglius Iohn Caluiâ—e Luther vpoÌ„ the 15. Psalmes of Degrees How the Pope is afflicted by the Lutheranes Apoc. 1â— The authoritie of the Romish See can not agree with the authoritie of the Scriptures The complaint of Osori concernyng the ouerthrow of Monckeryes and Nunneries It was
incredible inordinate desire of luciferlike superioritie as that he would onely and alone rule the roast and haue all others in subiection vnder hym how then could such vnmeasurable ambitione be possibly satisfied without infinite troubles vproares tumultes And therefore as touching that clamorous accusacions agaynst Luther to be a common Barrettor and disturbor of all Ciuill societie seémeth to me to be framed of Osori none otherwise then as though he would that Luther shoulde onely beare the name but that the Bishoppe of Roome shoulde winne the game Deale playnly therfore Osorius and poynt directly to the Butte that you ought to haue shotte at Name the person by his name if ye will be taken for a good Proctour at the Barre yea if ye be so carefull for the preseruation of the common weale of Christendome as ye are a curteous and Ciuill Gentleman let the force of your wrotte eloquēce be blowen directly agaynst those persons whiche are Enemyes to Christendome in deéde which treade Empyres vnder foote which doe writhe and wrest Scepters out of the handes of Princes which moue commotions styrre vpp the people agaynst the Nobilitie the Subiectes agaynst their Kynges which do mainteyne the Sonnes in armes agaynst the fathers which do cause the subiectes to abiure their sworne obedience due to their liege Lords teaze and prouoke the rude multitude to bende their force agaynst their naturall Princes which doe ouerthrow the peace and tranquilitie of the Church of Christ with their seditious Bulles open warres Ciuill discensions which do subuert all places of Iustice Iudiciall seates and Iudgementes rende lawes asunder are truce breakers and disturbours of peace are disseysours and disinheritors of lawfull discentes proprieties and possessiōs are pillers and pollers of all cōmon weales which do turne all thyngs vpsidowne choppyng and chaungyng and makyng a generall confusion of all thynges finally whiche doe neither render that vnto God that apperteyneth vnto God nor geue that vnto Caesar which is due vnto Caesar but rushe violently into both estates aswell Temporall as Spirituall makyng hauocke of all and appointyng one onely Iudiciall Consistory in this world to witte Gods and the Popes If these dealynges emporte not a generall ouerthrow of all Ciuill politicke gouernementes let the accuser hym self deny it But if he confesse it to be true now then may I be so bold to demaunde of Osorius that he will vouchsafe to aunswere me truely without parcialitie For as much as that Pōtificall Romish Seé is to to much polluted and defiled with all those enormities wherof I haue made mention before which one of these cā he pyke out at the length that may be duely truly layed to Luthers charge where was Luther at any tyme moued with such desire to beare rule as that he seémed willyng to beare full sway and be Lorde and Ruler of all others Where did he entrude vpon the right of any Prince or tooke vpō him selfe violently the authoritie of the Ciuill Magistrate where did he shew him selfe rebellious against the Superiour powers where did he disturbe the peace and quiet gouernement of any weale publique What Church or Congregatiō did he molest trouble where did he euer shake of the obedience of due allegeaunce or procured any Subiectes to rebellion agaynst their Gouernours What Empyres did he transpose what Kyngdomes did he trouble what warres was he the authour of what Kynges or Byshops did he euer minister poyson vnto either in the Communion bread or in the wyne within the Cōmunion Chalice or in the common drinkyng goblet as we read in the Hystories hath happened vnto the Emperour Henry vnto Victor and vnto Iohn kyng of England And I would to God there had neuer bene besides there any other poysoned after the same sort When or to whom did Luther euer offer his feéte to be kissed or vpon whose necke did he treade with his feéte any tyme Finally in what Natiō or Countrey was Luther euer knowen with his curses Excōmunications Bulles to haue vsurped vpon the Maiestie of any Prince or to haue abated the due obedience of the people or els to haue allured and drawen away the harts of the Subiectes which were by oathe obliged to their hygher power to rebell and pursue the destruction of their Rulers and Magistrates contrary to their othe contrary to all Religion contrary to all law reason and common course of nature it selfe Which inordinate outrage beyng neither to be found by report of any Chronographer amongest the Scythianes ne yet amongest the cruell Massigetes yet this do we read yea and haue seéne with our eyes to haue bene practized of late here in England by the treachery of Pope Pius the fift agaynst our most gracious Queéne Elizabeth yea and not long sithence agaynst the late renowmed Kyngs Henry the viij her Father and Edward her brother But it comes already to my mynde what aūswere Osorius will make to all this For all that I haue spoken touchyng the ouerthrow of the peace of the church and the scatteryng abroad of the possessions therof Osorius will forthwith take holdfast of and hurle violently with all the force of his eloquence agaynst Luther speakyng in this maner What assoone as these bookes of Luther were scattered abroad doe we not see how the quiet and peacible estate of the Churche is vexed and troubled euery where how Monckes are driuen out of their selles spoyled of their goodes Chanones thrust out of their Colledges Abbottes and Byshops throwen out from their rightfull possessiōs In deéde we seé this to be done in many places Osori Euē so also do we seé the darke cloudes to vanish away after the rysing of the Sunne in the mornyng we seé also the foggy mystes to be scattered abroad the darkened night to be driuen away the smaller starres to lose their brightnes and the heauens to waxe cleare beautifull fayre of hew and men that before seémed blynde with drousy sleépe to awaken and shake of their sluggishnes at the cleare shining of the glittering light Now cōcernyng your Obiection agaynst Luther in the behalfe of the Church of the Byshoppes and Monckes you shall then make partie colorable good whenas ye haue rightly defined First what the true Church is who be true Byshops and true Monckes When I do heare this word Peace named when I do heare mētion made of the Church of Byshoppes I can not chuse but acknowledge them to be honorable names cōmendable titles yea euen such as all men do most gladly ioyfully embrace but yet truely vnder these names lurke many tymes many crafty conspiracies I know that it is not vnfitly reported by the Poete That Peace is the most precious pearle of Dame Natures stoare And surely as euery man excelleth in vertue and pietie so for the more part is heé studious carefull most for the due preseruation of Peace and of concorde And therfore good men doe
determine vpoÌ„ an other Emperour to be chosen And when Themperour sent Embassadours to the Pope to be receaued into fauour The Pope drew him out an InstrumeÌ„t with these coÌ„ditions annexed to witte that he should confesse the errors and heresies of his Princes and Cytties which were none at all that he should depart froÌ„ his Empyre and should committe hymselfe his Children and all his goodes and possessions to hys mercy and from thenceforth should neuer meddle with any of them without hys permissioÌ„ and sufferaÌ„ce Which articles albeit TheÌ„perour was not vnwilling to yealde vnto yet because the Pope perceaued that the States of the Empyre woulde not accepte it hys owne sacred holynes vpon Easter day appoynteth an other Emperour Charles 4. At the last Ludouick beyng poysoned not without the procurement and practize of this most mercifull Clement departed thys lyfe as Ierome Marius doth record within a yeare after the Election of this Charles in the yeare 1347. At the length the same Charles whom the Pope annoynted Emperour contrary the ordinaunce of all the States to th end to confirme the dignitie Imperiall to hys sonne and hys Successors so ioyneth in league with the Electors what with fayre promises bribes that he passeth ouer the reuenewes of Th empyre to the Electors this did he to establishe the Succession in hym and hys posteritie as Aeneas Siluius doth report Agayne the Electors bound the sayd Charles by oathe that he shoulde neuer require restitution of those reuenewes agayne which the Electors do enioy euen to this day By meanes whereof it came to passe that the Romayne Empyre beyng thus embased and the Reuenewes of the same empayred The Turkishe outrage hath long sithence freely possessed a great part of Christendome without resistaunce and is like to preuayle further yet for as much as the power and force of the Christianes beyng rent asunder and skattered abroad there is now none other power or PoteÌ„tate that is eyther able or dare adueÌ„ture to withstand the mighty puyssaunce of that outragious furye And the verye cause of all these mischiefes haue for the more part issued out froÌ„ that pestilent sincke of Rome who building hys rauenous neast with none other furniture more then with the scrappes that heé skrapeth together through violent seditious partaking of factions and dissentions of Princes hath brought Christendome to so small a handful now at the last that the Christian Princes iarring alwaies emoÌ„gest theÌ„selues do seeme that they will neuer be williÌ„g to be at one and agreé togethers for prouisioÌ„ to be made against the Turckes nor will be able at any tyme to make their partyes good agaynst the coÌ„tinuall inuasuones and Roades whiche this Tyraunt doth dayly make into Christendome But we haue shewed Recordes and examples sufficient whiche if be not true Let Osorius himselfe confute them by hys Antiquitie whereof he vauÌ„teth so singuler a skill But if they be most true as they be in deéde if he shall neuer be able to disproue theÌ„ where is now become that wonderfull obedience to the lawfull Magistrate where is that consideration of the Maiestie which as he sayth refuseth no ordinaunce of the higher power but doth yelde that vnto Cesar that belongeth to Cesar that vnto God that is due vnto God he addeth moreouer For we beleeue according to the testimony of Paule that lawfull Magistrates are so established by the ordinaunce of God that he that resisteth the lawfull aucthoritie outh to be adiudged not so much to resiste man as to resiste God himselfe If these wordes were as hartyly and vnfaynedly vttered as you professe honorably in wordes I meruayle theÌ„ froÌ„ wheÌ„ce came that so cruell rebellion of that Ecclesiasticall Seignorie agaynst the Superiour powers and from whence those moÌ„struous turmoyles of Empires and so execrable alterations of States these many hundred yeares came at the first The principall causes of all whiche tumultes commotioÌ„s and alterations â—prang from no where els then fromout that boyling fornace of the Popes canckered contumacye agaynst their liege Lordes and Emperoures From hence came the warres of the Emperour Henry the 4. 5. then of Fridericke 1. and 2. from hence the battell of Ludowicke of Bauiere and Ludowicke of Austriche In which vproares the Maiestie of the kyngdomes was not onely violated the power of the same weakened Princes combatyng against ech other like the brethren of Cadmus destroyed but Churches also were miserably torne and many godly consciences driuen into greéuous anguish of minde and most perillous staggering vncerteintie through these outragies of the Byshops who to extoll and enlarge their false forged dominion conceaued by as false forged opinioÌ„ were in effect the very cankers and botches of the Church and of all Europe besides What stroake then shall the authority of Paule who forbiddeth all resistauÌ„ce beare amongest these ruffling Prelates who delightyng and sporting them selues priuely to seé Princes and their Subiectes together by the eares and to rende and teare a sunder common weales and the publique peace and tranquilitie of the Church with Ciuill discentioÌ„s seditious Bulles and pestilent Libelles who through their priuiledges and immunities exemptyng them selues from publique Iustice and Ciuill Lawes do vse abuse Monarches and Tetrarches lyke bondeslaues after their owne lust and pleasure do blesse them curse them commaunde them intreate them rewarde them punish them allow disallow set vp set downe treade vpon with the heéles yea with their Papane power and Maiesticall prerogatiue cast downe into hell betray theÌ„ poyson theÌ„ how true this report is the Grecian FreÌ„ch and Germany Emperours playne patternes of their fury doe euidently and aboundauntly declare the smart therof felt Chilpericke the French kyng whom the Pope deposed from his kingdome and thrust into a Monckery Henry the 2. kyng of EnglaÌ„d whose Princely crowne takeÌ„ froÌ„ his head you reteigned by the space of foure dayes Iohn kyng of England who was first driuen out of his kyngdome by Pope Innocent 3. at the length poysoned by a Monke Henry 7. Emperour of Germany whom ye destroyed by poyson as ye did Victor likewise whose lyfe also a certeine Relligious lozell of your owne order cut short of a white or a blacke Moncke for he was a Dominicane Friar by ministryng vnto him the Sacrament dypped before in deadly poyson What shall I say of Phillippe the French kyng agaynst whom Pope Boniface 8. did procure Edward kyng of England to mainteyne mortall warres what shall I speake of Henry 6. Emperour of Rome agaynst whom as rebelles reuolted the Byshop of Collen and Leodicensis in which tumult Leodicensis was slayne And for breuities sake to passe ouer infinite other Dukes and Princes of Sycile Arragon Tuscane Calaber Naples Venice Germany Fraunce England Boheme Italy Rome Emperours Kynges Princes Marquestes Dukes Counsellours Senatours Consuls whom I dare auow were neuer more horribly molested in all their whole lyues then
through the malice trechery of your holy Fathers and their fraternitie So that this whole Seé of yours may seéme to haue attayned that loftyness of absolute power and sole superioritie to none other end then to teare rende abroad and dissipate lawfull authorities Potentates and Magistrates established by the ordinaunce of almighty God What happened but of late dayes by the attēpt of Pius the 2. I thinke is not yet slipt out of your remēbraunce who would not graūt to the cōfirmation of the Bishop of Iseberg vnlesse he would promise that the Bishop of Mentz should neuer assemble the Electours before the Pope were made acquainted yea gaue his cōsent thereto Which if the pope might haue cōpassed once doughtlesse he had wonne the spurres for the suppressing of the authoritie of the Electours for euer This insolēcy the Byshop of Iseberg did stiffely oppugne whom beyng for the same scorched with the horrible lightening of the popes curses deposed from his Byshoppricke the Palatine Fridericke vndertooke to defend in this righteous and lawfull cause apperteinyng to the state of the Electours and sauety of Germany By meanes wherof when the matter came once to handy stroakes the iust and righteous cause preuailed Now I beseéche you Osorius Such as challenge vnto them selues a Lieutenauntshyp not of one Citie onely but of the whole world such as teach that Emperours do not reigne of them selues but vnder the Pope such as affirme that all right to create Kynges and Princes doth belong vnto them selues were these persons euer of the mynde to geue due honor to the high powers whenas they acknowledge no power on earth aboue them selues whenas of late yeares Pope Clement the 7. bent his thunderboltes of excommunication agaynst Henry the 8. Kyng of England whenas also of late Pope Pius 5. waxed very wroch agaynst our most Souereigne Lady Queéne Elizabeth and threw out agaynst her his truell curse and seditious Bull whenas he cutteth her of frō her Regall dignitie and the congregation of Christians assaulteth her with slaunders and reproches nameth her pretensed Queéne proclaimeth her refuge for runneagates whenas he procureth her subiectes to become traytours and teazeth them to armes agaynst their naturall Princesse yea whenas he releaseth them in this behalfe of their Oathe of allegeaunce do these Prelates obey the counsell of Paule◠Wherein euery soule is commaunded to submitte it selfe to the highe powers Which place of Paule Chrisostome interpretyng Doth say that not onely Byshoppes Prophetes and Euangelistes but also the Apostles them selues are subiect to the same law Let vs briefly runne ouer the remnaunt of Osorius Fable So that hereof it cōmeth passe that we doe Decree that nor onely the Cannons of the Byshops but also the ordinaunces of Princes beyng not directly contrary to the Lawes of God ought to be obeyed most duetyfully To this end tendeth his talke to witte◠That these holy Fathers may not seéme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to warre against God For whosoeuer resisteth the lawfull Magistrate resisteth God And therfore you do decreé that the ordinaunces and lawes of Princes beyng not contrary to the lawes of God ought to be as duely obserued as the Popes Decrees But you may pype vppe this kynde of caterbrawle Osorius to such as are not yet well acquainted with your Catholick maskings in some other world if it please you in Noua Hispania or els in Calecute For with vs thinke not to finde any so foolish to follow you fantasticall all deuise and to credite your affirmatiōs who being ouermuch enured to your ingglyngs are sufficiently instructed in those your wyly beguilye are to well acquainted with your ambitious hawtynes your continuall cruell combattes with Princes your suppressing of Kynges your exemptions from politique and Ciuill lawes so many hundred yeares Now that you haue brought to passe by your vnmeasurable and vnsatiable Tyranny that the Monarches and chief Potentates of this world are become subiectes vassalles vnder your authoritie daryng not to mutter no nor so much as to hisse once agaynst your cōmaundementes vnlesse your fatherhoodes gape vpon thē Osor. like a fine man steppeth forth endeuouryng to persuade with his sweéte eloquēce that all the Packe of their Popish priesthoode is already trussed vpp offereth it selfe alwayes most humbly applyable to all the ordinaūces Commaūdemētes of Princes and higher powers which are not repugnaunt agaynst the lawes and ordinaūces of God But come of now let vs take a tast of this your Seraphicall obedience and let vs set down for example that which may come to passe hereafter or at least that which is hartely wished for to come to passe in deéde Put the case that this your noble Sebastian Kyng of Portingall whom for the reuerence I beare him I name a puissaunt Prince should geue you an expresse commaundement that all Idolles Pictures and Images should be pluckt out of your Churches Surely this commaundement were nothyng disagreable to the ordinaunce of God I beseéch you tell me what would Osorius do here would he obey the commaundemētes I dare scarsely beleéue him But there is no such matter commaunded by your kyng nor shall euer be commaunded What your Prince shall do hereafter neither doe you know your selfe Osorius neither am I inquisitiue to knowe whereabout your Noble Kyng of Portingall doth bestew his tyme at this presēt but I speake what he ought to do And what if the Lord in whose handes are the hartes of Princes do by secret inspiration of the holy Ghost enduce him to cōmaunde it at one tyme or other The Pope say you would not permit it yea Syr I do beleéue this in deéde And therfore the king should not aduēture to geue any such attempt though he were wholy bent thereunto Neither would Osor. obey though he did it Yet surely the word of God would permit it though the Pope and all his Cardinalles do spurne and kicke agaynst it In the meane tyme O wonderfull authoritie of Kynges in those Nations and O miraculous obedience of Catholickes whereas neither Princes are at libertie to enact and establish that in their owne common weales that they ought to do nor is lawfull for the Subiectes to obey their Princes lawes in matters approued by the word of God vnlesse the Popes authoritie beyng farre higher then either the authoritie of man or power of God be obteyned first By whose crafty deuises after that the Lordes and Princes be forced to that issue that it may not be lawfull for them to institute any ordinaunce but such as shall please the Byshops and Priestes then are all those shauelynges at elbow by and by to execute whatsoeuer their Princes commaunde them whenas the Princes may not commaunde any thyng in deéde but as they shal be guided and lead as it were by the lippe of their owne Subiectes O singuler superexcellent obedience of such Subiectes towardes their Magistrates Departyng a whiles frō Portingall let
be of more authoritie in a Realme if ye way well his purpose what was more profitable for the Countrey or more agreable to Gods word Let vs now behold a singuler president of Catholicke obedience which if were as playnly discernable in the lyues and maners of your Clergy Osorius as you haue notably painted it out with your penne I would not thinke you to be more worthy of credite theÌ„ your Catholickes worthy of commendation Now how ready and diligent they were in performing the Kynges commaundementes the matter doth more then sufficiently declare it selfe For it was so farre of that the pope would yeld any iote at all to the Kynges Requestes that he seémed to grow into great choller agaynst the Kyng yea and to threaten him for the care he had of his owne Realme The kyng of England sayth he which doth kicke and spurâ—e agaynst vs now hath is CouÌ„sell But I haue my Cousell also which I will follow c. and withall sendeth ouer Letters with expresse Bulles to the Byshops to the Byshop of Worcester chiefly whereby he was coÌ„maunded to prosecute the popes practize by all meanes possible at a day prescribed thereunto which was the AssuÌ„ption of our Lady agaynst which day Auditte must be geuen of this sacred Receipt Addyng also thereunto that whosoeuer should withstanding his proceédynges herein should be presently accursed yea if it were the kyng him selfe what thinke you of these dealynges right reuerend Father is this to obey Princes commaundementes suppose you or rather to commaunde Princes what they shall doe What may we say to that request whereas the same Henry accordyng to his princely prerogatiue and as of right he might lawfully haue done aduaunced into the Bishopprick of Canterbury one Richard who being repelled by the Monckes and in despight of the king an other A Moncke of the same house named Gualter beyng enstalled the king not a little displeased with the vnhonest refusall made meanes to the Pope by his letters and Ambassadours who after hys wonted maner more inclinable to the Monckes then to the King coulde be by no meanes reconciled the King because he would not seéme to be ouercome of hys owne Monckes in his owne Realme was enforced to growe to composition with the Pope and to graunt hym a tenth of all the goodes moueable in England and in Scotland The most holy Father vndermyned with this crampe yelded by and by But it shall not be amisse for the better declaration of the matter to sett downe the very wordes of the Author Our Lord the Pope sayth he beyng inwardly inflamed aboue all things to suppresse the hautines of the king recoÌ„forted with these promises was made to consent This much Mathaeus ParisieÌ„ Which grauÌ„t how pestiferous pernicious became afterwardes to the Realme can skarsly by any estimate be comprehended An. 1229. Raunge at random now Osorius and spare not to vtter whatsoeuer shall come into your harish Eloquence as lowdly as ye can of the humble obedience and ready inclination of your Clergye towardes the Lawes and commaundementes of Princes But ye annexe a tagge to your poynt Which ordinaunces are not contrary to Goddes lawes And what may bee construed I pray you of that where Charles the great and Otto the first one a Frenche Emperoure the other a Germaine to the singuler benefite of the Empyre dyd ordayne yea and that not without the generall consent and agreément of the bishops and the Councelles that no person should be chosen pope of Rome without the consent and confirmation of the Emperour and that the right of appoynting Bishoppes and the determination of ecclesiasticall causes should be ordered by the Temporall authoritie This ordinaunce so holy so faythfully instituted by them so long and so firmely obserued and kept by their Successors eueÌ„ vnto the warres of Themperours Henry the father and the sonne and the Popedome of Hildebrand yea and Cannonized also amongest your decreés will you affirme to be contrary to the Law of God if you do graunt it how came it to passe that they were established by your popes which could not erre if you deny it how chaunced that Hildebrande and the other Lordinges Successors of that Seé did abrogate the same so wickedly And with what face may the ordinauÌ„ces of Princes be sayd to be duetifully obserued of them who do so litle shame to speake agaynst their owne Princes and oppugne their ordinaunces who accompte it no small part of their Maiestye to delight and pastime themselues in scorning theyr Lawes deryding and denienge their requestes In like maner to be so bolde to Inferre somewhat of our owne Countrye Lawes It was an auncient custome here in England tyme out of mynde that the Byshoppes and the subiectes of the Realme should sweare their allegeaunce to their kyng accordyng to a fourme thereof prescribed And also that no person whatsoeuer should be so hardy to appeale to Rome without the kinges coÌ„maundement Moreouer that in Election of Bishoppes and disposing of Ecclesiasticall promociones namely such as were of greatest estimacion should haue the first and chief voyce afore all other c. out of Parisiensis Of these auncyent ordinaunces you shall heare what our Auncient kynges do testifie in the Chronicles themselues For in this wise King Henry 1. speaketh There is an auncient custome sayth he of my kingdome ordayned by my Father that no person shall sue any appeale from vs to the Pope whosoeuer will attempte to enfringe this custome doth offend agaynst our Maiestye and the Crowne of England He that will seeke to dispoyle vs of our Crown is an enemy Traytour to our persoÌ„ c. Now agayn Let vs heare the wordes of the same King to hys Subiect What haue I to do with the popes letters I will not breake the Lawes of my Realme c. And out of all question These constitutions remayned sound safe and inuiolable vntill the tyme of Hildebrand By force of which ordinaunce Lanfranck was appoynted Archbishoppe of Caunterbury by William King of England DuÌ„stane enstalled Byshoppe of Worcester by Edgar Odo by Adelstane Oswalde made Archbyshoppe of Yorke by Edgar without any consideration had of the Bishop of Rome So were also other Bishoppes admitted by other kynges Which auncient lawes and ordinaunces of Princes if your clergye had euer determined with themselues to obey as inuiolable what ment Sainct Anselme Sainct Beckett Langton and many other Archbyshoppes and Moncks of Yorke Canterbury and Douer what did they meane I say who roonning to Rome in their often chase rechase sweating turmoyling spent coÌ„sumed great Sommes of mony about pacifieng of tryfles wh would haue bene concluded at home with lesse charge and more ease if they would haue harkened vnto their owne princes and obeyed their lawfull lawes and ordinaunces rather then haue bene so much addicted to the pope But what do I moyle my selfe in thys huge and vnmeasurable Gulfe
be forthwith accouÌ„ted false prophettes worthy to be slayne There be many thousand men and weomen which make many promises now theÌ„ nor doe alwayes accomplish theyr promises but do swarue ofteÌ„ fro their words break promise shall they be all accounted false Prophettes forthwith There was sometyme a Pope of Rome Iohn the xxij of that name who by his acquayntaunce with the Starres made great brags of a promised loÌ„g life who neuerthelesse dyed in the viij moneth of his Popedome Yet will you not reckon him for a false Prophette I suppose What shall we say to Pope Gregory the seuenth who hauing secretly suborned some persones to murder the Emperour himselfe in the meane time pearchyng in some pulpitte the morrow vpon Easter day did in his sermoÌ„ boldly protest before the people that if Henry the Emperour did not dye before the Feast of S. Peter next ensuing for that day had he appoynted for his Prophecy and for his treason also the people should neuer geue any more creditt vnto him nor acknowledge him for theyr Byshoppe but should driue him and banish him froÌ„ massing yea froÌ„ the Church also as a sacrilegious person But what chaunced afterwardes when as the Emperour by good fortune had escaped hys treason the Pope with a pretty shift hudled vppe the matter on this wise saying that when he spake of the death of the Emperor he did meane the death of his soule and not of his body There are diuers histories extaunt wherein may be founde that many Popes of Rome haue promised many and great matters to Emperours and Kynges very largelye and lowdely to witâ—e of the power of election of creating Byshoppes of the title of submission and many other thinges who did neuerthelesse so not accomplish that which they had ratified by publique promises and autenticke decreés as that through their treachery treason they brought all things to vtter confusion almost Pope Boniface 8. did promise to the Emperour Albert the kingdome of Fraunce by deposing of Phillippe yet did he not hold promise herein Gregory the 7. did with many large promises putt Rodolph in hope to attayne the Empyre agaynst Henry the 4. but his hope being frustrated he was not so good as his worde Pope Innocent 3. did promise to Ludowicke the French king the kyngdome of England vnder this condition that he shoulde driue King Iohn out of his kindome which notwithstanding was neyther the FreÌ„ch king able to do nor the Pope able to performe In matter so infinite what should I speake more What your selfe promised in your Baptisme Osorius what you promised also when you tooke orders of priesthoode and aâ—terwardes likewise vpon solemne protestation when you were enstalled a Byshoppe I thinke you remember What haue you performed all those promises what if some secret coÌ„tract be made betwixt you your Porting all spye here in EnglaÌ„d that whatsoeuer he may smell out either of our courtlye affayres what the Prince doth what her counsellers and courtyers do what is done in the coÌ„mon weale how English traytours with couert dissimulatioÌ„ doe persist firme in theyr oath to the Pope how the Lutheranes liue and bestow theyr tyme in what estimation the Masse is amongest Englishemen That of all these and such like he shall certify you faythfully by some true transcript and he in the meane space either huÌ„dred about some more profitable affayres do breake promise with you or do certify you vntruethes and abuse your worshippe with lyes and false reportes will you account him forthwith for a false Prophette worthy to be stoaned to death I do not thinke it And why so Because you will say that herein is great difference and oddes when as men we promise any matter to men in the person and fidelitie of men and when as we promise or foreprophecy in the name and person of God thinges to come to passe for in that one the breach of promise is deceit and lying in the other impiety and vngodlinesse in that first men onely are hurt in the other iniury is committed agaynst God And therefore if all these your accusations be bent agaynst these persons as agaynst false Prophettes Make it manifest then if you can where either Luther or any other of the abouenamed vndertaking at any tyme the person of a Prophette did prophecy of thinges that should come to passe by the appoyntment and purpose of God wherof the Lord neuer spake word If you can not Then doth not your argumeÌ„t which you haue strayned out of Moyses cleane agaynst Moyses will and altogether besides the Cusshian make any thing at all agaynst them Besides this commeth yet an other argument of the same stampe skrapte out of Ieremy agaynst those false Prophettes before contriued with no lesse subtlety then blazed abroad with vanity And the place which himselfe dayneth not to note is in the 23. chapter Marke therefore diligently with what wordes God hath taught to discerne betwixt false prophettes and true Prophets If they had persisted stedfast in my councell sayth he and had declared my wordes to my people they had surely turned my people away from their euill way and froÌ„ their wicked thoughts Out of these wordes of Ieremye Osorius writinge to the Queénes Maiesty doth frame an argument on this wise If after the arriuall of this new Gospell sayth he and this doctrine of new religion had also arriued together with the same shamefastesse integrity innocency and grauitye of lyfe and vprightnesse of manners if seuerity of life if graue behauiour and ciuility of manners and honesty had bene raysed vppe out of that darckenesse wherein it was long drowned c. I should waste much tyme to rehearse euery particuler sentence wherewith this trifling Rhetorician like an huckester of eloquence doth make a huge heape of wordes in a neédelesse long and tedious rehearsall of vertues and vyces wherein he might haue done much better in my iudgement if leauing this Childish copye of countenaunce and glorious mulplying of variety he had entred vpon the matter more brieflye playnly and more effectually The purport of his discourse was that he should haue coÌ„uinced Luther Melancthon and the professours of the same doctrine for false prophettes And to make this manifest he would vse an argument framed out of Ieremy by the signes notes and markes wh the prophet doth sette down in speciall wordes as I sayd before out of which wordes if he would haue argued he must neédes haue concluded after thys manner The Prophets which in the time of Ieremy did prophecye glad tidinges to the people if they had followed therein the councell of God they had called theÌ„ back to a Reformation of lyfe Luther doth preach to the people in the name of the Lord and yet reduceth them not to a better life Ergo Luther is a false Prophet If Osorius doe conclude his argument after this maner as he neédes must by the wordes of the Prophet
entred into any order Ecclesiasticall foreswearing to be coupled in wedlock should sweare them selues to obserue perpetuall vow of vnmaried lyfe If any man be of opiniō that this Tyrāny was brought in by the Apostles and not rather directly agaynst the ordinaūce of the Apostolicke Church is much deceaued in imagination whereas that law was neuer begon nor euer heard of before the tyme of Hildebrand And although I can not deny that there were many vnmaried Ministers many dayes agoe in the Church of Christ at that tyme when as there was not such a huge multitude of Priestes and more plentyfull giftes of chastitie possessed Christian Churches yet did neuer any man read or heare that this necessitie of vowyng chastitie became a publique cōmon coaction before Hildebrād was borne How earnestly the Germaines did set them selues agaynst this wicked prohibition decreéd by Pope Gregory the 7. at what tyme the Archbyshop of Mentz Sollicitour of this Popish decreé was almost slayne let the Histories beare witnesse As touchyng what was done in England I will note somewhat my selfe For on this wise writeth Henry Huntyngton in his Chronicle Anselme sayth he did prohibite Mariadge of Priestes in England which was neuer prohibited before Which seemed to some a matter of wonderfull continēcie but to other very pernitious and perillous least whiles they should couet for a cleannes that surmounted their power they might rushe healong into horrible filthynes to the great reproche and dishonour of Christian name This much he with whom also accordeth the testimony of Monumetensis touchyng the same matter Herbert Byshop of Norwiche sayth he by the commaundement of Anselme and a Decree of a Prouinciall Synode did endeuour by all meanes possible to sequester the Priestes from their Wiues in his Diocese And when he could not bring it to passe he was constrained to send to Anselme for Counsell This is to be founde in a written History pag. 240. The same also happened to Gerrarde Archb. of Yorke about the same tyme. Now what will Osorius say to this If I shall be able to shew him out of our own auncient Recordes more then 40. Recordes and Rolles which doe make mention not onely of our Priestes companying together with their Wiues but also that do by publique authoritie and law of the land prouide that their Wiues ought to be endowed in landes and possessions There was an old Decreé in the Councell of Gangren That no man should make any difference betwixt an vnmaried Priest a maried Priest as to Iudge the one more holy then the other in respect of his vnmaried lyfe I will annexe the wordes of the Coūcell If any man doe take exception betwixt a Maried Priest at that in respect of his Mariadge he ought not to minister the Communion and so sequester him selfe from Communicating with him let him be accursed There ensued after this the Councell of Areletens the 2. wherein was a contrary Decreé made that no person should be admitted to Priesthood that was Married to a Wife vnlesse he vowed to depart from his Wife c. Whereunto also agreéd a Decreé of Pope Lucius long after the other Whereby Priestes and Deacons and such as serued the Altares should lyue continently And this hetherto tollerable enough But what kynde of cōtinency he did meane let vs marke by the sequele But if it happen sayth he that a Minister doe go to bedd to his Wife after he haue once receaued orders let him not enter within the Chaūcell nor be made bearer of the Sacrament nor yet come a neare the Altar c. As touchyng Images Inuocation Sacrifies for Sinnes and Freéwil hath bene spoken sufficiently before And what shall I adde more of the rest of the rascall rable to witte of Purgatory of Satisfactory Constitutions of vowes of other lyke peltyng pelfe of the newfangled Romish Traditions and of the antiquitie of all the rest but euen as they be in deéde namely that in them all appeareth no countenaunce of true Antiquitie but are deuises altogether of mens inuētions bastardes and misbegotten chaungelyngs of Scholeianglers and cowled crauens not grounded vpon any authoritie of the Scripture altogether vnknowen vnto the aūcient primitiue Church the most part wherof hath bene hatcht thrust abroad into the world within these 500. yeares within which compasse of tyme that noumber of yeares began to be fulfilled which was long before Prophecied of for the lettyng louse of Sathan into the world whose libertie out of that bottomles gulfe of hell was foretold by the Propheticall Scriptures should be after a thousand yeares to the end he might now preuaile to deceaue the people dwelling vpon the foure corners of the earth Gog and Magog c. By meane of which pestiferous deceauing it is scarse credible to be spoken what mōstruous ruine dissipation of Empires and Kyngdomes with in these 500. yeares what an alteration hath ensued in that church chiefly how much of Christian force hath bene decayed through Ciuill warres priuate grudgynges how greatly the power of foreine Nations hath increased to our destruction and vndoyng And how in the meane tyme whiles the Turke doth inuade the Christian Church without seékyng with foreine force to vndermine it The Popish Prelates be no lesse busily bent to builde vppe their fortresse of furious Tyranny euen within the bowels of the same Church and to fill vppe their Coffers with Treasures they moyle and turmoyle all thynges Procure warres and bloudshed for the establishment of their primacy sturre vppe Ciuill warres and commotions turne all thynges vpsidowne Wherupō commeth to passe that doctrine is nought sett by by how much their treasory aboundeth in ouer flowing-plenty by so much to speake with Ierome their vertues are pyned away with famine skarsity Idolatry ambitiō superstitiō haue growne to an vnmeasurable excesse all things are defiled with abuse Religiō ruleth the roast with violence cruelty Finally all things are come to nought Trueth is turned to playne lying and treachery The place of sincere fayth possesseth false hipocrisie Praying for the dead kneéling and crowching to Images supplyeth the place of the true and pure worshipping of God The word of the Lord is troden downe with mans authoritye The most godly and auncient ordinaunces are transformed into new fangled traditiōs the simple meaning of the Scriptures is entāgled with scholetrickes and Sophystrye Luste and vnbrideled licentious outrages preuayle aboue godly conuersation and seueritye of discipline Presūptuous pride and greédy desire of Lordlynes and superioritye doe wrestle agaynst lowlynes and humilitye huge heapes of new Noueltyes increase dayly errors and falshode flocke abroad vnmeasurably Finally the whole state of the auncient Church is become a very stage of an earthly Monarchye and a filthy forgeshoppe of foolishe fond ceremonies But now assoone as the Lord of his louing mercy good pleasure towardes vs vouchsafed to amend this dayly drowsy darkenes with