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
or all the holy ordinaunces and benefices of Ministers But if you vnderstand of the personages of men that is to say of the Ministers themselues and of Byshoppes by whom those holy thynges are frequented If you do exempt those persons from the lawfull gouernement of theyr owne Prince herein you shew your selfe no lesse iniurious to our Queéne then a manifest rebell to S. Paule who geueth a farr other commaundement in the scriptures To witt That euery soule ought to submitt it selfe to the power of their owne Magistrates Upon which place of Paule Chrisostome making an exposition doth so exempt no kinde of people from this subiection that he spareth not to comprehend vnder the gouernement of the higher powers all persons by one law aswell Apostles themselues Prophettes and Euangelistes as Mounkes But lett vs peruse the Argumentes wherewith this gentle and obedient childe of the Popes good grace doth make his wordes warrantable Tell I pray you if you please fayth he where did you euer reade that a Christian Prynce dyd take vpon hym the office of the Pope Truely to confesse the trueth I did heare neuer of any For there was neuer any Christian Prynce so shamelesse to presume to take vpon him so grat a function to professe himselfe to be the head of the vniuersall Church to challenge the prerogatiue of the consistory in common with God and to vsurpe both swordes spirituall and temporall to compell all humayne creatures vpon payne of damnation to sweare him allegeaunce and to yelde all power and authority vnder him And therefore that I may be so bolde to demaund a like question of you in as few wordes I pray you tell vs if it may please you Osorius where did you euer discerne so shamelesse an Impudency in any mortall creature at any tyme that would presume so arrogaÌ„tly to entrude vpoÌ„ the onely possession and inheritauÌ„ce of almighty God and challenge an interest therein in his owne right besides this onely high Byshopp of yours But lett vs heare Osorius how he doth prosecute his argumentes Nay rather all Princes sayth he which did embrace godlynesse and iustice did reuerence the iudgementes of Priestes did obay the Byshoppes without any refusall and did most wiselye accompt it the greatest part of theyr honour to be subiect to theyr commaundementes And because his saying shall not be voyd of creditt for want of examples and witnesses there is vouched agaynst vs Englishmen our owne Countreyman Constantine the singuler ornament of our English Nation The Emperour Theodosius Lodowicke the French Kyng Princes aboue all other most famous All which besides that they were notably renowmed for theyr worthy actes and Princely exploytes yet deserued they not so great commendation and renowme for any one thing more then in that they did shew themselues so humble and obedient to the commaundementes of the Popes We are taught by the rules and principles of the ciuill law that matters of equity are not determinable by examples but by Law what Princes haue done or what they haue not done doth not make so much to the purpose But if right must be decided by law to witt what ought haue bene done I do auÌ„swere that there hath bene many and mighty Monarches whose ouermuch tendernesse and lenity towardes Popes and Byshoppes hath procured the destruction and vtter ruyne of theyr owne esâ—ate and theyr Realmes withall Whenas Rodolph Duke of SwelaÌ„d reuolted against his owne Emperor HeÌ„ry the 4. by the instigation of the Pope what successe his obedience to the Pope came vnto let Historyes report Henry the fifth became a Traytor agaynst the Emperour his owne Father by the procurement of the Pope he did obay the Pope vanquished his Father and famished him in Pryson Osor. is not ignoraunt what ensued vpon that obedieÌ„ce Phillipp the french Prince french Kinges sonne was teazed to lead an army agaynst Iohn King of England by the commaundement of the Pope he obayed and bidd him battell what he wann at the length by that submission obedience besides many miserable calamities appertayneth not for this place to make report There was a truce takeÌ„ with Amurathes the Turkish Emperour for tenn yeares by the HuÌ„garianes not long after league being broken contrary to the law of Armes by the abetting of the Pope Ladislaus King of Hungary is brought forth into the field to encounter with the Turke and ouerthrowen in the conflict In which battell the King was not onely bereft of life but Christendome also lost almost all Hungary withall I could make a great Register of the warres of Henry the 4. and Henry the v. agayne of Fredericke the first Fredericke the secoÌ„d After those of the battell of Ludouicke Prince of Bauiere Fredericke Duke of Austriche withall of the slaughter of many Christian Princes and Dukes But for as much as hath bene treated sufficiently hereof before it shall suffice to haue touched these fewe by the way by comparison whereof the Readers may vnderstand what kynde a thyng this obedience towardes this notorious Seé hath bene which hath bene the nourse of so many treasons conspiracies tumultes and vproares emongest Emperours Kynges Princes and Subiectes and which doth dayly inuade the Christian commoÌ„ weales with horrible outragies doth rende a sunder Ciuill societie doth disturbe the quiet calme of Christes Church with seditious Bulles and cruell curses doth entangle the most mighty Monarches of the world with vnappeasable mutynes vproares tumultes finally doth ouerwhelme the whole state of the world with vnrecouerable perniciousnes destruction dissipation For as it is a neédeles matter to reuiue the remembraunce of the old broyles of the late scattered world which doth flicke fast in our skyrtes yet scarse able to be shaken from the shoulders of all Chistendome euen yesterday almost in the fresh beholdyng of vs that are liuyng what one other grudge did prouoke the late Emperour Charles the v. to inuade the Germaines enflamed the Spaniardes to the bloudy spoyle of so many of their own bowels In EnglaÌ„d likewise what one thing did procure so many rebellions of the subiectes agaynst their liege Lordes Henry the 8. and Edward the 6 What thing teazed Mary the Queéne to so sauadge a cruelty agaynst her owne naturall subiectes rakyng together â—o many Fagottes loades of woodes to the broylyng of so many Martyrs finally what one thyng at this present doth captiuate and deteigne the whole Realme of Fraunce in such an vnentreatable massacre but this Popishe obedience wherewith Princes as Osorius doth suppose do most circumspectly thrust their neckes vnder the Popes gyrdle But I am of a contrary mynde and beleéue veryly that Princes might haue demeaned them selues much more wisely and prudently if in steéde of this childish submissioÌ„ seruile subiectioÌ„ they would with Princely seueritie haue snaâ—â—led the outragious insoleÌ„cy of so shameles arrogaÌ„cy in that proude Prelate folowyng the President of our most gracious
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
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
cloth there is also in the same Cathedrall Church at Rome the very Cradle wherein he was rockt and the peticoate which hys mother Mary did knitt for him yet we read in the Gospell that the Maunger was the onely cradle that the Child had As meére a mockery also is this that in an other place of the same City the Piller whereunto Christ did leane when he disputed in the Temple is brought forth to be looked vpon brought vnto Rome as they say together with eleuen other pillers out of Salomōs Temple which if be true was done doubtlesse after the Popedome of Gregory For it is euidently knowne by his owne writynges that in his tyme was no such Bables at Rome There be Monasteries which make a shew of the water pottes in the which Christ did turne water into wine At Aurelia also they do bragge that they haue the very wine that was turned out of water which is sayd to be the wyne of the mayster of the feast Euery yeare once it is offered to be licked with the toung to them that will geue money for the same out of the topp of a spoone alleadging that it is the very wine that our Lord did will the Master of the feast to drinke of at the marriage what a fitter place for exclamation were heare O shamelesse Impudency O wittlesse folly O grosse mockeryes At Rome in a place which they call Sancta Sanctorum they doe shew forth the shoes of Christ. But what shoes did Christ weare then whenas Mary Magdalen did power forth sweéte oyntment vpon hys bare feéte I thinke and wyped them with the heares of her head as he sate in the house of Simon at Dyner It is skarse credible that any dropp of Christes blood which was altogether powred forth vpon the ground is remaynyng at this present And yet that naturall blood of Christ is shewed more then in an hundred places There is a solemne Pilgrimage made to a few droppes thereof at Rochell in Poytiers in Fraunce which as they say Nichodemus did gather vpp reserue in his gloaue At Mantua also greate gobletts full be to be seéne At Byblion in Auuergne in Fraunce it is brought forth to be seéne cleare renning in a Christall glasse In an other litle towne neére adioyning the same blood is shewed clotted together At Rome it is poured forth in broad platters full in the church of Sainct Eustathius but in the same City at Saynct Iohn of Laterane it is found mixt with water euen as it gushed out of hys side In England in the Abbay of hayles was solemne pylgrimage made great worshipp geuen to that which the Moūcks did bring forth in a cleare Christall glasse in steéd of Christes blood to be gazed vpon of the pylgrimes where if Osorius had come on Pylgrimage what would he haue done I dought not but he would haue worshypped it very religiously But if he had done so he should in steéd of the Reliques of holy bloud haue surely worshypped the bloud of a Ducke The Table wherupon Christ made his last supper standeth at Rome in the Churche of Iohn of Laterane There is in a Church called Saynt Sauiour in Spayne a crust of the bread also that he brake at his last supper The knyfe wherewith the Paschall Lambe was cutt in pieces is at Tryers in Germany The cupp wherein Christ gaue the Sacrament of his blood is to be seéne neére vnto Lions in Fraunce in the Church of Maria Insulana The same Cuppe also is in Switzerland in a certeyn Mounckery of Austine Fryers The platter wherin the pascall Lambe was put is at Rome at Genes and at Orleaunce That is to say threé manyfest lyes about one poore platter And yet these raynebeaten Ruffians be not ashamed to delude the world with such kinde of Mockeryes Neyther is Osorius ashamed to become as shamelesse a patron for those open guegawes But let vs proceéd to the rest of those lying Reliques The Towell wherewith Chryst did wype the disciples feéte is to be seéne at Rome at Saynt Iohns of Laterane The same also is at Ayre in Germanye It is shewed likewise all at one time in S. Cornelies Church A crust of the broken bread wherewith fiue thousand people were fedd in the desert is worshypped at Rome at S. Maria noua An other litle crust thereof is worshipped at Saynt Sauiours in Spayne which I thinke flew directly out of the Baskettes into Spayne But thys is but a Trysle to preserue barly breade there if they did not also shewe at the same Saynt Sauiours a braūch of palme which Christ did beare in his handes on palme-sonday whē he came vnto Ierusalem Emongest the which most holy Reliques is reserued a clodd of earth which they doe affirme was vnder Christes feéte when he raysed Lazarus from death to lyfe Many sundry reportes are made emongest the writers of the Ecclesiasticall history concerning the Crosse. The first that found it out is sayd to be Queéne Helene who did send a piece thereof to the Emperour her sonne an other part very curiously enclosed in a Chest of Golde she delyuered to the Byshopp of Ierusalē to be preserued If it be true that thys Crosse was deuided betwixt the Emperour the Byshop Then must the other Reportes made touching the Relyques of the same Crosse neédes be fables especially sith there is skarce any so litle a City wherein some gobbet of that Crosse is not residēt First chiefly at Parys in the holy chappell at Poytew and at Rome where a whole Crucifixe of a meane stature made of the same Crosse is to be seéne Goe to what will Osorius say to me here For whereas we are certeynly assured by the hystory of the Gospell that the Crosse whereupō Christ suffered was no greater thē that it might he carryed vpon one mans shoulder now it is growen to so vnmeasureable a quantity in greatnesse in breadth and in lēgth that if all chyppes and gobbets thereof that are skattered throughout the whole world were gathered together I am well assured that a great Carrick would be skarce able to beare them all Moreouer who may beleéue the deuise of the Cityzens of Poytew that the skrapp of the Crosse remayning amongest them was stollen from Helene by a certayn mayd and by her conueyed vnto them after that she had runne away from her Princesse wandring abroad lame and halt chaunced to come at the last vpon their coast And I maruell if there be no fragmēt of the same Crosse in Portingall the trueth whereof I commit to Osorius one of the Inquisitors of Portingall to finde out This one thing would I fayne learne what Osorius would doe If Osorius had the very true Crosse it selfe within his owne Byshoppricke I suppose he would worshipp it and why so forsooth because it did heare the body of Christ. That is well I aske further what if the
nor vndertaken of any ranckor or malice nor supported with earthly treasure but to haue bene furthered and encreased by the speciall prouidence of almighty God Neither is it to be doubted if it had bene a pollicy of man onely and not rather the speciall appoyntment of the heauenly Father but that it could neuer haue bene able to haue endured and proceéded in so prosperous a course agaynst your so great and vnmeasurable Tyranny and agaynst so many conspyring confederates of factious furies Which onely successe if the Testimonies of holy scripture can not otherwise preuayle with you and the conduct of Gods mercy which guideth the stearne together with the prophecies and foreshewings which were apparauntly pronounced before the comming of Luther whereof many tokens sent from aboue are mentioned in the Chronicles of the Abbot of vsperge and in the booke entituled Staurosticon Iohannis Frauncisci and Picus Mirandula might haue bene good presidentes vnto you Osorius to instruct you that this Gospell is not the Gospell of Luther of Zuinglius of Bucer nor of Caluine ne yet of men as you prattle and lye but the Gospell of God and that the preachers were not raised vpp by Sathan as your impiety doth blaspheme but sent from an other founder namely the very same who in S. Iohns Reuelation is called by this name the word of God vpon whose Garment and vpon whose thigh is written King of kings and Lord of Lordes Out of whose mouth issueth a sharpe two edged sword agaynst the which neither all the confederate coūcels of the wicked nor Hell gates themselues shal be able to preuayle But to proceéde of the selfe same stampe is that slaunderous cauillation which this Scourgeluther hath coupled in Rancke Of the continuaunce of thirty yeares of title of prescription of the fiue yeares prosperous Reigne of Queene Elizabeth of the grayheadded auncienty of our doctrine and Religiō Wherein it pleased the hoareheadded Syre of his seémely modesty to trifle most apishly of purpose to represent vnto vs as I suppose that old toothlesse Witch of whom is made mention in a certain Greéke Poett Loe what a dust the old Trotte rayseth with her tayle when she daunceth For what if Uerity Trueth which is called the daughter of time being discouered with a farre more excellent lightsonnesse in these our dayes doe beginne to florish more fresh greéne in a certayn largesse of ouerflowing plenty by the inestimable benefite of God shall it therefore be accompted a newe doctrine in your sight because it is cloathed with flesh colors or because it buddeth out blossomes a fresh and is restored to the auncient beauty will you therefore call it new-hatcht neuer heard of before as though it were neuer seéne nor heard of before thirty yeares sithēce what shall we say of Christ who after three dayes lying in graue returned agayne to life frō out his Tombe was not he therfore the same Christ wh he was before his death We read in the Apocalips of two Prophetes whose bodyes being throwen out into the streétes did reuiue and came to life agayne after theé dayes and a halfe And after iij. dayes and a halfe sayth he the breath of life was breathed into thē by God c. The meanyng whereof cann not be extended any wayes to any thyng els but vnto the doctrine of the Gospell And what if the doctryne of the Gospell of Christ be nowe risen agayne into the open world out of the doungeon of darckenesse and deépe drowned blindenesse wherein it hath bene so long suppressed by you is it not therefore the same Gospell that it was alwayes before What did not Iohn Husse Ierome of Prage and the greater part of all Boheme embrace the same Gospell before Luther was borne was not the same order of Doctrine professed in England many yeares before our dayes in the time of Wiclef Swinderbee Brute and others also and in other places likewise amōgest others namely the Valdenses Albingenses with the Grecians Italians Moskouites in Asye in Affricke and in Europe Betengarius Bertrame Peter de Aliaco Iohn Scotus Peter Iohannes William de sancto amore Robert the frenchman whom the hott zealous Pope raked out of his graue and consumed with fire foure hundred yeares agoe Niemus Ioachimus Sauanarola Veselus many others in their time before theyr time with whose goare the bloudy slaughterhowse of the Tyrannous Pope was throughly embrued Did not all these worshipp the same Christ then that we doe professe at this present did they not confesse the same fayth and the same Articles of the Creéde that we do now professe Barnard in his dyscourse of the freé iustification by fayth did he not teach the same doctrine then that Luther hath vttered in writing Augustine disputyng vpon fayth and grace agaynst freé will doth he not treat vpon the same matter that Zuinglius and Caluine doe treat vpon now Of the vse of Sacramentes we haue extaunt with vs long treatises written in the Saxon toung many hundred yeares before those thirty yeares that you speake of witnesses and professours of the same doctrine and fayth which we Englishmen do acknowledge at this present If this be the cause that doth enduce you to thinke that we are entred vpon a new Gospell because we dare shake frō our shoulders the yoake of subiectiō vsurped by the Papisticall Seé the same did long before our dayes Robert Gostred a mā notably learned and famous who beyng Byshop of Lincolne and commaunded by speciall letters from Innocētius the Pope to enduct a certein boy a kinsman of his owne into a Benefice within the Byshopricke of Lincolne being unlearned and unskillfull of the Language did openly resist him and withall did most sharpely inueigh agaynst the Popes detestable prouisions as they call them But why doe I alledge examples of men for the ratifying of the continuaunce of Christes Gospell◠the creditt whereof doth neither depend vpon the maintenaunce of man nor is streighted within any prescription of tyme howsoeuer humaine actions tosse to an fro and neuer persist in any one setled state certes the Gospell of Christ if it be the Gospel of Christ in deede can not be any new or straunge thing nor can haue any other originall or author but Christ himselfe the very sonne of God But whereas in those latter dayes the tongues and mouthes of godly preachers being stopt and shutt vp through terror and Tyranny of the Pope not daring to manifest themselues in the open congregation be now sett at libertye by the boūtifull mercy of God and restored to their auncient Freédome shall we therefore accuse the Gospell of innouation or shall we rather embrace this great liberalitye of God with thankfulnes of mindes and geue our dutifull attendaunce vpon the trueth wherefore whereas this Portingall Parrot prateth so much of xxx or xl yeares limitation herein he behaueth himselfe very iniuriously He perceaueth now a new face
Sacrament of bread and wine is called the body and bloud of Christ. August to Boniface 13. Episto August vppon the psalme 89. August agaynst Adimant 13. The circumstaunces about the Supper of the Lord are to be considered August vpon the wordes of the Lord in Lake Ser. 33. August in Ioh. tractar 25.26 The abseÌ„ce of the body of Christ more profitable for vstheÌ„ his presence An Argument in respect of the profit therof Antichrist An argument from Impossibilitye Contradictiories cann not be together not so much as by miracle A great diuersitie betwixt the auncient Church of Rome and this vpstart Church The lynes and couersatioÌ„ of the auncieÌ„t Fathers of the primitiue Church The first age of the Church Deut. 12. Gala. 1. Math. 7. In processe of time the maners and ordinaunce of ChristiaÌ„s were chauÌ„ged The middle age of the Church How sure forth humayne authoritye doth binde Ecclesiasticall function consisteth in two thinges chiefly How farre ecclesiasticall power doth extend it selfe In matters appertayning vnto God dew obedience ought to be geuen to the Pastors and Ministers How farre forth obedieÌ„ce ought to be geuen or not geueÌ„ to Pastours of the churche in matters of mens constitutioÌ„ What ministers ought to consider in makyng new ordinaunces Of iudiciall power of Churches The difference betwixt Ecclesiasticall temporall IudgemeÌ„ts Ecclesiasticall discipline in the primitiue Church The first institution of the primitiue church compared with the tymes of the latter Church The foundation of the christiaÌ„ Church The foundation of the Romyshe Church The Popes doctrine coÌ„uinced by foure principall pointes The popes Church more like an earthly kyngdome then the kyngdome of Christ. A smale discription of the Romishe Ierarchye A comparison betwixt the kingdome of the Pope and the kingdome of this world Iohn 20. A comparison betwixt the popes kyngdome and Christs kyngdome Luke 20. Mar. 10. Luce. 12. 2. Cor. 10. 1. Cor. 4. 2. Cor. 1. 1. Pet. 5. Rom. 12. The shape of the Romish Ierarchy The counteâ—faite authoritie of popes The church wickedly defined by the papistes How the Romishe stagers doe counterfayt olde Antiquitye A manifest declaration of the Romish church as it is now to be nothing at all Gregor 4. booke 30. Epistle The order of Cardinalles The electioÌ„ of the pope of Rome Cyprian 4. booke Epistle 2. The auncient authoritie of Emperours in sommoning Councelles and in chusing popes A Decree of Charles the great Otto Distinct 6 3. The olde Canons do abhorre priuate Masses Canon 8. The power of both swords coÌ„trary to the old CanoÌ„s The thyrd CouÌ„cell of Carthage Cap. 47. In the new Constitutions 123. 146. Cap. 3. Antiquitie agaynst Images in Churches Origene vpon Leuit. Cap. 16. Chrisost. vpon Math. 1. Homel 2. Vpon Iohn Homel 31. August de opera Monach Malburiensis de pontificibus Lib. 1. An auncieÌ„t law of EnglaÌ„d against pluralities All thynges altered by the pope Out of the Tridentine Councell Generall Councels accordyng to the old constitutioÌ„s aboue the pope The Church of Rome as it is now is conuinced of Nouelty The Councell of Laterane A new doctrine first instituted in the same vnder Pope Innocent 3. Cap. 1. Of the sacrifice of the Masse Of priuate confession The Laterane councell vnder Innocent 3. Cap. 21. Chrisost. in his fourth Sermon of Lazarus Chrisost. vp on the psal 50. hom 2. Chriso vpon the Epistle to the Hebrues homi 31. Tripart histo lib. 9 Cap. 35. Erasmus iu his Apolo The Sacraments of the Romish Church Out of Huntington the 7. booke Out of the Chronicles of Monumetensis Councell of Gangren Cap. 4. Out of the 2. councel of Arelaten 2. cap. Pope Lucius decree distinâ— 81. Ministri The greatest part of the Romish doctrine newly fouÌ„d out and brought in within thâ—s 500. yeares Apoc. 21. Trueth suffereth violence A figure called Hypotiposis Whereby the state of the RomaÌ„s Church and the Reformed Churche is expressed In the question of the Churche many things are conteined People buildyng doctrine forme of gouernement Where the Churche of Lutheranes was fourtie yeares ago A Similitude betwixt the restitutioÌ„ of Religion the finest of the tounges Reason reÌ„dered why Religion is more pure at this tyme in the Churches then it was in many yeares before The Arte of Emprintyng The reason and obiection of the Catholicks in the defeÌ„ce of their Church Probable with Deuines Rome built vpon seuen hilles Apocal. 13. The reason of the papistes touchyng the consent and proofe of their vniuersalitie The captious conclusion of the Catholicks The aunswere to the Argument Distinct. 40. Non loca Distinct. 4. Non est A fallax in the Equiuocum which is of diuers significations The Rom. Church doth combate against the true Church of Christ vnder a coulour of christian name Origen vpon Mathew cap. 17. Irene 3. book cap. 4. The trueth is the life of the church Lactant. 5. institu cap. 30. ArgumeÌ„tes made from consent and multitude of authors are weake Math. 10. Eccle. 1. Ieremy 8. Osorious accusation which was properly bent against Doctrine is transposed to maners To what end tendeth the force of Osorius Accusation Osorius doth deny that Luthers doctrine hath any affinitye with the Apostolique Scriptures Pag. 181. Osor. pag. 182. Osorius lying Rhetorick The Argument of Osorius The Aunswere to the Argument Osorius quarell of lyfe and maners Tit. 1. Ill may the Snight the Woodcock twight for his long bill The lyfe of the Lutheranes compared with the Catholickes The vices of maners are not to be imputed to his doctrine The fruites of Luthres doctrine Osor pag. 182. The confutation of hisl aunder Artic. 21. The scoffe of Luthers doctrine Luther offeÌ„ded with the life of his countrey men Osor. pag. 187. Deut. 18. The argument of Osorius 1. Kinges Act. 1â— A true difference betwixt the false and the true Prophett Luther vpon the 130. Psalme Mens iudgemeÌ„ts in findyng faulte may be free so that they be vpright Out of Valer Ansel. Iohn Stella Out of BeÌ„uo a Cardinall Of couenauntes and promises not alwayes holden true emoÌ„gest the papistes Iere. cap. 23. Osorius argument out of Ieremy Aunswere to the argument The fallax of the consequent The aunswere to the Maior The reason to discerne betwixt false and true Prophetes accordyng to Osorius The aunswere of the Minor Osori pag. 190. The place of Ieremy expounded Iohn Husse The prophecy of Iohn Husse touchyng the doctrine of the Gospell to be restored by Luther A small coÌ„trouersy betwixt Luther and Zuinglius Osor. pag. 191. Of diuisioÌ„s of the churche Dissentions in the Papane church Dissentions amoÌ„gst the most godly A full consent of doctrine in reformatioÌ„ of Churches The Articles of the chief grouÌ„des of Religion wherin the Ministers of the Church do well agree together How great a concord is ctetwixt many Churches in the matter of the Sacrament Papistes murtherers of Martyrs Osori pag. 192. Osori doth beleue fame Authour of all his vntruthes A prouerbe
you call them is this therefore by and by a good consequent that whatsoeuer blemish or reproche be in mens conuersations shal be forthwith imputed to the reproofe and reproche of doctrine Did holy Diuinitie teache you to argue on this wise or doth your Mistres Dame Slaunder rather teache you so to doe And thus much hitherto of your Epistle not much vnlyke hereunto are all the rest that follow in all your Inuectiues against Haddon which if any man will take the paynes to examine exactlye by the common rules and principles of Logick as he shall finde in them many wordes nothing to the purpose so shall he want two things chiefly and especially required in a deuine namely Trueth and Charitye Which two vertues the farther they be estraunged from your writinges so much the more causelesse was your choler agaynst Haddon for his good counsayle that he gaue you and his iudgement whereby he accompted you more lyke a Cobler then a foreman of the shopp vnapt and vnskilfull yet to cutt such large thonges out of other mens leather And yet meaning nothing lesse herewith then to dryue you frō touching the testament of Christ whether because he conceaued that the labor which he employed vpon this kinde of exercise was either very small or altogether fruitlesse but hauing regard rather to make manifest what the right consideration of that doctrine is and how much you were short yet of a true and perfect knowledge in the true doctrine of Diuinitye For if this be a true definition of Dyuinitye that it be a profession of Gods heauenly wisedome and trueth what one thing is more contrary and repugnaunt to Gods trueth then your opiniōs wherin you doe enterlace vntruethes for verityes newfanglenesse for auncientye mens traditions for true Dyuinitye None otherwise then as false Pedlers are wont to choppe and chaunge false deceitfull wares for good or as some our horse-coursers in England vse to bring into open fayres and markets outrydden Iades pampered vp in fleshe fayre braue and smoathe to the eye garnished with fine Saddle and trappers being otherwise full of windegalles stuft with glaunders yelowes and hundred horse euills vnprofitable and vnapt to hackney and to draw or to carry Sauing that this one difference is betwixt you and them whereas they by crafty dissimulation and artificiall Conueyaunce doe beguyle the simple and such as be without skill but you as you seéme vtter your wares not as of any sett purpose or skilfull craft but because you haue no better wares in stoare and withall seéme not willing to buye any better But I will presse you no further onely this one thing will I say If your industry had bene employed in the study of holy Scriptures as much as you would haue it seéme to be truely I must neédes accompt you a very vnciuill and vngentle person who couering your knowledge as it were vnder a Bushell will vouchsafe to expresse out of that sacred treasury of holy Scriptures so litle and out of auncient Doctors scarse one sentence through out all this your whole discourse But hereof enough It followeth now that I touch somewhat of the manaces and threatninges of Haddon with the force whereof he would make you dismayd as you say in these wordes wherewith you bring him selfe in place speakyng and threatning you in this wise If you be determined to make a shew of your skill to some of your owne faction by rushing so rudely vpon vs any more from henceforth I tell you before hand come heareafter better furnished then you be now Further where you declare that it will come to passe that if you happen to dye there will not want some that will breake of my force These be the wordes of Haddon as Osorius doth cyte them wherein I doe perceaue that he doth not conceaue so much as by any probable coniecture what the meaning of Haddon is For what doe these wordes emport els then to sturre you vpp and sett you on edge as it were by this frendly admonition to make you more earnestly bent to the reading of holy Scriptures that if you did determine with your selfe to offer any freshe skarmish in this kinde of conflict you might feéde your owne humour herein as you lifted but yet you should foreseé to be better prouided with more skilfull and more warrantable reasons yea much more defensible and armed as it were with armour of proofe for that you be perhappes to greéne a souldiour as yet not able to endure the force of this Combat with so slender prouision Well now what kynde of threatninges be these good Syr that may geaue you any cause of terror After this Haddon proceadeth because he would not haue you deceaue your selfe with this vayne perswasion as though there were not in England besides Haddon onely any other which in this defence of the Euangelicall veritye both would and could skilfully enough encounter with you by the helpe of Christ herein lykewise hys meaning was to geue you to vnderstand That you should finde here in England not one or two onely but very many not onely in our Churches and vniuersityes also but euen emongest the Courtyers which did farre excell him in learning and knowledge and were in all respectes comparable with you These be Haddons wordes wherein I seé a certein comparison made but no threatninges at all as yet Wherefore comfort your selfe Osorius there be no bugges here to make you affrayd And surely I can not choose but commend you for your naturall countrey courage which lyke a lusty Portingall Prelate will not be dasht out of countenaunce for any bygge lookes of any of all those men whom Haddon doth compare you withall And in deéde there is no reason why you should For why should Osorius be agast of seély English dwarfes or babish wretched Haddons And yet though you be without all feare of men it will not be the least commendation of your wisedome to feare the Lord your God Osorius and to stand in awe of hys threatnings For being so studious a Reader of holy Scripture you can not be ignoraunt of the plagues which the Lord doth threaten to the Enemies of his Gospell for how sharpely and greuously he will be auenged of such the dayly and continuall examples of his wrath may be good lessous and warnynges vnto you Lett the recordes of Historyes be perused if your memory comprehend it not what happened to the Emperour Sigismund and his whole forlorne houshold not long after the death and Martyrdome of Iohn Husse what chaunced also to Iulian the Cardinall and to themperour Albert sonne in law to Sigismund after the Tyranny executed agaynst the Bohemians what fortuned to Henry the 2. the French King what also to Francisce the 2. his Sonne lykewise also what happened to Charles the 9 his other Sonne after the great murther and slaughter in Fraunce Were not Syr Thomas Moore and Roffensis after they had burned Iohn
Fryth that excellent learned young man and his companion imediately after committed to prison and suffred iust plague for their vniust crueltye And to passe ouer other what end Eckius and Iames Latomus came vnto I suppose you be not ignoraunt Mary Queéne of England after she had consumed so many godly Martyrs to Ashes being first forsaken of her husband and afterwardes raught away so quickly with such an vntymely death shall we thinke the same came to passe without some great iudgement of God Can you tell vs of nothing happening in your owne Countrey of Portingall after the horrible tortures and execution of William Gardiner which might haue bene a manifest token of Gods vengeaunce agaynst you But why doe I stay vpon these when as besides these infinite lyke presidentes be manifestly extaunt which ought worthely to terrify you and others also in the lyke For as for those Englishmen whom Haddon doth make mencion of there is no cause why you should be discouraged Especially sithence this litle Island is as your selfe doth confesse replenished with so many notable godly men excellent of witt of learning and of pietye who will neuer molest you as you say because they doe wonderfully agree and consent with you in Religion c. Surely Osorius in this you lye nothing at all wherein yet you haue forgotteÌ„ somewhat your olde wont For this is to true that you speake that here be ouermanye companyons and confederates of your errors in this Realme whereof some are roonne away of late more afrayd a great deale then hurt There be behind yet many tarryers I will not say Traytors to the Common weale whose witt and learning as we doe not despise so also doe we not feare any harme they can do vs for there is no question to be made at all of their witt nor of their learning but of other matters the direction and disposition whereof resteth wholy in the power of the Lord and not in any pollicye or force of men Lett these therefore whosoeuer they be whom you prayse so much haue their deserued prayse for their excellencye of learning and actyuitye of witt as much as you will who if they be of your sect may happely be learned doughtlesse godly they can not be Agayne if they be godly I am sure they will neuer agreé with you in thys Doctryne But as for mens agreément in opinion is not so much materiall Neyther is any part of our coÌ„trouersye at this present touching matters determinable by common consent multitude or wittes of men but must be decided by the infallible and vnchaungeable rules ordinaunces of the sacred Scriptures whereunto if your opinions be consonant as meéte is we will all together lykewise consent and agreé with you If otherwise what shall it preuaile you to be lincked in any vniforme consent of those men though they be neuer so excellently well learned but onely that you may seéme to become a raunging rouer emongest straggling Starters From thence you proceéd leauing them whom you say be of your minde and turne backe agayne to these Lutheranes and Haddonistes Who if would contend with you as you say with reasons with argumentes or with Testimonies you promise that you will not refuse the conflict But if they will brawle with cauntes and cursed speaking you will not be persuaded by any meanes to make them any aunswere c. Loe here a very pleasaunt panion and Maister of his Arte After that your gaye goodly choler had cought vpp as many slaunderous reprochfull croomes as it could eueÌ„ to the casting vpp of your gorge to the poysoning and infecting of godly and learned personages now at the last you prohibite them for pleading their causes least happely some one or other in making his purgation will sâ—â—t somewhat neare your holy Reuerent skirtes or least with some corrysiue in auÌ„sweryng he frett to much vpon the skabbe of your delicate conscience For that your Nature is of that complexion as will not lightly be offended with any slauÌ„derous touÌ„ges nor accompt it any ioate prayseworthy to exceede by any meanes in so filthy a kynde of contention Moreouer that it is no wisedome to spend your tyme so vnprofitably whereof you haue skarse any breathing from other more weighty afâ—ayres And therefore if HaddoÌ„ or any other of that Crew shal be so disposed as to rush vpon you with snatching and taunting more rigorously then shall beseeme them you will geue them free skoape to chauffe foame and exclayme agaynst you as much as they list and as much as they can And that it is not conuenient for your personage in respect of the charge that is committed vnto you that either you ought to be distempered with rayling or that you should aunswere to all cursed speaking If to these wordes and speéches all his other doinges and writinges were in eche respect correspondent what siner man might any man finde in this world what more noble mind what more excellent nature which hauing so throughly mortified his affections will not suffer him selfe to become impatieÌ„t with any iniuries or rayling raging agaynst him But if his doinges be called to an accompt before strickt Inquisitors and if they will examine his wordes by his deédes I beseéch you gentle Syr where was this mildnesse of spirit so gloriously commended by your selfe where was this lenity of nature where was this contempt of reproches exiled at that time whenas your reuerence being neuer prouoked with any iniury offered of our natioÌ„ nor so much as euer molested by word could not measure your insolent malice and wrath nor make any end of slaundering backbiting and rayling in so excessiue outrage agaynst the godly and learned Preachers of Christ both altogether vnknowen vnto you and withall neuer deseruing to be thought ill of at your handes Euery man must suffer the penalty of the breach of Law that himselfe maketh sayth Ausonius You require vs to cutt of all contentious brawling and to deale with you with sound Argumentes and Testimonyes We do like well your law For what can be more seémely for discreét Deuines then a calme and peaceable modesty in disputation not disquieted with any naturall motions nor waxing wroth with other mens rayling But who doth obserue this order that you doe prescribe worsse then your selfe good Syr If waÌ„t of time which you alleage in excuse or consideration of your function as you say be such an estoppell vnto you that you haue no leysure to aunswere to all mens raylinges how is it theÌ„ that in this your auÌ„swere to HaddoÌ„ be so many slauÌ„ders heaped vpp vpon slauÌ„ders so muche rayling in such skorpionlike nipping bitternesse wherein how vnmeasurably lauish you seéme beyond all coÌ„sideratioÌ„ of your personage all this your owne whole discourse remayneth a sufficient witnes against you wch doth breath out bray out and spew out nothing els but flames fierbraÌ„ds furyes botches madnes frensies outrages drouÌ„kenes feuers childishnes