With like outrage did Queéne Alfrithe kyng Edgar his wife most cruelly murther Edward the Martyr her sonne in law by meanes wherof she might place into the kyngdome her owne sonne Egelrede At the last repeÌ„tyng her of her former wickednes did erect two Abbayes in satisfactioÌ„ of her murther to witt Amesbury and Werwell about the yeare of our Lord. 979. Kyng Athelstane hauyng slayne his brother Egwyne whoÌ„ he drowned tyraÌ„nously in the Sea after the slaughter of his brother did builde two Abbayes namely Mydleton and Michelney enriched them with great reuenewes for the Redemption of his brothers soule and forgeuenes of the murther Upon the same occasioÌ„ or not much vnlike was Battell Abbay first founded which kyng William the Conquerour after he hadd wooâ—ne the fielde and slayne a great multitude of notable Souldiours did cause to be builded in the same place for the release of the soules and Sinnes of all such as were slayne in that battell I haue thought good to sett downe a brief note of these the like whereof I could haue rehearsed many more All which albeit I had rypped abroad would haue bene sufficient Presidentes that they all had one maner of begynning and one cause of foundation namely none other then which might vtterly deface the glory of Christ the assuraunce and trust of our Redemption and withall the whole Grace and comfort of Christes Gospell O holy foundation of Monckish Religion O wonderfull monumentes of maruelous holynesse O sweéte and smoathe Deuine that can so amyably persuade vs to retourne to these principles and foundations wherein he seémeth in my Iudgement to endeuour nothyng els then to bryng vs Christians in belief that forsakyng Christ and renouncyng the doctrine of the Gospell we should repose the saluation and redemption of our soules and the forgeuenes of our Sinnes not in the Sonne of God but in Monckes and Monckeries But lett vs pursue Osorius by the tracke of his foote whiles he hasteneth to the end of his booke who glauncyng away from the MouÌ„ckes at the last doth begyn to proyne his feathers and to make a shew of his proper witt to Kinges and Princes And here he rusheth vpon the poore Lutheranes with an horrible accusation of high Treason And why so I pray you whether because the life of Princes hath bene preserued by them or deâ—owred by theyr practise No. But treason hath bene conspired agaynst theyr lyues and theyr Crownes and vproares raysed As in Germany agaynst Charles the Emperour In Fraunce agaynst Henrye the Kyng in England against Edward who he doth affirme was poysoned by the Lutherans Agaynst Queene Mary In Scotland agaynst the King whom he affirmeth to be horribly murthered Yea Syr in this last you speake true indeéd but to name the Author of this murther you play mumme budgett Yea and not agaynst these Princes onely but agaynst many more prynces besides Osorius doth boldly say conspyracies to haue bene attempted by the Lutheranes And why doth he not emongest the Kynges and Princes of Germany Fraunce England and Scotland before named reckon vpp also Prynces of Turky of Scithia of Persia of India of Aethiopia with their Emperors Kinges and Potentates The great Sophye Emperour of Persia and Moskouia Prester Iohn And sithence he taketh so great a delight in lying why doth he not with as shamelesse a face exclayme that the Lutheranes haue conspired Treasons and procured poysons agaynst those persons forasmuch as hys lying therein cann beare no better countenaunce then it doth in the rest But forasmuch as these slaunders are wisely and sufficiently aunswered before by mayster Haddon in the first book it were labor lost to abuse the Readers time in refuting those vntruthes which be alreadye confounded before especiallye sithence this cause doth neither concerne the doctrine which we do professe and sithence Osorius will be proued a lyar herein by no person more easily then by the Scottish Queéne her selfe to speake nothing in the meane space of the publique and generall testimonies of Germany Fraunce and England Therefore passing ouer those Princes I will frame my selfe to the other part of his complaynt which concerneth our most gracious Queéne Elizabeth aboue all the rest And here I beseéch theé geÌ„tle Reader lett it not seéme tedious vnto theé to pawse a whyles that thou mayst perceiue how like a Deuine Osorius doth behaue himselfe For framing himselfe to discourse vpon Ecclesiasticall gouernement which he doth constantly denye is not meéte shoulde be committed to the creditte of a Temporall King much lesse to a Queéne in any respect which because the Queénes Maiesty shall not take in ill part as though he defaced any part of her honor he doth very humbly craue pardon of her grace with an honorable preface For he is not the man that will presume to extenuate any part of her honour but rather doth wishe with all hys hart that she may of all partes so abound in vertue that she may be shrined for a Saynct We do ioyfully embrace the godly modesty of this sweéte Byshopp and loe because we will not be found vnthankefull vnto him for the vertues that he doth hartely wish to our gratious Queéne we in requitall of his curtesy doe pray to GOD to endue him with as much of his heauenly grace as may conuert him from a vayneglorious papisticall Babler into a frendly follower and embracer of the infallible truth of the Gospell But lett vs returne agayne to the Ecclesiasticall supremacy of Osorius which he doth yoake so fast to the Byshopp onely that he doth vtterly exclude all other kinges and Queénes especially from all charge ecclesiasticall So that he verilye adiudgeth that there cann come no greater infamy to Religion theÌ„ that all Churches ceremonyes and all ordinaunces of the Church all priestly dignityes and holynesse should be subiect to the gouernement of a woman For these be his owne words wherein what he meaneth himselfe either he doth not sufficiently expresse in telling his tale or els my blockishnesse surely can not compreheÌ„d his deépenesse He doth so swell in hawtynesse of speéch that whiles he endeuoureth with waxed winges to fleé beyond the view of common sence aboue the bright cloudes of playne Grammer that through the heat of his skalding braynes he hath drowned himselfe in the deépe and by reaching beyond his reach he reacheth nothing at all Wherefore renouncing once at the length this curious cripsing and blazing brauery of hawtye speéch begyn once at the last to declare vnto vs in playne tearmes distinctly and playnely what your Rhetoryck meaneth by these wordes that all holynesse should be subiect to the gouernement of a woman If you meane of thinges that are of theÌ„selues holy and deuine your quarrell is altogether vntrue wherewith you charge the Queénes maiesty For where did the Queéne euer desire to gouerne or where did she euer desire to beare rule ouer all holy and sacred thinges and this holynesse whereof you make mention
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
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
should be defaced for the peéuish pratyng of one Portingall Surely if the aucthoritie of a woman haue not prerogatiue in decidyng determining Ecclesiasticall causes Gregory did not demeane him selfe discreétly who in a cause of purgatiō of a certein womā named Mēna sent backe that Appeale to Brunichelda the Frenche Queéne as to her lawfull Princesse Gouernesse What shall I say of Eleutherius Pope of Rome who writyng vnto Lucius kyng of Englād called him the Uicar of God within the precinct of his owne kyngdome and therfore doth exhort and require him that he gouerne his Realme with wholesome ordinaunces established by the word of God If Christian Kynges and Princes euery one within their owne seuerall Realmes do as it were represent the Uicares of God vpon earth I beseéch you Osorius what is more proper vnto God then to prouide circumspectly for the well orderyng and good dispositiō of such thynges as apperteigne to the Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction But of this enough and more then enough But of all other this is a most pleasaunt iest very fitt for a Rhetorician Where you complayne bitterly that the Popes Byshops are dispoyled of their lawfull authoritie which seémeth to me euen as much in effect as if AEsopes Crow should take an action agaynst the litle byrdes for entryng vpon possession of their owne feathers which were their own of right But bycause this matter hath bene sufficiently enough debated already take here a resolute aunswere Osorius for the knittyng vppe of this knotte in fewe wordes Peruse throughly this whole Papane whatsoeuer which you call by the name of a lawfull aucthoritie I speake not of the personages that haue supplyed the place I say behold agayne and agayne the whole forme and proportion of that Seé and Pontificall royaltie as it is at this present the conuersation the practizes the orders the insolency the pryde the greédynes the cruelty the slaughters executed the infinite vnspeakeable Martyrdomes the Idolatryes the blasphemyes the immoderate iniuries and tyrannies of this Popish Church behold I say search out examine and circūspectly consider with your eyes and emprinte in your imaginatiō all the premisses withall compare all the same to the notes signes and Prognostifications of the Propheticall Scriptures and if it do not approue by the infallible Prophecies and most certein tokens and for eshewynges and markes of the sacred Scripture that this same Prelate◠euen he whom you do propp vpp so proudly in that Pontificall Prelacy whom you defend so stoughtly is the very naturall Antichrist that Child of perdition Behold here I will yeld ouer my right and will become your bondman But if this cā not be denyed to be an vnuanguishable veritie nor gaynsayd by you by any reason nor can be mainteyned by you by any proofe or due Argumentes what will you say then Osorius Where is that authoritie violently taken from your lawfull Byshops which you haue most wickedly vsurped so long not without execrable iniury of other Christian Princes Wherefore either defend if you can that he that doth supply the place of that Romish Papane is not very Antichrist or cease from hēceforth to barcke so currishly agaynst the gouernement of our Mayden Queéne vnto whose authoritie we Englishmen do most humbly acknowledge our dutyfull subiection by the prouident appointment and most happy ordinaūce of almighty God whose Princely prerogative established from aboue neither are you able to suppresse but you shall withall become an errand rebell agaynst Gods ordinaūce nor yeld the souereignty thereof to that proud Prelate but that you shall herein conspire with Antichrist and denounce your selfe an open traytour agaynst Christ the Sonne of the liuyng God From hence now is our Portingall Parrott taken his flight hoppyng from one treé to an other and passing ouer many bushes and brambles that he may at the last come to his appointed marke to witte that last place of his booke wherein the seély Childish babe Haddō doth sayth he teare his owne flesh with his owne nayles and hath withall geuē him selfe a very deadly wounde c. If this gallaunt challēger were as valiaunt in armes as he can face out the matter with a carde of tenne surely he were mā good enough to ouerthrow all the Pigmees in the world Here is a great noyse of woundes yea and of deadly woūdes but God be praysed not so much as one dropp of bloud shedd we heare a sounde o◠mostruous stormes and horrible thundercrackes but neuer a droppe of rayne wherein to my conceipt happeneth to Osorius a chaunce not much vnlyke to that wherof the old tale maketh mention of an husbandman not all of the wisest that did sheare his Dogge Good Lord quoth he what a noyse is here and not so much as a locke of wolle But passing ouer those outcryes and painted speaches of Osorius Let vs consider the matter it selfe somewhat aduisedly The place of Haddon wherein this Scourgeluther doth so much whyppe Haddon is on this wise What now sayth Haddon shall this most sacred doctrine of the Gospell wherein we haue alwayes cōtinued by the space of xxx yeares together except that troublesome tyme of vi yeares wherin the Queenes Maiestie hath bene trayned and instructed from her infancie wherein her highnesse hath hadd so many trialles of Gods great bountyfull liberalitie towardes her wherein hath bene a generall consent of all estates wherein hath bene a settled stay of most excellent lawes and ordinaunces shall this so pure and syncere worshipping of God so circumspectly defended and established by the Royall Maiestie of all partes be defaced and disgraced thorough the crakes of a peeuish ` Portingall These be Haddones wordes in that which place will be worthe that notyng to seé what scarres Osorius hath espyed out The first is wherein Haddon doth name the sacred doctrine of the Gospell to be the Discipline of Luther Zuinglius Bucer Caluine and such lyke frantick fellowes Truely this is a greuous wound And why so forsooth because those men haue not onely with the rules of their doctrine but also with the euill example of their lyues haue rooted out all shamefastnes Modestye Ciuilitye and obedience First here be two lyes at a chopp but lett vs search out the other woundes Moreouer in steed of fayth and freedome they haue bestowed vpon their familiars presumptiō and rashnes together with vnpunishable lycentiousnes of sinning They haue in steede of true righteousnes brought in a false and deceitfull righteousnes They haue made God the Authour of all wickednes The decayed Church which they promised to Restore to her auncient integritye they haue defiled with more abhominations so that by how much the more a man doth encline to their discipline so much the more is he estraunged from all shamefastnes and Chastitie c. These be old winde shaken Broomes worne out before to the bare stumpes and which hath bene handled before sufficiently but haue you any new
weaken the Maiestie of the Romane Empire but ransacked and rent in peéces the whole world almost Euen so the Romishe Byshops in the first swathling cloutes of the first primitiue time of the church were very godly and sounde and to vse the wordes of the scripture did many tymes withstand the enemies of the Gospell euen with losse of lyfe But after they had erected this Lordly superioritie of the Papane Monarchy there was of godlynes and integritie of lyfe no dramme at all but of intollerable ambition vnbridled licentiousnes whole swarmes did appeare And yet I speake but a litle It is not therefore requisite to hang all the keyes vnder one maus gyrdle alwayes nor yet scarse good pollicie For if it were so there might be some daūger therein lest the frowardnesse of one person might ouerthrowe the whole estate of Christianitie There is farre lesse ieoperdy where seuerall Prouinces are ruled by their seuerall Pastours for proofe wherof if it be not sufficient to haue alledged reason experience I will recite vnto you out of the Register of Romish Byshops for witnes Gregorie the first Who in this matter vttereth the same reason in the same wordes And for playnesse of the matter I will set them downe as hee hath spoken them whiche are these If we haue but one onely head the fall of that head is the fall of the whole Churche it any mā presume to take vpon him this name of vniuersall Byshop the whole Church falleth downe from her estate when he falleth which is called vniuersall But farre may this name of blasphemie be from all Christian myndes whereby the honour of all Priests is diminished in part whiles this arrogaunt singularitie is presumed vpon c. May any thyng be sayd more playnly or plentyfully can any thyng be pronounced more vehemently or effectually agaynst this extraordinary and presumptuous Lordlynes of Papacie Neither did Gregorie otherwise then he spake For when this Satanicall name of vniuersall Byshop was offred vnto him by the Coūcell of Calcedon hee refused it with great detestation and would by no meanes be acquainted therewith although you deny the same most shamelesly as shal be declared afterwardes But here you obtrude agaynst vs the misticall Sonet of Salomon Wherein he commaundeth his spouse to catch the Foxes destroying the vynes which be as you interpret it heretiques peruertyng the Churche And this you affirme cā by none other meane be brought to passe except some one be set in authoritie that may roote vp the mores of hereticall contagion before they be ripe First of all Osorius it is hard to establish a firme doctrine by an Allegorie Moreouer the denomination of Foxes doth no more resemble heretiques then any other wicked persons But to graunt this vnto you in some respect by what argument do ye proue that heretiques can by no meanes els be apprehended vnlesse your singular Monarchy be admitted The Emperour Phocas did first of all erect this Papal Empire in Boniface the iij. What then Had not Peter long before Foxes in chase and the other Apostles likewise Call to your remembraunce Ananias Saphira and Elymas the sorcerour forget not other pestilent examples like vnto the same and you will be better aduised Proceéde a degreé lower to those graue Fathers the first Byshops of the Romish Church Clemēs Anacletus Marcellus many others Could the holy Martyrs haue sealed our Religion with their bloud vnlesse they had first daunted the pride of Tyrauntes and heretiques with the sword of the Scriptures But here paraduenture you will Triumph bycause I make so honorable mention of the Romish Seé I wis it is neédelesse For I doe here commend Byshops not Popes Martyrs not Monarches And yet in truth I haue no quarell with the Romishe Seé or the Byshop therof nor euer had It is that vsurped authoritie that exalteth it selfe aboue all earthly power which I do challenge and will proclaime open warre agaynst whiles breath is in my body except I finde a stronger Goliath then you are hetherto But we will returne to your Foxes whereof I haue noted the ouerthrow of sondry most subtill and craftie before the Papacie This our later age praysed be God doth punish and vtterly suppresse whole sects of heresies although the same doth not acknowledge your Papane principalitie I dare be bold to vouch England and I conceaue no lesse frendly of other common weales agaynst the which you can not forge any probable reason to the contrary or why it should not be so For if there were no vniuersall Monarche of the Churche sittyng in that stately chayre at Rome ought that be any estoppell to the Byshops of England Scotland Poland or Germany yea of Spayne or Portingall or any other dominion or common weale but that they may apprehend hereticques yea and punish them Haue they no Magistrates do they lacke lawes are they voyde of sense and vnderstanding Put on your spectacles Osorius and behold all Christian Nations and marke wel the maners of the people Are they not sufficiently prouided for their common safetie and tranquilitie by their owne peculiar lawes do not Princes gouerne their seuerall territories in orderly pollicie may they administer all other matters well and can not confute the absurdities of heresies without this Tyrannous Ierarchy of Rome Can not we touch an heretique or can not other Regions do the like which are in the furthermost part of the world seuered from the costes of Italy except they gad to Rome for a Pelting Oracle do you iustifie this Osorius is this the wisedome of an old man are you so altogether voyde of learnyng experience and discretion also Yea rather before any Pope was at all heretiques were layd handes vpon Euen now also rigour of law is executed agaynst them Neither can any Foxe be foside so crafty as your reasons alluded vnto thē are vtterly friuolous vnskillfull But ye skippe from Salomon to Paule and of him you write in this maner Therfore Paule in his second Epistle to the Thessaloniās denyeth that it may come to passe that Antichrist shall come before there be a departyng from the fayth First of all this is somewhat straunge in you that you note the place And surely in very good tyme haue ye done it for euen here your vnshamefast imprudencie is taken tardy Paule pronounceth in that place that our Lord Iesu Christ shall not come before a departyng be of the fayth first but you for our Lord and Sauiour Christ haue placed Antichrist Paules wordes are these Let no man deceaue you by any meanes for the Lord shall not come except there come a departyng first and that sonne of perdition be reuealed You are caught Osorius and so entangled in this snatch that ye can not escape Are you not ashamed to depraue Paules sentence so blasphemously can you with so execrable impietie and horrible ignoraunce place Antichrist in steéde of Christ and the sonne
ceremonies of chief Priest vsed of old amongest the Iewes Sithence therfore these thynges are so apparaunt either you doe wickedly dissemble the truth or you bee shamefully ignoraunt in all Diuinitie when as in the meane time you being an old man and a Bishop will neédes be accoumpted a most passing Deuine Here our Ierome tosseth and tumbleth to and fro and snatcheth after Sophisticall shadowes but the more he trauaileth to get out the more he is entangled in perplexities He sayth that we defende the title of kyngs not the authoritie bycause many are foūde aswell in Portingall as in England which do exercise kyngly authoritie without the name of kyng and those a Gods name he thinkes must be called petty kynges Truely I am not able to speake any certeintie of your vsage in Portingall But of Englād I dare affirme that no mā as of him selfe doth presume vpō authority royall further thē he is thereunto authorized by the kyng neither doe we know any such pettye kynges but of your shamelesse custome in lyeng we are most assured the same can not choose but abhorre in respect of your person Like idle tyme ye bestow vpon debatyng of your Monarchie As though it were as necessary that there should bee one chief supreme Byshop ouer the vniuersall Church of Christ as we defende in England the supreme power of the kyng O most senselesse Sophister Perceaue ye not how your comparison is wrested to thynges that are meére contrary eche to other Can you not seé that the one part of your comparison cōcerneth the particular Churche of England the other part indirectly altogether all the whole Churches of Christendome And yet sufficeth it not that you play the foole mōstruously your selfe vnlesse with your supposall ye make me partener also of your errours which all and euery of my senses doe vtterly abhorte and detest nay rather your cōparison ought to haue bene framed contrarywise As bycause in all seuerall cōmon weales seuerall kynges haue the principall and chief preheminence so in all seuerall Churches seuerall Priestes should gouerne who ought to haue singular authoritie in matters of Religion After this maner should your cōparison haue proceéded if you had followed herein the aduise of Philosophie But sithēce we argue now as Deuines settyng Philosophie apart we must enforce onely the testimonies of holy Scriptures wherein bycause we finde cōmaūded by expresse wordes that it is the will of God That we must honour the king that we must obey the king that we must be subiect to the king that we must feare the kinges sword that we must pay Tribute to the king that we must make our supplication and prayers to God first and chiefly for the king We can not choose but acknowledge reuerēce this chief royall kyngly authoritie so oftē in so many sondry maners mētioned in the Scriptures As for your high chief Byshop we will make no more accoumpt of then of a straunger vntill ye can iustifie his supremacie by the authoritie of the holy Scriptures And yet in the meane tyme shall you finde amongest vs all degreés of Iurisdiction Ecclesiasticall by the which all matter apperteining to the Church is duely and orderly executed Which albeit can not cōtent our troublesome Prelate yet we doubt not but will throughly satisfie all vertuous wise well disposed persons I did write that the garmēt of Christ was not cut in peéces amongest our Deuines as you seémed to conster of vs but that the Byshop of Romes Pall peraduenture was somewhat scratchte What do you say to this Do you make any demonstration by holy Scriptures that we have deuided or rente asunder the vnitie of the Church I meane alwayes the Catholicke Apostolicke church do you alledge any argumēts hereunto do you proue it with exāples you do nothyng lesse What do ye then truly euē as you are wont and as you haue accustomed to doe as ye haue learned of your father the deuill that is to say you doe continually throw out of that foule mouth most noysome poyson of slaūderous lyeng Wherein though ye be so nooseled that hee haue stuffed vp the greater part of your Inuectiues with false venemous accusations Yet bycause this place doth bewray your mōstruous insolēcie by singular demōstratiō I will set down here your own wordes as you haue pēned thē that the Christiā Reader may by the same discerne the meékenes of a Byshop the modestie of an aunciēt Deuine and with what spirite also ye were inspired when ye vomited out this foule filthy cholericke baggadge And these are your wordes When as ye do dayly behold swarmyng rounde about you such pestiferous dissensiōs of sectes and so horrible diuisions whereas you haue no sure fayth no agreement in Religion whenas dayly almost you bryng in newe confessions Articles of the Creede amended old places blotted out and new places propte vp in their places when as many sundry sectes growe and encrease and the auncient Churche is rent and cut in so many gobbettes dare ye yet say that this fallyng awaye hath not cut the garment of Christ in peeces When as also ye see with your eyes insolencie arrogancie rebellion lauishnes of toung slaunderous backbyting lust wickednesse vncleanesse tumultes and vprores to attempt all thynges in all places boldly wheresoeuer your maisters take once footyng with what face dare ye affirme that your maners and conuersatiō of lyfe hath bene well ordered amiddes all this rebellion The matter declareth it selfe euidently dayly examples make good profe therof the places of publicke gouernemēt yea the most secret closettes do bewray the same Behold here good Reader the liuely paterne of Osorius his eloquence Behold a mighty vnconquerable champion of the Romish Seé is not this felow worthie to be made a Cardinall suppose you that in so many choloricke sharpe venemous and Scorpion-like wordes hath vttered nothyng but that the most Rogishe Rascall commyng out of some Brochellhouse would haue bene halfe ashamed of hath hee not made a trimme speake agaynst vs proued thereby that we haue most haynously scattered abroad and torne in sunder the vnitie of Christes Churche in this that he doth nothyng els but exclaime agaynst vs backebiters insolent slaunderous lecherous wicked vncleane and rebelles O franticke and mischieuous raylour of whose cursed speach bycause I haue deliuered this litle tast I will from henceforth as much as I may in silēce despise passe ouer his infinite accusatiōs will deale with his pretty poppet Argumentes briefly I dyd cite out of Paule One God one Fayth Now sayth he neither one God nor one Fayth is receaued amongest the Ministers of your Gospell First of all I did not signifie of what opinion euery of vs were particularly but I shewed what ought to be receiued of all Christiās generally Then where you affirme that we do not worshyp one God onely nor professe one fayth onely how can you persuade so incredible
vaunt your selfe so much yet this discent in geÌ„try was not valued of Paule amongest the vertues qualities which he assigned to a Christian Byshop But other ornamentes where with I wishe you were better acquainted perhaps ye would then seéme somewhat a woorse Rhetorician but sure I am you would bee farre better Byshop But now you haue enured your selfe so much to vnmeasurable raylyng that ye seéme rather a coÌ„mon brauling Thersites theÌ„ a meéke Prelate You thinke that I yelde to much to the authoritie of kynges because I affirmed that the kynges of Israell dyd rule the Priestes in matters of Religion And this you say is not true Why so I pray you is it false bycause you say that it is false O notable Pithagoras the credite of your naked affirmatiues beyng bolstered vp with no reason nor witnesse bee not crept so farre on high benche as yet to be takeÌ„ for Iudges I did alledge a litle before Dauid Salomon Iosias Ezechias Peruse who so list the Chronicles of them and theÌ„ let him decide this controuersie betwixt vs. The sentences of Paule and Peter in the new Testament are very manifest as I haue sayd before For Paule Commaundeth prayers to be made for kinges and for all other set in authoritie In which sentence you may discerne a distinct degreé of Power and Nobilitie vnlesse you will bee blinded with malice conceaued agaynst the truth you may also seé the kyng to be placed first and highest In the same wise Peter Submit your selues to euery humune creature for the Lord whether to the king as most excellent or to the Magistrates as beyng appointed by him Loe here the lyke degreés loe here also the kyng placed chief and most excellent Here you cry out exclame Comically or rather tragically O heaueÌ„ O earth O the Seas of Neptune When as it had bene better for you to stoppe that lauishe foule mouth with the euident testimonies of the Apostles But you proceéde on rather Saying if kynges obteine the highest authoritie the whole world would be turned vpsidowne as ye thinke for that kynges would bee subiect to flatterers and so nothyng could bee executed in due order and truth but all thyngs would be gouerned after the lust of flatterers First of all kings of this our age are much beholdyng vnto you surely and amongest the rest your owne kyng especially For if it bee true that you stampe out so boldly that all Counsels of kyngs are corrupted by flatterers what one thyng do ye leaue vpright in their gouernement Beholde my good Lord and behold earnestly how trecherously and perillously you beguile your selfe with rashnesse and ignoraunce that blemish all regiment of kynges with so coÌ„mon an infamie But admit vnto you for this time that your saying is true in this respect that to to great store of flatterers swarme in Princes Courtes What then doth this let that in the Palaces of your holy Monarchies this kynde of vermine that we call a flatterer is not fostered is not dallied with all yea nâ—urished had in high price I will passe ouer myne owne neighbours and will referre you to all that new puddle of Schoolemen amongest whom you shall not finde any one sounde Exposition of Diuinitie but whole Commentaries of flatteries and Parasiticall poyson For they beautifie the Pope with these Titles videl They call him the Sunne of the worlde they ascribe vnto him both swordes Temporall Spirituall They create him the Lord of Purgatory They aduaunce him aboue the authoritie of the Canon Lawes They deny that hee is to be directed by any other person They affirme in their writynges that the Pope hath all lawes engrauen or rather lockt fast in the closet of his hart They say that the Pope can be guilty of no fault though hee throw many thousandes Soules into hell they make the Pope high Steward of PardoÌ„s as though they were the treasurie of the Churche so that hee may forgeue infinite sinnes both past already and sinnes not yet committed Furthermore they haue enthronized him chief Uicare of Christ vpon earth who can neither erre him selfe nor bryng others into errours vnto whom onely all generall Councels must be in subiection at whose feéte Emperours and Kyngs ought to prostrate them selues last of all whom all Christendome must honor and worship as an earthly God These blasphemous flatteries detestable and horrible blaunchyngs are not vttered onely by mouth at all aduenture but are extaunt in the monuments and bookes of the Romish patrones written by them aduisedly and in earnest Can you charge any kynges Courtes with the lyke Ye name Henry the eight a most excellent kyng endued with all kyngly ornaments who ye say tooke vnto him absolute authoritie ouer his subiectes through the enticemeÌ„ts of flatterers loue that he bare vnto theÌ„ boylyng also with malice agaynst the Byshop of Rome froÌ„ out whiche fountaine forsooth I know not how many floudes of wickednes and mischief did issue These be no proofes of a sober Byshop my good Lord but droÌ„keÌ„ dreames of a drousie Sophister For the noble kyng of most famous memory attempted nothyng either of loue or of hatred or by procurement of flatterours But wheÌ„ he perceaued that it was most euideÌ„t by the Gospell that generally all England was committed vnto him as his proper peculiar charge aswell by the authoritie of Gods law as mans law he banished out of his Realme that foreine authoritie and resumed his owne lawfull gouernement wholy into his owne handes studying to reserue the same inuiolable to him selfe as meéte was wherein he performed the duetie of a wise and perfect kyng and easing so his subiectes of great and importable trauailes and charges he left vnto his successours a very riche and florishyng kyngdome But touchyng the Iustice executed vpon More and Roffensis was not without much sorow of his Royall hart in respect of their witte and learnyng But after that they were publickly attainted of high treason and would by no persuasion be reclaymed from their wilfull errours hee must neédes suffer the law to proceéde agaynst them left wynking at their treachery he might haue opened a greater gappe of obstinacie and rebellion to others At the length you are come to Peters wordes but by the way spurnyng at me and calling me a most filthy person Wherin you do me no small iniurie like a wicked Sophister You demauÌ„de of me out of what wordes of Peter I framed my sentence which I vouched before touchyng the superioritie of kynges whether that enduced me bycause Peter doth name the kyng to be most excellent Not that onely graue Gentleman but the whole processe of Peters communication You doe argue in this wise That men are many tymes called excellent either in nobilitie or learnyng bycause they be very notable therein not bycause they are set in authoritie aboue all men and here a Gods name it pleaseth you to produce me for example
with examples of such as haue runne headlong into vtter dispayre which haue gaynesayd or withdrawen them selues from the doctrine of Luther As touchyng Frauncisce Spira who reuolted from the participation of the doctrine whiche he had once receaued by Luthers preachyng bycause the Recorde thereof is somewhat old I will for this present omit what remaineth in history of him I will more willyngly vse fresher examples of our later age and yet not all ingenerall for it neédeth not neither is any one man able so to doe But I will rehearse some of the most notable And first of all a certeine mā called Iacobus Latomus a man sometymes wellbe seéne amongest the Deuines of Louayne I can not tell whether you your selfe knew him Osorius when he liued This mā mainteinyng the same quarell wherein you do now turmoyle your selfe agaynst Luther is reported to departe this life in the selfe same Desperatiō whereof you make mention who at his very last gaspes brayeng out most horrible and feareful roaring noyse vttered none other sounde in the eares of all men that heard him but that he was vtterly damned and forsaken of God and had no hope of Saluation layed vp in store for him bycause hee did wilfully resiste the manifest truth which he knew before to be most true I will couple two others with hym of the same fraternitie Guarlacke Reader of Diuinitie Lecture amōgest the Gertrudianes and Arnolde Bomelye Scholer to Tilman of the first of whō it is sayd that euen in the last panges before his death he spake in this maner that he had liued desperately could not endure the Iudgemēt of God bycause he did acknowledge his sinnes to be greater then that they could obteyne for geuenesse The other hauyng fully gorged him selfe with the doctrine of Desperatiō wherein he was instructed by his Schoolemaister of distrust surprised at lēgth with intollerable gnawyng of conscience practised first to kill him selfe with his owne Dagger at the last beyng wholy swallowed vp of Desperation dyd cut his owne bowelles out of his body with an other mans knife It shall not be amisse to ioyne vnto those Sadolet Cardinall of Rome who after sondry disputations mainteined agaynst Luther gaue vp the ghost not without horrible trembling and torment of conscience I suppose also that you are not ignoraunt of the like that happened to Cardinall Crescentius Legate of the Apostolique Seé and President of the Tridentine Councell beyng astonyed with sodeine horrour and troublesome abashement of mynde in the same Citie 1552. of whom Iohn Sledan hath made relation in his Commentaries What shall I speake of Castellane Archbyshop of Aurelia of Ponchere Archbyshop of Turone who procured to them selues Gods indignation and vengeaunce as appeared by the wonderfull fearefull passiōs wherewith they were oppressed at the tyme of their death not bicause they did heare Luther and read his bookes but bycause they did cruelly persecute his doctrine In the same Beadroll may be reckoned the remēbraūce of Iohn Eckius whose whole course of lyfe as was nothyng els but a continuall mortall combate agaynst Luther so his yeldyng to nature was so altogether voyde of spirituall consolation that euen in the last gaspes hee vttered no other wordes but of money and certeine thousand of crownes And what neéde I here rehearse out of the Recordes of aūcient Chronicles Minerius Cassianus Renestenses Martinus that miserable Mōcke called Romanus Prattes Lysettes Rusius Morines who beyng horribly plagued by the seuere Iustice of God may be sufficiēt Presidentes to teach you what it is insolently to kicke agaynst the pricke of Gods vnsearcheable prouidence The History of the French kyng Henry the second is yet but freshe in memory and deépely emprinted not in the myndes onely but in the eyes also of all men who extremely boylyng with inward hatred agaynst the same doctrine receaued his deathes wounde in the selfe same eyes wherewith he was determined to view the execution of others and was forced him selfe to become a manifest spectacle of Gods Iustice to all the world before he could bathe his eyes in the bloud of the innocēt And not long after the sayd Henry followed also the kyng of Nauarre who procured vnto him selfe most iust cause not onely of Desperation but of death also through none other occasion but by persecutyng this doctrine which you doe slaunderously reproche to be the doctrine of Desperation I could here make a Register of an infinite nōber not in Englād onely but of other Regions also which after they had receaued wonderfull cōfort out of the sweéte iuyce of this doctrine which you call Lutherane fell headlong into miserable anguishe and gnawyng of conscience by reuoltyng from this doctrine who could neuer attayne one sparckle of quyet mynde before they had reclaymed them selues from their first Apostasie Last of all how many thousandes of men wemen and children young and old can this our age truely recorde who haue shewed them selues more willyng to yeld their carcasses to fier fagottes sword rackyngs and all maner of horrible Torture rather then they would recante and renounce that comfortable doctrine where with they were enstructed which I suppose they would neuer haue done if they had suspected neuer so small embres of Desperation to haue lurked therein But I perceaue what Osorius doth meane by this word Desperation If he could either expresse his mynde aptly and distinctly or were willyng to deale simply and playnly To the ende therefore I may frame myne aūswere hauing regarde to the meanyng of the man rather then to his speach I will examine the maner of his disputyng somewhat more aduisedly Luther doth teach sayth he that no mā ought to place affiaunce of his righteousnes in merites and good workes Goe to and what is concluded hereof Therfore Luther doth teach the doctrine of Desperation A very new founde and straūge maner of Argument framed perhappes after the rule which concludeth from the staffe to the corner I suppose men of Syluane vse this kynde of arguyng in their wooddy forrests But I make this aunswere to the Argument If God had determined that our Saluation should haue bene purchased through godly actions and vertuous endeuour of mans life it were not altogether without reason that Osorius doth speake But for as much as our hope and confidence is limited within the boundes of the fayth of Christ and the foundation thereof builded vpon this Rocke onely I suppose surely that the person which doth allure vs home vnto Christ from confidence of workes and teacheth vs to repose our whole trust in him as in the onely Sanctuary and shoteanker of our Saluation doth declare rather the true way to assured hope then abolishe the same Neither doth he by and by rende in sunder the sinewes of mans endeuour who doth but embace and disable that part from mās power which doth properly apperteine to the sonne of God I thinke that he discouereth rather the well
maugre their beardes not onely submit their heades and shoulders to their oppression and tyranny but also lyke miserable bondslaues must with all reuerence and humilitie prostrate them selues to kysse their feéte In this Imperiall throne is enthronized chief aboue all others triumphyng ouer all other estates the most mighty potentate and Monarch the Byshop of Rome Next vnto him as the principall stayes and proude pillers of this Ierarchy aduaunce them selues the Cormoraunt Cardinalles Then follow in order the Roystyng route of Mytred Prelates of the Scarlet crew of Rochettes shauelynges I speake not here of good vertuous Byshops nor of true Ministers of Christ but of such as hang onely vpon the becke of the Bysh. of Rome Last of all after those â—olly ChaÌ„pioÌ„s whole droues of Monckes Friers come tumblyng in heapes together a rable of rascals as of all other people the most lazy and lewde so surroundyng the whole world in such vnmeasurable warmes issue as it were and broode of the earth that the earth it selfe is scarse able to foster vppe her owne generation And therefore if your meanyng concerne the ouerthrow of this sorte of people in this pointe I do agreé with you Osorius That Luther trauayled in deéde earnestly herein but atchieued not so much as was neédefull for the Christian common wealth For albeit he could not vtterly raze out the rakyng Regiment of those Romishe roysters most inordinately raysing them selues not onely aboue all Empires and Regimentes of the earth but also beyond all whatsoeuer is called God yet did he pretely shake them he pluckt of the vysours of those Apish stagers discouered their fraude made the world acquaynted with their subtill sleyghtes and lyeng doctrine and confuted them with the manifest force of the truth finally albeit by openyng the light of the Gospell he could not vtterly â—ende in peéces the shryne of the beast which so many huÌ„dred yeares had suppressed drowned in darkenes the knowledge of Gods word yet was his industry and labour not vnprofitably employed to the defacyng therof And I would to God he had bene able not onely to haue defaced the power and outrage of the Seé but also to haue plucked the same vppe by the rootes and brought the memory therof to vtter confusion and vanished it cleane out of the myndes memoryes of men Nations for euer in so doyng truly he could not haue done any exployte more acceptable to God and more profitable to the state of Christianitie Certes many thousandes of men and womeÌ„ had bene wonderfully preserued thereby who through the more then barbarous vnspeakeable cruelty of this consumyng gulfe haue bene miserably swallowed vppe and deuoured within a very few yeares in EnglaÌ„d Fraunce Spayne Scotland Flaunders Germany and other Christian Nations for as yet can not this vnsatiable CormorauÌ„t be sufficieÌ„tly englutted and fully gorged with ChristiaÌ„ goare And yet for all this poore seély Luther is accused which durst so boldly presume to vnlade and cure ChristiaÌ„ consciences of so cancred a Fistula of so poysoned in impostume and so raunging a carbuncle And bycause he did dare to vndertake the patronadge and defence of the truth agaynst manifest heresies and more then palpable errours there is no lesse layed to his charge then hygh treason as though he practized the vtter ouerthrowe not onely of all Christian societie but of the state of the whole world also And why may not the Wolfe with as good reason condenme the seély Lambe for troublyng his water Let Isaack also be accused bycause he restored to the Philistines the Welles pure and cleansed from filthe baggage whiche them selues had maliciously dammed vppe before Let the Phisition likewise be endiâ—ed of murder who ministring wholesome potion to his patient agaynst the pestilence or phrensie hath preserued lyfe Furthermore let it be lawfull for Osorius him selfe to barke agaynst the shynyng of the Sunne bycause it reneweth the gladsome countenaunce of the pleasaunt dawnyng by driuyng away the dazelyng darkenes of the vgly night Finally let him quarrell with Christ himselfe his most sacred spirit who did not onely himselfe rayse vp Luther for this purpose but also by playne foretellings did so many yeares before prophesie of the darcknes decay ouerthrow of the self same Seé And he poured out hys vyall sayth he vpon the seate of the beast and hys kingdome was couered with darckenes and they did gnawe their tongues for sorrow c. Which prophesie for asmuch as can not by any probable allusion be applyed eyther to the Iewes or to the Turckes Let the Romish Seé bethinke it selfe well what kynde of kingdome at the length is foreshewed here by the words of the holy Ghost And to the same end do the wordes of Saint Paule tend likewise where he declareth in what maner the Reuealyng of the Sonne of perdition should come to passe But after the proper phrase of speéche nothyng is sayd to be Reuealed but that which before did lye close hidden in couert And therfore if of very necessitie the Deuine spirite of Christ must be had to the discoueryng of this couert Enemy which could not otherwise be espyed by the pollicy and witte of man Certes it could not be but that this Antichrist whatsoeuer he be must lurke shadow him selfe wonderfull couertly and craftely and that much people should be deceaued in him before he could be Reuealed and detected to the world What Person this Sonne of perdition is I doe not at this present trouble my braynes about surely for my part I know no one person els neither by application of the signes notes or circumstaunces and playne demoÌ„strations wherewith S. Paule doth painte him out vnto vs can I gesse vpon any other whom this counterfaite may resemble in any proportion besides this one Prelate onely who so lustely vauÌ„teth him selfe in the Temple of God And therefore these thunderboltes great flashes of Osori lightning touching the ouerthrowe of the state of Christianitie do no more touch Luther then the lying cauillation of Amasias the Priest of Bethell did concerne the Prophet Amos to be a seditious person when he accused hym in the presence of Ieroboam the king behold sayth he Amos hath conspired agaynst thee euen in the middes of the house of Israell Euen such like lieger de mayne doth our Osorius vtter here very finely expressing vnto vs the wonderfull and singuler sleightes of the Papisticall subtelties which those catholick counterfaytes seéme long sithence to haue sucked out of the crafty wyles and practizes of that olde Comicall Phormio who being chiefly to be detected for some crafty conueyaunce steppe forth lyke call fellowes first and become accusers of others supposing they shall hereby acquite theÌ„selues cleare of all suspicion of crime if they caÌ„ first accuse others of the fault whereof they ought themselues be impeached And here in myne opinion the very selfe
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
the Lord and there let the Church be sought out Now what the experience of Osorius doth seé let him selfe looke thereto Sure I am that Cyprian seémeth to haue experimented an other kynde of experimeÌ„t where he writeth Hereupon grow all maner of Scismes sayth he bycause the head is not sought for meÌ„ come not to the wellspring it selfe neither are the ordinaunces and rules of the heauenly Maister kept nor obserued Wherein I thinke you seé matter sufficieÌ„t enough by how much the testimony of this Martyr doth differre from you whereas you do racke all thynges to humaine authoritie onely he calleth all men backe to the very founteines of the Scriptures rather And yet doe I not deny but that humaine authoritie doth many tymes auayle very much to bridle the vnruly raungyng of sectes if Osorius would limitte this authoritie humaine within certeine measurable boundes But he raketh all thynges now to the authoritie of the Romishe Seé onely as though there were none other authoritie elles that might stay sectes and Schismes besides this Romishe Pope onely Which Assumption is altogether vntrue And therefore to make the same appeare more euidently Let vs note the wonderfull Logicke of Osorius somewhat more aduisedly The Authoritie of the Romishe See beyng taken away sayth he will be an occasion that heresies will grow in vse How shall this be knowen bycause Osorius doth seé it for such are the strongest pyllers of Osorius buildyng for the more part Thus sayth Osorius Thus is well knowen to the world who doth not see this Experience teacheth all men this But what if some meéry conceipted Carneades of the Academickes schoole will deny your bare Affirmatiues to your teéth what if he will geue no credite to your opinions no nor yet to your wapper eyes that are bleared dimme with raÌ„cour malice as it is a kynde of Philosophers you know well enough very hard laced scarse applyable to credite any maner of bare Affirmatiues Nay rather what if some other hauyng bene enured to contrary experieÌ„ce will contend with you on this wise say That he doth seé with his eyes that this Romish Seé wherof you speake is the chief Metropolitane of all sectes and heresies what shall become of this your notable defeÌ„ce The thyngs which are seene with the eyes say you whiche are knowen which are notorious in all mens mouthes which experieÌ„ce witnessing also doth ratifie to be true which are sensibly felt with eares and eyes to call these thynges in question whether they be true or no is meare ignoraunce but to deny them is a point of most shamelesse impudency Not so Osorius we do not deny the thynges that men do seé with their eyes But the thyngs that you do Assume falsely for thinges certeine concludyng false and slaunderous cauilles for meére truth those thynges we do constantly deny to be true not bycause we trust not mens senses which be of souÌ„de IudgemeÌ„t but bycause we geue to credite no Osorius lyeng But goe to Let vs moue forewardes a litle that we may seé the thyng at the length that this sharpe sighted Lynx doth so easily seé Forsooth he doth see sayth he that noysome sectes and troublesome controuersies would forthwith raunge in the Churche if the authoritie of the Romishe see should be cleane put downe I beleéue it in deéde But with what eyes doth he seé this with that left eye I thinke which is couered with a pynne and webbe of desire to slaunder But if he would vouchsafe to open agayne that right eye I would not dought but that experience wherof he speaketh would teach him a new lesson For if this Romish authoritie were vtterly abolished he shall by experience proue that this will forthwith ensue which many of vs through the inestimable benefite of God haue proued to be most true in all places namely that common weales shall recouer their auÌ„cient priuiledges consciences shall possesse their wonted freédome men shall be restored to the sauetie of their lyues all Christendome shall enioy peace and tranquilitie he shall seé horrible fiers quenched whole pyles of Fagottes and fier coÌ„sumyng â— bodyes of Christians to Ashes to be extinguished stockes to be set wyde open imprisonmentes rackynges recantations and Fagottes to be shaken from mens shoulders he shall seé the lyues and goodes of many thousands to be saued out of the â—awes of death and froÌ„ the bloudy bootchers knife he shall seé pilladge polladge confiscations of goodes Popish exaction deceiptfull buyng and sellyng of Pardons fayres and gaynefull marketts of dispensations taxes of Citizens spoylinges of the CoÌ„mons tenthes first fruites of benefices yearely contributions of Byshops great impositions of Monasteries payementes of pentions for Palles for mysters for ringes for liberties for exemptions Finally for whores and concubines to be diminished and vtterly abolished he shall seé their drousie superstitions and ceremonies and their triflyng traditioÌ„s geue place to the Orient bright Sunne shynne of the truth Temples cleansed agayne from filthy Idolatry Kynges to become Kynges and Lordes of their own and once agayne at the last to beare their sword theÌ„ selues which before bare nothyng but bare titles and scarse titles onely he shall seé Citizens and Subiectes deliuered from straunge Tyranny and subiect to their lawfull authoritie â—o them onely to yeld obedience vnto whom they ought to doe Finally he shall seé coÌ„moÌ„ weales begyn to take breath agayne after a certeine sort now at the length and the hartes of the faythfull to rayse them selues vp at the ioyfull countenaunce of their auncient sauetie and to geue most humble thankes to almightie God for their most happy peace and deliueraunce Certes Osorius if the chaunges and chaunces of thynges which men seé with their eyes feéle by practize and dayly experience may without checke be open to the viewe of the worlde you should playnly discerne and seé all those thynges if you were here in England and not in England onely but in Germany in Denmarke Sweuland Scotland Polande and the more part of FrauÌ„ce in SwitzerlaÌ„d finally throughout all incorporatioÌ„s and freé Citties this authoritie vtterly abolished Goe to And where now are those sectes Schismaticall dissentions which you do obiect agaynst vs If you know not this to be true Osorius or if happely you be ashamed to confesse the thynges that you know I will confesse the same for you and will speake the same as frankely as truely If I shall say that euen with you in the very Court of Rome in your Churches in your Monasteries Colledges Rules and Orders of Friers briefly wheresoeuer that shauelyng marke of the Romish Prelate is emprinted or wheresoeuer that authoritie is of most force that there are whole swarmes and sectes most outragiously raungyng I feare nothyng lesse least that my wordes may seéme to emporte more then the truth Nay rather I am sure I haue yet spoken very litle I should haue spoken in this maner
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
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
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
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
also in S. Seuerines Church at Burdeauâ— so that the same Rodd wh was once tourned into a Serpent is tourned now into threé Rodds The multiplying of whiche Rodd seémeth not much vnlyke the Toath of Saincte Appolyne here with vs in England of the which a certein Abbot of Almesbury named Andrew doth make relation For it chaunced on a tyme that as Edward theÌ„ king of EnglaÌ„d was greuously tormented with the toath ach he commaunded by generall proclamation that all the teéth of S. Appolline that were reserued for Reliques within all the Churches of his Realme should be brought vnto him there were such a multitude of one poore Relique of S. Appolline his teéth Raked together that two or threé Toones were skarse able to receaue them when they were throwen together on a heape I Haue abused thy leasure perhappes gentle Reader longer then was conuenient in reckonyng vpp this Raggemarow of rusty Reliques howbeit I haue not rehearsed the thousandth part of the lyke religious Ragges So farre and so wide hath this pestilent canker crept ouer all the partes of Christendome that almost there is no Cathedrall Church Parish Church Mounckery Abbay Fryerhouse Selle Brotherhood or neuer so litle a Chappell but is poysoned with some contagion of this Serpigo And I would to God that the lyke endeuor were generally employed that Iohn Caluine perfourmed in seéking out those Reliques wherof I haue made meÌ„tioÌ„ that a generall view might be taken of all the Reliques remayning in all Christendome in Monasteries Selles Shrynes Boxes Caskets Glasses and such lyke deuises that the world might be made acquainted with them It is incredible to be spoken what legerdemaine Iuggling and peéuish pelting what monstruous lyes aud crafty packing what horrible forgery and apish halting would appeare to be fostered by these rakers of Reliques and fabâ—ing Fathers But I will not deteigne theé Reader in these tryfles any longer Onely this by the way I wishe theé not so to interprett my trauayle herein as though I would that all reuerence vsually ascribed to the true monuments and true Reliques of Martyres and other godly personages should be vtterly suppressed such especially as is meéte and conuenient for them But hereof neuerthelesse must be had a double consideration First That we defraud not Christ of his due honor and worshipp transferring the same ouer to Saintes and their monuments Next That we vaunte not to the gaze counterfeites for truethes and falshoods for verityes and abuse not the simplicitie of the vnlettered vnder the visor of true Religion Which kinde of fraude as is of all other most execrable so is there not any one more dayly frequented at this present by the rowled generation Howbeit this is no new griefe of a yeare or two continuaunce but is an olde wound long lurking euen emongest the boanes and gnawing dayly vpon the Synowes of all Christendome Of the which Augustine complayneth greuously in his owne tyme in his booke De Opere Monachorum writing on this wise He hath skattered abroad so many hipocrites vnder the weede of Mounckes in euery place gadding lyke Vagabounds about the Countries sent to no certein place remaining no where settled in no place nor making abode any where Some carry about the Reliques of Martyrs if they be not rather the boanes of other dead men but they do all begg they doe all rake for money all make gaynefull marchaundise either of their cloaked holynesse or of their deceiptfull needynes c. But of Reliques hath bene sufficiently spoken now for the confutation of the which what shall I neéde to say any more sithence to the sound witted Reader this may suffice that I haue made him an open shew onely of these mockeryes and trumperies The controuersies which concerne the strongest pillers of their Religion being on this wise dispatcht now that we be escaped out of these crabbed rowgh and vnsauery subtiltyes of disputation I seé no cause to the contrary but that I might make an end of this booke sauing that there remaine yet a fewe dregges in the cloasing vp of Osorius cauillations that are not lightly to be passed ouer though also they apperteigne not so necessarily to the cause as to require any speciall aunswere Whereof I purpose neuerthelesse to speake somewhat by Gods grace And first touching his solemne protestation wherein he accurseth and denounceth himselfe for a damned creature if he haue written any thing in his booke fayningly and counterfetly or colorably Lett vs heare him speake in his owne words I doe here protest before Iesus Christ Iudge of the quick and the dead that if I do not write the trueth which I do determine vpon which I iudge to be true and which I doe vnfainedly and firmely beleue to be the true and vndoughted Religion that he will exclude me from entraunce within that heauenly Citty and possession of that euerlasting glory not suffer me to enioy his glory world without end c. In which protestatioÌ„ I doe easily beleue you Osorius though you hadd neuer made so deépe a Protestation Neither doe I suppose that you doe dally with vs in these matters contrary to the very meaning of your minde but vtter in deéde the very bottome of your thought according as you haue cauilled in these bookes But this sufficeth not to haue your phrase of wryting agreé outwardly with your profession vnlesse your minde within differ not nor be discrepaunt from the right rule of trueth Neither doth it matter so much that you haue vttered in writing according as the fancy of your mind hath carried you but you ought rather to be well aduised that your hart be so instructed wtin as it may conceaue that which is wholesome sound that your penn be not violently whyrled at Randone by the vayne suggestions of your brainesicke headd to endite false matter instead of the trueth For herein consisteth the whole substaunce of our controuersie not in the vtteraunce of thinges which are conceaued in minde but in the discouerye of the meaning and sence of the trueth Such as in tymes past did persequute the Gospell of Christ and such as at this present doe seéke the ouerthrow thereof euen whiles they doe embrue their bloudy hands with goare of the Saintes being seduced by glauering conceipt of colorable error did and doe thinke to doe good seruice herein to God Not much vnlyke vnto them of whom we heare mention made in S. Paule and whereof the number is infinite at this present Which hauing zeale but not according to knowledge doe seéme to erre very much in the affection which they seéme to beare to godlynes but wander altogether out of the way in their choyse lyke as seémeth to haue happened at this present to Osorius in defending this cause of the Popes supremacy of Purgatorye of the Sacrifice of the Masse of Pardons of Reliques and worshipping and of many other Misteries of the Romishe counterfettes wherein I doe confesse that
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
Queéne despising those franticke furies of broylyng Bulles and crauyne curses would banish this proud Tarquine from out their kyngdomes territories Which if they did it were not to be doughted but that the publique tranquillitie of all Christian Nations would enioy a farre more ioyfull countenaunce of freédome and concorde And yet I speake not this to the end that I would haue godly Prelates dispossessed from their dignitie or would wish their authoritie empayred the value of a rush S. Paule doth not in vayne admonish vs to yeld double honour to Byshops and Rulers of the Church but with this prouiso annexed to witte if they rule well if they do labour mightely in doctrine and preachyng But what prerogatiue can the Romish Byshop clayme from hence more then any other particular Byshop The Pope hath his owne Prouince lett him guide that as well as he caÌ„ lett him not encroche vpon others nor hawke for hawtyer Titles of honour then beseémeth his function The Ecclesiasticall dignitie is a ministery not an Empyre a charge and a burden rather then a Lordlynes or superioritie wherein he that will presume to rule the roaste ouer others must looke aduisedly to him selfe first that he gouerne well that he labour mightely in the word doctrine If the Byshops and Priestes be not negligent and retchelesse in their owne dutyes they shall neuer be defrauded of their due honour and dutyfull obedience nor euer were denyed therof For eueÌ„ for this cause that valiauÌ„t kyng of England Constantine that noble Emperour Theodosius that famous Ludouicke Pius the French kyng and other like Princes did esteéme highely of good and godly Christian Ministers and obeyed them which instructed them in the word of God did enure them selfes to their godly exhortations as the Emperour Valentinian doth report euen as to wholesome potioÌ„s and medicinable restoratiues Euen so Theodosius beyng excluded from partakyng the holy Communion by Ambrose did most modestly obay The same Theodosius also beyng determined to exercize cruell reuenge against the Thessalonians and beyng counsayled by Ambrose that in geuyng sentence vpon lyfe and death he would take breath pause by the space of xxx dayes least in rage and fury he should accomplish that whereof he might afterwardes repent him did willyngly and obediently submitt him selfe to the graue exhortation of the godly Father Semblably many other notable Potentates also in many great and weighty matters did humbly yeld to the sweéte persuations of such as were farre their inferioursâ— Princes for the preseruation of their health do obay the direcâ—â—â—n of their Phisitions In the lawes positiue they be guided and ledd by the conduct of the Lawyers And yet for all this such subiectes do not cease to be subiectes still neither refuse their due obedience to their liege Lordes and Gouernours It happeneth oftentymes that the maister will be aduised by his seruauÌ„t and the husband guided by the discretion of the wife yet ceaseth not therefore the Maister to be Maister nor the Husband to be head ouer his Wife As in all well ordered common weales be Maior alties Bayliwickes and many degreés of Officers which doe seuerally employ their functions for the preseruation of common societie yet must there be one onely soueraigne emongest them of some greater couÌ„tenaunce who by his wisedome and authoritie may guide the inferiour Magistrates and bridle the insolency of the rude multitude But the Catholickes doe deny that the Catholicke Church ought to be subiect to this authority If vnder the name of Church they do comprehend the ordinaunces and ceremonies wherewith the Church is administred they do speake truly In deéde the word of God the Articles of doctrine and of fayth the administration of the Sacramentes and the discretioÌ„ of byndyng and excoÌ„municatyng is not attempered by the regiment and commaundement of Princes nor doth the Ciuile Magistrate entermedle with the administration of any of these thyngs But if they meane the personages of men who are exercized in this holy function or the charge dispositioÌ„ of particular matters that are incideÌ„t to the Ministery they do say vntruly for as much as there is no Ciuile potentate vnto whoÌ„ is not coÌ„mitted the order gouernement of all members of the coÌ„mon weale indifferently as well Ministers Preachers of the word as all other inferiour Magistrates Subiectes Otherwise the doctrine of Paule were in vayne Let euery soule submit it selfe to the higher power the truth whereof is to be Iustified by the most approued exaÌ„ples of both the old and new Testamentes If we begyn at Moyses who supplyed the office of a Ciuile Magistrate and from him descend to all the Ages of our owne Emperours Potentates Emongest all which Magistrates we shall finde none but hath receaued by Gods commaundement the gouernement of Ecclesiasticall persones aswell as of Ciuile Magistrates as inferiour Subiectes It would require a long discourse to treate throughly of all the names and gouernementes of Emperours and Ciuile Potentates To make a brief rehearsall of the chiefest First in the old Testament how many examples are extaunt of such Princes â—s do prescribe ceremonies for the Tabernacle which doe fetche backe agayne the Arke of the couenauÌ„t which make holy Sonettes and Psalmes Rule ouer Priestes builde Churches moreouer do cleanse them agayne after they were defiled do ouerthrow Temples Altares reforme abuses which also sometymes doe pronounce exhortations to the people touchyng the worshyppyng of God do aduertise the Priestes of their dutyes and ordeyne lawes for them to guide their lyues by which appoint Orders and obseruations in the Church which doe kill wicked Prophetes yea and many tymes also doe prophecy in their owne persones In the new Testament lykewise how many examples are to be seéne in the recordes of the best ages of kinges and Monarches who within their owne Territories and dominions haue ordayned godly and learned Byshoypes to rule ouer prouinces and haue deposed such as haue bene vnworthye haue suppressed the riott and insolencye of Priestes who haue not onely Sommoned Synodes and Councells of Byshops but do sitt emongest them geue sentence with them yea prescribe orders vnto them which they shall obay are presidents ouer their Councells doe depose hereticall Byshoppes which geue iudgement vpon matters of Religion which doe sett downe articles pronounce sentence disanull the opinions of heretiques and ratifie the Doctrine of the Catholicke fayth If the most auncieÌ„t and most Christian kinges Emperors did not entermeddle heretofore in all these causes the report of Historyes is false If our kinges and Queénes doe the lyke at this present what cause hath Osorius to frett and fume If the charge of Religion and Religious persons doe not pertayne to the ciuill pollicye in any respect surely Constantine did not behaue himselfe discretely who in his owne person decyded the causes and controuersies of Byshopps which did appeale to his Maiestye entermedled his authoritye in
pag. 19. b. Peter Lombarde The Retractation of August There was no disagreement amoÌ„gest the Lutherans Coelest Anabap. Interem Math. 25. Osorius his ignoraunce in iudgement and triflyng about words Luce. 7. Cicero pro Mar. Coelio Osori fol. 24. August Epist 19 Osorius his vanitie také tardy Iero. ad Marcel in Epist. cuius initium est Mensur charit non habet Chrisost. in 1. in 3. Concione de Lazaro Of the suppression of Monkes Luce. 3 Luther vntruly charged with vprores in Germany George Duke of Saxone 1. Kyngs 18 Luke 18 Luther charged with the ouerthrow of the Hungarians most vntruly Tomorraeus Archb. of Tholosse Paulus Iouius in his 23 booke of Histories Osorius slauÌ„der touchyng the death of kyng Edward the sixt Of the ouerthrow of the Emperour Osor. slauÌ„derous lye touchyng the poysonyng of Queene Mary The death of Queene Mary The death of Cardinal Poole The foreine mariage of Queene Mary Osorius doth accuse Fraunce of highe treason Thraso The most miserable murthering of Henry the Scottish kyng Erasmus his commendable report of Luther The death of Luther which was most holy sinisterly depraued by the malicious slauÌ„derers In the Epistle to the Queene pag. 11. In myne aunswere pag. 8. Deut. 18. Math. 3. Iam. 4. Iohn 3. Deut. 4. Psal. 27 Psal. 25. Psal. 119 Exod. 3. Esai 53. Iaco. 1. Act. 20. Ad Galat. 1 Aristarchus was a great quareller Osorius a Proctour for monkes 1. Cor. 12. Ephes. 4. Act 10. and 11. Math. vlti Cicero in his booke of dueties Aristotle in his Ethickes Leuit. 21. Leuit. 19. 20.26 Deut. 27. Math. 28. Math. 5. 1. Cor. 7. Legenda Aurea Rom. 3. Rom 2. Iohn 4. Galat. 2.3 Osor. Fable of an hypocriticall Monckes Of the vowes of widowes 1. Cor. 7. Luke 19. Osorius fol. 37. Hoc tantum munus c. 1. Cor. 7. Gal. 2. Luthers Mariage reproued Gene. 1. Pope Gregory the 7. Hildebrand by name was the first that did establishe single lyfe by Decree Of Images The Images of Cherubins The brasen Serpent Exod. 20. Deut. 5. Ezechias Exod. 32. Sence in Hercul fur The Papistes are taken tardy in committyng manifest Idolatry Of the Images of the Crosse. 2. Tim. 3. Thomas of Canterbury Of Schoole Diuinitie The second CouÌ„cell of Nice Osori fol. 47. In myne answere to Osor. Epist. Luke 4. The last chap. of the Apocal. 1. Timo. Exod. 1â— Iohn 4. Hyperbole is called an excessiue vehemency of speach Whereunto the Apologie of Haddon had especiall regard Exod. 32. Rom. 9. Rom. 6. How we ought to esteeme of the Sacramentes Ex opere operat Rom. 4. Rom. 10. Sacraments are tokens of saluatioÌ„ but do not worke saluation 1. Cor. 1. ConfessioÌ„ Sacrament of the Altar Two Sacramentes Auâ—icular ConfessioÌ„ Heb. 9.10 Actes 2. Iames the last chap. Osorius Iames. 1. Psal. 22.30 Deut. 32. Mercenaâ—ie ConfessioÌ„ Iohn 1. Luke 17. 1. Cor. 4. Luce. 16. 1. Tim. vlt Ad Hebâ— vlt. Ezech. 33. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 3. Apoc. 1. Apoc. 5. Math. 28. Ad Cor. 4. Psal. 51. A true forme of Confession out of Dauid Publique CoÌ„fession Luce. 15. An example of priuate ConfessioÌ„ in the prodicall Sonne Heb. 4. Esay 11. 1. Tim. 3 The place of Esay wrongfully wrested by Osorius Luke 10. Esay 11. The place of Esay explaned Of the Sacrament of Euchariste Osori Tullyes couÌ„tersaite Cicero de natura Deoâ—um Actes 1. Hebr. 1. Osori Prolopopoâ—ia agaynst Peter Martyr The aunswere of Peter Martyr agaynst the Prolopopoâ—ia of Osorius 1. Cor. 11. 1. Cor. 11. 1. Cor. 10. Actes 1. Iohn 6. Iohn 6. Iohn 6. August de doct christi Tertullian What tyme TransubstaÌ„tiation was brought in first A shew of Osorius pride Cyprian Actes 2. Actes 20. The confutatioÌ„ of the Transubstantiation Pope Innocentius the thyrd 1. Cor. 14. Of vnknoweÌ„ and straunge tounges in Churches Ibidem Gallat 4. Phil. 3. Luke 11. Math. 33. Osori fol. 69. 1. Cor. 14. 1. Cor. 14. Luke 3. 1. Cor. 14. Iohn 21. Luce. 4. 2. Timo. 3. The knowledge of Scriptures ignoraunce accordyng tâ— Osoriuâ— Iohn 4. Iames. 1. Peter 1. Psal. 12.19 1. Peter 1. Of Christ being a king and a Byshop 1. Pet. 2. A kyngly power Rom. 13. 1. Tim. 2. To the Hebrues euery where A shewe of Osorius slaunderous speach The bookes of Osorius De Iustitia Cardinall Pooles iudgement of Osorius bookes of Iustitia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee hath sayd Gregor lib. â— Epist. â—0 24. lib. 7. Epist 3â— lib. 4. Epist. 34. 38. 36. c. To be conueniently distaunt Dominari Rom. 14. A miserable distinction of Osorius How far in what causes kynges doe beane rule 1. Timo. 2. Peter 1.2 Ilâ—â—ne Illi False Latin in Osorius puttyng Illi for Illos Ofori rayling agaynst our Bishops of England 1. Timo. 3. Thersites a notable brauler Homer in Iliad Out of the bookes of the Kynges and Paralipom The courtes of Princes subiect to flatterers The Popes Parasites Kyng Henry the viij Sueto in the lyfe of Nero. Rom. 13. Rom. 13. Math. 17. â—uce 20. Wherein the office of a kyng consisteth Numb 16. Distinct. 22. Cap. Omnes Decrees ful of blasphemie The Popes power Martin Bucer Peter Martyr The Idoll of Rome The bookes of Osorius de Iustitia Tenne Cardinall Poole his iudgement of Osorius his bookes This worde Osor. signifieth bolde in the Portingall toung Ascham StaÌ„meryng of â—he touÌ„g turned vpoÌ„ Osorius necke Of the cause of Iustification Psal. 13. Psal. 50. Rom. 13. Rom. 11. Math. 11. Gallat 3. 1. Iohn 1. 1. Peter 1. Apoc. 1. 1. Cor. 1. Rom. 7. Rom. 8. Luke 5. Rom. 10. Rom. 8. Rom. 13. Plinius lib. 35. cap. 10. That is to say coÌ„myng out of the Sea The decease of M. Haddon Osoria melancholycke brauler The summe of all Osorius worke briefly coÌ„prehended in three wordes Exclamatâ—oÌ„ of Osorius agaynst Luther Osorius pag. 141. The doctrine of desperation whether is it more proper to the Papistes or to the Lutherans Iohn Eckius with others Henry second FreÌ„ch kyng his death The affiaunce and assurauÌ„ce of saluation wherein is it to be placed Two kyndâ— of desperation The ende and office of the law The lawe vnprofitable to saluation A wholesome kynde of trust and mistrust Osori pag. 141. The trust of saluatioÌ„ depeÌ„deth vpoÌ„ promise not vpoÌ„ the Law Ergo the more assured Promise made before the Law and without the law Galat. 3. The promise of saluation free and simple without condition Fayth onely howe it doth exclude and not exclude good workes Tertull. Actc. 24. Christian peace and affiaunce Rom. 5. Ephes. 3. Hebr. 4. Iohn 16. Galat. 4. Esay 35. Esay 61. Esay 52. Ierem. 23. 32. Ezech. 39. Rom. 4. The righteousnesse of the law and of fayth Leuit. 18. Psal. 142. The affiaunce of workes Barnard How farre the workes of the lawe come short to true righteousnesse Augustine Aug. Confes Lib. 9. Cap. â—3 Gregor in Iob. Cap. 9 Gregor Com. Cap 11. Barnardu Osorius Pag. 142. Phillipica August Epist 105. pag.