Truth and not Custome and Custome withou Truth is a mouldy error and as Sir Francis Bacon saith Antiquity without Truth is a Cypher without a Figure Yet had this Remonstrant been as well versed in Antiquity as he would bear the world in hand he hath he might have found Learned Ancients affirming there was a Time when the Church was not governed by Bishops but by Presbyters And when by Bishops he might further have seen more affinity between our Bishops and the Pope of Rome then between the Primitive Bishops and them And that as King Iames of famous memory said of the Religion of England that it differed no more from Rome then Rome did from what it was at first may as truly be said of Bishops that we differ no more from them then they do from what Bishops were when first they were raised unto this eminency which difference we shall shew in our ensuing Discourse to be so great that as he said of Rome he did Roman in Roma quaerere he sought Rome in Rome so wee Episcopatum in Episcopatu may go seek for a Bishop among all our Bishops And whereas in his application of this Argument to the Bishops of this Nation he saith It hath continued in this Island ever since the first plantation of the Gospel without contradiction which is his Second in this Argument How false this is we have declared already and we all know and himselfe cannot but know that there is no one thing since the râ—formation that hath met with so much Contradiction as Episcopacy hath done witness the several Books written in the Reigns of our several Princes and the many Petitions exhibited to our several Parliaments and the many speeches made therein againg Episcopal Government many of which are yet extant As for that supply of Accessory strength which he begs to this Argument from the light of nature and the rules of just policy which saith he teacheth us not easily to give way to the change of those things which long use and many Laws have firmly established as Necessary and Beneficial it is evident that those things which to former Ages have seemed Necessary and Beneficial may to succeeding Generations prove not Necessary but Noxious not Beneficial but Burthensome And then the same light of nature and the same just policy that did at the first command the establishment of them may and will perswade their Abolishment if not either our Parliaments must never Repeale any of their former Acts which yet they have justly and wisely done or else in so doing must run Counter to the light of nature and the Rules of just policy which to think were an impiety to be punished by the Judge SECT V. THe Second Argument for the defence of Episcopal Government is from the Pedigree of this holy Calling which he derives from no less then an Apostolical and in that right divine institution and assayes to prove it from the practice of the Apostles and as he saith the clear practice of their Successors continued i' Christs Church to this very day And to this Argument he so much confides that he concludes it with this Triumphant Epiphonema What scruple can remain in any ingenuous heart And determins if any continue yet unsatisfied it is in despight of reason and all evidence of History and because he wilfully shuts his eyes with a purpose not to see the light Bona verba By your favour Sir we will tell you notwithstanding the supposed strength of your argumentation there is one scruple yet remaining and if you would know upon what ground it is this because we find in Scripture which by your own confession is Oâ—iginal Authority that Bishops and Presbyters were Originally the same though afterwards they came to be distinguished and in process of time Episcopacy did swallow up all the honor and power of the Presbytery as Pharaoh's lean Kine did the fat Their Identity is discernable first from the same names given unto both secondly from the same office designed unto both in Scripture As for the names are not the same names given unto both in Sacred Writ Let the fifth sixth and seventh verses of the first Chapter to Titus testifie in the fifth verse the Apostle shews that he left Titus in Creet to ordain Elders in every City in the sixth verse he gives a delineation of the persons that are capable of such Ordination and in the seventh the Reason why the person to be ordained must be so qualified for a Bishop c. Now if the Bishop and Elder be not here the same but names of distinct office and order the Apostles reason rendred in the seventh verse of his direction in the fifth and sixth verses is with reverence be it spoken inconsequential and his demand unjust If a Chancellor in one of the Universities should give order to his Vice-Chancellor to admit none to the degree of Batchelour in Arts but such as were able to preach or keep a Divinity Act For Batchelours in Divinity must be so what reason or equity were in this So if Paul leaving Titus as his Lecum tenens as it were in Creet for a season should give order to him not to admit any to be an Elder but one thus and thus qualified because a Bishop must be so had a Bishop been an Order or Calling distinct from or superior to a Presbyteâ— and not the same this had been no more rational or equal then the former therefore under the name of Bishop in the seventh verse the Apostle intends the Elder mentioned in the fifth verse Consonant to this is the Language of the same Apostle Acts. 20. v. 17.18 where such as in 17. verse he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elders in the 18. he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in ordinary English Bishops though our Translation there we know not for what reason reads it Overseers not so rendring the word in any other Text. And though this Remonstrant undertakes to shew a clear and received distinction of Bishops Presbyters Deacons as three distinct subordinate Callings in Gods Church with an evident specification of the duty charge belonging to each of them or else let this claimed Hierarchy be for ever hooted out of the Church Yet let us tell him that we never find in Scripture these three Orders Bishops Presbyters and Deacons mentioned together but onely Bishops and Deacons as Phil. 1. and 1. Tim. Nor do we find in Scripture any Ordination to the office of a Bishop differing from the Ordination of an Elder Nor do we find in Scripture the specification of any Duty charged upon a Bishop that Elders are secluded from Nor any qualification required in a Bishop that is not requisite in every Presbyter some of whâ—ch if not all would be found were they not the same But if this Remonstrant think to help himselfe by taking Sanctuary in Antiquity though we would gladly rest in Scripture the Sanctuary of
New Where we observe first that the special power of Judging of the worthinesse or unworthinesse of a man for the Prelacy was in the breast of the Peogle Secondly the special power of choosing or rejecting eo his place according as they Judged him worthy or unworthy resided in the People Plebs maximè Habet potestatem c. Thirdly that this power did descend upon the People De Divina Authoritate Nor was this the Judgement of one Sole man but of an Affrican Synod consulted by the Spanish Churches in point of Election as the inscription of the Epistle shewes The Obtrusion of a Bishop upon the Church of Alexandria without the Presence desire and vote of the Clergy or People is condemned by Athanasius not onely as a breach of Canon but as a Transgression of Apostolical prescript and that it did compel or necessitate the heathen to blaspheme Nor did onely Christian Bishops but Christian Princes acknowledge the Right and power of Election of Bishops to be in the People so that admired Constantine the great Promover and Patron of the peace of the Christian Church writing to the Church of Nicomedia against Eusebius and Theognius tells them the ready way to lay asleep the Tumults that did then disturbe the Church about the Election of a Bishop was si modo Episcopum fidelem integrum nacti fuerint quod quidem in praesentia in vestrâ situm est potestate quodque etiam dudùm penes vestrum Iudicium fuerat nisi Eusebius de quo dixi pravo corum qui cum juverunt Consilio hac praeceps ruisset rectum Eligendi Ordinem impudenter conturbasset Gelas in Act Concil Nicen. part 3. if they would get a faithful and upright Bishop which saith he is in your power presently to doe and was long agoe if Eusebius with the aide of his faction had not rushed in upon you and impudently disturbed the right Order of Election That which this sacred Emperour calls the right order of Election what is it but the Election by the people in whose power he saith it then was and long had been to choose a Bishop and by whose power the next Bishop was chosen So the same Author tells us that after Eusebius and Theognius were cast out of their several seats for Arianisme by the Councel of Nice others were appointed in their roomes by the Clergy and people of each Diocesse To this Election in Nicomedia we could if it were needful in so cleare a Truth adde many the like Presidents of popular Elections which for brevities sake we passe over Not questioning but that which hath been spoken is sufficient to informe the intelligent Reader that our Bishops and the Bishops of former times are TWO in point of Election SECT VIII A Second thing wherein we have undertaken to shew that our Bishops and the Bishops of former times are TWO is in the Execution of their Office and here there are three things wherein he that will not wilfully shut his eyes against all light may see a Latitude of difference between ours and former Bishops First in that Sole Iurisdiction which our Bishops assume to themselves Secondly in the Delagation they make of the power of exercising this Jurisdiction unto others Thirdly in the way of the exercise of that power For the first of these Their sole Iurisdiction That our Bishops assume this to themselves it is known and felt and that this Sole Iurisdiction was a stranger a Monster to former times we shall now prove and make cleare that the power of Ordination Admonition Excommunication Absolution was not in the hands of any sole man First for Ordination Cyprian in his exile writing to his Charge certifies them that Aurelius was ordained by him and his Colleagues who were present with him who were these Colleagues but his Presbyters as he himself expounds it writing to Lucius in his own name and the name of his Clergy and people Ego Collegae fraternitas omnis c. I and my Colleagues and my whole people send these Letters to you c. So that it is cleare in Cyprians time Presbyters had a hand in Ordination and Bishops did not Ordaine alone Firmilianus saith of them that rule in the Church Quod baptizandi MANVM IMPONENDI ET ORDINANDI poffident potestatem And who those he he expresseth a little before SENIORES Prapositi by whom the Presbyters as well as the Bishops are understood And as these places prove that Bishops in the Primitive time could not ordain alone without the Presbyters so there are that give us light to understand that the Presbyters might ordain without the Bishop The Author of the Comment upon the Ephesians that goes under the name of of Ambrose saith Apud Egyptum Presbyteri consignant si praesens non sit Episcopus In Egypt the Presbyters ordain if the Bishop be not present so saith Augustine in the same words and the Corepiscopus who was but a Presbyter had power to impose hands and to ordaine within his precincts with the Bishops Licence Now Licences confer not a power to him that hath it not but onely a faculty to exercise that power he hath The iniquity of our times hath been such that a Minister may not Preach to his own flock without a Licence doth this Licence make a man a Minister and give him power to preach or only a faculty and liberty to exercise that power Should a Bishop give a Laike a Licence to preach or to ordain doth that Licence make him a Minister or a Bishop Sure all will say no why because in the Laike there is not Actus primus the root and principle of that power which Licence onely opens a way to the exercise of and therefore that must be concluded to be in those Chorepiscopi or Presbyters by vertue of their place and calling and not by vertue of a Licence So that the power of Ordination was so farre from residing in the Bishop alone as that the Presbyters and Corepiscopi had power to ordain as well as he Neither was this onely a matter of Ecclesiastical custome but of Ecclesiastical constitution which bids the Bishop First in all his Ordinations to consult with his Clergy Vt Episcopus sine Concilio Clericorum suorum Clericos non ordinet That the Bishop shall not ordain a Clergy man without the counsel of the Clergy this was Cyprians practice Epist. 33. Secondly in his Ordinations to take the â—oncurrent assistance of his Presbyters Cum ordinatur Presbyter Episcopo eum benedicente manum super caput ejus tenente etiam omnes Presbyteri qui praesentes sunt manus suas juxta manum Episcopi sut er caput illius teneant When a Presbyter is ordained the Bishop blessing him and holding his hand upon his head all the Presbyters that are present shall likewise lay their hands upon his head with the hands of the Bishop In which
Canon we have the unanimous vote of two hundred and fourteen Bishops declaring that the power of Ordination is in the hands of Presbyters as well as Bishops And whereas it may be objected that Hierome and Chrysostome affirming Bishops to differ from Presbyters in the power of Ordination seem to imply that that power is soly theirs Here wee desire it may be observed First that these Fathers put all the difference that lies betweene Bishops and Presbyters to be in point of Ordination Quid facit Episcopus quod non facit Presbyter exceptá Ordinatione And therefore Chrysostome himselfe confesseth that in his days there was litle or no difference between a Bishop and a Presbyter Inter Episcopum presbyterum interest fermè nihil c. Secondly That this difference is not so to he understood as if these Fathers did hold it to be by divine right as Bellarmin and our Episcopal men would make us beleeve but by a humane constitution And therefore they do not speak De jure but de facto Quid facit c. not quid debet facere And this Hierom confesseth So Leo prim ep 88. upon complaints of unlawful Ordinations writing to the Germane and French Bishops reckons up what things are reserved to the Bishops among which he set down Presbyterorum Diaconorum consecratio and then addes Quae omnia solis deberi summis Pontificibus Authoritate Canonam praecipitur So that for this power of Ordination they are more beholden to the Canon of the Church then to the Canon of Gods Word Thirdly we answer that this very humane difference was not in the Primitive Antiquity It was not so in Cyprians time as we even now shewed And when it did prevaile it was but a particular custome and sometimes usurpation of some Churches For it was otherwise appointed in the Councel of Carthage and in Egypt and other places as is declared in the former part of this Section and even in Chrysostomes time it was so little approved of that it was one great accusation against Chrysostome himselfe That he made Ordinations without the Presbytery and without the consent of his Clergy this is quoted by Bishop Downam lib. 1. cap. 8. pag. 176. SECT IX NOâ— had the Bishops of former times more right to the power of sole Iurisdiction then of sole Ordination And here we have Confitentem reum our very Adversaries confess the Votes of Antiquity are with us Cyprian professeth that he would do nothing without the Clergy nay he could do nothing without them nay he durst not take upon him alone to determine that which of right did belong to all and had he or any other done so the fourth Councel of Carthage condemns the Sentence of the Bishop as Irritanisi Clericorum sententiâ confirmetur Would ye know the particulars wherein the Bishops had no power of Judicature without their Presbyters First in judging and censuring Presbyters themselves and their Doctrine For this the Canon Law in Gratian is full and cleare Episcopus non potest Iudicare Presbyterum vel Diaconum sine Synodo Senioribus Thus Basill counselled and practised epist. 75. So Ambr. lib. 10. epist. 80. Cyril in epist. ad Iohannem Antiochen Thus Gregory ad Iohan. Panor mitan lib. 11. epist. 49. Secondly in judging of the conversation or crimes of any of the members of the Church Penes Presbyteros est Disciplina quae facit homines meliores That Discipline that workes emendation in men is in the power of the Elders And therefore when any was questioned in point of conversation he was brought saith Tertullian into the Congregation where were Exhortations Castigations and Divine censures And who had the chiefe stroke in these Censures he tells us after President probati quique seniores All the approved Elders sit as Presidents And those censures that passed by the whole Presbytery were more approved by the Church in ancient times then such as were passed by one man for we finde that when Syagrius and Ambrose passed Sentence in the same case the Church was unsatisfied in the Sentence of Syagrius because he past it sine alicujus fratris consilio without the counsel or consent of any of his Brethren But were pacified with the sentence of Saint Ambrose because saith he Hoc Iudicium Nostrum cum fratribus consacerdotibus participatum processerit Nor was there any kinde of censures that the Bishops did administer alone Admonitions were given by the Elders Augustine tells us the Elders did admonish such as were offenders to the same purpose speakes Origen contra Celsum Lib. 3. So excommunication though that being the dreadfullest thunder of the Church and as Tertullian calls it sumntum praejudicium futuri Iudicij the great fore-runner of the Judgement of God was never vibrated but by the hand of those that laboured in the Word and Doctrine yet was no one man in the Church invested with this power more then another Therefore saith Hierom Presbytero si peccavero licet me tradere satanae in interitum carnis If I sinne a Presbyter not a Bishop only may deliver me to Satan to the destruction c. where the Reader may please to take notice that Saint Hierom speakes not of one particular Presbyter but of the Order of Presbyters The same S. Hierom saith againe Sunt quos Ecclesia reprehendit quos interdum abijcit in quos non nunquam Episcoporum Clericorum censura desaevit There be some whom the Church reproves and some which she casts out against whom the censures of Bishops and Presbyters sharply proceed where we see the Censures whereby wicked men were cast out of the Church were not in the sole hands of the Bishops but likewise in the hands of Presbyters Syricius Bishop of Rome signifies to the Church of Millaine that Iovinianus Auxentius c. were cast out of the Church for ever and he sets down how they did it Omnium Nostrum tam Presbyterorum quam Diaconâ—rum quam totius etiam cleri sciscitata fuit sententia There was a concurrence of all Presbyters Deacons and the whole Clergy in that sentence of Excommunication The truth herein may be further evidenced by this because the whole Clergy as well as the Bishops imposed hands upon such as repenting were absolved Nec ad communicationem saith Cyprian venire quis possit nisi prius ab Episcopo Clero Manus illi fuerit imposita No man that hath been excommunicated might returne to Church-Communion before hands had been laid upon him by the Bishop and Clergy Also writing to his Clergy concerning lapsed Christians he tells them Exomologesi facta manu eis à vobis in poenitentiam impositâ c. that after confession and the laying on their hands they might be commended unto God so when certaine returning from their heresie were to be received into the Church at Rome in the time
the Lord yet we will follow him thither and there shew him that Hierome from the Scriptures proves more then once Presbyters and Bishops to be the same And Chrysostome in Philip. 1. Homil. 2. with his admirer Theophilact in Philip. 1. affirms that while the Apostles lived the names of Bishops and Presbyters were not distinguished and not onely while the Apostles lived but in after ages Doth not Irenaeus use the name of Bishops and Presbyters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a promiscuous sense Are not Anicetus Pius Hyginus Telesphorus Sixtus whom the Papists call Bishops and the Popes predecessors termed by Eusebius Presbyters Nor was it strange in the Primitive times to hear Bishops called Presbyters when Presbyters writing to their Bishop have called him Frater So Cyprian Epist. 26. in the beginning is stiled by his Presbyters Deacons and Confessors nor was that holy Martyr offended with that title nor they condemned of insolency that used it But what should we burthen your patience with more testimonies when the evidence of this truth hath shined with so strong a beam that even our Adversaries have stooped to it and confessed that their Names were the same in the Apostles time But yet say they the Offices were distinct Now here we would gladly know what these men make the distinct Office of a Bishop Is it to edifie the Church by Word and Sacrament is it to ordain others to that work is it to rule to govern by admonition and other censures if any of these if all these make up the proper worke of a Bishop we can prove from Scripture that all these belong unto the Presbytery which is no more then was granted by a Councel For the first Edifying of the Church by word and Sacraments though we feare they will some of them at least scarce own this as their proper worke for some have been cited into the High Commissision for saying it belongs to them yet Sir we are sure Scripture makes it a part a chiefe of the Episcopal office for so in the 1 Pet. 5.2 they are said to doe the work of a Bishop when they do feed the flock of God And this is such a work as we hope their Lordships will give the poor Presbyters leave to share with them in or if not we will tell them that the Apostle Peter in that forecited place and the Apostle Paul Acts. 20. binds this work upon our hands and Woe unto us if we preach not the Gospel But this branch of Episcopal and Presbyterial office we passe with brevity because in this there lies not so much controversie as in the next which they doe more wholly Impropriate to themselves the power of Ordination Which power that it was in former times in the hands of Presbyters appeares 1 Tim. 4.14 Neglect not the gift which was given thee by Prophesie and by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery The gift here spoken of is the Ministerial gift the exercise whereof the Apostle exhorts Timothy not to neglect which saith he he had received not by the laying on of the hands of one single man whether Apostle or Bishop or Presbyter but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Presbytery that is the whole company of Presbyters for in that sense onely we finde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taken in Scripture as in Luke 22. vers 66. Act. 22. vers 5. which the Christian Church called the Ecclesiastical Senate as Ierom in Isay 3. Nos habemus in Ecclesia Senatum nostrum Coetum Presbyterorum an Apostolical Senate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignatius Epis ad Magnes and some times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concil Ancyr Can. 18. And though the Apostle in his second Epistle to Tim. 1.6 makes mention of the laying on of his hands yet to maintaine the Harmony of Scripture it must not be denied but there was imposition of hands by the Presbytery as wel as by himself and so it was a joynt act So that in this there is no more difference then in the former And if there be no difference between Presbyters in feeding or ordaining let us see if there be any in the third part of their office of Ruling which though our Bishops assume wholly to themselves yet we shall discover that it hath been committed to and exercised by Presbyteriall hands For who are they of whom the Scripture speakes Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the Rule over you for they watch for your soules as they that must give an account c. Here all such as watch over the souls of Gods people are intituled to rule over them So that unlesse Bishops will say that they onâ—ly watch over the souls of Gods people and are only to give an account for them they cannot challenge to themselves the sole rule over them And if the Bishopâ— can give us good security that they will acquit us from giving up our account to God for the souls of his people we will quit our plea and resigne to them the sole rule over thâ—m So againe in the 1 Thessa. 5.12 Know them which labour amongst you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you In which words are contained these truthes First that in one Church for the Thessalonions were but one Church 1 Ca. there was not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not one chiefe Bishop or President but the Presidency was in many Secondly that this Presidency was of such as laboured in the word and Doctrine Thirdly that the Censures of the Church were managed not by one but by them all in Communi Them that admonish you Fourthly that there was among them a Parity for the Apostle bids know them in an indifferency not discriminating one from another yea such was the rule that Elders had that S. Peter thought it needful to make an exhortation to them to use their power with Moderation not Lording it over Gods Heritage 1 Pet. 5.3 By this time we have sufficiently proved from Scripture that Bishops and Presbyters are the same in name in Office in Edifying the Church in power of Ordination and Jurisdiction we sum up all that hath been spoken in one argument They which have the same Name the same Ordination to their Office the same qualification for their Office the same worke to feed the flock of God to ordaine pastors and Elders to Rule and Governe they are one and the same Office but such are Bishops and Presbyters Ergo. SECT VI. BUt the dint of all this Scripture the Remonstrant would elude by obtruding upon his reader a commentary as he calls it of the Apostles own practise which he would force to contradict their own rules to which he superadds the unquestionable glosse of the cleare practise of their immediate successors in this administration For the Apostles practice we have already discovered it from the Apostles own writings and for his Glosse he superadds if it corrupts
of Cornelius they came before the Presbytery and therefore confessed their sinnes and so were admitted But though the sentence of Excommunication was managed onely by the hand of those that laboured in the Word and Doctrine yet we will not conceale from you that neither Excommunication not absolution did passe without the knowledge and approbation of the body of the Church to which the Delinquent did belong So we have learned out of Tertullian that their censures were ordered in their publike assemblies and good reason because the people were to forbeare communion with such 2 Thes. 3.6 14 15. and publike censures of the Church were inflictâ—d not onely for the Emendation of delinquents but for the admonition of others and therefore ought to be admistrâ—d in publike that others might feare 1 Tim. 5.20 Origen speaking of the Duty and Power of the Church in cutting off a scandalous Person though a Presbyter making the case his own he saith thus In uno consensu Ecclesia universa conspirans excidat me dâ—xtram suam projiciat a se He would have the consent of the whole Church in that Act. And when the lapsed Christians were received againe into the Church the Peoples consent was required therein else why should Cyprian say Vix plebi per suadeo imò extorqueo ut tales patiantur admitti I can scarce perswade the people to suffer such to be admitted and in another Epistle written to his people in his Banishment he promiseth to examine all things they being present and judging Examinabuntur singula praesentibus judicantibus vobis But of this power of the People we shall have a further occasion to speak afterwards when we come to discourse of Governing Elders Onely may it please your Honours from hence to take notice how unjustly our Bishops have invaded this right and power of Presbyters and people in Church censures and devesting both of it have girt it wholly upon themselves and how herein they and the Bishops of former times are TWO SECT X. ANd as our Bishops and the Bishops of former times are TWO in point of Sole Iurisdiction so also in the Delegation of this power of Iurisdiction unto others to their Chancellours Commissaries Officers c. Was ever such a thing as this heard of in the best primitive Times that men that never received imposition of hands should not only be received into assistance but be wholly intrusted with the power of Spiritual Iurisdiction Even then when it is to be exercised over such persons as have had hands laid upon them We may observe in Cyprian whilst persecution separated him from his Church when questions did arise among his people he doth not send them to his Chancellour or Commissary No he was so far from substituting any man much lesse a lay man to determene or give Judgement in such cases that he would not assume that power wholly to himself but suspends his Judgement till the hand of God should restore him to his Church againe that with the advice and Counsel of the Presbyters he might give sentence as may appeare to any that shall peruse his Epistles Sure if God had ever led his Church to such a way of deputation it would have been in such a case of Necessity as this was or had any footsteps of such a course as this been visible by this holy Martyr in the goings of former ages he needed not have deferred the determination of the question about the receiving of some penitent lapsed ones into the bosome of the Church again till his returne and the returne of his Clergy as he doth We will instance in his 28 Epistle wherein giving direction for the excommunicating of such as would rashly communicate with lapsed Christians he gives this charge not to his Chancellor or Commissary or any other man upon whom he had devolved his power and set him as his Deputy or Viccar generall in his absence but ad clerum to the whole Presbytery This Truth is so cleare that Bishop Downam the great Advocate of Episcopacy confesseth that in Ambrose his time and a good while after which was about 400 years till the Presbyters were in a manner 〈…〉 SECT XI A Third branch wherein the difference between our Bishops and the Bishops of former times in point of Exercising their Jurisdiction is visible is the way or manner of exercising that power For brevities sake we will onely instance in their proceedings in causes criminal where let them tell us whether any good Antiquity can yeild them one President for THEIR OATH EX OFFICIO which hath been to their COURTS as Purgatory fire to the Popes Kitchin they have forgotten that old Maxime in the Civil Law Nemo tenetur prodere seipsum which as it is grounded upon natural equity so it is confirmed by a Law enacted by Dioclesian and Maximilian Nimis grave est quod petitis c. It is too grievous that the adverse part should be required to the exhibition of such things as should create trouble to themselves Vnderstand therefore that you ought to bring proofes of your intentions and not to extort them from your adversaries against themselves Shall the Lamp of Nature in the night of Ethnicisme enable Heathen Princes yea Persecutors to see and enact thus much and shall not the glorious Sunne of the Gospel convince these of their iniquities in transgressing this Law that call themselves the Fathers of the Church If neither the light of Nature nor Gospel light can yet the custome of the Church to which they so oft appeal may both convince them of this iniquity and discovâ—r to all the world the contrariety of their proceedings to the proceedings of former times in this particular For of Old both the Plantiffe and Defendant were brought face to face before the parties in whose power it was to judge which way of proceeding Athanasius affirmes to be according to Scripture the Law of God And because those that condemned Macarius did not thus proceed he condemnes their Sentence as malicious and unjust Of old no Sentence passed against any man but upon the Testimony of other witnesses besides the Accusers after complaint exhibited the first thing they applyed themselves to was to consider the person and quality of the Accuser Concil prim Constant. Can. 6 Then they heard the witnesses who were two at least Can. Apost Can. 75. And these witnesses must be such as might not be imagined to be partiall nor to beare enmity nor malice against the party accused Ambros. Epist. 64. so Gratian Caus. 3. quae 5. cap. Quod suspecti Of old None might be party witnesse and Iudge which Gratian proves at large Caus. 4. qu. 4. cap. Nullus unquam praesumat accusator simul esse Iudex testis We grant indeed the Canon Law permits in some cases Tryal without witnesses Si crimen ita publicum est ut meritò debeat appellari notorium If
disclaimed the Prelates and have honoured the most glorious Lights of those Reformed Churches Calvin Beza and others with no better titles then of Rascals Blasphemers c. But the pith of his answer after a few good words is this that no such consequent can be drawn from their opinion for their Ius divinum pleads only for a Iustifiablenesse of this holy calling not for an absolute necessity of it warranting it where it is and requiring it where it may be had but not fixing upon the Church that wants it the defect of any thing of the Essence of a Church but only of the glory and perfection of it neither is it their sin but their misery And is it so doth not this Ius divinum argue a Necessitie but only a Iustifiablenesse of this calling nor is the want of it a want of any thing of Essence but onely of perfection we had thought that page the 20th where this Remonstrant strives to fetch the pedegree of Episcopacie from no lesse than Apostolicall and in that right Divine institution he had reckoned it among those things which the Apostles ordained for the succeeding administration of the Church in essentiall matters but here it seemes he is willing to retract what there fell from him there it was to his advantage to say this Government was a thing essentiall to the Church and here it is no lesse advantage to say it is not essentiall But if it be not Essentiall then what is the reason that when a Priest who hath received Orders at Rome turnes to us they urge not him to receive ordination among us again but when some of our brethren who flying in Queene Maries dayes had received Imposition of hands in the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas returned again in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth they were urged to receive Imposition of hands againe from our Bishops and some did receivâ— it If those Churches that want Bishops want nothing essentiall to a Church then what Essentiall want was there in the Ordination of those Ministers that received Imposition of hands in those Churches that might deserve a Re-ordination more than if they had first received their Ordination at Rome And what is the reason that Bishop Mountague so confidently affirmes that Ordination by Episcopall hands is so necessary as that the Church is no true Church without it and the Ministery no true Ministery and ordinarily no salvation to be obtainâ—d without it And if this Remonstrant should leave Bishop Mountague to answer for himself yet notwithstanding he stands bound to give us satisfaction to these two questions which arise from his own Book First whether that Office which by divine right hath the sole power of Ordaining and Ruling all other Officers in the Church as he saith Episcopacie hath belong not to the being but onely to the glory and perfection of a Church Secondly there being in this mans thoughts the same Ius divinum for Bishops that there is for Pastors and Elders whether if those Reformed Churches wanted Pastors and Elders too they should want nothing of the Essence of a Church but of the perfection and glory of it But this Remonstrant seemes to know so much of the minde of those Churches that if they might have their option they would most gladly embrace Episcopall Government as little differing from their own Moderatorship save onely in the perpetuitie of it and the new Invention as he odiously calls it of lay-Elders But no question those learned Worthies that were intrusted by the Churches to compile their Confessions did comprise their Iudgements better than the Composer of this Remonstrance And to his presumtion we oppose their Confession We will begin with the French Church who in their Confession speake thus Credimus veram Ecclesiam gubernari debere eâ politiâ quam Dominus noster Iesus Christus sancivit ità videlicet ut fint in ea Pastores Presbyteri sive Seniores Diaconi ut doctrinae puritas retineatur c. Art 29. Credimus omnes Pastores ubicunque collocati sunt eâdem aequali potestate inter se esse praeditos sub uno illo capite summóque solo universali Episcopo Iesu Christo. Art 30. Gallicae Confessionis Credimus veram hanc Ecclesiam aebere regi ac gubernari spirituali illâ politiâ quà m nos Deus ipse in verbo suo edocuit ità ut sint in ea Pastores ac Ministri qui purè concionentur Sacramenta administrent sint quoque Seniores Diaconi qui Ecclesiae Senatum constituant ut his veluti mediis vera Religio conservari Hominésque vitiis dediti spiritualiter corripi emendari possint Tunc enim ritè ordinatè omniae fiunt in Ecclesiâ cùm viri fideles pii ad ejus gubernationem deliguntur juxta Divi Pauli praescriptum 1 Tim. 3. Confes. Belgic Art 30. Caeterùm ubicuuque locorum sunt verbi Dei Ministri candem atque aequalem Omnes habent tum Potestatem tum Authoritatem ut qui sunt aequè Omnes Christi unici illius universalis Episcopi capit is Ecclesiae Ministri We believe that the true Church ought to be governed by that policy which Christ Jesus our Lord established viz. that there be Pastors Presbyters or Elders and Deacons And again We believe that all true Pastors whereever they be are endued with equal and the same power under one chief Head and Bishop Christ Jesus Consonant to this the Dutch Churches We believe say they the true Church ought to be ruled with that spiritual policy which God hath taught us in his Word to wit that there be in it Pastors to preach the Word purely Elders and Deacons to constitute the Ecclesiastical Senate that by these means Religion may be preserved and manners corrected And so again We believe where-ever the Ministers of God are placed they All have the same equal Power and Authority as being All equally the Ministers of Christ. In which Harmony of these Confessions see how both Churches agree in these five points First That there is in the Word of God an exact form of Government set down Deus in verbo suo edocuit Secondly That this form of Government Christ established in his Church Iesus Christus in Ecclesiâ sancivit Thirdly That this form of Government is by Pastors Elders and Deacons Fourthly That the true Church of Christ ought to be thus governed Veram Ecclesiam debere regi Fifthly That all true Ministers of the Gospel are of equal power and authority For the reason he assigns why those Churches should make this Option we cannot enough admire that such a passage should fall from his pen as to say There is little difference between their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and our Episcopacy save onely in perpetuity and lay-Elders for who knows not that between these two there is a vast a difference as between the Duke of Venice and an absolute Monarch For 1 the Moderator in Geneva is not of a
all the rest are no part of Canonical Scripture And therefore our former and ancienter English translations though they have these Postscripts yet they are put in a small character different from that of the Text. Although our Episcopal men of late in newer impressions have inlarged their Phylacteries in putting those Postscripts in the same full character with that of the Text that the simple might beleeve they are Canonical Scripture The Papists themselves Baronius Serrarius and the Rhemists confesse that there is much falsity in them The first Epistle to Timothy is thus subscribed the first to Timothy was written from Laodicea whoch is the chiefest City of Phrygia Pacatiana Here wee demand whether Paul when hee writ the first Epistle to Timothy was assured he should live to write a second which was written long after And if not How comes it to bee subscribed the first to Timothy which hath relation to a second Besides the Epistle is said to bee writ from Laodicea whereas Beza in his Annotations proves apparently that it was written from Macedonia to which Opinion Baronius and Serrarius subscribe It is added Which is the chiefest City of Phrygia Pacatiana But this Epithet is nowhere read in the Writers of those ages saith Beza Sed apud recentiores illoâ— qui Romani imperii jam inclinantis provincias descripserunt So that by this place it is evident that the subscription was added a long while after the writing of the Epistles by some men for the most part vel indoctis saith Beza vel certe non satis attentis Either by a Learned or negligent man The second Epistle is thus subscribed The second Epistle unto Timothy ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians was written from Rome when Paul was brought before Nero the second time Now these words Ordained the first Bishop is wanting saith Beza in quibusdam vetustis codicibus in veteri vulgatâ editione apud Syrum interpreâ—â—m If Saint Paul had written this Postscript he would not have said To Timothy the first Bishop c. whereas it was not yet certain whether ever there should bee a second Neither would it bee said when Paul was brought c. But when I was the second time brought before Nero. The Syriack Interpreter reads it Here ends the second Epistle to Timothy written from Rome The Epistle to Titus is thus subscribed Written to Titus Ordained first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians from Nicopolis of Macedonia Here it is said that this Epistle was written from Nicopolis whereas it is cleare that Paul was not at Nicopolis when he wrote it Tit. 3.12 Be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis for I have determined there to winter Hee doth not say Here to winter but There Where note for the present he was not there And besides it is said that Titus was Ordained the first Bishop c. And who was the second or was there ever a second And also He is said to be Bishop not onely of a Diocess but of all Creet Was there ever such a second Bishop Adde lastly that it is said Bishop of the Church of the Cretians Whereas it would bee said of the Churches of the Cretians For the Christian Churches of any Nation are called Churches by Luke and Paul not Church Therefore Codex Claremontanus subscribes Here ends the Epistle to Titus and no more So the Syriack Finitur Epistola ad Titum quae scripta fuit è Nicopoli The old Vulgar Edition hath nothing of the Episcopacy of Titus By all this it appears that if the Bishops had no more authority to urge us to subscribe to their Ceremonies then they have authority for their Episcopal Dignity by these Subscriptions there would be no more subscription to Ceremonies in the Churches of England But some will say that there is one objection out of Scripture yet unanswered and that is from the inequality that was betweene the twelve Apostles and the seventy Disciples To which we answer First that it cannot be proved that the twelve Apostles had any superiority over the seventy either of Ordination or Jurisdiction or that there was any subordination of the seventy unto the twelve but suppose it was yet we answer Secondly that a superiority and inferiority betweene Officers of different kindes will not prove that there should be a superiority and inferiority between Officers of the same kinde No man will deny but that in Christs time there were Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastors and Teachers and that the Apostles were superior to Evangelists and Pastors But it cannot be proved that one Apostle had any superiority over another Apostle or one Evangelist over an other And why then should one Presbyter be over another Hence it followeth that though we should grant a superiority between the twelve and the seventy yet this will not prove the question in hand Because the question is concerning Officers of the same kind and the instance is of Officers of different kinds amongst whom no man will deny but there may be a superiority and inferiority as there is amongst us between Presbyters and Deacons And now let your Honours judge considering the premisses how far this Episcopal government is from any Divine right or Apostolical Institution And how true that speech of Hierome is that a Bishop as it is a superiour Order to a Presbyter is an Humane presumption not a Divine Ordinance But though Scripture fails them yet the indulgence and Munificence of Religious Princes may support them and to this the Remonstrant makes his next recourse yet so as he acknowledgeth here Ingagements to Princes onely for their accessory dignities titles and Maintenance not at all for their stations and functions wherein yet the author plainly acknowledgeth a difference between our Bishops and the Bishops of old by such accessions For our parts we are so farre from envying the gracious Munificence of pious Princes in collating honourable maintenance upon the Ministers of Christ that we beleeve that even by Gods own Ordinance double Honour is due unto them And that by how much the Ministery of the Gospell is more honourable then that of the Law by so much the more ought all that embrace the Gospell to be carefull to provide that the Ministers of the Gospell might not onely live but maintain Hospitalitie according to the Rule of the Gospell And that worthy Gentleman spake as an Oracle that said That scandalous Maintenance is a great caues of a scandelous Ministery Yet we are not ignorant that when the Ministery came to have Agros dâ—mos lecationes vehicula â—ques laâ—ifâ—ndia as Chrysost Hom. 86 in Matth. That then Religio peperit divitias filia devoravit Matrem Religion brought forth riches and the Daughter devoured the Mother and then there was a voice of Angels heard from Heaven Hodie venenum in Ecclesiam Christi cecidit This day is poison shed into the Church of Christ. And then it was that Ierom complained
Prelacie the unhappy instrument of pulling the young Duke of York out of Sanctuary into his cruel Uncles hands Things being setled in such a peace as after the bloody brawls was to the afflicted Realm howsoever acceptable though not such as might be wished Morton Bishop of Ely enticing the Duke of Buckingham to take the Crown which ruin'd him opened the veins of the poor subjects to bleed afresh The intolerable pride extortion bribery luxury of Wolsey Archbishop of York who can be ignorant of selling Dispensatitions by his power Legantine for all offences insulting over the Dukes and Peers of whom some he brought to destruction by bloody policie playing with State-affairs according to his humour or benefit causing Tournay got with the blood of many a good Souldier to be rendred at the French Kings secret request to him not without bribes with whom one while siding another while with the Emperour he sold the honour and peace of England at what rates he pleased and other crimes to be seen in the Articles against him Holinshed 912. and against all the Bishops in general 911 which when the Parliament sought to remedie being most excâ—ssive extortion in the Ecclesiastical Courts the Bishops cry out Sacriledge the Church goes to ruine as it did in Bohemia with the Schisme of the Hussites Ibid. After this though the Bishops ceased to be Papists for they preached against the Popes Supremacie to please the King yet they ceased not to oppugne the Gospel causing Tindals Translation to be burnt yea they agreed to the suppressing of Monasteries leaving their revenues to the King to make vvay for the six bloudy Articles which proceedings with all cruelty of inquisition are set down Holinsh. pag. 946. till they were repealed the second of Edward the Sixth stopping in the mean while the cause of Reformation well begun by the Lord Cromwel And this mischief was wrought by Steven Gardiner Bishop of Winchester The six Articles are set down in Speed pag. 792. The Archbishop of Saint Andrews his hindring of England and Scotlands Union for fear of Reformation Speed 794. As for the dayes of King Edward the Sixth we cannot but acknowledge to the glory of the rich mercy of God that there was a great Reformation of Religion made even to admiration And yet notwithstanding we do much dislike the humour of those that cry up those dayes as a compleat pattern of Reformation and that endevour to reduce our Religion to the first times of King Edward which we conceive were comparatively very imperfect there being foure impediments which did much hinder that blessed work The three Rebellions One in Henry the Eighths time by the Priests of Lincoln and Yorkeshire for that Reformation which Cromwel had made The other two in King Edwards dayes One in Cornwal the other in Yorkâ—shire The strife that arose suddenly amongst the Peers emulating one anothers honour Speed pag. 837. The violent opposition of the Popish Bishops which made Martin Bucer write to King Edward in his Book de Regno Christi lib. 2 cap. 1. and say Your Majesty doth see that this restoring again the Kingdom of Christ which we require yea which the salvation of us all requireth may in no wise be expected to come from the Bishops seeing there be so few among them which do understand the power and proper Offices of this Kingdom and very many of them by all means which possibly they can and dare either oppose themselves against it or defer and hinder The deficiency of zeal and courage even in those Bishops who afterwards proved Martyrs witness the sharp contention of Ridley against Hooper for the ceremonies And the importunate suit of Cranmer and Ridley for toleration of the Mass for the Kings sister which was rejected by the Kings not only reasons but tears whereby the young King shewed more zeal then his best Bishops 839. The inhumane butcheries blood-sheddings and cruelties of Gardiner Bonner and the rest of the Bishops in Queen Maries dayes are so fresh in every mans memory as that we conceive it a thing altogether unnecessary to make mention of them Onâ—ly we fear lest the guilt of the blood then shed should yet remain to be required at the hands of this Nation because it hath not publickly endeavoured to appease the wrath of God by a general and solemn humiliation for it What the practâ—ces of the Prelates have been ever since from the begininning of Queene Elizabeth to this present day would fill a volume like Ezekiels Roll with lamentation mourning and wo to record For it hath been their great designe to hinder all further Reformation to bring in doctrines of Popery Arminianisme and Libertinisme to maintain propagate and much encrease the burden of hâ—mane ceremonies to keep out and beat down the Preaching of the Word to silence the faithfull Preachers of it to oppose and persecute the most zealous professours and to turn all Religâ—on into a pompous out-side and to tread down the power of godliness Insomuch as it is come to an ordinary Proverb thaâ— when any thing is spoiled we use to say The Bishop's foot hath been in it And in this and much more which might be said fulfilling Bishop 〈◊〉 Prophecie who when he saw that in King Edwards reformation there was a reservation of Ceremonies and Hierarchy is credibly reported to have used these words Since they have begun to taste of our Broath it will not be long ere they will eat of our Beef FINIS * Videbat eninâ— passim laborari mole copiâ variorum in hoc genere commenâ—â—tiorum novis editionibus ancipitem reddi corum delectuÌ„ sed meliores etiam id est veteres illos et probatos Authores è studiosorum manibus excuti c Praefat. Scriptorum Theolog. Henric Alting * Quaedam noxia victoria paenè mihi semper in disputationibus proveniebat cum Christianis imperitis August contra Manich. cap. 19. * Mr. Stephen Marshall Mr. Edm. Calamy Dr. Th. Young Mr. Matthew Newcomen Dr. William Spurstowe * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pag. 23. Pag. â— Pag. 2. Pag. 3. Pag. 6. Pag. 2. Pag. 7. Untruths Remon pag. 8. Malmsbury lib. 4. Hist. Concil Trid. Pag. 9. Liturgie Pag. 10. a Ad hoc maâ—orum devoluta est Ecclesia Dei sponsa Christi ut haereticorum exempla Sectentur ad celebranda Sacramenta coelestia disciplinam Lux mutuetur de tenebris id faciant christiani quod Antichristi faciunt Cypr. Ep. 74. Pag. 13. Just. Mar. Apost 2. Tert. Ap. ad Gen. c. 39. Just. Mar. Apost 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concil Laod. Can. 18. Conc. Carth. 3. Can. 23. Anno 397. Conc. Milev 2. Can. 12. An. 416. Pag. 10. Pag. 11. Pag. 18. Pag. 11. Euseb. de vit Con. li. 4. Cap. 18. Pag. 11. Pag. 12. Pag. 12. Pag. 13. D. Corbet M. Nevel Pag. 13. Pag. 13. Abbot against Church-forsakers Obâ— Ans.
the Kings will interdicts the Realm and the King forc't to suffer it till refusing to Crown Eustace the Kings Son because the Pope had so commanded he flies again Becket's pride and out-ragious treasons are too manifest resigning the Kings gift of his Archbishoprick to receive it of the Pope requiring the Custody of Rochester-castle and the Tower of London as belonging to his Seignorie Protects murthering Priests from Temporal Sword standing stifly for the Liberties and Dignities of Clerks but little to chastise their vices vvhich besides other erying sins vvere above a hundred murthers since Henry the Seconds crowning till that time to maintain vvhich most of the Bishops conspire till the terrour of the King made them shrink but Becket obdures denies that the King of Englands Courts have authority to judge him And thus was this noble King disquieted by an insolent Traitour in habit of a Bishop a great part of his Reigne the Land in uproar many Excommunicate and accursed France and England set to War and the King himself curbed and controlled and lastly disciplin'd by the Bishops and Monks first vvith a bare-foot penance that drevv blood from his feet and lastly with fourscore lashes on his anointed body vvith Rods. In the same Kings time it vvas that the Archbishop of York striving to sit above Canterbury squats him down on his lap vvhence vvith many a cuff he vvas throvvn dovvn Next the pride of W. Longchamp Bishop of Elie was notorious vvho vvould ride vvith a thousand horse and of a Governour in the Kings absence became a Tyrant for vvhich flying in Womans apparel he vvas taken To this succeeds contention betvveen Canterbury and York about carriage of their Crosses and Rome appeal'd to the Bishop of Durham buyes an Earldom No sooner another King but Hubert another Archbishop to vex him and lest that were not enough made Chancellour of England And besides him Ieffery of York who refusing to pay a Subsidy within his Precincts and therefore all his temporalities seaz'd excommunicates the Sheriff beats the Kings Officers and interdicts his whole Province Hubert outbraves the King in Christmass hous-keeping hinders King Iohn by his Legantine power from recovering Normandy After him Stephen Langton set up by the Pope in spite of the King who opposing such an affront falls under an interdict with his whole Land and at the suit of his Archbishop to the Pope is depos'd by Papal Sentence his Kingdom given to Philip the French King Langtons friend and lastly resignes and enfeuds his Crown to the Pope After this tragical Stephen the fray which Boniface the next Archbishop but one had with the Canons of Saint Bartholmews is as pleasant the tearing of Hoods and Cowles the miring of Copes the flying about of Wax Candles and Censors in the scuffle cannot be imagined without mirth as his oathswere loud in this bickering so his curses were as vehement in the contention with the Bishop of Winchester for a slight occasion But now the Bishops had turned their contesting into base and servile flatteries to advance themselves on the ruine of the subjects For Peter de Rupibus Bishop of Winchester persvvading the King to displace English Officers and substitute Poictivines and telling the Lords to their faces that there vvere no Peeres in England as in France but that the King might do what he would and by whom he would became a firebrand to the civill wars that followed In this time Peckam Archbishop of Can. in a Synod was tampering vvith the Kings liberties but being threatened desisted But his successor Winchelsey on occasion of Subsidies demanded of the Clergie made ansvver That having tvvo Lords one Spirituall the other Temporall he ought rather to obey the Spirituall governour the Pope but that he vvould send to the Pope to knovv his pleasure and so persisted even to beggerie The Bishop of Durham also cited by the King flies to Rome In the deposing of this King vvho more forvvard then the Bishop of Hereford vvitnesse his Sermon at Oxford My head my head aketh concluding that an aking and sick head of a King vvas to be taken off vvithout further Physick Iohn the Archbishop of Canterbury suspected to hinder the Kings glorious victories in Flanders and France by stopping the conveyance of monies committed to his charge conspiring therein vvith vvish â—he Pope But not long after vvas constituted that fatall praemunire vvhich vvas the first nipping of their courage to seek aide at Rome And next to that the wide wounds that Wickleffe made in their sides From which time they have been falling and thenceforth all the smoak that they could vomit was turned against the rising light of pure doctrine Yet could not their Pride misse occasion to set other mischief on foot For the Citizens of London rising to apprehend a riotous fervant of the Bishop of Salisbury then Lord Treasurer who with his fellowes stood on his guard in the Bishops house were by the Bishop who maintained the riot of his servant so complained of that the King therewith seized on their liberties and set a Governour over the Citie And who knowes not that Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury was a chief instrument and agent in deposing King Richard as his actions and Sermon well declares The like intended the Abbot of Westminster to Henry the fourth who for no other reason but because he suspected that the King did not favour the wealth of the Church drew into a most horrible conspiracie the Earles of Kent Rutland and Salisbury to kill the King in a turnament at Oxford who yet notwithstanding was a man that professed to leave the Church in better state then he found it For all this soone after is Richard Scroop Archbishop of York in the field against him the chiefe attractor of the rebellious party In these times Thomas Arundell a great persecutor of the Gospel preached by Wikclefs followers dies a fearfull death his tongue so swelling vvithin his mouth that he must of necessity starve His successor Chickeley nothing milder diverts the King that vvas looking too neerly into the superfluous revenues of the Church to a bloody warre All the famous conquests vvhich Henry the fifth had made in France vvere lost by a civil dissension in England vvhich sprung first from the haughty pride of Beaufort Bishop and Cardinall of Winchester and the Archbishop of York against the Protector Speed 674. In the civill warres the Archbishop sides with the Earle of Warwick and March in Kent Speed 682. Edward the Fourth Mountacute Archbishop of York one of the chiefe conspirators with Warwick against Edward the fourth and afterwards his Jaylor being by Warwicks treason committed to this Bishop In Edward the Fifths time the Archbishop of York was though perhaps unwittingly yet by a certain fate of