hanges ouer him Saint Ciprian sayes he seperates himselfe from Christ that does against the consent of the Byshop and clergy Saint Hiero. does saye we muste remayne in that Churche whiche is founded of the Apostles and does endure vnto thys daye by a succession of Byshoppes to whom the holye Ghoste hais appointed the rule and gouernement of this Churche sanctified by Christes bloud shedinge Nor let heretickes take anye comforte to theym selues if they can frame out of the Chapters of the scripture for their pourpose that whiche they saye seynge the deuill hais alledged some thinges of scripture for the scriptures consist not in readinge but true vnderstandinge If we will be members of Christes Churche we must continue firmely in that faith and religyon that was sent from the Apostolicall see of Ro. by S. Gregory into England which faith and religion was planted and stablyshed by Saint Angustine in thys Realme Saint Augustine stablyshed masse and vii sacramentes to be vsed in the latin tonge as Gâ—das does witnes and such maner of deuine seruice as is nowe vsed The aunswere to the. i. question SAint Austin in the first place alledged hais no suche definition althoughe the most parte of the wordes which he puttes there are true and woulde to God he considered howe muche he speakes against him selfe here in This is that which we defende that the Churche is gathered by Christ and Thappostles first and continues not in the Papisticall but in the Apostolicall faith vnder Christ our head who rules his churche stil by his holye spirite and worde and hais not put it into the â—andes of any one only general vicar in the earth as he vntruelye sayes whereas their church is bylded not on christ but on the Popes decrees whiche Thappostles neuer knewe and were vnwritten manye yeares after the death of Thappostles and are alwayes vncertayne chaunginge euer as it pleases the Pope for his time to determine And their Church hais had at one time iii. or iiii Popes for their heades like a monster with manye heades some Countrie folowinge one Pope some another as their heade We saye also that the Papistes haue deuided theim selues from this Churche of Christe makinge them selues sinagoges and chappelles gods and religion of their owne deuysynge as Micha did contrarye to Gods worde and therefore the wrath of God hanges ouer them except they returne howe holye so euer they pretende to be Ciprians wordes are not all together so plaine as he settes theym but if they were he meanes an other sort of Priestes and Clergye than the Popes for neyther they did take than to them nor he knew no such autoritye in them as they now vsurpe vnto theim selues for he writes as sharplye and homelye vnto Cornelius than byshop of Rome as he does to any other his felow bishops Surelye who so euer deuydes him selfe from Christes ministers and people refusinge their doctrine and discipline seperates him selfe from Christ euen as he that flees from the filthy dregges of Poperye and his Chaplaines is cut of from the Pope the father of suche wickednes In Ieroms wordes we most reioyse teachinge vs to continue in that Churche which is founded by Thapostles and not Popes endures to thys daye The wordes of succession c. folowinge are his owne and not Ieroms By thys doctrine of Ierom we flee to Thapostolicall and flee from the Papisticall Churche whiche was neuer knowen of manye yeares after Thapostles And we graunt that the deuil papistes and heretickes can alledge some wordes of the scriptures and therefore we saye that the Papistes be deuilyshe Heretickes because they racke writhe the scriptures to a contrarye meaninge to their owne damnation as the deuill did For succession and gouernement of Byshops for Austins religion massinge and vii sacramentes I said inoughe afore but where he alleges Gildas as father of his lies he does him much wroÌ„g for he hais neuer suche a word in all his writinges If he haue lette him shew it This is euer the facion of liynge Papistes to haue the names of doctours and auncient writers in their mouthes as though they were of the same opinioÌ„ that they be where in dede they be nothynge lesse and if they get a word or if that seemes to make for them they will adde a hole tale of their owne makinge as thoughe it were a piece of the same auncient mannes sayinge and by thys meanes they deceyue the simple whiche haue no learninge to iudge or haue not the bookes to trye their saiynges by as this miser goes about in these places afore Who is an hereticke HE that teaches defendes or maintaines anye erronyous oppinion agaynst the decrees iudgemente or determynatyon of Christes Catholicke Church is an hereticke Who is a schismaticke HE that is deuided or separat from the vnitye of the catholycke Church in ministration or receyuynge the sacramentes or diuine seruice is a schismaticke and in state of perdicion The aunswere to the. ii and. iii. questions HE wold gladly appeare to be wel sene in logiâ— if he had any If all be hereticks that defend an erronius opinion than many disputacions shall be condemned In disputing it is oft sene that of ignoraunce or for his learning sake manye defend an vntruth yet God forbid that they shoulde all be heretickes Austin says well I maye erre but I will not be an hereticke Then he is an hereticke properlye that defendes an errour obstinatelye and will not be corrected So teaches Saint Paule Flee from an hereticke after one or ii warnynges he sais not for ones teachinge or defending of it Also he is not a schismaticke that differs in small pointes or circumstaunces of ministringe the sacraments from other for than shoulde all the Greke church be in a schisme because they differ in some ceremonies from the Latin Churche and also one from another as I declared afore in the ministration of Basil Chrisost Saint Iames. c. the same may be said of the latin church to as for Ambrose order Gregores c. And because euer vnder the Catholicke churche he signifies Rome we saye that no countrie whiche vses other ceremonies than they doe is in this case a schismaticke for that their Romishe orders and ceremonies be of their owne deuisinge for the most part and not commaunded by god nor neuer were vsed generally in the vniuersall Catholicke churche as I proued afore and therfore they be free to vse or not vse as shalbe thought mete to differ in the substaunce and doctrine of sacramentes maye make a schisme or heresye but such ceremonies are free to all countries whiche maye edifie as appeared in Ansel. Epistle afore These fewe wordes are sufficient to lette him see his owne foolyshnes more might be said but I will not be so curious nor tedious to note all Saint Paule cals the Corinth schismatickes in henginge on mennes sleues for opinions in religion and for misusinge the
was thereon offred as those were on an altar Where so euer therfore the newe testament or olde writers vse this word altar they allude to that Sacrifice of christ fygured by Moyses and vse the word stil that Mosses vsed to signyfye the same sacrifice withall and rather it is a figuratiuâ— than a proper kinde of speache in all suche places And because altars were euer vsed for sacrifices to signifie that sacrifice whiche was to come seing our sauioure christ is comen alreadye hais fulfilled and finyshed all sacrifices we thinke it best to take away all occasions of that Popyshe sacrificinge masse for maintaynnige whereof they haue cruelly sacrificed manie innocent soules to minister on tables accordinge to these examples It greeues him that the Bishops set their tales as it pleases hym to speake whan they sytte in iudgemente where the Altars were but if they were handled as did Baals Priestes and his Altars God did them no wrong It is a commen true sayinge he that wil do no yl must do nothinge that longes there til so surely if we wil warely audid the wickednes of Popery we must fâ—e from suche thinges as maintaine their doinges There is nothinge more profitable vnto them than massinge sacrifices therefore because Altars importe and maintaine their gainefull sacrificynge it is necessary they be remoued For their sacrifice of the Masse that he so muche lamentes to be defaced and all good conscyences reioyse that God of hys vndeserued goodnesse hays ouerthrowen it I referre all menne to the fyft and laste booke that the blessed soules now lyuinge with god Bishoppes Crammer aud Ridley wrote of the Sacramente whose bodyes they cruellye tormented therfore There who so euer lust maye reade and with indifferencye wey the reasons of both parties and iudge wyth the trueth Stout Steuen woulde gladlye haue ouerthrowen that booke but God confounded hym and their names lyue for euer So longe as that booke standes vnconfuted they maye barke agaynste the trueth as the Dogge does agaynst the mone and not preuaile And if ye will call but a litle to your remembrance howe many diuers sortes of masses there were vsed in diuers couÌ„tries as appeares in the words afore rehersed ye shal se how lowd he lies in saiing here that their masse was according to the order of christes catholike church That is catholicke as the Greke word signifies which is vniuersall and general both in time person and place therfore he must proue if he will be beleued that this Popish latin patched masking masse hais bene vsed at al times of all menne and in all Countryes But I haue declared afore both many sundrye sortes of ministringe the lordes supper in seuerall countries and also howe of late yeares this his order hais bene violently and blinde ignoraunce brought in therfore it can not be catholicke None that be counted learned can be ignoraunt of the general pointes wherin the Greke East churche differs from the west latin Romish churche The Grecians neuer receyued the Pope for their head nor the doctrine of purgatory their Priestes were euer free to mary they ministred the Lords supper alwais in their owne language with leauened bread in bothe kindes to the lay people both the bred and the cup seuerally the Priestes neuer receiued alone withoute other to receyue wyth him they neuer made trentals of it nor knew transsubstantiation they neuer vsed pardons ymages with manye other moe thinges lyke as auricular shriuinge to a Priest c which all the latin Romish Church defendes and does contrary and their these religion standes in theym therefore none of these opinions can be cald catholicke because the Greke Churche which is the greater part of the worlde neuer receiued beleued nor vsed them Thus many lyes than this maister D. hais made in one word callynge it catholicke as there be thynges wherein their Romishe masse dyffers frome the the Greke liturgies and orders of ministringe the Lordes supper as I haue declared moste of theym If I shoulde particulâ—rly and throughly handell all his folysh saiynges it would growe to to great a woorke therefore brefelye I touche the chefest He charges vs with a faith and religion that hais no foundacion layde by generall counsels which sayinge whan he better considers I truste he will be content to be reckned in the same number with vs. Was not the first general counsel vnder Constantine the Emperor at Nice aboue iiii c. xxx yeres after Christ was borne Shall I say than or is he so shameles to thinke that there was no religion nor faith in the world so manye yeares together after Christ. because there was not of so many yeares a generall counsell to bilde vppon No and because we say and proue oure faithe and relygion to bee the best and auncienst we bylde not on counsels as they doe but on Goddds worde which is aboue the counsel and rules al being not ruled of any hais bene from the beginning and shall continue to the end and we say with Paule that we be bylded on the foundacion of the Apostles and Prophetes Christ himselfe beynge the head corner stone The Prophetes whereon we buyld lyued many of them a thousaunde yeare afore anye generall counsell was heard of and the Apostles liued iiii C. yere afore them Wherfore our foundacion and religion is much elder than theirs Councels are lyke to Parliamentes that that pleases one Pope in his Counsell pleases not another as the bokes do easely declare and that whiche one thinkes good makes a law one yere an other condeÌ„nes disanulles What a vayn thing is it than to bild on so vncertain a groundworke Heauen and earth shall passe chaunge and decaye but the worde of the Lorde our God from whence comes our religion remaines for euer as the Prophet sais Therfore the wise builder wil folowe that which will not fade Lastlye where he charges vs that we agree not one wyth another nor wyth oure selues I maye say to him with the Gospell Thou Hypocryte first plucke the mote out of thine own eye and than thou shalte better see to take the beame oute of thy brothers eye There is no sorte of people more giltye in this behalfe than the Papystes be The heathen Philosophers hadde not so manye sundrye sectes and oppinions amonge them selues in their scholes as the Papistes haue in their doynges D. Ponet late Byshoppe of Winton in his answere to the booke that beares Martins name for mariage of Priestes proues wel that Poperye is a monster patched of al kynds of heresy worse than they al. Where such thinges are fullye taught proued I had rather refer you to y e reding of them there than to write one thynge oft I declared to you afore also where ye shal find xxiii schismes among the popes themselues These holy Bishops y â— he craks so much on for their imprisonment and other that in losing their
yet so god blessed the Quenes maiestye that she not onelye delyuered vs but theym from their enemies handes what relese in France the poore oppressed haue had at her highnes handes the blynde sce all her louinge subiectes reioise though the enuious Papist murmure grudge God graunt her hyghnesse grace to be thankefull to gods maiestye who does so past all mannes expectacion prosper her doinges that he onelye maye haue the praise UUhat cause we haue to prayse god for restoring religioÌ„ through the Quenes trauaile all menne of god do see praise him for it thoughe blind papists be sory therfore UUhat â—ost her highnes hais susteined in restoringe vs a fine coine from so base wise men reioise though this malicious foole say we be in great pouerty Looke howe fewe taxes she hais taken to doe this withal and howe manye and howe great were leuied afore Howe was this Realme pesterd with straunge rulers straunge Goddes straunge languages straunge religion straunge coines and howe is it nowe peaceablye ridde of theym all to the greate glorye of God that hais wroughte so manye wonderful straunge greate thinges in so shorte a time in a weake vessell which he neuer did by anye her noble progenitors whiche haue bene so manye and so worthy Coulde anye be so blinde but that malyce hays bewytched to not see or not praise Godde for these worthye dedes â–ª I woulde haue wanted the suspicyon of flatterye in rehearsinge these thinges but that I would the vnthankful world shoulde see the disdainefull blinde malice of popery which can not say well by Gods good blessinges The foolishe lynking and clouting of y â— scriptures together which folowes declares what wit he hais They may be applied all against himselfe and such as he is rather than against the professors of Gods trueth what blasphemye is it to lay all kinde of wickednes on Gods worde what euil so euer raignes in the world it is to be imputed to man not to God to mans frailnes not to gods trueth and goodnes God and his holye worde punish and condemne al false doctrine and filthines therfore God wil confounde all suche filthye mouthes as blaspheme hym or his holye woorde to be the cause of anye kynde of naughtinesse All liberty is now vsed he sais where in dede iustyce was not better ministred these manye yeares euen as the wiser and indifferenter sorte of Papistes doe graunte Call to remembraunce howe sharplye buggerye coniuringe witchcraftes sorcery c. were punished wyth death by lawe in the Gospell tyme of blessed king Edw. Whan were these lawes repealed but in the late dayes of Popery than iudge whether there was greater liberty to sinne vnder the christian kinge or vnder supersticious poperye But the sodomiticall papistes thinke these to be no sinnes and therefore beastly doe misuse them selues defilinge theym selues bothe with spiritual and Sodomitical vncleanes whether is there more libertye gyuen to sin whan such sinnes be made deathe by order of lawe or whan the lawes apoint no punishment for theym Surelye thegospel is vniustly blamed in geuing carnal liberty popery rightfully condemned in taking away the pain opening a doore to al mischefe Who liues more licentiously than the pope himself w tout al feare of god good order gods law doing what he wil so be al his scholers folowing their owne fathers steps In these my sayinges I go not about to proue vs Aungels yet surely not suche deuilles as he woulde make vs but in comparison of them we be saintes therfore let vs both amend that God maye be mercifull to bothe and glorified in both And as thexamples in his beginninge were good if they had bene well applied so is his conclusion I wil conclude with him therefore in the ryght sense and meaninge of it saiynge with him Returne to the steppes of the good fathers the Prophets and Apostles framinge your selues to folowe their doctrine be not caried away with straunge and diuerse doctrine of Popes contrary to Gods holy worde and inuented of late by men Imbrace the religion and faith taught from the beginninge in christes Church from time to time continually Flee this new fangled Popish supersticion whiche hais crept into the Church of late yeares and beleue that onelye whiche Christ hais taught and his Appostles and Martirs haue confirmed and frame your liues accordingly or elles Goddes vengeaunce hanges ouer your heades ready sodenlye to fall vppon you and let this token of brenninge of Paules be an example and token of a greater plague to folowe except ye amend whiche god graunt vs al to doe Amen A Prayer MOste ryghteouse and wise iudge eternall god and merciful father which of thy secret iudgement haste suffered false Prophetes in al ages to rise for the trial of thine elect that the worlde might knowe who woulde stedfastly sticke vnto thy vndoubted and infallible trueth and who woulde be caried awaye with euerye vayne doctrine and yet by the might of thy holye spirite hais confounded theym all to thy great glorye and comfort of thy people haue mercy vpon vs we besech thee and strengthen oure weakenes against all assaultes of our enemies confounde all Popery as thou did the doctrine of the Pharises strengthen y â— louers of thy truth to the confusion of all supersticioÌ„ and hipocrisy giue vs due loue and reuerence of thy holye worde defende vs from mannes tradicions encrease oure fayth graunte vs grace neuer to fall from thee but vprightlye to walke accordynge as thou hais taught vs swaruing neyther to the right hand nor the life neyther adding nor taking any thinge awaye from thy writen worde but submitting oure selues hollye to thy good wil and pleasure may so passe this transitorye life that through thy goodnes we may lyue euerlastinglye wyth thee in thy glory through Christ our lord who with thee and the holye Ghoste lyues and reignes one god and our Sauiour for euer and euer Haue not I hated theym O Lorde that hate thee and euen â—ined awaye because of thine ennemies Psal. Cxxxix I will giue you a mouth and wisdome whiche all your enemies can not gainsaye and wythstande Luke xxi FINIS ¶ Here folowe also certaine questions propounded by him whiche are fullye althoughe shortly aunswered whiche is the catholycke Church SAint Augustine and S. Hieroâ— do saye The Church is a visible companye of people gathered of christ our lord and the Apostles and continued vnto this day by a perpetual succession liuing in one faith Apostolicall vnder Christe the heade and his vicar in earth being the pastor and high Byshop Out of this catholicke and apostolicall church is no trust of saluation Saint Augustine sais who so euer shalbe out of this church althoughe his lyfe be esteamed to be very good and laudable by this only faut that he is disioyned and seperated from the vnitye of Christ and his Church he can haue no lyfe but the wrath of God
whether then was supersticion and ignoraunce or nowe in these dayes Forther where the true word of god is taught the holy ghost does so worke there with that vertue does encrease but as the Prophet sais sicut populus ita Sacerdos as the people be so God sendes them Priestes Apprehenderunt mendacium nolueruÌ„t reuerti the people haue apprehended a lye and will not come backe but trust in liyng Sermons whiche wil not profet them as almighty God says by his Prophet Hiere thinkinge they haue done wel because they haue done these abhominations says God by his Prophet Hieremi so as the Priestes be so be the people blynded in herisie as God sais by his Prophet Esai that their hartes do not vnderstande their eyes do not see their eares be stopped for hearinge the trueth so that this maye well be called the time of supersticion and ignoraunce calling darknes light and light darknes that whiche is euill good and good euill And for the brinning of Paules Church which he speakes of was in time of ciuil warre and not destroyed by thandes of God as it was at this time Whosoeuer reades the Chronicles shal perceyue that and this be not lyke Therfore beware of false Prophetes and Preachers which come with faire wordes in their mouthes of the Gospel but marke the frutes that comes of their preachinge howe they haue set the people in such case that no prayer is vsed no fasting litle almes dedes all liberty vsed What disobedience children be in against their parentes howe vntrusty seruauntes be what swearinge and blaspheming of God is vsed of all people what theft whoredome crafte subtiltye and deceipt these be frutes that come of this newe fanglet doctrine Therefore retourne backe againe to the steppes of good fathers afore vs be not caried away as S. Paule sais with a straunge and diuerse doctrine embrace the religion and faith taught in Christes Churche from time to time continually and frame your liuing accordingly or els Gods vengeance hanges ouer your heades readye sodenly to fall vpon you so sais the Scripture and let this token of brinninge of Paules be an example and token of a greater plage to folow excepte ye amende A CONFVTACION OF AN ADdicion vvyth an Appologye vvritten and east in the stretes of VVest Chester agaynst the causes of burnyug Paules Church in London vvhych causes the reuerend Byshop of Duresme declared at Paules Crosse â— Iunij 1561. OUr Sauiour Christ whan the Deuill spake the truth plainly did not confute or gayne saye it but whan he did it frowardly Christ rebuked hym sharpelye As whan the deuill said Iesus of Nazareth what haue we to do with thee art thou comen to destroy vs I knowe that thou art the holy one of god He did not refuse nor denye that truth which he spake but whan the deuill tempted him to throw himself down from the Pinacle of the Temple be rebuked him quickly bicause he alledged y e true scripture maliciously So it is not sufficient to do a good dede barely or speake the trueth only except it be done rightly with such circumstances as be necessarily required to make it good as that it be from the hart and for Goddes cause willingly c. In like maner where this scauenger sweping the stretes with his bookes as a fitteÌ„ brome and officer therto hais spoken the truth not trulye bicause it is for an euil purpose and frowardly I shal passe ouer it with silence but where he followes his maister the father of lies in falsifiyng the trueth or racking the Scripture subtilly I shal by gods grace let the world see his iugling and by truth trulye vttered disclose his shameles lyinge The firste examples that he bringes declaring how god does iustlye plague the obstinate sinners that will not repent after manye warninges giuen are true all but being alledged to bring vs backe to Poperye and for another purpose then God oure Lorde hais taught them they be craftelye misused and ye see whose fotesteppes be folowed And as he vses theym to perswade vs to supersticion so they maye and ought to be vsed specially for maintainynge true religion The Rhetoricians teach that suche kinde of beginninges as maye be applied to two contrary partes are fauty Therefore seinge I maye vse the selfe same reasons and woordes that he haâ—s from the beginning hitherto to train vs to loue and embrase oure godlye refourmed religion he can not muche crake of his wyselye placed examples or reasons But I wyll not stycke wyth hym in suche small poyntes as these although they be fautes but I wil ioine with him in matters of weight and those thefe pointes of religion whiche he hais touched and we differ from him and hys sort in them Committinge the rule and gouernement of hys Church to the Byshops c. THe first is concerning thautority and gouernment geuen to Bishops ouer Gods Church wherin his wordes are not so vntrue as they conteyne a false doctryne and meaning in them Yf ye thinke that I to boldly enter to iudge his meaning confer these wordes with such as folowe in his owne writing wherin vntruly he claimes those priuileges to his Bishops whiche neyther he nor they are able to iustifie and there at large ye shall easlye perceiue what he meanes by these fewe woordes here But I will followe him where awaye he leades me and because he does here but briefly touche it I shall likewise shortly passe ouer it and more throughly search it where he does more at large presse it In the beginninge of their late reuyued tyrannye and afore they had obtained their long desired autoritie to ragne ouer Kinges and Princes it was my chaunce to talke with one of their stoutest Champions and of those that he calles the godly Bishops in prison Among sundry thinges that were to be redressed in talke as he thoughte he toke this selfe same matter first and said it was not fitte for any temporal officer to sit as iudge on any Priest or spiritual manne specially in any spirituall matter For the same cause began Tho. Beket to rebell against his Prince not sufferinge his Priestes to be punyshed for their murthers roberyes and now like good childer they followe his steppes I asked whye for the lawes were then as they be nowe and both verye well that Iustyces in their Sessyons and Assises might and shoulde enquire who than offended the ciuill lawes and the order of religion establyshed whether he were Priest or other he aunswered that in the xx of the Actes of Thappostles it was plaine that God had set the Bishops to gouerne the Churche I saide that was another kind of gouernment that Saint Paule there grauntes to Byshops and differs from that which kinges or Princes claime and ought to haue No sais he marke the woordes and it is ad regendum Ecclesiam regere regum est therefore Byshops haue
and Princes nor to that blasphemous name to be called the vniuersall Byshop of the whole Church than this Gregory was as fully appeares in sundrye places of his workes In hys time beganne this ambitious desire to crepe into the minde of Ioan Archebisshop of Constantinople to be called the head byshop of the world because Maurice then Emperoure and heade aboue many Prynces lay than at Constantinople and not at Rome as his auncetoures did for the most parte while the Emperour lay at Rome the Byshoppe there was more reuerenced than other Byshoppes were as it is in all commen welthes where so euer the Prince lies therfore he thought that like as whan â—heÌ„perour lay at Rome y â— Bishop was preferred aboue other because comenly Princes will haue the learneder sorte here him so he thought that the Emperoure nowe lyinge at Constantinople that that Byshoppe should likewise be estemed and therfore he caused Themperour to write to Gregorye Byshop of Ro. in this behalfe and that he shoulde submit himselfe to the Byshop of Constantinople Gregory aunsweres diuers of Themperours letrers sharplye godlily wisely and learnedly sayinge that neyther he at Ro. nor the other at Constantinople nor no other in anye place shuld chalenge to him that proud name nor autority aboue other None of my predecessors sais Gregory wold vse this cursed name to be called the vniversall Byshoppe of all for if one Patriarche shoulde bee called vniuersall than the name of Patriarches shoulde be taken from other but God kepe this far from a Christian mind that any man should chalenge that to himselfe whereby he might anye thinge at all diminishe the honour of his brether Note that he sais none of his predecessours vsed this cursed name Than in hys tyme it began to be desired than also they lie sayinâ— that Christ gaue this autority of being aboue other to Peter and his successorâ— from time to time he calles it also 〈…〉 wicked and cursed name wherein theâ— glory and so muche desire wicked and cursed therfore is he that hais it or desires it be sais further they doe theiâ— brether wronge in takyng that honour from them that is due to them whiche is to bee of like power and autoritye with theym If any manne now a days shuld write thus he wold be cald a railer a foole a prater c. But seing this good Pope sais so to theÌ„ let them take it among them and beleue their Pope for it is true Againe he saies I saye boldlye that whosoeuer calles himselfe or desires to be called the vniuersall Priest in his pride he runnes afore Antichrist bycause in being proud he preferres himselfe aboue other This is their partes than that they playe to be Antichristes forerunners or rather to be Antichrist himself Much good doe it them with their Popes that so rewards their folowers and seinge their maister geues theym that name they maye bee glad of it and neyther refuse it nor be angry with them that so call theym It were an easy thinge to take many such like sayinges oute of other Doctoures but because be cries oute so ofte of this holys fathers religion I kepe me with in his comepasse and alledge his writinges onelye Gregorye in his Epistle to Maurice Themperour amonge manye other wordes sais thus Who is this that against the ordinaunce of the Gospell and agaynste the decrees of the canons presumes to take this newe name lette this blasphemous name be farre from christen mennes hartes to be called the vniuersal Byshoppe by whiche the honoure of all Priestes is taken away whan it is folishly clamed of one manne This name was offered in the Synode of Chalcedome to the Romyshe Byshoppe but none of them did take this name of singularitye nor dyd agree to vse it least while anye priuate thinge shoulde be geuen to one manne all Priestes shoulde bee robbed of their due honour He is to be bridled which does wronge to the vniuersall Church which by this priuate name settes him selfe aboue the honour of your Empire c. thus much Gregory I maruail that the later Popes scraped not these sayinges out of Gregories woorkes or els condemned not his bookes for heresye seing he does so plainly condemne their proude Prelacy But surelye as God hais preserued the true texte of the Bible by the Iewes that are his enemies to the comforte of his people So for the glorye of his name he hais saued the writinges of good Popes to condemne the foolishnes of the late presumptuous tyrannye of Popes after their times Remember that he calles it a blasphemous name and that it is againste the gospell and Canons that it was neuer vsed and is a wronge to all the rest Thus many yeares it was vi Cv. afore the pope hadde anye supremacy graunted him but streight after his death whan Phocas hadde murdered Themperour Maurice his maister and made himself Emperour Pope Boniface the iii. iiii obteined at his hand that Ro. the byshop there should be the head of other churches and Byshoppes A mete manne to set vp a Byshop like himself the one murdered his maister and thother killâ—s soules Whan they haue aunswered this Pope that denies anye of his predecessours to haue hadde this name and autority than thei may crake that they haue had it M. D. sins Saint Peters time And where he sais in the latter ende that whan the people feâ—le from this relygion that Gregory send and Austin brought in they felt greate calamites by the conquest of the Danes and the Normans if he had aduised him selfe well he would not haue said thus But as Caiphas prophecied truly saying that it was necessary that one man Christ should die for the people and not all perishe not vnderstanding what he saide so this vnlearned Proctour hais spoken more truely than he wotes of For God in deede plaged this Realme for fallinge from true religion taught in his holy word rather than by Austin submittinge them selfes to the Pope who as ye heard refused that name and autoritye The conquest of the Danes was not longe nor greate but than folowed the Normans D. yeare sins saue fiue And if ye marke euen about that tyme was Hildebrande commenly cald Gregorye the. vii Pope who with his felowes brought more wicked super sticion into the church of God than euer was afore Afore his time there was no swarme of idle munkes and Freers in Englande nor in the worlde but they wroughte for their liuynge no suche gaddinge of Pilgrimages sellynge of Masses c. And therefore God iustlye plaged the world for falling from him and defilynge theym selues so filthilye with the dregges of Poperye I speake not this bicause I thinke all was well afore or that all the doinges of Gregorye and Austin were perfecte but to lette you see that oure Papystes leaue the beste and pyke oute the worst to folowe as metest for their purpose Now whether the people
consâ—â—â— distinc ii We geue the people the â—uppe of Christes bloude as well as 〈◊〉 the Priestes as Ciprian teaches saiyngâ— how do we teach or prouoke them to sheâ—e their bloude in confessinge his name if we deny them that shalbe christes soudiers the bloud of christ or how doe we make them mete to the cuppe of In burials we do not assemble a number of Priestes to swepe purgatorye or bye forgiuenes of synnes of them whiche haue no autoritye to sell but accordinge to Saint Ieroms example we folowe At the death of Fabiola sais he the people of Ro. were gathered to the solemnite of the buriall Psalmes were songe and Alleluia soundinge oute on height did shake the gildet celinges of the Temple Here was one company of yonge menne and there another which did singe the prayses and worthy dedes of the woman And no meruaile if men reioyce of her saluation of whose conuersion Thangelles in heauen be glad thus Ierom vsed burialls likewise Gregory Nazanzene hais his funerall Sermons and Orations in the commendacion of the party departed so hais Ambrose for Theodosius and Ualentinian the Emperours for his brother Satirus c. Their Dirige grotes masses and trentalles tapers and ringinges haue no foundation on the Scripture nor good auncientye to maintaine theym Ierom sais that Alleluia was songe so loude that it made the Churche roofe to shake and our Papes wil not sing Alleluia at all neither at buriall in lent nor Aduent and saye they folowe auncientye Alleluia is as much in Englyshe as praise ye the lorde as thoughe they shoulde saye praise the lorde that hais called his seruaunt out of this miserie to himselfe in heauen But the desperat Papes saye wepe reioyse not for the dead but mistrust of their saluation thinke that they bee gone from one sorowe to another and therfore bie masses apase the Popes proctoures for money inoughe will sel that whiche God can not or will not geue freely as they thinke God is wearye as they saye of wel doing and turned ouer the matter to these the Popes Proctours But Salomon teaches that in death the bodie tournes to earth from whence it came and the soule to him that gaue it Loke how both bodye and soule is bestowed whatsoeuer gredy gaping Cormorauntes do say to get money withall Blessed be the dead that die in the lorde sais Saint Ihon. For they rest from their labours the Papes saye the dead be accursed and goe into purgatory from sorowes here to greater there chose whether ye beleue In mariage as in other thinges beside we are but to much like vnto them that is our fault generally that we differ not more from them in al our ministery We haue all in Englysh where they haue but I N. take thee M. c. And here I would aske Maister schismaticks commenlye and not Protestantes Fascic tempor a booke made by one Munke of their owne sect reherses xxiii schismes betwyr Popes and their partakers whan they fynde the thirde part of to manye amonge the Protestantes than they may haue some face of apparens to cal vs schismatikes At the counseil of Constance were iii. Popes in iii. diuerse Countryes Italy Fraunce and Spayne all claymynge to be chiefe and some Countryes folowed one some another but all were deposed and a iiii chosen litle more thâ— a C. l. yeare sins It were to longe to rehearse al the schismes spoken of who so lust there maye reade This schisme that I named last and the other whan there was one Pope at Rome and another at Auinion in Fraunce rl yeares together are the notablest and troubled the worlde most in striuing who should haue the most folowers and partakers the other I passe ouer for shortnes sake vnto these be considered better of them how they maye defend them selues that they be not proued schismatikes if that be schismaticall seruice whan one differs from another than be all orders of Freers Munkes Chanons Nunnes yorks vse Sarum Bangor c. schismatical for they differ euery one froÌ„ other Now for pullinge downe Altars and ministring the Communion on tables a fewe woordes to trie whether we doe this without reason or example First our sauiour Christ ministred it sittinge at a table Than it is not wicked but but best to folow his doinges for he did all thinges well Saint Luk. sais that the hand of the traitour was with him at the table Saint Paul for the vse of it in his time sais ye can not be partakers of the Lordes table and the table of Deuils where it appeares plain that both Idolaters at their Sacrifices and the Christyans also in their holye mysteries vsed tables Theodor. writes that after Ambrose had excommunicated Themperour Theodosius and receyued him againe to the Churche the Emperour â—ynge flat on the grounde wepinge and tearinge the heare of hys head for sorowe and shame of his offenses he rose vppe and offred at such time sais he as the giftes were offered at the holy table Sozo writes lib. viii ca. vii howe Eutropius fled to the Churche as a Sanctuary for succour because he had offended Themperoure and whan Ihon Byshoppe of Constantinople see him lye afore the holye Communion table he preached vnto him and rebuked him of his pryde whan he was in autoritye The Canon of the great Nicene counsel sais thus In the godly table wee muste not lowlye cleaue to the bread and cuppe set afore vs but lifting vppe oure minde on height by faith we must consider the lambe of God to be set afore vs in that holy table Wherein I note that they all call it a table and not an altar where they ministred the communion This was iiii C. yeare after Christ aboue a thousaunde yeare sins why than Alters were not contynued from the beginninge as they saye and we are not the first that vsed tables but we would gladly restore these olde cusstomes againe If Ambrose lawfullye and well vsed tables at the Communion at Millan and the Byshop at Constantinople in Grece and elles where I see no reason why wee shoulde be rebuked for folowinge them except they can proue that they did it against the Scripture I knowe that the Scripture and olde writers also make mention of altares but that is because Moises in the lawe commaunded theym to offer their sacryfices vppon Aultars because the sacrifices than commenlye vsed were heauye as Oxen calues sheepe c. and tables were not able to stand and beare suche weyghtes contynuallye These sacrifices were a figure and shadowe of that onlye pure sacrifice whiche Christe shoulde offer on the crosse for vs all for as those innocent beasts were killed for other mennes fautes so Christ without sinne shoulde die for the sinnes of the worlde For this cause the crosse wheron Christ our lorde died is called an altar also because the sacrifice for the sins of the whole worlde