say they Ambrose expresly declareth that Secular Lords have power at their pleasure to take away the Lands of the Church and so consequently they have power to take away Temporal goods from Ecclesiastical Ministers as Tythes c. 10 Augustine St. Augustine in 33. quest 7. si de rebus he saith that Secular Lords may lawfully take away temporal goods from Hereticks and for so much as it is a Case greatly poseable that many of the Clergy are users of Simony and thereby Hereticks Therefore Secular Lords may lawfully take away their Temporalities from them The word of the Lord to all wicked men is That the Kingdom of God shall be taken from them and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof By Kingdom of God in this Text Mat. 21.43 is meant the priveledges of the visible Church which shall be taken from wicked men Robert Grosthead And here it were fit to consider of Robert Grosttheads the Bishop of Lincoln who dyed in the year 1253. his definition of Heresie viz. That Heresie is a Sentence taken and chosen of mans own brain contrary to holy Scripture openly maintained and stifly defended Now consider whether none of our Prelates do maintan no Canons nor Ceremonies nor Opinions contrary to holy Scripture nor contrary to the 19 20 nor 21. Articles of the Church of England and so stand guilty of Heresie by this definition of Heresie of Robert Grosthead If any object that it is a desiring of other mens goods St. Austine answers That by the same rule the seven Nations that did abuse the Land of promise and were cast out by the power of God they might have objected the same to the Children of Israel We saith Augustine do not desire other mens goods for they are ours by the Commandment of him by whom all things were made by like evidence the Clergy having offended their temporal goods are made the goods of others that is lawfully possessed saith he in the 14. quest 4. which is justly possessed and that is justly possessed which is well possessed ergo all that is evilly possessed is another mans and he doth ill possess it which doth evil use it and for the evil using of it it hath been proved in the Epistle that Prelates are unfaithful Stewards and have converted to their own uses for Coaches and Horses and Riotous living that which belongs to the poor besides no Clergyman hath any right to Temporalities by any Institution of Christ and therefore both evilly possessed and evilly used by them If then saith he the Clergy do abuse the temporal goods as it hath been proved they do the temporal Lords may at their pleasure according to the rule of Charity take the temporal goods from the Clergy for they do not justly possess them for besides the right that temporal Lords have to temporal lands as belonging formerly to their Predecessors and the conditions not performed nor which they were given which was to the Church and to the Poor Temporal Magistrates are Gods Ministers and Revengers to execute wrath upon them that do evil attending continually upon this very thing Rom. 13.4.6 which if they neglect they make themselves guilty of the Prelates sins for the University quotes Gregory writing to the French King That he which may correct any sin and neglect the same without doubt he maketh himself partaker of the sin and offence And John Wickliffe saith in the thirteenth Article That it is not only lawful for Lords Temporal to take away goods of fortune from Churchmen sinning usually But also they are bound so to do under pain of Eternal Damnation 11 Gregory St. Gregory in his 7th book chap. 9. writing to the French Queen saith Forasmuch as wicked Priests are the cause of the ruine of the people for who shall make intercession for the sins of the People if the Priests that should do it have committed greater offences themselves which in your Dominion live wickedly therefore that the offences of a few bring not destruction upon many we ought to seek a remedy And a little after to the King he said Yet once again we move you to command a Synod and cause all the carnal vices of Priests and Wickedness and Simony of Bishops to be removed and that you do not suffer them to possess any more substance than Gods commandment doth allow and that is neither Temporalities nor Tyths that the Gospel commandments doth allow Mat. 10.9 10. for when Christ sent his Disciples to preach he commanded they should provide neither Gold nor Silver nor Brass in their Purses nor Script for their Journey neither two Coats nor Shooes nor staves for the Workman is worthy of his meat But how contrary to this Command of Christ are our Bishops and Prelates in these dayes and yet in words they pretend to succeed the Apostles in place and power But the Apostles had not hundreds nor thousands of Gold and silver by the year they had not Shoos for their Journey but ours have Shoos and Boots and Coaches and Horses and multitudes of Attendants Is this to obey the Commandment of Christ and to imitate Christ and his Apostles Foxes have holes Mat. 8.20 and the Birds of the Aire have nests but the Son of Man which was also the Son of God hath not whereon to lay his head But our Prelates have their stately Palaces and great Houses Our Saviour saith Mat. 12. He that is not with me is against me and that the Tree is known by hâ—s fruit and in Mat. 7.15 16. Christ bids us to beware of False Prophets and teacheth us how we shall know them he saith they come in sheeps cloathing they pretend to be sheep but inwardly they are Ravening Wolves ye shall know them by their fruits I name no man but leave the people of God to judge by the fruits by the fruits of mens lives to judge who they are and one mark to know them by will be There is no man will be so angry at what I write as they for by their fruits you may know them for every one that doth evil hateth the light he is loath to be brought to tryal by the light of Gods word lest his deeds should be reproved or discovered John 3.20 12 John Wickliffe But if upon tryal it be found that Clergy men walk so contrary to the Rules and Commandments of Christ which they ought to obey and to imitate Christ and his Apostles in their preaching and living then as John VVickliffe saith may Kings and Lords Temporal both lawfully and meritoriously take away their Temporalities from them which they abuse with such excess of riot the Law of nature doth licence all such as have the government of Kingdoms to correct the abuses of the Temporalities which would be the chief of the ruine and destruction of their Kingdoms Whether the Temporal Lords or any other had endowed the Church with those Temporalities or not it is lawful for them to take away
any note or spot of suspition noised of him but in his Answering Reading Preaching and Determining he behaved himself laudably and as a stout and valiant Champion of the Faith vanquishing by the force of the Scriptures all such who by their wilful beggery blasphemed and slandered Christs Religion neither was this said Doctor Convict of any Heresie God forbid that our Prelates should have condemned a man of such honesty for a Heretick who amongst all the rest of the Vniversity had written in Logick Philosophy Divinity Morality and the Speculative Art without Peer the knowledge of which all and singular things we do desire to testify and deliver forth to the intent that the Fame and Renown of this said Doctor may be the more evident and had in reputation amongst them unto whose hands these present Letters testimonial shall come Here is to be seen that this Vniversity of Oxford did also maintain the truth of Doctor John Wickliffe's Articles That Kings Princes and Lords Temporal may lawfully take away Temporalities and Tythes from the Clergy In witness whereof we have caused our Letters Testimonial to be Sealed with our common Seal Dated at Oxford in our Congregation-House the 5th day of October in the Year 1406. Edmond King of England King Edmond of England about the Year 940. made a Law that every man should pay Tythes for Churches Fees and Almes Fees Thus here you see that Tythes were then given as well for the relief of the Poor as the Church He made a Law also that every Bishop should of his own proper charge see that Churches were repaired Bishop of Canterbury About the same time the Bishop of Canterbury in a Letter to the Prelates and Clergy said If it were or could be so that all the Riches of the World were laid before me so that I were Emperour and had all things universally under my subjection all these things would I gladly give and offer my self willingly for the health of Souls And thus he exhorted the Clergy to their duty lest the Lord should say of them The Shepherds fed themselves but did not feed my flock they have raigned but not by me they have made themselves Princes of my flock and I knew it not that is he knew it not so as to approve of their doings But where is there a Prelate now that hath such a zeal for the good of Souls King Edgar King Edgar in an Oration to the Clergy about the year 959. What negligence saith he is in Gods Service I will speak with sorrow they be Riotous in Banquetring in Chambring and Drunkenness And now saith he the Clerks houses are thought to be Stewes of Harlots Thus the Goods of Kings and Alms of Princes is mispent have our Fathers spent their Treasurie for this purpose Have the Kings liberalities in giving Lands and Possessions been for this intent that Clerks Harlots should be deck'd with the same And for riotous feasts Hauks and Hounds and other Toyes to consume it Soldiers cry out the people grudge but ye regard not c. King Hen. 2d Among other antient Laws of England in the reign of King Henry the second this was one That if any Clergy man did hold any Lay Fee in his hands he should therefore do the Kings service that belonged thereunto as upon Juries Assises of Lands and Judgements and that no Lands should be given to the Church nor to any House of Religion without the Kings License And that the Peter-pence which was used to be gathered for the Pope should be paied to the King and that all the Possessions Goods and Chattels of such as favoured the Pope or Thomas a Becket to be Seized and Confiscate to the King And that all such of the Clergy as were absent from their Charge out of the Realm and had Rents and Profits in the Land and did not repair home in three months their Rents and Goods to return to the King c. If it were lawful for the King then in the time of Popery to seize upon the Rents Profits and Possessions of the Pope Cardinal and others it is much more lawful now for our King and Nobles to cize upon such Goodss aâ—d Possessions as were given by Papists in the time of Popery and are now wrongfully possessed and abusively used by others King Edward 3. In a Parliament holden the twentieth year of the raign of King Edward the third It was propounded that all Alien Monks should depart England whose Livings the King took into his hands It was also concluded by the Parliament That the Livings of all others Strangers and Cardinals during their lives the profits should be brought into the Kings hand The Commons also denyed to pay any payments to Cardinals in France c. besides the King took order by two of his Clergy viz. John Stocks and John Norton to take into their hands all the Temporalities of all the Deanaries Prebends Dignities and Benefices being then vacant in England and to answer the profits thereof unto the King King William Rufus King William Rufus took certain Lands and Possessions from Canterbury and disposed of them to secular uses King Henry 4. In the eighth year of the raign of King Henry the fourth it was petitioned to the Parliament That the King might enjoy halfe the profits of every Parsons Benefice who was not resident thereon But in the eleventh year of his raign the Commons put up a Bill unto the King to take the Temporal Lands from the Clegie mens hands or Possessions in which Bill it was declared that the Temporalities disorderly wasted by men of the Clergy might suffice to find to the King with maintenance 15. Earles 1500. Knights 6200. Esquires and 100. Almes houses To every Earl 3000. Mark a year to every Knight 100. Mark and four plough lands and to every Esquire 40 Mark a year and two plough lands and to every Almes house 100. Mark a year which lands is now no doubt worth double if not treble to what they were then For I have credibly informed by a Yorkshire Esquire That when his Majestie was restored to the Crown one Bishoprick that is the Bishoprick of Durham If it had been set upon the rack rent it was worth above fifty thousand pounds a year This story above you may read in Mr Fox his Acts and monuments of the Church in the story of King Hen. 4. King Henry 8. It is there also to be seen in the History of King Hen. 8. That the King did injoyn every Vicar Clerk or Benefic'd man that had one hundred pounds a year that he should find a Scholar at the University and he that had two hundred pounds a year should find two Scholars at the University Also in his raign it was complained of by the Commons against the Prelates and Clergie for their cruel proceeding Ex Officio And for the remedy it was enacted That whosoever did or speak any thing against either their usurped power or their Laws
for one nights lodging but this hospitality did not long continue through the subtilty of one Monk who took upon him to play the Devils part ratling in chains and making a fearful noise where the strangers lay to fright them by reason whereof no traveller durst there abide At length as God would have it one of the Earls of the house of Montfort a Benefactor to the same Abbey was there lodged in the Night the Monk did counterfeit to play the Devils part as before thundring bouncing on boards and ratling chains but after after a while the Earl took heart and running for his sword laid about him and followed the noise so that the Monk that transformed himself into a Devil in jest was slain in good earnest Clement John Segovius in the Council of Basil declared that it was the saying of Clement That he that liveth rebelliously neglecting to do good he is rather a member of the Devil than of Christ and rather an Infidel than a true believer which saying he applyed against Pope Eugenius Now let all wise and impartial men judge whether the Prelates do not live in open Rebellion against Christ himself and against Christ in his members for they neither obey the words of Christ who forbids Church Officers Lordship and Dominion saying to his Apostles It shall not be so among you Mat. 22.25 26. Neither will they suffer the Servants of Christ to worship him according to his own holy Institutions but as far as in them lieth by Censures and Excommunications by imprisonment and banishment c. John Segovius they would compell men to worship God in Ceremonial wayes of their own devising setting their Thresholds by Gods Threshold and their Posts by Gods Posts and so defile the service of God as in Ezek. 43.7 8. in equalling their own Canons and Institutions with the Canons and Institutions of the Scriptures or rather above them so that by Clement and John Segovius Testimony they by so doing are rather members of the Devil than of Christ and rather Infidels than true Beleevers and if not Beleevers then no members of the Church and so have no interest in the Temporalities and Tythes that was given to the Church and for the relief of the Poor Cardinal Aralatenses Isidor in the book of the Councels declareth that in an Epistle of Clement the successor of St. Peter that he applyed the saying of Peter unto himself which was this If thou be occupyed in worldly cares thou shalt both deceive thy self and those that hear thee for so thou canst not distribute those things which pertain unto Salvation and it is to be feared that our Prelates minde the things of this world more than the things of God For Cardinal Aralatenses said in the Councel of Bassil at this time saith he the more is the pity it is hard to find a Prelate in the world which doth not prefer his Temporalities before his Spiritualities with the love of which they are so drawn that they study more to please Princes than to please God and confess God in corners but Princes openly and upon this account it was that John Wickliffe and John Huss said that Kings and Princes and Lords Temporal are bound under the pain of Damnation to take away the Temporalities from the Prelates to free themselves from the guilt of Prelates sins that they fall not in the same condition with them For it is most manifest that Prelates act against the light of their own Censciences as Stephen Gardiner the Bishop of Winchester upon his death bed the Bishop of Chichester came to him and began to comfort him with the promises of free Institution in the blood of Christ which the Bishop of Winchester hearing said What my Lord will you open that gap now then farewel altogether to me and to such other in my case you may speak of it but if you open that window unto the People then farewel altogether Thus it serves to maintain their dignities by keeping the People in a blind Ceremonial way of Superstitious worship they had rather all the People should be damned in Ignorance than to make the Truth of the Gospel known unto them The Bishop of Burden and John Segonius both in the Councel Bassil said That the Popes greatest tirle is to be Servant to Gods Servant and so of all other Prelates and not to be Lords over Gods heritage 2 Pet. 5 3. It shall not be so amongst you Matth. 20.26 for Christ came not to be ministred unto but to minister and so the Servant is not above his Lord it is enough that the Servant be as his Lord and that is to have no Temporalities unless they will declaim Christs service for as Bernard said to Pope Eugenius they cannot have both Matth. 10.25 Bernard to Eugenius St. Bernard declared in his second Book to Pope Eugenius that he could not challenge any secular Dominion by right of Succession to Peter but be it so that you challenge it by some other way or means by right of your Title Apostolical you cannot challenge it neither can Prelates as pretending to be the Apostles Successors for how saith he could Peter give that to you which he had not himself Silver and Gold saith he have I none but such as I have I give thee that which he had saith Bernard was care over the Church but he did not give you Lordship and Rule over Gods Heritage but behaving your self as example to the Flock and that these words were spoken not only in humility but in verity mark what Christ saith The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Dominion but it shall not be so among you here Lordship and Dominion is forbidden to the Apostles and darest thou usurpe the same If thou wilt be a Lord thou shalt lose thy Apostleship or if thou wilt be an Apostle thou shalt lose thy Lordship for truly thou shalt depart one of them if thou wilt have both then think thy self to be one of those that God complains of They hav reigned but not by me they are become Princes and I know it not Hos 8.4 Lordship and Rule is forbidden Ministration and Service is commanded Chrysostom Chrysostom in Opere Imperfecto saith that a true Preacher ought not to swerve from the word of God to the right hand or to the left for they that do either add or diminish do endeavour to be wiser than Christ as if Christ had not in his word laid down sufficient rules both for the matter and the manner of his own worship how he will be worshiped Christ saith his sheep hear his voice and a Stranger they will not follow but flee from him for they know not the voice of a Stranger John 10.4 5. Now our Prelates do not keep close to the word of God as Chysostom saith but teach us to worship God by Ceremonies of Surplices Crossings Crouching and kneeling sometimes and by standing up other whiles and the like which is not the voice
Apostles which yet I would deny him yet it followeth not saith he that with this primacy he had also a Kingdom given him and though the Lord bid him confirm his Brethren yet was he not bid to exercise an Empire over his Brethren for so they should not be his Brethren but his Subjects Richard Feurus Richard Feurus a Martyr about the year 1554. in the Province of Dolphine in his disputing against his Adversaries he affirmed That the word of God ought to be our Rule and that nothing is left to Doctors or Councils to be devised without the word of God and that all things necessary either for government of the Church off or the Salvation of man are expressed and prescribed in the word of God for Paul saith That he durst not utter any thing but what the Lord had wrought in him and shewed unto him Rom. 15.18 John willeth us to receive no man unless he bring the same Doctrine that we have received from Christ and his Apostles Let him be accursed Christs Sheep hear his voice and know his voice but they know not the voice of a Stranger and all manner of worship and service that is not prescribed in the word of God is the voice of Strangers Hence it will follow that such Strangers that both command and practice such Ceremonial service of God as is not prescribed in the Word of God in the New Testament Kings and Princes c. may lawfully take away their Temporalities and Tythes and dispose of them to better uses as hath been said above Richard Lovingham in the reign of King Hen. 4. gathered out of a Book of John Purvey that the Temporalities of the Clergie in England at that time in the hands of such as did no duty for it belonging their office to do besides other Temporalities he said That the King Lords and Commons might without any other Charge but these Temporalities maintain fifteen Garrisons with fifteen thousand Souldiers having sufficient Lands and Revenues to live upon and also maintain fifteen thousand Priests and Clerks and fifteen Colledges more and an hundred Hospitals and every house an hundred Marks a year and bring in besides above twenty thousand Pounds a year into the Kings Coffers He said also that the Kings and Lords ought to banish the Pope and his Factors out of their Lands and all Bishops and their Factors that say it appertaineth not to Kings and secular Lords but to them and their Officials to punish Adultery and Fornication they do fall into manifest Treason against the King and Heresie against the Scripture and that it doth appertain to the King to have the ordering of Priests and Bishops as Solomon and Jehosaphat and others had saith Mr. Fox Acts and Monuments pag 502. Now if the temporalities at that time would have done so much in England what will the temporalities and tythes of three Kingdoms do now that Lands are at so high a rate to what they then were Augustin Huldrick Bishop of Ausburg in an Epistle to Pope Nicholas the first about the year 867 said that good correction proceeding from the lesser to the greater is not to be refused nor disdained when he that is corrected is found to strive against the truth to please men and he mentions Augustin writing to Boniface that the disputations of all men be they never so Catholick or approved persons yet ought not to be received instead of Canonical Scripture Gregory so that we may saith he disprove or refuse any thing that is in their writings contrary to truth to which he adds a saying of St. Gregory What shall become of the Sheep when the Pastors themselves become Wolves Panarmetanus Mr. Rogers in his Answer to the Bishop of Winchester said that all the Laws of men might not nor could not rule the word of God but that all things should be discussed and judged thereby and obedience given thereunto and that no Christian mans Conscience could be satisfied without Laws that agree not with Gods word and he quotes Panarmetanus which said That unto a simple lay man that brings the word of God with him there ought more credit to be given than to a whole Council and to what they concluded without or beside the word of God Walter Mill. Walter Mill a Martyr in Scotland said that these which we call Bishops do not the work of Bishops nor the Office of Bishops as Paul biddeth Timothy but live after their own sensuality and pleasure and take no care of the Flock nor yet regard the word of God to do thereafter but desire to be called Lords c. And Luther saith that neither Pope nor Prelate can make Articles of Faith nor Laws of good works and manners and that we may withstand their doings and Judg upon their Decrees by the word of God though their Decrees be approved by a General Council Doctor Molius Doctor Johannes Molius sometime a gray Fryer disputed three days together at Rome against Bishops and Cardinals by Pope Paul the third his appointment of Original Sin of Justification by Faith and of Free-will and Purgatory and they all not being able to refell his Arguments at last they answered him That what he affirmed was truth nevertheless it was not meet for that present time for that it could not be taught nor published without detriment to the Apostolick See wherefore he should refrain from preaching the Epistles of St. Paul and return to Bononie and there profess Philosophy By this it appears That Popes and Prelates Act against their Conscience and will not suffer the truth to take place least they should lose their honor and wealth for here they confess that what Doctor Molius said was truth but they might not suffer it at that time no nor never since to be taught their reason was it would be detriment to the Apostolick See but what detriment the truth received and the soul of men by hiding the truth from them these Prelates cared not for they silenced him from preaching the truth to profess Philosophy And thus Prelates in this age Silence Ministrs from preaching the truth lest they should come to dishonour thereby and lose their sweet Morsells for if all Christian Kings Princes and Nobles were rightly informed in the truths of the Gospel and of the unlawfulness of Popes Bishops and Prelates of their standing in the Church with their titles dignities and jurisdictions which Papists themselves have confessed is but from men and not from God why then should Kings and Princes by suffering them in such ways become guilty of their Sins but rather rouse up themselves and take from them that which is not theirs but by usurpation that is the temporalities and tithes which they unjustly possess as is shewed above Neither need they fear the Popes nor Bishops Excommunications for they have no more Authority from God to Excommunicate for such things than the poorest Shepherd or Swineherd hath that keeps Sheep or Swine upon
That neither TEMPORALLITIEâ— Nor TYTHES Is due to the Bishops Prelates nor Clergy by a Gospel Rule AND That Kings Princes and Lords Temporal may jâ—â—â—ly take the Temporallities and Tythes from them and dispose of theâ— the defence and benefit of the Kingdom and the relief of the Poor Pâ—OVED By the Laws and practice of twenty Kings of Judah England and France as also by the testimonies of the Universities of Oxford and Prague fifty four oâ—… Nobles of Bohemia and Morania two hundred and fifty years agone and alâ—… one hundred and twenty Authors beside Together with some directions how Gospel Ministers ought to have maintenance according to the Gospel rule and institutions of Iesus Christ By E. K. Thou O King art a King of Kings for the God of Heaven hath given thee a Kinâ— of Power and Strength and glory and wheresoever the Children of Men dwell the 〈◊〉 the Field and the Fowls of the Heaven hath he given into thine hand and hath maâ—… ruler over them all Dan. 2.37 38. And of the Children of Issachar which were Men that had understanding of the timâ— know what Israel ought to do the heads of them were two hundred and all their breâ—… were at their comand 1 Chron. 12.32 Arise therefore and be doing and the Lord be with thee and David commanded aâ—… Princes to help the King 1. Chron. 22.16 17. Arise for this matter belongeth unto thee we also will be with thee be of good câ—… and do it Ezra 10.4 Printed in the Year 1672. 〈…〉 mentioned in this book with their practices and examples as followeth â—…olomon â—…osiash Hezekiah Ahaz Edmond Edgar â—…nry 2. â—…ward 3. â—…lliam â—…nry 4. â—…chard 2. â—…nry 8. â—…lus Magnus â—…arles 6. â—…lip â—…mp Lodovicu â—…chadnezzar â—…ation â—…nius â—…0 Kings â—…estimony of thâ—â—…versities of Oxâ—… and Prague â—…estimony of 54 â—…he Nobles of â—…mia Moravia â—…stin 1 â—…alamus 2 â—…rose 3 â—…m 4 â—…ard 5 â—…bius 6 â—…re 7 â—…ughton 8 â—…osthead 9 〈◊〉 Gregory 10 â—…pplication to K. â—…ry 8. 11 〈◊〉 Prophesie of â—…degard 12 〈◊〉 Leo 13 〈◊〉 Canterbury 14 〈◊〉 Fox 15 Sr. Wil. Negarâ—to 16 Lord Peter de Cugmeriis 17 Prosper 18 Latemir 19 Eneus Silvius 20 Julian Palmer 21 The Protestant Church at Paris 22 Anne du Burg. 23 Loys du Faur 24 Origin 25 Mr. Frith 26 Paulinus 27 James his Deacon 28 Ammonius 29 B. Adaccus 30 Mr. Elmer 31 Erasmus 32 Jasper Bruschio 33 Clemant 34 Jo. Segovius 35 Card. Aralatenses 36 B. of Burgen 37 Chrysostom 38 Polecronecon 39 Patriark of Alexandria 40 Austin Monk 41 Cutbard B. of Canterbury 42 Petrus Blesenses 43 Angelo Caraw 44 Rich. B. of Cant. 45 Simon Fish 46 Pope Innocent 47 The testimony of 21 Bish 8 arch Deac 17. Doc. of Cannon and civil Law 48 Richard Armacanus 49 Cyprean 50 John Hus. 51 Mr. Tindal 52 Henry Stubbridg 53 Wil. Prynne 54 Godfr Goodman 55 Jo. Salsbury 56 Ex. Catal. Illyr 57 Alixander Sabritius 58 The counterfeit of Lucefers Letter to the Prelate 59 Lord Cobham 60 Wil. Ocham 61 Armulphus 62 Hostenensis 63 Rich. Wimbleton 64 Wil. Swinderby 65 Anselm 66 A Cannon of Africk 67 Suetonius 68 Melancton 69 Ste. Gardner 70 Rich. Feverus 71 Rich. Lovingham 72 Huldrick 73 Mr. Rogers 74 Panormetanus 75 Walter Mill 76 Doc. Molius 77 Jo. Câ—â—ydon 78 Rich. Turming 79 Selestudiensis 80 Ilyrico 81 Reynold Pecock Bish 82 Io. Brothwick 83 The Tigurins at Zurick 84 Cornelius Bish of Rome 85 St. Lawrence 86 Wil. Thorpe 87 Walter Brute 88 Mersilius 89 Nichol Herford 90 Phil. Ripingdon 91 Iohn Ashton 92 Pope Alexander and 310 Bishops 93 Doctor Hall 94 Georg. Cassander 95 Iohn VVicklife 96 The Image of Abish 97 Roderick Moâ—ch 98 Martin Bucer 99 Iohn Hooper 100 Th. VValsingam 101 A nameless Aut. 102 Clement next succâ—ssor of St. Peter 103 Mr. Mead 104 Volusianus 105 Dr. whitchcote 106 The 20 and 21 Articles of Church of England 107 Norfolk and Suffolk mens supplications 108 Bish Nilus 109 Iohn Gerson 110 Bartil 111 Henenius Modesteinus 112 Mr. Hooker 113 Dr. Downam 114 Bilson 115 Saravia 116 Holinshead 117 Arch Bishop of St. Andrews 118 Bish of Duncel 119 Bish of Orkneys 120 Mr. Perkins 121 The Epistle Dedicatory TO THE KINGS Most excellent MAJESTY May it please your Majesty Auguâ— ST Augustin in an Epistle to Cassulamus saith that he which for fear of any power hideth the truth which 〈◊〉 learned Chrysostom provoketh the Wrath of God to come 〈…〉 â—nd Chrysostom saith he is not only a Traytor to the◠〈…〉 openly for truth teacheth a lye but he also which doth 〈…〉 shew forth that truth which he knoweth the considerat◠〈◊〉 these sentences so prevailed with me that I durst not be such a Traytor neither to God nor to your Majesty as to conceal what I have learned which as I conceive may tend to the glory of God in the exaltation of the truth of the Gospel of Christ and to the honour of your Majâ—sty and the benefit of your Majesties Kingdom both in Church and Common-wealth whereby your Majesty may be supplyed with Money for the necessary charges of the Kingdom and the relief of the Poor and easing your Subjects something in their Taxations by turning the stream into the right Channel by taking the temporallities from the Prelates c. into your Majesties hands again they being your own Right belonging formerly to your Predecessors and the conditions now failing for which they were given as will appear hereafter in this discourse God willing But perhaps it will be objected that it is sacriledge to take the temporallities c. from the Church I answer if it be granted to be sacralidge to take from the Church yet I hope upon tryal it will appear that the Prelates are not the Church and that the Prelates are sacralidg ous persons in detaining and converting the temporallities to their own private uses which was given to the Church and the Poor and other pious uses the Prelates being only Stewards thereof or Overseers for the use of the Church and the Poor but have proved unfaithful Stewards Now that the Prelates are not the Church will thus appear when the Church of Anteoch sent Paul and Barnabas c. as their Messengers to the Councel at Jerusalem the Text saith Acts 15.4 When they came to Jerusalem * The â—urch â—ot the â—elates â—t the â—ngreâ—â—ons of â—ievers they were received of the Church that is of the Church of believers and of the Apostles and Elders hence we see that the Apostles and Elders are not called the Church they were but particular Chuâ—ch members with other believ rs and according to thâ—s the nineteenth Article of the Chuâ—ch of England describes a visible Church of Christ to be a congregation of faithful m n c. also Paul admonished the Elders of Ephesus to feed the Church of God that is the believing Christians Act. 20.28 â—ug stin St. Augustin saith of himself and all other
the whole Foundation hangeth on the Prelates and Clergies beards for divers of your Predecessors and Nobles have given Lands to have a certain sum of Money given yearly to the poor whereof for the antiquity of the time the conditions are forgotten so that they give not one penny they likewise gave them to have certain Masses said for them daily whereof they say never a one If the Abbots of Westminster should sing every day as many Masses as they are bound to do by the Founders a thousand Monks were too few Wherefore if your Grace will build a sure Hospital never to fail to relieve your poor Beads-men then take from them all these things this with much more to this purpose was in that Supplication Pope Innocent Pope Innocent 4th required that all Beneficed men in England which were resident should pay to the Pope a third part of their goods or Profits and Non-residents the one half for three years together And it is most certain that our King and Nobles within his Majesties Dominions have a thousand times more right to receive these profits than either Pope or Prelate for Popes and Prelates are Usurpers their Predecessors having possessed themselves thereof by deceitful Delusion therefore our King and Nobles may justly require their own Temporalities again which their Predecessors were so deluded of the Prelates having been such unfaithful Stewards it is but just that the King Princes and Lords do require them to give account of their Stewardship that they may be no longer Stewards The testimony of 21 Bishops 8 Arch-deacons and 17 Doctors In the Year 1537. or thereabout Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury and Edmond Bishop of York and to the number of one and twenty Bishops and eight Arch-deacons and seventeen Doctors of Divinity and of the Common and Civil Law they did all assert and sign with their hands to King Hen. the 8th the which was ratified by the Statute of the 32. of Hen. 8. That there is not in the New Testament any mention made of the Calling Jurisdiction Lordliness or secular employment of Lord Bishops But the New Testament speaks only of Deacons and of Ministers alias Priests or Bishops and of these two only that is Priests or Ministers and Deacons the Scripture makes express mention And that Christ did never institute any distinction or difference or preheminence of power order or Jurisdiction among the Apostles themselves but that they were all equal in power authority and jurisdiction and that there hath been any difference since it is by the invention of men and not by the institution of Jesus Christ and therefore no Bishop by the Law of God may take upon him any Jurisdiction in secular Courts for God did constitute Kings to defend the Faith of Christ and true Religion and to cause Bishops or Ministers to execute their Pastoral office truly and faithfully or for neglect thereof to put others in their room and place and not to suffer the Clergy to meddle in secular affairs for the Kingdom of Christ is a spiritual and not a carnal Kingdom as Christ said No man can serve two masters so I say No man can faithfully discharge his Ministerial office in Christs Kingdom which is his Church if he be entangled in secular affairs in the worldly Kingdom You cannot serve God and Mammon Mat. 6.27 Mr Elmer Mr. Elmer in his Harborow for faithful Subjects Printed at Strasburg writes thus on the 12 of Luke Who made me a Judge c. As if Christ should say It belongs not to my office to determine in matters of policy but to the Civil Magistrate And if it did not belong to Christ how dare Prelates take it upon them to do it for if it had been within the compass of Christs Function he could not in conscience have refused it to set them at one which were at strife if he might do it and would not he lacked Charity and did not his duty which were blasphemy to say of Christ and if it belonged not to him neither did it belong to his Apostles nor their successors Had he not as large a Commission as he gave His Kingdome is not of this world therefore Bishops by his example cannot give themselves so large a scope in temporal matters therefore by their fruits you may know them whether they have their Commission from Christ or I had like to have said from Antichrist for saith he if these two offices Ecclesiastical and Civil be jumbled together in one Function there can be no quiet nor well-ordered Commonwealth Richard Armacanus Richard Armacanus about the year 1350. in de questionibus Armenorum book 11. chap. 1. saith that neither the Dominion nor Ministry of temporal things belongeth to Ecclesiastical Dignity but rather diminisheth it for Christ prohibited the Apostles of temporal Dominion saying It shall not be so among you And again Possess neither gold nor silver nor brass in your purses nor scrip for your journey nor two coats neither shooes nor staves Math. 10.9 10. If thou wilt be perfect go sell all that thou hast and give to the poor He saith in chap. 2. that the states and degree of Patriarch Primate Archbishop Bishop c. were invented by men and not instituted by Christ nor his Apostles and that no Prelate of the Church how great soever hath any greater degree of the power of order than a simple Priest But how do Prelates observe Christs rule who commanded that they should possess neither gold nor silver and as if they would strive to do as contrary as they can devise they possess thousands of gold and silver coaches and horses and what not Is it not high time therefore for Kings and Nobles to take these temporalities from them which they thus abuse as if they would set Christ at defiance and bid him command what he will they will do what they will do not their actions tend to this end the good Lord direct the King Princes and Lords c. that by connivance they partake not with the Prelates in these sins lest they which God forbid should partake with them in their punishments Cyprian Cyprian in his fourth Book Epist 4. saith Our Lord Christ observed the will of his Father but we speaking of Prelates observe not the will of the Lord as appears above having all our minds set upon Lucre and Possessions given to pride full of Emulation and Dissention void of Simplicity and faithful dealing renouncing the world only in word but nothing in Deed every one pleasing himself and displeasing all others John Huss John Huss in the Council of Constance did affirm that the Clergie ought to have no temporal possessions and that Temporal Lords may justly without any offence take them away from the Clergy and that Kings and Nobles ought to compel the Clergy to observe and keep the Law and Rules of Christ He also saith that Tythes and Oblations given to the Church are publick and common Alms and that the Clergy
default and negligence all Souls go to Hell and the Preacher added that he was inforced by the Command of God to declare the same yea and a certain token was given him for a sign whereby the Synode might evidently see that he did not lye Ex Catall Illyr fol. 546. Alexander Fabricius Alexander Fabricius a Popish English Writer about the year 1420. in his Destructorium Vitiorum part 6. cap. 79. saith Who are more horribly inthralled to the Devils servitude than those who are constituted in the sublimity of Honour Ecclesiastical men who ought to be the light of the world yet where is more abundant darkness of vices Where more abundant gaping after earthly things than in modern Prelaetâ— who are fatted in both powers as well Temporal or Spiritual Where is greater Pomp in all appendicles yea and that so much that having left the poverty of the Primitive Church they are now rather to be termed Princes of Provinces than Postors of Souls thus he and much more to this purpose Lucifers Letter to the Prelates Mr. Fox in Acts and Monuments makes mention of a Device or Letter fained under the name of Lucifer Prince of Darkness written to the persecuting Prelates of England which Mr. Fox transcribed out of the Regester of the Bishop of Hereford written as some think by William Swinderby I will only mention some few expressions to our purpose Lucifer Prince of Darkness c. To all our Children of Pride and Companions of our Kingdom and especially to our Princes of the Church of this later age and time c. send greeting to all that obey our Commandments and the Laws of Satan already enacted Know ye that in time past certain Vicegerents of Christ following his steps c. in a beggerly life converted in a manner all the world from the yoke of our tyranny to the great derision and contempt of our Prison House and Kingdom but we seeking remedy for time to come instead of those Apostles we have caused you to be their Successors which be Prelates of the Church by our great might and subtilty as Christ said of you they have reigned but not by me once I promised him all the Kingdomes of the world c. but he would not but to you who are fallen from grace co serve us in the earth is that my promise fulfilled therefore fill your selves full and be contrary to those Fathers in your life and conditions and exalt your selves above all other men and neither give to God nor Caesar that which is theirs but exercise you the power of both Swords fight our quarrel entangle your selves in worldly matters and climbe up from the miserable state of Poverty to the highest seat of Honour and Princely places of Dignity by Wiles and Subtilty Flattery Lying and Perjury Treason Deceit and Symony and what our Infernal Furies may devise and after you are advanced thither where you would be then either by Violence Raving or by Ambition subtilly pilfer away and wrongfully wrest and by false Titles possess those goods which should be for the sustentation of the poor members of Christ whom from our first fall we have hated and consume these goods as your selves list with Whores Strumpets and Bauds c. with whom ye ride pompously like mighty Princes far otherwise than those beggerly Priests in the Primitive Church for I would have you to build Palaces fare like Princes to eat the daintiest Ma t s and drink the pleasantest Wines and hoard up Treasure and not be like Peter and Paul who said Silver and Gold have I none Ye fight for us according to your wayes O acceptable Society or Fellowship promised to us when Christ called you the Synagogue of Satan we love you for your deserts which contemn the Laws of Symon Peter and embrace the Laws of Symon Magus Ye regard Money and have no regard to Souls ye have made the House of God a Den of Thieves ye make Laws and keep not the same ye justifie the wicked for reward and take away the just mans desert from him and thus the Sovereignty of our Empire by you hath been reformed and our intollerable loss restored We would also you should do our Commendation to our entirely beloved Daughters Pride Deceit Wrath Avarice Belly-chear and Leachery especially to Lady Symony who hath made you men and given you suck on her own breasts and therefore in no wise shall call her Simon And if any man preach or teach otherwise than you will have him oppress ye him violently with Excommunications and Censures heaped one upon another and let him be condemned as an Heretick or Schismatick and kept in Prison till he die for an example to all such as confess Christ And thus do your endeavour that you may deserve to have the place which we have provided for you Fare ye well Given at the Center of the Earth in that dark place where all the Rabblement of Devils were present Lord Cobham The noble Martyr Sr. John Oldcastle Lord Cobham professed that the Will of God is That Priests being secluded from all worldlyness should conform themselves to the Example of Christ and his Apostles that is in Poverty and teaching the Scriptures purely and giving good example to others more than any other sort of people where saith he to the Prelates do ye find in Gods Law that you should sit in Judgement of any Christian man but in Annas and Caiphas that sate thus of Christ and upon his Apostles afrer his Ascension of whom only have ye taken it to judge Christs members as ye do since the Venome of Judas was shed into the Church and by Venome saith he I mean your Possessions and Lordships for then an Angel cryed in the Aire Wo Wo Wo this day is Venome shed into the Church as your own Churches mention before that time all the Bishops of Rome in a manner were Martyrs c. but since Popes and Bishops one hath cursed and poysoned slain and done much mischief to another Christ was meek and merciful but they are proud and tyrannical Christ was poor but they are rich c. Arnulphus In the second Tome of the general Councels mention is made of a Book called Opus tripartium which Sabellicus and Platina thought to be written by Arnulphus In which Book he complaineth of the great number of Holy dayes in which Whores and naughty women said That they vantage more in one of those dayes than in fifty dayes besides He complained also of the inconsiderate promotion of evil Prelates and the wantonness and laciviousness of their Servants and excess in Aparrel Also of Prelates mispending the Church goods in superfluity and upon their Kinsfolks and other worse wayes c. Hostiensis Hostiensis saith in his third book Idecime That if Priests do not minister of their Spiritualities to the people the people ought to take away the Almes of their Tythes from them and John Huss said That Tythes and Oblations given
assembly of the Tigurines at Zurick affirmed to the Synod of Lucerna that what now doth maintain the Monasteries and houses of Canons was first given to the poor and needy whereas now one hath so much as might serve a great many wherefore it seemed to them not inconvenient that those goods should again be converted to the use of the poor for it is well agreeing to the will and service of God said they that the poor should be succoured but this cannot be expected from any Synod nor Council who possess these goods it must either be done by the King Lords or Commons or it will never be done while the Prelates may be Judges in their own cause In the Council of Basil there was one at the choosing of a new Pope which seems to be Eneas Silvius or Cardinal Aralatensis who said he had often in his judgement consented to their opinion which said it was evident that the temporal Dominion should be divided from the Clergie or Ecclesiastical state for I do think said he that the Priests thereby would be made more apt to the Divine Ministry Cornelius Bish of Rome About the year 255. Cornelius Bishop of Rome and Martyr under the Tyranny of Dicius the Emperour this Cornelius in his Epistle to Fabius alleadged also in Eusebius lib. 6. cap. 43. Cornelius speaking of his Church of Rome how that there ought to be but one Bishop in the same he maketh mention of 46. Priests seven Deacons and seven Sub-deacons and 42. Acoluthes and of Widdows and other poor afflicted persons to the number of fifteen hundred and above found and nourished in the same Church by the merciful providence of God out of the Church goods and almes given to that purpose and yet all that time the Church was not endowed with Temporalities nor Tythes and yet the Bishop being a faithful Steward of such almes and oblations as was offered there was 102. Church Officers and above 15 hundred poor relieved out of the Church goods This is a president sufficient to shew how Church goods was bestowed in the Primitive Church and this plainly proves all Prelates in this later age to be Sacrilegious persons by robbing the poor of their right and converting it to their own use S. Laurence In the eighth persecution of the Primitive church under the Emperour Valerianus when the Tyrant demanded of St. Laurence the Treasure of the Church Laurence stretching out his armes over the poor said these are the pretious treasure of the Church these are the treasure indeed in whom the faith of Christ reigneth in whom Jesus Christ hath his Mansion places and what ye do to the least of these ye do to me said Christ William Thorpe William Thorpe in the reign of Hen. 4. maintained before the Bishop of Canterbury that Cisteriensis saith that Gregory the tenth a thousand years after Christ was the first under the Gospel that ordained and commanded by a Law that Tythes should be given to the Priests but Paul exhorteth all men to follow him as he followed Christ and that was in patience and poverty to preach the Gospel and to labour with his own hands that he might not be chargeable to others and though Christ hath ordeyned that those that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel but we saith Paul that covet to be faithful followers of Christ use not that power he would not make the word of God chargeable and though Tythes were given to the Levites during the Levitical Priesthood yet under the Gospel neither Christ nor his Apostles took Tythes nor commanded the people to pay Tythes but to give almes and other good works of mercy for Christ being come he changed the Priesthood from the tribe of Levi to the Tribe of Judah to which Tribe never Tythes was paid for as there was a change of the Priesthood so there was a change of the Laws and the Law of paying tythes ceased when the Ceremonial service of the Tabernacle and Temple ceased for which service tythes were given so that tythes are not now to be given by any right of the Levitical and there is no new gospel law for paying of Tythes And Sir saith he ye wot well that Priests and Levites who received tythes were not so perfect as Christ and his Apostles who received no tythes but preached the Gospel and lived by pure almes of the people and the Disciple is not above his Lord it is sufficient that the Disciple be as his Lord. To which the Arch-Bishop was not able to answer but broke out into cursing and bid Gods curse and his fall on him for his so teaching And Sir saith he there is a Doctor I think it is St. Hierom that saith St. Hierome those Priests that challenge tythes now under the new law of the Gospel they say in effect that Christ is not become man nor that he hath yet suffered death for mans love he means for love to man nor abolished the Levitical law wherefore this Doctor saith seeing tythes was the hire of the Levites in the old law for bearing about the Tabernacle slaying fleying of Beasts c. for keeping of the Temple and sounding the Trumpets before the Host of the Battle c. which law is now abolished those Priests that now challenge and take tythes deny Christ to be come in the flesh and those that stick to the rights of the Law Paul saith Christ shall profit them nothing Gal. 5.2 and as this Dr. saith they take tythes wrongfully for whatsoever dignity any Priest is in if he do not follow Christ and his Apostles in true preaching in poverty and other heavenly virtues though such be named Priests they are not Priests but only in name for the work of a very Priest in such a one is wanting this sence saith he is approved by Austine Gregorie Chrysostome and Lincolne Thorps Testament There is a writing in the Acts and Mon. of the Church p. 499. which is called Thorps Testament but might better be called his complaint against the vicious Clergie in which he saith that either God the Father hath deceived all mankind by the living and teaching of Jesus Christ and his Apostles in poverty-meekness and humility c. or else Popes Cardinals Archbishops and Bishops with all the contagious flock of Priesthood c. are deceived which live so contrary to Christ and his Apostles increasing damnably in sin in pride and are obstinate Symoniack and so are hereticks defiled adulterers as their works shew for instead of following Christ and his Apostles in poverty and preaching the Prelates and Priesthood challenge and occupie unlawfully temporal Lordship and possessions and for temporal favour and advantage they sell benefices to unworthy and unable persons and sell sins for advantage suffering men and women to live from year to year in scandalous vices and they contemn the meekness and poverty of Christ to take their livelihood of the free will offering of the
peoples pure alms thus by their fruit you may know them whether they be the followers of Christ or of Antichrist wherefore all Emperors Kings Lords Ladies and common people of every degree and state that know these things and will not withstand these enemies and traytors of Christ and of his Church ye strive saith he for Antichrist against our Lord Jesus Christ and shall bear the indignation of God Almighty without end if in time it be not prevented by repentance and amendment Walter Brute Wal. Brute before John B. of Hereford in K. Rich 2d's reign affirmed that under the Gospel tythes are alms he denied not but under the old law tythes were given to the Levites for their service in the Tabernacle and in the Temple but that service of the Levites ceasing at the coming of Christ who put an end to that Ceremonial law how can tyths now be demanded or received for that service which is ceased they may aswell demand the first fruits which was paid in the old law as well as tythes but if they claim tythes by force of the Levitical law then by the same law Prelates and Priests are prohibited to have any temporalities among their brethren no more then the Priests and Levites had then when they received tythes Christ gave no new Commandment of tything any thing when his Apostles said we have left all and followed thee what shall we have Christ did not say that he would give them temporalities and tythes and worldly dominion no that he forbad them it shall not be so among you Mat. 20.25 26. but upon their obedience to his commands he promised to give them an everlasting Kingdom they that will have tythes by virtue of the Levitical law they are bound to keep that law and by the works of the law no man can be justified Hierome Hierom writing to Nepotianus saith how can they be of the Clergie who pretend to be so who are commanded to contemn despise their own substance yet take the substance of others to take away from a friend is theft to deceive the Church take away that which should be given to the poor it is sacriledge so that by this testimony all Bps. Prelates Priests that hold temporalities tythes c. that belongs to the Church to the poor they are sacrilegions Mersiliu Also Mersilius of Padua taught that Bps. Priests should not enjoy temporal estates that the corrupt manners of the people did spring from the wickedness of Prelates Priests by their evil example Nicholas Herford Philip Ripingdon Robert Rigge Nich. Herford Phil. Ripingdon and John Ashton being altogether brought before Wil. Bishop of Cant. in K. Rich. 2d reign did all affirm and say that it is against the holy Scripture for Ecclesiastical persons to have temporal possessions and that temporal Lords may at their pleasure take away temporal goods from Church men offending and that tythes are pure Alms and that Parishioners may for the offence of their Curates detain the same and bestow them on others at their pleasure And Rob. Rigge Vice Chancel of Oxford was displaced for holding of these truths with these men the Popish Prelates did so rage Pope Alexander and 310. Bishops In a Council at Rome in the year 1179. it was decreed by Pope Alex. and 310 Bishops that none of the Clergy within orders should meale with any temporal business and that Priests should have but one benefice and that the Bishops should be charged to maintain such Priests as they did ordain untill they were promoted to some benefice but how these decrees as to the Clergies not medling with temporalities and maintaining such as the Bishops ordain untill they be promoted is manifest to the world for Popes and Bishops will do and undo at their pleasure for temporal profits D. Hall George Cassander Bishop Hall not many years ago in his book pag. 835. saith that George Cassander a learned Papist was set on work by two Emperors viz. Ferdinand and Maximillian to compose the quarrels of the Church and in his 56. p. he saith that the principal cause of the destruction of the Church is to be laid upon those who being puffed up with a vain insolent conceit of their Ecclesiastical power do proudly and scornfully contemn and reject them which rightly and moderately admonish their reformation wherefore my Opinion is saith he that the Church can never hope for any firm peace unless those which are in Ecclesiastical government will be content to remit somthing of their too much rigour and yield somthing for the peace of the Church and correct abuses according to the rule of divine Scripture from which they have swerved and if abuses be corrected according according to the rule then must their temporalities and tythes be taken from them and their Lordly titles and Jurisdictions and they made like other men By what is said above and proved by many Authors of Prelates worldly mindedness and their usurped dominion of temporalities and tythes which they rob and steal from the poor and needy by breaking the conditions for which temporalities and tyths were given and have falsified the trust reposed in them so that now there is no hope that they will yield any thing for truths sake to be reformed according to the Scriptures except Kings and Princes Lords and Commons as Angello Cararo the Venetian Embassador said of the Court of Rome unless they go about it roundly in express terms laying aside all Civility saith he it will be difficult to bring it about they are so setled upon their Lees But their is one text of Scripture which I think doth clear this point of the Lawfulness for Kings and Princes to take again their possessions from Bishops Prelates and Priests which all the forenamed Authors plead for for it doth not only Justifie the King and Princes in taking the temporalities from Prelates c. but it is a precept and law of God that ought to be obeyed and put in execution that the Kings inheritance be not imbezled and given away from succeeding Kings Ez. 46.16 17. Thus saith the Lord God Ezek. 46 16.17 If the Prince give a gift unto any of his sons the Inheritance thereof shall be his sons it shall be their Inheritance by a possession by an inheritance but if he give a gift of his Inheritance to one of his servants then it shall be his to the year of liberty or Jubile which was so named of the long sound of the Trumpet and Joyful shout because servants that were sold was then at liberty and joyful to the poor because their land that was sold or mortgaged was then at liberty and they returned to their possessions The year of Jubile or liberty was every fifty years but many fifty years are expired and still the usurping Prelates hold the temporalities both from the King c. and from the poor who should be relieved out of the profits of those