their soules with God and the resurrection of their bodies to come 4 It is Poperie rather that consisteth of negatiues as it is euident by their manifold oppositions to the doctrines before rehearsed as that the scriptures conteyne not all things necessarie to saluation that the Church can not erre that the scriptures are not fit to be read in the vulgar toong that the Pope is not Antichrist that faith onely iustifieth not that there be not two onely sacraments that Christ onely as one mediator is not to be inuocated These negatiues with a number more the Romane separation maintayneth And where they affirme and set downe any thing positiuely they affirme their owne fantasies the doctrine of the Trinitie onely and some few other points excepted and oppose themselues therein to the scriptures 5 First what if many Churches haue bene erected in poperie Were not many Temples also built in the time of Paganisme as at Rome to Diana to Honor. q. 13. to Matuta q. 16. to Bona. q. 20. to Saturne q. 42. to Horta q. 46. to Vulcane without the citie q. 47. to Carmenta q. 56. to Hercules q. 59. to Fortuna Parua q. 74. to Aesculapius without the citie q. 94. to Apollo at Delphos q. 12. to Ocridion at Rhodes q. 27. to Tenes at Tenedos q. 29. to Vlysses at Lacedaemon q. 48. with many other Not the building therefore of Churches Temples and other Monuments but the end whereto they were first founded maketh them commendable Secondly let it be considered to what intent these Monuments were erected in the popish time and so many Monasteries builded not for the most part of any true deuotion or to the honor of God but pro remedio animae pro remissione peccatorum in honorem gloriosae virginis for the remedie of their soule for the remission and expiation of their sinnes to the honor of the glorious Virgin As King Ethelstane after the death of his brother which he had procured builded in satisfaction two Monasteries of Midleton and Michelenes Elfrida for the death of Ethelwold her husband builded a Monasterie of Nunnes in remission of sinnes Queene Alfrith in repentance of her fact for causing her sonne King Edward to be murdered founded two Nunries one at Amesburie by Salisburie the other at Werewell let any man now iudge what good beginning those Monasticall foundations had Thirdly it will be an hard matter for them to proue that all the founders of Churches Colledges and other Monuments were of the Romane opinion 〈◊〉 â—eligion as now it is professed For Charles surnamed the Great who is said to haue builded so many Monasteries as be letters in the A B C held a Councell at Frankeford where was condemned the 2. Nicene Councell with Irene the Empresse that approued the adoration of Images which is now maintayned by the papall corporation In King Ethelstanes time the Prince was acknowledged to haue the chiefe stroke in all causes whether spirituall or temporall as it may appeare by diuers constitutions by him made for the direction of the Cleargie In this Kings raigne diuers Monasteries were builded as the Abbey of Midleton and Michelenes In King Edmunds time the opinion of transubstantiation was not generallie receiued but then newly hatched by certaine miraculous fictions imputed to Odo Vnder this King the order of the Monks of Bennets order increased and the Abbey of S. Edmundsburie with great reuenues indowed In King Edward the Martyrs raigne Priests were suffered to haue their wiues and were restored to their Colledges and Monks thrust out by Alpherus Duke of Mercia In this Kings time were founded the Nunries at Amesburie and Werewell I trust then that in these times when neither images were adored nor the Princes authoritie in ecclesiasticall causes abridged nor transubstantiation beleeued nor the mariage of Ministers inhibited all went not currant for Poperie as it is now receiued Fourthly this age of Protestancie for this 40. yeare in England vnder the happie regimeÌ„t of our late Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth hath beene more fruitfull of pious works in building of Hospitals Almes-houses free Schooles Colledges in the Vniuersities speciallie in Cambridge founding of fellowships schollarships erecting of Libraries speciallie the Vniuersitie Librarie at Oxford by the liberall charge christian care of Maister Bodlie a religious and well disposed Gentleman then any like space of time which can be named vnder the regiment of the papall Hierarchie See more of this elsewhere And concerning the godlie care of the foresaid vertuous and liberall Gentleman he deserueth to be compared either to Pamphilus which erected or Acacius and Euzonius which enlarged and amended the famous Librarie of Caesarea in whom that sentence of Hierome vttered of Pamphilus is now verified Beatus Pamphilus cum Demetrium Phalereum Pisistratum in sacrae bibliothecae studio voluit â—quare imagines ingeniorum quae vera sunt aeterna monumenta toto orbe perquireret Blessed Pamphilus equalizing Demetrius Phalereus and Pisistratus in taking care for Libraries he sought for the images of mens wits the only true and eternall monuments through the whole world 6 I suppose rather that all things requisite to true religion are wanting in Poperie where the people are nusled vp in ignorance no edifying in their Churches where all the seruice is muttered in an vnknowne toong no reading of scripture which should make them wise to saluation no comfort in prayer to saluation which they vnderstand not seldome receiuing of the sacrament and that but in one kind and so it is maymed and defectiue in the sacramentall effects where then there is no knowledge in themselues no edifying toward others no true prayer to God no comfort in meditation of scripture no strength in the celebration of the sacraments where men are taught not to relie only by faith vpon Christ but to trust in their merites not to rest in Christs mediation but to seeke for the intercession of Angels and Saincts not to be content with a spirituall worship of God but to prostitute themselues to dumbe Idols not to cleaue only to the scriptures in matters of faith but to runne vnto traditions How then doth this religion obserue all things nay rather how are not all things there wanting that are requisite to true religion And as the liuing haue small comfort so as little hope is there of the dead whose soules after they haue passed the troubles of this life they send to Purgatorie flames there to suffer more then euer they endured before like as a Ship hauing escaped the dangerous surges of the Sea should suffer wracke and be lost in the hauen Of such comfortlesse doctrine that saying of Plutarke is verified Death to all men is the end of life but to superstition it is not so for it extendeth feare beyond a mans life then hell gates are set open fierie streames and infernall riuers are let go and horrible darkenes
Albons gaue the Peter-pence to Rome and was a great benefactor to that See Sigebert King of West Saxons was a most cruell tyrant who caused the Earle Combranus to be most cruellie put to death because he admonished him to change his manners and was himselfe by the iust iudgement of God slaine by the Swineheard of the same Earle and yet this man is numbred among the Catholike Kings that wrought miracles Another Sigebert there was King of East Saxons who became a Christian but it is not like that this Legender meaneth him who was welnie 150. yeares before this Sigebert who is named after Offa in whose time he liued ann 748. he then putting these two together Offa Sigebertus may be thought rather to insinuate that Sigebert which liued in the time of Offa then the other who was almost 150. yeares before Thus verie skilfullie as we see he hath martialed and mustred his Mirabilists together 4 Concerning the cure of the Kings euill first obtained by King Edward 1. it is not to be imputed to the holines of his person but the efficacie of his prayers to the which that vertuous Prince was much giuen as Dauid by his godlie songs rather then his musicall instrument allayed Saules maladie 2. King Edward did not cure the woman brought vnto him so much by miracle as by ordinarie meanes as suppling and cleansing of the soare pressing out the corruption and bathing the flesh 3. He did not onely cure the woman of her disease but she became fruitfull being barren before He also healed a man that had been blind 19. yeares and caused him to see as the storie reporteth the credit whereof I referre to the Reader how commeth it to passe that these cures also are not hereditarie as well as the other 4. If this miraculous cure of this disease is to be ascribed to the Popish religion how coÌ„meth it to passe that a Protestant Prince our late Soueraigne Qu. Elizabeth therein was comparable to any of her predecessors who yet did not ascribe it to any desert in her self or holines of her person or vertue of her crown but to Gods mercy inuocated by her prayers 5. It is not yet proued that the beginning of this strange cure was founded vpon any point of Popish profession but vpoÌ„ the confidence which that good Prince had in God whom the Protestants more trulie worship then Papists 6. Whatsoeuer is here alleaged for countenancing of the religion of these Christian Kings the Paganes also can produce the like for theirs Traianus the Emperour made a blind man see and a lame man go Among the Argiues the posteritie of Alexida Amphiraus daughter are thought to cure the falling sicknes and are called Elasiae from driuing away of that disease Therefore this is no sound argument to grace that religion though all the rest were euident which yet wanteth proofe that this gift was first bestowed for the merit and desert of the popish beliefe which is thought rather to remayne as a grace from God of that sacred calling and a signe of his speciall assistance and protection of Princes though in his strange cure the conceit and opinion of the diseased may somewhat help some other meanes medicine and diet more but godlie prayers most of all that we neede not altogether pretend a miraculous worke Ambrose sayth Moses non imperabat sed impetrabat Moses precabatur Christus operabatur Moses intreated not commanded he was the prayer Christ the worker Another sayth Elizeus cum spiritu magistri haereditario scindere tamen aquas nisi sub Dei inuocatione non potuit Helizaeus though heyring his maisters spirit could not deuide the water without calling vpon God so this gift howsoeuer to Princes hereditarie pretended can not be without prayer and works of pietie effectuallie practised The Apologie THe proposition of the argument proposed that Princes are bound to the religion of their predecessors hath been thus handsomely proued as we see now it followeth that I examine his proofes of the assumption that all these Catholike Kings were Papists 1 They builded Monasteries and graunted diuers priuiledges for praying to God and Saints for the soules of them and their posteritie pag. 58. lin penultim 2 They voluntarily forsooke their Kingdomes and professed Monasticall life Kingylsus Iue Câ—lulsus c. pag. 59. lin 17. 3 Thirdly Christian Kings of the Britons from Lucius to Cadwallader ann 150. Kings of the English or Saxon Danish and Norman nation embraced it with all zeale themselues and promulged the same by all lawes c. to their posteritie pag. 60. lin 12. c. 4 Her Maiesties father obserued it all his life and of denying the Romane iurisdiction repented at his death pag. 60. lin 24. c. 5 My Soueraigne that is in the time of her Sister Queene Mary professed it with much deuotion pag. 6. lin 29. 6 The King ought to take his oath vpon the Euangelists and blessed relicks of Saints c. to maintaine holie Church with all integritie and libertie according to the constitution of his auncestors pag. 64. lin 30. Vpon these euidences he inferreth thus So that no man can doubt of what faith they were except it be a question whether he that prayeth to Saints prayeth for the dead offereth sacrifice of the Masse graunteth Church liberties honoreth the Sea of Rome buildeth Altars Monasteries Nunries c. be a Papist or Protestant pag. 59. lin 1.2 The Antilogie ALthough I might safely insist in the proposition that a Christian Prince ought not absolutely to be addicted to the religion of his forefathers yet that the weakenes of the Apologists defense may appeare I will discouer his nakednes in this behalfe that he hath not gayned by his slender reasons that those Christian auncient Kings were of the now Romaine religion 1 Though some Monasteries were built by the founders for the remedie of their soule yet all were not speciallie those which were erected at the beginning betweene ann 600. and ann 700. when as yet superstition had not got such deepe footing afterward they which had committed any murther or grieuous sinne that troubled their conscience they were perswaded to found some Monasterie for the remission of their sinnes as Offa builded S. Albones for the murther of King Ethelbert Ethelstane the Abbey of Midleton for consenting to his brother Edwines death Queene Alfrith the Nunrie of Amesburie because of the death of King Edward the Martyr which she had procured Yea in processe of time as religion decayed they had a conceit by such works to redeeme their soules as King Henry 3. built the Monasterie of Conuerts pro redemptione animae suae Iohannis patris sui c. for the redemption of his soule and the soule of Iohn his father Is not this good geare thinke you and sound Catholike doctrine that men should play Christs part and by their owne works redeeme their soules 2 Though
diuers of those auncient Kings became Monks yet neither was the Monasticall life so farre out of square as now it is they made it not a cloake of idlenes and filthie liuing a nurserie of idolatrie and grosse superstitions but they desired that life as fittest for contemplation and free frō the encumbrances of the world Diuers of the heathen Emperors left the Imperiall administration and betooke thēselues to priuate contemplation as Dioclesian Maximinian Lanquet ann Christ. 307. Neither doth this one opinion of the excellencie of Monasticall life shew them to be resolute Papists for it followeth not because they were Monks that consequentlie they held transubstantiation worship of images and the more grosse points of the Romish Catechisme 3 He shall not be able to proue the tenth part of that great number of 180. Kings either to haue themselues professed the now Romane religion or by lawes to haue prescribed the same to others some instances I will produce In King Lucius dayes not the Pope but the King was Gods vicar in his kingdome and it was his part to gather the people together to the law of Christ as Eleutherius Bishop of Rome testifieth in his epistle Cedde and Colman dissented from the Church of Rome about the celebration of Easter Wilfride about the same time confesseth that Images were inuented of the Deuill which all men that beleeue in Christ sayth he ought of necessitie to forsake and detest King Alfred or Alured translated the Psalter into English and he was instructed by Ioannes Scotus who writ a booke de corpore sanguine Christi which was condemned by the Pope in the Synod Vercellens being of Bertrams opinion against the corporall presence which fansie was not as yet receiued in the Church as is apparant by the sermon of Elfricus against transubstantiation In King Edward Athelstane and King Edmunds time the Prince had power to constitute ecclesiasticall lawes and to prescribe rules and orders for ecclesiasticall persons as may appeare by diuers of their lawes In King Edgars time Priests mariage was lawfull which began then to be restrayned Many lawes and acts haue passed since in open Parliament to restraine the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome to inhibite the purchasing of prouisoes frō thence arrests processes excommunications vnder paine of exile imprisonment forfeiture of goods and that not without expresse consent of the Clergie See Richard 2. ann 16. cap. 5. These then which allowed not the worship of images beleeued not transubstantiation gaue the Prince authoritie in spirituall causes approued the mariage of Ministers and the translation of the scriptures into the vulgar tongue restrayned the authoritie of the Romane Bishop may worthilie doubted of whether they were Papists 4 King Henry was so farre from repenting his proceedings against the vsurped Romane iurisdiction that if God had spared him life he intended a thorough reformation of Religion as was easilie to be seene both by his resolution for religion vttered not long before his death to Monsieur de Annebault the French Embassador and his answere made nearer to his death to Bruno Embassador to the Duke of Saxonie that he would take his part against the Emperour if the quarell were for religion 5 More vntrue it is that our late Soueraigne in the late dayes of persecution professed that religion with such deuotion The cruell and vnnaturall dealing toward her highnes then is a sufficient argument to conuince this large reporter of a great vntruth how she was sent for by commission in great extremitie of sicknes to be brought aliue or dead committed without cause to the Tower her seruants remoued from her straitlie examined her owne seruants restrayned to bring her diet denied the libertie of the Tower a strait watch kept round about her in danger to be murdered in continuall feare of her life her death by Winchesters platforme intended which by Gods prouidence she escaped Adde hereunto Stories desperate speech vttered in the Parliament house that he was not a little grieued with his fellow Papists for that they laboured onely about the young and little sprigs and twigs while they should haue striken at the roote c. All this euidentlie bewrayeth what opinion they had of her Maiesties resolution in religion and what she had of theirs In the meane time their cruell proceedings are laid open who if it were as this Coniecturer sayth would so persecute an innocent Ladie whom they commend for her deuotion 6.1 That euidence which he alleadgeth from M. Fox his mouth out of the Register booke of the Guildhall in London conteineth not the precise forme of the Princes oath to be taken at the Coronation which before I haue recited out of Magna charta but certaine monitions and instructions concerning the dutie of the King 2. He vseth great fraud in setting downe the words both inuerting the order and leauing out what he thinketh good as that the King ought to loue and obserue Gods commaundements then must he be an enemie to idolatrie and to the doctrines and commaundements of men such as many be obserued in the Romane Church Beside he sayth to maintaine holie Church whereas the words are to maintaine and gouerne the holie Church c. but they can not endure that Kings should rule and gouerne the Church 3. For the King to take his oath vpon the Euangelists and blessed reliques of Saints it sheweth not that the King did worship those reliques or sweare by them though he lay his hand vpon them no more then he doth sweare by the booke that putteth his hand vpon it or Abrahams seruant by his maisters thigh when he sware vnto him or Iacob by the heape of stones ouer the which he tooke his oath But as Ambrose well sayth Christianus imperator aram solius Christi didicit honorare A Christian Emperour hath onely learned to honor Christs altare And so Christian Princes haue learned to giue all religious honor to Christ and not to impart it to his seruants to make them sharers with their Maister Thus hath this sophisticall dialogist fayled as well in the probation of the assumption as in his enlarging of the proposition But whatsoeuer her Maiesties predecessors were she was not bound where they wandred out of the way to erre in their steps Iosias of idolatrous parents both father and grandfather was himselfe a religious Prince and a true worshipper of God Heathen stories will tell vs that noble Pericles came of an euill race Pompeius the great of despised Strabo Vlysses Aesculapius famous men of lewd parents The graue Poet also doth insinuate as much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The sonne excels in vertues fame the parent euill of whome he came As of euill parents vertuous children may descend so out of superstitious antiquitie religious posteritie may issue and florish And as Ambrose well answered the obiection of Symmachus the Pagane Maiorum ritus
August lib. 3. cont Petilian c. 16. Pag. 55. l. 24. c. Pag. 55. lin 4 5. c. Vntruth 109. We doe not condemne them to hell Parents corrupt religion not to be followed Ezech. 18.14 Errors of simplicitie in times of ignorance by Gods mercie pardoned Iohn 9.41 Lib. 4. de baptism ca 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pag. 56. Pag. 57. Pag. 58. Pag. 61. Pag. 62. How farre we are bound to our predecessors for benefites receiued by and from them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vntruth 110. Vntruth 111. Acts of Parliament examined falâ—ely alleaged by the Apologist Vntruth 112. Vntruth 113. Vntruth 114. Vntruth 115. Vntruth 116. Vntruth 117. Vntruth 118. Vntruth 119. Vntruth 120. Vntruth 121. Westmâ—n 2. ca. 41. Edw. 1. ann 13. Aedificia coruÌ„â—cclesiis vendicentur Cod. lib. 1. tit 12. l. 11. Honor. ☞ Theodos. Popish hierarchie vsurpeth places of the Church 1. Cor. 9.11 1. Sam. 2.35 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The third proofe What power Protestants yeeld to Princes in causes ecclesiasticall Vntruth 122. Vntruth 123. Vntruth 124. Synops. contr 7. qu. 1. par 3. Fox pag. 143. Princes ciuill and morall vertues do not iustifie their religion Sozomen lib. 4.15 Math. 15.14 The whole Christian world not deceiued Generall Councels may erre Bellar. lib. 1. de concil ca. 7. Iud. 9.48 Epistol 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The fourth proofe Answ. to sect 6. Fox pag. 122. ca. 1. Popish legend miracles Fox pag. 125. col 2. Fox ibid. Ex histor Iornalens Fox p. 129. Stow an 757. Sigebert a cruell tyrant Stow an â—16 Of the cure of the Queenes euill Stow in Edward Confessor Ex Suetonio Cure of straÌ„ge diseases amoÌ„g Paganes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch quaest Graec. 50. Serm. 18. in Psal. 119. Hieron de vir perfect Vntruth 125. Vntruth 126. Vntruth 127. Falsificat or vntruth 117. Ex histor Iornalens Fox pa. 159. Monasteries built for redemption of soules Fox pa. 279. Stow ann 179. Auncient Kings of England dissenting from the Church of Rome ann 664. Fox pa. 123. Fox ibid. col 2 lin 8.9 Ann. 880. Pag. 144. Ann. 996. Fox pa. 1142. Fox pa. 147. to pag. 151. Histor. Iornalens in vit Edgar Ann. Edw. 3.38 c. 1 2. Rich. 2. ann 13. stat 2. c. 2. Henr. 4. ann 9. c. 8. King Henries purpose to reforme religion Fox pag. 1291. Fox pag. 2091. Pag. 2092. Pag. 2093. Pag. 2095. Queene Elizabeths troubles and dangers in her sisters time Fox p. 166. c. 1. The King sweareth not by relickes at the Coronation Genes 24.2 Genes 31.53 Ambros. contr Symmach Homer Iliad â— Vntruth 128. Vntruth 129. Vntruth 130. Vntruth 131. Vntruth 132. Vntruth 133. Vntruth 134. Vntruth 135. Vntruth 136. De incarnat ca. 5. Psal. 132.14 Math. 4.19 De ciuitat Dei lib. 18. ca. 23. Lâ—â—quet Rome often taken and sacked since it was Christian The great miseries and calimities of Rome Hieron ad Principium SecuÌ„dum computationem Lanquet Cooperi 2. Thessal 2.8 Deâ—ad 1. lib. 2. Coâ—peri chrâ—ni anno 455. Blondus dec 1. lib. 10. Cooperi Chronic ann 738. Lanquet anno 414. Anno 460. Cooperi anno 701. Anno 755. Lanquet anno 769. Ann. 773. Anno 525. Ann. 6â—6 Ann. 963. Anno 966. Anno 995. Anno 1053. Cooperi Chronic ann 1009. Fox pag. 988. Why the Pope in times past so much preuailed Opâ—scul tripartit lib. 2. cap. 11. The causes of the ouerthrow of the Greeke Empire Cooperi anno 778. Opuscul tripartit lib. 1. cap. 2. Vntruth 137. The miserable end of Popes Ex Platinae Functio Balaeo de act Roman pontificum Ex Balâ—o Platina Functio c. The short raigne of Popes Fox pag. 134.170.394.675.778 edition 1583. Caranza Concilior sum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vntruth 138. Bucanan lib. 5. reg 54. Cooper an 646. Vntruth 139 Bucanane vntruly reported lib. 5. reg 52. Cooper an 630. Vntruth 140. Conestaggius lib. 3. de reb Portugall Munster lib. 4. c. 5. Vntruth 141. Munster lib. 4. c. 3. Vntruth 142. Lanquet chron ann 1060. Ann. 1098. Fox pag. 341. Fox pag. 343. Fox pag. 348. Vntruth 142. Vntruth 143. Chron. Cooper ann 920. Vntruth 144. Cooper an 995. Vntruth 145. Lanquet ann 1106. Ann. 1108. Hieronym Mâ—â—ius Petr. de vineis Platin. in Innocent 4. Lanquet ann 1254 Vntruth 146. The ruffling of Popes against Emperours Caus. 15. qu. 6. c. alius Caus. 15. qu. 6. c. 5. Naucler Vitae pontific Bull. Adrian Vntruth 147. Iudg. 9. 1. King 16.9 Vntruth 148. Demonst. 2. artic 9. Lib. 2. aduers. Iouinian Vntruth 149. a Ex Jllyric de vocabul fidei b Carion fol. 250. c Fox p. 2106. Vntruth 150. Fox pag. 2112. col 1. Vntruth 151. Bucanan lib. 13. Fox pa. 127â— col 1. Vntruth 152. Vntruth 153. Beda lib. 3. histor gent. Anglor c. 1. Beda lib. 2. c. 20 Lib. 3. c. 9. Lib. 3. c. 18. Vntruth 153. Fox pa. 119. Fox pag. 161. Vntruth 154. Fox pag. 152. col 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cod. lib. 4. tit 20. leg 9. Gratian Vntruth 155. Stow anno VVillel 20. Stow. A notable benefactor euill requiâ—ed Stowe Ex Math. Parisiens Fox pag. 185. Fox pag. 189. Stowe Vntruth 156. Fox pag. 191. col 1. Cooper Fox pag. 199. col 1. Vntruth 157. Fox pag. 185. col 1. Vntruth 158. Fox pag. 228. col 2. Histor. de regib Angl. Stowe Vntruth 159. Fox pag. 227. col 1. Stowe Cooper Ann. 1174. Vntruth 160. Vntruth 161. Stow in King Iohn Caxton lib. 7. Gisburâ—e Cooper in King Iohn Stow in Henry the second Vntruth 162. Stow in Henry the third Lanquet in Henry the 3. Vntruth 163. Stowe in Edward the 2. Lanquet anno 1320. annoâ—387 â—387 1397. Vntruth 164. Vntruth 165. The vnhappie end of Princes deuoted to the Pope Ex Aenea Siluio in histor Bohem. Fox pag. 741. col 1. Fox pag. 180. Lanquet anno 1080. Fox pag. 2112. Ex histor Iornalens Stowe Fox pag. 111. Stowe Fox pag. 132. Stowe ex Asserio Stowe Stovv Lanquet Rich. 2. ann 2. c. 7. Stovv Lanquet Fox pag. 523. col 1. Stovv Lanquet Stovv ex Thom. Mor. Fox pag. 29â— Ed. 1. anno 7. Kings of England prosperous that bent themselues against the Pope Ed. 1. ann 25. Ed. â— ann 25. Fox pag. 1071. col 1. ex orat Dom. Radulp. Saâ—ler The prosperitie of Queene Elizabeths raigne The vaine hope and expectations of Papists made frustrate Psal. 118 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Popish Bishops what learned Clarks Fox pag. 949. Fox pag. 1266. col 2. Fox pag. 1274. Lib. 7. in Lucam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pag. 81. Pag. 82. Vntruth 165. The Lord Cromwell defended Stowe anno Henric. 32. Fox pag. 1069. col 1. Fox ibid. Vntruth 166. The good Duke of Sommerset defended Fox pag. 1372. col 2. Vntruth 167. Fox pag. 1408. col 1. Vntruth 168. Visions of Deuils not strange in Poperie Ioannes Stella Platina Ioann Baleus Math. Parisiens Flores histor Sleidan lib. 23. Vntruth 169. The commendation of worthie
more then twentie of the Popes haue been giuen to that diuelish studie How Papists are confuters of Philosophers I leaue it to their owne report of one Maldonat an Ignatian sectarie that in a great auditorie in one lecture laboured to proue by naturall reasons that there is a God in an other that there is none and that the Iesuites do mainetaine at this day by the penne of Rene de la Fon that the Godhead must be proued by naturall reason 2 Vntrue also it is that Poperie hath conquered so many heresies retayning still a great number of them as is before sufficientlie declared neither haue they cause to brag of their vniuersalitie in subduing all nations for poperie was neuer so generall as pagane Idolatrie neither had the Pope euer commaund of all nations the Greeke Church hauing euer been deuided from him and I trust euery day his iurisdiction will be lesse and his account of nations come short as thanks be to God his nailes are well pared and his armes shortned in many famous cities and kingdomes in Christendome 3 Of the Papists it may be more truly said that they haue as many heads so many religions of the diuers sects and schismes in poperie and differences among their writers which rise to the computation of many hundreds relation hath been made before They are the deniers of scripture not Protestants that haue not blushed to say that the Pope may change the forme of words in baptisme that the Pope may dispense against the new testament that the Pope may dispense against all the precepts of the old and new testament that the scripture taketh authoritie from the Church of Rome that no man may lawfullie beleeue any thing by the authoritie of scripture against the determination of the Church Another saith the authoritie of the scriptures is founded in the allowance of the Church Another Apostoli quaedam scripserunt non vt praessent c. the Apostles writ certaine things not that they should rule faith and religion sed subessent but should be vnder Let any man now iudge if these men be not deniers of scripture which do derogate from the authoritie thereof that take vpon thē to chop change it to annihilate the precepts thereof and dispense against it So they not Protestants are the false translators of scripture who allow the vulgar Latine onely to be authenticall which in many hundred places altereth and corrupteth the Hebrue text As Genes 2.8 God planted a garden from the beginning for toward the East Genes 15. she shall breake thy head for he Gen. 4.13 they reade my sinne is greater then I can deserue pardon for then I can beare Gen. 6.5 their cogitation intent to euill for onely euill continuallie Gen. 12.15 and the princes told Pharao for the princes of Pharao saw her Gen. 26.9 why didst thou lye for why saidst thou v. 19. they digged in torrente in the brooke for in the vallie Gen. 35.16 he came in the spring time to the ground which bringeth to Ephratha for there was a little space of ground to come to Ephrah Genes 36.24 found out hoate waters in the wildernes for Mules Gen. 40.13 shall remember thy seruice for shall lift vp thy head Psal. 68.4 exalt him that ascendeth super occasum vpon the west or sunne-set for vpon the heauens v. 6. deliuereth prisoners in strength for in fetters v. 13. though ye sleepe betweene the lots for lien among the pots v. 17. tenne thousand for twentie thousand and a thousand such places might be alleaged wherein they haue corrupted the scriptures The Papists also are the men that forge scripture and other euidences for they thrust vpon the Church diuers Apocryphall bookes of Tobie Iudith Macchabees with the rest which the auncient Church of the Iewes to whom all the bookes of the old Testament and oracles of God were committed neuer receiued nor allowed So haue they forged and deuised diuers other writings as the Decretall epistles of the auncient Bishops of Rome which were Martyrs as of Zepherinus Calixtus Pontianus Vrbanus Fabianus with the rest which are all counterfeit stuffe as are also the leiturgie of S. Iames the writings that passe vnder the name of S. Martialis Abdias Hippolytus Dionysius and many such as is elsewhere declared more at large 4 Neither is it true that popish religion is founded vpon the infallible word of God conteyned in the scriptures but most of it vpon blind fallible and vncertaine traditions and many opinions the Church of Rome holdeth directlie opposite and contrarie to scripture as elsewhere hath been shewed Thus this friuolous aduersarie passeth on along heaping vp sclaunders and vntruths not remembring what the wise man sayth Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord but they that deale trulie are his delight But we neede not maruaile at it for this is familiar with thē with great boldnes to face out their owne forgeries and they may well say in Hieromes phrase domi nobis ista nascuntur we haue plentie of such stuffe at home But as the Lacedemonian magistrates said to Cephisophon the Orator when they expelled him that it was a good Orators part to make his speech answereable to his matter so should this sophister haue done and not to professe truth in his speech where none is in his matter The fift Perswasion 1 I Defend a religion where so much vertue is practised such obedience chastitie pouertie c. 2 Which brought the professors thereof to heauen as religious Heremites Monks Friers Priests Bishops Popes c. 3 Not that religion which made those which before were good chast obedient and contemners of the world to be wicked and giuen to impietie The Disswasion 1 WHat obedience poperie teacheth to their princes the late practises both in England and Fraunce do proclayme to all the world as the treacherous conspiracie of Parry incited by Cardinall Coomes letters of Somerfield and Arden sollicited by Hall a popish priest of Babington with other stirred vp by Ballard Lopez by Parsons Sauage and Yorke by Gifford Squire by Walpoole a Iebusite In Fraunce Iames Clement a Iacobine murdered Henry the third Barriere and Chastell attempted the like against the now King of Fraunce at the instigation of the Iesuites The Prince of Orange was by the like treacherie murdered and the death of the Chancelor of Scotland intended This may suffice to shew their obedience For their chastitie I appeale to the stories written of their vnholie fathers the Popes What place in the Christian world can afford more filthie spectacles of adulterers incestuous persons Sodomites then that Sea and citie of Rome I appeale to the inquisition made in King Henry the eights raigne at the suppression of the Abbeys when in some places the Priests and Monks were descried to haue kept some two some three some sixe some more one among the rest twentie concubines
are as much magnified by Protestant Historiographers as by any or because they were disposed to iustice personallie sate in iudgement c. pa. 56. li. 26. made good lawes that therefore in matters of religion they might not erre and be deceiued The mercie of Antoninus Pius that said he had rather saue one Citizen then destroy a thousand of his aduersaries the charitie of Adrianus that neuer saw poore man whom he did not relieue the gentlenes and clemencie of Titus who neuer dismissed any man from him without hope to obtaine his suite the iustice of Alexander Seuerus who when he met any corrupt iudge was readie to thrust his fingers in his eyes Iulians liberalitie which built Hospitals for strangers gaue great store of wheate and wine for reliefe of the poore people These noble vertues much to be commended in Princes do not therefore iustifie Pagane idolatrie to the which they were addicted And to exemplifie this matter in Christian Emperours Constantius was a iust and temperate Emperour yet an Arriane Anastasius otherwise a good Emperour yet erred about the Trinitie who published that men should worship not three but foure persons in the God-head Iustinian a wise and iust Emperour yet infected with the heresie of Eutyches who held that Christ had two persons and so in effect made two Christs In like manner might diuers auncient Kings of England be men of noble and excellent vertues and yet carried away with the errors of those times in matters of religion 3 Neither were they the freer from error because they were assisted with Dunstones Anselmes Lanfranks Beckets they were so much the more like to be deceiued because they were ruled by such superstitious deceiuers for if the blind leade the blinde they are both like to fall into the ditch As for Cedde who is numbred with the rest as he was some hundred yeares before them so in iudgement he was vnlike them as shall euen now be shewed Neither was vertuous King Alured wholie for them or of that faith which the Church of Rome now holdeth as followeth presently to be declared 4 We do not thinke that the whole Christian world can be or was euer deceiued but God alwayes therein in some part or other had his Church which held the truth though the same not alwayes glorious and visible to the world and so we doubt not but that in all ages and times since our Sauiours ascension there haue beene that professed the Gospell Neither can it be shewed that euer Poperie possessed the whole Christian world But concerning Generall Councels we know they haue erred and may erre againe As the generall Councell of Antioch where Athanasius was condemned Another at Antioch wherein the heresie of the Macedonians was confirmed the Synode Arriminens concluding for Arrius the second Ephesine that fauoured Eutyches and diuers other generall Councels haue erred as is confessed by our aduersaries And not only those assemblies of heretikes and their fauorites but euen of Catholikes by the confession of the Papists themselues haue erred as the generall Councels of Constance and Basile which decreed that Generall Councels had authoritie aboue the Pope which the Ignatian Diuines hold to be an error For ought then that hath yet been alleaged the auncient Catholike Kings of this land were not priuileged from error and therefore in matters of religion they might be deceiued So then though Abimelech sayd to the people What ye haue seene me do the like yet in religious affaires it is no sufficient warrant to do as others haue done afore But like as sayth Ambrose in militarie affaires the sentence of men therein exercised and experienced must be expected Quando de religione tractatus est cogita Deum So when religion is treated of thinke vpon God God in his word must be consulted with Mens errors in faith are no more to be imitated then their faults of life for herein should we be like Dionysius followers who because he was dimme-sighted they fayned themselues to be so stumbling one vpon another The Apologie THe supernaturall signes and miracles written as is confessed by the Protestants themselues in the liues of Saint Oswald S. Edmunds S. Edwards Lucius Kingylsus Offa Sigebertus c. testifie the truth of their religion whereof some for the sanctitie of those Princes are hereditarie to their posteritie not by any desert of Protestants as the miraculous curing of the naturallie vncurable disease called the Kings or Queenes euill obtained by the holines of S. Edward pag. 66. lin 12. deinceps The Antilogie 1 TO this argument of miracles I haue answered before that they are no certaine demonstration of a true religion because the Paganes also boasted of miracles done amongst them And whereas the heathen are supposed to haue forged many things so it is not to be doubted but that many of these miracles giuen in instance were the dreames and fictions of idle and fabulous Monks as Berinus walking vpon the sea hauing not one threed of his garment wet and how Aldelmus caused an infant of nine dayes old at Rome to speake to cleare Pope Sergius suspected to be the father of that child and how he drew a length a piece of timber that went to the building of the Church in Malmesburie The like tale goeth of Egwine who hauing fettered both his feet in yrons fast locked and cast the key into the Sea to do penance vpon himselfe for certaine sinnes committed in his youth a fish brought the key to the Ship as he was sayling homeward from Rome Of like truth is that fable of Bristanus Bishop of Winchester who as he prayed walking in the Churchyard for the soules of men departed whē he came to these words requiescant in pace a multitude of soules answered againe Amen I report me now to the indifferent reader whether we haue not iust cause to suspect the credit of these legend miracles 2 But these miracles which he sayth were wrought by those Christian Kings being admitted he shall neuer be able to proue that these were of the Popish Church or beliefe Lucius Oswald Iua Ceolulfus with others as in the next defense in the answere to the probation of the assumption shall God willing be made plaine 3 Whereas he nameth Offa and Sigebert among the miracle-makers he hath committed a great ouersight or vsed a cunning sleight to face out the matter with bare names for Offa by the entisement of his wife was accessorie to the cruell death of King Ethelbert who came peaceablie to sue for the mariage of his daughter and therefore it is not like that God would endue a murderer with such a miraculous gift But the cause is soone coniectured why the Popes Clergie doth so much honor the memorie of Offa for in part of penance and satisfaction for that wicked acte he gaue the tenth of his goods to the Church builded the Monasterie of S.
pound at the last after he had raigned not many yeares nine and nine moneths he died of the stroke of a poysoned quarrell shot at him at the besieging of the Castle of Chalne Richard the 2. was a great factor for Pope Vrban whom he decreed by act of Parliament to be obeyed as head of the Church yet was he an vnhappie Prince in all his proceedings and at length was deposed and cruelly murdered in Pumfret Castle Henrie the 4. was a great agent for the Pope in persecuting of Christs members in the second yeere of whose raigne was made the statute ex officio wherein they are adiudged to be burned that should hold any thing contrarie to the determination of the Church by vertue of which statute many good men were put to death vnder the raigne of the three Henries one succeeding another But what followed the father and the sonne raigned not long not making much aboue 23. yeeres betweene them and Henrie the 6. holding on the same course against Christs members was deposed from his Crowne Richard the 3. much affecting and affected of the Popes ministers for whose sake the Archbishop of Yorke being Cardinall vndertooke to perswade the Queene to deliuer Richard Duke of Yorke to his vncle as a lambe into the lions mouth and preuailed therein his butcherly end is well knowne how his dead carcasse was caried naked behind a Pursiuant of Armes all be sprinkled with blood and mire and homely buried Queene Mary had both a short and an vnprosperous raigne she lost Calice deceiued in her childbirth left desolate and forsaken of King Phillip her husband before she died and ended her daies in griefe and sorrow But contrariwise as these Princes which yeelded themselues to be directed by the Pope were of all other most infortunate so those magnanimous Kings which maintained the libertie of the Crowne against the vsurped authoritie of the Bishop of Rome were prosperous in all their affaires Edward the 1. first made the statute of Mortmaine that no lands and possessions should be giuen to any religious house without the Kings licence the statute also of Premunire made against prouisions of Bishoprickes and other Benefices to bee purchased from Rome was then ordained King Edward the 3. also abridged and cut short the Popes iurisdiction prohibiting vnder great penalties that none should procure any such prouisions at Rome or prosecute any suites in the Popes Court the cognisance whereof appertained to the Kings Courts King Henrie the 7. would admit of no more Cardinals in England after he was rid of one King Henry the 8. abolished the Popes authoritie King Edward the 6. expelled the Masse and other Popish trumperie yet were all these victorious Kings Edward the 1. against the Welsh Edward the 3. against the French Henrie the 7. against that tyrant and vsurper Richard the 3. Henrie the 8. for his valiant battailes famous Edward the 6. in suppressing of Rebels and other enemies prosperous And concerning the raigne of our late noble Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth whom God in his mercie appointed to be a reformer of religion and a nourisher of his Church what Prince in the world I speake not of this age onely but of many hundred yeeres before can compare with her Maiesties time in any kind of outward blessing first in the yeeres of her life she went beyond al her progenitors Secondly in the length of her raigne she exceeded all but onely two Henrie the 3. and Edward the 3. Thirdly in peaceable gouernment for so many euen 44. yeeres none came neere her Fourthly in loue of the subiects at home Fiftly in honour and reputation among forraine Princes Sixtly in prosperous successe abroad in deliuerance from more then twentie conspiracies at home Queene Elizabeth had no peere Seuenthly adde hereunto the wealth of the kingdome Eightly the purenes of the coyne Ninthly but most of all the purenes of religion Tenthly the abundance of learned men such as no nation vnder heauen hath the like of graue Counsellers and Martiall Commaunders who can but confesse that in all these kindes the Gospell hath brought a rich blessing to this land And as Queene Elizabeth loued and liued in peace so she ended her daies in a good old age full of yeeres and which of all other may worthily be accounted the greatest blessing hath left the kingdom to a most worthie and noble successor a professor and protector of the same faith and religion our renowned King that now is by whose hands we doubt not but that the Lord will accomplish whatsoeuer he seeth needfull for his Church But because this Romish southsayer taketh vpon him to play the blind prophet What is like saith he to be the euent thereof hereafter I had rather others should write and shew their coniecture which I for reuerence to my Soueraigne will here omit And hereupon he hopeth that his prudent Princesse will imitate the examples of her noble predecessors Henrie the 1. and Henrie the 2. in recalling that which they did in their inconsiderate times c. pag. 79. Hereunto I briefly answere that his prognostication and exhortation are both alike they both shew a dreaming and phantasticall spirit His foolish hope we see is vaine and frustrate for her Maiestie left her happie raigne in the same faith wherein she began it and as she did nothing inconsiderately at her entrance but with great aduice so had she no cause to repent her in the end If her Maiesties predecessors were inconstant in pulling downe what before they had set vp she being appointed of God to be a wise builder was not therein to follow so simple a plot As is his hope and expectation such is his lying spirit of prophecying Indeed the Papists did promise themselues a great day at the next chaunge they did not mutter it in corners but clatter it in their vaine pāphlets Parsons made a booke of reformation against that time but blessed be God which hath disappointed their hope I nothing doubt but that righteous Abel shall offer still acceptable sacrifices vnto God in the Church of England when all hypocrites and Popish sacrificers shall hang downe their heads with Caine. Yea and I hold this to be no small miracle that God where such trouble was feared hath with such peace consent of harts and minds approbation of all good subiects acclamation and reioycing of the whole Church of God set the imperiall diademe vpon so godlie christian and vertuous a Prince his head such grace from God few expected all good men desired England I am sure hath not deserued yet God in his mercie hath granted So that we haue iust cause to say with the Prophet Dauid This is the Lords doing and it is maruailous in our eyes It is written of Sylla that after Italy was deliuered from the ciuill warres comming to Rome the first night hee could not sleepe for ioy But wee the Church and
furtherer of certaine youthes that entred into the order of Benedict The storie is reported by their owne Masse-priests in their replie to Parsons Manifestation pag. 69. I would thinke that his fellow Friers should giue him little thanks for speaking so honourably of the Monkes of Maledictes I would say Benedictes order 4. Concerning the Bishops of Canterburie which hee hath rehearsed to haue bin so honourable in their time it is but his owne fansie The most of them haue left no notable memorie behind them vnlesse it be of their ambition contention rebellion against their Prince crueltie against the members of Christ. Baldwine is famous for his contention with the Monks of Canterburie he suspended the Prior from his Priorship and 22. Monkes from seruice And Kilwarbie for contending with Walter Archbishop of Yorke for bearing vp his crosse thorough the middle of Kent ann 1272. So Peccham excommunicated Thomas Bishop of Hereford who appealed to Rome he contended also with William of Yorke for bearing vp his Crosse thorough Kent and at another time with the Prior and Monkes of Canterburie Iohn Stratford being refused and not suffered to visite in Norwich diocesse excommunicated the Bishop suspended the Prior interdicted the Couent anno 1343. Offord and Braidwarden sate each of them but ten moneths and therefore could leaue no great memorie behind them of their doings Some of them are noted for their disloyaltie to their Prince as Thomas Becket who set himselfe against Henrie the 2. Winchelsey was banished the Realme by Edward the 1. because he was a disturber thereof and tooke part with Rebels Langhton suffered King Iohn his liege Lord to kisse his feete Arundel was adiudged by act of Parliament to be a traytor and condemned to banishment and his goods confiscate As for Courtney and Chichley they are detected in stories for their cruell hatred against the Church of Christ the first a great enemie to Wicklâ—ffe and his followers the other a most butcherly persecutor of Gods Saints and a contriuer of the vertuous and valiant Lord Cobhams cruel and vniust death against whom Arundel his predecessor gaue sentence and he executed the same Sudburie is pitied in Chronicles for his miserie being most cruelly beheaded of the Rebels not for religion but because he simply counselled the King not to goe to satisfie the tumultuous peoples demaunds and complaints which afterward he did before they could be appeased Islip is famous for nothing more but that he prohibited vpon paine of excommunication the people to abstaine from labour vpon certaine Saints daies Murton is commended not as a Bishop for true deuotion but as a wise and politike man for his sage aduice for conioyning the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster We see then what small honour Poperie giueth to the sectmasters thereof true religion would haue made them shine whereas their superstition hath buried them in obliuion according to the saying of the Wiseman The memoriall of the iust shall be blessed but the name of the wicked shall rot Prou. 10.7 Ambrose well saith of Valentinian Non ego floribus tumulum eius aspergam sed spirâ—tum eius Christi odore persundam hoc eius reliquias sacrabo hoc gratiam eius commendabo I will not sprinkle his graue with flowers but perfume his spirit with the sweete sauour of Christ with this will I honor his reliques and commend his gracious memorie So had those Princes and Prelates by true religion purchased an eternall memorie whereas by their idolatrie and superstition they haue gayned rather shame and ignominie Thus hath this brrgger faced vs out with a glittering shew of honor which is turned to dishonor rather and disgrace and so as Seneca sayth quae decipiunt nihil habent solidi tenue est mendacium perlucet si diligenter inspexeris deceitfull things haue no soundnes a lye is but a thinne mettall if you marke it well you shall soone see thorough it Now this cauiller turneth himselfe from defending of his religion to pick quarrels with ours and to lay open the infirmities and offences of it and to obiect against it The first obiection 1 HE obiecteth out of Luther that he should write it is the nature of the Gospell to cause warres that there is no Magistrate no superior c. it is to be intreated by many prayers that the countriemen obey not their Princes c. no lawe nor any syllable of lawe can be opposed vpon Christians more then themselues will pag. 86. 2 Caluine Beza with others decreed in their conuenticles that all lawfull policie and ciuill gouernment must be taken away they kept a councell to destroy the King of Fraunce his children and wife the Queene mother c. a Taylor and Cobler at Frankeford instituted new courts pag. 86. 3 Tyndall taught and Fox maintaineth these propositions following that it is impossible for vs to consent to the law of God the law requireth things impossible the law maketh vs hate God euery man is Lord of other mens goods the children of faith are vnder no lawe pag. 87. 4 The Protestants did write a booke against the temporall regiment of women pag. 87. 5 The Lord Cromwell Iohn Duke of Northumberland Cranmer were put to death for treason pag. 87. 6 The Councell of King Henry the eight onely the Lord Chauncelor Wriotheslie excepted did violate the Kings will and testament pag. 87. 7 The Protestant Councell of King Edward would haue disinherited her Maiestie and Queene Mary pag. 88. The Reiection 1. FIrst concerning Luther my answere is 1. that in those bookes which are quoted in the margen and cited by the aduersarie Luther hath no such words in the edition of his works at Wittemberge at the least not in any such sense that I by diligent search could find 2. for if he could haue bene detected of such grosse and erroneous sayings it is not like that Leo the 10. in his Bull against Luther wherein his errors are condemned would haue omitted them 3. in which Bull artic 34. these words are fathered vpon Luther that he should say Praeliari aduersus Turcas est aduersari Deo c. To warre against the Turks is to resist God visiting our iniquities which words Luther in his answere denyeth not thus expounding himselfe that he simplie condemned not the warre against the Turks but the Popes subtiltie that vnder that colour sought to enrich himselfe Hoc praeliari contra Turcas saepe pontificib magno fuit lucro This warring against the Turks hath brought great aduantage to the Bishops 4. For otherwise Luther taught obedience to the Magistrate and misliked all tumultuous and disordered courses as it may appeare by his misliking of Carolostadius violent proceedings who stirred vp the people by violence without the Magistrate to cast downe images at Wittemberge which Luther did not disproue as though he maintained Images but that this ought to be
as may witnesse that bloodie massacre of France and the continuall ciuill warres for many yeeres together wherein not so few Christian people as 100. thousand haue perished England thankes be to God hath no such flowers growing in her garden neither I trust euer shall Neither doe wee desire nay wee would not for all the kingdomes of the world chaunge our state with any of those flower countries Italie France Spaine which in deede are flowers and leaues without true fruite Though the Popes iurisdiction hath been large yet can hee not compare with the pontifices maximi among the Romans which was an office of such high authoritie and great commaund that the title was afterward annexed to the Empire and the Emperours tooke vpon them to be called the high Priests The other Patriarchall Seas also did equalize Rome in largenes of iurisdiction especially Alexandria to the which was subiect al Egypt Libya Pentapolis with all the Christian Churches of Africa The Pope hath no great cause to brag of his greatnes for his wings are well clipped and I doubt not but to see yet more of this proud birds feathers pulled Neither is largenes of dominion a good argument for religion for then Pagane idolatrie which was more vniuersally receiued at once in the 〈◊〉 then Christianitie should thrust out the Gospell of 〈◊〉 And as for the King of Spaine◠〈◊〉 he may thanke the poore Indians for it whose throates the Spaniards haue cut for their gold neither is it such but that hee knoweth how to spend it and for all his great treasure his coffers are often emptie enough But let it be remembred how these popelings measure religion by riches and outward glorie which if it were a good rule the rich Chaldeans Assyrians Persians should rather haue bin the people of God thē the poore Israelites the rich Scribes and Pharisies should be preferred before the Apostles 2. Popish religion denieth dutie to God making other Mediatours beside Christ teaching inuocation of Saints adoration of images which are peculiar to God neither doth it giue honour to Magistrates abridging them of their lawfull authoritie in matters ecclesiasticall and giuing the Pope authoritie to excommunicate and depose Princes and to absolue their subiects of their oath Concerning the particulars of Popish profession what little comfort is in them how derogatorie to God contrarie to Scriptures I haue shewed before in the answere to the 5. section 3. The Pope so well appeased the quarrels betweene Henry the 2. and his Nobles that after the King had reconciled himselfe to the Pope for the death of Thomas Becket and yeelded to doe penance his troubles began afresh betweene him and his sonnes Richard and Iohn that he died for griefe And the Pope by his Legates and factors in England and other countries hath been a mouer not a compounder of strife a raiser rather then layer of warre Did not Gregorie the 7. set vp Rodolphus against Henry the 4. the Emperour betweene whom many bloodie battels were fought Did not Pope Paschalis incite Henrie the sonne against the Emperor Henrie the father and dispossessed him of the Empire Vrban the 2. did put downe Hugo Earle of Italie discharging his subiects of their oth and obedience Gregorie the 9. did excommunicate Fredericke the 2. and raised vp the Venetians against him And in England Pope Innocent the 3. commaunded vnder paine of his great curse that no man should obey King Iohn he gaue definitiue sentence in his consistorie that he should be deposed from his Crowne and appointed Philip King of France to execute this sentence promising him full remission of his sins to kill or expell King Iohn Vrban the 4. set Henrie the 3. and his Nobles together by the eares absoluing the king of his oth made to performe certaine articles agreed vpon at Oxford whereupon the Barons warres were renewed Pope Boniface set variance betweene England and Scotland in the raigne of Edward the 1. challenging Scotland as proper to the Sea of Rome But in steed of easing the people of rigorous exactions imposed by Princes the Pope himself hath vsed vnreasonable extortions Rigandus de Asteri◠the Popes Legate in England in Edward the 2. his raigne demaunded of the Clergie 8. pence in the marke toward the Legates charges but they graunted only 4. pence in the marke He also laboured to bring in a new manner of collection of Peter pence but was resisted by the King The like did Henricus the 3. Repressit impetum Legati propter violentiam denariorum He restrained the attempts of the Popes Legate touching his violent exactions of money The Bishops of England after great and forcible intreatie agreed to pay to the Pope 11000. markes The King of England saith the same author made payment to Pope Alexander the 4. vpon a very friuolous and fond matter 950000. markes Bonner himselfe witnesseth that the Popes pray in England came almost to as much as the reuenewes of the Crowne The Pope had the first fruites of all the Bishopricks in England which came to a great summe Canterburie paied 10000. Florences and 5000. for his pall Yorke as much Winchester 12000. Elie 7000. The whole summe of all the first fruites in Europe which came to the Popes coffers amounted to 2460843. Florences which maketh well nie 6. hundred 15. thousand two hundred and ten pound starling Iudge by this now Christian Reader what an impudent man this is to make the Pope a mitigator of great exactions whereas he hath been the most cruell extortor and exactor in the world As is his credit in this so let him be beleeued in the rest 4. Popish confession is so farre from keeping subiects from deuising against their Prince as that it hath been the speciall engine and instrument to contriue treacherie against the state Simon the Monke was confessed and absolued of his Abbot when he enterprised to poyson King Iohn Frier Forrest in secret confession declared to diuers subiects that King Henry the 8. was not supreame head of the Church and so abused confession to sedition Peter Barriere was confessed in the Colledge of the Iesuites in Paris and tooke the Sacrament whē he intended to murder the french King that now is Iohn Chaestell also that conspired the like had been often schooled in the Iesuites chamber of meditations These are the fruites of popish confession deuising of treasons reuealing of secrets seeking occasion to do euill for by this opportunitie diuers lewd Priests sollicited the parties that came to be confessed vnto euill As mention is made in the papall rescripts of one qui cum alterius coniuge frequenter in ecclesia dormiuit which oftentimes in the Church slept with another mans wife And this should seeme to be so vsuall a practise that for restraint thereof they decreed against it non debet episcopus vel presbyter commisceri