oure trust and confidence that we oughe to haue of remissioÌ„ of oure sinnes at Gods handes for Christes sake only and now to haue confidence to haue it at Antichristes handes for a litle money that is most contrary to God to Christe in all thinges Oh most abomination of desolation staÌ„dinge in mans coÌ„scieÌ„ce that shulde be the teÌ„ple of God and the dwellinge place of the holy goost Is it not a foule abomination of desolation staÌ„dinge in the holy place In the stede of Christes only one sacrifice which he made of himselfe to God his father for vs vpon the crosse now to set vp a new sacrifice to be made to God for vs of a pece of bread and a cuppe of wyne and to lyfte vp them to be shewed to the people to be gased vpon and to be worshipped and not to be receaued and to be eaten droÌ„ken accordinge to Christes institution and commaundemente Is it not abhomination of deÌ„solation staÌ„dinge in the holy church of God in the stede of the gospell to be preached and declared vnto the people in soch maner that they mighte receaue comforte and hope therby to haue the gospell and other partes of the holy scriptures / to be read songe in a speache nether vnderstanded not knowen of the hearers of them Rom. 15. Sainte Paul sayeth / what so euer was written was written for our doctrine and learninge that thorow patience and consolatioÌ„ of the holy scriptures we mighte receaue hope But Antichrist hath ordeyned a payne sownde to occupie the eares of the people callinge it the gospell although therbe no interpretation or declaration therof made to the people Ephe. 5. For he his filthie secte well knowe that the Apostle sayeth that all thinges that be declared opened bringe lighte Which Antichriste his filthy generation maye not suffer nor abydes because their workes Ioan. 3. which be al wycked and done in darkenes shuld by the lighte he made manifest and openly knoweÌ„ to the world For euen as Christe came an to the world to geue light to the world Euen so is Antichriste came in to the world to take awaye from the people the light that Christ broughte in to the world 1. Cor. 14. The Apostle commaundeth that what so euer be done in the church that it should be done to the instruction and edificatioÌ„ of the congregation For sayeth he yf any man speake with tonges let it be by two or thre at the moste and that by order let one interpretate or declare And yf ther be no man there to let him kepe sileÌ„ce and speake not to the congregacion Do not your lordships perceaue plainly how Antichriste his filthy generation study and laboure with policy to subuerte all godly and profitable ordinaunces made by Christ and by his Apostles Wherfore coÌ„trary to Paules doctrine and the godly ordinaunces receaued do ye suffer our priestes to reade a synge the holy scriptures dayly in the churches to the people in a tonge that they vnderstande not nor perceaue that is spoken calling it Gods seruice coÌ„pelling the people to come to heare it Who vnderstaÌ„deth or is taught any thinge therby They mocke the people with a vayne souÌ„de wherby they haue no lust nor commoditie nor profite Is not this Antichristes ordinaunce of the holy scriptures to be reade in a tonge or speche nor vnderstande nor perceaued of the people Collos â—â— coÌ„trary to the scripture that commaundeth that the worde of God shuld dwel in vs abundauntly that we mighte teach the one the other A woÌ„derfull crafty abomination of desolation standing in the holy place depriuinge the people of the vnderstandinge of holy scriptures And where Christe hath ordened certen Apostles certen prophetes some Euangelistes and doctours to fynish a nomber of the electe and to buylde the misticall body of Christe In the stede of which ministers of Christe by Antichriste are entred in theues that receaue and take greate reuenuwes and profites of the benefices but they do no thinge the office that Christe appointed and assigned vnto the office to be done Euen raueninge wolfes that nether spare nor fauoure the flocke of Christe And no meruayl it is for in that they take the profites of their benefices and do not the office ther vnto belonginge by Christes senteÌ„ce they be theues by daye and by nighte Ioan. 10. Whose office and cominge is not to feede and to fauoure the flocke sayeth Christ but to steale to kyll and destroye as your lordships haue therof to moch experience and most certen profe Is it not therfore abomination of desolation standinge in the holy place to see a thefe and a murtherer stande in the church of God in the steade of a true and diligente pastoure and godly feader or bisshop Is it not abomination of deslation standinge in the chief cytie of Englande to sea franked fat Boore sittinge at euery sermoÌ„ preached at Pauls crosse and thesame not be founde ones in the yere in the same pulpet feadinge the flocke committed to his spirituall charge Is it not abominatioÌ„ of desolation staÌ„dinge in the holy place to se the holy scriptures in oure natiue English tonge writteÌ„ vpon euery wall in the churches now to be by commaundemente blotted out and in the stede therof erected kerued ymages of wood and of stone by Gods owne sentence accursed and all they that make the same And how they that cause theÌ„ to be set vp shall escape the same curse I know not They also vpon palmes sondaye lifte vp a cloth and saye hayle oure kynge to a Roode made of a wooden blocke Doutles a worthy kinge for soch a people Now right honorable Lordes I trust ye be not ignorante of the tyme wherin Antichriste shall come regne and rage againste God and Christe Euen verely now when there was neuer moare abomination of desolation standing in maÌ„s conscience and erected and set vp in the temple and church of God Where as in the stede of a constante fayth in Christ is planted a most wicked faith trust in the man of sinne And in the place of Christes only one sacrifice made vnto for vs for euer sufficiently is erected and set vp a sacrifice made of bread and wyne daylye to be made a sacrifice for vs. And in the stede of the holy scriptures to be declared that the people might vnderstaÌ„de the sence and meaninge therof is erected and ordeyned the gospels and holy scriptures to be read and spoken in a tonge and speache that the people which heare the voyce â—aâ—e no profite or comforte therby By this pointe of abhomination of Desolation all the clergie for forth them selfes that they abhorre no thinge moare then the lighte of Gods worde Ioan. 3. Which no man doeth but he that doeth euill sayeth Christe that lyeth not In the stede of pastours and spiritual teachers be entred in theues and most cruel murtherers And in the stede of
and false religion And a nother doctrine and religion receaued to the former religion and doctrine directe and manifest contrary some mē therfore wil doubte whether the first doctrine and religiō be godly or the later doctrine and religion receaued be the truer and better to be folowed I will commende vnto youre godly remembraunces right honorable lordes not such doctrines as any new writers call of their awne heedes false doctrines and doctrines of deuyls or the doctrines of lyenge masters But the same doctrines that Christ and his Apostles expresly call false doctrines and the doctrines of Deuyls So that your lordships nor any other shall haue any iust cause to be ignorante what be the doctrines of deuyls and who be wycked preachers and lyenge masters the wicked secte of Antichrist who also is the heed Antichrist The people serue Antichrist and yet do not knowe hym Although doubtles righte honorable lordes I well perceaue the multitude of the worldly people so plaged of God with blindnes and hardnes of hearte that all though they with all dyligence studie and obedience dayly do serue Antichriste the greatest aduersary of God and of Christe yet do they not knowe nor vnderstande hym to be Antichriste christ nor do perceaue his crafty illusiōs his hypocrisie and disguysed fashons So that except a man consider beholde hym assuredlye by the light of Gods worde he shal neuer vnderstande espie nor perceaue hym although he had a subtyle and pregnant witte as clere and wel seyng eyes and as craftye a brayne as euer had man He cōmeth in so disguysed vnder the colour of holynes Yea and that in the name of Christ vnder the pretence to condemne al false and erronious doctrines and heresies Which thing all Christen princes and all other good men wil be most diligent and glad to do But herin he most subtilie and shamefully begileth al men For he and his adulterouse generation will chalenge to him and to them autoritie power only geuen to determe discerne and to iudge what is heresie errour Antichrist in the name of heresie condēneth the trueth what is false doctrine And by that meanes be the doctrine neuer so true and godly yf it soūde any thinge against his vsurped power his pryde his profite his vngodlye decrees and lawes made in generall Counseils and other his false and wicked determinations and iudgementes he will condemne it for heresie And he that preacheth it hym will he accurse callyng him the enemie of God and of al the holy church a seditious person not worthye to dwell in any comen wealth But yf Emperours Kynges other ciuill gouernours rulers wolde examin his doctrines and trye them by the light of Gods heauenly worde and proue all his other procedinges how they agree with the same They should then sone perceaue vnderstāde knowe that he himselfe although he calleth him selfe the head of the church and Christes vicar vpon earth the successour of the Apostles yet should they fynde and proue hym to be the head Antichrist the Arch-heretique the man of Synne and childe of perdition And al his sectes to be the sectes of perdition that departe from the fayth that also attende to the spirites of errour denyeng the Lorde that bought them But for as moch right honorable lordes as no man can wel put any diuersitie betwixt two extreme cōtraries except he perfitly vnderstande and knowe bothe the contraries I will first describe and set forth vnto your good lordships Christ who is contrarye to that wicked Antichrist according as the holy scriptures Ioh. 5. which as Christ sayeth beare true witnesse of hym And then I will also paynt in his lyuely colours that Arch heretike Antichriste that extreame contrarye to Christe But no nother wyse then Christ and his Apostles in the holy scriptures haue reueled and euidētly expressed and declared hym So that the one contrarye compared and set nere to the other contrarie shall expresse declare and set forth the other more euidently playnlye and more aparauntly Fyrst Christe is as muche to saye Christ as annoynted as Iesues Christe was of God the father not with oyle creame coniured of our Bishoppes but with the holy Ghoste who in the holy scriptures Psal 44 and. 88. is called the oyle of gladnes by whome God enlighteneth enstructeth and teacheth his holy Churche of the which he hath appointed and authorised Christe to be the Supreme head Kinge Phil. 2. Hyghbisshop and euerlasting Priest Who beyng equall with God his father dyd vouchsafe of his mere mercy good wil to descende from heauen toke on hym our vile nature not forsaking his diuine nature but ioyning them together both natures remayning not diminished hurt or altered became a perfite man in all natural miseries like vnto vs excepte only synne Ro. 5.8 Col. 2. And euen then when we were his enemies he reuyued vs and offered hymself to God his father vpon the crosse as a sacrifice to be slayne for the redēption of oure sinnes Heb. 10 By which this his only one sacrifice ones performed for vs not for a litle season but for euer he hath made holy and perfite them that be and shal be made holy and perfite And by this meanes he hath reconcyled vs to God his father Eph. 2. pacifienge his fathers wrath that then was against vs thorough his bloodshedinge and paynfull death And he that was without synne became a ful 2. Cor. 5. iust and perfite satisfaction for oure synnes Eph. 2. Col. 2. And hath taken awaye the curse and condemnation of the lawe delyueringe vs from the cruell curse and iudgemente therof And after thorow his awne power he ouercame death and ascended to heauen where he continueth oure aduocate mediatoure and only sauioure from oure synnes Ioan. 10. Oure onely waye and doore by the which we must enter into eternall ioyes To whom only we be boūde to geue the honoure and thankes for our redemption from synne hell Ezech. 43 Luk. 2. and death euerlastinge And therfore to obeye and serue hym all the dayes of oure life in holines and righteousnes accordinge to oure callinge Herin haue I described and declared to your honorable lordships oure redemer and only sauioure Iesu Christe and his only office and benefites most mercifully exhibeted and done to vs. By the which description your Lordships maye / with moch more facilitie ease haue certayne sure vnderstanding knowlege of Antichrist the other extreme contrary to Christe This Antichriste must not be vnderstanded and taken righte honorable Lordes for one naturall man what is Antichrist that by nature is as all other be a miserable synner or that he shuld be a certen wicked persone that shuld be begotten betwixt a Freere and a Nonne or betwixt a Monk and a Nonne according to olde wiues fables and winter tales But this name Antichriste is the name of
a misterie and office perteininge to a misticall bodie wherof the principall minister is called the chief Antichriste as all the other membres of the same faction misterie and office be also Antichristes All which receaue power autoritie and office from their heed Antichriste that in al his doctrines maners and lyuinge is mere contrary to Christ For euen as that congregation is the misticall body of Christe wherof he is the supreme heed that hath receaued the true and sincere preachinge of the law and of the gospel and lyue accordinge to the preachinge of the same and also haue the sacramentes duely administred vnto them accordinge to Christes institution of the same The description of Antichriste Euen so is that malignaunt church and congregation the misticall bodie of Antichriste that hath not amongest them the true and sincere preaching of the Law and of the Gospel ne yet the sacramentes dulie administred vnto them accordinge to Christes institution of them ne yet accordinge to the practise of the Apostles nor of the primatiue church nor the same can be content to lyue according to the rule and doctrine of Gods heauenly worde nor suffer any other to lyue accordinge to the same but will compell theÌ„ with tormentes to receaue a new religion that must consiste other in vayne thinges which be of no commoditie or profit to any man ether spirituall or temporal or els it is manifest wicked and repugnauÌ„t to Gods holy worde And first touchinge their vaine thinges and deed ceremonies of their religion that be of no commoditie or profite to any man excepte onlye to the sluttishe secte of perdition I note all their popishe traditions of confirmacion of yonge children with oyntinge of oyle and creame and with a ragge knitte aboute the necke of the yonge babe the christeninge of belles the halowinge of oyle and creame the halowinge of churches of churchyardes of chalices of vestimeÌ„tes of aultares of aultare clothes of salte of bread of fiere of asshes of water of candles of palme stickes Iudas bels with candels bloweÌ„ out at the ende of euery Psalme and lesson crepinge to the crosse with egges and apples dispelinge with a white rodde wasshinge of aultares Of all which thinges the holy scriptures commaunde not one to be done although in this churche of Antichrist they be straytly coÌ„mauÌ„ded to be vsed And yet I know no wise man that wil or can prayse the comoditie or profite that cometh therof to any man but only to the priest that hath the caÌ„dles egges c. that be offred vnto hym And although ther riseth not any coÌ„moditie or profite other spiritual or teÌ„poral to any man yet as I haue said they be straytly coÌ„mauÌ„ded to be obserued / coÌ„trary to Gods coÌ„maunÌ„demeÌ„t that sayeth Deut. 12 That which I commauÌ„de you that only take hede do to the Lorde Putth on nought therto Not withstandinge which commaundemente / because Antichriste wold partly set forth his awne nature and propertie that is to be contrary and disobedieÌ„t to God and Christ he hath erected these new holy thinges neuer of God commaunded And therfore as they be not of God so be they of no commoditie or profite to any of the people of God why Antichrist commauÌ„deth vanities But yet ther is some consideration wherfore Antichriste hath commaunded these vayne thinges to be done One is that he wold haue his filthy generation to be had in estimation of the worldly babes because that they haue receaued soch holines from his holy fatherhood that they maye sanctifie and make holy that God hath halowed allready lyke as the thinges of Gods creation were not sufficientlye halowed thorowe his eternall worde wherby he created them Exalteth not he himself aboue God honorable lordes that taketh vpoÌ„ hym to adde holynes to that which God hath sufficiently halowed Be not these his halowinges of Gods creatures a necessary point perteininge to the vocation of a spirituall pastoure / that hath cure and charge of soules Or be they not necessary thinges to be done of a Christen man / towchinge his vocation and dutie to be done towardes God and towardes his neighbour And although they be worthy rather to be laghed at and mocked / yet by these his vanities he occupieth the tyme hat shuld be spente in the instruction teachinge the people in the lawe and the Gospell Moreouer by these as also by many other their doinges / they declare their diligente cure and studye that they haue to obeye Gods commaundement geuen to them to instructe and to teach the people Gods worde that leaue the gospell vnpreached and occupie the heartes and mindes of the people with soch trifles and vanities But because these vayne thinges do not sufficiently reuele this wicked Antichriste and his secte That he may be knowen of all men I will commende to youre memories honorable lordes some of his false doctrines Not soch as I of myne awne brayne call false doctrines and the doctrines of deuels and of soch as departe from the fayth and be lyeng masters and geue eare to the spirites of erroure But soch doctrines as Christe and his Apostles note to be the doctrines of deuels and of soch as by the same doctrines shal deceaue 〈◊〉 and shall cause many to folow the spâ—…tes of erroure So that euery man that heareth soch doctrines preached maye boldlye saye that the preachers therof be false preachers and sectes of perdition that they be the adulterouse generation of Antichrist that these many yeres haue deceaued and bewitched the world And although Christ and his Apostles haue manifestlie declared and euidently set forth to the world the sayd doctrines to be the doctrines of deuels and of them that departe from the faith and the very selfe same doctrines wherby Antichriste and his filthy secte shulde deceaue many Yet soch hath ben the blindnes of the worlde that they can not vnderstande nor perceaue those doctrines to be the same wicked doctrines wherof Christ and his Apostles admonished theÌ„ al men to beware not only because he coloureth his doctrines with false paynted gloses Ioan. 3. but also because the world loueth darkenes moare theÌ„ the lighte And also to verifie Christes wordes of prophesie to be truely fulfilled in them saying I am come in my fathers name and you receaue me not Iaon 5. But yf a nother shal come in his awne name him wil you receaue Now touchinge the false doctrines of Antichriste Sainte Paul sayeth 1. Tim. 4 The spirite manifestly sheweth that in the last tymes certen men shal departe or go awaye from the faith attending or geuing eare to the spirites of erroure and doctrines of deuels prohibitinge to mary and commaunding to absteyne from meates that God hath created to be receaued of them that beleue and know the trueth with thankes geuinge By this doctrine of sainte Paul manifestlye appereth honorable Lordes that the forbiddinge of mariage is the doctrine of
his Apostles so plainly spokē that they be nether obscure darke nor hard to be vnderstāde Who also haue cōmaunded all mē to beware of them of the teachers of thē Rom. 16. so to departe decline frō them I haue also set forth his tyrāny his sedition his treason his crafty and false deceates wherwith he hath circumuented oppressed and deceaued many Emperours kinges and other noble rulers to whome Christ commaunded hym to obeye Mat. 17. and gaue him also a manifeste and playne example when he payed tribute for himselfe and Peter And by his owne obedience vsed and practised vnto the higher powers vnto their lawes He neuer gaue him exēple authoritie or power to depose other Emperoure kinge or any other cyuil rules And therfore for this his disobedience towardes God and for all his other iniquities he is iustly called the man of sinne a child of eternal perditiō So that he is worse thē a beast or the most frātike madde man that euer was madde that ether wil saye or thinke that he is other Christes vicare or successoure to the Apostle But rather the deuels vicar and successoure or clothe deuel himselfe For as by the frute the tree is most certenly knowen euen so 〈◊〉 your lordships by these his false doctrines al other his wickednes assuredly knowē him to 〈◊〉 man of synne veraye Antichriste himselfe And all his wicked generation to be the sectes of perdition the wicked brood of Antichriste most contrary to God and Christe Wherfore he most falsly vsurpeth to him the title and name of holy father or of Christes vicar in earth or successoure of the Apostles But moch more worthely and truly is called Antichrist the most malitious enemie and hatefull aduersarie of Christ as both his doctrines his decrees wicked lawes his pride exaltinge him selfe aboue al Emperours kinges his dispensational for sinne to be vsed in the church of God his vanities where with he deludeth and bewytcheth the people ▪ all his forged and fayned holynes his hypocrisis dissimulation sedition treason most seuere crueltie and all other his wickednes and most detestable lyst of both hym and all his fluttish generation of serpentes and filthy secte of infideles do manifestly proue and testifie before all men So that doubtles the◠can not be any thinge more contrary to God and Christe then he himself and his wicked broede do in all thinges Consideringe that youre lordshipe be not now ignoraunce as my trust is what thinge Antichrist is but that you wel vnderstande and knowe that all they that be come in to the church to occupie an misterie office or vocation contrary to Gods worde and Christes ordinaunce and appointementes or abuse his sacramentes contrarye to his ordinaunces or that teach any false doctrine or that take vpon them any of Christes honoure or power be veraye Antichristes which is as moch to saye as againste Christe Wherfore right honorable lordes I hope that God will open the eyes of your heartes that you maye nowe at the last see and well perceaue by what crafte falseed and subtile deuyses you haue ben deceaued entised to serue Antichrist in the stede of Christe the deuel in the stede of God to folowe false superstition in the stede of Christes true religion hypocrisie and vanitie in the stede of the christen veritie And in conclusion that you maye well vnderstande that you of al mē haue ben most blinded in your iudgemētes most fylthilie corrupted and your vnderstandinge and senses most shamfully deluded begyled and bewitched Therfore my good Lordes nowe renewe youre wits and vnderstandinges And knowe you certenly that all your lordly lorde bisshops be of the naturall broede of Antichriste Who with all subtiltie policie and falsheed studie and labour to obscure the light of Gods worde why they make the nobles partakers and to subuerte the ordenaunces of Christ and of his Apostles and obstinatly defēde their errours and euill doinges and make you their ministers to murther your brethern for their faith against your conscience to wrappe you and your posteritie in Gods displeasure with them And because your lordships shall not be deceaued in them I haue geuen you the comon token signe and marke wherby you al men can not but know them to be against Christ and his worde Where Christe sayde to Peter feede feede feede Which is to saye teach teach teach They take teachinge for no parte of their office but only to multiplie a sorte of blinde ceremonies to bringe the people from knowleage of Christe and to kepe them vnder in ignorance with crueltie And that they maye bringe that to passe they laboure to be lordes and to haue temporal offices contrary to Gods worde sayenge The kinges of the nations reigne ouer them Luc. 22 and they that beare rule ouer them be called gratious lordes But you shall not be so That is you shall not take upon you to haue ciuill gouernaunce and rule ouer the people ne yet to be called gratious lordes S. Peter commaundeth all bishops and soch as haue spirituall charge of soules committed to them to feede the flocke of Christe willingly as Christe commaunded him and not to be lordes ouer the parishes but euen as they were one of the flocke Yet your lordships well perceaue that oure bishops not only take to them selfes the name of lorde and gratious lorde but also procure to haue both cyuell gouernaunce and rule ouer the people as to be Lorde chaunceloure Lorde presidente and to haue the hearinge of testamentary causes of whoredōe of dyuorses of slaūders which be no spirituall matters Except a man will so call them bycause that they that boast to be spirituall only do most vse them And as for preachinge where with Christe chiefly chargeth his ministers is the least poynte of their charge But they must attēde vpō bysshoppinge of childern christeninge of belles of churches churchyardes altares and soch other baggage and abominations as were neuer commaunded of Christe nor yet practised not knowen of his Apostles Wherby they maye easlye be knowen not to be of Christ but against Christ and very Antichristes In lyke maner the persones vicars and curates that are admitted by them to haue enioye and occupie the commoditie and profite of any spiritual benefice wherunto perteyneth cure and charge of soules do not diligently reache the Lawe the Gospell but nosell the people with longe Matenses Masses and Euen songes in a straūge tonge And where ryche parisshes be they rocke them with mirrye singinge and pipinge with soch guegawes to please them withall cleane contrarie to Gods worde and Christes commaundement which sayeth As my Father sent me 〈◊〉 20. euen so do I sende you But his Father dyd sende him to preache as it is playne Esaye 61. Mark 1. Luke 4. with the whiche comaūdemēt of Christ geuen to all that haue charge of soules nother Emperoure Kinge nor Quene maye lawfully
dispence or discharge Wherfore as they be minisers contrary and not according to Christes commauÌ„dement Euen so be they Antichristes that be euer against Christ in all his doctrine and forme of lyuing As Christ sayeth â–ª he that is not with me is against me Matt. 12. And how many so euer be come against me be sâ—…s by daye and nighte Ioan. 10. And consequently Christ myndinge to shew vnto you the coÌ„dicions wherby ye maye euer know who be spirituall theues sayeth the thefe commeth not but to steale to kill and to destroye Of their stealinges youre Lordships be not ignorauÌ„te How many beneficed men be within this Realme as well bishops as deanes Archedeacons persons uicars and prebendaries which take the profites from their benefices / and do not feede their flock with the word of God Mat. 4. with out the which the soules of the flocke caÌ„ not lyue Wherfore they steale the profites that do not the office And of their cruell mortheringe you haue to moch experience that nother of thefe mortherere robber or traytour but of the best lerned meÌ„ of this realme or that euer were in this realme Euen of soch as were hable to reproue and coÌ„trolle them in all thinges by Gods worde Wherin they deceaue and mocke you and all the people And to proue theÌ„ veraye theues And as youre lordships haue to moch experience of their stealinge and of their mortheringe Euen so shal your lordships not sayle to haue more certen and sure experience that they shal be most miserable destroyers of this realme of Englande and that at soch tyme when your lordships nor any of youre posteritie shal be hable to prouyde any helpe or remedie to redresse their destruction For euen as Christes wordes be vnfaynedly true that the thefe cometh not for any purpose but to steale and to kyll so must the residew of his wordes euer be founde to be true most certen and sure that is that he shall also destroye And although you now do not regard nor beleue Christes wordes to be true yet when you thinke least theron your infidelitie shal be requyred with the fealinge and peynful sufferinge the destruction of you and of youre posterytie and the most miserable chaunge and alteration of the state of this realme This miserable mischiefe ensueth and cometh of this misorder that the gouernaunce of this realme by your lordships consentes hath be committed and done agaynst God in makinge a bishop that by Gods worde and appointemeÌ„te was assigned to feed the flocke committed to his spirituall charge to leaue his office committed to hym by God to be executed and done to be a chauncelour wher by he was so occupied and busied in the hearinge of the matters affaires of this realme that he could not attende his flocke to feade them accorddinge to Christes commaundemente Wherby he was put out of that order and rule that God had appointed to him Beinge out of the which order appointemente of God he could neuer be coÌ„modietie or profite to this realme For he was entred into the office not by the dore Christ but ascended by a nother waye therfore was a thefe fromÌ„ whoÌ„e no good counsaill or any other godlines can procede nor more then of thornes maye grapes be gadered And that his doinges will proue to well For in that office he hath brought to passe by his counsaill and persuasion and by your lordships sufferauÌ„ces soch incurable euill that all Englande shall lamente and bewayle the same Not only in kyllinge the preachers and lerned meÌ„ of this realem but also in the vttâ—r destruction of this Realme the alteratioÌ„ of the state and honour of the same And although God hath delyuered you of that spirituall thefe Yet be your lordships and all the Realme burdened with a nother in the same office that shall do no lesse euil then the other hath done Yf so moch euill maye be done For as a ioynte ordeyned by God in the bodye is appointed and set in a dew order to helpe the bodie which ioynte beinge out of that order that God hath set it in can not be any commoditie and helpe to the bodie but great peyne and trouble to the bodye Euen in lyke maner if a bishop that is appointed and ordeyned by God to teach his flocke be taken from that office wher in God had assigned and ordered him he can neuer be profitable but great hurte and peyne to the bodie For I thinke that there is no man that hath any knowlege in the holy scriptures or any good conscience towarde God but he well knoweth that a bisshop that feedeth not his flocke is a thefe Otherwise he beleueth not Christe to be true in his wordes And if he be a thefe as the trueth sayeth he is then is his cominge for no nother purpose then to steale to kyll and to destroye And who so euer doubteth ther of doubteth whether Christe be true And I feare me that because the gouernours haue not beleued Christe to be true that they shall proue it true by experience to their great peyne Soch shal be the frutes of a bishop set in autoritie to be a counselour for the temporall affaires of the Realme that he is one of them that is come to steal to kill and to destroye Of whome God by his prophete Esai complayneth sayenge Esay 1. Heare oh heauens and herken oh earth for the Lorde speaketh I haue noreshed and brought vp childerne and they are falleÌ„ awaye from me How happeneth it that the righteous citie which was ful of equitie is become vnfaithful as an whore Rightuousnes dwelled in her but now mortherers In tymes past it was the office of Nero and of other tyrantes to tormentt men to death for their faith but now oure english bishops haue takeÌ„ vpoÌ„ them to put the tyraÌ„tes out of that office For they them selfes condemne both lerned and vnlerned for their faith and make you right honorable lordes to execute the office That they might set forth to all meÌ„ that they be the veraye theues of whom Christ that can not lie speaketh Whose cominge is for no nother purpose then to steale to kill and to destroye And yet to deceaue the people they be crepte in vnder the cloke of my lorde bishop a reuerende father But to this my lorde bisshops and their accomplisshes saye that they kil none for their fayth but for their heresie which ought of all Christen men to be abhorred and auoyded accordinge to the true sayeÌ„ge of the Apostle that commaundeth sayenge an heretike after he is twise reproued auoyd him 2. Tit. 3. But yet sayeth he not kil min but auoyd him As al the fathers of the primatiue church haue shewed manifest example in the exile of many that in veraye dede were heretikes approued by gods worde to be heretikes and yet were not persecuted to deeth for their heresyes Vntil Antichrist of Rome the heed of
al heretikes by crafte gyle and falsheed seduced and begyled the Emperours and kinges and robbed them of their dominions and powers wherby the hath exalted him selfe not only aboue them but also aboue God And then became he a most cruell tyrant and made lawes of death for all soch as he and his fylthy secte did adiuge heretikes Therby colourably to morther and destroye all soch as did ones speake or preach against his vsurped power or by any meanes reueyle his iniquitie for that calleth he and all his filthye generation of infideles heresie Which exemple of makinge of lyke lawes oure english bishops did compasse and bringe to passe about the yere of oure Lorde 1420. then beinge a bishop Lorde Chaunceloure and a nother lorde priuey Seale wherby being in great authoritie high estimation amongest the nobles and counselours thorow flattery circuÌ„uented the kinge and his counsaill and other of the nobles to make a law in Englande to suppresse heresie spronge vp in this realme But what that heresie was that must only be adiudged by the Antichristes lawes and by his sworen secte the generation of infideles the enemyes of God aduersaries of Christe For as it is reported by cronicles it was the reuelation of Antichristes iniquitie that he calleth heresye Forther to colour their cruel tiraÌ„nie they sayed with their forfathers the Bishops Priestes Scribes and Phariseys and the rest of the Iewish clergie It is not lawfull to vs for to sley any man And as for vs ye may trust well inough we be to holy to deceaue you You maye frely wtout scrupulositie of conscieÌ„ce crucifie whome so euer we committe in to voure handes For if he be not an euill doer we wil neuer deliuer him vnto you You re honours neade neuer to examine the cause but boldly burne him Oure soules for youres His blood vpon oure heades And by soch subtile meanes made all Kinges and Officers of EnglaÌ„de that haue bin synce their tourmentours and hange meÌ„ A goodly office that they haue sett all kinges and you right honorable lordes in They haue made the kinge and you their hange men not a whit better And yet for al their warrantyse puttiÌ„ge their soules for youres though ye wash neuer so cleane your haÌ„de with Pylate wheÌ„ ye thus morther the innocentes for their saith in Iesu Christe be assured that Gods curse will not departe from you youre howses excepce ye spedelye repente But how that law agreeth with Gods worde it shal appere Euen as God the deuel Christ and Antichrist light and darkenes First God by his Prophet Esai sayeth Esai 11. they shal not hurte nor shall they kil in all my holy hyll By this holy hil meaniÌ„g this his church Wherfore yf youre lordly Lorde bishops were true ministres in this church they wold not morther any man for his faith / or for want of a good faith which he can not haue of his awne power and studie The Prophet Hieremie sayeth also Iere. 7. Behold these men saye vnto me where is the worde of the Lorde Let it come Where as I neuer the lesse leading the flocke in thy wayes haue compelled no man by violence for I neuer desired mans deeth This knowest thou well Here Hieremie sayeth that he leading the flocke in the Lordes wayes compelled none by violence to walke therin This doctrine and exemple geuen by Hieremie agreeth but sclenderlye with Antichristes canons decrees lawes nor with the law newly reuyued by your lordships consentes and laste of all with youre bishops mortheringe and tormentinge of your lerned men Also when Christe going vnto Hierusalem Ioan and Iames entered in to a citie of the Samaritanes to make prouision for Christe But the citesins wold not receaue Christ Wherfore Ioan and Iames retourned to Christ and shewed to him the vnkindnes of the citesins sayeng vnto him Master will thou that we commaundye fyre to come from heauen and consume them Iesus turned to theÌ„ / and rebuked them sayenge You know not of what spirit ye be The sonne of man is not come to destroye meÌ„s lyues but to saue them If your lordly lorde bisshops were Christes true seruaÌ„tes then wold they folow his doctrine and example As Christ sayeth He that serueth me let him folow me Ioh. 18. Ioan. 12. And he that foloweth me walketh not in darknes But all men maye perceaue that this their mortheriÌ„ge is mere contrary to both Christes doctrine and example and vtterly bewrayeth them to be the seruantes of Antichriste As Paul sayeth 1. Tim. 5. Good deades be manifeste and they that be euyll can not be hid The parable of Christe of the tares sowed by the enemie vpon the good seed which the master wold not haue draweÌ„ vp vntill harueste leste drawinge vp the tares Math. 3. the good wheate shuld also haue ben drawen vp declareth manifestlie that Christe wold not any man of an euil faith to be killed for his euill faith For if Paul had byn tormented to deeth for waÌ„te of a good faith wheÌ„ he was a persequuter of Christes church He theÌ„ had neuer bin the Apostle of the gentiles ne yet the most laborious worke man that euer wrought in Christes vinyard And if Sainte Augustine had fouÌ„de so cruell tyraÌ„tes to haue persequuted him to deeth before he was coÌ„uerted by God at the preachinge of S. Ambrose theÌ„ the church had waÌ„â—ed at this daye as godly a doctor wryter as euer wrote in Christes church sence the Apostles But ouer besides Christes doctrine and exmple which be not any errours or vperfite doctrines the Apostles doctrine is that the seruante of God shulde not stryue 2. Tim. 2 but to be geÌ„tle to al men apte to teach and one that can suffer the euill with mekenes and can enforme them that resiste the trueth He sayeth not can kill them that resiste the trueth but can enforme them For neither he nor nay maÌ„ can know when it shall please God to open the eyes of his heart and to geue vnto him a perfite faith which now ys holdeÌ„ captiue in vnbelefe at the wil of the Lorde This doctine of the Apostle although you wil not geue credite therto yet proueth it manifestly before all men that your lordly lorde bishops be not the seruauntes of God that shuld suffer the euill accordinge to Christes doctrine and example And also this doctrine of the Apostle proueth that youre law reuyued is against the doctrine of Christe and of his Apostle And therfore is a wicked law inuented by Antichriste and his filthy genratioÌ„ and sluttish secte of infideles to subuert extinguish al godly knowleage faith Also the Apostle sayethrif ther be any that obeyeth not oure teachinges 2. Thes 3 sende vs worde of him by a letter and haue no company with him that he may be ashamed And counte him not as an enemie but warne him as a brother Perceaue ye not honorable lordes
the holy scriptures written vpon the church walles in a speach that the people do vnderstande and perceaue be erected and set vp â—erued ymages accursed of God with the makers of them So that in the stede of lighte and knowlege is brought in and traded darknes and ignorancie which he the greatest policies and subtile craftes practised by Antichrifle and by all his filthy secte wherby he and they maye bringe soules to hell Now it resteth to be noted right honorable lordes wherfore the Apostle nameth Antichrist the man of sinne rather then a sinner as al men be conceiued and borne in sinne Paul nameth him the man of sinne because from him as from a founteyne and heed well springe floweth and springeth all notable and greate sinnes and wickednes as false doctrines wicked lawes and decrees dispeÌ„sations for buggery fornication and all kinde of lust and lechery for Symony and vsury Wherby all men be drawen and leade from their faith in God and in Christe in to a false faith and trust in most vayne tryfles and vanities wherby he practiseth to bringe innumarable soules to hell Also right honorable lordes where as God hath commaunded all men to be obediente to the higher powers Rom. 12. 1. Petr. 2 as to kinges most excellente or to soch as be set in authoritie Notwithstanding soch coÌ„maundement geuen from God yet Antichriste myndinge to declare himselfe and his secte to be aduersaries to God and Christe hath resisted and circumuented many Emperours also kinges whome thorow most detestable treason sedition and intestine warre in their Empires Realmes and dominions he hath deposed and depriued of their Empires and kingedomes to the great dishonour and disoledieÌ„ce of God to the effusioÌ„ of moch christen blood the lameÌ„table desolation of many wydowes and miserable orbatinge of many Orphanes and fatherles childerne As the deposition of Chelpericus beinge French kynge from his kingdome who was naturally borne and descended from the noble lynage and house of the kinges of Fraunce and in his stede the erectinge and makinge kinge Pipinus which was not borne of any noble house nor of the lynage of kinges of Fraunce The deposition and putting downe the Emperours Frederike from his Empire The deposition also of Otho kinge of the Longebardes and of many other do manifestly beare wytnes Amongest the which I will coÌ„meÌ„de vnto your lordships memories one lameÌ„table historie that is this When Henrich the fourth Emperour of that name attempted to haue the electioÌ„ of the Romish bishop as his noble progenitours before him had One HyldibraÌ„de a moÌ„ke beinge then the Romish bishop and named him selfe Gregory the seuenth bisshop ther of that name did fearsly withstande the said Henrich stered vp soch intestine sedition and warres in his dominion that his people did seke meanes to chose a new Emperoure / which treasoÌ„ beinge forsene of the said Emperoure and of his counsaill his enimies could not bring their wicked enterprise and purpose to effecte Then the said MoÌ„kish pope Gregorie whose couetousnes ambition and pride all the Italian writers can worthelie testifie Amongest whom Beno the cardinal most earnestlie plainly paynteth and setteth forth the same excomunicated the said Henrich and as many as did either ayde him with power riches or vitailes And did forther absolue and discharge al the subiectes of the said Henrich of their obedience towardes him which they by Gods lawes did owe vnto the said Emperoure And then in open proclamations made in all the dominions of the said Henrich he burdened and sclauÌ„dered the said Henrich with the most odious and greuous title and name Heretike â–ª and schismatike enemie to God and to all holy church wherby many of his frendes and subiectes euen al they in whose consciences did sitte Antichriste occupienge Gods holy place did flie and departe from the said Emperoure Wherby the power of the said Emperoure was greatlye decayed and minished And theÌ„ Hildibrande the monkish Pope bestered him busylie and caused one Rodulph duke of Sweuclande to be elected Emperour Who after great bloodshedinge lost his lyfe and Empire After him by Gregories commaundemente one Herman Earle of Lucenburge was chosen Emperour who after great maÌ„slaghter was sleyne in the warres and lost his life and Empire And thridly thorow treason wrought by Gregorie was one Marchio Echerte chosen to be Emperour who after greate slaghter of christen meÌ„ lost not only his Empire but also his lyfe which cruell warres finished with no litle bloodsheding gaue occasion to other princes to feare to fyght againste the said Henrich because of the great murther and deeth of these thre noble princes But yet the malice and cruell ambition of the hearte of that monkish pope Gregory coulde not be pacified but that for his priuate lucre honour he wolde maynteyne so blody warres neuer beinge moued to mercye nor pitie with the destruction of so many cities and townes set a fyre and myserably wasted nor with the destruction treadinge downe and vtter waste made of so many feldes of corne and grasse nor yet with the shedinge of so moch christen blood nor with the lamentacion and mourninge of so many widowes for their husbandes sleyne nor with the greuous outerye of Orphanes that dyed for lacke of bodylye foode nor for anye euill that ensueth the furious warres wold this holy father leaue of his workinge of sedition and treason Oh horrible monster Againste nature he stered vp Henrich the only sonne of Henrich the fourth to gather a great army against his owne naturall father who nether for publike nor priuate wroÌ„ge done by his father to him noe any other euil was prouoked therto Neuerthelesse he did not only vnnaturally forsake his father wtdraw his ayde froÌ„ his father in the time of neade but thorowe the treason wroughte by Gregorie by his helpe he circuÌ„uented his father and oppressed him with power did take him prisoner in the warres and leed him captiue to prison where he put his awne father myserablye to death Behold right honorable Lordes a tragedie moare then cruell and bloody Behold the charitie of oure holy fathers of Rome By this facte they haue setforth soch exemple of wickednes as neuer was before seene or hearde of If their sedition treason oppression craftes and subtelties be well wayed and pondered of all wicked men they maye most iustlie be called not only a wicked synner but also the man of sinne From whome all the detestable and great sinnes of the world procede although there shuld not be had in remembrance all their dispensations for the stewes of whorish womeÌ„ and of fylthy and abhominable Sodomitical lustes for Symonye vsurye and all other vices to regne in the worlde Now righte honorable lordes I trust that I haue sufficiently set forth this monstrus furious beast Antichrist as well by his false doctrines that I haue not fayned to be false of myne owne brayne and phantesye but of the manifest sayeÌ„ge of Christe