disturbe the peace of the vniuersall world Whereunto Liberius did not take exception saying that the visible Church stood for him and Athanasius but rather giueth another reason to make good his being alone Be it that I am alone notwithstanding for that the cause of the faith is not the worse for a great while agoâ—e there were three onely found who would resist the Kings commandement Heere the Church for any external shew was low brought for if any body held it vp it was Athanasius who then played least in sight and durst not appeare For this Liberius who did for a time second him did afterward shrinke He went at first into banishment in defence of the truth but after that he was solicited and laid at by Fontunatianus that he relented and condiscended to subscribe to the Arrian heresie as Hierom witnesseth who liued in that age and was long conuersant in Rome and therefore could better report what was the issue of Liberius his constancie then some others who doe relate it otherwise What can be said for him Bellarmine hath but yet inforced by the euident testimony of Athanasius Hillary and Hierome he confesseth so much as I haue here set down but couer it he would that he only consented to the externall act of subscribing but remained in heart Othodox Why should it then bee a maruell if in processe of time Antichrist growing to greater strength the Church should bee in couert It is no more then often fell out vnder the Iewish Synagogue hath bin exemplified to haue been since among the Christians and was so euidently foretold before In so much that by the example of the woman it can not bee the true Church vnlesse it should be hidden in the wildernesse Which while our Popish teachers deny to agree to their Romish Church but professe that it hath euer been in sight they themselues doe by a consequent proclaime that they are not the pure and vndefiled flying woman but another painted harlot and strumpet The true Church is for a time out of sight in the wildernes but so say they was their Church neuer and therefore will they nill they their Church is not the true Church And here to the end that the slaunderous calumniation of our aduersaries may the more be manifested to all those who wil not wilfully close their eyes against truth I will a little shew the vanity yet maliciousnes of their obiection when they say there was neuer any of our faith before the daies of Luther who in the yeare 1517 began for his part to display the kingdome of Antichrist Where I pray the Reader to consider that the most part of those whom I shall cite are Popish Writers and no way partially affected towards vs. We say then that Martine Luther was not the first brocher of those points which he taught again't papistry but as he did originally deduce them from the Scriptures out of the works of the ancient Fathers so he did derine them also hereditarily from other who immediatly before him had taught the same doctrine left it both in books the hearts of men recommended vnto him as principal parties herein I name Iohn Hus Hierome of Prage and all such as were their schollers in or about Bohemia who before Luthers time oppugned the beliefe of the church of Rome their profession was not extinguished vntill his dayes howsoeuer it before had bin mainly assaulted If we could learne this no where els yet Fr. Guicciardine an Italian Florentin Historiographer would informe vs of it who writing of the yeare 1520 saith plainly that Luther did set abroad the Heresies as he tearmeth them of the Bohemians and hee nameth there Hus and Hierome as former diuulgers of the same and Petrus Messias a Spaniard therein agreeth with him who mentioning the opinions of Hus and the Bohemians saith they were the seed of those errours which were afterward in Germany alluding to the doctrine of Luther There is no man whose testimony in this behalfe may be of more worth then Ioh. Cochleus First because he wrote a large story of purpose concerning the Hussites therfore by his long search reading and writing in that argument may be persumed to know as much as any Secondly because it may be well imagined that he would fain nothing to do Luther good in as much as he also wrote a volume purposely against that worthy seruant of God intending to rip vp his whole life from yeare to yeare and to censure all his works yet this enemy of his in the Story of the Hussites doth plentifully satisfie vs about the matter now in question One where he telleth vs that Hus did slay soules for an hundred yeares together neither yet doth he cease to slay them by the second death Within an hundred yeares after him came in Luther according as the said Iohn Hus did prophecie not long before his death And when it is added that yet he doth not cease to slay it is manifest that his Doctrine remained till the dayes of Cochleus In another place he relateth that Luther did stirre vp seditions in Germanie by the Books of the Hussites Afterward he calleth those who were in Germany in his time New Hussites And againe Hus did so rent the vnitie of the Church that vnto this day there remaineth a pitifull diuision in Bohemia He proceedeth in the same matter elsewhere saying That the people of Germanie are now by Luther partakers of the Heresies of Hus and Hierome One sort of the followers of this Iohn Hus did call themselues Thaborites and these were they who most dissented of all from the Doctrine of Rome Of these he speaketh thus Vnto this day remaineth the Sect of the Thaborites in many places of Bohemia and Morauia vnder the name of Picards and Waldenses Lastly the same Cochleus in the yeare 1534. doth wish that hee may see the remainders or leauings of the Hussites to returne to the Church and the Germanes to cast out all new Sectes VVhat can bee more euident then that the Doctrine of Iohn Hus was sensibly and apparantly continued somewhere euen till the dayes of Martin Luther Vnto which may bee added that whereas Luther began to shew himselfe but in the yeare 1517 that very yeere was ended the Councell of Laterane held at Rome and finished by Pope Leo the tenth And there consultation was had of reforming the manners of the Church and of recalling the Bohemians to the vnity of the Church of Rome And as these Testimonies doe conuince that the Christian Confession of Hus was not extinguished at the comming of Martin Luther so may there be good reason assigned why it did so long continue in as much as it was imbraced by many and earnestly maintained euen vnto the death When Hus began first to preach the people which vsed handy craftes did with
the appearance of a visible Congregation can hardly bee imagined When our Sauiour had selected out his Apostles they then were termed by the name of a Flocke but yet by their Master they were called but a little flocke where the Rhemists do confesse that in the beginning it was little indeed At the death of Christ when his body hanged on the crosse for our sakes and his Disciples were all fled no man daring to shew himselfe Mary and Iohn and a fewe women were all the faithfull that now appeared vpon earth and afterward while the Apostles their followers walked very priuately or were assembled in a chamber the Priestes and Scribes and Pharisees were they who ruffled it in the streetes and bore the sway in the Temple so that if a weak body had enquired for the Church he might rather haue been directed to them who had the Law and the Altars and all sacred things in their custody then to any other When Steuen had been stoned and for feare of the persecution which was at Ierusalem the Disciples were all scattered besides the Apostles it may well be presumed that for a time they which remained in the citie where Steuen had lost his life did not walke very openly Truth it is that after these things the Church was better setled and the truth was more spread but yet neuer was there any such priuiledge bestowed vpon it but that in the dayes of persecution or some grieuous apostacy the faithfull might bee brought to a small visibilitie Our Sauiours wordes intend so much when alluding to the time of his second appearance to iudge the quicke and the dead he asketh Neuerthelesse when the Sonne of man commeth shall he find faith on earth as meaning that very little should then bee found in comparison of the Floodes and Ocean of iniquitie which euery where should abound But God to the end that he might not haue vs ignorant but warned before hand into what straights the Church should bee brought informeth vs by Saint Paul that the Lord shall not come except there first bee an apostacie or reuolt or falling away wherein Antichrist with great pride and disdaine should shew himselfe This is solemnly spoken of by the Apostle and by all both old and new intreating of it is obserued to some matter of great note that is to say some maine declining from somwhat Many of our Papists fearing to touch this sore which can in no case turne them to good would haue that interpreted to note nothing else but the slipping of diuers regions countries from their subiection to the Romane Empire But Gregory Martin and the other Rhemistes being ouercome with the euidence of truth are heere a little more honest then ordinary and speake to other purpose Indeed they cannot tell how it will be taken at other Papists hands that contrary to the custome of their fellowes in a matter of such moment they should giue way vnto vs and therefore they doe vse these words in vvay of excuse â— Be it spoken vnder the correction of Gods Church and all learned Catholiques But to the poynt concerning the Apostacie they deliuer this It is very like that this great defection and reuolt shall not bee onely from the Romane Empire but especially from the Romane Church and withall from most poynts of Christian Religion in the Margent it is and from most Articles of the Catholique Faith Heere they would haue vs take the Romish beleefe for the Christian Religion and Catholique faith but that deserueth a long pause we rather obserue out of them that this reuolt is in matter of faith and not onely from the Empire then which Glosse nothing can be truer Well then if there must bee so egregious an Apostacie it will follow that Antichrist so domineering as by the Apostle he is described will not bee negligent so to represse the publike seruice of God that it shall not carry any liuely head or countenance where hee hath to doe So that certainely our Rhemistes yeelding to this Exposition doe in substance confesse so much as that the apparancy of Gods Congregation in the time of the great defection must bee mightily ecclipsed Now the Lord to the end hee might establish his faithfull and arme them to expect this paucitie of beleeuers and inconspicuousnes of his Church and yet not be discouraged for that which should bee past present or to come And againe that there might bee no doubt in a matter of this moment letteth vs further know that the woman fled into the wildernesse where shee hath a place prepared of God It is not doubted of betweene the Romanists and vs but this Woman doeth represent the Church concerning whom being in the wildernesse it doth manifestly follow that for the time of her abode there which the Almightie had decreed she should not be discerned that is by her enemies who did would chase her notwithstanding it is not to be doubted but shee knew where her selfe was If the Romanist therefore and persecuting aduersary did not euer see the Professors of the Gospell it was no wonder the woman was to remaine in the Wildernesse a part and hidde from them The euidence of which matter is such that as Master Fox obserueth for feare of diuers things in the Reuelation of Saint Iohn whereof this may worthily be one scant any Popish Writer for many yeares together durst aduenture to comment any thing vpon the Apocalyps vntill our Rhemistes being desirous to shame the Pope and themselues with all who are wise and adventured to set pen to paper Hauing then a purpose to set forth and corrupt the New Testament partly by their Translation but most of all by their Annotations they could not choose but say somewhat of the Reuelation although they professe that it is as sparingly as may be and as briefly which is not for that the Volume of the Rhemish Testament groweth great as they would colour it but for feare least they should too much lay open their owne weakenesse which while that Booke is in the Bible will neuer bee concealed Howsoeuer therefore through their Volume in many maine matters they bee very silent where they should most speake as of the Question of imputed righteousnesse where the Apostle doeth most handle it a sore argument of their owne conscience distrusting their cause and euen sinking vnder the waight of that chapter yet here God ouer-ruling them to say the truth as hee did Caiaphas they interpret the woman to be the Church flying from the great persecution which shall be in the time of Antichrist Indeed to keepe peace with their Lord and Mastes the Pope they will not haue this flight to bee but in the very ending of the world and so they would fetch it with a backe Racket that the woman should continue so in secret but three yeares and a halfe which to keepe all vpright they assigne
to be the time of Antichrists raigne and then the Iudgement must come which is a most fond evasion seeing by that meanes men liuing at the appearance of Antichrist should be able precisely to tell when the day should be to wit three yeares and a halfe after Antichrists entring But of that day and houre knoweth no man no not the Angells which are in Heauen neither the Sonne himselfe saue the Father onely It can neuer be made good that the time times and halfe a time the two and fortie moneths and the thousand two hundred and sixtie dayes are so literally to bee taken as that they should containe exactly three ordinary yeares and a halfe Your Romane Bishop in his declination hath already been in the world much longer and he is the greatest Antichrist that euer yet was manifested among men and on whom many things in the Scripture signified touching Antichrist doe directly and vnauoydably light Well this reuolt taking place and the woman the Church being in the wildernesse it is not to be doubted but here and there be diuers which serue God aright the very gates of Hell not being able to preuaile against them And as these in generall wheresoeuer dispersed doe make vp the vniuersall militant Church so where any few of them euen in the smallest number are assembled together they may be said to be a particular Congregation or Church Where three are saith Tertullian there is a Church although they bee Lay persons It is likely that he alludeth to that saying of our Sauiour Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the middest of them He is with them as with members of his Church to guide them and heare them to blesse them and preserue them And that such little assemblies are not vnworthy the name of the Church is plaine by S. Pauls words to Philemon where he sendeth greeting not only to Philemon and Appias and Archippus but to the Church in Philemons house for so the Rhemistes themselues translate it In dangerous and Apostatating times such petty assemblies doe make vp the generall and they belong vnto the same mysticall body although they not onely be not knowne to their persecutors but many of them haue no acquaintance with other They haue the same Head the same Faith the same Charitie the same Spirit the same Holy Ghost is giuen to all Saints ioyned one to the other in loue whether they know each other corporally or doe not knowe them saith Saint Austen The want then of Acquaintance each with other may keepe the godly asunder as well as the rage of their persecutors both which are to be found in the case of Elias But directly to follow further this Argument of the Ecclipse of the Churches glorie may it not bee thought to be brought to a low ebbe when it is said of the second Beast That he causeth all both small and great rich and poore free and bond that he should giue them a marke in the right hand or in their foreheads and that no man might buy or sell saue hee that had the marke or the name of the Beast or the number of his name And what else is signified when so many are mentioned to haue commerce with the Whore of Babylon yea all Nations are reported to haue drunken of the wine of the wrath of her fornication The ancient Fathers were not ignorant that such times these might bee when they so oft compared the Church to the Moone as Saint Ambrose The Moone it selfe whereby in the Oracles of the Prophets the countenance of the Church is figured when at the first rising againe shee is renewed into the ages of the Moneth she is hidden by the darknesse of the night and by little and little filling her hornes or right ouer against the Sunne ending them doth shine with the light of cleare brightnes S. Austen in one place doth for diuers respects liken the church vnto the moone and expoundeth the moone to signifie it In another place he hath the Sun is Christ the Moon the Church which as one the one side it doth intimate vnto vs that the Moone hath no light but from the Sun and the Church no light nor beauty but from God so on the other side it doth most liuely put vs in mind that as the Moon continueth at the same stay but increaseth and decreaseth waxeth and waneth is ecclipsed by the interposition of the earth between her selfe and the Sunne and somtimes in the change cannot be seene although it is neuer to be doubted but there is a Moon so the church of Christ whilest this troublesome world doth last is now glorious then shadowed in one age in beauty in an other age kept vnder vnder some Princes in peace vnder others in persecution yea sometimes so pressed with the extremity of the malicious as that she is glad to remaine retyred into secret places not to appeare openly to the malignant albeit shee neuer is nor can be extinguished but hath a continuall being Vnto which it may bee added that since faith doth much consist of things which are not seene and we beleeue the holy Catholike church as an Article of our faith it may follow that it need not euer be eminently visible and apparantly sensible vnto vs. For the better exemplification of this verity it may be remembred what hauock was made by the Heathen Romane Emperors and their deputies against the flock of Christ in the ten first persecutions that in the Roman dominion there was scant any to be heard of who professed Christianity but he was soone cut off by the sword or otherwise Did they in those times suffer any potent visibilitie of true Professors or whē they once knew where they were did they not forthwith labour to extirpate them But in the dayes of Constantius when the Arrian Heresie had once gotten the head where in the world did there appeare any sencible Congregation maintaining the Orthodox beliefe Hieroms testimony of those dayes was The whole world did sigh and wondred that it selfe was Arrian The words are but few but they are to the purpose So said Saint Gregorius Presbyter writing the life of Gregory Nazianzen The Sect of the Arrians had almost possessed all the coasts of the world the power and impietie of the Emperour ministring vnto it The words of Constantius himselfe in Theodoret do giue testimony vnto this Neither doth Liberius the Roman Bishop say ought to the contrary The speeches of the Arrian Emperour against him and Athanasius are these The whole world doth thinke that this is well The whole world hath giuen sentence of his impietie Thou alone doest embrace the friendship of that wicked man And a little before that Doeth so great a part of the world reside in thee Liberius that thou alone doest dare to come in ayd to that wicked man and
God's good seruants to bee of the number of the Elect and propter sanioren et meliorem partem for their sounder and better part to bee of that Church whereof we are to be members of that body whereof by the grace of Christ we are a portion And in this respect our settled and resolued iudgement is that when it is asked Where our Church in former Ages was we may besides that which we haue formerly answered truly say that it was in England in France in Spaine in Italy yea in Rome it selfe Spiritus vbi vult spirat the holy Ghost breatheth where it pleaseth for who cannot conceiue by the writings of many in former Ages or by such touches as others doe giue concerning them that diuers who liued neerest the Whore of Babylon did most detest her abomination and finding that the weaknes and impurity of her doctrine could not truely satisfie the hungry and thirsty soule did according to that knowledge which Christ out of his Word reuealed vnto them seek some means which was not ordinarily professed in that Time And if it be asked Who they were and how they could lie hid from the world It may truly be answered that their case was like the case of them in the daies of Elias who were not knowne to that State which would haue persecuted them Now why should not wee think but as God had his secret and inuisible company at that time in that most idolatrous Countrey so in the time of the deepest darknesse hee had those which saw light his Christian Children among Antichrists Brood such as embraced true Religion among the superstitious So that Italy and Rome and these Westerne parts had some of Gods Saints in all Ages who like Sea-fish most fresh in the salt water and beeing remoued in their affections though not in their persons did with Lot vex their righteous soules in the middest of a spiritual Sodom and kept themselues vnspotted of the world And yet it is not to bee taken that wee coarctate the Church within those Prouinces onely which looked towards the See of Rome but know that God had thousands of his Elect elsewhere Christians haue bin in India euen by perpetuall descent from the daies of the Apostles and so in Africa among the Abissines in infinite and huge companies besides such as haue continued in Armenia Asia the lesser Aegypt but especially in the Greeke Church which was neuer so much as in shew extinguished and from whom the Russians and Muscouites had their Faith Our Popish Lads would gladly shut all these out of Christs Fold because they acknowledge not the Bishop of Rome for their Vniuersall Pastor but wee should doe wrong to Almighty God to pinne his iudgement vpon the Popes sleeue and to offer to pull from him so many ample Churches whereas charity and common sense might put vs in minde that he might there haue thousands throughout all Ages Looke to these places ye Papists and imagine that if there had beene none but these yet the words of the Scripture which in generality speake of a Spouse had beene true and Christ had there had his body on earth and the Church had not beene vtterly extinguished if neither we nor the Synagogue of Rome had beene extant But in as much as it cannot be denied but that the prophesies concerning Antichrist doe most touch the Westerne world Rome beeing by the holy Ghost euidently designed to bee the seat of the Whore of Babylon as also because our Romish Standard-bearers are more willing to talke of those parts then of any other I will once returne againe to the Countreys neere adioyning Then in some parts of Christendome how many men were there in all ages who loathed both the See of Rome and the whole courses of it as the Israelites did loath the Aegyptians bondage Mathew Paris alone giueth as many notable experiments that way as relating the Acts of the Emperour Frederick who put out diuers declarations in detestation of the Pope and adding elsewhere further of his owne that Pope Gregory did absolue from the oath of fealty all who were bound vnto the Emperor perswading them that they should be faithfull in vnfaithfulnesse obedient in disobedience But so much deserued the Romane Churches lewdnesse which is to be execrated of all men that the Popes authority did merit to bee harkened vnto by few or none He reporteth also of a certain Carthusian Monk at Cambridge who cryed out against the Pope and said that Hee was an Heretick and that the Churches were profaned and of Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincolne who was a man both holy and learned in his time This Lincolniensis while he liued had many combates with the Bishop of Rome and openly resisted his barbarous tyranny in domineering so farre in England as to enioyne prouision of the best Benefices to be taken vp for Italian Boyes which for a Prebend in his Church of Lincolne hee would not yeeld vnto and for that cause was by the Pope excommunicated But when hee was dying hee most bitterly inueighed against the Romane Bishop and the Ecclesiasticall persons as the most wicked men that did liue In the same Author you may also finde the conceit which the most reuerend Arch-bishop of York Sewaldus had of them and their proceedings What should I mention Ioachim who said that in his time Antichrist was already born and was in the City of Rome or that Bishop of Florence who liued about the yeer 1100 and did vse to say that Antichrist was then in the world Which moued Pope Paschalis so much as that hee thought fit to enquire of him in a Councell and did there castigate him for it Notable in this kinde are the Contentions of Philippus Pulcher the King of France and his whole Clergy against Boniface the Eightth I might adde to these Petrus de Brus and many other learned men who laid the Axe to the very Root of Popery and some in set Treatises oppugned one of their documents and some assaulted other but that the Writer of the Catalogus testium veritatis as it is lately enlarged and Master Fox and Master Bale and diuers other haue largely handled this to the reading of whose Bookes I doe referre them who in particular desire to bee more aduertised in this behalfe Now if these things doe appeare much by their own witnesse and by the confession of Papists themselues as also by such few Records as by Gods prouidence so disposing doe yet remaine how many illustrious arguments might there haue beene of the Confession of our faith if the Clergy and Magistracy of those darke times had not burned and suppressed all things which made against them as I shewed before touching the Bookes of Iohn Wickles Reinald Pecock in Oxford The Clergy in those dayes did almost rule all and they had the custody of all Libraries to ransack at
Fellowes to inuent and deuise touching vs whereas we vtterly disclaim these and the like positions as execrable and vngodly yea that Mounti-bank which once before I mentioned hath not blushed to asseuere that we so teach as that by our doctrine the Protestants are bound in conscience neuer to ask God forgiuenesse of their sinnes and that They are bound in conscience to auoid all good works as also that We make God the only cause of sinnes and hold that God is worse than the diuell So shamelesse was this fellow growne that hee neither knoweth nor careth what hee saith and yet many a poor Papist abused and gulled by the diuels deceiuing instruments doth swallow such Gudgeons and runneth away with these things beeing as verily perswaded of them as that the gospel is true Such a hand the seminary Priests haue ouer their disciples that they may not read our Books to see whether these obiections be true or no neither may they hear ought to the contrary Now if they thus vse vs who can speak for our selues will any man maruell that those who professed the Verity two or three hundred yeers since doo taste of the malignant aspersions of those Times The Romanists notwithstanding all this which hath been said doo not yet so leaue vs but once more further adde that none of all those which hitherto haue been named or can be named but in some knowne consessed and vndoubted opinions did vary from you and therefore they and you may not bee said to bee all of one Church Our Masters of Rhemes doo think that this lieth hardly vpon vs and therefore thus vauntingly they vrge that They will not put the Protestants to prooue that there were 7000 of their Sect when their new Elias Luther began but let them proue that there were seuen or any one either then or in all ages before him that was in all points of his belief What the old Fathers taught we may haue time heerafter to shew but for other of later time it is most easie to manifest that all those whom before I haue named did generally for all main matters teach the same that we now doo teach There is no Papist who can truely and without calumniating them or faining things vpon them demonstrate that in causes which touch the substance of faith or the foundation of Christian Religion they did dissent from vs. Hee that will try this let him look on the Declaration of Walther Bruite which I before mentioned and let him read it set down by himself and not reported by other And what did that learned Lay-man deliuer there which was not the belief of Wicklef and the rest of the English professing the Gospell in those Times But if there bee in some petty matters yea questions of some reasonable moment difference of opinion between them and vs shal wee not therefore bee of the same Church with them or they with vs Yes verily for otherwise many of the antient Fathers should not bee of the Communion of Saints or Catholick Congregation with those who came after them and amended their errors for was not Lactantius spotted with the Millenary infection and Cyprian with the matter of re-baptizing Had not Austen an opinion of the necessity of the Eucharist to bee administred to children and that infants being dead without Baptism were not onely depriued of the fruition of heauenly ioies but were damned to the pit of hell and to euerlasting torments And what man religiously affected will suspect but that although S. Cyprian and the other African Bishops assembled in a Councell did concerning the new baptizing of those who were already baptized by Hereticks determine clean contrary to Cornelius and the rest of the Italian Bishops yet they should not bee of the same faith in generall and of the same holy Church whereof Cornelius was Saint Austen can thus write concerning Cyprian Whereas that holy man Cyprian thinking otherwise of Baptisme then the matter was which was afterward handled with most diligent consideration established did remain in the Catholique Vnity both by the plentifulnesse of his charity a recompence was made and by the sickle of his suffering there was a purging In another place hee saith The authority of Cyprian doth not terrifie me but the humility of Cyprian doth refresh mee He meaneth that if that worthy man had liued to haue seene more light in that argument or to behold what the succeeding time had reuealed and concluded in that behalfe hee would in great humility and meeknes of heart haue conformed himself and yeelded vnto it which may iustly seeme for a true defense of the Waldenses Io. Wicklef Iohn Hus or any other seruant of God who might seeme in matters of small moment to vary from vs. And thus I trust that by this time it appeareth to euery one who will not wilfully cloze his eies and stop his eares against an apparant truth that God hath at all times had his Children holding the verity of Christian Religion and not approouing of the filthy Superstitions and sacrilegious Idolatries of the abominable Antichrist of Rome So that it is a most fond collection that either the Popish Conuocation or Confusion are the right and vndoubted Spouse of Iesus Christ or else that for one thousand yeeres together there was no Church in the world They doat much vpon themselues and on the opinion of their beauty who in such intolerable deformities doe predicate and magnifie their Synagogue as the vnspotted wife mysticall body of our most blessed Sauiour Truth it is that intending to blinde the ignorant and to abuse the simple they labored by all externall pomp and shew to giue to their hypocrisie outward formality a settled opinion of pietie sanctitie and for that cause there was no corner of the braine of man or rather of men in many Ages succeeding together vnsought to procure glory to that which in it selfe was very vnglorious Their care therefore was to conuert the eies of all persons on their externall hue which was maruellously adorned and garnished to the sense with their Crosses set vp or carried before some Prelates with the triple Crowne of their Popes in the red Hats of their Cardinals the precious attire of some in their Churches their prodigious apparel abroad the diuers color'd Couls of their Monks such singing chanting with Organes such ringing of Bells such trimming of Images and many more such sensible matters as that neither the Iewes nor the Gentiles had the like And among al this if true Religion in diuers were present it is not to be maruelled at if shee were scant seene or if no notice were taken of her for her poore and vntrimmed or vngarnished hue for her naked simplicity and vnpainted integrity It was the commendation giuen to Salomons Beloued by whom the Church is represented that the Kings daughter is all glorious within her beauty consisting
was not long after that Conradus the Archbishop himselfe became a Hussite also as the Authour calleth him Vnder this Conradus as President of the assembly these Hussites held a Councell at Prage in the yeare 1421 and there they compiled a Confession of their faith This cause did the said Archbishop and many Barons of Bohemia afterward stiffely maintaine complained against the Emperor Sigismund for offring wrong to those of their Religion Alexander also the Duke of Lituania did giue these Hussites ayd which moued Pope Martin the fifth to write vnto him in this sort Know that thou couldest not giue thy faith to Heretikes which are the violaters of the holy faith and that thou doest sinne deadly if thou shalt keepe it because there cannot be any fellowship of a Beleeuer with an Infidell Thus did the vertuous Pope write In processe of time there grew a parley betweene Sigismund the Emperour and the Bohemians There among the Compacts this was one That the Bishop should promote to holy Orders the Bohemians euen the Hussites which were of the Vniuersitie of Prage And they might well deserue to be reputed Vniuersity men for Cochleus himselfe witnesseth that the Priests of the Thaborites were skilled in arguing and exercised in the holy Scripture Kakizana one of them did vndertake to dispute with Capistranus a great and learned Papist By that time that the yeare 1453. was come Aeneas Syluius doth complaine that the kingdom of Bohemia was wholly gouerned by Heretikes Now all the Nobilitie all the Comminaltie is subiect to an Heretike That was one George of Gyrziko Gouernour of the kingdome of Bohemia vnder King Ladislaus But when Ladislaus was dead this George himselfe was by the Nobles and people chosen King of that Countrey And continuing the ancient profession of his Religion about the yeare 1458. those of Vratislauia and Silesia doe refuse to obey him as being an Heretike Notwithstanding Pope Pius the second then intending warres against the Turke did by all meanes perswade them that they should yeeld obedience vnto him This George saith the Authour was borne and brought vp in the heresie of the Hussites Now when Pope Pius did interpose himselfe as a Mediator betweene the King and his subiects George did require of the Pope that hee might keepe the Compacts agreed vpon at Basil in behalfe of the Bohemians And when Pius would not yeeld thereunto the King calleth together the Estates of his kingdome and protesteth that hee would liue die in those Compacts and so did also the nobles which were Hussites This was done at Prage in the yeare 1462. This resolutenesse of his caused that Pope to tolerate many things in him But Paul 2 who succeeded in that See of Rome did excommunicate that King set vp a Croisado against him Also he gaue to Matthias the King of Hungary the title of King of Bohemia Onuphrius in the life of Paul the 2. saith that the Pope did excommunicate him and depriue him of his kingdome Indeed for seuen yeares this George Matthias did war for it and Matthias got from him Morauia and Silesia a good part of the kingdom of Bohemia Vratislauia also and some other Prouinces and Cities did put themselues in subiection to Mathias Yet did not George deale hardly with the Papistes which were in Prage but in his greatest extremity did vse both the aduise and aid of many Nobles of the popish belief At length after the continuance of warre for seuen yeares Mathias concludeth a peace with king George both against the wil of the Pope and the Emperour And then this King was content to aske of the Pope an absolution from the Excommunication some Princes being mediators for him in that respect But before the Agents could returne from Rome the King died in the yeare of our Lord 1471. By this Story it is manifest that both noble and learned of high account were of that Christian Beliefe which Iohn Hus taught and were contented to aduenture al things which they had in the world for the maintenance of the same Perhaps here it may bee asked but how shal we know that Iohn Hus and his followers did imbrace that Religion which is now professed in England We find in Aeneas Syluius some opinions of theirs which peraduenture will scant be reputed currant among all English Protestants Hee rehearseth these foure of theirs That they would receiue the Sacraments in both kinds that ciuill dominion is inhibited to Clergie men that Preaching of the Word was permitted to al men that publik crimes are in no sort to be tolerated I answer that truth it is that hee there mentioneth onely those and whether he relateth them truly or no it may be doubted as anon I shall shew by laying open the custom of the enemies of the Gospell in misreporting their doctrine But elsewhere he deliuereth other opinions of theirs as against the Supremacy of the Pope against Purgatory against Inuocation of Saints and such like matters If we returne to Cochleus who was best acquainted with their matters we shal find much more As thus Hus translated all the Books of Canonicall Scripture into the Bohemian tongue and the people did most diligently read them They would haue the holy Scriptures to be the onely Iudge in Controuersies They held that all Bishops and Priestes are the Successors of the Apostles that not the Pope but Christ is the head of the Church neither are the Cardinals the body but all that beleeue in Christ that that the Pope is not a member of the Church but of the Deuill and his Synagogue that one Pope was a woman yea Hus did preach that the Pope is an abomination and Antichrist Also he calleth the generall Councell at Constance The Synagogue of Sathan Another of his articles was The Pope is the Beast in the Apocalyps His Schollers after his death brake downe the Images in Churches and Monasteries yea Zisca did cast down all the churches which were dedicated to the virgin Mary or to any Saint as if it were lawfull onely to build a Church to Almighty God In his time the professors began to be distinguished in two companies the one of thē did not so much dissent from the Pope as the other Those which in fewer matters diffred from the Bishop of Rome retained still the name of Hussites they which disagreed in more were called Thaborites of Thabor the citie which Zisca built for them And these were the greater number and the stronger There is in Cochleus a confession of faith made by one Iohann Pezibram a Bohemian who was but a Hussite and not wel affected to the Thaborites because he accounted them as a kinde of Precisians or Puritans in comparison of himselfe yet this more mild man doth wish and beg of God to see a reformation of the Church that there might be redressed Symonies throughout all
the world most detestable most wicked setting to sale of al SacrameÌ„ts most insatiable auarice most impudent fornications most putrified vncleannesses rottennesses most abominable Concubines keeping most polluted manners most dissolute most corrupt gestures and behauiors harlotry euery where too too much multiplied in the Clergy wherwith alas the whole world lieth corruptly filthy Also the Lucifer-like pride of the Clergie is exalted aboue God their dainty daily banquets their abundant riches and rich abundance their disquietnes most litigious being the chiefe root of the quarels of the world their curiositie most vaine their most vnseemely pompe of apparell their conuersation most Secular-like their most open transgression of all the Commandements of God their most remisse care of soules their most negligent regard of the word of God This he saith for himselfe but concerning the Thaborites who indeed came neerer to the purity of the Gospel he witnesseth of them that they held that materiall bread doth remaine in the Sacrament that the Saints now triumphant are not to be called vpon that there is no purgatory that no suffrages or prayers are to be made for the dead Also they allow not of the holy dayes almost of all the Saints nor of Eue or Vigils that goe before them nor the consecrations of visible things as salt oyle holy water Bels and such like They haue a schismaticall celebration of their Masses that is a seuerall sort of Church-seruice and refuse the most celebrious seruice of the Church and the rites and administrations of almost all the Sacraments Let our Papists now speak whether they we do not agree in the same doctrine altogether For I doubt not but they who had receiued so much grace froÌ„ God as to see al these things were also partakers of farther knowledg in the misteries of saluatioÌ„ While I haue spokeÌ„ thus largely concerning these good Christians in Bohemia let not any man imagin that Christs faithfull flocke was restrained within the compasse of that countrey so that godly men were else no where to be found For certaine it is that betweene the times of Io. Hus who was burnt in the yeare 1415 and the first standing vp of M. Luther were very many other who in that darknes did see what belonged vnto the light of the Gospel Among these may be reckoned as very memorable the Waldenses who about the yeare 1508 do make an answer in defence of themselues and therin as they testifie that then they had Priests of their owne so they speake against Purgatory and most openly against Transubstantiation The same touching Transubstantiation they doe in a Confession of theirs where also they impugne Adoration of the Eucharist There also they name the Prelates Vnsauorâ— Salt and auouch that the execrablâ— naughtinesse which was in them by the instinct of the Deuill did driue them away from the Sea of Rome For the Papists in their Sermons did call one another Schismaticks Hereticks Sacrilegious false Prophets rauening VVolues the Beast and Whore in the Reuelation of these there were many in one part of France who time out of mind had refused to beare the yoake of the Pope and therefore in the dayes of Frauncis 1. King of France by a bloudy decree of that King but by the execution of one Minerius a most cruell person Merindol Cabriers with some other villages about them were sacked and destroyed men women children being slaine yea diuers of them being stripped starke naked first and then murthered and fortie poore women being burned in a Baâ—ne I may adde vnto these many worthy men here there dispersed whereof all cryed out against the Church of Rome and desired a reformation and many of them apprehended and deliuered to other the true meanes of Iustification which is the nearest point of saluation The Author of the 16 Century nameth about the yeare 1500 and somewhat after but yet before Luther Baptista Mantuanus Franciseus Picus Earle of Mirandula both which much inueighed agaiust the Clergy and their whole practise Also one Doctor Keiserspergius another called Iohn Hilton a third named Doctor Andreas Proles and Sauanorola all groning vnder the burthen of those times The Oration of Picus in the CouÌ„cel of Later an is extant where besides his most bitter taxing of the filthy behauiour of the Clergie he vseth these words Pietie is almost sunke into superstition How Mantuan doth euery where pay the Romanists may appeare to those who read his workes But one place of him I will name Petrique domus polluta fluente Marcessit Luxu nulla hic arcana reuelo Nonignota loquor liceat vulgata referre Sic Vrbes populique ferunt ea fama per omnem I am vetus Europam mores extirpat honestos Sanctus ager scurris venerabilis ara cynaedis Seruit honorandae Divum Ganymedibus aedes Quid miramur opes recidiuaque surgere tecta Thuris odorati globulos cinnama vendit Mollis Arabs Tyrâ— vestes venalia nobis Templa Sacerdotes Altaria Sacra Coronae Ignis Thura Preces Coelum est venale Deusque Some of them I English thus Priests land now Iesters vile doth serue the Altars Bawds maintaine Of holy Churches of the Gods lewd Ganymeds make their gaine Why doe we wonder that their wealth and houses falne doe rise Sweet Frankincense and Cinnamon are the onely Marchandise Of the Arabians and but Clothes the Tyrians vse to sell But with vs Churches Altars Priests yeeld money well Things hallowed crowns fire frankincense the Prayers which we make Yea Heauen yea God are saleable if money wee may take The opinions of Sauanorola against Popery are many and for them howsoeuer it be otherwise coloured he was burnt In the matter of free Iustification he is cleare And the same is written also of Trithemius another learned man who liued at that time How in England Christ had in all these times Professors of the truth I shall haue occasion to shew anon when I come to speake of Iohn Wiclefe In the meane while I shal not do amisse to meÌ„tion some other whowere between the daies of Io. Hus M. Luther A special oppugner of the Papacy was the learned Laurentius Valla a Romane Patritian and Canon of S. Iohn of Later an there He wrote a Treatise of purpose against the forged donation of CoÌ„stantine He prouounceth of his own experience That the Pope himselfe doth make war against peaceable people soweth discord between Cities Princes The Pope doth both thirst after mens riches and swalloweth vp his owne He maketh gain of not only the Common wealth but the Estate Ecclesiasticall and the holy Ghost The latter Popes do seeme to labour this that looke how much the ancient Popes were wise and holy so much they will be wicked and foolish He liued about the yeare 1420 and for the freenesse of his speech and pen was by the Pope driuen into exile About