AN APOLOGY FOR JOHN WICKLIFF, showing his conformity with the now Church of England; with answer to such slanderous objections, as have been lately urged against him by Father Parsons, the Apologists, and others.  
COLLECTED CHIEF OUT OF diverse works of his in written hand, by God's especial providence remaining in the Public Library at Oxford, of the Honourable foundation of Sr. THOMAS BODLEY Knight:  
BY THOMAS JAMES keeper of the same.  3. Esdras Cap. 4. ver. 38. 
Truth doth abide, and is strong for ever, and liveth, and reigneth for ever and ever.  
At Oxford, Printed by joseph Barnes, printer to the University. 1608.   

TO THE HONOURABLE Sr EDWARD COOK, Knight, Lord Chief justice of his majesties Court of Common Pleas.  
My very good Lord; it is not long since, It was my hap, to see a Book published; quo iure, quáue potius miuria, against your Lordship's Fift book of Reports: Entitled the jure Regis Ecclesiastico by one, that if he had not termed himself a catholic Divine, I should have taken him for any thing else: So far is he in this lying Libel from being a Divine, much less Catholic (unless it ●●e in the sense universal) being indeed nothing else but an universal Historian. I have also read an other book wherein your Lordship is most unjustly produced, or rather traduced for an egregious falsary, a crime which that Libeler hath made common to others of your rank, and of higher mark, by imputing the same most scandalously unto one of the most Honourable and religious Peers of this land. furthermore I have hard of diverse others, whose fingers do itch, to be dealing with your Lordship, according to the grounds of your Honourable profession. By all which I perceive, that your Lordship hath so mortally wounded the hairy scalp of that man of Rome, which would feign be accepted for head of this Church, that our adversaries do strive with no small ado, who shallbe most forward, to salve this sore, though it be never so incurable. But amongst all others, who so adventurous, as our pretended Catholic, surnaming himself the Divine, which hath spared no cost, no labour, for the effecting thereof in his late answer. Seely disputer, that where the question is de jure, produceth testimonies de facto, and being by profession a Divine, & the question of law bringeth his proofs out of Hisstorie. Doubtless the Divine is much beholding unto your Lordship (though he do craftily dissemble it) for giving him so good an occasion both to show his great reading, and withal to purge so much choler, being of likelihood of that choleric & bilious disposition.  Quod si non aliquà nocuisset, mortuus esset. 
I gather so much by his writings; for I am verily persuaded, that this is not the first book, that hath come out of th●s man's forge; ●here be diverse books, I should have said Pamphletts, cast abroad, which savour of the same style and file: so finely smoothed and framed for the nonce, that a man may know him to be his craft's Master, in this black Art, though he transfigure himself into an Angel of light, & profess all manner of candour and Chari●ie in hi● writings; but the contrary is too too manifest in his lying Pamphlets. To say nothing of his slanderous reports against the late religious Queen of blessed memory: against the reverend Sages and judges of the Common law in general, and your Lordship in particular; because he takes upon him to be so great a Clerk in the question about the King's Crown and dignity, I have endeavoured in this Apology (which I have framed in defence of that famous writer and preacher of God's word john Wickliff) to oppose against his slanderous Libel, his answer; as the answer of a most ancient, Catholic, and learned Divine. Ancient, for he lived in the time of K Edward the 3. Catholic, for he maintained the same doctrine then, which the Church of Eng ¹ and now (being guided by the Holy Ghost and sacred writings of Scripture & Fathers) doth profess; learned in all kind of good knowledge, needful for a Divine: & for the main question touching the king's regalty & the Pope's Supremacy, he delivereth in other terms the very same arguments & reasons, which I find written in that your said fift Book of Reports: proving the truth of your assertions, by the jaws Civil, Canon, & Common. Wherein because I profess little knowledge (it being not my element; and as your Lordship hath well observed, Perito in sua arte credendumest,) I have presumed to submit the whole Apology unto your judicious & learned censure, quatenus de jure. If your Lordship find him not in this Apology (where I have, as near as I could, truly related his words) most judicious, religious, temperate, learned, & altogether conformable unto the doctrine and discipline of this present Church (which this libeler so much impugneth) and agreeing with the laws of God and of this Realm, let me bear the fault of presumption, and undergo your heaviest Censure whom I profess, I do honour and reverence, as far as any of my profession, and as it becometh me to do in all Christian duty; knowing your Lordship to be a zealous professor of the truth, a worthy maintainer of the Clergy, a loving Patron of both our Universities, and lastly a great furtherer of all good learning: which that you may live for to do, maugre the opposition of our adversaries, I shall never cease to pray unto the Almighty, long to continue your Lordship in health, wealth and prosperity, with increase of spiritual gifts, for the benefit of both Church and Common wealth. From the Library in Oxford Feb. 10. 1608.  
Your Lordships in all Christian duty to be commanded. THO: JAMES.   

Faults escaped in the printing of this Apology.  
Pag. 1. l. 15. but, read butt, p. 7. in the mark 1.6. for Auctorziatio, read Auctorizatio. p. 9 l. 12. impious, read pious, p. 19 mark l. 36. discipui, read discipuli p. 25. l. 18. ohfarlanot, read of an harlot, p. 34. l. 2. awere, read werep. 37. l. 7. t●e read the, p. 39 mark l. 34. lucrationes, read lucrativas. p. 40. l. 21. secundam, read secundum p. 42. mark l. 33. habe●, read habent p. 44. mar. l. 33. formicator. read fornicator. p. 48. l. II. excommunication, read excommunications p. 53 l▪ 20. fittest, read fittest. p. 56. l. 12 reigned, read reigned. pag. 69. l. 10 jam, read in pag. 71. l 5 should obey, read obey, lb. mark l. 16. leges, read legis. in his life, for, many, read main, for to pray macks, read their stomachs.   

THE PREFACE UNTO ALL TRUE Catholics, and Christian Readers.  
Whereas among all the writers, which have since the days of Antichrist sharpened there pens in defence of the Gospel, and maintained the cause of Christ against Antichrist and his Supposts, by opposing themselves as Arch-pillers, against the Arch-heretics and Caterpillars of there times: there is none that hath behaved himself more religiously, valiantly, learnedly, and constantly, than this stout Champion, reverend Doctor, & worthy preacher of God's word john Wickliff, whose very 
a Vetus Hypocrita, Angeius Sathanae, Antichristi prae albulus, non nominandus Io. Wickli●. vel potius Wickebeleefe, haereticus. Wals. p. 256. Organum diabolicum, hostis Ecclesiae, confusio vulgi haereticorum Idolum, Hypocritatum speculum, Schismatis incentor, odij seminator incendij fabrincator. lb. Pag. 266. o linguā●emper mendacem, male. dicam & blaspheman! Wald. To. I. pag. 177. ¶ Ps. 64. 5.  name is therefore become hateful unto the Adversary, his parson contemptible, and his doctrine the only mark or but at which those 
¶ Ps. 64. 5.  qui sagittant in occulto which lie privily lurki●●g in co●ners do especially aim, shooting there arrows bitter words, even lewd & lying Pamphlets: some challenging him of Blasphemy towards God, some of Treason towards the king, others of monstrous 
b Of Manicheisme. Donatisme, Pelagianisme etc. see Walden Act. Cap. 25. lb. Verl. 7.  heresies in Religion, all of sundry errors and gross absurdities: knowing therefore, that howsoever iure soli the Court of Rome may, yet iure poli Gods law doth not condemn any man before his cause be heard, I have thought it most convenient and sit, to bring him forth before you Christian Readers, as before so many * Festusses & Agrippaes' to the end that you may know the truth of those things whereof he is accused. And albeit our Romanists, have as evilly entreated him as ever the Jews did * Paul, laying many and grievous complaints against him: yet I doubt not, but you when you shall (as it becometh men of profound judgement & good discretion) permit him to answer for himself as 
Act. 26. 1. Act. 25. 7.  Agrippa did Paul, will either find there complaints with Festus such as they sh●l 
Act. 25. 8.  never be able to prove: viz: that he hath neither offended against the law of God, neither against the Temple, nor against Cesar, and finally pronounce this sentence of absolution with K. Agrippa: 
Act. 26. 31.  This man hath done nothing worthy of death, nor of bonds.  
The order and method which I will, God willing, observe, shallbe: first to show his conformity, with the now Church of England in the chiefest points controversed, thence to descend unto questions not altogether so material, and last of all to answer all such objections, as have been moved by our late Popish writers. Whose proofs, because they are of two sorts: drawn either from 
c From Fox, Stow, Osiander, Melancthon, Lu●her, etc.  Protestants which for want of due information, or from 
d The Apologists & Father Parsons.  Papists which of ill will, ' which never spoke good of any man, ' have uttered any thing prejudicial either unto his doctrine or to his person: I will endeavour (as much as in me lieth, & the truth will permit) to inform the one, and reform the other. The proofs which I shall allege shallbe clear, evident, apparent, authentical, for they shallbe produced out of his own words and works, as they are extant in sundry good Manuscripts, in our so renowned public Library, as themselves may see or cause to be seen by others: for therefore to justify my proceed against them, (knowing there sundry & malignant 
e See the Treatise tending to mitigation written by P. R. with the answer thereto.  oppositions against us) I have quoted in the margin, the very words of the Auctor, either in 
f As the Author himself wrote them.  Latin or in English noting both Books and Pages. And for a final Conclusion, I make this protestation; his writings shall not be defended by me farther, than they are agreeable with the Articles of our Religion, and I exhort you as many as shall happen to read this Apology, as S. Paul did the 
I. These. Cap. 5. vers. 21.  The ssalon●ans: on●nia probate, quod bonum est tenete. Examine all things, hold fast that which is good.   

AN APOLOGY FOR JOHN Wickliff, showing his conformity with the now church of England both in Doctrine & Discipline.  
TO proceed them according unto the first part of our general division, I doubt not, but it will easily be acknowledged of all hands, that the greatest Controversies between the Papists and us, may be reduced into these few heads.  
They concern.  

1 The Scripture.  
2 Traditions.  
3 The Pope.  
4 The Church.  
5 justification.  
6 Merits.  
7 The blessed Sacrament of the Lords supper.   
For the rest which concern the other Sacraments, or other points of doctrine, that are collateral, they shallbe handled with the principal questions; or else in the second place apart by themselves, according to our former division.  

The I. Chap. Of the Scripture.  
THe questions to be moved about the Scripture are no less infinite, than the Scripture itself: but the greatest points controversed between us and the Papists, resteth in these 4. About the number, Sufficiency, Interpretation, or Communication of the Scripture, or books Canonical.  

Sect. 1.  

The first question about the number of the books Canonical. Article 6.  TO the 1. point Io. Wickliff fully agreeing with the 6. Article of the Church of England, and S. Hierons' doctrine, maketh but 
f Satis est pro sua militia habere 22. libros de veteri Testamento-authenticos Wiekliff● de ver. Scrip. Pag. 110.  22. books Canonical, excluding the rest which are as he rightly termeth them books Apocrypha, so called as he writeth; 
g Non quia oportet illis discredere tanquam fa sis sed quia non oportet. Ecclesiam militantem illis libris credere explicatè tanquam authenticis. ld lb.  not because they are to be discredited of falsehood: but because the Church militant should not believe them explicatè, as if they were authentical, & 
h Stultum et vanum circa veritatem aut passiones Scripturae Apocryphae nimis contendere cum habemus plenè Scripturas sensibilitèr nobis authenticas, ld. lb.  he thinketh it to sa●or of folly & vain curiosity, for a man to strive about the truth or proper passions of these books Apocrypha, where there are so many books beside; which are very sensibly and plainly authentical. Now if you happen to a●ke Wickliff how he knoweth these books to be loss authentical than the former, 
The differences betwixt the books Canonical & Apocrypha.  he will inform & show you that the best means of discerning books Canonical from the Apocrypha books are. 1. 
i Aucto●izatio corum in Novo, testamento Wickleff. de Ve●r. Scrip. pag 95. & pag. 109  To look into the new Testament, and to see what books of the old Testament are therein cited & authenticated by the holy Ghost. 2. If that will not serve, for 
k Credo, quod Ecclesia discre tè examinan● quemcunque librum, quoad totam suam sententiam, dicià Spiritu Sancto in alia Scriptura, lo. pag. 96.  the Church of God discreetly examining any book, to consider whether the like doctrine be delivered by the Holy Ghost elsewhere in the Scripture. And what else doth the Church of England answer? So that Wickliff is wholly for us in the first point.   

Sect. 2.  
TO the 2 point the Church of England differing from the Church of Rome professeth that Holy Scripture containeth allthings necessary to Salvation, and that what soever is not read therein, 
The 2. question about the sufficiency of the Scripture. The 6 Article of Religion.  nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an Article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to Salvation.  
To this Article also 
l Diversorium Lollardorum. Nih●il inquiunt praeter Scripturas Sacras accipimus: quicquid istis apponitut aut subtrahitur est blaphemum Walden. To. 3. Pag. 3.  Io. Wickliff most willingly subscribeth, in that most excellent book of his De veritate Scripturae: affirming positively, that 
m Lex Dei patula in d●s obus Testamentis. Wicklis. in exposed Dec●l. Pag. 5. ●criptura ergo est lex Christi— & 〈◊〉 des Ecclesiae. ld. de verit, Script. Pag. 15. Lib de 7. Peccat Mo●●libus Pag. 40.  Gods will is plainly revealed in two Testaments, which he calleth else where Christ's law, or the saith of the Church; that Christ's law sufficeth by itself to ●rule Christ's Church; that a 
n Scriptura secundum sensum suum sacrum, sufficit pro quadam scientia necessaria viatori. De Ver. Scrip. pag. 66.  Christian man well understanding it may thence gather sufficient knowledge during his pilgrimage here upon earth: that whereas 
o ●um in Scriptura S. sit omnis veritas, patet quod omnis disputatio— quae iin Scriptura Sacra non habet originem est prophana lb. p 39  all truth is contained in holy Scripture, that what disputation soever is not originally thence to be deduced, is to be accounted profane. Again, that 
p Non oportet admittere scientiam vel con clusionem quae non habet Testimonium ex Scriptura. lb. pag. 66  we ought to admit of no science, no conclusion, that is not approved by the Scripture, 
q Nisi in ordine ad hanc Legem lb. p. 485.  no law unless it be either subordinate unto this law or 
r Nisi de quanto promovet ad hanc Legenld lb. p. 50.  help to bring us unto this law: No Court 
s lb. pag 11.  citra Calum besides the Court of heaven: no parson, not the Pope's holiness, which 
t Ex Augustino, contrarius Scripturae etiam Dominus Papa, quem aliqui fingunt dispensare contra illam, non est ut sit Christianus lb pag. 128.  if he should dispense (as some feign that he may) with holy Scripture, he shall not any longer be accounted a Christian; yea, he is so resolved upon the certainty and sufficiency of the Scripture, that he telleth us elsewhere, that 
u Lib. de biasphemia pag. 42.  though we had an hundred Popes, and all the Friars in the world were turned into Cardinals: yet should we trow more the law of the Gospel, than we should trow all this multitude. And this was not a bare opinion of his, which might grow upon dislike, discontent, or be uttered by way of contradiction: but a ●etled and constant persuasion out of the word of God & therefore 
uu Log●●cos & Grammaticos oportet submittere ●e ad di●cendum in Scriptura, tam novam G●ammaticam, quam Logicam. De verit. Script pag. 7.  he magnifieth and extolleth this heavenly Logic and Grammar above all the Logiks and Grammars of the world willeth 
x Finus non debet infringere testamentum Patris lb pag. 72.  true sons in no wise to go about to infringe this will and Testament of there heavenly father; and persuadeth all 
y omne genus humanum debet stare pro de●ensione veritati Scripturae ex integro, usque ad mortem. lb. pag. 161.  true subjects to perform all due obedience and subjection thereunto, whether they be of the Laity, or of the Clergy, saying: that all men ought to defend it unto the death: 
Saecularis violentia, Clericus ratio ne lb pag. 161.  Secular men by power and strength, Clergy men by reasons and arguments. Professing of him that holdeth the contrary opinion, 
z Non est ut sit Christianus. lib. de verit. Script, p. 128.  that he cannot be a Christian, that 
a Quicunque non vere fundave rit, vel vitam suam, vel sententiam in Scriptura S; sed ad versatur sibi, & suis professoribus, hic ob liquat ut pugil Diaboli, atque haereticus. lb. pag. 189.  he is flatly the devils champion and finally that 
b Non est vox Theologi sed Docmonologi lb. pag. 327.  he speaks not as a Divine, but as a Devil. I could enlarge this point with infinite quotations, so earnest is he every where in his writings, to establish this doctrine, which is the ground of all our Protestant opinions. And the reason of this his earnestness, & impious zeal was this: he saw the gross ignorance of those times, wherein few sermons were preached, & those for the most part out of 
c Lib. de 7. pee cat mort. p. 22 lb. pag. 22. lb. pag. 3. de verit. Script. pag. 332.  Chronicles and fables, leasings and traditions 
d Expos. Decalogi pag. 69.  profaned with much scurrility and emptiness, by 
e Lib. de 7. peccat mort. pag. 10. lb. pag. 22.  laying aside God's law and Christ's Gospel. Yea so far were they from preaching the word of God, that they went about to 
f Contra Fratres mendi●. p. 52  burn the Gospel in English, & to consume with fire or 
g They pursue true men for preaching the truth. Lib. de 7 peccat. mort. pag. 102. Like the Bishops of the Temple let men to preach lb. pag. 19 let the Gospel & Pistles to be preached, and pursue the true tellers thereof. Lib. Miscell. pag. 34.  sword, with banishments or imprisonments, the true and godly Professors thereof: despiting & reviling the Scripture by the name of 
g Opinio haere tica quod Scriptura S. sit haeretica et blasphema. Lib. de ver Scrip pag. 196. Multiplicati qui dixer●it Scripturam secundum magnem partem suam esse falsissimam. Ibid. pag. 130.  Blasphemous, false, flexible or changeable unto any sense that a man would have it, and lastly that 
h Lib. contra Fra●res. mendic. pag. 44.  it was never well since Lords and Ladies took regard to the Gospel and leften there ancestors manners. When these absurd, infamous blasphemous, Romish or rather Devilish opinions began to be broached and bo●stred up by Antichrist and his dearest Minions, the Monks & Friars; marvel we at his positions, doctrine, constancy and resolution, for the authority and majesty of the Scripture, or that he was as we find him in this 2. and most material point of all, a sound Protestant?   

Sect. 3.  

The 3. question of the Interpretation of the Scripture.  THe 3. point wherein we differ, is about the interpretation of this Holy and sacred Scripture. The Papists, as they make the Pope alone judge of all controversies: so they make him sole interpreter of all dark and obscure places of holy writ. Other men as the ancient Doctors and writers may write, comment, unfold a●d explain the dark sentences therein contained, but there writings are human, there judgements not always certain, and solid, finally they want that unerting key, which the Pope hath, to search, try, examine and determine the truth thereof. Hear we therefore what is Wickliff's opinion, concerning the interpretation of the Scripture. He affirmeth every where in his writings, that the 
l 
sensus literalis Scripturae sensus quem Spiritus S. in didit. De verit Script pag. 27 Omnia necessaria in Scriptura continentur in sensu historico vel lite rali, Wickliff. ex relat. Gu. Wodeford in lib. ML.  
Nulla conclusio authentica tur ex Scriptura Sacra, nisi in quantum allegatur ad sensum Auctoris Ib. pag. 201.   true literal sense and sentence of the Scripture, which the Holy Ghost doth principally intend, is that which we are chiefly to regards that it is nothing for a manto cite Scripture, unless it be * pertinent to the meaning of the Auctor; which being of itself hard to be found out, (because a carnal man doth not easily conceive the things of God) therefore by God's providence, which 
k Ordinavit Deus communem Scripturam sensibilem, ad cuius sensum Catholicum capiendum deus, non po●est deficere; quoniam semper quosdam irradiat, ad quam irradiationem confert sanctitas vitae et continuare istam irradiationem in matre Ecclesia est Theologotum officium, quos oporter stare in suis limitibus, unde non licet Theologis fingere alien●● praeter fidem Script, Catholicae lb p. 205.  never faileth his Church in things necessary to Salvation, some are illuminated & enlightened from above, for the finding out of the true and Catholic sense of the Scripture, which illumination & irradiation of theirs (as he calls it) is much confirmed and warranted unto us, by their holy lines and conversations, and to continue it in the mother Church, is the duty and function of Divines. Who nevertheless, because they are men, and may easily err, by making false Postilles or b●nging untrue glosses, therefore he willeth them to observe certain means, and prescribeth them certain bounds and limits, quos ultra citrag, nequit consi stere rectum. within the which they are to contain themselves. And first for the means of expounding and explaining of holy Scripture, they are in his judgement and account 
l Quintuplex medium dispo nens ad suae veritat is notitiam.  five.  

1 
m Codicum Scripturae correctio.  To look that the books of Scripture be not corrupted, for the Editions.  
2 
n Logicae Scripturae instructino.  To have the knowledge of the Scripture logic, that is the Phrase, & manner of speaking usual in the Bible.  
3 
o Partium Scripturae iugis collatio.  A continual collation and comparing of Scripture, with Scripture, is required,  
4 
p Sui devoti student is virtuosa dispositio  A virtuous and devout disposition in the Student.  
5 
q Ptimi Magistri interna instructio. De verit. Script. pag. 75.  An inward instruction and information of the chief Master Christ Jesus.   
These are the best means, which he could find for the explanation of doubtful places in Scripture, the fourth whereof being somewhat obscure, he expoundeth thus. The virtuous disposition of a scholar or student in Divinity, consisteth in these 3. points. 1. 
r Primo in auctoritatis Scripturae humili● acceptatione●  in an humble acceptation of the ●auctoritie● of the Scripture 2. 
r 20. In sui & rationis conformatione.  in a conformation of himself and his reason thereunto. 3. 
30. in SS. Doctorum testificatione. De Verit▪ Script. pag. 78  In admitting the testification of the holy Doctors. What could be said more plain for us, concerning the two former points, as for the latter, observing the bounds & limits which Wickliff prescribes there can be nothing more consonant and agreeable, with the Protestant doctrine here in England at this day professed. For first of all he proves that the best, Interpreters do sometimes 
t Causa vari●●tatis interpretum, ut cognoscomus vniuer●alo doi donum— in paenam superbie Ib. pag. 8●. The diuersi●y of opinions as S. Aug. saith may standwel enough with the unity of faith, so long● as their opinions do vary, but not contrary one another, that they are diverse but not adverse.  vary: the cause of which variety springeth, either from God's universal goodness, gluing gifts unto mendiversely according to his good will and pleasure: or else from man's wickedness & pride, which is hereby justly punished.. Secondly for the 
Theologi debent completius cognosce●e Doctores, proper videnda completa eorum originalia & radices rationum quas eliciunt ex Scriptura De Verit. Script. pag. 456.  holy Doctors and Fathers of the Church (whom we are to reverence & esteem in the next 
un Non oportet plus credere homini quam mandato quod docet: ex hoc principio, propter quod est unum quodque●ipsum est magis. De, Ver., Script. pag. 205.  place to the Scripture) we are to understand, that 
x A●legando. alios extra auctores, Scripturae, non allegamus eos ut auctores dantes probationem per locum a ●ide; sed per locum I opicum à Testimonio humano; ut tale Testimonium viz. arguendo ad hominem, allegando sibitestem quem ipse acceptat ta●quam authenticum, ut arguendo contra infideles, allegamus eis proprios auctores▪ De Verit. Script. pag. 107.  there testimonies & authorities, being ●o topic places in Divinity, other then human prosies, not inducing belief per locum a fide are to be all eadged in this manner only: whereas 
y lb. pag. 108.  they speak somethings assertive, by way of assertion; somethings recitative, or interrogative, b● way of narration or interrogation; and somethings by way of jest or merriment Ironice: we are to admit or accept of no proofs, no authorities, but such as are definitively uttered by way of assertion, or asseveration. Wherein also in his judgement, we are warily to heed and attend this Caveat, that because they speak somethings 
z Ib. pag. 108.  opinando by thinking them to be so, somethings ratione probando, by proving them to be so, by human reasons & arguments thirdly and lastly ut sententiam Dei praeconizando, by citing Scripture for the farther proof of them: we must note, that in this last sense only, there words are chiefly to be regarded: because this is his final resolution and conclusion of all; that 
a Nulli creden dum est per locum etc. lb. 109. Homini creditur non ut sibi, ●ed ut promulganti divinam sententiam. De Ver. Scrip. pag. 205, Non debet credi creaturae, nisi de quanto joquitur confonrmiter ad Scripturam De Verit. Scrip pag. 206. Non sunt de capitulo eorum, de quibus sequitur, Ipsi sic aslerunt ig●tur verum. lb. pag. 151.  no man living is to be credited, per locum ab auctoritate, for his authorities sake, nisi in quantum praconizat verbum Domini, unless he urge Scripture for the maintenance of his opinion. And thus, we see Wickliff in this third point also, an absolute Conformitan unto our Church.   

Sect. 4.  
THe 4. point determinable is, 
The 4. question whether the Scripture should be translated into the vulgar tongue.  whether it be behoveful and necessary, that the Scripture should be translated & communicated in English, to edify the simple people. Wherein it shall suffice out of S. 
b Lib de verit. Scrip. p. 331.  Gregory, to note his earnestness in this point, in writing against 
c Lib. Miscel pag. 24.  this wicked sin, which would that the Gospel slept, 
d lb pag. 34.  & did let it to be preached. 
e lb. pag. 24.  The truth of God (saith he) standeth not in one language, more them other. 
f lb. pag. 25.  Christ taught the Pater noster in a language understood, and therefore 
g lb. pag. 24.  why may not men write in English the Gospel, and other things? For 
h lb. pag. 26.  Clarks should joy that the people knew God's law, and certainly 
i lb. pag. 24.  this Heresy and Blasphemy should men cast out from there hearts, for it springeth up of the Fiend, & 
k lb pag. 24.  who is cursed of God but he that letteth this mean. And this moved this worthy instrument & chosen vessel of God's glory, to carry his name before the Gentiles, to translate the whole 
l extant in his majesties Library at Whitehall.  Bible, to comment upon some part● thereof, & chief those parts of Holy Scripture, which are most in use; as the 
m Extant in the public library very faierly bound of the gift of M. Doct. Bond the worthy precedent of Magd. Col. in Oxford, a true favourer & furtherer of all good learning.  Psalms of David, the Te Deum, Nunc dimittis, the Magnificat, and other Hymns now read and retained to this day, in the usage and Liturgy of the Church of England. And so we see, that in this point as well as in the three former, nothing letteth us to pronounce him to be an absolute Protestant.    

The 2. Chapt. Of Traditions.  
THe next question followeth about Traditions, wherein although he hath sufficiently manifested his judgement of them positively; by teaching us that 
n Habemus— completam notitiam necessariorum ad salutem ex fide Scripturae. De Veritate Scrip. pag. 108. Though there be not a particular decision of all questions that may be moved in Divinity touching doctrine or discipline; yet, sententia dati judicij est invenibilis in Scriptura-vnde'pateat quomodo esset in casibus particularibus indicandum. In Expos. Decal. pag 6. Status, statu●a, et. ritus a diecti secundum traditiones humanas, omnes inseparabiliter peccant, cum difficultant legem Dei, & impediunt cursum Sermonis sui. Art. 41. Oxon. condemnatus Regist, Acad.  we have a complete & ●ure knowledge of things necessary to salvation out of the faith of the Scripture; yet exclusivelie, By removing the contrary opinion, he farther manifesteth his detestation of all Popish or human traditions, such as are contrary to the word of God, which are of diverse natures and conditions; some invented 
o De verit eaten script p. 487.  pro questu, for gain; some profastu, of pride; a third sort 
p Traditiones humanae com mixtae cum ve ritate Eu angelica lb. pag 330.  mixed, partly human and partly divine, partly good, and partly bad, (the which came in with the 
q Tempore Christi coepit calumnia● tempore Mahometi am plius dissipata est et a tempore editionis Decretalium decrevit honor et ponderatio Legis Scripturae continuè quae videtur— esse via praeparatoria Antichristo. lb p. 207.  Canon Law:) you must observe, that he doth not blame, or reprehend all rites and Ceremonies in the Church: (for some are lawful, some expedient●) but willeth us to observe these few precepts only, in the observation, or establishing of them.  

1 That our rites and Ceremonies, be surely 
r Obseruantie— fundabiles in Scriptura. lb. 529. Sunt Deo & Ecclesia sua o dibiles nisi de quanto sundantur in Script. p. lb. 411.  founded and grounded on the word of God.  
2 
s Cavendum est Principibus Ecclesiae, ne onerent ●ubditos rituum multitudine ●b. 529.  That the chief Prelates of the Church, do not surcharge or lad them with too many Ceremonies.  
3 
t Videtur probabile, qu●d nuliae constitutionez Pra positorum Ecclesiae sunt licitae, vel Turrian populo obligare admittendae, nisi de quanto sunt media facilitantia ad obse●uantiam Legi● Christ● Expos● Decal. pag 18.  That we admit of none, but such as are means facilitating the observation of Christ's law.   
Lastly, that in observing them, we prefer not 
u Conquirimus non manda●a salvatoris led Caesaris non pra●cepta Capitis Ecclesiae qui est Chris●us, sed Temporalis Pontificis De Verit Scrip. Pag 68.2. Our Lord jesus Christ, very God and very man, is head and Prelate of this Religion. In supplicat. ad Parl. pag. 1  any Caesar' before our Saviour ', or any Pope before Christ, which is Supreme head of the Church, and chiefest Prelate of our religion: and hence it was, that he rejected there popish superstitions & traditions, of salt, 
x Artic. 43. in sin. Const● damnatus.  spittle, chreame, oil and ●uch like: 
y Artic Var. damnat.  there 5. Sacraments, and 5. Orders, and the like, which were 
z Propriae adinuentiones plus pecuniae lucrativae. De Verit. script. pag. 333. omnes sonant— ad lucrum Ecclesiae lb.  plus pecuniae lucrativae, established more for money, then for religion, & rather propriae adinuentiones commanded by men, then commended by God. Such as he blameth every where in his writings, 
a Optaren quod omnes ritus nostri forent à Deo confirmati De Ver. Scrip. p. 581.  wishing that no Rite or Ceremony might be received in the Church, but such as are confirmed by God. Which opinion of his, I am sure, willbe received for currant amongst all the true professors of the Gospel, throughout all Protestant Churches.   

The 3. Chapt. Of the Pope.  
THis controversy about the Supremacy, or Primacy of the Pope, being the very soul and life of Popery, may be resolved into sundry questions. 1. It may be questioned, whether the Pope be supreme judge here upon earth, in all causes, & over all persons. 2. Admit he were so, whether he may intermeddle with the Temporal affairs of Kings and Princes. Thirdly supposing that also, whether he be of that temper and making, that he cannot err in his final Conclusions. Fourthly and lastly, whether he be Antichrist or no.  

Sect. 1.  
Touching the 1. point, it cannot be denied but that john Wickliff supposing the Donation of Constantine (which afterwards proved but a counterfeit) did for a while hold, that the Pope was to be consulted in the greatest points of Religion, and that he had 
b De Verit. Scrip. p. 122.  plenam & solam potestatem, plenary and full power of himself, and 
c Peccatum paganitatis incurrit, quisquis dum ●e Christianum a●●erit sed i Apostolicae ob edi re; contemnit De Verit. Scr. pag 426.  that he did incurre peccatum paganitatis, the crime of Paganism, which did not obey his mandates. But what of all this? Was Wickliff a Papist? No, verily. For first his plenary power, was built upon a rotten 
d Tempore Constantini translation Sacerdotij. nec fuit decretum quods Episcop: illius Ecclesiae haberet necessario primatum in alios, ut hic supponitur De Ver. Scrip. pag. 565.  foundation, which afterwards fell to the ground of itself. 2. It was given him only, 
e Habet plenam & solam potestatem ad ae● dificandum Ecclesiam. De Ver. Scrip. pag. 122.  ad aedificandum Ecclesiam, for to edify, not to destroy or demolish the Church. 3. It was so limited, that he could do nothing 
f lb. pag. 455.  contra Deum, or contrarationem against the Law of God, or against the law of reason. Lastly, if his laws 
g Certum est ex fide Scripturae quod quicunque Secularis vel Clericus maxime obuiat Christi legibus, hic est potissimus Antichristus De Verit. Scrip. pag. 590.  did obviare Christi legibus, an 
h Oportet inferiorem nomine tenus Superiorem ●uum corrippete lb. p. 524.  Inferior might, and in conscience ought, not only to disobey him, but to reprove, correct, and contradict him; as 
i lb. pag. 524.  Paul did withstand Peter unto the face: and will our Papists grant this? furthermore, he grants the Pope no greater authority or superiority over his fellow-brethrens, 
k Pe●●●s ipse & Apollo exclusi à Dominatu suorum conuer●●rum: imo ipsos esse quasi nihil & abiectos servos D ●esu cui omnis scientia, omnis amor vel honour Christiani debet attribui; cum nullum creatum debet sciri amarivel honorari▪ nisi Christus, vel in habitu divino ad ipsum De Verit Script. pag. 494.  than Peter and Apollo had, over there new Converts: whom he excludeth and debarreth flatly from any such sovereignty, taking away all honour from them, and giving it unto Christ jesus, to whom all knowledge, all love, all duty, from all Christians is to be ascribed, so far: that no Creature is to be acknowledged, loved, or honoured, but Christ, or in respect of Christ. 
l Nec credo quenquam Catholicum ad ●antum desipere quod credat quod ubi Christi● vicatius sc●ibit Fiat & ipse qui dixit & facta sunt non approbat ad quiritur ius aliquod impetranti cum de isto solo verificatur hoc metricum-sic volo sic jubeo, sit pro ratione voluntas. in Expos. Decal. p. ●.  Nether is it possible (as he thinketh) for any Catholic, to be so unadvised or inconsiderate, as to follow the Pope's fiat, Let it be done, when he that spoke, and it was done, shall say no. Because this verse can be true of no earthly man, but of our blessed Saviour Christ jesus: 
Sic volo, sic jubeo, sit pro ratione voluntas.  
This is my will this I command,  
My will for reason good shall stand.   
Finally, to conclude this point, he was 
m Quod Papa sit summus Pontifex est ridiculum, & Christus nee in Petro ne● in alio talem approbavit dignitatem Art. 17. damnat. in Syn. Const.  condemned as an heretic, for denying the Pope's Supremacy, and therefore cannot very well be accounted of the Romish Church.   

Sect. 2.  

The 2. question whether the Pope may intermeddle with the Temporal affairs of Princes.  NOw we come to the 2. question, where we consider his civil dominion, or right in Temporal estates: which question Wickliff doth 
n In civili dominio non possunt esse duo dominantes aequo, oportet quod unus sit capitalis Dominus & alter subdominans-Regem, nostrum nolumus. in hac part sibi ●ubijcere cum donans quicquid ad manum mor tuam sibi reseruat capital e dominium Wickliff de Ciu. Dom. p 67.  every where determine against the Pope, for the king, & his regalty, and that of set purpose in an especial Treatise of his 
o Extant in the public Library.  De Civili Dominio▪ strengthening his opinion very plainly out of the 
p The contrary opinion (a● he saith) videtur impugnare iura & consuetudines Regni de Civili Dominio pag. 66. Tenendo quod iura Angliae in hac part sunt nullo modo juri contraria lb. I know the particular and approved custom of every na●ion is the most usual binding & assured Law. my L. Cook in his 5. l. of Reports in praes:  Fundamental laws of this land, with great judgement and knowledge, of the common law, which I speak in fide aliena, being not able to judge of that which is beyond my profession: but I do verily believe it to be so, becauseth he seemeth unto me, to urge the very same reasons, laws, and arguments, which that thrice. 
q My L. Cook Chief justice of the Common pleas in his 5. book of Reports. Wickliff maintaineth it as an old Custom, the which our King, Lords & Prelates been sworens to sustain & maintaine-as pertaining to the King's Regalty and of Common Law. In supplicat. por recta ad Parliam. pag 9 The kingly head of this politic body, is instituted and furnished with p'enarie and entire power, prerogative, and jurisdiction, to render justice and right, to every part and member of this body, of what estate degree, or calling soever, in all causes, Ecclesiastical, or Temporal, otherwise he should not be head of the whole body. My L● Cook. in his 5. book. of Reports pag. 9 The very same reason is urged by Wickliff, in sundry places: else he were not King of all England but of a little part thereof In supplicat. ad● Parliam. pag. 10. Non haberet plenae pacis. custodiam. De Verit. Script. pag. 453. Non ●oret ' Rex totius Angliae sed Regulus paruae partis. De Verit. Script. pag. 424. [] The Title of his book is this: Controversiarun Rob. Bel larmini Defensio Auctore jac. Gretsero Soc. jesus S, S. Theol. Doct. et in Academia Ingolstadiensi Professore. Ingol. Anno. 1607. in fol.  Reverend and learned judge, doth faithfully mention, in his fift book of Reports, against the truth of which doctrine, no Parson, nor Parsons, I suppose, shall ever be able to prevail; rail they may, and brag they do, which are the two ordinary means of late days found out, to answer all objections; as that upstart Goliath, or Rabsache of Rome, james Gretser, which is newly come forth to revile the whole host of Protestant writers, hath abundantly testified, & declared in his late [] voluminous book, written in a supposed defence of Bellarmine: but to give the Devil his right, he hath far exceeded, not only his Equals Jesuits, but surpassed all other writers whatsoever, in this supereminent art of railing, or scolding rather: so that to use 
r Similes sunt-authori discipui omnes equorum libris, si iactationes, mendacia, scommata, maledicta, convitia tollerentur ex maximis voluminibus vix libelli perexigui effici possent Bell cont. 4. To 1. pag 328. in 8º justly to be retorted upon the jesuits. He rails against D. Rainolds, D. Whitaker, D. Mo●ton. junius, Polanus, Hunnius, Lubbert, etc. all which he doth befool, & depress, both lewdly and foolishly: as because D. Rainolds was sick of the● gout, therefore forsooth, nihil ●olidum nihil ne●uosum ab isto sperandum, his head was not sound enough to deliver any solid matter against them, and that he did forbear to invaie more sharply against him Ne sort exasparatis articulorum doloribus acrius discrutietur, & ad rabi●̄ vel desperationem adigatur. The pain of the gout and of reading his books withal, might drive him into despair. Gretser. defence, Bell. pag. 1058, & 1070.  his M. Bellarmine's words; if a man should take out all his braggings▪ scoffings, reproaches, railings, revilings and lewd speeches uttered against the chiefest writers of our age, ex maximo volumine, minimus libellus efficeretur, it would prove not only a poor book but a lewd and lying book. In this book he hath taken upon himself such liberty of giving every man the lie that he cannot keep from putting a lie upon his Master Cardinal Bellarmive, where he writeth thus speaking of the Jesuits, 
s Bellarmine the jesuits the meekest men alive.  non est nostrum, reddere malum promal●, it is not the manner of the jesuits, to render evil for evil. Though I cannot say of him as 
t Vide Praefationem ante Biblia Interlinearia.  Arias Montanus doth of his Erostratus, that nostrum pro alijs, but nostrum cum alijs nomenproscindendum suscepit; that he hath traduced me for others; yet because he hath traduced my name with others, I thought good to mention him only at this present, because I intent ere long be, to 
u In two books of his, the one in quarto de Iu●e & ●m odo libros prohibendi, abolendi & expurgan di●the other in folio writ in defence of the 1 part. of of Beauties' Controversy he hath gone about to reverse two Positions of mine: the 1. That the works of the ●Anciēt Fathers are very much corrupted by the Papists: the 2. that their Bible's authorized are diverse, contrarious, & contradictorious, the one unto the other, Both these God willing shallbe proved m●st clearly in my Apology. God open the ●ies of our hitherto blinded and hoodwinct Papists, that they may see, and seeing may know, and knowing may abhor their soul corruptions and open contradictions.  salute him in his own language, & to send him to school unto the Jesuits, to learn better manners, then being but a young Jesuit in comparison, not only to abuse all Lutherans, Calvinists, and Protestants; but to write professedly and purposely, I may say, maliciously and spitefully, against the most aged, and 
uu An't Possevine wounded thorough my sides, For my Collation of Cyprian which Grerser chiefly impugneth i● translated verbatim into Possevins Apparatus, Changing the word Protestant into Catholic, and by affirming the book that was printed at Geneva, to be printed at Paris, that men might think it was his work: sic nos non nobis mellificamus apes, hereby you may note his exceeding great judgement; and yet he taketh upon him to be, Censor censorum, and Criticus Criticorum.  judicious Jesuit at this day in all Christendom: but leaving him unto his Superiors to be punished for a notable wrangler, & Wickliff in this point a sound Protestant, we are now by God's grace come to examine the most material point of all others.   

Sect. 3.  
IF it be doubted whether the Pope may err, or no: according unto Wickliff's doctrine, 
The 3 question whether the Pope may ere.  it is showed openly and plainly, throughout all his works, where he proveth that the Pope is, 
x Papa est pec cabilis. sicur caput Ecclesiae. De Verit. Script. pag. 456. est naturae peccabilis, habens supra se capitalem Dominum in. Expos Decal. pag 123.  natura peccabilis, of that nature that he may err. 
y De blasphen pag. 40.  That one, that men call Pope, may err: not only in manner and 
z Non dubium quin error posset in ●lectione contingere, & magis in conversatione sequenti De Ver, Script. pag. 457.  conversation of life, but also in doctrine and 
a He may err— in seeding of his Churches or Articles of the faith. De blasp pag. 40. Multi papae deprau●ti haeretica dep●auitate, De. Ver. Scrip. pag. 181. hody invalescit opinio Legistarum dicentium, quod si quis sit Papa, est impeccabilis, & per con●equens si quid arbitratur, vel ordinat, tune est justum, ●um Epistolae suae vel parificantur vei superant auctoritatem Scripturae. lb. pag. 47. Non habet a Deo Chartas talis officij lb pag. 92. Vtinan talis Antichristus non destruat Regna Borealia, occidentalia, or●entalia, s●cut infecit Af●am, Ap●iricā, & Europam. lb. pag 589.  Articles of the Creed. 
b Lib. De 7. Pecc, Mort. pag. 16.  He may sin, 
c De blaspheme. pag. 40.  and no man in the world lightlier or grievouslier, and de facto erraverunt in deed they have erred and been infected with foul heresies. Yea he thinketh it to be 
d De blaspheme pag. 55.  likely, that all the Bishops of Rome, for 300. years and more before his time, were fully heretics: & therefore I nothing doubt, but he shallbe accounted of them an Arch heretic, of us (as the truth is) a sound Catholic, and an Arch Protestant.   

Sect. 4.  

The 4. question whether the Pope be Antichrist.  THe l●st point controversed is, whether the Pope be Antichrist. Which point he proveth very largely, by comparing his doctrine & manners, with Christ's, in sundry places of his works: but chief in his 
Lib. de 7. Pe●cati● Mortal. pag. 16.  Book of the 7. deadly sins; telling us, that forasmuch as through his Decrees, 
* Contra Frat. Mend. pag. 26  Gods Hests, by his maundements Christ's commandments, by his Decretals Paul's Epistles, by his 
e Nihil est Canonicum quod Regula 1. non approbat De Ver. Script. pag. 457.  Canon law, the Canonical Scripture was vilified, nullified, utterly defaced and debased (a fault for which he is bold to tax him, in sundry passages of his works) he pronounceth of him absolutely, that he is 
f De verit. ser. pag. 590.  potissimus Antichristus, that very Antichrist.    

The 4. Chap. Of the Church.  
NOw it remaineth, that we see his judgement concerning the Church, marking how far his opinions do concur with ours. Here we will inquire his definitive sentence in these questions following. 1. Whether the Church of Rome be the Catholic Church. 2. Whether it hath the privilege of not erring. 3. Whether the Church be visible, or not. Fourthly and lastly, whether the wicked, be true members of the Church.  

Sect. 1.  
THe 1. question is thus determined by him, 
The 1. question whether the Church of Rome be the Catholic Church?  
g Protestor publicè, quod amando, & venerando Romanam Ecclesiam, matrem meam, desidero & procuro defensionem o●●isi Privilegiorum suorum. De ve rit script. Pag 196.  he acknowledged the Roman Church to be his mother Church, and he professeth that he will to his power defend all the Privileges thereof. Here Wickliff may seem to departed from us for a time, (and so in words he doth:) but in the end or upshot of all you shall see him come back again unto us, and fight under our Standard. He calls the Roman Church his mother Church he might do so, for those worthy beginnings which she made in open profession of the Gospel, in S. Paul's days and this is apparent, by those true privileges, which he seateth down, as belonging unto the Roman Church, which to omit all other stand chief 
h Scio quidem ex fide Scripturae tanquam infrangibiliter verum, quod omne ●uum privilegist est ex Deo, & de quanto secuta fuerit Ch●istum cōfor●nius, de tanto amplioribus privilegijs insignitur, De verit. Scr. Pag. 196.  in conforming herself unto Christ and his laws: so that the nearer she came unto him, the greater privileges she had. But it is not hereby to be so much as imagined, that the Church of Rome was endowed with any such privileges, as they dream of; as if Peter had therefore chosen this place above all other to rule in, and Christ had given him that privilege and his Successors not to err in it: he that hath this opinion of Wickliff deceiveth himself: for he giveth an Absit, to that opinion. 
i Absi● Ecclesiam credere, quod fides cuiuscunque alieni membri Ecclesiae dependeat ab isto Petro johann vel Gregorio. De verit scr. Pag. 92.  God forbidden that the Church, or that any man should think, that the faith of other members of the Church, doth depend upon this Peter, that john, or that Gregory. 
k Fie●i potestquod Dominus Papa fo●et igna●us Legis Scripturae, & quod Ecclesia Anglicana foret long praestā●ior in judicio veritatis Cathol●●ae, quam tota ista Romana Ecclesia collecta de istis Papa & Cardina●ibus. lb, P. 182.  Yea it may so happen, that our Lord the Pope may be ignorant of the Laws, of the Scripture, & that the Church of England, may be far better and quicker sighted in finding out the Catholic truth then all this Roman Church of Pope and Cardinals, being all thrust together. So that the issue, or ultima resolutio, the Conclusion, is like that of the Apostles, 
1. Cor. Chap. 11. vers. 1.  to follow this Church, I say, above all others, in as much as it follows Christ, & no otherwise, which Conclusion, if it should be granted by us, it will neither greatly steed them, nor hurt us.   

Sect. 2.  
THe 2. question is almost answered by the first: fier● potest, the Church of Rome may err, 
l Necesse estS. matrem Ecclesiam per The. ologos regulari: oportete nim quod reguletur secundum vitam Christi, & Scripturae Sacrae sed hoc propter evitandas haereses De Ver. Script. pag. 510.  if it keep not her first faith, which is called by him, 
m De Ver. Scr. pag 72.  fides Ecclesiae, or 
m lb pag. 108.  fides Scripturae, the faith of the Church, or the faith of the Scripture; or if you will needs have it so, Peters ●aith, which is so certainly grounded on the true rock Christ Jesus, that 
¶ Math, Chap 24. v. 24, 25.  though the rain fall and the floods come, & the winds blow, & beat upon this Church, yet it falls not, for it is founded (as I have said) on a rock, and the 
¶ Math. Chap 16. v. 18.  rock is Christ, against whom 
¶ 1 Cor. 10.4. Luc. 18.8.  Hell-gates could not heretofore prevail. But because this doubt may here-hence arise; if the Church of Rome, and the Church of England, and so other particular Churches may err, as you say, then true faith may be utterly extinguished here on earth, and so we may easily argoile that doubt in the Gospel; when the Son of man cometh. shall he find faith upon earth? Therefore, to prevent this objection, he setteth this down, for a maxim. 
o De Verit. Script p. 105.  Nec esse est in tota matre Ecclesia esse fidem Catholican. It cannot otherwise be; God hath hitherto providently and will mercifully so provide, that true faith shallbe entirely professed in his Church, in some one place or other, and the true professors thereof shallbe preserved, though it be miraculously, as Elias, and as our john Wickliff was, to continue the preaching of the Gospel, and to show forth the saving health thereof unto all nations, to see the Sacraments duly and rightly administered, which are the only true notes of Wickliff's Church.   

Sect. 3.  
BY that which hath been spoken, 
The 3. question about the visibility of the Church.  not only the second question, but also the third doubt concerning the visibility of the Church, like 
¶ 1. Sam. 5.3  Dagon before the Ark, falls down to the ground, and Wickliff remains in this point, as in all the former, a resolved true, Cathotholike, English Protestant.   

Sect. 4.  
FOurthly where the 
p Contra Fratres mendicantes. Cap. 39 pag. 54. They ●eachen that though men that shallbe damned be members of holy Church, & thus they wedden Christ and the devil together Ib.  Church of Rome takes the members o Hfarl an ot, and gives them to Christ, coupling Christ and Antichrist together, by affirming the wicked to be true members of the Church, he denies the assertion most flatly and peremptorily informing us, that there are but two Churches; 
q Ecclesia Christi & Ecclesia malignantium, De Ver. Scr. p. 490.  Christ's Church, and the malignant Church; 
r Duo capita Christus & Diabolus lb.  two Captains, or Chieftains, Christ, and the Devil or Beliall, 
s There is no commining, ne consent to Christ and to Belial. Contra F●atr. Mend. pag. 54.  betwixt whom there is no community. And therefore, I conclude this point with Wickliff's words: these wicked miscreants & ungodly men 
t Comment in Psal. pag. 2. in Praef.  a●e in the holy Church but not of the holy Church, and in the Church by body, not by thought, by name, not by deed, in number, not by merit.    

The 5. Chapt. Of justification.  
THe fift main controversy concerns justification: wherein Wickliff according to his usual manner, accordeth fully with the Church of England; ' teaching us, that 
u Decreverunt Apostoli sufficere ad saluationem Christianismi●fidē Domini jesu Christi De Ver. Scr. pag. 494.  faith in our Lord jesus Christ is sufficient for salvation, 
uu Est— fides— sum utilis quia sine illa fide impossibile est fidelem alterius Testa menti placere Deo- cum includit in se divinitatem humanitatis saluationem tam causalitèr quam efficientèr quam finalitèr De Ver. Scríp, pag. 496.  and that without that faith, it is unpossible for any man to please God: that 
x Meri●um Christi per se sufficit omnem hominem redimere Turrian Gehenna. Ib. pag. 552.  the merit of Christ, is able by itself, to redeem all mankind from Hell; that 
y D● per se sufficientia intelligitur sine alia causa concurrente. Ib. pag. 553.  this sufficiency is to be understood, without any other cause concurring, persuading men therefore to trust wholly to Christ, to rely altogether upon his sufferings, 
z Omnes sequentes Christum justificati ex sua justitia, tanquam ●ua generatio saluabuntur De Ver. Scrip. pag. 550.  not to seek to be justified but ex sua justitia, by his justice; that 
a In genere justorum est dare unum justum, cuius participatione cuncta alia erunt justa in Expos. Decal. pag. 1.  by participation of his righteousness, all men are righteous; that 
b Infideles non viwnt vi● tuosè; licet de propinquo faciant bona de genere. De Ver. Scrip. pag. 468.  the works of Infidels, licet de propinquo faciat bona de genere, though they do good works, which are good for there kind; yet they are not to be accountedrighteous men. And thus it may appear, that Wickliff did fully understand the point of 
c Walden To. 3. pag. 24. chargeth him with Pelagianisme in the highest degree how truly let the reader judge by comparing Wickliff with Walden; truth with falsehood. Wiclevistae destruunt liberum Arbitrium Ib. To. 1. pag. 68  Justification, or else he would never have relied so much upon God's mercy, and so little, upon merits, as in truth he did, as is declared unto you in the words following.   

The 6. Chapt. Of Merits.  
THE doctrine of merits, that you may know that Wickliff was neither 
d Ecce si non sit inter Wickliff & Pelagium germana societas? Walden To. 3 pag. 14. Pelagianitae & Wilclevistae gratiam Dei tacent vel abnegant, & in meritis hominum omnino confidunt Ib. pag 25. Ib. Wickliff divinae gratiae nihil tribuendum docet. Ib. Walden must needs be very true in all the rest that is so notoriously false in this.  Pelagian, nor Papist, is plentifully in all his books refuted, but chief in his Commentaries upon the Psalms. Where he beateth down these proud Pharisees, 
e Comment. in Psalm. pag. 474.  which say, that God did not all for them, but thinketh, that there 
¶ Wickliff. dixisset non, sic, sed propter memetipsum Deus, & propter opera meritoria mea me audi Walden To. 3. pag. 28. very like unto himself  merits helpeth. 
f Ib. pag. 182.  heal us Lord for nought; that is, no merit of ours; but for thy mercy. 
g Ib. pag. 368.  Lord not to our merits, but to thy mercy, give thy joy. 
h Ib. pag. 368.  Give us grace, to ' know, that all thy gifts beeths of thy goodness: 
i Ib. pag. 126.  our flesh though it seem holy; yet it is not holy. We all 
k Omnes homines originaliter peccatores sunt quodammo do Adam. De Ver. Scr. pag. 489. Tota natura humana inimica Deo. In Expos. Decal. pag. 77. Concupiscentia peccatum mortale. Ib. pag. 144.  are originally sinners, as Adam, and in Adam, his leprosy cleaving faster to us, than Naamans' did to Gehezay. ' For according to his teaching, we all are sinners, not only from 
k Infans ' ex peccato originali est haereticus quia à numero fidelium divisus ex caeca electio ne priorum parentum a qua contrahit maculam originalem. De Ver. Scr pag. 607.  our mother's wombs, but 
l Infant's peccant in matris utero. in Expos. Decal pag. 77.  in our mother's wombs▪ so that we cannot so much as think a 
m Comment. in Psal pag. 109.  good thought unless jesus the Angel of great council send it, perform a 
n Ib. pag. 423.  good work, unless it be properly his good work; 
o Ib. pag 79.  his mercy comes before us, that we receive grace, and followeth us helping and keeping us in grace. So then, it is not good for us to trust in our merits, in our virtues, in our righteousness: but to conclude this point, good- 
p Comment. in Psal pag. 374.  it is,— only to trust in God, as the Church of England teacheth.   

The 7. Chapt. Of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.  
THis is the seventh and last main question, concerning which we have Wickliff's confession, both in 
q Haec est confessio Mag. Io. Wickliff. de Sacramento Altaris in Festo Sanctorun. Gordianis, & Epimachi. Oxon. Anno Domini. 1381: extant Ibidem.  Latin and in 
r Wickliff's believe of the Sacrament in English in the Public Library. This was published after that Concilium Terrae motus at London.  English. For he was not ashamed to yield an account of his faith, 
¶ 1, Pet. 3.15.  omni poscenti, to any man that would demand it: so far was he from retracting his former opinion as some shamefully write: but without any ground in the world, for this there conjecture. For 
s Wickl: de Verit Scr. pag. 183. Non sum suspectus de formidine istarum conclusionum, cum transmisi eas per magnam partem Angliae, & Chr●stianismi— unde quia volui materiam communicatan● Clericis & Laicis, col●êgi & communicavi 33. conclusi●nes illius materiae in lingua duplici. lb.  he sent his opinion touching his belief of the Sacrament, and all other points wherein he dissented from their Apostata Church into all Christendom, to be censured by the learned Divines, according unto 
t Sentential mea est Catholica, Reip. directiva, a fide Scripturae secundum postillationes Sanctorun, concorditer eliquata pag. 187.  Scripture and Fathers; whereas on the contrary, the Friars 
u De blasphpag. 38 Friars re●usen to deliver their opinion of the Host. De blasp. pag. 51.  durst not put out there faiths unto the people. His opinion of the Sacrament, was the same with the Church of England; 
uu Confess. de Sacramento Euchar p. 58. Isle panis est bene, v●●è, & real●ter spiritualiter, virtualiter, & Sacra mentaliter cor pus Christi Ib.  that the body of Christ was really and truly in the Sacrament, in his kind, that is, sacramentalitèr: and figuralitèr, by way of Sacrament, and figuratively; 
y Sicut Io. Bap tista figura●iter fuit Helias & non per●onaliter. A●t. 4. in Syn. Const. damna●.  so john Baptist figuratively was Helias, & not personally; and as 
y Sicut Christus est simul Deus, & homo: sic hostia consecrata est si●ul corpus Ch●ist● & verus panis, qui● est co●pus Domini ad minimum in figura, & verus panis in natura; vel quod idem sonat, est verus Panis naturaliter, & co●pus Christi figuraliter. Art 49. Oxon damnatus.  Christ was together God and man so the 
z Posuit panem in corpus & vinum in ●anguinem mystica consecratione conuerti●on rea●iter ita intelligenda sunt verba Wicklefi ex sent. Will. Woodford vide Lib. Ms. pag. 107.  consecrated host (for so he calleth it) was at the same time Christ's very body, and very bread: not by way of Consubstantiation, as the Lutherans teach, for it was Christ's body in figure, and true bread in nature; or which is all one, true bread naturally, and Christ's body figuratively. Moreover, he affirmed 
Vae generationi adulterae quae plus credit Testimonio Innocentijvel Ray mundi, quam sen●u● evangelii-, c●e●o quod finaliter veritas vincet eos in Confes● de sacramento altaris p. 59  constantly, without wavering, that this true Catholic & Apostolical doctrine, 
f De blaspheme. pag 4●.  lasted in the Church, for a 1000 years, till Sathanas was unbound; and 
g De blaspheme. pag. 37.  the people blinded by Friars, with the Heresy of accidents without subjects; which opinion they durst not maintain; whereas 
h I'm certain for the third part of the Clergy that defends this sentence. that they will defend it on pain of losing their lives. Confess. de Sacram. Anglice pag. 64.  Wickliff, and the third part of the Clergy that defended the contrary, were ready to defend it, on pain of losing of their lives, cum non fu●rit materia martyrij plus laudanda; 
Art. Oxon: damnat. 52.  there being no better cause of martyrdom. For 
i De blasph. pag. 63.  he could speak it boldly, being certain of the truth thereof, that all the Friars of this land, or other Blasphemers, could not disprove that faith which he told: and thus, it appeareth, that Wickliff was wholly for us and our Church, in the 7. principal points of controversy, containing 16. questions in the whole, strongly maintained and defended by him, against the Papists of his time.   

Of other questions, wherein also Wickliff holdeth with us, against them; which are collateral, or accidental to the former, after a more brief manner.  
Having sounded these 7. greater controversies, as it were so many 
jos. Chapt. 6. v 20.  Trumpets, see how the walls of this spiritual Hiericho do fall flat unto the ground as they did, in the time of josua judge of Israel; and as he spoke unto the Jews, so I say unto all good & perfect Christians: 
Ib. v. 26.  Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this City Hiericho.   

The 8. Chapt.  
FAther Parsons that worthy Jesuit in his 
k Part. 2. c. 9 p. 489. Then belike Friar Walden will prove a notable liar, whichmaketh Wickliff to hold almost all the opinions that we do though he charge him beside with many untruths.  book of the three conversions, or rather as he hath made than, perversions of England, would feign make us to believe; that the points wherein Wickliff agreeth with the Papists, against us, are many, and far more than the former, wherein he joineth with the Protestants against them. And our Apologists say, that 
l Tract. 2. Cap 2. Sect. 4. pag. 108.  after his revolt, he retained still sundry Catholic points. I know not how ●ur Apologists willbe able to justify their saying, sure I am, it will pinch on the Parson's side.  

Sect. 1. Of the Number of the Sacraments.  
FOr the number of the Sacraments, he held that there were but two. True it was, 
I note the same of Wickliff, which M. Wotton observes of Luther, that having been a long time kept in thedarknes of Popery, he could not by & by discern the truth in all points Wot. pag. 29.  that some time after his Conversion, when he began to see and know the truth, being not fully instructed in all points at the fi●st (for his conversion was wrought by degrees the elder he grew the more he loathed, and detested there abominable heresies) he names 7. Sacraments: but. posteriores cogitationes sunt sapientiores his after opinions, were better than his former, else why did their 
m Art 45.46. 47.48. Damnper Oxon & Syn. Const.  Church condemn him for an Heretic in this point.   

Sect. 2. Of holy Orders.  

n Videtut SS. Doctoribus quod superfluit in sacramento ordinis ponere plures quam duos gradus, scilicet Diaconos, vel Levitas, & Presbyteros, sive Episcopos, cum nec dignitas ministerij  TOuching holy orders, he held that there were but two; viz: of 
o Nec auctoritas facit evidentiam, quod in statu Cleri debent isti●●es gradus; scilicet Clericus 1. tonsurae. Acolytus & Subdiaconus approbari, ●mo irrationabile & infundabile videtur, quod Ecclesia militans s● cum istis tribus Ordinibus onerata. Artic. 55. Oxon. damnat● vide Walden To. 2. p. 200  Deacons and Priests, so do we.   

Sect. 3. Of the Chrism in Baptism.  

Articul. 43. in Synodo Const. damnat.  He held against the Chrism in Baptism, saying; that Christ contented himself with pure water, so do we.   

Sect. 4. Of the Sacrament of extreme Unction.  

p Si corporalis unctio foret Sacramentum ut modo fingitur: Christus & sui Apostoli eius promulgationem non tacuissent. Art. 58. Oxon. damnat. vide Wald. To. 2. pag. 268.  HE held, that corporal Unction, or the last anointing, or anealing, was no Sacrament, so do we.   

Sect. 5. Of Popish Confirmation.  

q Quantum adoleum quo Episcopi ungunt pueros, & poplum lineum quod complexum est capiti, Videtur quod sit ritus levis, infundabilis ex Scriptura, & quod ista confirmatio introducta super Apostolos, blaspheme, in Deum. Artic. 8. In Synod. Const. damnat.  HE held that Popish Confirmation, with oil & vail, and I know not what fooleries, was a Relic of the Devils, but 
r Walden, To. 3. pag. 105.  such Confirmation as was agreeable with reason he allowed.   

Sect. 6. Of Images.  
HE preached against the 
f Praedicandun est contra pretiositatem speciositatem. & alias sophisticationes quibus illudimus peregrinos potius propter pecunias exhauriendas quam propter religionem Christiin proprijs agendam In Expos. Decal pag. 48. Diabolus actione infidelitatis illud it plures, putantes quandoque esse miraculum, ubi est purê deceptio. lb. pag. 48.  pretiosity, speciosity, and miraculositie, and sundry other sophistications about images, being of opinion, that it were better to banish them 
t And according to his doctrine not long after Will, Nevil, Lewis Clifford, Io. Clanwow, Ric. Styry, Tho. Latymer. and joh. Montagu turned out the Images out of a certain Chapel. Walls pag. 3●8.  clean out their of Churches, alleging that noted saying of Epiphanius: and where as the Papists say, they commit no Idolatry, 
u Adorò illam nomine Sancti: Si● dixerunt infideles In Expos Decal. pag. 48.  for they worship not the Image, but that, which the Image represents: first he shows, that the Idolatrous heathen men were wont to make this apology for themselves; but howsoever they dissembled the matter, sure he was, that 
uu In mora imaginandi latet venenum Idololatriae lb pag. 48.  between there gazing upon the Image & thinking upon that, that was thereby represented, it was an easy matter for some kind of Idolatry to creep in. And of the same opinion are we.   

Sect. 7. Of the Distinction of sins.  
HE holds the Distinction of sins thus; 
x Lib Miscel. pag. 182.  some sins are called little sins, in comparison of greater, and 
y Lib de 7. peccat Mor●. pag. 1. Wald. To. 2. p. 254.  venial, because God's son forgives them, so do we.   

Sect. 8. Of Auricular Confession.  
HE held 
z Confessio vocalis facta Sacerdoti, introducta per Innocentium non est tam necessaria Artic. 9 con deninat. in Synodo Const  vocal Confession to a Priest, not to be necessary in 
a Si h●mo fuerit debite contritus, omnis confessio exterior est sibi superflua & inutilis. Arti●. 9 land damnat.  case a man a were truly contrite and sorrowful for his sin, with full 
b Two manners of perfect Penance, Shrift and amendment. Com. in Psal. pag. 129. Shrift that is hallowing in our hearts, lb. pag. 367. Shrift, that is forsaking of sin. lb. pag. 363. ¶ Grave & infundabile est, Presbyterum audire Confessiones, Populi modo quo Latini utuntur, Wickliff. 3 Ser. Dom. in monte. Wald. pag. 223.  purpose of amendment: unless the party offending, do find himself very much grieved, in which case he counseleth him, to repair 
c Lib. Miscell. pag. 247.  unto a Priest that hath cunning and good living; & so far this doctrine is justly ratified, by the Canons of our Church and pity it is, that it is not oftener used.   

Sect. 9 Of Satisfaction.  
HE wrote against their, 
¶ Papa modernus erube sere debet de ist a mother na penitentia sine fundatione posita, cumm non licet mortalibus & Apostolis difficultare legem Dei, ultra hoe quod ip●emet limitavit. Artic. Oxon. damn. 47. Though a man live never so long he might not. etc. Lib. Miscell. pag. 163.  new found penance, and penal Satisfactions; assuring us, that a man might not do sufficient penance for one deadly sin, so do we.   

Sect. 10. Of Pardons and Indulgences.  
Sharply he inveied against their 
b Li. Mis. p. 28.  vain sellers, or distributers of Pardons and Indulgences, and other Ghostly deeds; showing that this treasure, 
c Li. Mis. p. 26.  was not in earthly man's power to deal; but 
d De Thesauris Ecclesiae dispositio Christi De Ver. Scr. p. 471  wholly in Christ's disposition; and that the 
e De blas. p. 51  parting of this bliss, was proper to God only: and therefore 
f lb. pag. 53.  we should not trust to the Pope, but to God; 
g Fatuum est credere Indulgentijs Papae & Episcoporun. Art. 42. Lond. Cond.  not to believe his Bulls, but the 
h Lib Com. in Psal. p. 173.  Bull of everlasting pardon, which is our Lord jesus Christ, so do we.   

Sect. 11. Of Fasting.  
FOr fasting, he held as we do; that 
i Li. de 7. Piece Mort pag. 28.  abstinence with prudence was needful, that is, (as he expoundeth himself) 
k Lib. Miscell. pag. 247.  measureable fasting, both of body and soul; of the body from meats, of the 
l Debemus ieiunare a peccato Lib de Ver. Scrip. p. 8  soul from sins, was requisite; but nevertheless he held absolutely, against there 
m Foole-fasting is gluttony Lib de 7. Peccat, Mort. pag. 28.  foole-fasting, that is, fasting from flesh, to glut themselves with fish; or 
n lb. p. 29.  excess of fasting, that is, to go about to fast more than man's nature would permit, by seeking too much to even Christ or 
o In operibus humanitatis debemus sequi Christum faciendo operibus suis proportionalia -- debemus ie iuna●e a peccato 40. diebus et juxta possibilitatem naturae, a superfluo corporali cibo. De Verit. Scr. pag. 8.  Elias, by so doing.   

Sect. 12. Of Vows.  
HE speak against there forced vows, of Chasti●e, Poverty, and Obedience: showing, how there Chastity was turned 
Lib. Miscelli: 64 lb. p. 63,  into Lechery, and sin against kind; there 
q Friars studien to be rich Vita Sacerd. pag 59 They rob men by begging. Touch a great Cup of Gold or Silver, but not a penny or farthing Reg. S. Franc. pag. 76. The King's garment for goodness not better than theirs. lb p 77. have chambers for Dukes or Earls -- with lewels -- and mikel hide treasure lb. 77 They magnify more obedience to sinful men then to Christ. Reg. S. Franc, pag. 77.  Poverty into riches; there" Obedience, into disobedience, and flat rebellion against Christ, and his Laws.   

Sect. 13. Of Priest's Marriage.  
TOuching Matrimony, thus stood the case in his time, the Priests were unmarried: but nevertheless, he held that the 
r In Primitiva Ecclesia ordinati sunt coniugati Episcopi. De Ver. Ser. pag. 370. Orietales Sacerdotes uxorati. lb p. 406, et in Expos. Decal. p. 116. Oftendit quo modo Sacerdotes possint effe uxorati. De Ver. Scrip. pag 407. & lb. Miscell. pag. 63.  Bishops and Priests of both the Primitive and East-Churches were married, & that he saw no cause, why the Priests of the Latin Church 
f lb. pag. 63.  should be forbidden marriage; that the forbidding of it, caused many 
t Lib. Miscell. pag. 63.  to live lust full life and easy, and fall into sin against kind●; that who so forbids it, 
u lb. p. 63.  is enemy of God, Saints in Heaven, and all mankind: because 
uu lb. pag. 65.  true chastity, is as well to be found in wedlock, as otherwise; and this is our very tenet.   

Sect. 14. Of Divorces.  

1 Lib. Miscell. pag. 54. Quo ad divortium divulgandum cautelae innumerabiles adinuentae. In Expos. Decal. pag. 117.  HE held against unlawful divorces, so do we.   

Sect. 15. Of Dispensations.  
HE held likewise against 
y Eiusmodi dis, pensationes creditur Ecclesiam nimium perturbare De Ver. Scrip. pag. 399.  false and unnatural 
z Dispensations for marriages in case of nearness of blood gainful. Lib. de 7. Pecc. Mort. pag. 33.  dispensations for marriage, in case of nearness of blood.   

Sect. 16. Of Acquivocation.  
HE held against damnable 
a Vide Capitu lum 15. de We rit. Scrip. ubi rem prolix tractat.  equivocation and lying, & that the Pope nor no man else could absolve them from lying, or wilful perjury, or breach of their 
b lb. p. 207.  oaths of allegiance.   

Sect. 17. Of the king's Supremacy.  
HE held that the King's Majesty, hath power within his Realms, -- to whom the Chief government of all Estates of this Realm, 
c Aliternon haberent Reges in Regnis ●uis plenae pacis custodiam De Ver. Scrip. pag. 453. 37. Article of Religion.  whether they be Ecclesiastical, or Civil, in all causes doth appertain, and is not, nor aught to be subject to any foreign Jurisdiction, according to the 37. Article of Religion; not intending hereby, (as slanderous Jesuits do give out) to give the Prince, the ministering of God's word or Sacraments, or to make and establish what Religion he list, as if we Englishmen 
d jac. Gretserus. Angli & corpora & animas suas Capiti suo Saeculari prostituerunt in defē●. Bel p. 1261  had prostituted (so the lewd Jesuit speaketh) both our souls, and bodies unto the King.   

Sect. 18. Of Christian men's goods.  
Again, he held the riches and goods of Christians not to be common, as touching the right, title, and possession (as the Anabaptists now, & a certain 
e Io. Ball. see Froissard.  Bald Priest in his time did hold) notwithstanding, by 
f Omnes homines debent charitatiue habereomnia in communi De Vet. Scrip. pag. 449.  a 
¶ See the 38. Article of Religion  Christian charity, they were to be made common, as he teacheth.   

Sect. 19 Of Oaths.  
Again he held against 
g Lib. Miscell. p. 124.  the perilous custom of swearing, against fallacious, blasphemous & 
h lb p. 125. & De Ver. Scrip p. 252, 253, & 284. In Expos in Decal pag. 63 The 39 Artic of Religion.  Acguivocall Oaths; not against swearing: the contrary is most evident throughout all his books, and as clear as the Sunshine in a fair summers day, & this is an Article of our Religion.   

Sect. 20. Of Excommunications.  
For Excommunications he held the same with our 
l De Ver. Ser. pag. 614 Art. 33. of Rel  Church; that the party excommunicated, being delivered up once unto Satan, by the Church, aught to be taken of the whole multitude of faithful, as an Heathen and Publican, until he were openly reconciled by Penance, and received into the Church, and this made him write, against the abuses of Excommunication: viz: that those greater 
k Scribit contra leviter ex communican tes De Verit. Scr. pag. 368. Contra excommunicati. ones iniustas In Expos. Dec pag. 124. damnantes alios fine debito ex a'mine, De Ver. Scrìp. pag. 612. Excommunicatio non inventa propter decimas., lb. pag. 437 ad tertendum homines Laicos In Expos. Decal. pag 123.  Excommunications were thundered forth too often, too suddenly, upon no due information, and for no good end.   

Sect. 21. Of the Discipline of the Church.  
HE held a reverend opinion of the books 
l 
Quos decreu●t Ecclesia nec damnare nec explicit canonizare cum satis sit pro sua militia habere 22. Libros de vet Testamento. De Ver. Scrip pag. 110.  
He writesagainst those that will not honour their Prelates Lib. Miscell. p. 260 shows how we should honour them In Expos. Decal. pag. 93.   Apocrypha. For the government of the Church by Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacon's and Officials, he was (to my seeming) a plain conformitan. There were no doubt of it, some Reverend, learned, and uncorrupt Prelates in his time: and therefore he observed this rule in all his sharp Treatises against the Clergy: parcere personis, dicere de vitijs, to note the abuses in general, without 
¶ He names not any one of his adversaries, Monk or Friarthrough out all these books that I have seen of his.  naming any man in particular to his disgrace. & for Rites and 
m That which he blamed was that plus appretiabantur Tradi●. quam Scripturam sacram De Ver. Scrip. p. 96. That they did Traditiones Lucrationes preponderare legi dei. lb. pag. 359. poe  Ceremonies, such as were laudable and approvable by the Church, he himself observed, and wished others so to do▪ last, though He were soul and body, for 
n Showing that to preach God's word is highest Service Lib. de 7. Pecc, Mor●. pag. 19 quod praedicatio sit praecipuum opus Episcopi Lib. De Ver. Scrip. p, 331. Maior quam Eucharistia, lb. 345. Necessario in Archi●● iscopo & Episcopo lb. 347. Audacter assero quod non sit Episcopus nisi praedicet aliquo tempore lb. 392. lo, 21. 15. 16.  preaching and teaching the people, yet he held it a matter of no necessity, but of indifferency, for the Priest to preach unto the Lay-people by weeks, or months, or otherwise in their discretions; so the people were well taught: likewise he was not so severe and sharp an inveier against Nonresidents, as to allow them no time of absence, or recreation, by inculcating and thundering in there ears Christ's pasce, pasce, pasce, feed, feed, feed: for he showeth, that a man may be absent upon occasion, from his living, either at the 
o Licet Rectoriad tempis collige●e semen fidei in scholis Theologic is extra parochian De Ver. s●r. pag. 437.  Universities, or elsewhere, for the increase of his knowledge, 
p Pascat eos continue in sancta sacerdotal● conversatione in sub. fritu●i●donca preparatione & opportuna pro horis. congruis absentiae rectificatione Ib.  deputing a sufficient man in his place, and living wheresoever, a godly, and virtuous life: and for 
q Cum-pastus spiritualis non debet este tam continuus, sed maioris effica ciae ac permanentiae quam pastus corporeus, sufficit quod horis congruis in anno pascat subditos lb.  continual feeding, he shows the difference between corporal food and spiritual food, the one a man of a strong body and complexion cannot well want twice a day, the other a man may want many days and weeks; yet he thinketh it not convenient that they should so do, if it might be otherwise. Finally, he was not for hedge Priests, such as our Familists, which refuse the Church, as profane, and choose the open fields, or there houses, for their disordered con. venticles and meetings: he loved preaching & 
r Necesse, & utile est orare. In Expos. Decalogi. est spiritualis Tyriaca contra Diabolum lb. 8●. oftendit locum, tempus, & formam orandi lb.  praying well, and stood firm for the Liturgy of a reformed Church, but yet he thought the 
f Orandum est in Templis -- non ex dedicatione Ecclesiae ibi oratio facta Deo acceptior sed ex merito obedientiae prae●eptis Ecclesiae & ex elongatione a curis Seculi ●b. 79.  Church, to be the fittest place for God's service, for many reasons which he recounteth: so that as he was no superstitious Papist, so he was no fond novelist, but an indifferent, sober, discreet, learned and judicious Protestant.   

Sect. 22. Of Implicit faith.  
HE held that every good & perfect Christian should believe not only implicitè, by relying on the Church; but 
t De Ver. Ser. pag. 111.  secundam fidem formatam explicitè in particulari plus, vel minus, secundum quod obligantur plus Deo, ex donis suis & opportunitate temporis so do we.   

Sect. 23. Of the certainty of salvation.  
THat a 
u De Ver. Ser. pag. 176. It. de blas. p. 55.  virtuous and godly man should be certain of his salvation, though he need not to swear it.   

Sect. 24.25: Of Purgatory and Prayer to saints.  
LAstly, for Purgatory and prayer to Saints, & for the dead. It cannot be denied, but that in some places of his works, he speaketh of the 
uu Illi sunt in statu pae nae acerbissimae, quo nequeunt se i●vare. In Expos. Decal. pag. 102.  dreadful pains of Purgatory, and 
x De reddendo pro corpo rali eleemosy na spirituale suffragium. De Ver. Scrip pag. 447.  praying for the dead, and 
y Lib●. divers. Trat. pag. 121 It●● confess. ● Euchar. Angl. edita.  unto Saints: but it seemeth that either he was not 
z If they be dead parents I pray not for them. Lib. Diver. Trac. p. 3. For now is time of mercy and time of grace lb. 325 Each man shallbe deemed of God; such as he founden is in the ending of his life. lb. p. 459.  fully grounded in this opinion, whereat some of the grave Doctors of the Church have stumbled; or rather, that howsoever he had maintained it, yet upon better advise he changed his opinion: which I gather by these two Circumstances. First he writes 
a Onnia dicta de Purgatorio, dicuntur solumm odo comminatorie tanquam pia mendacia De Ver. Scrip. pag. 267.  that all the sayings of Purgatory, were spoken, by way of commination, as it were so many religious lies to scar the people from coming thither. Secondly, he divides the Church into 3. parts: The 
b Expos. in te Deum pag. 478  highest beth the Angels of heaven, the 2. beth Saints, 
c De Vent. Scrip pag. 479 Beati in purgatorio, velut in umbra pau. In Expos. Decal. p. 128. Sabbathum prefigurat quietem dormientium in purgatorio. De Verit. Scrip. pag. 479.  dormientes, or pausantes, sleeping or resting in Purgatory, the third is folk, that shallbe saved, here fight in earth: of these three (saith he) and of none other, is made holy Church: and surely by this division, Popish Purgatory is thrust clean out of doors. For there is little rest, and less sleeping there, if we believe them that have come from thence, and told us so. And by this reason, if the fire of Purgatory be clean put out, the smoke of it, that is prayers for the dead, must needs, in a very short time vanish away. And as for prayers unto Saints, most true it is, that in these Popular works of his, he mentioneth a prayer, of 
d divers. Trac pag 207. It in confessio ne de Eucharist. Anglice edita  S. Sicily, unto Saints and himself prayed to the blessed Virgin Marry but I am 
e This persuasion of mine is farther increased by these words of Wald. To, ● pag. 204. Hostis omnium Sancto●um Wickliffe suffragia vivorum despiciens, au su nimio debacchatur in Sanctos, eos orare prohibens, festivita tes corum et honores quos libet interdicens. But he, is ordinarily so fall a reporter of his words that I know not how he may be well credited when he speaketh the truth.  persuaded, that he retracted these opinions in his latter & more learned works. If ever it be God's pleasure, that his works which were cut and mangled, and scattered worse than Absyrtus limbs were in the Poet, may be brought forth and set together again, that we may have the whole body of his learned & religious works, & be able to distinguish of the time, and order wherein he writ: then I say we should receive due satisfaction in this point, sure I am that 
f Quis rogo faceret scurtam mediatotem suum, ut Regis paratioris & Clementioris collequio potiretur? ●anctiigitur in, Coelo licet non s●●● scurrae, sed incorporati Christo per gratiam salvatoris tamen minus se habet in comparatione ad illum, quam scurra ad Regem terrenum. Hec Wickliff, c. 30, Tertij Trial. Wald. To. 3. p, 213.  Friar Walden, makes him to speak very irreverently against Saints, & 
g Die S. Thomae Can●uariensis Archiepiscopi lo de Wickliff dum in S Thomam (ut dicitur) eodem die in sua predicatione quam dicere preparaverat actiones & blasphemias vellet evomere, repent judicio dei percusius ●ensit paralysim omnia m●mbra●sua generaliter in vasiss●. Os nempe quod contra Deum & lanctos eius locurum fuerat, a loco●suo miserabiliter distortum, horrendum cerne●tibus spectaculum exhibebat, lingua effecta muta, confitendi vel restandi copiam denegabat. Wals. pag. 338.  Walsinghan the Monk says, it was the death of him: though I believe neither of both for the circumstance of there Relations, yet for the substance of the speech, it may be true, that he was not so earnest for prayer to Saints, as formerly he had been. Thus having run over almost all the noted controversies, either in Doctrine or Discipline, by comparing them with the Articles of Religion, & Canons of our church, and showed his uniformity, and conformity with us, almost in all points fully concurring (
h Which in Waldens' judge meant are stourly maintained by Wickliff as hath been before proved.  some few excepted●) for which, considering the times wherein, and the persons with whom, he lived, he may easily obtain pardon of any indifferent reader. We come now, by God's grace, unto the third and last part of our first general Division, to answer such objections, as either Father Parsons, or the Apologists have made, in the same order as they are propounded by them, and first I begin with Father Parsons; His objections are in number. 6.    

The 9 Chapt.  

The 1. Objection of Father Parsons.  
IF a Bishop or Priest, should give holy orders, or consecrated the Sacrament of the Altar, or minister Baptism, whiles he is in mortal sin, 
Pag. 487.  it were nothing available.   

The Answer.  
IF it were not for reverence unto Father Parson's years and learning, which are to be honoured in a man's professed enemy, (though it be contrary to their rules) I should surely think, that this were an errant lie, sophistically and maliciously enforced, not arising naturally out of his words. For his words are plain, admonishing Priests of their sacred functions, and holy lives he writeth thus: 
i Nisi Christia, nus fuerit Christo uni tus per gratiam n●n habet Christum saluato●em, nee sine falsitate dicit verba Sacramentalia licet prosint capacibus: oportet enim Sacerdotem conficientem, ●sse membrum Christi & ut Sancti loquuntur quodammodo ipsum Christum, De Ver. Ser. pag. 138.  Unless the Christian Priest be united unto Christ by grace, Christ cannot be his Saviour, nee sine fa●sit ate dicit verba Sacramentalia, neither can he speak the Sacrament all words without lying, licet prosint capacibus though the worthy receiver be hereby nothing hindered from grace. Then which words, what can be said more plain? Here is there Sophistry; Wickliff after his usual manner, noting the foul abuses of the Church, & Church men, 
k Accusantes p●eudo—. Sacerdotes statim censentur hosts Ecclesi● De Ver Scrip. p. 460.  inueies against notorious and scandalous offenders, whether Bishops or Priests; as notable 
l Priests Sin●en much in avoutry Lib de 7. Peccat. 33. Praelati male viventes ●unt Haeresiar●h●e vel Archi●haeretici. De Ver Scrip. p. 602. & 605. Peccata Cleri causa ruinae regni. Ib. 473. Vehementer Eccle: siam. Christi destruit me●iores esse Laicos quam Clericos. Ib pag. 423.  adulterers, or Fornicators, and guilty of any such crimes, as wherehence offence and scandal might grow unto the Church of God; wishing that such, continuing 
m For Rectores Ecclesiae non sunt statim judicandi lb. pag. 430.  such, and having 
n Proposito quod sit form cator, vel alio notorio crimine irretitus De Verit. Scr. 413.  thrice been warned thereof, by order & due form of Law, might be removed, and better put in the place: because they were 
o De Verit. Scr. pag. 368.  percussores fratrum, that living so in open sin did consecrate, or minister, willing the people, not to partake with their sins, lest they should be 
p ●f they did any manner of ways seem to countenance or conceal the faults of so notorious offenders in the Clergy.  partakers of there punishments; and in some such case, it might be, that God might abhor the people's Sacrifices, for the wicked Priests sakes, as he threatened the Jews he would do, and this is a very dangerous opinion, is it not?   

The 2. Objection.  

Parsons in his 3. Covers. pag. 488.  It is against Scripture, for any Ecclesiastical Ministers, to have any temporal possessions at all.   

The Answer.  
THis accusation is without all peraduc̄tu●es false. For what were the lands and goods of Bishops, Cathedral Churches, or otherwise belonging to Religious houses, which were given, Deo 
q Regum & Regno●um est rimari radi●itus utrum eleemosynae quas contulerunt pauperibus secundum formam legis divinae Legis Ecclesiae sint expensae. De Verit. Script▪ pag. 466. Interest Regum & aliorumrectificare eleemosynas progenitorum svorum lb. 466. Da●, Ecclesia talem legem fi●ijs vel Nepotibus, ac honestioribus propinquis eius qui construxit vel dotavit Ecclesiam lb. pag. 455.  & Ecclesiae, were they not 
r The law of the Realm beholdeth the thing that is given and pretended, that is i● the thing, that is given, be of lands or goods, the determination thereof, of right belongeth in this Realm to the King's laws, whether it be in spiritual men or temporal, to the Church or to other, De fundamentis Legum Angliae l. 1. c. 32. It. The goods of spiritual men be Temporal in what manner soever they come to them, & must be ordered after the Temporal law, as the goods of temporale men must be lb.  Temporal, Possessions? And yet are rightfully held, according to Wickliffs' tenure, by Ecclesiastical Ministers; and long might they and peaceably enjoy them for him, in as ample manner as ever they did, so long as they did see them well employed, according unto the will and purpose of the donors, willing nothing contrary to God's words. I speak of Bishop's lands, or lands of Cathedral Churches▪ For as for the lands belonging to so 
r Non credo, quod grandis constructio Monasteriorum, & a dificiorum, velcumulatio Temporalium, unigeneri, alio nobiliori depauperato fortify at Rempublicam; sed infirmat- Quia (si non fallor) omnis tales dotationes generis Clericorum, omnes tales impe●ta●●nes Caenobiorum-fiunt ex turpi luc●o & questu illicito, Reipublicae infectio. lb. alias dixi, quod minus malum fore t Vt ex propriata forent omnia temporalia quibus Ecclesia Anglicana est dotata, ut exeis darentur stipendia Lai●is l●teratis, necessary is add officium Regis & Secula●ium dominorum. De Verit. Scrip. pag 465.  many chantries, Colleges, abbeys, Friaries, Priories, Monasteries, and other Religious Houses, he was absolutely of opinion, that it were great piety, for Religious kings to dispossess them wholly of them, ● and give them gentifacienti justitiam, to good and godly uses, ● and ● would to God, this had been in K. Henry the eighths' mind, when he pulled down the Monasteries, either to have turned them into Colleges, & nurseries for learning and religion, into Hospitals, Almshouses, Spittels, & such like religious Maisons de Dieu, or which, though I mention last, yet considering the state of the Church and the Policy of our adversaries, I should think fit with the first to be recommended unto a Religious king, and virtuous Nobility, to the maintenance of a College of writers, Collators, Comparers, and in brief such a College, as might in short time, with good orders, be able to match & perhaps overtop, all that rabble of Jesuited Colleges throughout Christendom. Because I have ever been of Wicliffes' mind, in this point, that 
s Si quis laborat in negotijs communibus. S Matris Ecclesiae, vivat de communi stipendio. De Verit, Scrip. pag. 436.  those which are employed in common affairs of the Church should have public maintenance & allowance. But the children of this world, are wiser than we, Vt iugulent homines, surgunt de nocte Latrones, ut te●psum serves, 
Horatius' ● Cur Patres Londini haud edidistis? Possevinus in Append. ad Apparatum.  non expergiscere? If the Devil be so ready to sow tars in our books, shall not we be as ready to purge them out of our writings? should not we, be as diligent, to restore, as they are to take away, from the the works of the ancient Fathers? I speak this, to awaken myself and others, that we may stir up these godly motions in the hearts of the people, if by any means it may be brought to pass. Of the Clergies promptness & zeal to set forward so public and profitable a business, which the necessities of the times, & importunity of our adversaries do in a manner ● call for at our hands, I doubt not; but alas, they that should 
u The livings of Bishops, & other Clergy men, are so greatly impaired or pared rather, by I know not whose default.  help others, are scarcely able to maintain themselves and the outward state and face of the Church (which unless it be maintained with some Majesty, and reverence of the people will soon decay, and be disfigured) is so clean changed, ut non cognoscas eandem esse: yet well far the Papists for mainetaining the outward discipline of their Church, though corrupted with much impiety and blasphemy. They know, that it fareth not with us, as it did with the Christians, in the Primitive Church: we of the Clergy want the gift of miracles, to draw the people unto us, and the people have not the gift of charity, to draw us unto them: but this shallbe my comfort, non simale nunc, & olim sic erit.   

The 3. Objection.  
NO Prelate, aught to excommunicate any person, 
Parsonsin his 3. Conuers. p. 488. Part. 2.  except he know him first to be excommunicated by God.   

The answer.  
HEre I suppose the 
u Read the answer of the. Venetians against Paul the 5. his excommunication  ● Venetians, will step forth, & and justify Wickliff's assertions: for (if I be not deceived) they writ the very same words. who knows not, that excommunications as well as other Ecclesiastical ordinances, may be 
x Patet quia saepe excommunicantur multiimprovide Wickliff referent Tho. Wals. pag. 302. He spakechiefly against those excommunications which were thundered forth ad impediendum homines audire verbum Dei. lb pag. 303.  abused by inferior officers; as Archdeacon's, Officials, chancellors, and Commissaries, yea and sometimes by Superiors, as Bishops, Archbishops, or the Pope's holiness. Some there are, and ever willbe, that will corrupt the integrity of the Church Discipline; with a varice, by 
y ●lli tanquam pontifices, Scribae & Pha risaei ne dum carnes sed ossa comedunt; non arida irrigant verbo dei; sed secare & frangere sa tagunt medul losa. In Expos Decal. p, 130.  praying not only upon the flesh of there underlings, but even by breaking and crushing the bones, by the thunder of there Excommunications: some by rashness, proceeding, sine 
z De Ver Scr. pag. 612.  debito examine, without due examination: some of 
a Ad terrendum homines Laicos In Expos. Decal. p. 123.  pride, to be feared of the people; whereas the greater Excommunication (for of such I speak) should begin in God's name, and end in his fear.   

The 4. Objection.  

Parsons in his 3. Conners. pag. 488.  SO long as a man is in deadly sin, he is neither Bishop, nor Prelate.   

The Answer.  
STill our adversaries play the notable Sophisters, First we will see the occasion ministered unto him. of speaking these or the like words, than we will consider the manner of speaking of them, & lastly consider the words themselves, and the consequence or illation. The occasion given unto him, of inveighing so sharply and eagerly against the manifest and manifold abuses of the wicked Prelates of the Church, was this. He lived in a very corrupt time, when the tars had so far overgrown the good corn, that he stood doubtful where to begin his reformation: whether with the head, or with the tail, with the inferior sort of Clergy men, or with the Superiors: but he resolved with himself in the end, that it was best to begin with the Prelates and Heads of the Church, whom he saw as all ●he world beside, positos in maligno altogether for the most part, set upon wickedness, admonishing them every where of their duties, which they had so clean forgotten, that whereas the Holy Ghost had made them overseers over the flock, they did as it were so many wolves, or masty curs, worry them, or else fleece them, nothing caring for to feed them, by leading them into the pleasant pastures of God's word; yea, as it may appear by his writings) they did altogether 
b They held that a Bishop needed notto preach see Lib. de Verit. Script p. 331.  refuse to preach unto them, 
c They pursue true men for preaching Christ's Gospel. Lib. Misc. pag. 35.  persecuting & prosecuting the true Preachers of God's word, and they did not only offend themselves, but encouraged others of the inferior sort, to do the like, by their wicked examples: 
d De Verit. Scrip. p. 351 & in Expos. Decal p. 34.  giving Holy orders, unto men of unholy life, & unable for their skill and knowledge to govern the people, committed to their charge, in peace and godliness; bestowing their benefices for 
e Ab ista sententia nimis coecatur: Ecclesia, & Praela●i conferetes beneficia. De Verit. Scr. pag.  carnal respects, not for men's worthiness, or merits, defrauding the poor of their alms. When he saw (● say) this Canker or spiritual Gangrene, fretting and festering the soundest parts of the Church, what could he do less than he did? to exhort them, to t●ke away these scandals, our of church, to reform these abuses. His words of exhortation (which is the 2. point, that we are to observe) are these, mistaken by the adversary, for they are no other, than such as are frequent in the works of the Holy Fathers; that 
f Nomen non facit Episcopum sed vita. De Verit. Scr. pag. 443.  it is not the name, but the life that makes a Bishop; that 
g Quicunque nomine tenus Sacerdos, vel Episcopus qui non compensat illi nomin●ipsius nominis rationem non est ve●e Episcopus, vel Sacerdos. De Verit Script. pag. 443.  if a man have the name of a Prelate, and do not answer the reason thereof in sincerity of doctrine, and integrity of life; but live scandalously and in mortal sin, that he is but a nomine-tenus Sacerdos a Bishop or Priest in'name, not in truth; but that hereby we should infer a contempt of the Clergy in general, and condemn all Bishops & Prelates, is not the meaning (I am sure) of john Wickliff, if his 
h He writeth against them that will not honour their Prelates. Lib. Mi●cel p. 260.  writings may be credited against their false surmises, and improbable conjectures: Reformation is that which he sought, which God (evermore blessed be his name) did afterwards so establish in this kingdom, that the like again, is not to be showed for discipline and doctrine, throughout all the reformed Churches in Christendom; by taking away, not the things themselves (
i Abusus non tollit rei v●um  for that were to cut down all the vines, for some few dro●ken men sakes) or as the wise man speaketh, to wring the nose of the Church too hard, till the blood come again; but by taking away the abuses from the things▪ or from the persons, which is the happiest kind of Reformation.   

The 5. objection.  

Parsons in his 3. Conuers. part 2. p. 488.  TEmporal Lords may according to their own wills and discretions, take away the goods from any Church me●, whensoever they offend.   

The answer.  
WHo saith so Father Parsons? Wicklyff, no, if you mean that the King, and the 3. estates of this land, should take away the lands of Religious houses, so generally offending, by misconuerting them to the maintenance of their unnecessary orders, and wicked lives; I grant the proposition to be true, and 
k Hi traditores populi, militant cum hoste humani generis & proditoriè i n vestimè tis ovium tra● dunt exercitui Diaboli pop. Christianum: ideo tota communitas in surgeret contra illos. In Expos. Decal. pag. 79.  according unto his meaning, urged in more than in one, or two places. The Colleges of Monks, were the Colleges that he speaks against, and the Universities of Friars the Universities which he impugned. For otherwise he himself passed through out all degrees in this famous University, not without manifest and open proof of his learning, and reward of his industry: (for he was both 
l Scholar and fellow in Merton Colledge-Master of Balliol Coll. Vide Registrum sociorum Coll. Merton & Chartan quandam Coll. Ball.  Scholar, Fellow, and Master in diverse Colleges, here in Oxford. Now as for the public revenues of Bishops, and the lands of Cathedral Churches; he thought it might stand with equity, reason and law, Common, Civil, and Canon, that whereas Christian Princes and Temporal Lords, were the donors of those large possessions, which they did give and assign to such Bishoprics, or such Cathedral Churches, for the honour of God, the salvation of there own souls; and the relief of the poorer sort, especially of the Clergy, they should have 
m Interest Regum & aliorum rect ficare eleemo`ynas p ogenitorun suo●um De Ve●it. Script. pag 466.  some interest in them to see them well bestowed. And who knows not, that the king receives unto himself an 
n For the chief Lordship in this land of all Ten poraltiesboth of Secular men and Religious pertain to the King of his general governing. In Suppl. porrecta Parl pag. 10.  Homage in the one, and a right of Visitation in the other; if they offend 
o Triplex monitio debet praecedere, & post obstinatu●, non occupabit primatum. De Ver. Scrip. pag. 431.  notoriously and scandalously, and after 
p In defectu spiritualis praepositi quodindubie non obu●at ulli legi. tb ᵗ 461.  lawful admonition will not redress the abuses of their lands, or reform the wickedness of their manners, the King may by his regalty (as he proveth very strongly) punish the offenders, & take away their 
q Men of the Church had. free licem to trespass if the King might not be reave their temporalties when they sinneden greevously-when lawful cause exciteth in Supplicad parl. pag. to.  Temporalties, by his Archbishops, or other Ministers, 
r This jurisdiction is united to this imperial Crown, and which lawfully had been, or might be exercised within the Realm. My L. Cook in his 5. book of Reports pag. 8.  and this is all that can be said against Wickliff, in this point, all which (as you see) is nothing, 
s By the old custom of this Realm, all men great and small, shall receive justice in the King's Court, and this custom is confirmed by the Statut of Marleb. c. 1. De Fundam. legum Angliae. l. 1. c. 7.  but that which is most reasonable, just and conformeable unto the ᶠ Laws and customs of this land.   

The 6. Objection.  

Parsons in his 3. Conuers. pag. 488.  Tithes are mere alms, and may be detained by the Parishioners, and bestowed where they will at their pleasures.   

The Answer.  
THat Tithes are mere 
t Tithes giu●n by Title of spiritual alms Lib. de 7. pec. Mort. pag. 25. De Verit. Scr p124, 196, 413  alms, he holdeth every where, it was his error: but that they may be detained by the Parishioners, and bestowed where they will at their pleasures, is ●o untrue, as nothing in the world can be more. That Tithes are mere alms, I say, it was his error. He trusted too much unto the Common Lawyers, whose judgement he seems to follow in many things very commendably, as namely in 
See before  defence of the King's Ecclesiastical and Temporal power & Regalty. They hold (
u See M. Carletons' book of Tithes.  if I be not deceived) 
x These opinions of theirs I find in the book de fund legum Angliae That in the new law the paying of the tenth part is by a law, that is made by the Church● That Tithes are due by the law of nature— that spiritual men which minister unto the people spiritual things ought for their ministration to have by the law of reason a competent living of them they minister unto lb. p. 165  that Tithes were not due unto any particular Church, before the Council of Lateran; but that men might bestow them, where they would, & so Wickliff following them, said that within few years before his time, men paid their Tithes & Offerings at their own free will, to good men & able, to great worship of God, to profit & fairness of Holy Church fight on earth. but, (with reverence be it spoken unto that honourable Profession, & under reformation, of my opinion, if I think a miss) I am of the same opinion, that Master 
z In Lib. de decimis.  Charlton a country man of ours and 
a Hospinianus in Lib. de origine bonorum Ecclesiasticorum. Cap. 3. pag 123. Etsi leviticum Sacerdotium abolitum sit, & sacra legalia cessarint, manet tamen ministerium evangelii, quod absq● ministris ordinarijs non poterit consistere.  Hospinian a learned Germane doth out of Antiquity maintain, as most consonant unto the Analogy and proportion of Scripture; to wit●that● Tithes, that is to say the Tenth part, is, was, and ever more shallbe due, unto the Priests and Ministers of the Gospel, ante legem, in lege & post legem, before in, and since the law, as the fittest ordinary means, for the maintenance of the Clergy; else parishes being so unequally divided at the first, and Impropriation● founded in Popery, and continued in protestancy, growing so fast upon us, if the Minister should have no more, but a tenth part (which is his ordinary maintenance) the 
b At Stratford of the Auen the Minister (as I am informed) payeth well nigh as much, if not more than he receiveth by reason of a chantry annexed unto the Church.  minister may reach unto them, the bread of life, & mean while starve himself, for want of materialbread But to return unto john Wickliff, & to examine his opinion more strictly about Tithes or Alms, call them by what name you please, for my particular I account them duties, and livelode, and as the Common Law calls them the Minister's freehold; to the great confusion of Parsons, and all that wrangling Sect, I doubt not, but to demonstrate this point very clearly unto you, that Wickliff was as earnest, for the maintenance of the Clergy, and as bitter an inveigher against all 
c Scribit contra auferentes predia Ecclesijssiue Reges, sive alios; excipiuntur tamen pie auferentes a malis. De Ver Scrip p. 445.  Simoniacal Lay-Patrons, or Temporal Lords detaining the right of the Church as any of them: 
d Ad Parochianos pertinet in salu●em animae Decimas ac oblationes idoneo ministrare. De Vet. Scrip. pag 435.  that he tells then in express words, that it is in Salutem anim●, it is as much as their soul is worth to pay their Tithes duly and truly, unto the Parson; and that in case the people, standing, (as they do to this day, in many places, too ill affected unto the Ministry) should either at their pleasure, or upon displeasure●, with d●aw there 
e Oportet Sacerdot●s Chri sti subtrahere verbum Dei ab indispositis 2. si populus fuerit sic obstinatus & inobediens S. matriEccle siae quod prohibeat vel non ministret vitae necessaria suo Euangelistae. De. Ver. Scr. pag. 435.  temporal alms, he may with draw his spiritual alms from them. But perhaps you will reply & say, Tithes are indeed to be paid unto good Ministers and preachers, but what shall we pay them unto one, that we know to be a lewd companion, a very varlet, an open drunkard, adulterer or Fornicator, or a murderer of men's souls, aswell as of their bodies? Yes verily, in Wickl●ffes judgement, 
f Proposito qnod sit fornicator vel alio noto●io crimine irretitus. De Ver. Scrip. p. 413.  unless the fact be very notorious indeed, such 
g lb. pag. 420.  as the people know per iudic●um operationis, by their lives and manners (
h Laici non debent judicare de vita vel opere praelatorum & hoc praelatorum est. lb. pag. 420.  for it is not for them otherwise to judge their Minister) they have not judicium jurisdictionis; and although they may judge their lives, yet they ma●e not in any sort take away the Tithes quite and clea●e from the Church; but 
i It is lawful to parishioners to withhold their Tithes for open for. nication of their Curate and turn them into better use. In suppl. ad parl. p. 14. His meaning is this as he interprete●h himself in the same place; that if the Priest be reproved of God for his sins (that is for great and open sins) he should be put out of his office, & the Sacrifices shoulden not be given to him, but taken fro him, as God commandeth fro the high Priests Hely, & another true man walking in God's ways, as did Samuel, should be ordained to receaue●such Sacrifices. lb p. 12.  sequester them, as it were for the next Incumbent in this wise. The party delinquent is either so vicious a man of life or doctrine, as that there is no hope of his amendment; or else he hath committed some such fact, as wilful murder, or Treason, whereby he is ip so facto deprivable in Law; or finally he is one that seems to be corrigible: the two former are to be removed or degraded the ministery, the later sort of offenders, are thus to be proceeded against: 
k Laici— tenentur Praela●o prodere Clericum taliter criminosum De Verit. Scrip. pag. 428.  complaint must be made unto the Ordinary, (after he hath been 
l Rect●tes Ecclesiae non sunt statim judicandi lb. pag. 430.  three times charitably informed, and admonished of his fault by the Parishioners, and 
m Deficiente correctione Praelati. ●b. pag. 430.  there follows no amendment) if the Ordinary refuse to punish, or wink at his offences, so scandalous unto the Church of God, the 
n Mandentu● Episcopo castig andi lb. pag. 453.  Bishop of the Diocese, must be informed thereof: or if he refuse to give satisfaction unto the Parishioners, the Archbishop must be interested in the cause; and if 
o Nusquam foret necesse Laicos Clerum corripere, si praelati plenè corriperent se & suos secundum regulam Scripturae De Verit. Scrip. pag. 456.  neither Ordinary, Bishop, nor Archbishop will right them, then may the 
p Ad sustinendum istam legem Ecclefiae ordinantur Reges & potentes in Sa●culo, ut deficiente Clero ab eius completione, suppleatur per-brachium saeculare. lb. p. 4●9.  king by his royal authority, either in person, or by his Temporal Officers and Ministers, hear 
q Examination of ability and not ability being not taken from the ordinary. It shallbe judged by the King's Law, when a benefice shallbe said void and when not— The King is Patron paramount of all the benefices within the Realm, & he is bound to see his subjects have right in that behalf within the Realm and that in that case from him lieth no appeal. De fundam Legum Angliae 1. c. 36.  & determine the offence (though the offence be of that nature, that it properly belong unto their conusance, by 
r Reges nedum habcnt capitale dominium super bona Pseudocler. sed & super corpus quia aliter non foret talis eius homo ligeus lb. pag. 453. Debent punire tales notorios tanquam laicos, vel amplius-aliter non haberent Reges in Regnis suis plenae pacis custodian lb. pag. 453. else the King should not be able to do right to his subjects De fundam. leg pag 125.  punishing the offender either in body or goods. But as Wickliff saith, the 
s Au●erre a Clerico bo na fortunae est paena mitissima— punire per charitatem, per ablationem temporalium, vel dignitatis officij est puni●e misericor diter citra dignum. De Ver. Scr. pag. 430.  mildest course is by taking away the tithes from him, not from the Church, (for that were against his own rule) because 
t ●b pag. 415.  Decimae praed●ales non debent subtrahi, cum ad Ecclesiam pertineant, in cuius damnum, factum praepositi non redundat, lest many good Ministers should be punished for one lewd Clergy man's fault. And this the 
u The King's regalty asks by old statute, that the King may in many in case take Temporalties fro Clarkscontra Frat mend. pag. 49.  King may do, ash proveth very strongly, out of all the 
uu Patet in Sciptura quomodo Domini Temporales habent potestatem ad rectifican dum Sacerdotium-quia sapiens Salomon cum Sacerdote a Deo constitu●o ad regni sui stabilimentum laudabili●er ita fecit multo magis in Novo Testamento de Sacerdotibus Caesareis Quo● Reges & Principes ad cause Regnorum gubernacula ditaverunt— quia principum est curare v● omnes Sacerdotes sua ●fficia exequantur-secundum Leges Regni, juris Civilis & Canonici alias rei De Ver Scrip. pag. 469.  laws that are, and by the example of the wisest king that ever reigned. Now because there can be no smoke, without some fire, I will in a word or two inform you of the ground of this their accusation, & how they were misled, or Wickliff mistaken in this point, and so dismiss our aged Father Parsons with his threefold, or rather manifold perversions. Wickliff in all his books and treatises, doth every where commend a kind of 
x Ad hoc vadit tota mea ●entētia quam impugnant, ut viz. Cle●ici sint pauperes in facto, v●lin animo, vel vtrinque● & omnino quod cauea● ab avaritia, & fastu seculi, cum alijs malitijs quae sequuntur De Ver. Scrip pag. 570. Qui perfect linquunt omnia iudicabunt mundum. lb. pag. 512. De. mundi contemptu & pauper tate evangelica lb. p 196.  evangelical poverty, persuading Clergy men to renounce the vain pomp, and glory of the world, and to lead (if it were possible) an Apostolical or Evangelical life, to be content or 
y Contra frat. mend. pag.  paid if we han life elode & to be hiled with, that is, with food and raiment, this estate to Priest (in those days unmarried) he 
z Status pauperiei ●st status perfectissimus viatori InExpos. Decal. pag● 50. Crevit Ecclesia magis secundum pauperem statum De Verit. Script. pag. 465.  commendeth as the better; yet he approved well enough of using the things of this world, and he himself enjoyed Tithes, went 
a De Verit. Scrip. p 192. Inter alia peccata de quibus time●, hoc est unum prae●puum, quod consumendo in excessivo victu & vestitu bona pauperum, deficio, dandum exemplum alijs. lb. Quod aut con munem vitam vivendo frequenter avide & lau●e manduco dolenter profiteor, cum si illud hypoc●itice simulate volue●e, testarentur contra me socij commensales lb.  well appareled, and kept a good table, of that which was his own. For I read not of any great gifts that he had given him, of any man Temporal, Lord, State or Potentate. Perhaps being so well acquainted with the Common Lawyers, he was the likelier to keep his own. So that to conclude this point, he did not 
b Amor temporalium removendus De Ver Scr. p. 462. Omnia mala introduct● in Ecclesiam per affectionem inordinatam temporalium. ●n Expos. Decal. pag. 150. Omnes homines, debent precise secundum mensuram illam uti bonis temporalibus secundum quam promovent ad aeterna. De Ver Scrip. pag. 450.  actually debar Ministers from having, but from over much affecting the things of this world, which were to be renounced per cogitationem & affectum, in mind and affection: and so forsooth for urging this doctrine and taxing there abuses, he was 
c Accusantes pseudo Sacerdotes statim censen●ur hostes EcclesiaeDe Verit. Scrip. pag. 460.  thought to be a sore enemy to all the Clergy, and a sharp invaier against Tithes. And thus much shall suffice for an answer unto all indifferent Parsons, concerning Father Parson's lewd and frivolous objections: it remaineth that we proceed to discuss and examine our Apologists reasons, which may seem to some men more forcible, because there proofs are fetched from our own writers for the most part: for that which is alleged as out of Wickliff's works, I do shrewdly suspect to be verbatim taken out of Walden, 
d See both their Prefaces and Protestations, & you shall find them alike true  which is as true in his reports of Wickliff as Niceph●rus Callistus is in his Ecclesiastical stories, both of them profess great sincerity in words, & yet in deed have neither truth nor honesty in their words.   

The 1. Objection of the Apologists.  

Apol. Tr. 2. Cap. 2. p. 106.  HE seemed to contemn all Temporal goods, for the love of eternal riches, adjoined himself to the Begging Friars, approving their poverty, and extolling their perfection.   

The Answer.  
HE did not only seem, but in effect as far forth, a● became a sanctified and regenerate man, did 
e Certus sum si vixero in confession ●orum usque ad mortem & habeam con summatan conuersationem correspondentem quod relinquam mun dum vel temporalia, per carnis & mum di crucifixionem. De Ver. Scrip. p. 188.  contemn all Temporal goods, and that for the only love of eternal riches. This is a grievous imputation, or rather commendation, if you consider the duty of 
f Nemo excusatur ab hac paupertate De Ver. Scrip. pag. 516.  every good Christian, and the holy profession which he makes in Baptism. For say, Wickliff persuaded all other men to be as himself was, that did neither 
g He is most to praise that least setteth by this world and perfectliest, loveth heaven. De. Ver. Scrip. pag. 346.  set, nor settle his affections upon ' the world, which preached against Covetousness because he had heard S. Paul call it Idolatry; against an inordinate and preposterous affection of the temporal things of this life, because the Fathers and Scripture are against it, & what of all this? How many Sermons, Epistles, ' and Postels of Jesuits and Friars are extant, which do commend the same doctrine unto vs●, with exquisite and emphatical persuasions, allusions, and amplifications. So that hitherto we see, there is no harm done. That which follows out of Stow the old, that he adjoined himself to the Begging Friars, is taken out of Walsinghan which was Stows Author, and Wickliff's too great enemy to be believed. Master Stow, not to defraud him of his just praise, was a painful Citizen, by trade a Tailor, by his industry a Chronicler, so well minded to the public good, that for fault of better writers, he took upon him at the first to record such things as happened in that Metropolis and chief City, and being somewhat encouraged in his labour, he took upon him to deduce the History of the whole Island, from the first beginning, and to contract all our stories into one small volume. But here his learning failed him: for being not able 
h M. Io. Stow a painful writer, but not so judicious, for want of the knowledge of the Latin tongue, whereof he was utterly ignorant as himself ingenuously professed untome and therefore was compeled to have his latin books translated for him, to his exceeding great cost and charges the greater was his commendations  to understand his authors, how should he judge them? And not judging them, how could he write or cite any thing out of them, iudicioussie, pertinently, and as became an Historian? I spare to speak, what I know, concerning his books; his reverend old age, and incredible zeal to the common good, shallbe to me instead of so many garments, to cover his historical imperfections. But to come to the point, thus our Apologists do reason; Master Stow out of his translated Walsinghan says that Wickliff was of the order of the Begging Friars, and Walsinghan was a Liar, ergo Answer Cuius contrarium verum est, we will believe Walsingham an other time for this trick. For he was so far from ever being of that order, that never was East more distant from West, or black opposite to white, than he was to their disordered orders. If you please not to believe me, take your eyes in your hands, and read these two 
i Viz. His complaint to the Parliament, & his Treatise a 'gainst the orders of the begging Friar's.  Treatises, and then say who is the Lyar.   

2. Objection.  

Apol Tr. 2. Cap. 2. p. 106.  HE held that Ecclesiastical Ministers should beg.   

The Answer.  
Answer as before Cuius contrarium verum est, he held that Ministers should not beg. Sith 
k Io. Wickliff against the orders of Friars Chap 5. p. ●24.  begging is damned by God, both in the Old and in the New Testament. Read again the 
l Printed wi●h this Apology  5. Chapter of his book, against the orders of Friars.   

The 3. Objection.  
HE condemned lawful oaths, savouring therein saith Osiander of Anabaptisme.   

The Answer.  
I now see it verified of Lutherans and Protestants, & of all other writers, 
m Canus observes this out of Vopiscus.  which Vopiscus observed of Historians, nullum non Historicorum mentitum, that the best historians by trusting other writers or reportets, may deliver an 
n Against their wills It is an other thing menti●i to lie and mendacium dicere to report a lie after another man the first all good men should obhor●e from the second, the best cannot be fice  untruth now and then. Os●ander was a good Historian, but he never read Wickliff's works; or if he had seen some of them, he saw not all. For in his Latin Exposition upon the 
o It is the 2. commandment in his account.  third commandment, and his 
p Scribit contra propositionem incompletam & pen dulam, intelligendam cum sensu suo sinistro De Verit. Scrip. p. 282.  book of the Truth of the Scripture, he doth plainly show the contrary, condemning only all Equivocal, amphibological, 
q Vagae & per consequens falsae propositiones. ●b. pag. 282.  mixed, & wandering propositions, whether with oath, or without oath, willing men not for a 
r Nemo menti●etur quocunque leu● mendacio▪ pro saluatione vitae propriae, vitae proximi, vel pro saluatione infinitotum mundo●um, vel alicuius boni possibilis. De Ver. Scrip. pag. 242.  world of world●, or for the 
s Non est mentiendum prosaluatione proximi. lb. pag 264.  salvation of infinite souls to lie, that is to equivocate (as he interpreteth it) much less to swear an untruth, that is to fortweare. His treatise against 
t De aequivocis iuramentis & fallacibus vitandis. lb pag. 284 God teaches to swore by him in need and not by his creatures. Contra Fra●rmend. pag. 55.  Equivocation, is a most profound, learned, and judicious work; and worthy to be put in print, if it were an entire discourse of itself, where 
u If he be the Auctor of the Treatise tending to mitigation disguised by these Letters P.R. which go as all his writings do the clean contrary way.  Parsons may see, that he hath not so much as a small starting hole left, to put his head in unsought or unstopped.   

The 4. Objection.  
HE taught, that all things come to pass by absolute necessity.   

The Answer.  
I hope our Apologists need not to be sent back again to school, or to their Schoolmen, to learn this distinction, that all things that shall be, be in respect of God and his decree necessary, though in respect of us they be not so, from whom the knowledge of God's will, in this behalf, is purposely hidden, because we should not disesteem or neglect prayer, and other ordinary means for our Salvation. He telleth us, that God's promises and threatenings are 
x Deus nemini promittit poenam vel premium, nisi sub conditione tacita, vel expressa De Ver Scrip. p. 383.  conditional, & that as God hath appointed the end, so he hath appointed the means of our Salvation but notwithstanding this necessity, these are his very words, 
y In Expos. Decal. pag. 81.  quamvis omnia futura de necessitate eveniant; Deus tamen vult quod bona servis suis eveniant, per medium guo oratur.   

The 5. Objection.  
HE defended humane merits, as the damnable Pelagian held them, in so much that Melanchthon saith accordingly of him. Verily he did not understand, nor hold the justice of faith.   

The Answer.  
THis objection is taken for the former part out of Walden, for the later out of Melanchthon, though I have clearly ᶻ demonstrated the negative out of his own words: yet because the later part of the objection hath more edge in it then ordinary, because he seemed to have read some of Wickliff's works, for answer to him, I say, that either he read some of his works which he made when he was but 
a Wickliff wrote n●t two or three hundred volunes at one time, he bettered himself by writing, as S. Austin confesseth of himself scribendo discens f●r bear. And therefore no marvel if writing so much because as th● same Father saith in multi loquio non deest falsiloquium, there be somethings that at the first seem improper and exorbitant whi●h are ●uspiciously set down in the judgement of our writers, and are maliciously construed by the adversary  newly converted, which might peradventure savour of folly, or of a bad spirit; or else that he was cozened by some spurious and bastard Treatises, which were broached in his name, and laid to his charge, an imputation, 
b I could f●ll a huge volume with instances, in this point declaratory of their old and wont impostures: but for the present, I will allege only the Treatise de Cardinalibus Christi operibus, imputed to Cyprian, or one of his time, whereas in the public Library at Allsoules it is evident that Arnaldus Bonavillacensis writ it who lived Anno Dom. 1160.  not proper to Wickliff alone but common to him with many of the ancient Fathers and Doctors of the Church.   

The 6. Objection.  
He taught a seditious doctrine, 
Apol. Tract, 2. Cap. 2. p. 107.  and mother of all rebellion, teaching that there is no civil Magistrate, while he is in mortal sin, and that the people may at there pleasure correct Princes, when they do offend.   

The Answer.  
IF Wickliff do teach any such doctrine, he is utterly to be condemned by our Church, and to be reform in that point: but if they bely not his words, he admonisheth the king & all other inferior officers & Magistrates, as he did Bishops erst while, that he beareth not the sword in vain, or hath his office for nought, but to do the 
c Damna●i sunt de iure polisi potestatem datam e●s a Domino non exercent. De Verit. Scrip. pag. 456.  office of a king, well and truly, to see his Laws executed, and justice 
d King's are bound to see their Subjects have right De fundam Legun Anglioe l. c. 36  sincerely administered; and if he happen to be defective in his duty, by suffering the sword of justice to rust in the scabbard, and his people to perish for want of government; then he telleth him, that he is not properly and truly a king, that is 
e Perdens nomen officij & ordinis in effectu. lb. pag. 513.  in effect and operation, which words are spoken by way of exhortation: but so far was he, from 
f This crime of rebellion and treason, was objected unto him in his life time De Ver. Scrip pag. 179. & p. 570. which he answereth very fully lb.  mutiny himself, or persuading others to rebellion, that I dare be bold to speak it, that never any man of his rank, for the times wherein he lived, did more stoutly and valiantly 
g His main argument is out of the common Law of this land, quia a litter non haberent Reges in Regnis suis plenae pacis custodiam.  maintain the king's Supremacy, in all causes, as well as over all parson's Ecclesiastical and civil, against all usurped Primacy, and foreign jurisdictions, and his main reason was this, (to omit all others) else 
h The King should ●ot be able to do right to his subjects. De fundam legum, Angliae l. c. 36. He writes directly and plainly against those th' at say Rex Angliae non est Rex totius Angliae sed Regulus paruae partis super residuum vero mortificatum est Papa Dominus- veruntamen non disputandum (inquiunt) de ista materia, quousque●uerit in effectu potentius stabilita sed tole●●ndae sunt iniuriae Dominorum Secularium, quousque arisent opportunitas temporis. ●b. pag. 424. This he takes to be treason and against this he writes.  he should not be King over all England, but regulus parva partis a petty governor of some small parts of the Realm. And as touching his 
i He noted them of Treason in many points for giving our gold to Al●ens, and sometimes our enemies for enabling the Pope to fight with the King, with his owne● money, disabling the King by reservations, provisions, dispensations, Collations, & presentations of so many barbarous ●ud e'& unlettered straingers, who never saw ne came to see their parishioners. finally by threatening the King, that if they might not have what they would they would go out of the land & come again with bright heads And (as he'says) look whether this be treason or no? Contra Frat. mend. Cap. 27. pag. 45. pag 358.  rebellious followers, & mutinous 
k He that set the writing upon the d●re at Paul's was one walter Disse a Friar Carmelite: therein he showed the abominable lives of Sodomittie treason a●d murders of the Friars; he had preached the same before in London and was ready to iusti●ie his accusation and therefore I see little reason why it should be called a Libel. Wa●sg pag. 358.  Libelers (if ever there were any such as the Apologists recite out of Stows Walsingham) I trust it is not imagined or looked for, that he should be better attended on them Christ was, which had followers of all sorts; sun which followed him for bread; some to see the miracles that he did, some to take him in his words and so it might far with Wickliff and his scholars. But (if I be not deceived) the matter of rebellion & sedition is wholly mistaken, and wrongfully imputed to 
l Walsingham recitans opiniones haere●icas lo. Ball do● uit, inquit, & peruer●a d●gmata pe●fidi lo. Wickl●ffe pag 292. See the Catholic diu●ne in his pretended answer to S Ed. Cook pag. 308.  john Wickliff, out of whose works (I speak of as many, as have yet come unto my hands) though you rack them to the worst there is not so much as the least suspicion to be drawn of words tending to disloyalty: but I read in 
m Froissard vol. 2 pag. 80 Y estoit ungfol prestre de la Conte de kent, qu●● appelloit tehan ●alle, & pour les folles parolles ●l auo●● este miss en p●●'on devers l' larceu●●que de Cantorbie p●r ●rois fois lb. estoient bien soixante m●lle, & avoientung Sowerain captain, qui● appelloit Water T●llier: avecques luy estoient & de sa company jaques Straw, & jehan Ball, lb. p. 80.  Fraissard of one john Ball, one of Balls Priests for aught that I know, who drew multitudes of people after him, & was the chief cause of that great rebellion of the Commons, under the conduct of Wat Tyler; and jacke Straw, which 
n Il-preschoit & leur disoit Bonnes gens les choses ne peuuent pas bien aler ● n Angleterre, ne yront iusques a tant, que biens yront tout d● commun, & quill ne sera ne villains ne gentil● hommes, & que nous soio●s tous uniz & que les. Signior ne soient plus grans masters, que nous etc. lb. Lan ●il trois cens quatre xx & sept. lb.  taught this doctrine to condemn all Laws, despise the Clergy, and to rebel against there Sovereign, because there was an equality of all men, and communion of all things, which is pure Anabaptisme, or Diabolisme rather; and because he lived about the time of Wickliff, therefore this foul and monstrous heresy is by a malicious kind of 
o Vide Tho. Walsingham pag 29●.  mistaking, laid to Wickliff's charge, which was as 
p lo Ball seditionem excitat, ad wickliffianorum invidiam, ex illa secta & proditione prodijsse quidam fingunt, falso equidem & ignoranter-Tunc sparsa Wicklefi doctrina-sed ut in omni novitate ac mutatione fierisolet, atque ho●iernis temporibus factitatum est, nunciata luce evangelii, & libertate Christiana, insana plebs scelerum impunitatem & omnium in Ecclesia atque Rep, ordinum per●urbationem sperat. Auctor Antiq Britannicarum pag. 2●9.  far from preaching any such doctrine, as they ● are from any truth, sincerity or ingenuity, that affirm it, as hath been observed by one very judicious in collecting the Antiquities of our Land.   

The 7. Objection.  

Apol. Tract. 2. Cap. 2. p. 108.  He was more given to scoffing, and prating, then became a sober Divine.   

The Answer.  
This fault was objected unto him in his life time, whereunto heshapeth this modest& most Christian answer. 
q Testis sit mihi Deus ego principaliter. intendo honorem Dei & utilitatem Ecclesiae, ex veneratione Scripturae & ex obseruantia Legis Christi; quod si surrepserit cum ista intentione sinistra intentiovan●e gloriae, questus seculi, et zeli vindict●e, ego de h●c d●leo & per dei gratiam praecavebo. De Ver. Scr. p. 145.  God is my witness, that I principally intend his glory, and the weal of the Church, by seeking to honour the Scripture, and observe Christ's Law: & if it hath, or shall so happen at any time, that with this good intent of mine, there creep in, any sinister intent of vain glory, covetousness of the world, or desire of revenge, I am sorry for it, & will hereafter by God's grace amend that fault. What could be spoken more ingenuously, soberly or Christianly? But were it true, that they say, yet were it not as true, that Clodius accusat machos, Catilina Cethegum? they were 
r Proprium est haereticis alios no●are huius criminis cum deficiant argumentis lb. pag. 188.  guilty of the same, or worse crimes, for did he not 
s Plus attendit hodiernus dispu●ants ut adquisito ●ubtilitatis nomine videatur concludi respondenti quam ut ad Dei gloriam et v●ilitatem Ecclesiae Dei gloria declaretur non sic ●ancti Doctores De Ver Scrip pag. 15.  note the Divines of his time, for giving themselves to much to 
t Ib. pag. 188  railing and scolding, more mevetricum ●orsethen Cotqueans, & 
u Verbalis contentio est in doctrina Scripturae inutilis In Expos. Decal pag. 17.  to such brawlings of words as do engender nothing but strife, not tending to edification, or if it 
x Contentiones verbo●um non aedificant nisi in Gehennam Ib. pag. 135.  were it was but to edify men to Hell?   

The 8. Objection.  
IT appeareth by Master Fox, that Wickliff was an usual dissembler of his faith, 
Apol. Tract. 2. Cap. 2. p. 18.  and that to prevent danger of trouble, he did usually practise the same.   

The Answer.  
HE was so far resolved in the cause of Religion, that he was ready to 
y Non sum suspect●s de formidine istarum conclusionum patebit per Dei gratiam quod non timeo respond re sibi & suis complicibus, vel in fancy, vel, in scholis De Ver Scrip pag. 183. It quod si deus dederit mihi cor docile, perseverantem constantiam, & ●ha●i●atem ad Christum, ●d eius Ecclesiam, & add membra Diaboli Ecclesiam Christi lani antia, & ut p●ra charitate ipsos corripiam, quam gloriosa causa foret mihi presentem miseriam finiendi? Ib. pag. 380  die almost for every Article of Religion, that he maintained against them, and so constant and professed an enemy to all disfemblets & Equivocators, that therefore he professeth of himself, that he treated that point more largely, because he took● himself to be wronged in the highest degree, to have this 
z Vide Walsingham pag. 206.  imputation laid unto him, as to be called 
a De Ver. Scrip. Cap. 13.  Magister Aequivocorum Aequivocatorum & Aequivocorun Aequivocantium. And he did not only think himself happy (if it should so have pleased God to 
b Volo in Scriptis dare sententiam ex qua imp●titus sum quam volo usque ad mortem defendere, sicut credo omnes Christianos debere Wals. pag. 206. lb. pag. 518. He was so constant in the defence of the truth which he taught ita ut cano placeret quod iuu●ni complacebat Walden To. 2. pag. 270  die for religion) but he persuaded others to the like martyrdom, showing, that in the cause of faith, there is no dissimulation to be allowed. Finally, the words I confess are in Fox, but not Foxes. For he had them from Liar 
c Hoc eodem modo, idem versipellis I. Wickliff delusit suos examinatores, viz ponen do inte lectum in suis nesandis propositionibus walls. p. 209. Memo●atus hypocrita. lb. Vide Martyrol. Fox. pag. 433.  Walsingham, he is but the reporter, & you might have had his judgement of all such writers, that he thought they did him 
d The said Articles of his are neither in number so many, nor yet in nature so gross, as those Cardinal enemies of Christ perchance do give them out to be: if his books whom they abolished or rather thought they had abolished were remaining to be conferred with those blemishes which hay have wrested to the worse, a● evil will never said the best. lb. pag 424.  much wrong, by such imputations, as would easily have appeared, if his works were at this day extant (as thanks be to God many of them are, and more may happen to be discovered in good time) to convince his conjectures) to be more then probably true, and there assertions to be more then coniecturatively false.   

The 9 Objection.  
HE invaied against the Church, for that he had been deprived by the Archbishop of Canterbury, 
Apol. Tract. ●. Cap. 2. p. 105.  from a certain benefice.   

The Answer.  
WHere was that benefice? say in Oxford, and because he was deprived of that benefice, he wrote against the Church: by the like reason, because he was preferred to an other benefice jam Lecestershire, where he died, therefore he should not have invaied against the Church, the argument is Topical. But our Apologists have not framed their accusation aright, they shall do well to mend their bill, and to say, that he invaied against the Church, because he was deprived of 
a Ex Chron. D. Albani vide Fox pag. 425.  his benefice, against Colleges because himself could not get to be 
b Mat. Parkerus Arch: lib. Antiquitat. Britann. pag. 258. ex alijs.  head of a College, against 
c Creditur Wickliff dixisse contra Episcopo●, quia ut dixit Rob. Saresburiensis Episcopus in Magna Synodo Cantuar Cleri, Vigour niensis Episco patum non a●●ecutus suerat quem optavit. Walden. To. 1. pag 326.  Bishops because he could not get the Bishopric of Worcester: Here are three crimes objected against one man, and verily I think one as true as the other: for though he ever held a reverend opivion of Bishops & Prelates, as there was reason why he should, touching only the 
d The greatest fault which he found with the Clergy, was for admitting or instituting unsufficient men in livings, such as were rudes and barbari Transmarini, the number where of upon Certificate made was many. Episcopus propter nullum bonum p●ssibile, obediret etiam papae, preficiendo ineptum Ecclesiae, vel minus idoneum De Ver. Scr. pag. 342.  faults of the diseased Clergy, which were then as sick as ever Rome was, neither able any longer to endure the malady, nor the remedy yet I would gladly have the proof of these things confirmed unto me, by any Auctor, save a monk or a Friar, and then it may be I shall believe it; though if ever a Religious Clarks Protestation, were to be credited, he protesteth that he did, as near as ever he could, both writ, and speak and do all things 
c De Verit. Scrip. p. 145. & pag 15.  ad honorem Dei & utilitatem Ecclesiae, for the glory of God and the benefit of his Church, which words he oft repeateth, speaking them as became a professed Divine with 
f far from that unjust imputation of Walden, that he did simplici duplicitate and duplici simplicitate, animos hominum trā● formare. To 3 pag. 14.  singleness of heart, and simplicity of mind, far from all damnable hypocrisy and dissimulation.   

The 10. & 11. Objections.  
MOst blasphemously, he affirmed that every Creature was God, & again that ●od could not choose, but obey the Devil.   

The Answer.  

Bellar. in Praefat. Gretser. in defence. pag. 8.  THese objections are taken from Bellarmine & some other Jesuits, & it was wonder they did escape both our Apologists and Father Parsons; but belike they did not think them to be true, else doubtless they would have urged them: For answer whereunto, it seemeth unto me, that the former objection doth assoil the latter, for holding that every Creature was God, belike he distinguished the term God, into God absolutely spoken, and God cum signo, or adiectione 
g Dei acceptio duplex— absolute. Dominus Dominorum; quando contrahiturvel specifi●atur, per signum detrah●ns, sig nificat quodcunque bonum quod quis plus diligit. In. Ex. p of Dec. p. 46.  with a sign or addition, & so in truth he doth; & in this sense it might be true, that such a made God, might of its own nature, being (as all reasonable Creatures are) sinful, should obey the Devil: but I will not play the Sophister. He had a more deep, profound, Theological or 
h Omnes veritates leges in essentia divina, sicutomnina sunt Deus. lb. pag. 21. Deus est mandatum quod praecipit lb 4 Omnis res secundum esse intelligibile est Deus.  Me●aphysicalspeculatiō about this matter, which was plainly delivered in his book de Ideis, which book is not yet come unto my hands, and therefore I cannot answer the objection, otherwise than he doth himself, by 
i ut d●ctum est in materia de Ideis lb 21.  referring you unto that 
k Materiae de universalibus sunt tam necessa riae quod sine earum notitia nemo fit sapiens lb pag. 29.  learned book of his. The doctrine I am persuaded in his understanding is found & true, though not fit to be uttered before the people, and though I do rather admire than conceive it, & do therefore choose rather wholy● to omit it● for a season, then unperfectly to deliver it: yet I cannot omit to give him this testimony, that about the nature, persons, & properties of God, about the matter of Predestination, Prescience, or Providence, he is most religiously & piously affected, quo magis miror & therefore I cannot but wonder, that he should run into so 
l Asthey charge him with.  monstrous & soul absurdities. But to leave this, and to answer that alike monstrous, but more blasphemous objection, that God must needs obey the Devil, which scarce any Devil of Hell would dare to utter, I know not whence they have taken this objection, which hath no colour nor ground in the world in it, unless it be out of these words of his, which I profess are his, and well they may be, that because he saith, that 
m Come in Psal pag 155.  God is a great king above all his Creatures, that 
n lb. pag. 48.  all Creatures are made by God to serve him, that the 
o lb pag. 112.  Devil is cleped God's Angel, for he may do nothing but at God's suffering, that he serveth God in tormenting of sinfullmen; that 
Ib. pag. 468.  Christ is Victor of the Devil, & 
q lb. pag. 93.  helpeth us against the ●iend: thence belike our Jesuits 
r Of this inference a man may say as Walden did sometimes of an illation of Wickliff's si deductio ista scintillam habet ingenij, quid sit ingenium hominis non novi To. 3. p. 56.  infer, that God must needs obey the Devil. A good wit I confess, may go far, and such have our Jesuits, or else they greatly bely one another, but I doubt whether ever they shallbe able to infer so foul and irreligious a Conclusion: out of so fair and religious premises.    

The Conclusion.  
THus having showed and proved unto you, that this same john Wickliff, a man so much spoken against by all sorts of men is so innocent and free from all there foul heresies and monstrons absurdities, that he hath rather declared himself, to be a Conformitan unto the doctrine, and discipline of the Church of England: or rather, that the Church of England at this day, sincerely professing the Gospel, doth teach & preach no new Doctrine, as our Apologists would have you to believe; but then very same doctrine, which was many hundred years ago retained and maintained here in England, by sundry learned Divines, and embraced gladly by all 
a Fuerunt eo tempore & plures alij huius nefandae doctrinae sequaces & discipuli non in quibuscunque villis aut Civitatibus sed in ipsa Vniversitate Oxoniae Wal● pag. 305 He might have added and in the University not the meanest but the Chancellor and Proctors and sundry others as appeareth by records. Longelatque per●patrias populum maculando suam predi●ationem dilatavit, ita ut poenema iores provinciarum corum sequerentur errorem, Wals. pag 281. In fide & fide● articulis plurimi claudicabant ●b Visus est absorbere ●ordanem & omnes Christianos mergere in Abyssum. lb. pag. 256 Dixit publice et ptaedicavit. Rectoribus Ecclesiarum non valentibus prohibere cum ob favorem popalarem qui libentissimè cum audiebant, & le peri●ulo mallebant exponere, antequa●●vel prohiberetur praedicare. Wals. pag. 304.  of all sorts, Noblemen, Gentlemen, Clergy men, Lay men, men, and women: which though it were then challenged for a new doctrine, as was sometimes Christ & his Apostles; yet both it was the very same doctrine, which was from the beginning, and shallbe unto the end of the world, as he himself sometimes 
b Si in ho sim Catholicus sum cerius— quod sententia quam tenco per organa Dei vel ante adventum Antichrists, vel postea defendetur, quia super omnia vincit veritas verbi Deiut dicitur 3. ●●drae De Ver. Scrip. p. 200.  prophesied, & the Popish doctrine to be convicted of plain novelty, and newness, by almost the very same reasons and arguments which our Protestant writers do now enforce against them, and therefore no marvel, though the Papists now a days, notwithstanding there pretenced and usurped notes of Antiquity, Universality and Iknow not what else, do begin to think upon a course, how either to abolish all ancient written books out of o ur Libraries, or else to banish all ancient truth out of their books, by their new invented Purgatory of books, which I may be bold to speak it, hath done far more pain to Christendom within these 40. or 50. years, than their fire of Purgatory hath done since the time of its first being: a very lewd and damned course, and which if it should not please God, and that speedily to stir up the hearts of Godly Princes, Religious Clarks, and rich Seculars to employ some learned and painful students, in discovery the mysteries of this their damnable art of corrupting all manner of good writers, either profane, or divine, under colour of correcting then in process of time, the Jesuits sole Actors of all lewd parts, by printing and reprinting the Father's works, so oft as they are like to do, in goodly paper, fair letters, and glorious annotations, whereby they have bewitched the whole world, will in all likelihoods, by their, more than Sirenical enchantments, Circean sorceries and Diabolical charms, make all writers both new and old to speak wholly for them; and when they have so filled and framed them unto their purposes, and made them speak nothing, but the language of Ashdad, them be assured, ●ura, ●eriura, secretum prodere noli, that they will swear, and forswear their Index Expurgatoriusses, deny there College of Censors, and make the world believe, there was never any such thing, for fear lest they should rise up in judgement against them, to convince them of so many wilful forgeries, treacheries, & foul corruptions, by way of addition, detraction, opposition; and that you may know them to be cunning Arithmetitians, by their so often used Rule of falsehood. But my hope and trust is in the good grace of the Almighty, that the learned & judicious Clergy of this land, which are most interested in this business, will amidst their sundry and weighty affairs of the Church, in that there Reverend assembly in Convocation, take some speedy course, against this damned crew, and execrable College of Censors, for preventing of farther mischiefs, which are likely to ensue. There is no country in all Christendom, where the Gospel is sincerely professed, which hath the like opportunity of effecting this business; such and so many are our written copies, commended as God would have it, by the mouths of our adversaries, so great the number of judicious and painful students, that would account themselves happy, if they might be employed in transcribing, or comparing the books of the ancient writers. In fine God hath put the occasion into our hands, the days are hitherto peaceable, and quiet, and long may they so continue, the king Religious and learned, the 
c Noble men & diverse gentlemen of good mark, have offered large sums to the effecting hereof.  Nobility & gentry willing and forward, our enemies audacious & bold, the 
d The charges would not con● to 200● per annum.  charges not great, scarce to be spoken of, the time not long, within the which it might be 
e It may be fully finished within 4. or 5● years; if this were once done our controversies would have an easier end.  fully finished, the Glory Gods, the benefit his Church, both which I have, do, and will for ever seek unfeignedly, according unto my place, duty, and profession.   
Deo soli sit gloria.   

john Wickliff life collected out of diverse authors.  
THis john Wickliff was borne in the North, where unto this day, some of his name and family (as I understand by others) do yet remain: brought up in Oxford in that 
a Merton Coll.  College which hath justly had the pre-eminence above all the Colleges, & most of the Universities in Christendom, for the number, and excellency of men learned in all faculties, qualified with extraordinary gifts, both for Church and Commonwealth: such as were, (to omit other Faculties) in Divinity, Bacon, Burley, Scotus, Occam, Peccham, Bradwardine, with diverse others● and by example of these, aswell as by the strict Discipline of that House, this Io. Wickliff, nothing inferior unto any of the former, either in quickness of apprehension, sharpness of wit, shortness of delivery, greatness of industry, stoutness of courage, and variety of all kind of good learning; and above them all in a full knowledge of the truth of the Gospel, and constant defence of the same, unto the end: amidst so many troubles, vexations, accusations, imputations and calumniations so many denunciations, excommunications, Anathemaes and Curses solemnly pronounnced against him, at London, and at Oxford, by Archbishops, Bishops, and Popes; so that he was never free from their curses, which God (evermore blessed be his name) turned into blessings, as may appear, by the sequeale of his life and doctrine. He was beloved of all good men for his good life, and greatly admired of his greatest adversaries, for his learning and knowledge, both in Divinity & humanity. He writ so many large volumes in both, as it is almost incredible, He seemed to follow, in the whole course of his studies the method of the School men: and amongst them he was a professed follower of Occam; by reading of whose learned books, and sundry others which lived about the same time, or not long before; such as were Bradwardine, Marsilius, Guide S. Amore, Abelardus, Armachanus, and that true great Clerk Rob. Grosthead. God gave him grace, to see the truth of his Gospel, and by seeing of it, to loath all superstition and Popery. Of Occam, & Marsilius, he was informed of the Pope's intrusions & usurpations upon kings, their Crowns & dignities: of Gu. de S. Amore, and Armachanus, he learned the sundry abuses of Moonkes and Friars, in upholding this usurped power: by Abelard and others he was grounded in the right faith of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, by Bradwardine, in the nature of a true sole-iustifying faith, against merit-mongers and Pardoners, Pelagians, and Papists. Finally by reading Grostheads works, in whom he seemed to be most conversant he descried the Pope to be open Antichrist, by letting the Gospel to be preached, and by placing unable & unfit men in the Church of God. He passed through all degrees in this famous University very commendably, writing and speaking many things against the then corrupted doctrine of the Church of Rome. His many Positions were chief directed against the Orders of the Begging Friars, which were his professed enemies, and all foreign and usurped jurisdiction of the Pope. By which means he purchased unto himself the favour of all good men. The reason was this; he li●ed in a time, when the Friars orders, by their manifold disorders were become exceeding odious, and the Pope's jurisdiction by Provisions, Reservations, and Collations very intolerable. This made way unto those excellent Statutes Laws and Acts of Parliament of Praemunire, against Pr●visors, and the Abuses of Begging Friars, which so bridled and restrained the Pope's authority that he could but little prevail here in England during the reign of K. Edw. the 3. & Rich. the 2. In making of these laws Wickliff had a great stroke, maintaining very learnedly and stoutly the King's jurisdiction, Crown, and dignity, by the laws Civil Canon and Common. And for this reason he was by one King sent Ambassador into foreign parts, & by an other consulted here at home. He urged the Common law most of all other laws for maintenance of his opinion, wherein he took great delight, and had good directions from time to time from the reverend judges and Sages of the law. He was not so much hated of the Clergy, but he was as much favoured by the State Temporal. He was openly defended by King Edward and that noble Duke of Lane aster, and secretly abetted and maintained by King Richard whose Chaplain he appeared to have been, notwithstanding he showed him but little countenance outwardly during his minority. Twice was he convented before the By shops, and thrice summoned to appear. The first time he escaped by the Duke, the second time by means of a messenger that came from the Queen. The third time he voluntarily absented himself, because he knew the Bishops had plotted his death by the way, devising the means and encouraging men thereunto. Notwithstanding all their devices and plots, he lived a long time without death, bonds, banishment or imprisonment, both writing, teaching, and preaching, openly in their Schools & Synagogues, drawing both Prince and people, Scholars & others, and all the world almost after him. He begun to defend his opinions when he was very young, and continued tell he was very old, constantly retaining and maintaining the same, some few excepted which he reform; and refined more and more, as he grew in years and knowledge. He was Doctor of Divinity almost 30. years, and for some few years Parson of Lutterworth in L●cester-she●re. He had sometimes before been fellow of Marton, and Master of Ballioll College & (as some writ) beneficed in Oxford. He began to be famous, about the year of our Lord 1360. & died in the year of grace 1387. in high favour both with God & men. In his life time. ● find but of one or two that wrote against him, which also demeaned themselves very respectfully, & as became Divines. But after his death many, I may say, the whole host and ●ost of Monks and Friars began to pray most cowardly upon his dead corpse, disgorging to pray macks and the very gall of bitterness agaînst his parson & doctrine. But amongst all others, Frear Walden, hath both shamefully and wrongfully belied him in sundry passages of his works; as partly doth appear by my Apology, and farther (God willing) shallbe manifested, against all such as shall avouch the conrarie.  
FINIS.