A TERRIBLE outcry AGAINST THE loitering EXALTED PRELATES: showing the danger, and unfitness of Conferring them in any temporal Office or Dignity. Wherein the devil is proved to be a more diligent Prelate, than any of our English Bishops are, leaving them to the Consideration of the King's majesty, and the high Court of PARLIAMENT. By Mr. PRINNE, a faithful witness of Jesus Christ, and a Sufferer under them. LONDON: Printed for Richard Smethrust. 1641. A TERRIBLE outcry against the BISHOPS. THis hath been one great Abuse in England these many years, that such Offices as have been of most importance, and weight, have commonly been committed to Bishops and other spiritual men; whereby their devilish mischiefs, and inconveniences have happened in this realm, to the great dishonour of God, and utter neglect of the flock of Christ, the which three be these. 1. They have had small leisure to attend to their pastoral Cures, which thereby have been utterly neglected, and left undone. 2. It hath also puffed up many Bishops, and other spiritual persons in such haughtiness, and pride, that they have thought no Nobleman in the Realm worthy to be their equal, and fellow; (whence Hall in his Chronicle observes, 22. H. 8. fol. 184.) that the Authority of Cardinal Woolsey, set the clergy in such a pride, that they disdained all men, wherefore when he was fallen, they followed after. 3. Where they by this means, knew the very secrets of Princes, they (being in such high Offices) have caused the same to be known in Rome before the King could accomplish and bring his intents to pass in England. By this means hath the papacy been so maintained, and things ordered after their wills, and pleasures, that much mischief hath happened in this Realm, and others, sometime the destruction of Princes, and sometime to the utter undoing of many commonwealths. Mr. Hooper, both a Bishop and a Martyr of our Church, delivers his judgement of the point, in these ensuing terms: upon the 8. Commandment page 78. For the space of 400. years after Christ, (saith he) the Bishops applied all their wit only to their own vocation; to the glory of God, and the honour of the Realm they dwelled in; though they had not so much upon their heads, as our Bishops have, yet had they more within their heads, and the Scriptures and Histories testify. For they applied all the will they had, unto the vocation and ministry of the Church whereunto they were called. But our Bishops have so much wit, that they can rule, and serve (as they say) in both States, in the Church, and also in the civil policy, when one of them is more than any man is able to satisfy, let him do always his best diligence. If he be so necessary for the Court, that in civil causes he can not be spared, let him use that vocation, and spare the other. It is not possible he should do both well. It is a great oversight with Princes, thus to charge them with two burdens. The Primitive Church had no such Bishops as we. They had such Bishops as did preach many godly Sermons in less time, than our Bishop's horses be a bridling. If it be so now, let every man judge. If the fourth part of the bishopric remained to the Bishop, it were sufficient, the third part to schoolmasters, the second to poor, and soldiers were better bestowed. If any be offended with me for this my saying, he loveth not his own health, nor God's Laws, nor man's. See Bucer, de Regno Christi, li. 2. ca. 12. and in his apology he saith: It is both against God's Laws, and man's, that Bishops and clergy should be Judges over any Subjects within this Realm, for it is no part of their office. Who would put a sword in a mad man's hand? Thus the good Prelate Mr. Latymer, who gave over his bishopric out of conscience, (as Saxton Bishop of Salisbury likewise did) and skipped for joy, being divested of his Bishop-like habit, because he felt his shoulders so light, and was discharged of so heavy a burden. How many such Prelates have we now in England? But now for the fault of unpreaching Prelates, methinks I could guess what might be said for excusing of them. They are so troubled with lordly living, they be so placed in Palaces, couched in Courts, ruffling in their rents, daunting in their dominions, burdened with Embassages, pampering of their paunches, like a monk that maketh his jubilee, munching in their mangers, and moiling in their gay manors, and Mansions, and so troubled with loitering in their Lordships, that they cannot attend it. They are otherwise occupied, some in King's matters, some are ambassadors, some of the Privy council, some furnish the Court, some are Lords of Parliament, some are precedents, and controllers of Mints. Well, well, is this their duty? is this their calling? are these meet Offices for Priests? is it a meet Office for a Minister of God's word to be controller of Mints? is this his charge? who controls the devil in his Parish, while he controls the Mint? As Paul said to the Corinths, 1. Corinth. 6. Is there not among you a wise man, &c. So say I to England, Is there never a Nobleman to be a Lord President, what a shame is this? must it needs be a Prelate? is there never a wise man in the Realm to be a controller of the Mint? I speak it to your shame, If there be never a wise man, make a Water-bearer, a Tinker, a cobbler, a Page to be in that Office. Make a mean Gentleman, a groom, a Yeoman, make a poor beggar Lord President. The King hath a great many Wards; and there is a Court of Wards, why is there not a school for those Wards? why are they not set to school where they may learn, that they may serve the King when they come to age; But there is Noblemen enough for these Offices. And now I would ask a strange question, who is the most diligent Bishop and Prelate in all England, that passeth all the rest in doing his office? I can tell who it is. But now methinks, I see you listening, harkening that I should name him, will you know who it is? I will tell you: It is the devil: he is never out of his diocese, he is never from his cure, he is ever in his Parish: no lording, no loitering can hinder him; ye can never find him idle I warrant you: and among all the pack of them that have Curates, the devil shall go for my money. Oh all ye unpreaching Prelates, learn of the devil, if you will not learn of God; he will give you an example of diligence in your Office. Verses written by our renowned Poet, Sir Geoffrey Chaucer many years ago, authorised to be printed by Act of Parliament, in the 34. and 35. H. 8. c. 1. THe Emperor yafe the Pope some time, So high Lordship him about, That at last the silly rhyme, The proud Pope put him out. So of this realm is in doubt, But Lords beware, and them defend, For now these folk been wondrous stout, Moses Law forbade it tho, That Priests should no Lordships wield Christ's Gospel biddeth also That they should no Lordships held, Ne Christ's Apostles were never so bold No such Lordships to them embrace, But smeren her sheep, and keep her fold, God amend 'em for his grace, &c. Learn to be diligent for shame, ye Prelates; But God be thanked, there is good hopes; that the King and Parliament will order you, which that they may, God grant. Amen. FINIS.