Luther s_ Tredeceffours 2 Or An ANSWERE T THE QVESTION OF THE Papists: Where wpasyour Church before Luther ? London, Imprinted by Felix K^tngfton for tfeorge Winder, and are to be fold at bis flbop in Saint Dmftom Church-yard in Fleet* facet. 1624. V Luther s TredeceJJburs : AN ANSWERE TO THE QVESTION OF THE PAPISTS; Where was your Church before Luther ? Mongft all thofe Creatures that yecld an vnplcafant found , none are fo cla- morous and obftreperous, as Frogs, and Locufts 5 thefc by land, the other by water, faluting each paflenger with an vnwelcome note : the iuftpi&ure and refemblance of popifti Priefts, and lefuites, which certainly are the Frogs which S./^iaw to come forth of the mouth of the Beaft 3 and the falfe prophet , whofc croaking and vnwelcome noife doth not a little trouble each Chriftian paflenger : Amongft other harfh notes of theirs 3 this queftion hath his place : for what mufickc can there be in it f { Where was your Church before Luther? To what end is this queftion mooued, except it bee to trouble men:' for, what, if wee could not prooue 3 that our Englifh Church was before Luther I muft it needs A 3 follow, t ' Luthers Predecejfiurs. follow,that the do&rine we hold is vntrue c^or (hall the do&rine of the Church of Rome be euer the truer, be- caufeofoncly antiquity? whatifo^mkr or Nejlorms could haue deduced the Patrons of their opinions from Adam y fhould they for that haue beene orthodoxall ? No certainly : and Why note' Bccaufe the Church muft be prooued and allowed By the do&rine^ and not the do&rine authorized by the Church, which the Papifts , (a people wife in their generation) well knowing, haue ouerrurned the-courfe of na turc, & will haue the Scrip- tureandalldo&rine to hangvpon the determination of the Church a and vpon this ground it is, that they proceede to fuch qucftions as thele, hoping that if they^ haue once amazed any one with the name of the Church, and (hallhaue driuen him fromtitle and itv tercft to the Church before Luther s rime, they {hall ca- fily make him call in queftion the whole frame of do- ctrine of the reformed Churches. Vntothis queftionanfwers haue beene made, argu- ments ailed ged to prooue that the do&rine of the Pro- teftant Religion hath had his being in the world long : before the dayes of Luther : That argument of the wor- thy Doctor Featly cannot by any Iefuite be anfwered, who concludeth , that the doctrine of the reformed Churches muft needs haue Profeflburs in all ages, be- caufe it is eternall: for eternity muft necdes haue a per- petuall duration without interruption, The argument of Indu&ion,is that which better plea- feththc Iefuite, but by no meanes will hee fuffer our e- numeration to begin with Chrift and his Apoftles^for then what fhifts, j what cauils and tergiuifations they- haue,*nay eafily appcare by the proceedings of the late - conference betwixt D. White, and D, Feai/y , againft ; ftfher- . Luther s PreJecejfours, 3 Fijher, and to : Wherefore, to anfwcr a foo!e,accor- ding to his folly, I hauc indeuoured to draw the argu- ment of Induction apofleriore, beginning with the ages next before Luther , the which is not fo hard a taskc as commonly is imagined : Butfirft, we muft agree vpon the termes of this queftion, Where was your Church, &C? where wee muft firft know what is meant by your, and what by Church. For, if by your, they meane the Church of our Nati* on,that isjWhere was your Englifh reformed Church? Then are we to anfwer out of our own Chronicles, and fo fhall we be able to name the fewer in all ages, and in fome ages perhaps none , not that there were none, but that the Euidences are loft : But 1 fuppofe they doe noc by the tcvmcSjjour Church, vnderftand aNationall or Prouinciall Church , becaufe then muft they prooue, that the Church of the New Teftament is tyed to a place : fo that where it once hath beene plan ted, there ic fhould continue, which is contrary to all experience: befides j had they meant fo, they would haue rather na* med Tyndall, or fome other Englifliman, then Luther a German '• By your Church, they meane then thofe men in what Country foeuer, which confefled and maintai- ned the fame do&rine. Then, for the meaning of the word Church, wee dc* mand whether they mean a vifible conftituted Church, which might haue beene knowne by thediftindtionand fucceflion of Bifhops, Elders, Deacons, &c. or whe- ther they meane generally any company of men, hol- ding and profefling thofe truths and do&rines which wemaintaine? For, if they will tyevsto the former, I fay ftill, the taske is vnequall, becaufe the Records are wanting, but efpecially, 4 Luther s Predecejjours^ efpecially,becaufe they cannot prooue that the Church muft alwayes bee infuch manner vifible : for in Elias time there were 7000. vnknowne to him 3 much more to Abab. In the time of Chrifts paffion fome of the Papifts. fay, that the Church refted onely in Marie . and all doe vfually compare the Church to the Moone, which is al- wayes lading, but not alwaies in the Full. But, if they meant the latter, namely, a company of: men profeffing the fame faith which wee doe$ then wee Further propound to them two queftions. The firft is,Whether the persecuting of any defaclo, doe hinder the iuftifying olihzmdeiure, which they muft needs denie, except they will beg the qucftiomand then, though we finde fuch, and fuch, in former ages to hauebeene condemned, yet if deiure, they ought nor, and that we can iuftifie their Tcnents, we fhall proceed moreeafily in challenging them for ours : But if they .would hauevstonamc men vncondemned, liuing in peace, free from perfecution, they muft then prooue, that perfecution doth take away the priuilcdge of the Church^that thofe men fhall not be of the Churchy be- caufe perfecutcd : which if they goe about, they muft wipe out the whole infancy of the Church for the firft 300. yeeres ^ but they fhall neuer be able to prooue it : for the woman in Rend. 12. was conftrained to flie into the wilderneffe for feare of the Dragon. Thefccond is^What thofe doctrines are 3 which we muft prooue, thofe whom wee feeke for to haue held : for,iftheymeanethc fundamental! poynts oi Religi- on, contained in the Creed (ov matters of frith, in the Decalogue formatter of pra<5Uce,arld in the Lords Praier for matter of praier ,they themfelues fhall be our ipokek men 9 for they and wee hold thetein common 5 but if they, LutbersPredccejfours, 5 they meane thofe points of doftrinc wherein we difient from the prefent Church of Rome (which they muft do if they vnderftand themfelues in the queftion) then we further defire to know whether they will not allow vs to challenge thofe for ours, who held the molt, and mai* ncft, for which they fufFered as well as wee - y although (perhaps) in fome other points they diflcnted from vs in our generall Tenents : for, if they will allow vs onely fuch, who both in do&rine and difcipline did in all points agree, they arc too narrow for any difputc • be- fides, they muft prooue that there hath beene alwaies fuch an vnity of words and do&rine, that in no point the profeflburs haue or may difient, and yet remainc members of the Church : a taske that will naierfadge well, efpecially with them in their mutinous multitude and rabble of religious orders 5 yea, let them then call tomindehowweakely#W/#£ hath defended his an- fwereof Yii(hop levels challenge; or, let them anfwere Perkins Problem, and prooue where their Church was before the TratfCouncell; fork will afmuch trouble them to name a company of men in all points profeC ling the Trent faith, as vs, to finde a company of men profefling in all points the do&rinc of the reformed re- ligion : But if they giue vs liberty to make challenge to them, who in themoftand greateft points haue agreed with vs (which is but reafbnablc) then in the next place we defire to grow to a point,arid agree vpon the mainc points of difference betwixt vs and them : All which in generall do concerne either theoffices of Chrift,or the iruitcs of his office, the which by their dodrine areo- iierthrowne. For firft, the kingly office of Chrift is ouerthrowne i>y the fupremacy of the Pope, which drawcth with it B the 6 Luther s Tredcceffenrs. the pride ofthe Clergy, and exaltation of them abouc the temporal! power. Secondly, the Propheticall office is oucrthrovvne by their iiiencing the Scripture, and by giuing fuch liber- ty to the Church, yea, and to the Pope, to frame arti- cles of faith. Thirdly, the Prieftly office is oucrthrovvne in the workeof fatiby their abufcs thruft into the Sacraments, efpecially Tranfubftantiati- on^ reall Prefcnce,Exorcifmes, &c. & by their falfe fa- craments, which were neuer appointed by Chrift, as meanes of application. In the workeof Interccffion, by Angels, Saints, Images, whom they haue made their mediators of interceffion. . Laftly, the fruites of Chrifts office, redounding to vsbythe mediation of Chrift, is our Iuftification be- fore God, which do&rinc they haue laboured to ouer* throw. Now to the point, this our taske wee arc to (hevt forth the names of fuch men, who haue confented with vsinthe oppofition of the Supremacy, exemption of the Clergy from Ciuill iurifdi&ion,in the authority of the Scriptures, and in the communicating of them to the people, in condemning Merits, Indulgences, Pur- gatory, Tranfubftantiation, reall prcfence, interceflion of Saints, and Angels, Image-worflhip, Pilgrimage; in the do&rine of our free iuftification by faith, and fuch other points, which are controverted betwixt vs, and the Church of Rome. And this wee.willdoefirft in the inftanceof our owne Countrimen, and then pro- ceed to others. Know all men therefore by thefe prefents, that a. bout Luthers Predecejfours, y bout the yeere of Grace 1370. in the time of Edward the third,King of England, at what time all the world was in moft defperate and vile eftate, and that lamen- table ignorance and darkenefle of Gods truth, had o- uer-fhaddowed the Church moft ylohn Wickltffe, who almoft 200. yeercs before Luther ^ the efpeciall proui- denceofGod,wasraifedvp here in England, to dctefl: more fully and amply, the poifon ot the Popes do- ctrine, and to purge Religion from thofc dregs and fil* thineffe, with which it was defiled,- a Profeflbr of Diui- nitic was he in Oxford, a man of note in his time, and of famous memory in the ages following: For after hee had begunne to publifh fome conclusions touching the Dodfrine of the Sacrament, and other abufes of the Church,(whichboyIc and fore could not be touched, without the great paine and griefe of the world ) hee was much infefted with the Monkes and Friers, who like Hornets,did aflaile the good man on euery fide : After them, the Prieftstooke the matter in hand, and Sjmon Sudbery^ Archbiftiop, depriued him of his Bene- fice in Oxford; yet by the friendly and fauourable at fiftance of lobn oiGaunt^Dukcof Lancafter, and Henry Percy ,Earle Marfhal,(being alfo befrieded of the King, who had heretofore made vfc of him in an Ambaflage) he bore out the malice of the Friers,and oftheArchbi- fhop,all thedayes of Edward the third, and of Pope Vrban^ who being bufied in fuppreffinghisaduerfary, Clement the feuenth, could not (pare any time to dealc with Wicklijfe rand fo it came to paffe, by Gods pro- uidence,that the truth began to take fome place and roote in mens hearts. Afterward in the beginning of Richard the 2. and of Gregory the eleuenth,his aduerfaries cfpied their time, B 2 and 8 Luther $ Predecejfours. and inccnfed the Pope againft him,who fendeth foorth his Bull to the Vniuerfity of Oxford, and an EpU ftle to the King,with diuers Letters to the Bifhops,da- tedall ii. kal.of Iune,in the feucmh yeere of his Pon* tificality 13 7$.By which irappeareth,thar Wicklifev/as. a man of note, and that thele things were not done in acomety but that his preaching had taken effe<9: .• So that the Bifhops had ncede of the Popes owne hclpe to fuppreflehim and his abettors. the which although they attempted, yet could they not bringto pafle 2 his com- mendation tcftifkdby the Vniuerfitieis this: Thathee feehaued himfelfe as a ftout Champion of the Faith, neither was heccenui&ofanyhercfierand God forbid (faitb the Tcftimoniall) that our Prelates fliould hauc condemned a n*an of fuch honcfty, of hcreiie* , His bookeswere many, and fpred abroade, not on-* ly throughout Eng[and,but alfobyoccafion ofQgeenc Anne 5 wife to Richard ihtkcond 3 S\fttt ttx Wencejlaus ftingof Bohemia, carried into Bohemia, whence Iohn Huj]i> learned the beginnings of his knowledge. Thus was this niana moft worthy inftrument in the Church of God, like a bright Starre fhiningfarre andneere; Nqw for his conclufions which are recorded for hisj they are many >& gathered by his aduerfaries 3 andthere- foreifin all points they found not To well as we could defire, yetcertaincly wee may beleeue that they were not fo bad asiomepfthcmaredeliucred. . Wee finde that iaa Conuention at London 1^82; May i7*they proceeded to the condemnation of his ar- ticles, Tomeas hereticqll/omeas erroncous:Thc which alfo were afterward prefented to the Councell of Gon- ftancc, with diuers others to the number of 45. in all, and by the fame Councell condemned^ the which fo* breuitic Luther s Predeccjjburi, p, breuitle fake I haue collc&ed vnto their feueral! heads. i. Touching the fupremacy, heeheld that it is not neceflary to faluation 3 to beleeuc that the Church of Rome is fupremc head of all Churches : That the Church ofRomcis the Synagoguaof Satan ^Neither is the Pope immediately the Vicar of duift, nor his Apoftles, and that the Excommunication of the Pope and his Prelates is not to bee feared, becaufc it is the cenfure of Antichrifk 2. Concerning religious orders (which are the= tayleof Antichrift) he taught,That thofe holy men,as Francis, DBminick y Btntditt, &c. whichhaue inftituted priuate religions wha tfocuer thcy,be, in fo doing* hau* grieuoufly offendedj And fuch who dofound Monaftc- ries^dbcoflfcnd and fin,fo all fuch who enter into fuch religions, are thereby vnable to keepe the commande- mentsofGod,as.al(o to attaine to the Kingdomcof heauen,exeeptthey rcturnc from the fame : yea, that religious men being in their priuate religion, are not of the Chriftian Religion, but are members of the. Diuell. 3. Concerning the Authoritie of the Church, his do&rinewas,thatwhatfo«uerthe Pope and his Cardi- nals can deduce cleercly out of the Scriptures,- that on- ly istobeebeleeued, or to bee done at their admoni- tion$and thatwhatfocuerclfe they command, is tobee condemned as hereticall 5 As for the decretals of the Pope 3 they arc Apocrypha, and feduce men from the. faith of Chrift, and the Clergy that ftudie then^rc fooles. 4* As touching preaching and hearing the Word, which is the execution of Chrifts Propheticall Office, "B-3 hee. 10 Luther $ Predecejpurs. hee taught^ That it islawfullforany man cither Pricft or Deacon, to preach the Word of God, without the authoritieof the Apoftolike Sea, or any other of his Catholikes ;and that all fuch, who doe leaue preach- ing or hearing the Word,for feare of their excom- rii ,iication,theyarc already excommunicated>and in the Day ofiudgement, (halbe counted traitors againft God. 5. Hee oppofed alfo the felling of Prayers, Par- dons, Indulgences, and fuchPopifli trafh, by which the fatisfa&ion of Chrift is weakened^ a(firming,that it was but afollytobelecue the Popes Pardons. Item, that all fuch,as bee hired for temporall liuing to pray for other, doe offend and finne in Simony, 6. In the doftrine of the Sacraments , which arc the inftruments of Chrift,to apply to vs the workof his fatisfa6Hon,he laboureth much to reformc the abufes. 1. In Baptifme,hec found fault with their do&rine of neceflity^ teaching, that they which doc affirme,that the infants of the faithfull departing without the Sa- crament of Baptifme, are not faued 3 are prefumptuous and fooles in fo affirming. t. In the Supper of the Lord, hec oppofed there- all prefence, and tranfubftantiation , teaching, that Chrift is not really in the Sacrament of the Altar,in his proper and corporall perfon,but only figurative- ly ;That without alldoubt it is a figuratiue fpeech to fey, This is my body. Item, tha; the iubftanceof material! bread and wine, euen bread in his ownefubftance, doth remaine in the Sacramentof the Altar,and ceafeth not to be bread ft ill. That the Accidents do not remain without the Subied in the fame Sacrament,afterthc conlecration. So alfo hec taught; That it is not found, or Luther s Predecejjours. II or cftabliftied by the Gofpcll, that Chrift did ordainc Maffe. 3 . As for the other fine, which we count baftard-fa- craments, feme he did doubt of,as,Extreame Vn&ion: for this is one article,if corporall vn&ion,or anneyling, were a Sacrament as it is feigned to be, Chrift and his Apoftles would not haue left the ordinance thereof vn- touched. So alfo for Shrifr,if a man be duely and cruely contrite and penitent, all outward confeflion is fuper- fluous and vnprofitablc. Other Sacraments he complained of, as being abu- fed 5 hallowing of Churches, (faith hec) confirnation of children, and the Sacrament of Orders,be refer ued to the Pope and Bifhops onely , for the relpeft of tern- porall lucre. So alfo concerning Matrimony, he held, that the caufes of diuorcement 5 ofconianguinity 5 or af- finity, be not founded in the Scripture, but are onely the ordinances of men, and humane inuenrions. 7. Laftly, concerning the power of the Keyes, and the Churches cenfurcs,his portions are ; That no Pre- late ought to excommunicate any man,except he know himfirftto be excommunicate of God: and that he that doth excommunicate any other man, is thereby him- fclfe either an hereticke, or excommunicate. ltcmfhat a Prelate excommunicating any man of the Clergy, which hath appealed to the King 9 or to the Councell, is thereby himfelfc a traitour to the King and Realme. This in effed is the fumme of his do&rine, wherein howfoeucr there may be fome few froall flips, or harfh Ehrafes, yet no pernicious errours 5 much lcfTc,damna- le herefie •, but for the fubftance,it is found and good, and agreeable to the Canon of the Word. Wherefore, howfoeuer the Synod of London , and the Gouncell of Cmft/mce I % Luther s Predecejfours. Cenjlance, hauc agreed to condemne thefe Articles and his Books,yea,& his bones alfo to the firefci .yeercs af- ter his death) yet fince de iure they ought not fo to hauc done,and that we are able to iuftific his dodrine 3 wc are bold to challege him as a fit inftance to anfwer the que- stion propofed-and doc conclude,that our Church had a being, atid the do&rine of the reformed Churches had profeflbrs, long before the dayes of Luther. But goe to, let vs goe on, and fee what other can be named 5 one Swallow maketh oo Summer, nor one profeflbr a Church, True : and therefore except we can draw downe the profeffion ofthis do&rine fuccefliucly from Wickcliffe, to the dayes of Luther, let^s lofe all this labour : wherefore we are to know, that both to- gether with Wickcliffe, andafter him,arofe a multitude in the Church of England, maintaining the fame do- ctrine, and fpreading it abroad among the people, la- bouring with might and maine to defend it. Such were Lau. Redma#,Mti\ct of htts,Daft.sawTree,I>iiuiiCyl0h0 Afcbwar by Jslicai of §.MariesChmc\i in Oxford,William Jones ,an excellent young-man,wcll kaxntdyTh.Bright- weU, Will. HaitUmz Ciuilian, Ralph Crenhurft, Jo. Scut, Ph. Norrice, who being excommunicate by Pope Euge- nius the fourth, appealed to agenerall CouncelljiV/w Paine, Lord Cobham, with diucrs others, whofe names are mentioned in the Kings writ, fent to the Sheriflfe of Northampton, giuenat the Mannor oHLangly, March 8* in the 1 2 . of Richard the fecond:fo alfo,for confirmation of their multitudes, the words of the Statute made An- #05. of Richard 2. About this time IV.Courtny Archbifhop,bcin.g in his Vification at Leicejler, conuented diuers before him, as Dexter, Tailor, Wdgttaffe, Scriuener, Smith, Henry, Parch* meanar, Luther s Vredecejfours. 1 3 meaner ^ Goldfmhh ; thefe, with other moe,wercaccufed tothe Archbifhopj for holding the opinion of the fa- crament of the Alcar,auricular confeflion 3 and other fa- craments, contrary to that which the Church of Rome did teach : The which pcrfuns , becaufc being cited they came not in, were folemnely accurfed ashereticks with bell, bookc, and candle ; yca 3 and by the fame Archbifhopwas the whole Towne oiLeiceJler inter- di&ed, fo long as any of theie excommunicate perfbns flhould remaine in it. There was alfb one CMatilda an AnchorefTeaccufed of the fame opinions: all this hap- pened in i387.intheio.yeereof/?/V/w/2. About the fame time Peter PatejhalUn^AuJlen Frier, hailing ob- tained leaue of the Pope to change his coate and religi- on 3 hearing the do&rineof Wickltfe , and others of the fame fbrt 3 began to preach openly, and to dcteand accufed of the lame Articles with Sxvinder- hies : admirable it is to rcade his ftorie, efpecially in it s his learned declarations concerning Antichrift, the Popes vfurped power, the power of the Keyes,free iufti- fication by faith onely, auricular confeflfion^bfolution, the matter of the Sacrament, Tranfubftantiation, Ido- latry, Exorcifing, prieftlybleffing, buying and felling of prayers, and other Romifh dregs, the lawfuflvfe of an oath ; in which hee alfo prooueth that the City of Rome is Babylon. What could hcehaue done more in ourcaufe,hadheliuedfinceX«/^r ? Out of hkdccla. rations may be taken a fufficient Commentary and Ex- pofition of thole Articles,which as they areafcribed vn- toWicklijfe, feemefomething harfh. Furthermore,thc Bull of Pope Bwfacethe y. dated the 15. Kal. Oft. in the Luther s Predecefours* ij the <5. ycerc of his Popedome,dire&ed to King Richard the 2. and to the Bifhop of Hereford, doth confefle, that thefe Chriftians whom the common people called Lol- lards, did daily grow and increafc, and preuailc againft their Dioccfans 5 tor which caule the Pope ftirreth vp the King againft them 3 who therupon dirc&ed forth a com- million to the Bifhops,to proceed with greater authori- ty againft William Srvinderbj, Stephen Bell, Walter Brute* and others of the fame opinions : By which meancs the growth of theGofpell was nipped, and a little kept in, but afterward itbrakeforth with morecffe&ualneflejas may appearc by the booke of conclulions exhibited to the Parliament holden at London^ in the 18. of Richard the 2. 1395. Touching the abules of the Church, Popifh prieft.hood, finglehfeofPriefts, thefained miracle of TTranfubftantiation,Exorcifmes,and Prieftly bleflings, Mafles for the dcad 3 Pilgrimages, and oblations to Re- liqucs and Images, Confeflion, Kunnes and Wid- dowes vowing Angle life, in all which, a reformation wasdefiredinthefaidBill, the copy whereofistobec fcene in Archiuis Regijs : fo alfo the Kings dealing with certaineof his Lords 3 as namely, Richard Sturie, Lewis Clifford, Tho. Latimer, fo. Mountacute, &C. whom he did fharpely rebuke and threaten terribly, for that he heard them to beiauourersofthatlide.Addctothisthecom- plaintsof the Pifhops againft the Londoners, occalio- nedby another brawle^but certainely the maine matter was, becaufe the Londoners were fauourers oiWick- liffcs do&rine 3 as in the ftory of S. Albons is to be fcene, vpon which occafion the King remoued the Courts and Termes to be kept at Torke, to the great decay of the City, which happened An. 1393. Ail thefe things laid C 1 together, I $ Luther s Prcdccejfours. together, doe plainely and demonftratiuely tell vs,that there was more then one or two knowne to he infedied, elfe what need fucli adoowith Letters, Epiftles, Bulls> Mandates,. Commiflions to roote out the proceeding of a few. No doubt therefore but there were many wor- thy witnefics and confeflbrsof the truth of the GofpelL 1400. After thedepofingof Richard 2. \x\\z\\Her.rie 4. had gotten the Crownc, the next yecre hee called a Parliament, in which one W. Sawtree, a good man, and faithfull Pricft, inflamed with the zeale of true Religi- on, required he might be heard for the commodity of the whole Realme. But the matter being fmelt out by the Bifliops, they obtained that it might be referred to the Conuocationjbcfore whom being conuented & ex* amincd of diuers Articles of Religion, agreeable to Wickliffes do&rine, for that heeftood conltantly in the defence of the truth, was by them condemned, degra- ded, and laftly burned. And this was thefirft Martyr that fuffered for Religion, fince the renuing of it by Wickliffe : forhowfoeuerthe Bifhops had obtained the Stz\\\isde comburendo, \ntkc izizsot Rich. 2. yet in all his time none.fuffered death for that caufe, But when Henry 4. came to the Crowne , hee willing to keepe in with the Clergy, which in thofe daies wasa ftr.ong. fa- ction, put the Statute in execution, firft vpon this Saw* tree, and after him followed many moe,iome whereof are recorded, but certainely the namesof many are loft and forgotten. Seethe words of the Statute made in the fecond yeere of Henry the fourth, mentioning a good company of fuch Preachers, whom that .age cal- led heretical!. 1 407. The ftorie of William Thorp is famous,written byhis.ovvnehan4 contayning his accufation and exa* minatiop, Luther s Predeceffouri. 1 7 mination before Archbiftiop ^ArunMl^ his anfwere, his commendation of VVickhffe>zx\& defence of his do- &rine, he taught againft the Sacrament of the Altar, MaflcjImagcs^Pilgrimages^prideofPrieft^confeflion, &c. AconftantProfeflbur hec was of the Truth, and queftionleffc continued to the end 3 howfoeuer his end is vnknowne : in all likely-hoode he dyed in prifon.Thc like end befell to lobn Aftton, another of Wtckltffes fol- lowers^who for the feme Dodtrine of the Sacrament, was condemned by the Bifhops, and becaufe he would not recant 3 was committed to perpetuall prifon 3 where- in the good man continued vntill his death. Somewhat before Thorps trouble,happencd the trouble oihhn Pur- »^ 3 who, z^Waldmjis writeth 3 was the Library of the Lollards^andagloflc vpon Wickliffe. This P*//^, to- gether with Harford,aDo&k ofDiuinity 3 were grieuouk ly tormented and puniffoed in the Caftleof Saltwood, at lengtbrecanted at Pauls Crofle 3 afterward, againe hec was imprilbned vnder. Archbilhop chicbely, in the yccre 1421. his Articlcswhichhetaught 3 were touch- ingtranfubftantiation,confeflion, Power of the keyes, vowes of chaftity, the charge of Priefejhefaid that Innocent the third, and the <5co. Bifhops 3 and all the reft of the Clergy which in the Courxcli of Lateran deter- mined the do&rine of .tranfubftantiation and confefli- on 3 were fooles and blockheads Reducers of the people, Heretickes,andblafphemers: he wrote diuers bookes, as touching the Sacrament of the Lords Supper,of pe- nance, orders 3 the powc r of the Keyes 3 the preaching of the Gofpell, of marriages, vowes, poffeffions, corre&i- on of the Clergy,, of the lawes and decrees of the Church, of the ftate and condition of the Pope and Clergy. C 3 14c?. Uhn 18 Luthtrs Predecejfours. 1409. John Badly firft, molefted and condemned by the Biihop of Worcefter, was afterwards accufed be- fore Archbiihop ^Arundel, and othcrhis Affiftants,for being vnfbund in the do&rine of the Sacrament,as de- nying the reall prefence, and tranfubftantiation : and being demanded whether he would renounce and for- fakehis opinions, and adhere to the Doftrine of rhc Catholikc Church,hee confeflcd,That he had both ftid and maintained the lame, and would adhere and ftand to thefe his opinions, and while hce liued, would nc- uer retraft the fame 5 for which hee wascondemned, and in Smithficld burned. After this, the Prelates not contenting themfelucs with this, that now they had the power of the fccular arme to affift them in the punifhment of Heretikes,and hauing a King to their mind, ready to feme their turnc in alpoints,at the Parliamet the held,prociued the Sta. xmtexOffciOy thefequellwhereofcoftmanyaman his life : at the fame time alfo came foorth diuers conftitu-i tions of Archbiihop ^Arundell y forbidding to preach or teach any thing contrary to the Determination of theChurch in the points of the Sacrament of the Altar, Matrimony^Confeflion, or other Sacraments 5 or other Articles of faith, hem, that no Schoolemafters (hould, in teaching the Scicnces,intermingle any thingcoucer- ning the Sacraments, contrary to the determination of the Church. That none of Wickliffes bookes (hould bee read, thofeoncly excepted which the Vniucrfitie of Oxford had allowed. Item, That none (hould trant late any Text of Scripture into Englrth. Item, That di- ligent inquificion (hould bee madebyeuery Prouoft, Principall,and Maftcr of euery Colledge in Oxford,a- aiongthc Schollers, for perfons defamed of hcrcfie* Now Luthers PredeceJJiurs. jp Now let all men iudge, whether thefe conftitutions gi- ucn at Oxford in this manner,do not plainely declare, that there was a great company of thefe men who pro- fefledand taught fuch pbints,which thefe conftitutions did condemne. Againe, is it any wonder, that after fuch ftrength and force, fuch policy and practices vfed to fupplant the do&ine of Wtckltjfe^ and his followers, it fhould bee almoftextingui(hed?The Bifhopsand Cler- gy hauing the King on their fide, armed withLawes, Statutes,Punifhments, Imprifbnments, Fire, Faggor, Sword, and the likc,what wonder is it,if they beare all before them?Is it cquall to challenge vs to fhew foorth our Church, to require a vifibility of it, when thefe who are our aduerjaries, hauing the fword in their hand, did labburfo abundantly to fupprefie the memo- riall of them ? And yet by the goodnefle of God it came to pafle, as may appeare by the Rcgifters, that thofe perfons whom they condemned and detcfted as Herc- tikes,calling themLoliards,did increafe daily in diucrs countries, efpecially at London, in Lincolnc-ftiire, Norfolke,Hereford,Shrewsbury,andinCalice, and o- ther quarters, in the Prouince of Canterbury, with whom Archbifhop Arundel had much adoe, as by his Regifters doth appeare. 1413. Henry thefourth beeing dcad,fucceeded Henry thefifth,crownedon Paflion Sunday 5 prefently after be- gan a Parliament to be called andholden after Eafter, at Weftminfter • at which time alfo was holden a Sy- nod at London vnder Archbifhop \_Arundel : The chiefecaufe ofaflembling thereof, was, toreprcflethe growing of the Gofpell $ and efpecially to withftand the noble and worthy Lord Cobham, who was then noted to be a principall fauourer,receiuer, and main- tainer to Luthers Predeceflhurs. taincr of them, whom the Clergy called Lollards, efc pecially in the diocefle of London, Hereford, and Ro- chefter, fetting them vp to preach, whom the Bifhops hadnotlicenfed : hce was alfo accufed to bee farre o- therwifeinthebeliefeofthe Sacraments of the Altar, of Penance, of Pilgrimage, Image-worfhip, and ofec- clefiafticall power, then the holy Church of Rome had taught for many yeeres before $ his examination, confeffion,and declaration of his Chriftian belicfe, his godly anfwers,and reafons,his conftancy in the truth is worth the reading. Finally ,he was alfo condemned,and committed to the Tower, out of which hee made an efcape, peraduenture not without the helpe of Sir Roger Aflon, who himfelfc, whatfoeuer hee was otherwife, certaineitisthathee was alwaies of a contrary mindc and opinion to the Romifh Bifhops and Clergy, for which he was greatly hated of the : his friendly helpe to the Lord Cobbam, is thought to haue bin the caufe why hee was apprehended,and brought into trouble; and in the end came to his death, fome three yeres before the Lord Cobbam • and with him /. Ttrowne^mA I. Bouerly a preacher, fuffered the feme kind of death in S, Giles tields,with other moe,to the number of 36. as the {lo- ries doe report : all which are faid to haue bin hanged and burned in the moneth of Ianuary 1413. The which death alfo the Lord Cobbam fuffred fome foure yeeres after his efcape, being betrayed and brought in by the Lord Porves jCithcv for the hatred of the religion, and true Do&rinc of Iefus Chrift, or elfe for greedioeffe of the reward promifed by the King to them that could bring in the Lord Cobbam aliue or dead: for being thus taken,he wasadiudged to be hanged vpon thenew gal- lows in S.Giles field, and burned hanging: for you muft know, Luther s Predecejjours, i % know that the Prelates (flic better to fuppreflcthis do- $rinc)had gotten an Aft pa (Ted, which condemned the Lollards and followers of ' Wukliffe, decreeing, that they flv>uld be accounted as traitors to the King andRealme, and fo {hould futfer double punifhment, viz*, to be burnt as licrctikes, and hanged as traitors to the King 5 teftified by FolydorcFirgil, and by Waldwfis. 1415. After T h. Arundel, fucceeded Archbifliop Chiche- ly , before whom was conuented John Clay don, who for the fpaceofio. yeeres before had beene fufpc&ed of Lol- lardy ; He was accufed to haue diuers bookes in Englifh, out of which his Aduerfaries colle&edij . Articles, which they condemned as hercticalland erronious 5 for which cauiehewas condemned, and fhortlyafter,together with Rich. Turning, burned in Smithfield. Shortly after, the Archbifhop 3 with the reft ofthe Clergy, made other con- ftitutions againft the Lollards : After the fctting forth of which constitutions, great inquifitionfollowed in Eng- land, and many good men, whofe hearts began to fauour the Gofpcll, were brought to much vexation and trouble, andcaufed outwardly to abiurc. Thus while Chrift had the inward hearts of men, Antichrift would ncedspoflefle the outward body, and make them fing his fong : In the number of whom were 7. Taylor y W. lames, I. Dwerfe, Iohn lourdty, M. Roberts, Vsnion oiHegly, W.Henry, LGall,Bart. Cornmonger, T^JHooper, Th. Granter 5 fo alfo Ralph Mongin Pricft, was condemned to pcrpctuall prifon. After this followed the Recantation olRicMonke, and of Edmund Frith, befides many more recorded in the fame Rceifter, who likewife for their faith and Religion were much vex- ed and troubled. The names of 16. are fet downe in the procefTe of the Archbifliop, directed forth againft the fame perfons, whereof fome whole houfholds, both men and womcn Rich. Hegham, Robert Crowther, L Smithy Rob. Browne y Th. Butler , /> Falkes. R. Hilman. The hercfies,of which they were accufed, were$ for oppofiog Pilgrimages, Images, Merits, Purgatory, Shrift, Tran* fubftantiation,3nd the like. After the(e,inxhc ninth yeere of Henry 7. was burned an old woman of 80. ycexcs.Jpane Boughton by name, who held eight tflVickliffes opinions faftiiFely,that all the Do- lours in London could not turne hex: the was burned in Smithfield (tiortly aftetin Annoi^j.. Some for feare re- canted at Pauls Crofle,an4 in the next yeejre, an old man and aprieft,and oneBabram were burned. 1506. William Tilfaortb was burned for his Religion '\xi\s*merjham , at which time, loane Clarke the (aid Tilfoorths daughter, was conftrained to put fire to her Father, at whofe burning 3 a- bput 60. other were enioyned to beare fagots, of whom diuers were commanded to beare and wcare fagots at Lincolne the fpace of y. t yeeres after, fome .at one time, fome at another. A little after was Father Roberts a Mil- lex oi&fijpnden burned at Buckingham, and 20. other bare fagots^aijd did gena,nce.About 2. or 3-ycres after,at^/m*- fbam was burned Tb. Barnard^ la.Mordon in one fire,and Father Rogers.aad F$thci£eeue wasburned in the cheeke. So alfo was JV.Littlefage.md 30. more were burned in the* right cheeke,and barefagotsat the fame time. The man- ner of their burning m the chceke was this : Their neckes b^ing tyed fail to a pofte with towels , and their hands hold en Luther s Predecejfours] i 5 holdcn that they might not ftirre,tbcy were marked with a hot iron 5 The caulc of thofcniens trouble was, becaufc they talked againftfupcrftition,and idolatry ,and weredc firous-tohtare and reade the holy Scriptures. Thomas Chafe condemned by the Bifhop ofLincolne, William Smith^and caft into prifon, was there murthei ed, and after flandeced to haue made away himfclfe. Thomas Nerricefovthe profeflion of Chrifts.Gofpel was burned at Norwich 1 5 07 .Elizabeth Samfbn accufed to fpeake againft Pilgrimages, adoration of Images 3 and againfVthe Sacra- mentofthe Altar, was compelled to abiure before Willi- 4mH*rfey, Chancellor at London 1508. Laureme Ghett, twoyeeres in prifon at Salisbury, was afterward put to death for his religiotufo alfo was there martyred another poore woman, whofe death fb greedily fought by the Chancellor Whittington, was presently reucnged by the enraged Bul,which running through the prcafc of people, came to the Chancellor, and-gored himthorow with his homes-, carrying his guts aiong the ftreets, to the great admiration and wonder of all them that fawit, 1 j©9.#.7*hauing finiftied his courfe, after him followed #.8.in whofe dayes hapned much ftirand contention a- bout religion, as in the Hiftory of the Church doth ap- pearerln the Regift.of Fitz^Iames,B.o{ London,are*5tai- ned the names of diuers,to the number of 40. pcrfecuted in the Dioccffe of London,bctweenetheyeere 1509. and i527.ofwhom : ,fome 3 after they had fhewed their weaknes in recanting,did afterwards returne totheir former pro- feffion^and cleauingfaft to it, were for it martyred ,as W, Siveetingfii LBrufier burned in Smitfefield *$ 1 1.& l.Browne burned in Afhford,about the 4.yere off/- 8. about which time alfo fell out the trouble oiRich. Hume, whom after bis death they condemned of Hercfie. But now the numbersof Confeflbrs and Martyrs arife D 3 to 26 Luthers Predecejfmrf. to fuch multitudcs,that a long difcour(e,and a large tre^ tile would hardly iuflfice to fet them downe; wherefore I pa(Te ouer the ftory of/. Stilman,Tho.Man, Rob.Cofin,Chru Shomakcr, Martyrs; As alfo diuers Confeflbrs^to the num- ber of 3 5 .abiured about theyeere 1520. for fpeaking a- gainftworfhipping of Saints, Pilgrimage, Inuocation of the Virgin,the Sacrament of the Lords body,and for ha- iling bookes in Englifh, as the 4. Euangelifts, the Epi- ftles of Paul, Peter, and lames ,the Book of the Reuelation, a Booke of Antichrift, of the 10. Commandements, and Wickliffes Wicket, Bookes no doubt wonderfully ftuft with herefies,& do&rine vnmcet for Chriftians to know, and vnderftand. Oh the fubtilty of thofe Romifh Foxes! How many men and women were perfecuted in the Di- oceffeof Lincolne,vndcr Bifhop Longland ,avir\o 1521. foroppofing, or not confenting to the Romifh do- ctrine ofpilgrimage,Imagc-worfl3ip,Tranfubftanm^ reall prefencec'Their arguments they colle&ed out of the Scripture, the Shepheards Calender, TVick/ifes Wicket, and fiich other bookes? as they had amongft them, and notwithftanding they had not with them any learned man to ground them in the do<5trine s yet they conferring together, did conuert one another, the Lords hand wor- king among them marueloufly. After the great abiurati- on which was vnder Bifhop Smith, they were termed a- mongft themfelues Knowne mentor wit f aft menpot much vnlike to the prefent name of Proteftants: Amongft whom, to fee their trauels, their earneft feeking, burning zeale, their readings, watchings, fweete aflemblies, loue, and concord, godly liuing,faithfull meaning, may make vs, now in thefe our dayes of free profeflion, to be a(ha- med. From all which duely confidered,we may eafily gather, what would haue bin the number of Profeilbrs. had the v crld Luthers Predecejfours. 17 world looked friendly vpon them^For if when theTempo- rall Magiftrate tooke hand with the Ecclcfiafticall tofup- prefle them,and rooie them outj if when all men of note and learning, either for hope of preferment, orfeareof trouble,tumed their ftudiesotherwaies^if when theScrip- ture,and Euglifh bookes were forbidden,* if when booke* were fo rare,and dcare,and fo hard to come by ( as before the Science df printing was inuented they were)if not- withftandingall thefe hinderances, the Truth of God did fo multiply amongft them,what would it haue done,had they had multitude of bookes,or thofe cheape, the Scrip- ture in t nglifh, had they had learned men to guide them, had they liued in a peaceable time,had they had the Ma- giftrate either for them, or at leaft not againftthem: for why was the increafe of the Gofpell in Bohemia by the preaching ofl.Huffe^morevc markable and further fpred, then here in England, but that the Magiftrate with his (Word wasnotfofeuercagainft them?Whence was it that Luther pttmWeA more then wicktiffe^ but that heehada foppof ter(rhe Duke of Saxony ) which Wickliffe wanted? Amongftvsatthisday,doewenotall know,rhat Armi- nianifme would haue more preuailed, and infeded fur- ther then yet it doth,if the Kings Maiefty were either for it,ornotagainftit? Wherefore all men may eafily fee,that they are much decciued,who codemnethis our dodrine of nouelty,and infultingly demand, Where was your Church before Luther 1 To whom wee^anfwereout of this demonftration hi- therto made,That euer fince the dayes of Wickliffe, AmoQi 200. yeeres before Luther ,the doctrine of the reformed Churches 3 that is, thofe points wherein they differ from the church of Rome, and in which the reformation doth confift, thefe points (I fay)were held and profeflcd: for whence came thofe perfections ? or who were they that thus fi thus were perfect* ted? If of the fame profeffion vvhh then^ then is their cruelty ^nreafonable,to pcrfecute thefr own fraternity : if they- were otherwise, now then is the do- ftrine of the reformed Churches fonew,*or the Prof £ fours thereof fo lately ftart vp, as our aduerfaries pretend they be?But this is the fruit ofignorance and carelefneflc to read the Hiftories of the Church, and the records of antiquity heretofore : For then might men cafily fee, that the Church of England hath not wanted multitudes of well-difpofed hearts $ howfoeuer the publike authority then lacked, to maintaine the open preaching of the Got ^Z> pell. Now whilft our aduerfaries bcthinke thcmfelues what to (ay to this part of the Indu<5tion,conceming the^eftatc of the Church in our owne country of England, in the a- ges next before Luther J. wil pafle oucr into Germany , and fee what fucceflc the Gofpell had there, cfpccially in Bo- hernia, by the preachingof/