A manuduction, or introduction vnto diuinitie containing a confutation of papists by papists, throughout the important articles of our religion; their testimonies taken either out of the Indices expurgatorii, or out of the Fathers, and ancient records; but especially the parchments. By Tho. Iames, Doctor of Diuinitie, late fellow of New-Colledge in Oxford, and Sub-Deane of the cathedrall church of Welles. This marke noteth the places that are taken out of the Indices expurgatorij: and this [pointing hand], a note of the places in the manuscripts.

Of Indulgences.

PVrgatory should seeme to haue been in great request heretofore, it hath such a great traine following after of Indulgences, Prayers for the dead, Reliques, Pilgrimages, Diriges, Funerals, Images, and inuocations of Saints. Though the fall of Purgatory may be the ouerthrow of them all, yet we will (by God grace) intreate of them seuerally in their order: and first of Indulgences, and Popish Pardons, be∣cause they haue so neere a affinitie with Purgatory, that if it be prooued, that there is no Purgatory, it will be easie to proue, that there are no Indulgences; and then the Popes b market is marred, his Pardoners may goe shake their eares.

First, for the originall of them, we subscribe to the Coun∣cell of c Trent: It is certaine, and cannot be concealed, that in no Christian Nation of the Easterne Church, either in ancient or moderne time, there euer was any vse of Indulgences of any kind whatsoeuer. And in the West, if by ancient custome they meane that which was obserued before Ʋrban the second, in the yeare 1095, no proofe can be brought of the vse of Indul∣gences. If from that time, vntill the yeare 1300. it will ap∣peare, that the vse of them hath been sparing, and onely to free men from punishments, imposed by the Confessour. Af∣terwards, from the Councell of Ʋienna, the abuses began, which did increase very much, vntill the time of Leo the tenth. Hitherto the Councell, and yet no Counsell neither; they say no more then all the World besides; I meane, a world of Papists, which I haue catalogued vp according to the times where in they liued descendendo; I hope they are all fit and proper.

Indulgences came in Anno Christi 1095. and were opposed

Ann. dom.			Ann. dom.
1240		Vincentius Belluacensis.			Geo. Wicelius.
1260		Bonauenture.			Alph. de Castro.
1360		Durand.			Polyd. Ʋirgill.
1444		Petrarch.			Onus Ecclesiae.
1••••••		A Dialogue published de insolentijs Curiae Ro∣manae.			Conc. Tridentinum.
					Chronicum Belgicum.
					Io. Langius.
1410		Io. Gerson.			Huldericus Nutius.
1430		Fortalitium fidei.			Franc. Polygranus.
1453		Io. de Vesalia.			Valer. Anselmus Rydd.
1453	By	Vincent. Ferrarius.		By	Syluester Prierius.
1458		Regin. Peacock.			Contra Lutherum Con∣clusiones.
1460		Tho. Gascoigne.
1478		Dominicus de Domini∣cis.			Laur. Valla.
					Car. Militzius.
1480		Gabr. Bieli.			Fr. Guicciardinus.
1480		Hier. Sauanarola.			Io. Roffensis.
1494		Wern. de Rollowinck.			Nigellus Wirocher.
1511		Nic. Kus.			Anon. Vetus scripter.
1511		Io. Keyserberg.			Conr. a Liechtenawo.
1514		Friar Flechen.			Io. Auentinus.
1518		Caietanns.			Henricus Henriquez.
		Cassander.

In this Catalogue, I haue mentioned none but such as were esteemed at the least of their Church, and complained of the sundry abuses of it. I haue purposely omitted these that follow: P. Valdus, Io. Wickleph, Walter Brute, Guil. Swinderby, Ric. Turmyn, Io. Cleydon, Io. Puruey, Henr. To∣ken, Nic. Russe, Ric. Hume: These were all Waldenses, Wickleuists, or Hussi••es; you will neuer accept of their testi∣monies when they are brought against you, and I am very

well prouided without them, to make good these two Pro∣positions.

• 1. That there is no such treasure of the Church; wee haue but carbones pro the sauro.
• 2. If there be, or put case there be; yet they are ill distri∣buted, and as they are bought and sold, cannot bee de∣fended.

These two Propositions are maintained and explained by the Papists, to whose writings I haue confined my selfe, when I might (as you perceiue by that which hath been written) haue made vse of a great many more testimonies, both pregnant and pertinent to my purpose: but these and a few Parchments shall suffice.

Notes

• a

  † Quamdiu nulla fuerat de Purgato∣rio cura nemo quae∣siuit indulgentias: nam ex illo pendet omnis Indulgentia∣rum existimatio. Polyd. Virgil. l. 8. c 1 p. 484.
• b

  † Si tollatur Pur∣gatorium quorsum Indulgentiis opus erit? Ib.
• c

  P. 822. Hist. Conc. Trid.