The B. of Sarisburie.
Concerninge the storie of Kinge Iohas, I reporte me to that is written of him in the Booke of Kinges.* 1.1 He sequestred the Oblations of the people, whiche the Priestes had bestowed lewdely, and wantonly vpon them selues, and, by his owne Authoritie, turned the same to the Reparations of the Temple. Of Kinge Iosias,* 1.2 it is written thus: Constituit Iosias Sacerdotes in officijs suis: Kinge Io∣sias appointed the Priestes to minister in theire seueral Offices. And againe, Munda∣uit Iudam, & Hierusalem ab Excelsis, & Lucis: Kinge Iosias cleansed, and ridde Iuda, and Hierusalem from their Hille Aultars, and their Groaues.
But yée wil saie, He did al thinges by y• discretion of the Priestes, & Bishoppes. This thinge in deede is necessarie, while the Priestes, and Bishoppes be, learned, and godly.* 1.3 But Kinge Iosias did far otherwise: for he sent the Bishop him selfe vnto Olda the Prophetisse, to learne the discretion, and Iudgemente of a VVoo∣man: and so was directed in maters of Highest Religion, by a VVooman, and not by a Prieste. These Examples be so manifeste, that one of your Felowes there is faine thus to excuse the mater,* 1.4 by ouer mutche Antiquitie. If we woulde in these daies, saithe he, vse in all pointes the Examples of the Olde Lawe, there woulde folowe an huge number of inconueniences.* 1.5 It is no good reason, to saie, that therefore our Kinges nowe a daies muste haue the like Authoritie. Thus saithe he, As though the Princes righte were now abated, and altered, as the Ceremonies of the Lawe: & were otherwise nowe, then it was before: Or, as if the Comminge of Christe into the worlde, and the Preachinge of the Gospel, had pourposely benne to represse and pulle downe the State of Kinges.