A reproufe, written by Alexander Nowell, of a booke entituled, A proufe of certayne articles in religion denied by M. Iuell, set furth by Thomas Dorman, Bachiler of Diuinitie: and imprinted at Antvverpe by Iohn Latius. Anno. 1564. Set foorth and allowed, according to the Queenes Maiesties iniunctions

Dorman. fol. 6.

I shall procede to the consideration of the seconde reason, whiche before I touched, of the people of Is••a∣el, if I firste warne you to consider but this by the waie * 1.1 [that ye maie truste those aunciente fathers by their woorde the better an other tyme] how many schismes bee burste in apon vs in our countrey of Englande, for one common receiued truth in the daies of our fathers [when we remained in the obediēce of one chief priest and iudge] whiche shake nowe so miserablie the same: how quietlie in one loue, in one truth, in one doctrine, in one Churche, in one heade thereof God almightie, and his minister vnder hym appoincted ouer the same, weliued then, and other in other places dooe now.

Nowell.

Yet for all the haste M. Dorman hath, he will by the

waie warne you to credite the aunciente fathers by hym alleged. The same dooe wee also desire of the dis∣create readers, that thei will creadit those auncient fa∣thers, who, though alleged by M. Dorman, beyng di∣rectlie against hym, doo declare that he is woorthy of no creadite at all. And he doeth vniustlie charge England specially with so many schismes: where it is well kno∣wen, that there is as muche consente in true doctrine in the churche of Englande at this tyme, as euer was in any realme at any time. And though there were not a perfecte consent of all men in all poinctes, what mar∣ueile yet were it, if that should happen emongeste vs, whiche was not altogether lackyng emongeste the A∣postles themselues? Let the contētion betwéene Paule and Peter, and betwéene Paule againe & Barnabas, be a proofe thereof. What woonder if that were emon∣gest vs touching some poinctes, that was not wanting in the primitiue churche emōgest the olde fathers? a 1.2 Let the variaunce emongeste the bishops assembled at Ni∣cene councell: b 1.3 let the contention betwene the bishops of the Easte and of the Weste churche aboute the kee∣pyng of Easter daie, a matter not woorthie of suche variaunce, bée a witnesse thereof. c 1.4 Let the sharpe con∣tētion betwéene S. Chrysostome, and Theophilus bi∣shop of Alexādria, and Epiphanius bishop of Cyprus, d 1.5 the bitter strief betwéene S. Hierome and S. Augu∣gustine, e 1.6 and betwéene the saied S. Hierome againe and Rufine, f 1.7 and like contentions betweene the beste men of all ages, testifie the same. What nedeth muche repetitiō of antiquities? As though it were vnknowen what contentions haue euer been emongest the Papi∣stes themselues, as betwene the Canonistes and schole doctours: betwene Scotus and Thomas: betwene Al∣liacensis and Occam: and of late tyme betwene Cate∣tanus

and Pighius: and as though at this presente tyme all Papistes agreed emongest themselues in the principall poinctes of their religion: where thei (as shal in place conueniente be declared) dooe exceadingly not onely varie, but repugne one againste an other. And what bee these names, Thomistes, Scotistes, Nomi∣nalles, and Realles, but names of schismes? What be these Benedictines, Cistertians, Carmelites, Chartu∣sians, Dominicans, Franciscans, with others like an huge number, but names of Popishe schismes & sectes? Who all forsakyng the religion and name of Christe common to all true christians, haue chosen to be called religious, as by a speciall name of a seuerall religion, and to bee named after men their fathers on earth, for∣sakyng * 1.8 the heauenlie father, and continuyng and ac∣complishyng the schisme firste begunne in S. Paules time, after the exāple of those, who said, I am of Paule, * 1.9 I of Cephas, I of Apollo: saiyng, I am of Dominike, I of Benedicte, I of Francise, who also maie directly an∣swere S. Paule askyng, was Paule or any other, sa∣uyng onely Christe, crucified for you? Yea, maie the Franciscanes saie, S. Francise was crucified for vs of his familie, and beholde the woundes in his side, han∣des and feete. If S. Paule aske againe, is Iesus Christ diuided? Yea, maie a false hypocrite one of the secte of the Iesuites say: for we haue th'one part of Iesus, ther∣of called Iesuites, and haue left the other part Christe, to the seelie soules abroade, to holde them selues contē∣ted therewith, and with the name of christians thereof deriued. Why, is Iesus one then, and Christ an other? Be there twoo Christes then, or one diuided into twoo? One of these must needes be: els if Iesus Christ be not twoo, but one, (as he is moste certainly one) and beyng not diuided (as he moste certainelie is whole) then are

you Iesuites, were your religion good, nothing els but Christians: then are all Christians Iesuites also: then do•• you in vaine bragge of a seuerall name of religiō, if your and our religion bee one. But if your religion be hypocrisie, (as it is in déede) then haue you stirred vp an horrible schisme, diuiding and cutting the glorious name of Iesus Christ, in the whiche onely is saluatiō: yea tearyng Christe hymself in pieces, infinitely more wickedly and cruelly, then euer did the wicked souldi∣ars that crucified Christ, who had a remorse to cut his coate asonder. And leaste all these sectes of hypocrites should not bee knowen sufficiently by onely diuersitie of names, thei haue by other infinite waies and mea∣nes iraueiled to seuer their sectes asunder, studiyng for diuisiō as for the beste, and fliyng all shewe of vnitie as the worste of all thinges. Wherefore to their diuersitie of names, thei haue ioigned diuersitie of fashions, and diuersitie of colours in their apparell, diuersitie of gir∣dles, hose, and shooes: diuersitie of shauyng, diuersitie of goyng, beckyng and bowyng, diuersitie of diete and meates, diuersitie of readyng, syngyng, and tunyng, diuersitie of Churche seruice, and diuersitie of rules of life. All tymes would faile me, if I should, or could re∣hearse all their diuersities, whiche is the verie proper∣tie of schismes and sectes. These be those schismatikes, and sectaries, with an infinite multitude whereof, of late Englande was repleanished, of the whiche now, thankes bee to God, the realme is well ridde: so that if you mete a thousande men and wemen one after an o∣ther seuerally, and aske of them, of what religion bee you? Thei shall all and euery one answere you, I am a christian, we bée all christians: there shall not one an∣swere to you (as was wonte vnder your head) I am of the religion of S. Francisce, a Franciscane: an other, I

am a Dominicane: the thirde, I am a Carmelite. Et sic de singulis. One woman shal not answere you, I am a Brigittine: an other, I am a Clarane: the third, I am a Beguine, whiche are all names of abominable sectes and schismes, not onely diuidyng, but deniyng, but for∣gettyng, but reiectyng the religion and name of Iesus Christ, and choosyng the names and religion of sinfull synners, and counterfaite hypocrites moste wicked, and so muche the more wicked, for that thei cloked their wickednes vnder names of holinesse & religion. These so diuers sectes of false religion being well abandoned now out of Englande, and the one true religion of our sauiour Iesus Christe onely here remainyng: I mar∣ueill with what face you can charge vs with schismes and sectes, which is your own speciall sore? And where you warne the readers vpon experience of the multi∣tude of schismes lately risen, sithen the forsakyng of that one Popishe head, to creadite the auncient fathers as witnessyng with you against vs: you might as iust∣ly warne them to creadite the aunciente Phariseis, ra∣ther then Christe and his Apostles: bothe for that the first heresie, as S. Augustine saieth, sprange emongest * 1.10 the disciples of Christe, many of them departyng from hym vpon the occasion of his preachyng, seemyng to them to be heard: and also for that in the Apostles time some vsed suche schismaticall saiynges, as these: Wee holde of Paule: some other, wee holde of Cephas: the thirde sorte, we holde of Apollo: whereas there was no suche dissention emongest the high priestes and Phari∣seis, but greate vnitie and concorde emongest them a∣gainste Christes Apostles: and againe for that diuers * 1.11 greater schismes of the Nicolaites, the Symoniās, the Cerinthians, the Menandrians, the Saturninians, the Carpocratians, the Basilidians, with an huge num∣ber

moe, did rise with, and shortly after the firste prea∣chyng of the Gospell, as Darnell secreatlie sowen by the enemie, springeth vp with the good corne sowen by the husbandeman: and specially for that great schisme, whiche Christe and his Apostles made from the highe Priestes and their Churche, whiche S. Paule made a∣gainst the Phariseis, whō, he (beyng brought vp from his childhood emongest them) did so schismatically for∣sake, and cleaue vnto Christ their aduersarie. Where∣vpon in steede of greate quietnesse in one doctrine, and traditions of their fathers, of great looue emongest all Priestes and Phariseis throughout all Iurie and the whole Iewishe churche before, did folowe greate diui∣sions, & trubles did arise, not onely in Iurie, but short∣ly after ouer al the worlde. Wherof our sauour Christ * 1.12 himself was accused, as appeareth in the historie of the Gospell: and S. Paule with other the Apostles, were likewise accused, as is to be seen in the Acttes of the A∣postles: and in like maner the whole christian religion, was in the primitiue Churche of all enemies bothe de∣rided, as diuided into many schismes and sectes (as * 1.13 doeth by histories ecclesiasticall appeare) and also char∣ged as the cause of all mischieues and troubles, that o∣uerwhelmed the worlde, as by * 1.14 Origen, saincte Au∣gustine, S. Ambrose, Aurelius Prudentius and other Christian writers, answeryng that false sclaunder, is moste euidente to bee seen. And as iustlie might you charge the Apostles and their doctrine with those schis∣mes, sectes, and troubles, as you dooe charge vs with these that haue risen in our daies. Where it is well knowen to the worlde, that our learned men haue by their writynges more oppugned and repressed the said sectes, then all the Papistes haue dooen. In deede wee must needes confesse a truth: that whiles we al remai∣ned

vnder the quiet obedience of your Romishe heade, in one doctrine of his traditions, there was a coloured kinde of quietnesse, concorde, and loue emongest all the members of that one heade, the subiectes of that one gouernour and ruler, and specially emōgest the clear∣gie of that one churche: who had in possessiō the riches and rule of the worlde, with not onely quietnesse, but thankes also of thē that were bothe oppressed and rob∣bed. So blinded were thei with ignorance, the mother of suche deuotiō, brought in by the said Popishe clear∣gie, by hidyng in vnknowen tongues, and withdraw∣yng of the light of Gods woorde, whiche should haue shined, and guided our steppes better. But when that Christ the authour of that light, as he hymself, and by his Apostles bewraied the errours of the Iuishe tradi∣tions by the saied light first springyng, & withall trou∣bled their vnitie & concorde in the doctrine of suche tra∣ditions, and their quietnesse in their Synagoge so set∣tled before: so now the same our sauiour in the tyme by his wisedome appoincted (who of his goodnesse would not suffer vs seelie straiyng shéepe to wander in darke∣nesse of suche errors, nor of his iustice could suffer your head the Pope with his adherentes to deceiue his peo∣ple any longer) by the same light of his holy woorde a∣gaine springyng & shinyng to vs sittyng in suche pal∣pable darkenesse, and in the shadowe of death, hath dis∣closed, that your head and you, for the mainteinaunce of his and your fathers false traditions, haue obscured, hidden, broken, and forbiddē the lawe of God our hea∣uenlie father: and shinyng before vs, hath exhorted vs to folowe and walke in the saied light, and hath war∣ned vs to forsake bothe your doctrine, and woorkes of darkenesse. By this occasiō is there risen a like schisme betweene you and vs, as was betweene S. Paule and

the Phariseis, with whom he was broughte vp from his childhoode before. By this occasiō of the light, your greate gaine and riches mainteined by the darkenesse of ignoraunce, and deuotion of seelie soules deceiued, sufferyng themselues to bée robbed, is decaied: as was the gaine of Image makers, shrine makers, and other * 1.15 artificers of superstition in Ephesus, by the preachyng of S. Paule. By this meanes is your quietnesse trou∣bled, your reste interrupted, your good cheare marred, your pompe abated, your estimation decaied, and the yoke of your tyrannie shaken of our neckes. This ma∣keth your Romishe head and you crie, as you doo, and barke againste vs, as heretikes, and schismatikes, as did the high priest, and other Iuishe priestes and Pha∣riseis crie out againste Christe and his Apostles. This maketh your head and you to persecute vs moste cruel∣lie, and to adiudge vs to death, as did your aunciente fathers persecute and iudge Christe, and his Apostles. If this bee to make schismes, wee confesse our selues schismatikes from you, who haue firste made your sel∣ues schismatikes from Christe, and his Apostles. To whō as wée doubt not but wée haue ioigned our selues in the truth of his Gospell, so haue you in déede in per∣secuting of vs for professyng Christes Gospell, and the doctrine of his Apostles, ioigned your selues with the old Synagoge of Satan, and the Iuishe Priestes and Phariseis: who for the same cause persecuted Christe and his Apostles to death moste cruellie. But if that you could with vs embrace the truthe of Christes Gos∣pell, & walke with vs ioinctly in the light of his woorde, there should bee more true quietnesse, as well of con∣sciences, as of bodies, more sincere loue, more godlie vnitie, peace & ioy, then euer there was wordlie quiet∣nesse, loue, & ioye in the darkenesse of Poperie. Which

because you refuse to doo, despisyng the peaceable wa∣yes of the Lorde, you are guiltie of all these schismes and troubles, and not we. And so finallie for this part of purgation of our selues againste your sclaunders of schismes and troubles, as by vs raised, dooe we allege the effecte of the same Parable of the strong manne so * 1.16 quiet in his house, vntill a stronger then he came, and disturbed him, whiche Christ our sauiour in like sclaū∣der rehearsed for defense of hymself. If the reader shall thinke that I haue been to tedious in answeryng this matter here but touched by M. Dorman, as it were by the waie, I truste he will beare with me therein, for that M. Dorman as he beganne and floorished the first face of his booke, with blotting vs by this sclaunder of * 1.17 schismes, so hath he hetherto cōtinued in the same, and applied all his allegations out of S. Cyprian, Basill, Hierome, Nicephorus and others, chieflie to that pur∣pose: and omitteth not in euery other leafe hereafter, importunately to repeate the same: folowyng therein Eckius, Pighius, Hosius, and generally all the aduer∣saries that speake or write againste vs, who doo moste vehementlie and continuallie burthen vs with the cri∣mes of schismes and fectes, and of the disturbaunce of the quiet state of the churche, and worlde: at their plea∣sure termyng vs Heretikes, Schismatikes, Hugue∣notes, Caluiniās, Lutherans, and Zuinglians. Nei∣ther are thei contented herewith, but doo also play with pictures verie pleasantlie, as thei thinke, in the whiche thei painte out a multitude of suche heretikes or rebel∣les, as our confederates or alies, whose opinions wee doo moste abhorre, and against whom we continuallie bothe preache and write. And all this doo thei, for that thei are not ignoraunte that suche, though moste false sclaunders, beyng yet so importunelie and continual∣lie

laied to our charge, are of muche effecte to offende the mindes of the weake and simple, & to stirre vp their hatred against vs. And therefore thei vse suche constant asseuerations for argumentes, as in their schooles thei are taught to doo, when thei are destitute of due prou∣fes, whiche hath also caused me for the simplear sortes sake once at large to answere, and earnestlie to repell that false vsuall sclaunder of schismes & troubles laied vpon vs by those, who are themselues moste guiltie thereof. For I truste that no reasonable reader will thinke vs to bee suche, onelie for that it pleaseth them maliciouslie so to misname vs, and onelie to saie we be suche: seyng their tongues and pennes are their owne to vse as thei liste, and not in our power. For, as wee haue no religion but onelie Christes, so desire we to be called after the names of none but his, & as we bee, so to be named christians: and beyng Christians, we care not to bee called heretikes, of heretiques: or schismati∣kes, of schismatiques: suche as in deede our aduersa∣ries bèe. Thinke thei that if we list and had leasure, as thei haue, wee could not frame an arbor or tree, twise as greate as thei haue deuised? Would not the Popes with their triple crounes, crosse keyes, & crosse swoor∣des, whereof sundrie were heretikes: the fatte fedde Monkes, and leane faced Friers, the nice Nunnes, the seelie sir Ihons soule priestes and other, with their di∣uersities of schismaticall names chosen to themselues, Christ and his name beyng forsaken, with the diuersi∣ties of apparell, of coules, colours, meates, Churche seruice, rules of life, and infinite moe diuersities, with the Popes Bulles (whereby suche sectes were either founded or confirmed) displaied bannerlike vpon the seuerall armes and braunches of the tree, where suche sectes shall seuerallie sitte: would not, thinke you,

this geare furnishe the saied tree farre more fullie and truelie too, then is M. Stapletons Staphilus forged plante, in the whiche he hath placed suche as are to vs moste straungers, as nexte of our kinne and bloude: whereas I am sure, that the Pope can make no excep∣tion to any one of this shamfull rable, that I speake of, why he should not bee placed in the arbour of Popishe schismatikes? Wherefore I conclude that your crime of schismes, moste falsly laied to our charge, may moste truely, iustly, and plentifully bee reuersed vpon your owne heades.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nowell. Borowed out of Hosius li. 1. contra Bren∣tium, fol. 1. a. 5 6. &c. And out of Pighius de Hierarch. lib. 6. cap 13 fol. 325. d. &c.
• a 1.2

  Histor. Eccl. Rufini, lib. 1. cap. 2.
• b 1.3

  Euseb. de vita Constant. li. 3. Socr. li. 1. ca. 8. Sozom. lib. 1. cap. 16.
• c 1.4

  Socrat. lib. 6. cap. 9. & 10. &c
• d 1.5

  In epistolis Hierō. ad Au∣gustinum.
• e 1.6

  Hiero. tom. 2. in Apolegia & al••••s li. con∣tra R••finum.
• f 1.7

  Euseb. His••o. li. 10. ca. 5. &c. & vitae Con∣stant lib. 4.
• * 1.8

  Math. 23. a. 9.
• * 1.9

  1. Corin. 1. b. 13
• * 1.10

  August. in Psal. 54. Prima heresis in discipulis Christi facta est &c. Ioan. 6. 1. Cori. 1. b. 13.
• * 1.11

  Irenaeus cōtra haereses lib. 1. August. lib. de haeresibus.
• * 1.12

  Math. 27. Luc. 23. Ioan. 7. Act. 5. 17. 24. &. 28.
• * 1.13

  Euseb. hist. Eccl. lib. 10. cap. 5. & vitae Constan. li. 4. Socrates hist. Eccl. lib. 1. cap. 6. & lib. 3. cap. 24. & multis locis.
• * 1.14

  Origenes cō∣tra Celsum. August. de Ciuitate Dei. Ambrosius, & Prudentius contra Sym∣machum.
• * 1.15

  Act. 19. c. 2••.
• * 1.16

  Luc. II. c. 21. &c
• * 1.17

  In fronte libri ex Augu. con∣tra Peulianū, de quo vide b. 3 statim post praefacionem.