in all thinges kept. We permit no man to cast, graue, or paint the Image of our Sauiour Christ, either in colors, stone, or other matter: but wheresoeuer it be found, wee commaund it to be taken away, punishing them most gre∣uously that shall attempt any thing contrary to our de∣crees and Empire.
Leo the 3. a man commended in histories for his excel∣lent vertues and godlinesse, who (as is iudged of some men) was the author of the booke De re militari, that is, Of the feate of Warre, beyng translated out of Greeke by sir Iohn Cheeke, and dedicated to king Henry the viij. your highnes father, by publike authoritie commaunded, aboli∣shing of Images, and in Constantinople caused all the i∣mages to be gathered together on a heape, & burned them vnto ashes.
Constantine the first his sonne, assembled a Councel of the bishops of the East church, in which Councell it was decreed as followeth. It is not lawfull for them that be∣leeue in God through Iesus Christ, to haue any Images neither of the Creator, nor of any creatures set vp in tem∣ples to be worshipped, but rather that all Images by the law of God, and for the auoiding of offence ought to be ta∣ken out of churches. Which decree was executed in all pla∣ces where any Images were, either in Greece or in Asia. But in all these tymes, the bishops of Rome rather main∣teining the authoritie of Gregory, weighing like christian bishops the perill of the Church, alwayes in their assem∣blies allowed Images.
Not long after the Bishop of Rome practising wyth Tharasins Patriarch of Constantinople obteyned of I∣rene the Empresse, her sonne Constantine being thē yong, that a Councell was called at Nice, in the which ye Popes Legates were Presidents, which appeared well by their fruits: for in that Councell it was decreed, that Images should not onely be permitted in churches, but also wor∣shipped, which councell was confuted by a booke written by Carolus Magnus the Emperour, callyng it a foolish and an arrogant councell.
Soone after this Councell, arose a sharpe contention betwene Irene the Empresse, and her sonne Constantine the 6. the Emperour, who destroyed Images. And in the end as she had before wickedly burned the bones of her father in lawe Constantine the v. so afterward vnnatu∣rally she put out the eyes of her owne sonne Constantine the sixt.
About which tyme as Eutropius writeth, the Sunne was darkened most terribly for the space of 17. days, God shewyng by that dreadfull signe, how much hee misliked those kynds of proceedyngs.
To bee short, there was neuer thing that made more diuision, or brought more mischiefe into the church, then the controuersie of Images: by reason whereof, not one∣ly the East church was deuided from the West, and neuer since perfectly reconciled, but also the Emperour was cut asunder and deuided, and the gate opened to the Saracens and Turkes to enter and ouercome a great piece of Chri∣stendome. The fault whereof most iustly is to bee ascribed to the patrons of Images, who could not be contented wt the ensample of the Primitiue Church beyng most simple and sincere, and most agreeable to the Scripture. For as Tertullian sayth: Quod primum verum, quod posterius ad∣ulterinū. That is to say, What as is first, that is true, & that that is latter is counterfeit. But wt all extremitie, maintei∣ned the vse of images in churches, whereof no profite nor commoditie did euer grow to the church of God. For it is euident, that infinite millions of soules haue bene cast in∣to eternall damnation by the occasion of Images vsed in place of religion, and no history can recorde that euer any one soule was wonne vnto Christ by hauing of Images. But least it might appeare that the West church had al∣wayes generally retained and commended Images. It is to be noted that in a Councell holden in Spaine called Concilium Eliberinum, the vse of Images in churches was clerely prohibited in these forme of wordes. Placuit in ec∣clesijs picturas esse non debere, ne quod colitur aut adoratur in parietibus depingatur. That is to say, Wee decree that pic∣tures ought not to be in churches, least that be painted v∣pon the walles which is worshipped or adored.
But this notwithstandyng experience hath declared, that neither assembling in Councels, neither writinges, preachings, decrees, makyng of lawes, prescribing of pu∣nishments, hath holpen against Images, to the which I∣dolatry hath bene committed, nor against Idolatry whi∣lest Images stoode. For these blynde bookes and dumme schoolemaisters (which they call lay mens bookes) haue more preuailed by their carued and painted preachyng of Idolatry, then all other written bookes and preachynges in teaching the truth, and that horror of that vice.
Hauing thus declared vnto your highnes a few cau∣ses of many which do mooue our consciences in this mat∣ter, we beseech your highnes most humbly not to strayne vs any further, but to consider that Gods worde doth threaten a terrible iudgement vnto vs, if we being pastors and ministers in his Church, should assent vnto the thing which in our learnyng and conscience wee are perswaded doth tend to the confirmation of errour, superstition and Idolatry, and finally, to the ruine of the soules committed to our charge, for the which we must geue an account to the prince of pastors at the last day, Heb. 13. 1. Pet. 5. Wee pray your maiestie also not to bee offended with this our plainnesse and libertie, which all good and christian prin∣ces haue euer taken in good parte at the handes of godly Bishops.
S. Ambrose writing to Theodosius the Emperour v∣seth these wordes: Sed neque imperiale est libertatem dicendi negare, neque sacerdotale quod sentiat non dicere. Item in cau∣sa verò Dei quem audies, si sacerdotem non audies cuius maiore peccatur periculo, quis tibi verum audebit dicere, si sacerdos non audeat? Epist. lib. 5. Epist. 29. That is to say, But neither is it the part of an Emperour to deny free libertie of spea∣king, nor yet the duety of a priest not to speake what hee thinketh. And agayne, In gods cause whome wilte thou heare, if thou wilt not heare the priest to whose great peril the fault should be committed? Who dare say the truth vn∣to thee, if the priest dare not? These and such like speaches of S. Ambrose, Theodosius and Ualentinianus the Em∣perours did alwayes take in good part, and we doubt not but your grace will do the lyke, of whose not onely clemē∣cie but also beneficense, we haue largely tasted.
We beseech your Maiestie also, in these and such lyke controuersies of religion, to referre the discussement and deciding of them to a Synode of your bishops and other godly learned men, accordyng to the example of Constan∣tinus Maximus, and other christian Emperours, that the reasons of both parts beyng examined by them, the iudge∣ment may be geuen vprightly in all doubtfull matters.
And to returne to this present matter, we most hum∣bly beseech your maiestie to consider, that besides waigh∣tie causes in pollicie which wee leaue to the wisedome of your honourable counsailors the stablishment of Images by your authoritie, shall not onely vtterly disceredite our ministers as builders vp of the thinges which wee haue destroyed, but also blemishe the fame of your most godly father, and such notable fathers as haue geuen their lyfe for the testimony of Gods truth, who by publike lawe re∣mooued all Images.
The almighty and euerliuyng God plentifully endue your maiestie with his spirite and heauenly wisedom, and long preserue your most gracious raigne and prosperous gouernment ouer vs to the aduauncement of his glory, to the ouerthrow of superstition, and to the benefit & com∣fort all your highnes louyng subiects.