The image of bothe churches. Hierusalem and Babel vnitie and confusion. Obedienc [sic] and sedition. By, P. D. M.

TITVLVS SECVNDVS.

HItherto Schisme raigned; but the se∣cond plague, was the ruine and wrach of the Church for the authoritie and na∣me of king Edward was vsed, to break down, and forciblie subuert the vvhole Church of England. but see how craftie a statesman the Deuel is: though the way to Anarchie and confusion was layd leuel by king Henrie, (who was onelie fitt for such a work, in regard of his greatenes, and crewell imperiousnes:) yet he lett religion stand a while longer, knowing well that all could not be effected at once; but as he se∣duceth Sowles, so states by degrees: and being also confident, that the forts of pietie and religion being razed, and the Church being brought vnder a laye supreme head; he might by a second hand easilie ouer∣throw religion it self.

King Henrie at his Deathe, appointed by his will sixtean Executors, who during the minoritie of his sonne, should be his aydors and counsellors, for the better go∣uerning the realme. Emong whome One, and who mayd hym self the Principal, was the lord Edvvard Seamor Earl of Hart∣ford

(who took vpon hym, being the kings vncle, to be protector:) and that was as good as a dispensation (as he took it) for his executor ship, and lifted hym too ma∣nie degrees higher then his fellowes, which king Henrie neuer intended, that he might ouer-rule the rest, by his title, and supere∣minencie. One of the first things of impor∣tance, he contriued and compassed, vvas innouation, and the establishing of a new religion: not so much for deuotion, as by∣caus he knew that nothing could quench his thirst so vvel as a chainge, and bring the game he hunted after into the toyles. and hearof Cranmor, was a principal wor∣ker, (tho he was but a few moneths before, of king Henries religion, and a patrone of the six articles.) The better, both to per∣swade the people, and geue harting and strenth to ther sect: Peter Martyr, and Bucer vvear sent for ovvt of Germanie, (vpon whose fame, and learning, as vpon tvvo great Arches, they might build and raise ther Churche (tho) bothe wear Apo∣states.

By Cranmor, Ridlie, Lattimor, and the∣se two Rabbins, was the new Liturgie framed, and the old banished; these wear the authors of the first Alteration of reli∣gion, (which so manie hundred yeares,

had bean heare professed and continued vvith all dew reuerence.) So povvrefull was the Protector, (by vsing the king na∣me, a child then but of 9. years old) but he was well seconded, by the Duke of Nor∣thumberland, the Admirall, and the Mar∣ques of Nortampton (all affected, or sea∣ming affected, to the chaing of religion:) who over-ruled all, that mayd anie show of opposition, or dislike of ther procea∣dings. Which was verrie strainge conside∣ring, there wear so manie vvise and emi∣nent men, who had aequal authoritie with them both, as Counsellors and executors: and vvear most different in religion from them, as the lord Priuie seale, the lord Saint Iohn of Basing, Bushop Tonstal, Syr An∣tonie Brovvn, and (thewise sectetarie,) Syr W. Paget: and speciallie that noble Chan∣celour, (the lord Writheoslie, a man of ex∣perienc, knowledg, and prudenc, and a di∣rector and pattern to his posteritie, to be preferred before anie new guides.) but to content and please hym, he vvas created Earl of Sowth-Hampton; yet neither wonn so, nor contented, nor safe.

All things afterward grew to confusion, ther remained no face, and skarse the na∣me of Catholick Church in England. and tho ther wear great multitudes of men well

affected to the ould religion, and discon∣tented, that the Church was driuen into the wildernes, and forced to lurk in cor∣ners: yet ded they show loyaltie, humilitie, and peace, and ded not taik armes and di∣sobey that shadow of the king.

But what mooued the realme, how wear men inchanted to embrace this religion, and applawd the authors of it? Noueltie euer pleaseth daintie stomachs, and auarice is no small temptation. at Syracusa, Dyoni∣sius the tyrant comming into the temple of Apollo, (full of sumptuous and goodlie ornaments:) and seing Aesculapius appare∣led with clothe of hould, and full of Iewels, hauing a long whyte siluer beard: and Apollo (the father,) carued, with a floo∣rishing yowthful gould beard, and a playne cote of siluer▪ he gaue order, to shaue both Apollo and Aesculapius. for it was inde∣corum, that the sonn should haue a graye, and his father a read beard; and also vnde∣cent, that a Phisicion should wear so rich a cote: so he ded not like that Apollo, should be drawen so gawdilie, and like a Barbaros∣sa: and a grauer gown (he sayd) would be∣come a God better, (for gould and Iewels wear fitter for Princes then gods, fitter for pomp then perfection.

The Duke of Sommerset ded rightlie

imitate Dionisius. for seing the Church rich, remembring the exampl of his old maister, and hauinng taisted at Aumesburie hovv svveat a Morsell a Priorie is: he thought it not decorum, to see the Cleargie so rich, there wealth was not suitable to ther cal∣ling: ther lands vvear giuen to noorish de∣uotion, not to choke it: to stirr men vp to prayer, not to ease and luxurie; and therfor he would shaue and share with them.

Tvvo Bushops hovvses he took in the Strand, which serued hym vvel to build Sommerset hovvse for Quene Ann.

He procured an act, whearby all Col∣ledges, Chantries, free Chappels, Hospi∣tals and fraternities, wear suppressed, and giuen to the king. and how greadilie he in∣truded into the Bushop of bathe and wells his hovvses and mannors: that Churche can never forget. (and yet Bushop Bourn by his industrie recouered some again; but no∣thing to the Spoyles. a poor releaf, rather to fead then to fatt a Bushop.)

Yet was he not satisfied. for shortlie af ther, contrarie to all law, against king Hen∣ries vvill, and against his own couenants (when he was mayd protector) he commit∣ted to the tovvr, the Lord Chancelor: he deposed Busbop Tonstal both from the Counsel, and his bushoprick (as too sta∣telie

a Seigniorie for a man of religion, and too daintie a bitt to be swallowed by the Churche:) therfor he dissolued yt and brought it within the survey of the exchec∣kor, and he never prospered after. It was directlie against the law. 1. Edvv. 3. cap. 2. that the lands of Bushops should be seazed into the kings hands: and that his father by the aduise of euel counsellors commanded them to be seazed withowt cawse, but hea∣rafter it should not be so.

Yet hear he set not downe his staff. he committed Gardiner the Bushop of Win∣chester: and after depriued hym. He dis∣solued Stoke Colledg: fleaced all Cathe∣drall Churches, and committed infinite sa∣criledge (vvherto the Nonage of the king gaue opportunitie.) Neither ded he hunt after his praye, onelie emong the Churche liuing: for yf yovv look in the Parliamant rolls, of that tyme, yovv shall fynd that (with a wolfs stomach) he ded seak to de∣uowre, that most ancient and honorable Earldome of Oxford.

In all this glorie; he was cut of for his sin∣nes; and arraigned and executed for acting so grosslie, the part of a Protector. And though he was badd enoug, an other suc∣ceaded much worse.

For novv begon the tree of Dudlie, to

spread owt his brainches vvith glorie (vvho could not be, except he vvear great:) novv vvas the tyme for his common vvelth to floorish. and bycause he vvould not seam to doe anie thing, but by Iustice: he be∣gonn 1549. to vvrastl with Sommerset, till he gaue hym a fall.

First he proclamed hym to be a man, that subuerted all lavves; and that he bro∣ke the orders of H. 8. appointed for his sonns good: that he keapt a Cabbienet counsell, and litl esteamed the aduise of his fellowes: that he took vpon hym to be protector, expresslie vpon conditions, to doe nothing in the kings affayres withovvt consent of the executors.

And vpon these and such like accusa∣tions, God stirred one of these reformers, to vvrack an other. Novv as that shovved his iustice: so to seame religious, he cavv∣sed the book of common prayer, 1552. to be first published; for that religion he knew vvould best serue his turn, (vvho vvas all readie novv farr engaged in the plat to ad∣uanc his ovvn hovvse, by the ruine of his maisters.) and by that coolor, he discerned that he might best vvinn the Duke of suff. to hym.

And bycaus he supposed, the Lord Threasorer, vvas not vnlike to cross hym:

he took order at the counsel table (vvhear he vsed to leaue his spectacles, yf he vvear soodainlie cald for vp to the king) to maik the same before his return, be so svveatlie anoynted and perfumed, that therby he lost his nose, and skaped nearlie vvith his lyfe, (and yet he liued to requite hym.) and for his better strenth vvhile king E∣dvvard vvas sick, as yf all had bean fixed in a sphear to mooue vvith hym, he cavv∣sed at Durham hovvse his sonn to be mar∣ried to ladie Iane: the Earle of Pembrocks sonn to the ladie Katharin: and the Earl of Huntingtons sonn, to his ovvn daughter. and all vpon one daye, all to serue for one end: and to maik it impossible for anie to bayt the beare, hearafter. Then vvas king Edward mayd away, by his means: and that potticarie who poysond hym, for the horror of the offenc, and disquietnes of his conscienc, drowned hym self. and the landres that washed his shirt, lost the skinn of her fingers. ther be some yet liuing in the court that haue sean weaping eyes for it.

Yet was all so ouer shadowed with the name of religion; that not manie could discern the impietie. yf yow would see the oration, he mayd to the Lords (when he was to depart from the towr to go, towards Cambredg, and proplayme his daugther in

law Quene:) yow shall see how Raignard had gotten on a minister cloke, and mayd that is cawse, which he was furthest from.

Now consider thre things 1. for the men: vvear not they both, fitt instruments to en∣crease pietie and vertue, and to reforme a Church? vvear not rhey like men, to haue bean chosen by the spirit of God, for so godlie ends? and like to be labourers in the haruest of Christ? wear ther pietie, zeale, and charitie such, as became them vvell, and vvear suitable to reformers, to Iosias, and Ezechias? No, nisi hominus edificauerit ciuitatem; they labor in vayne: he will ge∣ue them a fall, whear they purposed to taike ther rising. 2. For ther ends, both of them concurred in chainging religion; both of them lost ther heads; one of them vvas a butcher to an other: and both vn∣ded ther ovvn famililies, and hazarded ther frends. but for Dudlie as he ded ruine the king, so he endaingered the whole realme: and yet his end was a demonstration to the world, that all his ayme vvas ambition, and not religion (for either he dyed a Ca∣tholick, or certanly an Atheist.)

And as his ambition, so Sommersets aua∣rice, was not withowt his plagues. for his weakenes was ouer maistered by a wyfe: his eldest sonn, was disinherited: he

executed his own brother: he liued to see the loss of bullen, the crown and the realm ingaged in debts and vvants; confusion and commotions vvithin the realme, (by ther ill government,) and contempt withovvt. 3. Novv consider te patienc of the Preasts and Prelates, vnder these Cormorants: they suffred all withowt resisting, or re∣belling: and neuer prouoked the nobilitie to taik armes, hauing bean bredd in the school of vertue, to bear ther crosses with patienc; and to affect rather the glorie of a Martyr, then the svvord and fortune of a conqueror. And so I leaue them, till hea∣rafter.

Notes

• K. Evv. 6.