Waxe, Water, Oyle, Salte, Incence, the Aulter stone, and about the Churche walles, ouer the Vestiment, Chalice, Miter, Crosse, and Pilgrimstaues, are the very practises of Nigromancy, rather then of sacred diuinity.MarginaliaThe exorcismes and blessinges of Priestes. This conclusion is thus prooued, because þ^t by suche exorcismes, the creatures are honored to be of more force & power then by their owne proper nature, for we do not see any alteration, or chaunge in any creature so exorcised, except it be by false faith which is the principall poynt of deuilish art. The corolarie of this is, that if the booke of exorcisation or coniuring of holy water which is sprinkled in the Church, were altogether faithfull and true: we thinke certainly that holy water vsed in the Churche, were the best medicine for all kinde of sicknesse and sores, Cuius contrarium experimur. i. the contrary wherof daily experience doth teach vs.

MarginaliaThe difference betwene the ecclesiastical & politike estate.The sixt conclusion which mainteineth much pride, is, that a king and Bishop both in one person, a Prelate and iustice in temporall causes, a Curate an Officer in worldly office, doth make euery kingdome out of good order. This conclusion is manifest, because the temporalty and the spirituality, are two parts of the holy vniuersal Church, and therfore he which addicteth himselfe to the one part, let hym not intermeddle wyth the other, Quia nemo potest duobus Dominis seruire, wherfore to be called Amphroditæ, whyche are men of both kindes or Ambidextri, which is such as can play with both handes, were good names for suche men of double estates. The Corolary of thys conclusion is, that therupon we the procuratours of God in this case, doe sue vnto the Parliament: that it may be enacted, that all suche as be of the clergie (as well of the highest degree as of the lowest) shuld be fully excused, and occupy themselues with their owne cure and charge, and not wyth others.

MarginaliaThe foundation of Masses for the dead.The seuenth conclusion that wee mightely affirme is, that spirituall prayers made in the church for the soules of the deade (preferring any one man by name, more then an other) is a false foundation of almes, whereuppon all the houses of almes in England are falsly founded. This conclusion is prooued by two reasons: The one is, that a meritorious praier (of any force or effect) ought to be a worke proceeding from meere charity: and perfect charity accepteth no person, because thou shalt loue thy neighbor as thy self. Wherby it appeareth, that the benefit of any temporall gift bestowed & geuen vnto priestes and houses of almes, is the principall cause of any speciall prayers, the which is not farre different from simonie. The other reason is, that euery speciall prayer made for men condemned to eternall punishment, is very displeasant before God. And albeit it be doubtful, yet is it very likely vnto the faithfull Christian people, that the founders of euery suche house of almes for their wicked endowing of the same, are for þ^e most part passed by the broad way. The corolary is, that euery praier of force and effect proceeding of perfect charitie, woulde comprehend generally all such, whom God wold haue saued, and to liue. The marchaundise of special praiers now vsed for the dead, maketh mendicant possessioners & other hierling priestes, which otherwise were strong enough to worke & to serue the whole realme: And maintaineth the same in idlenesse, to the great charge of the realme, because it was prooued in a certaine booke which þ^e king hath, that a hundreth houses of almes, MarginaliaA hundred houses of almes sufficient for England. are sufficient for the whole realme. And thereby might peraduenture greater increase and profite come vnto the temporalitie.

MarginaliaPilgrimages & oblations.The 8. conclusion needefull to tel the people beguiled, is, that pilgrimages, praiers, and oblations made vnto blinde crosses or roodes, or to deafe images made eyther of woode or stone: are very neare of kinde vnto Idolatry, and farre different frō almes. And albeit that these thyngs which are forbidden and imagined, are the booke of errour vnto the common people: notwithstanding, the vsual and common image of the Trinity is most especially abhominable.MarginaliaThe Image of the Trinitie an abhominable thing. This conclusion God himselfe doeth openly manyfest, commaunding almes to be geuen to the poore & needy man, for he is the image of God in more perfite similitude and likenesse then any blocke or stone.MarginaliaA poore man the perfect Image of God. For God did not say, let vs make a blocke or stone vnto our likenes and image, but let vs make man, for so muche as the supreme & highest honour which þ^e clergy calleth Latria, pertaineth only to the Godhead, & the inferior honour which clergy call Dulia,MarginaliaLatria. Dulia. pertaineth vnto men and angels, and to none other inferior creature. The corolarie is, þ^t the seruice of þ^e crosse celebrate twise euery yere in our church, is ful of idolatry: For if roode, tree, nailes, and speare, ought so profoundly to be honoured and worshipped, MarginaliaIvdas lippes.then were Iudas lippes (if any man could get them) a marueilous goodly relique. But thou Pilgrime, we pray thee tell vs, when thou doest offer to the bones of the Saintes and holy men whych are layd vp in any place: whether dost thou relieue therby the holy man which is already in ioy, or that almes house that is so well endowed, whereas they are canonised (the Lord knoweth howe) and to speake more plaine, euery faithfull Christian may well iudge and suppose, that the strokes of that same man, whom they call s. Thomas, were no cause of Martyrdome, not yet be.

MarginaliaAuricular confession. Confession the minister of lust.The 9. conclusion that keepeth the people low, is, that auricular confession which is said to be so necessary for saluation, & the fained power of absolution: exalteth and setteth vp the pride of priests, and geueth them opportunity of other secrete talkes, which we will not at thys time talke of, for so much as both Lordes and Ladies doe witnes that for feare of their confessors, they dare not speake the truth: and in time of confession is good opportunitie ministred, of wooing, or to play the baudes, or to make other secret conuentions to deadly sinne. They affirme and say, that they are commissaries sent of God to iudge & discerne of al maner sinne, to pardone and clense what so euer please them. MarginaliaThe impudent boldnes of Priestes.They say also, that they haue the keyes of heauen and hell, & that they can excommunicate, curse and blesse, binde and loose, at theyr owne will and pleasure: in so muche, that for a small rewarde, or for 12. d. they will sell the blessyng of heauen by charter and clause of warrantes sealed by theyr commō seale. This conclusion is so common in vse, that it nedeth not any probation. MarginaliaThe pope treasurer of the Church, in steede of treasure layeth vp coales.The corolarie hereof is, that the Pope of Rome whych fained himselfe to be the profounde treasurer of the whole Church, hauing that same woorthy iewell which is the treasure of the passion of Christ in hys owne keping and custody, together with the merites of all the saintes in heauen, wherby he geueth fained indulgences and pardons a pœna & culpa: Hee is a treasurer almost banished out of chariti, wherby he may deliuer al captiues being in purgatory at hys pleasure, and make them not to come there. But heere euery faithfull Christian may easily perceiue that there is much falshode hid in our church.

MarginaliaHow war is lawfull, the proofe by experience,The 10. that manslaughter (either by warre or by any pretensed law of iustice, for any temporall cause, or spirituall reuelation) is expresly contrary vnto the newe Testamēt, which is the law of grace, full of mercy. This conclusion is euidently proued by the examples of the preachyng of Christ heere in earth, who chiefly teacheth euery man to loue his enemies, and haue compassiō vpon them, and not to kill and murther them. The reason is this, that for the most part when as men do fight, after the first stroke, charity is broken: and whosoeuer dieth without charity, goth the right way to hell. And beside that, we doe well vnderstand & know that none of the clergy, neither by any other lawfull reason, can deliuer any man from the punishment of death, for one deadly sinne, and not for an other: but the law of mercy which is the new Testament, forbiddeth all maner of murther. For in the Gospell it is spoken vnto our forefathers, thou shalt not kil. The corolary is: It is a very robbing of the people, when Lordes purchase indulgences and pardons a pœna & culpa, vnto such as do helpe their armies to kil and murther the christian people in foreine countreys for temporall gaine, as we do see certaine souldiors which do runne amongst the Heathen people to get themselues fame & renowme by the murther & slaughter of men. Much more doe they deserue euil thanks at the hands of the king of peace, for so much as by humility and peace, our faith is multiplied & increased: for murtherers and manquellers, Christ doeth hate and manaseth: he that striketh with the sword, shall perish with the sword.

The 11. conclusion is, whyche is shame to tell: that the vow of chastity made in our church by women whych are fraile and vnperfite in nature, is the cause of brynging in many great and horrible offences and vices, incident vnto the nature of man.MarginaliaNunnes & wydowes which vow single lyfe. For albeit, the murther of their children borne before their time, and before they are christened, and þ^e destruction of their nature by medicine, are filthy & foule sinnes: yet they accompanying amongest themselues, or with vnreasonable beastes, or with any creature not hauing life, doe passe to such an vnseemelinesse, that they are punished by infernal torments. The corolarie is, that widowes & such as take the mantell and the ring delitiously fed, we would that they were maried, because that we can not excuse them from priuate offence of sinne.

The 12. that the multitude of artes not necessary (vsed in this our Church) causeth much sinne & offence in waste, curiosity, and disguising in curious apparell: experience & reason partly doth shewe the same, for so muche as nature with a few artes, is sufficient for mans vse and necessity.

This is the whole tenor of our ambassade which Christ hath commanded vs to prosecute at this time, most fit and conuenient for many causes. And albeit that these matters be heere briefly noted and touched: yet notwithstandyng, they are more at large declared in another boke with many