¶ Marryage instytuted of God .

IN paradyse our eternall and mercyfull father instytuted maryage , Matrymonye . inmedyatlye after mannys first creacyon , and left yt with hym as an honest , comelye , wholsom , holye , and nedefull remedye agaynst all beastlye abusyons of the fleshe that shuld after happen , and graunted therunto hys eternall blessynge . Increase ( sayth he ) multyplye , and fyll the earthe , Gene. 1. And thys repeted he thryse after that ▪ Gene. 8. ct. 9. to the intent yt myght be groundedlye marked , and wele knowne of men to be hys most ernest ordynaunce . the first relygyon Thys was the first ordre of Relygyon that euer was made , and of must holynesse , yf we dewlye respect the maker therof with the other cyrcumstaunces besydes , preferrynge hys wysdome to mannys wysdome . And for that yt shuld not be reckened a thynge vnaduysedlye done of hym , he loked thervpon agayne amonge all hys other workes , and coude beholde no imperfeccyon therin , but perceyued that yt was of excedynge goodnesse . Yet hath there sens rysen a sort , whiche haue agaynst Gods heauenlye wysdome , Vnmaryed prestes . set their fleshlye folyshnesse , whiche are non other to be reckeued than the verye sede and of sprynge of the serpent . Thoughe these haue knowne that there is a God , yet haue they not gloryfyed hym in faythe and mekenesse , but haue become most vayue in their ymagynacyons . Where as he hath declared marryage excedynglye good , Gods aduersaryes . they haue condempned it as a thynge execrable and wicked . And where as he hath spoken yt by hys owne mouthe , that yt is not good for man to be alone , they haue improued that doctryne and taught the contrarye , as a thynge more perfyght and Godlye .

¶ Marryage contempned of Sathan .

THus Sathan erected hymself agaynst God in that wycked generacyon , whiche beganne first in Cain , Cain . and hath euer sens contynued in that posteryte . For thys presumpcyon God gaue them clerelye ouer , and left them to themselues with all their good intentes and vowes , wherupon they haue wrought sens that tyme fylthynesse vnspekeable . Their chast women , vestals Monyals , Nonnes and Monkes . Nonnes , and Begynes , changynge the naturall vse , haue wrougth vnnaturallye . Lyke wyse the men in their Prelacyes , presthodes , and innumerable kyndes of Monkerye , for want of women hath brent in their lustes , and done abhomynacyons without nombre , so receyuynge in themselues the iust rewarde of their errour . Of these most hellyshe & dyabolyck trutes , holy Saynt Paule admonyshed the Romanes , in the firste chaptre of hys Epystle vnto them , knowynge afore hande that out of their corrupted , Sodomytes . shulde ryse soche a fylthye flocke as shuld worke them euerye where . But neyther of Paule nor yet of Peter haue the fore warnynges away led , but those brockysh boores haue gone frely forewarde without checke tyll now of late dayes , where in God hath geuen vs as more pure syght to beholde their buskelynges .

¶ Marryage of Prestes in both lawes .

TO make manyfest vnto them , what wyues the lorde appoynted by hys seruaunt Moses , Prestes wyues . vnto the leuytycall prestes in the sacred posteryte of Aaron Leuit. zi. et Ezech. 44. yt were but labour lost . Prestes wyues . Eyther to put them in remembraunce that Christ was borne in marryage , though hys mother were alwayes a mayde , and that he left vnto hys Apostles marryage in lyberte euermore yt were in veyne also . For all thys hath God shewed vnto them playnelye , by hys true prophetes in thys lattre age , declarynge the fynall destruecyō of that wretched kyngedome . As by Martyn Luther , Haters of the Pope . Iohan Pomerane , Frances lambert , Oswaldus Myconius , Philpp Melanchton , & soche other ( as ys sayd afore ) but all haue they taken for fables . That lorde sent them one vnto their owne doores , which effectuallye ded hys massage , euen Robert Barnes by name , ●arnes . of whose grounded argumentes they haue not yet dyscharged the leaste , besydes that they haue had from hym by good Wyllyam Turner and George Ioye . And all thys haue they dysdaynouslye laughed to scorne . Consyderynge therfore that no gentyll speche wyll amende them , nor yet sharpe threttenynges call them to repentaunce , The autour . he wyll now cast their owne vyle donge in their faces , that yt shall cleaue fast vpon them , Mala. 2. He wyll throwe in their tethe by thys boke and soch other the styukynge examples of their hypocrytysh lyues , with their calkynges and cloynynges to patche vp that dauberye of the deuyll , their vowed wyuelesse and husbandelesse chastyte .

¶ Englande inhabyted afore Noe and after .

ANd for as moche as the tyttle of thys present treatyse only respecteth Englande , Englande . onlye shall yt treate the vnchast examples of the spirytualte therof , with serten examples of Romysh Popes whiche than wrought their iuggelynge mastryes there . To fetche the matter from the first foundacyon , & so to stretche yt forewarde , I am fullye assertayned by auncyent writynges , that thys lande was with people replenyshed longe afore Noes dayes . Afore Noe. Yea , soche tyme as men were multyplyed vpon the vnyuersall earthe , Gene. 6. As they than had left God appoynted Relygyon , and had taken wayes vnto them after their owne good intentes , soche vnspekable fylthynesse folowed , as brought vpon them the great dylu●ye or vnyuersall flod , which left non alyue , The flood . but drowned them vp as yt ded all other quarters . Thys wytnesseth both Moses and Berosus , the most auncyent writers we reade of . After the seyd flood , was yt agayne inhabyted by the of sprynge of Iapheth the third sonne of Nor. Iapheth For of them ( sayth Moses ) were the Iles of the Gentyles sorted oute into regyons , euerye one after , knowne dyuerse from other , by their languages , kynde redes , & nacyons , Gene. 10. And in the dayes of Phaleg the sonne of Heber , Phaleg was that dyuysyon of Prouynces , lyke as foloweth in the same chapter . Samothes the Brother of Gomer ( whom the Byble calleth Mesech ) restored than agayne thys lande in hys posteryte , Samothes gygas . the prestes therof called Samothei , for so moch as he was the first that fournyshed yt with lawes , as witnesseth Ioannes Annius in commentarijs Berosi .

¶ Albion with hys Samothytes .

AFter thys grewe yt into a name , & was called Albion . Albion gigas . Not ab albis rupibus , as fryre Bartylmew hath fantasyed in hys worke De proprietatibus rerum . Nor yet ab Albiana the kynges dougter of Syria , as Marianus the monke hath dreamed yt . For of latyne wordes coude yt haue no name , before the latyne yt selfe was in vse . And the other without grounded autoryte , apereth a playne fable , as witnesseth both Volateranus and Badius But rather yt shuld seme to be called Albion , ab Albione Gygante , the sonne of Neptunus , Neptunus . whiche was afterwarde slayne of Hercules for stoppynge hys passage at the enteraunce of Rhodanus , as testyfyeth Diodorus Siculus and also Pomponius Mcla. Not onlye bycause the seyd Albion was a gyaunt , lyke as the afore seyd Samothes was afore hym , but also for that hys father Neptunus was than take for the lorde of great God of the see , wherin yt is enclosed . What the chastyte was of the Samothytes or prestes for that age , Samothytes . the Poetes dothe declare at large . Venus was than their great Goddesse , and ruled all in that spirytuall famelye , as she hath done euer sens .

¶ The Samothytes and their chastyte .

THey had in their temples , vestals ( whom now we call Nonnes ) who se offyce was to maynteyne the fyre for perfourmaunce of the sacryfyces , least yt shuld at anye tyme go out . vestals . These were chosen in before they were .xvi. years olde , there remaynyng vnmaryed the space of .xxx. years , and others alwayes by that tyme succeded in their rowmes . Some of these were presbyteresses , as they pleased the spyrituall fathers . And as the lyghtes went out by their neglygence , their ponnyshmentes were to be beaten of the Byshoppes . More ouer yf anye of them chaunced to fall in aduoutery , except they ded yt in the darke with them , chastyte their iudgement was to be buryed in the grounde quycke . Alwayes they went awaye vyrgynes from them ( what so euer was done in the meane season ) & at the .xxx. years ende , they were in lyberte to marrye yf they wolde . Thys testyfyeth Hermanus Torrentinus , and Iohannes Textor , Tyranny now . with other autours . Yet was not thys abhomynable superstyeyon so tyrannouslye handeled amonge them than , as yt hath bene sens a monge their successours the papystes , whom by their cruell conceyons ( syned they neuer so longe ) they sent at the last to hell with a conscyence adust , were not the lorde more mercyfull .

¶ Brute with hys Druydes .

IN processe of tyme , gote Brutus Syluius brutus syluius . thys lande of the Albyons by conquest , in the .xviij. yeare of Heli the hygh prest of the Israelytes , lyke as Aeneas ded Italye , and other great aduentourers their regyons . And of hym was yt called Brytayne , and the people therof Brytaynes . After he had fournyshed yt with newe regymentes and lawes , there entered in a newe fashyoned sort of prestes , all dyuerse from the other , and they were called Druydes . Druydes . These dwelt in the forestes lyke heremytes and procureth both publyque and pryuate sacryfyces to be done . To them was yt alwayes put , to dys usse all matters of relygyon , to appoynt therunto the ceremonyes , to brynge vp youthe in naturall dyscyplyne , & to ende all controuersyes ▪ Plinius , Strabo , Cornelius Tacitus , Caius Iulius , and other approued autours , report than to haue their first orygynall in thys lande , but that apereth not true . Rather shuld they seme to come first hyther from Athens , Athens a most famouse cytie of the Grekes . Iohan Hardynge reporteth in hys Chronycle , that kynge Bladud brought them first frome thens , allegynge there Merlyne for hys autour .

¶ The Druydes and their chastyte .

What their rule was conceruynge women , we shall not nede to seke farder than to the .vi. chaptre of Baruch , and the .xiiij. chaptre of Daniel in the Byble . whores Baruch sayth there , that their custome was to decke their whores with the Iewels and ornamentes of their Idolles . Daniel sayth , that they with them deuoured vp the daylye offerynges and sacryfyces of Bel. Yet Hector Boethius writeth in the seconde boke of hys Scottysh Chronycle , that there were some amonge them , one god whiche taught one euerlastynge God alone to be worshypped , without Image made or other symylytude els . Neyther allowed they them ( sayth he ) that applyed vnto their Goddes the symylytudes of beastes after the Egyptyanes maner ( as the Papystes do yet to thys daye Saynt Marke to a Lyon , beastes worshypped Saynt Luke to a calfe , and Saynt Iohan to an egle , besyde Saynt Antonyes pygge , Saynt Georges colte , and Saynte Dunstanes deuyll ) but greatlye reproued them . Neuerthelesse yet were they great teachers of sorcerye . For as testyfyeth Iohan Textor in hys offycynes , so expert were the Brytaynes in art magyck in the dayes of plynye , that in a maner they passed the Parthyanes , whiche were the first masters therof .

¶ Prestes marryed and vnmarryed .

NOw as concernynge the prestes of the Hebrues or Israelytes for all these ages ( whiche were the peculyar flocke of God ) they had all wyues that were ryghtuouse amonge them , Prestes maryed accordynge to the Relygyon that he first appoynted them . Not , Melchisedech , Abraham , Moyses , Aaron , Phinees , Samuel , Nathan , Zorobabel , Iesus , Esdras , Mathathias , & soche other , were all marryed men and had chyldren . The Scripturs report that these men were beloued with God , and that ' in holynesse non were euer founde lyke vnto them . But neyther was that for their vowes nor yet for their good intentes , Eccli . 44. and so fourth .vi. chapters more . If anye were chast vowers that tyme the .ij. Votaryes . prestes that lusted after Susanna , were of them , Daniel . 13. So were the wanton sonnes of Heli and Samuel , 1. Reg. 2. & 1. Reg. 8. with soche other lyke . Which were afore God verye reprobates , for despysynge hys ordre , as we le in that as in other thynges . Of soche chast vowers were there some , at the verye tyme whan Christ was borne , both relygyouse prestes and leuytes , which were most hygh lye taken amonge them . These thynkynge marryage vnholye , abstayned from the vse of women , but they spared not to worke execrable fylthynesse amonge them selues , Zacharye marryed . and one to polute an other . Zacharye a marryed prest , and father of holye Iohan Baptyst , a man for hys marryage founde iust afore God , reprehended that abhomynacyon in them , & was cruellye slayne for yt , as testyfyeth Epiphanius li. 1. To. 2. De heresibus . He was put vnto deathe ( sayth Philip Melanchton vpon the .xi. chaptre of Daniel ) for rebukynge the vyces of hys college .

¶ Christ alloweth marryage in hys .

IEsus Christ the eternall sonne of God , neuer contempned the firste ordynaunce of hys euerlastynge father , but had yt insuche reuerence , that he wolde not be borne but vndre yt . He found his worthy mother Mary no professed Nonne , Marye a wyfe . as the dottynge papystes haue dreamed , to couer their sodometrye with a most precyouse coloure , but an honest mannys wyfe , marryed accordynge to the custome than vsed , Matt. 1. and Luce 1. In her so marryed without eyther vowe or promes of virgynyte , No nonne . by the holye Ghostes most wonderfull workynge was he incarnated and so became man , to redeme vs from the captyuyte of synne , and restore vs agayne to the full fauer of hys father . He honoured marryage with the fyrst myracle that he outwardlye wrought in our manhode , and called vnto hys Apostleship , not wyuelesse vowers , but marryed men . Ioan , 1. & Mar et . 1. Peter maryed He went verye gentyllye vnto peters howse , and healed hys wyues mother which laye there syeke of a feuer , takynge hys repast there , tarryenge with them all the nyght , and doynge great cures there also . And at hys departure in the mornynge , he neyther commaunded Peter to breake vp howsholde , nor yet to forsake hys wyfe and make her a vowesse . Marci . 1. Luce. 4. Math. 8. He neuer commaunded , No vowes commaunded nor yet exacted the vowe of vyrgynyte in all hys whole Gospell , but left all men in lyberte to marrye yf they lyst , forbyddynge al men fyrmelye , to make anye lawe of coaccyon or of separacyon , where God hath sett fredome in marryage . Math. 19. Marci . 10. No forsakynge of wyfe and chyldren admytted he euer , but as the vnmoueable & constaunt standynge by hys worde requyreth yt , in them that he hath appoynted to suffre deathe vndre the worldes tyrannye for yt .

The Apostles & fyrst preachers marryed

PEters wyfe went with hym in the tyme of his preaching . Peters wyfe . 1. Cori. 9. and was put to deathe at Antioche for confessinge Iesus Christ , as wytnesseth Clemens Alexandrinus in .7 . li. Stromatum , and Eusebius Caesariensis li. iij. Ca. 30 Ecclesiastice historie . Paule left hys wyfe at Philippos , Paule marryed . a cytie of the Macedoneanes , by consent of them both . Phil 4. & 1. Cor. 7. For thys onlye cause ( sayth both Clemens and Eusebius ) that he myght the more easelye therby and with the lesse comberaunce , preache the Gospell abrode . Isidorus híspalēsis in hys boke De ortu & obitu sanctorum patrum , and Freculphus lexouiensis in the seconde boke and fort chaptre of hys Chronycles , reporteth both , that Philip the Apostle preached in fraunce to the verye extent of the Occeane see , Phylpp marryed . and was afterwarde done vnto deathe in hierepoli a cytie of the Phrygiaues , and at the last honorablye buryed there with his doughters . By whose occasyon this real me than called Brytayne was conuerted vnto the Christen beleue For in the yeare from Christes incarnacyon Ioseph of Arimathe . An. do . 63 lxiij . was Ioseph of Arimathe and other dyscyples sent ouer of the seyd Philip to preache Christ , and entered both with their wyues and chyldren , Armagus than beynge Kynge of the lande . This testyfyeth Iohan Capgraue in Catologo sanctorum Anglie , Thomas scrope de anti. carm. Scrope ca , 7. Iohan Hardyng in hys . 47. chaptre , and Polidorus uergilius . li. z. Anglice historie .

Brytayne first conuerted by men maryed .

THese were surelye the orygynall begynnynges ( sayth Polidorus of the Christen Relygyon in Brytayne . Gildas witnessyth also , in his fyrst treatyse De excidio Britannie . That the Brytaynes toke the christen faythe at the verye sprynge or fyrst goynge forth of the Gospell , gospell . whan the churche was most perfyght , and had most strengthe of the holye ghost . All that tyme and a longe season after , the mynysters helde their wyues , accordyng to the fyrst ordre of God , without , vowynge or yet professinge of vyrgynyte , and so contynued to the dayes of Lucius , which ys called in the Chronycles the first Christen Kynge . Kynge . Though thys Lucius were a good man , Lucius . and began wele to inclyne to the Gospell , yet was he worldlye mynded , and thought that yt wanted dewe auctoryte so longe as yt was mynystred but of symple and poore laye marryed men . Anon therfor he sent vnto Rome .ij. Rome . of those minysters called Eluanus and Meduinus vnto Eleutherius the Byshop ( for they had than no pope ) to haue some autoryte from thens . And thys was done in the yeare of our Lorde . L. lxxix . Anno domini 179. Wherupon Marcus Sabellicus sayth , Enneade . 7. li. 5. That of all provynces Brytayne was the fyrst that receyued the Christen fay the with publique ordynaunce .

¶ Christyanyte somwhat corrupted .

THan Eleutherius sent hyther .ij. of hys doctors , called fugacius and Damyanus , to set here an ordre . These fyrst baptysed lucius with a great part of hys nobylyte and commons , and than with hys consent changed the Idols temples into christen churches ( as they no we all them ) the flamynes or Idoll sacryfycers , Churches . which were than .xxviij. in nombre , into so manye byshoppes , and the .iij. archyflamynes into .iii. archebyshoppes , as wytnessyth Galfridus Monemthensis in hys seconde boke . Autours De origine & gestis Britonum . cap. i. Alphredus Beuerlacensis in hys Chronycle , Vincencius , Antoninus , Nauclerus , Bergomas , Polidorus , and a great sort more . Thys chrystianyte endured in Brytayne , Chrystianyte the space of . CC. and .xvi. years , vnto the persecucyon of Dyoclesyane , sayth Ranulphus in Polichronico . li. 4. Ca. 16 , Vpon thys toke the Rome churche first occasyon , Dyoce●ses paryshes . to deuyde the christen prouynces into dyoceses and parryshes . Marke wele these fyrst buyldynges of Antichrist , or of Nemroth the yongar , and consydre out of what good stuffe they ryse without Gods worde . All this haue I written hytherto , not as matters correspondynge to the tyttle of my boke , but that their spirytuall frutes maye apere what they are , euen from the verye rootes .

¶ The first sprynge of monkerye in Brytayne .

AS this newe chrystiantye from Rome , had gotten here of the Paganes both temples and possessyons , Temples and were wele fauerdlye satled ( their byshoppes and prestes perchaunce beynge the same mynysters that had serued the Idolles in them afore ) anon after there arose out of yt a serten kynde of monkerye , Mōkerye . not in apparell , but in aperaunce of a more sober lyfe . These within a whyle semed better lerned than the other , and more depelye fell into the peoples estymacyon . Wherupon arose sone after great stryfe and vnquyetnesse amonge them , Heresyeu . and out of that stryfe most detestable he resye●… . For one of them called pelagius , Pelagius . beynge of the great monasterye of Bencornaburch in Chestre shyre ( though so me call yt Bangor ) began to dyspute with them for the strenghte of mannys fre will , and sayd that man myght be saued therby , frewyll without the grace of God , so deuyenge the effect of Christes blood , as hys folowers are not ashamed to do yet to this daye . Agaynst this heretyke pelagius , wrote Saynt Augustyn , Saynt Hierom , Cyrillus , Orosius , Innocencius , Gennadius , and at the last Thomas Braduuardin a doctour here in Englande , with dyuerse other .

¶ Heresye in Brytayne aryseth of monkerye .

YEt came there in no vowynge of chastite all this tyme , neyther was vyrgynyte thought anye holyar amonge them than marryage . For one Seuerus beynge both a monke , Seuerus prest , and byshop , had a sonne there called leporius a monke also and a prest , Leporius which vexed the lande with that lernynge taught of hys father , in the yeare of our Lord . CCCC xxxij . 432 as wytnessyth both Prosper Aquitannus , and also Flores historiarum . Thys leporius made hys boast , that he was able to lyue purelye of hym selfe , and by force of hys owne fre wyll , without the assistence of God , as reporteth of hym , Gennadius Massiliensis , Antors Honorius Augustudunensis , & Ioannes Tritemius , in suis illustrium uirorum Catalogis , and now last of all , Conradus Gesnerus in uniuersali bibliotheca .. Of the same sort was there an other called Agricola , Agricola . a prestes sonne also , which in the yeare of our Lorde . CCCC . xivi . trobled the Brytaynes with the same doctrine , 446. as flores historiarum sheweth . The errours of both these were at the same tyme confuted by Germanus and Lupus with other frenche doctours , which came thydre than for the same purpose , specyallye of Saynt Augustine in Affrica .

¶ A prestes sonne was Saynt Partrick .

SAynt Partrick the great Apostle of Irelande , Partrick was borne here in this Brytayne aboute the yeare of our Lorde . CCC.lxi . and had a prest to hys father called Calphurnius , 361. which was also a deacons sonne that was named Fodunus . His mothers name hyght Conches , and was holye Saynt Martynes systre . Martinus . Thus testyfyeth Ranulphus Cestrensis in Polychronico , li. 4 , ca. 29. and Iohan Capgraue in Catologo sanctorum Anglie . If this had bene fowle playe in those dayes , Saynt Martyne wolde neuer so pacyentlye haue suffered yt . For we reade that he was verye tendre vnto the seyd Partrick , Patricius . after that his fryndes had sent hym thydre , and taught hym manye Godly thyngs . What rule this partrick kepte in that behalf , I haue not redde . Yet fynde I in hys lyfe wrytten , that he had a ladde waytynge on hym called Benignus , Benignus . which alwayes reported hym , to be his owne propre father , he neuer deuynege yt . I reade also that one Moduenna an Iryshe woman was verye famylyar with hym , whether yt were by the waye of marryage or no , that can I not tell . Ex ante nominatis autoribus .

¶ Sayntes were begotten in whordome .

TO entre more depelye into the peoples oppnyon , Chastyte . a chastyte was pretensed anon after in that mōkerye , Modwenna . but not yet solempnelye vowed , & in manye places of the realme were monasteryes buylded both of men and women , But marke what folowed therof immedyatlye after . Christ chaunced in those dayes to haue many bretherne . For manye virgynes had than children with our fathers , at the least the fathers of them were neuer yet knowne .

Saynt Dubrice that was after warde the great archebyshop of Cairlegyon and metropolytane of all the lande , Dubritius . had a mayde to hys mother , called Eurdila , but neuer wolde she confesse hym to haue any father . Kentigernus . Saynt Kentigerne byshop of glasghu ) that ye now call Saynt Asses or Asaphes ( had in lyke case a fayre mayde to hys forth bryngar , but father wolde she graunt non to hym , for no compulsyon . merlinus Merlyne also the great soth sayer of wales , was an holy Nonnes sonne in saynt Peters of Cairmardyne , no father yet knowne to hym but a sprete of the ayre . The first .ij. sheweth Iohan capgraue in Catal sanc . Ang. And this lattre wondre ys mencyoued of all famouse writers . A great sort of the hystoryes roude I reherse , but these are ynough at thys tyme .

¶ Lyke examples are amonge the Turkes .

SOche an other knauerye ys vsed amonge the Turkes relygyouse buggerers to this present daye , Turkes and those chyldren that are begotten amonge them , are holden for most holye sayntes , as these were . They take it for no maruele that Christ was borne of a vyrgyne , for ( they saye ) they haue soche amonge them at all tymes . But to turne agayne to my purpose . The cause whye the fathers of the afore seyd chyldren myght not than be knowne , was thys , Iohan capgraue sayth . A awe The lawe was that tyme in Brytayne , that yf a yonge wenche had be begotten with chylde in her fathers howse , or anye where els● , this was her iudgement . Iudgement . She shuld haue bene brought vnto an hygh mountayne , and there throune downe headlonges , her corruptour beynge byheaded . Yf this lawe had styll contynued , and neuer so bene put to the spirytuall courte without conseyence , neuer had the vowe of their chastite ronne so farre as yt hath done , to manye a thousandes dempnacyon .