The Apology of Iohan Bale agaynste a ranke Papyst , aunswering both hym and hys doctours , that neyther their vowes nor yet their priesthode are of the Gospell , but of Antichrist . Anno Do. M. CCCCC . L.

☞ A brefe exposycyon also vpon the .xxx Chaptre of Numeri , which was the first occasion of thys present varyaunce .

☞ Cum Priuilegio ad imprimendum solum .

LONGE was it ( moste worthy and excellent Prynce ) ere the diuine maieste wold fullie condescende , that Israell shuld haue a Kynge A kinge . to raygne ouer them , as had the foreyn nacions , consydering that he had bene of so longe time theyr hygh gouernour , leader , & defender . i . Regum . viii . But when it was ones determinatly graunted them , what was more earnestly requyred of God in that magnifycent mynystracyon , then were the necessary affayres of relygion ? Dauid . How diligent was kynge Dauid in nombrynge the Leuytes , in assygnyng their offyces , and in appoynting the sacryfysers , syngers , seruitours , porters , and other mynisters , in theyr places , lottes , and courses . i. Para. xxiii . How studiouse was kyng Salomon Salomon . in buildinge the house of the Lorde . iii. Reg. vi . and in disposyng the priestes , leuytes , queresters , & dore kepers , accordinge to the ordre that hys father Dauid had set . Abia. ii . Para● . viii . Kynge Abia strongelye warred vpon Israell whyche had than rebelled agaynst the Lorde , because they had reiected the priesthode of Aaron , for a wycked priesthode of the ydolatrouse nacions , to do them seruice in a counterfett and false relygyon , whyche were no goddes but ydolles . Asa. ii . Paralip . xiii . Kyng Asa folowed the pleasure of God . He ouerthrew the ydolatrouse aulters , destroyed false worshippinges , cut downe the yrgroues , brake in sondre theyr ymages , deposed hys own mother for ydolatry , abolyshed the stues of male children , and commaunded Iuda to seke the Lorde God of theyr fathers , and to do in all thynges accordynge to hys lawe and commaundementes . iii . Reg. xv .

Kynge Iosaphat hauynge an harte couragiouse Iosaphat . in the wayes of the Lorde , bannisshed the hyll aulters and groue chapels out of Iuda , he sought out the word of God , he sent fourth faythfull preachers in the thirde yeare of hys raygne , whych toke with them the boke of the lawe , and taught the people in all the cyties of the land . ii . Paralip . xvii . Kynge Iehu executed the reuengemente of Iehu . God , for the innocent bloud of hys holy prophetes & seruants , that was cruelly shedde . He slewe the great tyraunts , Ioram , Ochosias , and quene Iesabell , wyth theyr chyldren & kyndredes , he destroyed all the false prophet●s ▪ & priestes , consuming the ydolatours with theyr ydolatries , & made commen takes of theyr churches . iiii . Re. ix . & .x. King Ezechias did cleane to the Lorde , put away Ezechias . the hyl aulters , consumed the ymages , strake doun the groues , and all to brake the brasen serpent that Moyses had made . iii . Reg. xviii . He prepared the temple , purified the sanctuary , pourged the Leuites , reformed the priestes , restored again the true religion of Iuda , pro uided for the ministers , & offred vp the lacri fyces to the Lord . ii . Par. xxix . Kyng Iosias Iosias . in like case restored again the decaied religion , brought the lawes of the Lord to lighte , commaunded the people diligently to obserue them , put doun the false religions which had done sacrifices to the hoste of heauen , brent theyr ymages , defaced their aulters , & stampte them to pouder , brake doun y● bugger● places in the Masmongers . house of the lord , slew al the ydolatrouse priests ● brent their bones in places of their wicked sacryfyces , and he put oute of the waye all sothsaiers , sorcerers , inchaunters , witches , and remoued all other abhominacions of the vngodlye , reducynge the people to the true seruyce of God . iiii . Reg. xxiii .

Suffycient are these most worthy examples of the scripture , to declare what y● dewty of a kyng is , concernynge the affaires of our Christen religion . Two thynges haue ii . euils , chiefely bene the cause of the vtter decaye & ful destruccion therof , continually from time to time , both in the olde law and in the new , whyche are dysputed and improued in thys treatyse here folowynge . The one of them is a prodigyouse priesthode , in no poynt agreable to the prescrypcyous , ordinaunces , or determynate rules of God . The other is Uowes . a straunge kynd of vowyng , neither taught of Christ nor yet persuaded of his Apostles , but expreslye condemned of them both , for an horryble hypocrysye and manyfeste doctryne of deuyls . In the Testament of Moy ses , is onely the priesthode of Aaron , and in the Testament of Christ , the only priesthode of Melchisedech . The fyrste as a fygure was fynyshed in Christ , in the other he perpetually reygneth at the right hand of God the father . Let your learned Mayestie then Priesthed consydre , what priesthod it is , that these wily , wilful , wicked , arrogaunt , & obstinate papistes of your Realme , extoll so mallopertly & boast so stoutlye , these two priesthodes taken clerelye from thys earthe ? way also what the vowes are , that setteth it in force to worke all vngodlynes , and styll to vpholde the wretched worlde in the moste execrable vyces of ydolatrye and buggery , to remain the wycked members of that great cytie whiche Members . the holy Ghost calleth Sodome and Egypte . Apocal. ii .

None authoryte haue these vowes and thys priesthod of the holy scrypturs , though they a thousande tymes allege for them : vouere & reddite . Psa. lxxv . for vouere in that place pertayneth nomore to their vnwining state , than doth reddere there to the office of theyr massynge priesthode . Uowes in that Uowes . kynde , are not of fayth , but of supersticion , not of Christs doctrine , but of the Paganes fables . Marke the folyshnesse of them , when they are of things impossible . Who can promyse to do myracles & perfourme it at hys pleasure ? who can vowe that hys hear shall not growe , nor his nayles increase , and fulfyll it in effecte ? Nomore can they do to lyue chaste , onlesse the Lorde geue it , whyche he neuer doeth in causes vnnecessary . An office was thys practised priesthode , not of God , Of boeth . but of ydols , and that kynde of vowynge , an inuencion of the olde Paganes for theyr vestals and monials . So that an offycein ydolatrye is the priesthode , and the vowe that they cal of theyr chastyte , a seruyce of prodigiouse buggery , muche detested of sainct Prestes . Paule . Roma . i. In Christ we haue a priesthode , so many as beleue in hym and are regenerate . i. Petri. ii . & Apocal. v. why shuld that false priesthod of Antichrist , depryue vs therof , for theyr oylynges and sha●ynges , & conuerte vs into a layte , to geue place to that deuilrye ?

Is darkenesse aboue lyght , vnryghteousnesse aboue ryghteousnesse , or Belial aboue Christ ? Oh breake down these gates of Gaza and buyldinges of helle , lyke a myghtye stronge Samson , & from hens fourth suffer Samson . no suche fylthye orders to be geuen in your realme . In some places of the olde testament is thys vsurped presthode called the presthod of Baal . iii. Reg. xviiii . & Hier. xxiii and in some places the presthode of Bel , Daniel xiiii . Esai . xlvi . In the newe testamente , the massynge presthode , whych●is the synnefull synke and confuse Chaos of all ydolatrye ▪ Chaos . was reared vppe by the Deuyls generall vycar , the bawdy byshop of Rome , and put in full strengthe , Sathan ones sett at large after hys thousande yeares inprisonment . Apocalip . xx . Marke the procedynges of pope helhounde or Hildebrande , otherwyse called Gregorie the. vii . whyche first deposed priestes that had wyues , and enacted in the general synode at Rome , that none shulde be admitted to that massing ordre , vnlesse he professed the lyfe sodomyticall vndre a contrary tytle of chastite , in Profession . the yeare of our Lorde a. M. lxxiiii . Neuer were they able afore that daye , of their lytle cakes to make them pratye goddes by their transubstanciacions ▪ nor yet to brynge the blynde people in a madnesse to worshypp them .

As it was wyth the presthode of the olde ydolatours , so was it in continuance wyth thys massynge presthode of Antichriste . For the Egypcyanes whyche were the first authours Egypci●● of the false religion , wold neuer admyt anye man to their presthode , that had not bene nousled vp from hys youth in the rules of that moste fylthie ydoll Priapus . Whych baudy custome is not onely receyued of the Romysh church , but also wyth al dylygente loking on , both maynteyned & religiously obserued . None may be admytted to their whorysh orders , that hath not those instrumentes , whereby men are knowne to be men , no , not the great Priapus of Rome Priapus . his own person . Though they professed hipocritically a perpetual abstinence from lawfull generacion , yet were they not all wythoute theyr vnlawfull remedies , when the vnquencheable heates came vpon them . The bysshops had theyre dedicated ladyes and madames , the monkes theyr veyled mo●yals , the chanons theyr professed nonnes , the frpres Prouision theyr religiouse systers , the great cathedrall churches , mynsters , & colleges , had stues at theyr very gates , besydes all theyr other more then beastly occupyinges , not wyth a comely honeste to be named .

These . ii . horryble monsters , the Romishe Popes priesthode , and the vowe of hys boryshe buggerye , whyche hath fylled all the whole world wyth so many ydolatries , sorceryes , aduoutries , lecheries , ●odometries , Frutes . tyrannies , trayteries , sedicions , conspiracies , and innumerable treasons , hath not bene so noyouse and hurtefull to the christen commen welth , but it hath styll to thys day very earnest vpholders & mayntainers , not onely of the clergye , but also of the laytie , not of the meaner sorte of men , but of them that wyll be cheche mate wyth the beste at home in theyr shyres or contrayes , as appeareth by Proued . thys treatyse folowynge . I therfore exhorte your excellent maiestie in the bowels of Iesu Christ , as ye vndoubtedly intend the glory of God and welth of your christen Realme , not only to remoue thys vow & thys priesthode , hence , but also clerely to abolysh theyr names wyth the name of theyr fyrst founder the byshopp of Rome . Suffre not the tytle Nopriests of a priest to remayne wythin your christen domynion , nor yet the note of that buggery vowe , but awaye wyth them both , as with the moste pestilente poysons that euer inhabyted here .

If holy S. Paul wylled fornycacion not ones to be spoken of among the Ephesians , Ephes. v. lette not these two , much greater ii . euils . euils , which hath bredde and brought forth so exceadyng manye myschyefes , dwell styl among your people to theyr deadly corruptynge . Sende them agayne to Rome , from whence they came first of al , to theyr pompose patryarke , and permytte them no longer to mayntayne hys cursed cattell here . Lete the one beare away the other , the blinde priesthode Catell . the lame vowe , and lete them trudge hence apace , tyll they come to theyr maister of myschief . And lete theyr names be as odyble to your maiesties liege people , as theyr frutes hath bene execrable and wicked , els are ye neuer lyke to haue quietnesse wythin youre owne lande . Accompte not hym for Enemy . your maiesties faythfull subiecte , that here a after shall support them or defende them by any kynde of false doctryne , for in the ende ye shall not fynde hym a faythfull subiecte .

Sucht are the rashe vowes of the ydolatrouse and mockynge papystes . They professe to be chaste , the gyfte remayning Mockers in the handes of God , and not promysed to that kynde of vowers . They feare not the parell of that which is most daungerouse , as to geue to a mad man a weapon , that maye stee therewyth . Neyther doubte they the impossibilite of that whyche is to nature vnpossible , as to lyue wythout sustenaunce of meate and of drynke , or whan they haue eaten , neuer to auoyde the superfluouse matter . I wold wysh that al rashe vowers wolde layserly consydre Dewers the rashe vowe of Peter the Apostle , to what conclusion it broughte hym , and so wyth hym to repente it at the lattre . He vowed to goo wyth Christe into pryson , and to stande by hym to the verye death . But what folowed of that rashenes ? He was neuer able to perfourme hys vowe , bycause God had not promysed to assiste it . But in the ende he fled from it , shamefully forsakynge hym , leauynge him , and deuyenge hym vtterlye . If repentaunce Peter . had not gracyouslye folowed therupon , he had withoute question bene dampned as was Iudas that betrayed him . Such are the frutes of all rashe vowers , they denye their Lorde God in the ende , for want of perfourmaunce . Lete them therfore repent , and folowe hys commen ordynaunce . Marryage is the instytucion of God , and vyrgynyte hys noble gyfte . Why these . ii . vertues shuld fall at varyaunce ii . vertues or contend for the highar place , I can not by the scryptures conceyue . They wer in Mary Christes mother at a peaceable agrement , and the one serued at hys incarnacyon so wele as the other . Neither was the one more praysed for her seruice there , than was the other .

But in thys ydell presthode , the one could neuer abyde the name of the other , by reason of the vowe that antichrist had placed therin . Whych in processe of time The vow . exyled them both , & nourished for them . ii . vn happy gestes , called whoredom and buggery . Away with that wycked vow , that setteth varyaunce among vertues , & that placeth in their rowmes most execrable vyces . That vowe is not all vnlyke to that Angell of myschefe , whiche set the firste stryfe among Angels in heauen , & amongest Doctors . men here in earthe . I maruele what hath moued the fyckle heades of our doctours , so earnestly to mayntayne a matter by their doctrin , of so moch mischefe . It is in my opinion a great madnes , to at tende so moch to the voyces of Hierome , Ambrose , & Gregory , dyssuading from mar Apostle . riage , & so lytle to regard hym which created man to lyue honestly therin , commaundyng by hys Apostle , that men shulde rather marry than burne , rather to haue wyues of their owne , than inordynatly to affecte the wyues , doughters or mayde seruaunts Hierome of others . i. Cor. vii . Though Hierome wer a great prater & boaster of virginite , yet was he no virgine , but may be suspected of yl rule with yonge women , for his to moche familiarite with them , as apeareth by his epistles . Ambrose & Gregori , shuld seme by some of their writinges , to be as chaste as errour in hypocrysy wolde permyt them . Augustyne which is brought in Augustine : in the inuectiue here folowynge for a strong witnesse for the vowe of prestes chastite , had for hys tyme & occupyeng thre concu bynes , & by one of them a bastarde called Theodatus , as his wrytten lyfe manifesteth . The other scrupulouse fathers and scolding scole doctours , whiche cryed with wyde throtes both in chaires & in pulpetes chastite , chastite , ded after many prodi giouse sortes , moste shamefully slyde from their vowed professions . If this kind of doc Doctryne trin had not bene first practysed , more for the insaciable belly , than for the right honor of god , it had neuer obtained so strong & strought mayntenaunce . I omit to declare for lengthe of the matter , what mischefe and confusion , vowes broughte to thys realme by the Danes and Normannes , whan the lyues of the vowers in their monasteries were more beastlye than Beastly . eyther amonge paganes or Turkes . All pratlynges of folysh papystes set apart , that ye must fulfyll youre promyse ones made , though it were most presumptuouse and wicked . Consydre thys question that God ones axed of the Iewes by hys holy prophete . Quis ista quesiuit de manibus vestris ? vt ambularetis in atriis meis ? Esai . l. Whoe hath requyred these In vapne . thynges at your handes ? to trauayle with them in my porches ? Who set ye a wurk , or who shall regarde them ? And it maye in conscience be your dyscharge , hauing repeutaunce for your rashenesse .

I exhort the ( gentyl reader ) to accept al thynges here , as I do meane them . If thu be of God , to the glory of God , for to that ende haue I proponed them . If thu The ende . be of Antichrist & wyl not change , I leaue the at thy lyberte , to wexe angrye , hote , furyouse , and mad at thy pleasure , for I knowe thy frantik heade . Turmoyle in the sprete of thy beastly father , for the wicked vowe and the presthode that I disalowe here , and hardely spare not . As the Angell sayde to S. Iohan the Apostle of suche wrangelyng hypocrites . Apo. xxii . Fylthie Qui nocet , noceat adhuc , et qui sordidus est , sordescat adhuc . He that doeth euyll , lete him styll do euyll , and he that is fylthy , lete hym styll be fylthy . I wyll not seke to call the back , nomore than the holy Ghost doth in that place , for the laboure were all in vayne , thu beinge a vessell of reprobacion . The wurde of the Lorde is able to turne thy contrary and froward buyldynges to duste , and to blowe them away wyth the wynde . Psalm. i. In shar pely rebukyng the supersticions , me think , Rebukes . I shuld not offende the ryghteouse , but the spyghtfull rebellers and obstinates only . Therfore I humbly requyre the inhabitauntes of this realme , as they loue God and the christen commen wealthe therof , no longar to be led by the wycked sprete of errour . But in the mekenes and true fear of hys myghty maiestie , to obey their most lawfull kynge , gracyously geuen them of the lorde as a godly , fauourable , and learned Iosias . Also to obeye Iosias , hys most noble counsell , as the chefe vndre hym in the publique authoryte . And in the ende , to folowe their godly procedynges , to the glory of God , honour of the kynge , welthe of thys realme , & confort of the commens .

☞ So be it .