The declaracion of such scruples and stayes of conscience touchyng the Othe of Supremacie as M. Iohn Fekenham by writinge did deliuer vnto the L. Bisshop of Winchester , with his resolutions made thereunto .

THe proprety of him that meaneth to declare rightly any matter doone , is to set foorth the trueth without malice , to obserue the due circumstances of the matter , persones , & times : and to vse simple plainesse without guileful ambiguities . This Title is so replenisshed with vntrue reporte , & ambiguous sleightes , without the note of any necessary circumstance , that there is not almost one true woorde therein : wherby you geue at the first a taste to the indifferent reader , what he must looke for in the sequele .

You pretende , and would haue your friendes to thinke , that the first fower chiefe pointes set foorth in your booke , were deuised by you , put in writing , and so deliuered vnto me , as the matter and grounde whereuppon , the conference to be had betwixt me & you should stande : And that I made therunto none other but suche resolucions , as it hath pleased you vntruely to report . In the first parte , you conueigh an vntrueth vnder a coulorable and ambiguous meaning , in these woordes , as M. Iohn Fekenham by writinge did deliuer vnto the L. Bisshop of Wynchester . In the other parte , you make an vntrue reporte without any coloure at all . I doo graunt and will not denie , that you deliuered to me a booke : whiche , I thanke God , I haue to shewe , whereby to disprooue you . The same will declare the time when , the place where , the occasion wherefore , the personnes to whome the booke was written , and what is the matter in generall therein conteyned : Whereunto must be added , at what time the same was deliuered vnto me , vpon what occasion , and to what ende . All whiche circumstances you omitte in your booke published , least you shoulde haue bewrayed your selfe , and haue appeared in your owne likenesse .

The booke by you deliuered vnto me , touchinge the Othe , was writen in the Tower of London ( as you your selfe confessed , and the true title thereof doth plainely testifie ) in the time of the Parliament holden Anno quinto of the Q. Maiestie . Ianuarij . 12. at whiche time you litle thought to haue soiourned with me the winter followinge , & much lesse meante , to deliuer me the scruples and staies of your conscience in writinge , to be resolued at my handes . And although you woulde haue it seeme by that you haue published abroade , that the cause why you wrote , was to be resolued at my hande : yet the trueth is ( as you your selfe reported ) that you & your Towerfellowes , hearinge that the Statute mooued for the assuraunce of the Quéenes royall power , would passe & be established , did conceiue that immediatly after the same session , Commissioners should be sente vnto you , to exact the othe . Wheruppon you to be in some areadines , to withstande and refuse the duetie of a good subiect , not without healpe of the rest ( as may be gathered ) deuised the matter conteyned in the booke , committed the same to writinge , and purposed to haue deliuered it for your aunsweare touchinge the Othe of the Supremacie to the Commissioners , if they had come . This may appeare by the title of that booke that you firste deliuered to me whiche is woorde for woorde as followeth .

The answeare made by M. Iohn Fekenham Priest , and prisoner in the Tower , to the Queenes highnes commissioners , touchyng the Othe of the Supremacie .

In this title there is no mencion of scruples & stayes deliuered to the Bishop of Wynchester , but of aunsweare to the Quéenes commissioners . I am not once named in the title , ne yet in the booke deliuered to me : neither is there one woorde as spoken to me : although in the booke set abroade , you turne all as spoken to me . In your booke published are founde these kindes of speaches : To the L. Bishop of Wynchester . When your L. shal be able &c. I shall ioyne this issue with your L. &c. But it is farre otherwise in your booke deliuered to me , namely : To the Queenes highnes commissioners . When ye the Queenes highnes commissioners shal be hable &c. I shall ioyne this issue with you , that when any one of you , the Queenes highnes commissioners . &c. From October , at what time you were sente to me , vnto the ende of Ianuary , there was daily conference betwixte vs in mattiers of Religion , but chiefely touchinge the fower poyntes , whiche you terme scruples & stayes of conscience , and that by woorde of mouthe , and not by any writinge . In all whiche pointes , you were so answeared , that you had nothinge to obiecte , but séemed resolued , and in a manner fully satisfied . Whereuppon , I made afterwarde relation ( of good meaninge towardes you ) to certaine honourable persones of the good hope I had conceyued of your conformitie . At whiche time , a certaine friende of yours standing by , & hearing what I had declared then to the honorable in your commendacion , did shortly after reporte the same vnto you , which as it séemed you did so much mislike ( doubtinge that your confederates should vnderstande of your reuolt , which they euer feared , hauing experience of your shrinkyng from them at Westminster in the conference there , the firste yéere of the Quéenes Maiestie ) that after that time I founde you alwaies muche more repugnant , and contrary to that wherin ye before times séemed in manner thoroughly resolued : And also to goe from that you before agreed vnto . By reason wherof , when in debatinge betwixt vs , you vsinge many shiftes , amongst other did continually quarell in Sophistication of woordes , I did will you , to th ende we might certainly goe forwarde in the pointes materiall , that you would wryte your Positions or Assertions in fourme of Propositions : which I coulde not cause you to doo in any wise , but yée would still stande vncertainly in grauntinge & deniyng at your pleasure : Yea , although I for the better agreement to be had , did drawe such in fourme of Assertion , & gaue them in writinge vnto you , as I gathered of your owne mouthe to be your opinion : yet woulde yée in no wise stande to , & reste in any one certainly , but vsed still your accustomed wranglinge and wanderinge at large . Whiche your behauiour so muche misliked me , that I coulde not but ernestly chardge you with inconstancy , in that yée woulde sometimes denie , that yée before had graunted : and also graunt , that yee before had denied . Then beynge so muche pressed herewith , and perceyuing that your froward quarellinge with the plaine woordes of the Statute , coulde no lenger couer your euill meaninge , at the length you did require , that I woulde put in writinge the woordes of the Othe , with the sence or interpretation added thereunto , as you consideringe theruppon , might deuise the fourme of your Propositions , wherupon wée might afterwardes debate . By this it may appeare , bothe how vntrue it is , that you hitherto had deliuered vnto me any such scruples of yours in writinge , as you pretende in the title ( for then I néeded not to haue sought any Propositions of your Assertions ) and also how vntrue this is , that the interpretation of the Othe whiche I wrote at your request , before I euer sawe any writinge of yours , was to aunsweare your scruples and staies deliuered to me in writinge .

After this in February followyng , certaine persones of woorship resorted to my house , partly to sée me , & partly to heare somewhat betwixt me and you . And after that wée had reasoned in certaine pointes touchinge Religion , wherein yée séemed openly to haue litle matter to stande in , but rather did yelde to the moste in substaunce that I had saide : neuerthelesse beinge after withdrawen in some of their companies , although yée did seeme openly to consent and agrée with me in that I had said : Yet ( saide you , ) The mattier itselfe is grounded here , ( pointing to your breast ) that shall neuer goo out . Which beinge tolde me , I did vehemently then challendge you for your double dealinge , and colourable behauiour : sayinge , that I thought you did not that you did , of any conscience at all : & therfore compted it but lost labour , further to trauaile with suche a one as had neither conscience nor constancie . But you , to shewe that ye did all of conscience , shewed me both what yee had suffred for the same in diuerse manners , and also howe the same was grounded in you longe before . For proufe whereof , yée offred to shewe me a booke of yours , that yée had deuised in the Tower , & the same shortly after did deliuer vnto me , not as your scruples and doubtes to be resolued at my hande , wherein yée séemed in our conference before had , resolued : but onely to declare , that the mattier had béen longe before settled in you , and this was th only and méere occasion of the deliuery of the saide booke vnto me , entituled as is before declared & not otherwise .

But as you haue cast a miste before the eies of the readers , vnder the speache of a deliuery in writinge , without notinge of any circumstance that might make the mattier cléere , wherein you shewe your selfe to haue no good meaninge : euen so haue you set foorth resolucions of your own deuise vnder my name , bicause you are ashamed to vtter mine , whereunto you yelded , and were not hable to answeare .

For asmuche as one chiefe purpose and entent of this Othe is , for a more saulfgarde to be had of the Queenes royall personne and of her highnes most quiet and prosperous reigne : I doo here presently therfore offer my selfe to receiue a corporall Othe vppon the Euangelistes , that I doo verily thinke and am so persuaded in my conscience , that the Queenes highnes is th only supreme gouernour of this realme , and of all other her highnes Dominions and Countreis accordinge as th expresse woordes are in the beginning of the saide Othe . And further I shall presently sweare , that her highnes hath vnder God , the soueraigntie and rule ouer all manner of persones borne within these her highnes realmes of what estate ( either Ecclesiasticall or Temporall ) so euer they be .

How so euer by woordes you woulde séeme to tendre her Maiesties saulfty , quietnes , and prosperous reigne , your déedes declare your meaninge to be cleane contrary . What saulfty meane you to her person , when you bereue the same of a principall parte of the royall power ? what quietnesse séeke you to her persone , when one chiefe purpose and entent of your booke published , is to stay & bring her subiectes to an heretical misliking of her royall power , whiche is a preparation to rebellion against her persone ? How much prosperitie you wishe to her Maiesties reigne appeareth , when that with diepe sighes and grones you looke daily for a chaunge therof , and tharche Heretique of Rome , your God in earthe , to reigne in her place . If I knewe you not right well , I shoulde maruaile , that you shame not to affirme , sayinge : I doo here presently therfore offer my selfe to receyue a corporall Othe : and further I shall presently sweare &c. Séeinge that you neuer made to me any motion of suche an offer , neither did I at any time require you to take any Othe .

You thinke & are so persuaded in conscience ( if a man may trust you ) that the Quéenes highnes is the only supreme gouernour of this Realme , and of al her dominions and countries , and hath vnder God , the soueraigntie and rule ouer all manner of persones , borne within her dominions of what estate either Ecclesiasticall or Temporall so euer they be . Wherunto I adde this consequent which doth necessarily follow , Ergo : Your holy father the Pope is not ( as you thinke in your conscience ) the supreme gouernour ouer her highnes dominions , nor hath the soueraigntie or rule vnder God ouer any personnes borne within the same .

The Quéenes maiestie muste néedes herein take you but for a dissembling flatterer , in that you wil séeme somtime in generall speach , to attribute vnto her th only Supremacie vnder God , ouer her dominions and subiectes whiche you meane not , for within a while after in plaine woordes you denie the same . And your holy Father will geue you his curse , for that being his sworne Aduocate , at the first entry in to the plea , you geue from him the whole title of his vniust claime , to wit , the supreme gouernaunce ouer the Quéenes highnes dominions and people . You must now therefore make some shifte , and call to remembraunce one sleight or other by some distinction , whereby to auoide your holy Fathers curse , that you may continue vnder his blessinge . You will expounde your meaninge by restreiguyng the supreme gouernment of the Quéenes maiestie onely in causes Temporall , and not in causes or thinges Ecclesiasticall . But this distinction commeth to late , and will doo you no ease , for that in both these kindes of causes you haue already graunted vnto her the onely supreme gouernment : and that as you verily thinke persuaded in conscience : wheruppon you offer to receiue a corporall Othe vpon the Euangelistes . And this your graunt passed from you by these woordes : Ouer all manner persones borne within her dominions of what estate either Ecclesiasticall or Temporall so euer rheybe : In this that you graunt vnto her highnes th only supreme rule ouer the Lay and Ecclesiasticall persones : you haue also concluded therewith in all causes bothe Ecclesiasticall and Temporall , whiche is plainely and firmely prooued by this argument followyng .

A supreme gouernour or ruler is one , who hath to ouersee , Definition of a gouernour . guyde , care , prouide , order and directe the thinges vnder his gouernment and rule , to that ende , and in those actions whiche are appointed and doo properly belonge to the subiect or thinge gouerned . So that in euery gouernment and rule there are thrée thinges necessarily concurraunt : the Gouernour , the Subiect , or mattier gouerned , and the obiect or mattier wherabout and wherein the gouernment is occupied & doth consiste . But the Quéenes highnes , by your owne confession , is the onely supreme gouernour ouer al manner persones Ecclesiasticall borne within her dominions : Ergo : Her highnes th onely supreme gouernour ouer suche persones hath to ouersée , guyde , care , prouide , order , and directe them to that ende and in those actions whiche are appointed and doo proprely belonge to Ecclesiasticall persones . And so by good consequent you haue renounced al foreine gouernment . For this exclusiue , Onely , doth shut out all other from supreme gouernment ouer Ecclestasticall personnes : and also yée doo affirme the Quéenes maiestie to be supreme gouernour in those actions whiche are appointed , and that doo proprely belonge to Ecclesiastical persones , which are no other but thinges or causes Ecclesiasticall .

And of my parte I shall sweare to obserue and perfourme my obedience and subiection with no lesse loyaltie and faithfulnes vnto her highnes , then I did before vnto Queene Mary , her highnes sister of famous memory , vnto whome I was a sworne Chaplaine and most bounden .

Like an vnfaithful subiect contrary to your Othe made to Kinge Henry , and continued all the reigne of Kinge Edwarde , you helpt to spoile Quéene Mary of famous memory of a principall parte of her royall power , righte and dignitie , whiche she at the beginninge of her reigne had , enioyed , and put in vre . The same obedience & subiection , with the like loyaltie and faithfulnes , yée will sweare to obserue & perfourme to Quéene Elizabeth , but she thanketh you for naught , she will none of it , she hath espied you , and thinketh , yée profer her to muche wronge .

And touchyng the rest of the Othe , whereunto I am required presently to sweare , viz. That I doo vtterly testifie and declare in my conscience , that the Queenes highnes is the onely supreme gouernour of this realme , aswell in all Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall thinges or causes , as Temporall : I shall then of my parte be in like readines , to receiue the same , when your L. shal be able to make declaration vnto me , how and by what meanes , I may sweare therunto , without committinge of a very plaine and manifest periury : whiche of my parte to be committed , it is damnable sinne , and against the expresse woorde of God writen , Leuit. cap. 19. Non periurabis in nomine meo , nec pollues nomen Dei tui . And of your parte to prouoke me or require the same , it is no lesse damnable offence . S. Austine in witnes thereof , saithe : Ille qui hominem prouocat ad iurationem &c. He who doth prouoke an other man to sweare , and knoweth that he shall forsweare him selfe , he is worse then a murtherer : bicause the murtherer sleeth but the body , and he sleeth the soule , and that not one soule , but two as the soule of him whome he prouoketh to periury , and his owne soule also by ministringe the occasion thereof . And the pointes of this Othe , whereunto I cannot presently sweare without moste plaine and manifest periury , are these fower followinge .

As in that whiche goeth before , you couertly vttered many vntrueths ? although sometime yée stomble on the trueth against your will : so in the rest you fall to plaine & manifest vntrueths : least men shoulde not perceiue what you are . You were neuer by me required to sweare , and therefore this is an impudent kinde of dealinge , to say : wherunto I am presently required to sweare , &c. I had none authoritie nor commission to require the Othe of you , neither might I tender it vnto you without perill to my self : you beinge committed vnto me by the moste Honourable Counsaile , without whose order , I coulde attempt no such mattier . You haue already shewed in plaine matter , although not in plainnesse of speach , & that as you thinke , & are persuaded in conscience , that her highnes is the supreme gouernour , so well in causes Ecclesiastical as Temporal . For hauinge supremacie ouer the Ecclesiasticall persone , the same beinge not otherwise persone Ecclesiasticall , but in respect of Ecclesiasticall functions , thinges & causes annexed and properly belonging to Ecclesiasticall persones : she hath the Supremacie ouer the person in Ecclesiastical functions , thinges & causes , these beinge the onely matter or obiect where about or wherein the rule ouer an Ecclesiasticall persone is occupied and doth consiste .

This seemeth to be your glory amongst your friendes , that you make me an offer , to receiue this part of the Othe , when I shal be able to declare by what meanes you may sweare without committinge plaine & manifest periury : Mine abilitie herein shall appeare in mine answeare to your foure points : God make you as readie to perfourme , for dueties sake , as ye wil séeme ready to offer , wherby to purchase to your self a glorious estimacion . But wherfore did you not make this offer vnto me , either by woorde or writing all the time of your aboade with me ? You plaie now after your returne into your holde , as you did after the Parliament before you came out of the Tower to me . When you saw the ende of the Parliament , & vnderstoode right wel , that the Othe was not like to be tendered vnto you , than sent you copies of the booke deuised for your answeare touchyng the Othe , abroade to your friendes , to declare your constancy & aredines , to refuse the Othe , wherby thei might be the rather enduced , to continue their good opinion conceiued of you , & also pay your chardges weakely in the Tower sent vnto you euery Saturday by your seruaunt , who wrote & deliuered the copies abroade , as you tolde me your self . Now you are returned againe in to the Tower , & perceiuing that your friendes , ( as you gaue them iust cause ) haue some mistrust of your reuolt & waueryng inconstancie , wherby your estimacion & fame , with their seruice to your God the belly is decaied , you haue deuised to set abroade the selfe same booke againe that you did before , & to the selfe same ende , altering or chaunging nothing at al , sauing that you haue geuen it a newe name & Title , & séeme as in this place , as though yée spake to me by these woords : when your L. &c. When as in very deede , there was neuer any such woorde spoken or writen to me : and in the booke you deliuered to me , your speache is directed to the commissioners , and not to me , in these woordes : When ye the Queenes highnes commissioners shal be able &c.

The reason or argument that mooueth you , not to testifie vpon a booke Othe , the Q. Supremacy in causes Ecclesiasticall , is this : No man may testifie by Othe that thing whereof he is ignorant and knoweth nothinge , without committinge periury . But you neither knowe that the Q. highnes is the onely supreme gouernour aswel in causes Ecclesiasticall , as Temporall : neither yet know you any way or meane wherby to haue any knowledge therof : Therfore to testisie the same vpon a booke Othe , you cannot without committing of plaine and manifest periury .

For answeare to the Minor or seconde Proposition of this argument : Although I might plainly denie , that you are without all knowledge , and vtterly ignoraunt bothe of the matter and of the way or meane , howe to come by knowledge therof , and so put you to your proufe , wherein I know , you must néedes faile : yet will I not so answears by plaine negatiue , but by distinction or diuision of ignorance . And so for your better excuse , declare in what sorte you are ignoraunt and without all knowledge . There are thrée kindes of ignorantes , the one of simplicitie , the other Thom. Aquin . quaest. 3. de malo . of wilfulnes , and the thirde of malice . Of the first sort you cannot be , for you haue had longe time , good oportunitie , muche occasion , and many waies , wherby to come to the knowledge hereof . Yea , you haue knowen & profest openly by déede and woorde the knowledge hereof many yéeres together . For you did know , acknowledge , and confesse , this supreme authority in causes Ecclesiasticall to be in Kinge Henry the eight and his heyres , whan your Abbay of Euesham , by common consent of you and the other Monkes there vnder your couent seale , was of your own good willes without compulsion surrendred in to his handes , and you , by his authoritie , refourmed , forsooke your foolishe vowe , & many horrible errours , and superstitions of Monkery , and became a secular Priest , and Chaplaine to D. Bell , and afterwarde to D. Boner , & so duringe the life of King Henry the eight , did agnise professe and teache openly in your sermons the kinges Supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall . This knowledge remained stedfastly in you all the time of king Edwarde also . For although you were in the Tower in his time , that was not for any doubt you made of his Supremacie , for that you still agnised : but for other pointes of Religion touching the ministracion of the Sacramentes , wherunto you also agréed at the last , & promised to professe , & preache the same in open auditory whersoeuer you should be appointed . Wherupon a right woorshipfull gentleman procured your deliueraunce foorth of the Tower , and so were you at liberty , neuer mencioninge any doubt in this matter : but agnising the Princes Supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall . Wherefore I may saulfly say , that the ignoraunce and wante of knowledge whiche you pretende in your Minor Proposicion , is not of simplicitie , and therfore must néedes be of wilfulnes , or malice , or mixte of bothe .

The way and meane wherby to haue this ignoraunce remooued , you assigne with this issue , that when I prooue vnto you , by any of the fower meanes , that any Emperour , or Empresse , King or Queene may take vppon them any suche gouernment in Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall causes , then you wil yéelde , take vpon you the knowledge therof , & be ready to testifie the same by booke Othe . Truely , I haue often and many times prooued this same that you require , & by the selfe same meanes in such sort vnto you , that you had nothinge to say to the contrary . And yet neuerthelesse you continue stil in your wilfull and malicious ignorance , whiche causeth me to feare that this sentence of the holy ghost wil be verified in you : In maleuolam animam non introibit sapientia . Yet I will ones againe prooue ●a●ien . 1. after your desire , euen as it were by puttinge you in remembraunce of those thinges whiche by occasions in conference , I often and many times reported vnto you , wherof I knowe you are not simply ignoraunt .

You require a proufe hereof , that an Emperour or Emperesse , Kinge or Quéene , may claime or take vppon them any suche gouernment ( meanynge as the Quéenes maiestie , our Soueraigne , doth now chalendge and take vppon her ) in Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall causes . For aunsweare I say , they ought to take vppon them suche gouernement , therefore they maye lawfully doo it . The former parte is founde trewe by the whole discourse of the holy Scriptures bothe of the Olde and newe Testament : by the testimony of the Doctours in Christes Churche : by the generall Counsailes : and by the practise of Christes Catholique Churche thorough out all Christendome .

The holy Scriptures describinge the condicions , and Deuter. 17. propreties required in a Kinge , amongest other doth commaunde , that he haue by him the booke of the Lawe , and The duety of a Kinge . doo diligently occupy him selfe in readinge thereof , to the ende he maye thereby learne to feare the Lorde his God , ( that is , to haue the feare of God planted within him selfe in his owne harte ) to keepe all the woordes , and to accomplishe in déede all the ordinaunces , or ( as the olde translation hath it ) all the ceremonies by God commaunded ( that is ) to gouerne in suche sorte . That he Gloss . ordinar. cause , by his Princely authoritie , his subiectes also to become Israelites . To witte , menne that see , knowe , and vnderstande , the will of God . Redressinge the peruersenes of suche , as swerue Aben. Ezra . from Goddes ordinaunces or caeremonies . Whereuppon it is , that God dothe commaunde the Magistrate , that Deuter. 13. he make diligent examination of the Doctrine taught by any , and that he doo sharpely punish bothe the teachers of false and superstitious Religion , with the folowers , and also remooue quite out of the waye all maner of euill .

The beste and most godly Princes that euer gouerned Goddes people , did perceiue and rightly vnderstande this to be Goddes will , that they ought to haue an especiall regarde and care for the orderinge and settinge foorth of Goddes true Religion , and therefore vsed great diligence with feruent zeale to perfour●● and accomplishe the same . Moses was the supreme gouernour ouer Goddes people ( & was not the chiefe Priest or Bishop , for that was Aaron ) whose authoritie , zeale , and care in appointinge and orderinge Religion amongest Goddes people , prescribinge to al the people , yea to Aaron and the Leuites , what , and after what sorte , they shoulde execute their functions , correctinge and chasteninge the transgressours , is manifestly set foorth in his booke called the Pentateuche . After the death of Moses , the people as yet not entred and settled in the promised Lande , the chardge of chiefe gouernment ouer Goddes people both in causes Temporall and Ecclesiasticall , was committed to Iosue , and not to Eleazar , for to him belonged onely the ministration of the thinges belonginge to the Priestly office . And to Iosue the Prince belonged the ouer sight both ouer the Priests and people , to gouerne , guide , order , appoint and direct eche estate , in all thinges that apperteined to eche of their callinges . Of the one yée séeme to haue no doubt at all : the other is as plaine . For at the appointment of Iosue , the Priestes remooued the Arke of couenaunt and placed the same . He Iosue . 3. did interprete vnto the people the spirituall meaninge of Iosue . 4. the twelue stones , whiche they had taken by Goddes commaundement foorth of Iordan to be as Sacramentes or Signes . He circumcised the children of Israell at the second Iosue . 5. time of the great and solempne Circumcision . He calleth the Priestes , commaundeth some of them to take vp the Iosue . 6. Lordes Arke : other seuen of them to blowe seuen trompettes before the Arke , & appointeth to them the order of procéedinge . He builded an aultar vnto the Lorde God of Israel , accordinge to the Lawe of God : he sacrificed theron , Iosue . 8. burnt sacrifices and burnt offringes : He wrote there vpon the stones , the Deuteronomy of Moses : He redde all the blessinges and cursinges , as they are set foorth in the booke of the Lawe : And he redde all what so euer Moses had commaunded before al the congregation of Israel , &c. Last of al Iosue , to shewe that causes of Religion did specially belonge to his charge and care , maketh a long and a vehement oration vnto the Israelites , wherin he exhorteth them to cleaue vnto the Lorde with a sure faithe , a constant hope , and a perfect loue , obeiynge and seruinge him with suche seruice as he hath appointed in his Lawe . And doth zelously and with great threates disswade them from all kynde of Idolatry and false Religion . Iosue . 23. 24

Dauid whom God appointed to be the pastour , ( that 2. Sam. 5. is , the king ouer Israel ) to feede his people , did vnderstande that to this pastoral office of a kyng , did belong of dutie , not only a charge to prouide that the people might be gouerned with iustice , and liue in ciuill honestie , peace , and tranquilite , publique and priuate : but also to haue a special regarde and care , to see them sed with true doctrine , and to be fostered vp in the Religion , appointed by God him selfe in his Lawe . And therfore immediatly after he was with some quietnes setled in his royal seate , the first thing that he began to refourme and restore to the right order , as a thing the apperteined especially to his princely charge and care , was Goddes Religion & Seruice , whiche had been decayed and neglected longe before in the tyme of king Saul . For the better perfourmaunce whereof , as the supreame gouernour ouer all the estates bothe of the Laytie and of the Clergie , in all maner of causes : after consultation had with his chief Counsailours , he calleth 1. Paral. 13. the Priestes and Leuites , and commaundeth , appointeth , and directeth them in al maner of things & causes , apperteining to their ecclesiasticall functions & offices . He prepareth a seemely place for the Arke in his own Citie . He goeth with great solempnitie to fetche the Arke of the lord . He commaundeth Sadoc & Abiathar the priestes , and the 1. Paral. 15. chief among the Leuites , to sanctifie them selues with their brethren , & than to cary the Arke vpon their shoulders vnto the place appointed . He comptrolleth them that the Arke was not caried before on their shoulders according to the Lawe : and therfore layeth to their charge the breach that was made by the death of Vsa . He commaundeth also the chief of the Leuites , to appointe among their brethren , Musicians to playe on dyuers kyndes of instrumentes , 1. Paral. 16. and to make melodie with ioyfulnes . He sacrificeth burnt and peace offringes . He blessed the people in the name of the Lorde . He appointeth certeine of the Leuites , to minister continually before the Arke of the Lord , to reherse his great benefites , to the honour & prayse of the lord God of Israel . And for that present tyme he made a Psalme of Gods prayse , and appointed Asaph & his brethren to prayse God therwith . He ordeyned the Priestes , Leuites , singers , and Porters , and in som , he appointed & ordered all th officers & offices , required to be in the house of the Lord , for the setting forth of his seruice & Religion .

Salomon deposed Abiathar the highe Priest , and placed 3. Reg. 2. 3. Reg. 5. Sadoc in his rowme . And he builded the Temple , placed the Arke in the place appointed for the same . Hallowed or dedicated the Temple , offred sacrifices , blessed the people , directed the Priestes , Leuites , and other churche officers , in their functions , according to the order before taken by his father Dauid . And neither the Priestes nor Leuites ▪ swerued in any thing ( perteining to their office ) from that , that the 2. Paral. 8. king commaunded them .

Iosephat hath no small commendation in the Scriptures , for that he so studiously vsed his princely authoritie in the reformation of Religion , and maters apperteining , therunto . He remoued at the first beginning of his reigne all maner of false Religion , and what so euer might be cause of 2 Paral. 17. Gloss . ord. offence to the faithfull . He sent forth through his kyngdome Visitours , both of his Princes , and also of the Priestes & Leuites , with the booke of the Lawe of the Lorde , to the ende they should instruct , & teache the people , & refourme all maner abuses in ecclesiastical causes according to that booke . After a whyle he made a progresse in his own persone throughout al his countrey , and by his preachers reduced and brought againe his people from supersticion , & false Religion , vnto the Lorde the God of their fathers . He appointed in euery towne throughout his kingdome , 2. Paral. 19 , as it were Iustices of the peace , suche as feared the Lord , and abhorred false Religion , to decide controuersies in ciuill causes : and in like sort he appointed and ordeined the high Priestes with other Priestes , Leuites , and of the chief rulers among the Israelites , to be at Hierusalem to decide , and iudge controuersies of great weight , that shuld arise about matters of Religion and the Lawe . He did commaunde and prescribe vnto the chief Priestes and Leuites , what fo●●me and order they shoulde obserue in the ecclesiasticall causes and controuersies of Religion , that were not so difficult and weightie . And when any token of Goddes displeasure appeared , either by warres orother calamitie , he gaue order to his subiectes for common praier , and enioyned to them publiqu● faste , with earnest preaching 2. Paral. 20. of repentaunce , and sekinge after the wyll of the Lorde to obey and folowe the same .

Ezechias the kyng of Iuda , hath this testimony of the holy Ghost , that the like gouernour had not been , neither 4. Reg. 18. should bee after hym amongest the kynges of Iuda . For he cleaued vnto the Lorde and swerued not from the preceptes whiche the Lorde gaue by Moses . And to expresse , that the office , rule , and gouernement of a godly kyng consisteth , and is occupied accordyng to Gods ordinaunce and precept , first of all in matters of Religion , and causes Ecclesiastical , the holy ghost doth commende this kyng for his diligent care in refourming Religion . He toke quite away ( saith the holy ghost ) al maner of Idolatry , superstition , and false Religion , yea , euen in the first yere of his reigne , and the first moneth he opened the doores of Goddes house : He calleth as it were to a Synode the Priestes , and Leuites , be maketh vnto them a 2. Parali. 29. long and pithy oration , declaringe the horrible disorders and abuses that hath been in Religion , the causes , and what euils folowed to the whole Realme thervpon : He declareth his full determination to restore and refourme Religion according to Gods will . He commaundeth them therfore , that they laiyng aside all errours , ignoraunce , and negligence , do the partes of faithfull ministers .