IF in time , as in place there were degrees of high and low , I verily believe that the highest of time , would be that which passed between 1640. and 1660. for he that thence , as from the Devils Mountain , should have looked upon the World , and observ'd the Actions of Men , especially in England , might have had a Prospect of all kinds of Injustice , and of all kinds of Folly that the World could afford , and how they were produced by their Hypocrisie and self-conceit , whereof the one is double Iniquity , and the other double Folly .

I should be glad to behold that Prospect . You that have liv'd in that time , and in that part of your Age , wherein Men use to see best into good and evil ; I pray you set me ( that could not see so well ) upon the same Mountain by the Relation of the Actions you then saw , and of their Causes , Pretensions , Justice , Order , Artifice , and Event .

In the Year 1640. the Government of England was Monarchical , and the King that reigned , Charles the first of that name , holding the Sovereignty , by right of a descent continued above 600 years , and from a much longer descent , King of Scotland , and from the time of his Ancestors Henry the second , King of Ireland , a Man that wanted no vertue , either of Body or Mind ; nor endeavour'd any thing more , than to discharge his Duty towards God , in the well governing of his Subjects .

How could he then miscarry , having in every County so many Trained Soldiers as would ( put together ) have made an Army of 60000 Men , and divers Magazines of Ammunition in places fortified ?

If those Soldiers had been ( as they and all other of his Subjects ought to have been ) at his Majesties command , the Peace and Happiness of the three Kingdoms had continued , as it was left by King James ; but the People were corrupted generally , and disobedient persons esteemed the best Patriots .

But sure there were Men enough besides those , that were ill-affected , to have made an Army sufficient to have kept the People from uniting into a Body able to oppose him .

Truly I think , if the King had had Money , he might have had Soldiers enough in England ; for there were very few of the Common People that cared much for either of the Causes , but would have taken any side for pay and plunder ; but the Kings Treasure was very low , and his Enemies that pretended the Peoples ease from Taxes , and other specious things , had the command of the Purses of the City of London , and of most Cities and Corporate Towns in England , and of many particular persons besides .

But how came the People to be so corrupted ? and what kind of People were they that did so seduce them ?

In such a constitution of People , methinks the King is already outed of his Government , so as they need not have taken Arms for it ; for I cannot imagine how the King should come by any means to resist them .

There was indeed very great difficulty in the business ; but of that Point you will be better inform'd in the pursuit of this Narration .

But I desire to know first the several Grounds of the Pretences , both of the Pope , and of the Presbyterians , by which they claim a Right to govern us , as they do , in chief , and after that from whence , and when crept in the Pretences of that long Parliament for a Democracy .

As for the Papists , they challenge this Right from a Text in Deut. 17. and other like Texts , according to the old Latin Translation in these words . And he that out of pride shall refuse to obey the Commandment of that Priest , which shall at that time minister before the Lord thy God ; that Man shall , by the Sentence of the Judge , be put to death . And because , as the Jews were the People of God then , so is all Christendome the People of God now ; they infer from thence , that the Pope , whom they pretend to be the High-Priest of all Christian People , ought also to be obeyed in all his Decrees , by all Christians , upon pain of death . Again ; whereas in the New Testament Christ saith , All Power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth ; go therefore and teach all Nations , and baptize them in the Name of the Father , and of the Son , and of the Holy Ghost , and teach them to observe all these things that I have commanded you . From thence they infer , that the Command of the Apostles was to be obeyed , and by consequence the Nations were bound to be govern'd by them , and especially by the Prince of the Apostles St. Peter , and by his Successors the Popes of Rome .

For the Text in the Old Testament , I do not see how the Commandment of God to the Jews to obey their Priests , can be interpreted to have the like force in the Case of other Nations Christian , more than upon Nations Unchristian ; for all the World are Gods People ; unless we also grant , that a King cannot of an Infidel be made Christian , without making himself subject to the Laws of that Apostle , or Priest , or Minister that shall convert him . The Jews were a peculiar People of God , a Sacerdotal Kingdom , and bound to no other Law , but what first Moses , and afterwards every High-Priest did go and receive immediately from the mouth of God in Mount Sinai , in the Tabernacle of the Ark , and in the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple . And for the Text in St. Mathew , I know the Words in the Gospel are not Go teach , but Go and make Disciples ; and that there is a great difference between a Subject and a Disciple , and between Teaching and Commanding . And if such Texts as these must be so interpreted , why do not Christian Kings lay down their Titles of Majesty and Sovereignty , and call themselves the Popes Lieutenants ? But the Doctors of the Romish Church seem to decline that Title of Absolute Power , in their distinction of Power Spiritual and Temporal ; but this distinction I do not very well understand .

By Spiritual Power they mean the Power to determine Points of Faith , and to be Judges in the Inner Court of Conscience , of Moral Duties , and of a Power to punish those Men that obey not their Precepts by Ecclesiastical Censure , that is , by Excommunication : and this Power , they say , the Pope hath immediately from Christ , without dependence upon any King , or Sovereign Assembly , whose Subjects they be that stand Excommunicate . But for the Power Temporal , which consists in judging and punishing those Actions that are done against the Civil Laws , they say , they do not pretend to it directly , but only indirectly , that is to say , so far forth as such Actions tend to the hindrance or advancement of Religion and good Manners , which they mean when they say , in ordine ad spiritualia .

What Power then is left to Kings , and other Civil Sovereigns , which the Pope may not pretend to be his in ordine ad spiritualia ?

None , or very little : and this Power the Pope pretends to in all Christendome , but some of his Bishops also in their several Diocesses , Jure Divino , that is , immediately from Christ , without deriving it from the Pope .

But what if a Man refuse obedience to this pretended Power of the Pope and his Bishops ? What harm can Excommunication do him , especially if he be the Subject of another Sovereign ?

Very great harm ; for by the Pope's or Bishop's signification of it , to the Civil Power , he shall be punish'd sufficiently .

He were in an ill Case then , that adventured to write , or speak in defence of the Civil Power , that must be punish'd by him , whose Rights he defended ; like Vzza that was slain , because he would needs , unbidden , put forth his Hand to keep the Ark from falling . But what if a whole Nation should revolt from the Pope at once ? what effect could Excommunication have upon the Nation ?

Why , they should have no more Mass said , at least by any of the Popes Priests : Besides , the Pope would have no more to do with them , but cast them off , and so they would be in the same Case , as if a Nation should be cast off by their King , and left to be governed by themselves , or whom they would .

This would not be taken so much for a punishment to the People , as to the King ; and therefore when a Pope Excommunicates a whole Nation , methinks he rather Excommunicates himself , than them . But I pray you tell me , what were the Rights that the Pope pretended to in the Kingdoms of other Princes ?

First , An Exemption of all Priests , Friars and Monks in Criminal Causes from the Cognizance of Civil Judges . Secondly , Collation of Benefices , on whom he pleased , Native or Stranger , and exaction of Tenths , First Fruits , and other Payments . Thirdly , Appeals to Rome in all Causes where the Church could pretend to be concern'd . Fourthly , To be the Supream Judge , concerning Lawfulness of Marriage , ( i. e. concerning the Hereditary Succession of Kings ) and to have the Cognisance of all Causes concerning Adultery and Fornication .

Good ! A Monopoly of Women .

Fifthly , A Power of absolving Subjects of their Duties , and of their Oaths of Fidelity to their lawful Sovereigns , when the Pope should think fit , for the extirpation of Heresie .

This Power of absolving Subjects of their Obedience , as also that other of being Judge of Manners and Doctrine , is as absolute a Sovereignty as is possible to be , and consequently there must be two Kingdoms in one and the same Nation , and no Man be able to know which of his Masters he must obey .

For my part I should rather obey that Master that had the Right of making Laws , and of inflicting Punishments , than him that pretendeth only to a Right of making Canons , that is to say , Rules , and no Right of Co-action , or otherwise punishing , but by Excommunication .

But the Pope pretends also that his Canons are Laws ; and for punishing , can there be greater than Excommunication ; supposing it true ( as the Pope saith it is ) that he that dies Excommunicate is damn'd ? Which supposition , it seems , you believe not , else you would rather have chosen to obey the Pope , that would cast you Body and Soul into Hell , than the King that can only kill the Body .

You say true ; for it were very uncharitable in me to believe , that all English men ( except a few Papists ) that have been born and called Hereticks , ever since the Reformation of Religion in England should be damn'd .

But for those that die Excommunicate in the Church of England , at this day , do you not think them also damn'd ?

Doubtless he that dies in sin without repentance , is damn'd , and he that is Excommunicate for disobedience to the Kings Laws , either Spiritual or Temporal , is Excommunicate for sin ; and therefore , if he die Excommunicate , and without desire of reconciliation , he dies impenitent . You see what follows ; but to die in disobedience to the Precepts and Doctrines of those Men that have no Authority or Jurisdiction over us is quite another Case , and bringeth no such danger with it .

But what is this Heresie which the Church of Rome so cruelly persecutes , as to depose Kings that do not , when they are bidden , turn all Hereticks out of their Dominions ?

Heresie is a word , which when it is used without passion , signifies a private Opinion : So the different Sects of the old Philosophers , Academians , Peripateticks , Epicureans , Stoicks , &c. were called Heresies : but in the Christian Church there was in the signification of that word comprehended a sinful opposition to him that was chief Judge of Doctrines , in order to the salvation of Mens Souls ; and consequently Heresie may be said to bear the same relation to the Power Spiritual , that Rebellion doth to the Power Temporal , and is suitably to be persecuted by him that will preserve a Power Spiritual and Dominion over Mens Consciences .

It would be very well ( because we are all of us permitted to read the Holy Scriptures , and bound to make them the Rule of our Actions , both publick and private ) that Heresie were by some Law defined , and the particular Opinions set forth , for which a man were to be condemned and punished as a Heretick ; for else , not only Men of mean capacity , but even the wisest and devoutest Christian may fall into Heresie without any will to oppose the Church ; for the Scriptures are hard , and the Interpretations different of different men .

The meaning of the word Heresie is by Law declared in an Act of Parliament in the first year of Queen Elizabeth , wherein it is ordain'd , That the persons who had by the Queens Letters Patents the Authority Spiritual ( meaning the High Commission ) shall not have Authority to adjudge any Matter or Cause to be Heresie , but only such as heretofore have been adjudged to be Heresie by the Authority of the Canonical Scriptures , or by the first four General Councils , or by any other General Council , where the same was declared Heresie by the express and plain words of the said Canonical Scriptures , or such as hereafter shall be adjudged Heresie by the High Court of Parliament of this Realm , with the Assent of the Clergy in their Convocation .

It seems therefore if there arise any new error that hath not yet been declared Heresie , ( and many such may arise ) it cannot be judged Heresie without a Parliament ; for how foul soever the error be , it cannot have been declar'd Heresie , neither in the Scriptures , nor in the Councils , because it was never before heard of , and consequently there can be no error ( unless it fall within the compass of Blasphemy against God , or Treason against the King ) for which a man can in Equity be punished . Besides , who can tell what is declared by the Scripture , which every man is allowed to read and interpret to himself ? Nay more , what Protestant , either of the Laity or Clergy , ( if every General Council can be a competent Judge of Heresie ) is not already condemned ? for divers Councils have declared a great many of our Doctrines to be Heresie , and that ( as they pretend ) upon the Authority of the Scriptures .

What are those Points that the first four General Councils have declared Heresie ?

The first General Council held at Nicaea declared all to be Heresie , which was contrary to the Nicene Creed , upon occasion of the Heresie of Arrius , which was the denying the Divinity of Christ . The second General Council held at Constantinople declared Heresie the Doctrine of Macedonius ; which was , that the Holy Ghost was created . The third Council assembled at Ephesus condemned the Doctrine of Nestorius , that there were two Persons in Christ . The fourth held at Chalcedon , condemned the error of Eutyches , that there was but one Nature in Christ . I know of no other Points condemned in these four Councils , but such as concern Church-Government , or the same Doctrines taught by other Men in other words : and these Councils were all called by the Emperors , and by them their Decrees confirmed , at the Petition of the Councils themselves .

They say no ; for the Power they pretend to is derived from this , that when a King was converted from Gentilisme to Christianity , he did by that very submission to the Bishop that converted him , submit to the Bishops Government , and became one of his Sheep ; which Right therefore he could not have over any Nation that was not Christian.

Did Sylvester ( which was Pope of Rome in the time of Constantine the great converted by him ) tell the Emperor his new Disciple before hand , that if he became a Christian he must be the Popes Subject ?

I believe not ; for it is likely enough , if he had told him so plainly , or but made him suspect it , he would either have been no Christian at all , or but a counterfeit one .

But , if he did not tell him so , and that plainly , it was foul play , not only in a Priest , but in any Christian ; and for this derivation of their Right from the Emperors consent , it proceeds only from this , that they dare not challenge a Legislative Power , nor call their Canons Laws in any Kingdom in Christendome , farther than the Kings make them so . But in Peru , when Atabalipa was King , the Frier told him , that Christ being King of all the World , had given the disposing of all the Kingdoms therein to the Pope , and that the Pope had given Peru to the Roman Emperor Charles the 5 th , and requir'd Atabalipa to resign it ; and for refusing it , seized upon his person by the Spanish Army there present , and murdered him ; you see by this how much they claim , when they have power to make it good .

When began the Popes to take this Authority upon them first ?

After the Inundation of Northern People had overflowed the Western parts of the Empire , and possessed themselves of Italy , the People of the City of Rome submitted themselves , as well in Temporals as Spirituals to their Bishop ; and then first was the Pope a Temporal Prince , and stood no more in so great fear of the Emperors which lived far off at Constantinople . In this time it was that the Pope began , by pretence of his Power Spiritual , to encroach upon the Temporal Rights of all other Princes of the West , and so continued gaining upon them , till his Power was at the highest in that 300 years or thereabout , which passed between the 8 th and 11 th Century , that is , between the time of Pope Leo the third , and Pope Innocent the third . For in this time Pope Zachary the first deposed Chilperic then King of France , and gave the Kingdom to one of his Subjects , Pepin , and Pepin took from the Lombards a great part of their Territory , and gave it to the Church . Shortly after , the Lombards having recover'd their Estate , Charles the Great retook it , and gave it to the Church again , and Pope Leo the third made Charles Emperor .

But what Right did the Pope then pretend for the creating of an Emperor ?

He pretended the Right of being Christ's Vicar , and what Christ could give , his Vicar might give ; and you know that Christ was King of all the World .

Yes , as God ; and so he gives all the Kingdoms of the World , which nevertheless proceed from the consent of People , either for fear or hope .

'T is certainly a very good Custom for Kings to be put in mind , by whose Gift they Reign ; but it cannot from that Custom be inferr'd , that they receive the Kingdom by mediation of the Pope , or by any other Clergy : for the Popes themselves receiv'd the Papacy from the Emperor . The first that ever was elected Bishop of Rome after Emperors were Christians , and without the Emperors consent , excused himself by Letters to the Emperor with this ; That the People and Clergy of Rome forced him to take it upon him , and prayed the Emperor to confirm it ; which the Emperor did ; but with reprehension of their proceedings , and prohibition of the like for the time to come : The Emperor was Lotharius , and the Pope Calixtus the first .

You see by this the Emperor never acknowledged this Gift of God was the Gift of the Pope , but maintained , the Popedom was the Gift of the Emperor , but in process of time , by the negligence of the Emperors , ( for the greatness of Kings makes them that they cannot easily descend into the obscure and narrow Mines of an ambitious Clergy ) they found means to make the People believe , there was a Power in the Pope and Clergy , which they ought to submit unto , rather than to the Commands of their own Kings , whensoever it should come into controversie . And to that end devised and decreed many new Articles of Faith , to the diminution of the Authority of Kings , and to the disjunction of them and their Subjects , and to a closer adherence of their Subjects to the Church of Rome . Articles either not at all found in , or not well founded upon the Scriptures . As first ; that it should not be lawful for a Priest to marry .

What influence could that have upon the Power of Kings ?

Do you not see , that by this the King must of necessity either want the Priesthood , and therewith a great part of the Reverence due to him from the most religious part of his Subjects , or else want lawful Heirs to succeed him : by which means , being not taken for the Head of the Church , he was sure in any Controversie between him and the Pope , that his Subjects would be against him .

Is not a Christian King as much a Bishop now , as the Heathen Kings were of old ; for among them Episcopus was a Name common to all Kings ? Is not he a Bishop now , to whom God hath committed the charge of all the Souls of his Subjects , both of the Laity and the Clergy ? And though he be in relation to our Saviour , who is the chief Pastor , but a Sheep , yet compared to his own Subjects , they are all Sheep , both Laique and Clerique , and he only Shepherd . And seeing a Christian Bishop is but a Christian endued with power to govern the Clergy , it follows , that every Christian King is not only a Bishop , but an Arch-bishop , and his whole Dominion his Diocess . And though it were granted , that Imposition of Hands is necessary from a Priest , yet seeing Kings have the Government of the Clergy , that are his Subjects , even before Baptism ; the Baptism it self wherein he is receiv'd as a Christian , is a sufficient Imposition of Hands , so that whereas before he was a Bishop , now he is a Christian Bishop .

Yes , as much as Eternal Torture is more terrible than Death ; so much they would fear the Clergy more than the King .

And though perhaps the Roman Clergy will not maintain , that a Priest hath power to remit sins absolutely , but only with a condition of repentance , yet the People were never so instructed by them ; but were left to believe , that whensoever they had Absolution , their precedent sins were all discharged , when their Penance , which they took for Repentance , was perform'd . Within the same time began the Article of Transubstantiation ; for it had been disputed a long time before in what manner a Man did eat the Body of our Saviour Jesus Christ , as being a Point very difficult for a Man to conceive and imagine clearly ; but now it was made very clear , that the Bread was transubstantiated into Christs Body , and so was become no more Bread but Flesh.

It seems then that Christ had many Bodies , and was in as many places at once , as there were Communicants . I think the Priests then were so wanton , as to insult upon the dulness , not only of Common People , but also of Kings and their Councellors .

I am now in a Narration , not in a Disputation , and therefore I would have you at this time to consider nothing else , but what effect this Doctrine would work upon Kings and their Subjects , in relation to the Clergy , who only were able of a piece of Bread to make our Saviour's Body , and thereby at the hour of death to save their Souls .

For my part , it would have an effect on me to make me think them Gods , and to stand in awe of them , as of God himself , if he were visibly present .

Besides these and other Articles tending to the upholding of the Popes Authority , they had many fine Points in their Ecclesiastical Politie , conducing to the same end ; of which I will mention only such as were established within the same time . For then it was the Order came up of Preaching Friars , that wandred up and down with power to preach in what Congregation they pleased , and were sure enough to instil into the People nothing that might lessen the Obedience to the Church of Rome ; but on the contrary , whatsoever might give advantage to it against the Civil Power . Besides , they privately insinuated themselves with Women and Men of weak Judgment , confirming their adherence to the Pope , and urging them in the time of their sickness , to be beneficial to it by contribution of Money , or building Religious Houses , or Pious Works , and necessary for the remission of their sins .

I do not remember that I have read of any Kingdom or State in the World , where liberty was given to any private Man to call the People together , and make Orations frequently to them , or at all , without first making the State acquainted , except only in Christendome . I believe the Heathen Kings foresaw , that a few such Orators would be able to make a great Sedition . Moses did indeed command to read the Scriptures , and expound them in the Synagogues every Sabbath-day ; but the Scriptures then were nothing else but the Laws of the Nation delivered unto them by Moses himself ; and I believe it would do no hurt , if the Laws of England also were often read and expounded in the several Congregations of English-men , at times appointed , that they may know what to do ; for they know already what to believe .

I think that neither the preaching of Friers nor Monks , nor of Parochial Priests , tended to teach Men what , but whom to believe : for the Power of the Mighty hath no foundation , but in the opinion and belief of the People ; and the end which the Pope had in multiplying Sermons , was no other , but to prop and enlarge his own Authority over all Christian Kings and States .

Within the same time , that is , between the time of the Emperor Charles the Great , and of King Edward the third of England , began their second Politie , which was to bring Religion into an Art , and thereby to maintain all the Decrees of the Roman Church by disputation ; not only from the Scriptures , but also from the Philosophy of Aristotle , both Moral and Natural ; and to that end the Pope exhorted the said Emperor by Letter to erect Schools of all kinds of Literature , and from thence began the Institution of Universities ; for not long after the Universities began in Paris and in Oxford . It is true , that there were Schools in England before that time , in several places , for the instruction of Children in the Latin Tongue , that is to say , in the Tongue of the Church ; but for an University of Learning , there was none erected till that time ; thoogh it be not unlikely there might be then some that taught Philosophy , Logick , and other Arts in divers Monasteries , the Monks having little else to do , but to study . After some Colledges were built to that purpose , it was not long time before many more were added to them , by the devotion of Princes and Bishops , and other wealthy Men : and the Discipline therein was confirmed by the Popes that then were , and abundance of Scholars sent thither by their Friends to study , as to a place , from whence the way was open and easie to Preferment both in Church and Common-wealth . The profit the Church of Rome expected from them , and in effect receiv'd , was the maintenance of the Popes Doctrine , and of his Authority over Kings , and their Subjects , by School-Divines , who striving to make good many Points of Faith incomprehensible , and calling in the Philosophy of Aristotle to their assistance , wrote great Books of School-Divinity , which no man else , nor they themselves were able to understand ; as any man may perceive that shall consider the Writings of Peter Lombard , or Scotus , or of him that wrote Commentaries upon him , or of Suarez , or any other School-Divine of later times ; which kind of Learning nevertheless hath been much admir'd by two sorts of Men , otherwise prudent enough ; the one of which sorts were of those that were already devoted , and really affectionate to the Roman Church : for they believed the Doctrine before , but admir'd the Arguments because they understood them not , and yet found the Conclusions to their mind . The other sort were negligent Men , that had rather admire with others , than take the pains to examine . So that all sorts of People were fully resolv'd , that both the Doctrine was true , and the Pope's Authority , no more than what was due to him .

I see that a Christian King , or State , how well soever provided he be of Money and Arms , ( where the Church of Rome hath such Authority ) will have but a hard match of it , for want of Men : for their Subjects will hardly be drawn into the Field , and fight with courage against their Consciences .

It is true , that great Rebellions have been raised by Church-men in the Popes quarrel against Kings , as in England against King John , and in France against King Henry the 4 th , wherein the Kings had a more considerable part on their sides , than the Pope had on his , and shall always have so , if they have Money ; for there are but few whose Consciences are so tender as to refuse Money when they want it : But the great mischief done to Kings upon pretence of Religion is , when the Pope gives power to one King to invade another .

I wonder how King Henry the 8 th could then so utterly extinguish the Authority of the Pope in England , and that without any Rebellion at home , or any Invasion from abroad .

First , the Priests , Monks and Friars being in the heighth of their power , were now for the most part grown insolent and licentious , and thereby the force of their Arguments was now taken away by the scandal of their Lives , which the Gentry and Men of good Education easily perceived ; and the Parliament consisting of such persons , were therefore willing to take away their Power ; and generally the Common People , which from a long Custom had been in love with Parliaments , were not displeased therewith . Secondly , the Doctrine of Luther beginning a little before , was now by a great many men of the greatest Judgments so well received ; as that there was no hope to restore the Pope to his Power by Rebellion . Thirdly , the Revenue of Abbies , and all other Religious Houses falling hereby into the Kings Hands , and by him being disposed of to the most Eminent Gentlemen in every County , could not but make them do their best to confirm themselves in the possession of them . Fourthly , King Henry was of a Nature quick and severe in the punishing of such as should be the first to oppose his Designs . Lastly , ( as to Invasion from abroad ) in case the Pope had given the Kingdom to another Prince , it had been in vain ; for England is another manner of Kingdom than Navarre . Besides , the French and Spanish Forces were employed at that time one against another : and though they had been at leisure , they would have found perhaps no better success , than the Spaniards found afterwards in 1588. Nevertheless , notwithstanding the Insolence , Avarice and Hypocrisie of the then Clergy , and notwithstanding the Doctrine of Luther , if the Pope had not provoked the King by endeavouring to cross his Marriage with his second Wife , his Authority might have remained in England , till there had risen some other quarrel .