as foreriders where of Simon Magus was the first a detestable magicien and a traiterous apostate who not withstanding hath found ouer many coÌ„panions to follow him Iesus Christ should slay the Antichrist with the spirite of his mouth that is as ye interprete it with the preaching of the Euangell that hath he never donne to any Pape albeit ye haue imaginated to your selfs that ye haue slaine the Pape by your preachinges oâ— rather taillinges the Pape never hath had one houres sicknes for all your crying assure your selues that his infirmities cometh of other causes Luther in spirite of prophicie as he thought made this most notable verse Pestis eram viuus moriens tuâ— mors ero Papa he knew very well the first part to be true and therefore myght say it confidently the last part was lyk the authour false and vntrue he being deade and his doctrine bothe it being changed partly by him self during his lyf partly by his disciples and followers after his deathe where as the Papes Authoritie because it is founded vpon God doth remaine shall remaine till the worlds end The Antichrist should oppose him self to our lord in all thinges and abolish his name and honour so farre as he can for so the name of Antichrist doth signifie The Pape doeth the plaine contrarie The Antichrist should come after Gog Magog howbeit that the Papes hath beene so many ages yet know we not what Gog and Magog ar nor what place of the world they dwell in The Pape honoreth the Sainctes as Gods vndoubted friends and desyreth them to pray for him Where vpon maliciously ye preach to the people that we gif Christs honour to the Saincts yet we acknowledge them as seruants onely who hath credit to pray and not to command The Antichrist should haue in his name the number of 666. to find this number your brethren further different frome you in doctrine and discipline then in place or habites haue taken great paines tourning the Papes names but all in vaine it could not be found the holie spirite hauing so prouided against your calumnies Many thousands ar saued in the Catholik kirk which ye call the papist kirk for otherwise all your forfathers ar condemned yea all the ancient fathers martyres and doctours of the kirk seing that they haue acknowledged the pape for their superior and chief vicare to Iesus Christ and a great part of you were baptised by the membres of the Antichrist in whose kirk no man can be saued The Pape armeth him self al men so far as he can for Iesus Christ with reasons scriptures generall counceilles authorities of fathers exeÌ„ples of martyres consentement of the wholl Catholik kirk of all ages The Antichrist shall arme him selfe and his followers with force and violence against Iesus Christ The Pape conserueth and haue conserued at all tymes the scriptures The Antichrist if he do according to his name and profession should destroy the scriptures The Pape hateth and condemneth all sort of rebellions and nouelties in religion The Antichrist should embrace them as most proper conuenient instruments for his auancement of perdition The Pape came so quietly and peaceablye yea according to your owen â—ellowes saying that ye can not yet goodly-tell when or how he first entred in the kirk ye ar so troubled to tell well your new forged fable The Antichrist should come with sic trouble and mischief as neuer was since the beginning of the world where in he shal be more lyk to you then to the Pape seing we can well tell when ye came and may yet shew ouer euident markes of your vnquiet intré And to be short the Antichrist should be filius perditioniâ— the sonne of perdition chief instrument of satan that is so possessed and assisted with the deuill that he shall do all thinges in the deuils power and for his cause and shal be so perfect and accomplished if I should so say in all vice and iniquitie that no man can equall him meikilles to surpasse him and principallie in pryde as our maister and lord Iesus Christ did excell in all vertue chiefly in humilitie discite à me quia mitis sum huâ—â—lis corde Wherefor not without reason sundry learned men haue repported the seuen montains to the seuen deedly sinnes which shal be in the Antechrist in most high degree that he may iustly answeare to his name The Pape can no wayes be thought so wicked I call to witnes all sort of Protestantes of what so euer nation saction or opinion who haue beene at Rome before or since the Iubile and haue seene the Pape who now sitteth Clement the eight a man worthie of that name if any of them may say in his conscience that he is so wicked and desperate a maÌ„ as the Antichrist is described to be in the scriptures Sure I am that there is none of them so far drounkeÌ„ in the ministeriall humour that will say so if he speak according to that he hath seene It is so far from that the Pape can be the Antichrist that his most excellente Maiestie a Prince of rare iudgement and learning doth acknowledge the Pape to be a temporall Prince to whom he is obliged and to whome in all good offices he wil be correspondent â—hat wordes may be said to your opinion who maketh our Kinge to haue obligation from and commerce with the Antichrist I may say with your pardon and licence sessionall that he is a better more honest man then any ministers that either is or euer was in Scotland without exception of your chief pontifs first or last Iohn or Robert I am assured that he who knoweth the Pape anâ— your ministers will say the same principally if it were question of humilitie and humanitie and if I be put to my proues I hope easely to discharge my selfe litill to youâ— honours If this be true as it is most certaine why should any man sweare the Pape to be the Antichrist that is the most wicked and detestable man that euer was is or shal be seing that there is none of your companie how godly brethren that euer ye be but iâ— meikill worse then he or if they sweare a thing so farre out of all reason and veritâ—e as thinking it true why should they follow or acknowledge you for true and lawfull pastours sent by God to reforme the world if ye be worse then the Antichrist who must be the most detestable and abominable instrument that euer Satan hath employed If ye say that it is but simulation and hypocrisie in the Pâ—pe to deceaue men I answeare you that if we graunt your foolish affirmation ye must also graunt to vs that the deuill hath donne more good with the Pape his hypocrisie preteÌ„ded or fained holinesse then euer the holie spiâ—ite which is in you I say could do by â—ou and your pietie and reformed Godlinesse your actions may beare witnes if I lie O Sanctas gentes
that is embrace your inuentions and execute your plottes so that his Maiestie and all his subiects of what so euer qualitie or condition should onely be vestrae voluntatis imo tyrannidis ministri to trouble and persecute all theis that will not obey you albeit it were bothe against his Maiesties honour and state Which I think his Maiestie will suffer no longer to be donne because of the danger that may eusue there vpon For what can be more perniciouse within a realme where obedience and modestie ar moste necessarie then to suffer the subiects to be corrupted either by monopoles or periuries or damnable opinions tending to a new forme of gouerment and state or to permitt a â—orme of common wealth within an other as a cotadaill or fortresse within a towne to hold the Prince and all his subiects bound sâ—aues to yow A thing I know not whether more dishonorable to the Prince or more dangerouse I say onely that the moâ—e his Maiestie beareth with you the more ye at presumptiouse and the reddier to attempt some new interprise Ye contented your selues before to raill against the state and gouerment of Scotland now as if your iurisdiction were amplified with his Maiesties empire ye ar entred in England all Britaine is fallen to your lot ye will comptroll all mens actions there ye will assist your brethren of that nation defend them their doctrine and discipline according to your reformed ministeriall othe for why should any man be so bolde as to touch in any wise your inheritance or medle with your affaires or command within your iurisdiction A surplice a square cappe or a Bishoppe may serue you for a most iust reason to trouble all so liuely is your faith finding Idolatrie in any thing that mislyketh your humour O tribus Anticris caput insâ—nabile It were best his Maiestie sent you to the vnfound lands where there is no man yet that ye might forme a common wealth at your owne fantasie without other mens griefe or trouble Certainely if ye were sent ouer sea fiue or sixe yeares to seek your meate as others haue donne ye wold perchance be more modest and vnderstand how bontifull and patient his Maiestie is suffering you so long to reigne and raill without ryme or reason Cogeâ—is aliquando per vestrum scelus iracunda louem sumere sulmina But ye the Saincts of God his elected people assured inheritance indued with only faith voide of all good workes destitute of free will and yet willfull in all your opinions predestinated to the heauens how so euer emptie of honestie and covered with vice ye zealouse brethren I say ar aboue all Kinges and Princes they at but your officers executers of your good pleasiurs and will otherwise to no purpoâ— in this world To conclude this matter I will tell you the Catholik opinion herein which is this As we ar wholly and without any exception obliged to God in matters of faith and conscience so at we absolutly and without any exception or restriction obliged bound to our Prince with all fidelitie and obedience in temporall affaires that is in matters nether repugnant to God nor good reason how soeuer they be to our dommage and hurt in worldly thinges or to out paines and against our repose There is no reason why the foote should refuse to trauaill when the head haue a doe how hote that euer it be wearinesse can serue for no excuse at the nodde of the head the rest of the membres should be reddie at sic tymes excuses ar but disguised rebellions the want of commodities maketh the way more difficill but not impossible To the foote thes thinges may seeme very hard and iniust because of the great paines and many incommodities it must suffer oftentymes not knowing the reason why except that it is a member subiect to the head and therefor obliged to obey according to the office and due function of a member as it shall please the head to command Wold ye that men should goe as Iugling tumblers doe their feete vp and their head downe ye haue some reason so â—o desyre in maters of state although there be no reason why it should be graunted to you seing by that meanes sundry of you myght hope for the highest place as being in all degrees the very dregges of the people yet being promoted without order or extraordinairely for all is one in your personnes ye at found worthie of the charge ye haue ye become so perfect raillers but how proper ye be to gouuerne Kinges and realme which ye will to â—â—pend vpon you in maters of greatest consequence I leaue the iudgement to others and principallie when it is question of your zealouse brethren who ordinairely ar caried away rather by passion and opinion thâ—n guided by discâ—etiâ—n and wisdome where vpon ar founded an infnite nomber of rash iudgements that they haue made vpon other mens actioâ—s I think it not needfull that I specifie any the exâ—mples being so frequentâ— and common A nâ—w sorte of tyrannie meâ—kill to be lamented if we â—ere not oppressed with a morâ— grieuouse â—her by it is freâ— to no maÌ„ to vse his naturall aire and inioye the sight of his friends and kinnesmen except â—e sweare him self your slaue foreswearing bothe God and Prince for a reformed folie Ouer high a price truely and ouer great subiection for the small reward that any maÌ„ can look for at your-hand What so euer banishment were more to be desyred then that dwelling at home for accepting that conditâ—on men incuâ—reth the danger of double treason diuine and humaine which being donne they were vnworthie not onely to be esteemed his Maiestiâ—s subiects but to â—e suffered to liue vpon the earth if that come of their proper consent and desyre And what fidelitie I pray you can his Maiestie look for of you who requires of other men sic othes as cutt away all assurance of fidelitie towards the Prince ye preâ—erting your vaine opinions that I say nothing more displeasant to the whol antiquitie yea to all ages passed and present in maters of religion and your iudgement to all magistrates of what so euer authoritie or experience in maters of state and your interprises to peace and quyetnesse ar good Christians and true subiects well at your case in honour and Authoriâ—ie although the greatest part of you be the first honest men of your race or rather the worst that euer was of your race shewing the common say to be very true Asperius nihib est humili cum surgit in altum â—et a beggar on horseback and he will ride â— gallop But peiceable men who haue not that turbulent presomptious spirite because they prefer the authoritie of the vniuersall kiâ—k and iudgement of the ancient pastours and Caâ—holik consent to their priuat and particulaâ—e opinion respecting the magistrates as Gods officers and lawâ—ull instruments they at Idolaters papists traitours to his Maiestie enemies to the coÌ„mon wealth excoÌ„municat
kirk because in place of his heauenly doctrine as he sayeth ye haue teached your doctrine which ye haue brought out of hell tak you to him if the words be some what sharpe to prison the wordle and for that cause in the very beginning he did excommunicat Caluin Zuinglius whom he called sacramentaries and that most iustly according to their owen opinion for they acknowledging him for that new beginning of their vocation and new reformed kirk it behoued him to haue that power aboue them So what doubt is but Luther hauing power to send them hath power also to call them back if they past the boundes of his commission I he hath called them back and broken the commission he gaue them before as in deed he hath donne what he could that is in imagination as he gaue them that power they at priuate men againe in the middes of their reformation and ye also destitute of all power and authoritie to excommunicat any man By this although Luther hath neuer called backe his power gifin to Caluin yet could it serue him for no Warrand seing that Luther denyeth planely that euer he him self receaueth any charge to speake or write sundry thinges which Caluin and Zuinglius haue spoken and written since that tyme and therefor he calles them heretiks and sacramentaries as I haue said before Or if he receaued charge to preach thes thinges why condemneth he other men who preached them There were some excuse if he did not all but there is no excuse nor reason why he should hinder other men hauing lawfull power of him self to do that which he could not do or to condemne them who teacheth the veritie that being the chief and principall end of his â—xtraordinarie vocation There is none of all â—he Prophetee Euangelists or other holie writters who haue written althinges which â—t hath pleased God to shâ—w to the world â—or so he hath though it good to distribute â—is giftes at sundry tyms to sundry personâ—es for sundry reasons as he thought it most â—xpedient for his glorie and our saluation â—ut there is none of them all who either gaine sayeth or condemneth the others meikilles stoppeth them to say or write any thing that they haue in charge to declare and publish to the world here tourne you to what syde ye will either Luther shal be a false prophete or Caluin an Apostate his vocation null and yours also 12. I mak no doubt but ye will reither forsak Luther howbeit first then Caluin your last patron I may obiect here to you the honourable titels quo iure non dispâ—to that Caluin gifeth to Luther as to a true seruant of God and not as to a false prophete which were sufficient to close your mouthes if they could be closed But I will passe this as if it were not and speak of Caluin and you because ye may say that Caluin him self was sent extraordinariely to performe that excellent worke in vaine and falsely attempted by Luther I will well by supposition prouiding that ye reformed brethren will stand there to and suffer me to examine the matter a litill for we shall see if ye can fight better vnder this new captaine Caluin or any othâ—r ye will was sent I suppose this now in case ye will not stand by Luther tak your ordinarie calling of him extraordinariely by God him self to teach the veritie and ministrate the sacraments according to the reformation â—e was to make if he did not his duetie in this most excellent and necessarie charge ye should esteeme him as he is a false prophete who being commanded by God and assisted by the holie Spirite for sure I am in your opinion he lacketh not that ioyned to his charge yet wold not declare the veritie truely plainely without admixting some lyes of his owne by the deuils suggestion where by the world mighâ— be of new poysoned with false doctrine vnder colour of Goddes soueraigne name If this be true he merites more theÌ„ to be slaine in the way by a Lyon for traÌ„sgressing of the lords command not in simple eating and drinking being forbidden to eat or drink as did the ancient prophete but for teaching of false doctrine far by his coÌ„mission which was to shew the veritie If he did his duetie â—n all thinges where from cometh it that â—undry of your brethren in France other â—laces yea your excellent Apostle-Verelian â—reat Pontif of Geneua M. Theodore Beze â—is owen good disciple dissentes from him â— many heads and as I think ye also disaâ—ow him not in few pointes Certainely I â—aue not to this day found one who approâ—eth him in all thinges For when any of â—ours ar vrged with Caluins authoritie yâ— answere that ye acknowledge not Caluin but so farre as he agreeth with the scriptures where ye find that he agreeth with the scriptures ye will receaue him what lesse can ye gif to Plato Aristotle Cicero and Seneca or any other profane writter will ye reiect them although ye find them agree with the word of God I think not Truely Caluin is meikill obliged to you if ye grauÌ„t him that which ye can not refuse to an ould wyf Is this the reuerence ye beare to him for his extraordinarie calling ar thes the thankes ye gif him for the vocation and powâ—r that ye haue receaued of him shall not the spirite that spak in him haue more credit then any of you was he sent with that condition that he should haue no credit till ye found in the bible that it was true he sayed Truely if I be not far deceaued it wil be very easie to mak you beleeue any thing ye please and otherwise impossible if the iudgement be reâ—erred to you poore Caluin so far as I vnderstand by your answers receaued not the spirite in the best sort He receaued onely the spirite to tell you many thinges in forme of proposition to your holie assemblies and ye receaued of discretion and wisdome to iudge what was good anâ— what was ill ye haue gotten a more mightiâ— inspiration then your chief prophetâ— I am glade for your cause we can not faille to go well hauing gottin you for supreme iudge to trie all thinges but as I think euery one in his owin parish for euer the further we go frome vnitie the nomber is the greater and Papes ar multiplied in your persones I loue your wittes to follow Cesar reither first in a village then second in Rome yet good sires seing ye ar sett vpon that high throne lyk to as many Salomons that euery one of you iuris nodos legum aenigmata soluit be not offended if I ask some thinges at you seing there rested me yet some litill doubtes I ask wheâ—her Caluin was sent extraordinariely to teach you the veritie or be to teached examined by you If he was sent to teach you ye should admitt him without any further triall tak the conference with the