no stole or chayre for what hath the kingdoÌ„ of Christ to do with such baggage but it is a spiritual thyng Chryst sayth in the gospell Math. xxiij The Scrybes and pharyzees syt on Moses seate What was moses seat ther a chayre â—or the temple or the churchs or synagoge of the land Nay verely â–ª for moses came neuer there But Moses seate was Moses lawe and doctrine EueÌ„ so peters seate is peters doctryne the gospell of christ which peter taught And the same doctrine is Peters keyes so that peters seate Peters keyes and Peters doctrine is all one thing Nowe is peters doctryne Paules doctrine the doctrine of all the .xij. Apostles in differently for they taught all one thynge Wherfore it followeth that peters keyes and peters seate be the keyes and seate of Paule also of all the other .xij. Apostles and are nothing saue the gospell of Christ And thus as Peters doctryne is no better then Paules but one thing euen so Peters seate is no greter nor hier or holyer then yâ— sete of the other .xij. Peters sete now is christes sete Chrystes gospell on whych all the appostles sate on whych this daie sitteth all they only that preache christ truly Uherfore as Antichrist preacheth not peters doctrine which is christs gospell so he sytteth not on peters sete but on the sete of sathan whose vicar he is and on the sete of his owne lawes and ceremonyes and false doctryne wher vnto he compelleth all men wythe vyolence of swerde Then he clame to purgatorye with the ladder of the sayde texte Purgatori what so euer thou bindest in earth c. purgatorie sayeth he is in earth wherfore I am lorde ther to Neuerthelesse as he can proue no purgatorye so can he not proue that yf ther were any it shuld be in the earth It myght well be iÌ„ the elemeÌ„te or sphere of fyre vnder the mone as well as in the earth But to bynd aÌ„d loose is as I haue aboue sayde to preache and to fede and with Chrystes doctryne to purge soules And they that be dead be not of the flocke which christ bad Peter fede but they that lyue onlye Then clam he vppe wyth the same ladder styll ouer all vowes and professions of all relygious parsones Uowes Othes testameÌ„ts and ouer othes made betwene man and man to dispence wyth them and ouer all mennes testamentes to alter theÌ„ For what thou makest an hospytall that will he shortely make a college of preastes or a place of relygyon or what he lusteth TheÌ„ all maner monkes aÌ„d fryers and lyke dâ—affe toke dyspensations of hym for the ordenauÌ„ces of theyr olde founders And because as they thought they had prayed distributed for theyr Souls Inough to bring theÌ„ out of purgatory they thrust theÌ„ out of their beedrolles and toke dayly mo and mo But euer sens they toke dyspensations of the pope both for their rules and to deuide all among them they receued in the name not of the poore but of purgatorye to quench the ragiÌ„ge fyre ther of which is as hote as theyr belyes can fayne it and foles be out of theyr wyts to beleue it promysâ—ge a masse daily for .xl. shilyngs by the yeare of whych fouÌ„dations when they haue gotten twentie Union they wil yet with an vnion purchased of the pope make but one chauÌ„trie For if they shuld do all that they haue promised from the fyrst founder vnto thiâ— day .v. hunderth monkes were not ynough in many cloysters Thynkest thou the meÌ„ were euer so mad to make the fassions that are now among them to geue the sellâ—rar such a soÌ„me the priour and the suppriour and the other offycers so much for their partes as they haue yerelye and to â—â—empte the Abbot from his brethreÌ„ to send him out of the abbaie into suche parkes aÌ„d places of pleasure aÌ„d geue hym a thousand fyftene hundred two thousand or .iij thousand pounde yerely to sporte hiÌ„selfe with all Nay but when thorow hypochrisie thei had gotteÌ„ laÌ„d ynough then they turned vnto the pope aÌ„d toke dyspensacions both for their rules whych were to harde for such aboundauÌ„ce and for the wylles of their fouÌ„ders and serued a great sort of founders vnder one per dominum aÌ„d deuyded among fewe that whych was ynough for a great multitude It was the pope that deuised all these fassions to corrupt the prelates with abuÌ„daunce of worldelye pleasures of whyche he wist that the worst wold be most gready and for which he wist also yâ— he shuld fynd Iudasses ynow that wold forsake Chryst and betraye the truth and be sworne false vnto him and hys godhead He maketh of many chauntries one of an abbay a cathedral church and out of the abbays plucketh he the Bysshoprykes And as Bysshoppes paye for theyr bulles euen so do an infinyte numbre of abbots in chrystendom in all landes some â–ª whyche Abbots be bysshops within them selues and immediatly vnder the pope And other abbots prioures seÌ„d after the same ensample dayly vnto rome to purchesse lycence to weare a mitre and a crosse gaye ornameÌ„tes to be as gloryous as the best c. And where before God no maÌ„ is a priest but he that is appointed to preache Chrystes gospell vnto the people the people ought not to geue ought vnto the spiritualtye but for the maintenaunce of the preaching of Gods word the Pope taketh vi or .vij. yea ten .xx. and as many benefices as he lysteth geueth them vnto one the preacheth not at all as he doth all other dygnities of the spiritualtie he that wyll purchasse and paye and be sworne shall haue what he wyll ¶ Howe they proue all theyr generall counsels WHen the Bysshoppes and Abbottes and other greate Prelates had forsaken Chryste and hys lyuinge and were fallen downe before the beast the vycar of Sathan to receaue their kyngdome of hym then the pope called together diuerse counsels of such holy apostles and there concluded and made of euery opinion that semed proffitable an artycle of the fayth If thou axe wher is the scriptur to proue it They answere we be the church can not erre and therfore saye they The churche caÌ„ not erre what we conclude though there be no scrypture to proue it it is as true as the scriptur of egall aucthoritie with the scrypture and must be beleued as well as the scryptur vnder payne of dampnation For say they our truth dependeth not of the trueth of the scriptur that is we be not true in our doynge because the Scrypture testifyeth vnto vs that we do truly but contrary the truth of the scripture saye they dependeth of vs that is the scrypture is true because that we admyt it and tell the that it is true â–ª For howe couldest thou knowe that it were the scrypture except we told the so therfore we nede no witnesse of the scrypture for that we do it
forth a ê“phecy of the olde testameÌ„t for the sayde partie And ther with the aduersaries gaue ouer their hold and they coÌ„cluded wyth one assent by the auctorytie of the scripture of the holy gost thou the heathen shuld not be circuÌ„cised and not by the commaundement of Peter vnder payne of cursing excommunycatyon interdytyng and lyke bogges to make foles and chyldren afrayed wyth all And Actes viij Peter was sent of the other apostles vnto the samaritanes which is an evident token that he had in iurisdiccion ouer them for then they coulde not haue sent hym But rather as the truth is that the congregacion had auctorytie ouer hym and ouer all other pryuate Parsons to admitte them for ministres and send theÌ„ forth to preach whether so euer the sprite of god moued them and as they sawe occasyon And in the Epystle vnto the Gallathians thou seist also howe Paule corrected Peter when he walked not the ryght waye after the truth of the Gospell Galla. ij So now thou seyst that in the kingdome of Chryst and in his churche or congregation and in his couÌ„sels Scripture is the chefest of the apostles the ruler is the scripture approued thorowe the myracles of the holy gost and meÌ„ be seruaunts onely â–ª and Chryst is the heade and we all bretheren And when we call men oure heades that we do not because they be shorne or shauen or because of theyr names parson vicar bisshoppe pope But onely because of the worde which they preach If they erre froÌ„ the worde then may who soeuer God moueth his harte playe pauil â–ª and correct hiÌ„ If he wyl not obeye the scripture then haue hys brethern aucthoritie by the scripture to put hym downe to sende hiÌ„ out of Chrystes church amonge the heretikes which preferre their false doctryne aboue the true woorde of Chryst. ¶ How the gospell punissheth trespasers and how by the Gospell we ought to go to lawe with oure aduersaryes THough that they of Chrystes congregacion be all wylâ—ing yet because that the moost part is always weake because also that the occasions of the world be euer many and greate in so muche that Chryst which wysâ—e all thing beforehande sayth Mathew xviij Wo be vnto the world by reason of occasions of Euell and saythe also that it can not be auoyded but that occasyons shall come therfore it can not be chosen but that many shal ouerfaule when a weake Brother hath trespassed by what law shal he be punisshed verely by the law of loue whose properties thou readest in the xiii of the first to the Corinthians If the loue of God which is my professioÌ„ be written in myne hart it wyll not let me hate my weake brother when he hath offended me â–ª no more then naturall loue wyll let a Mother hate her chyld when it trespasseth against her My weak brother hath offeÌ„ded me he is falleÌ„ his weaknes hath ouertrowne hiÌ„ it is not ryght by the lawe of loue that I shuld now faule vpoÌ„ hiÌ„ treade hiÌ„ downe in the myre and destroy him vtterly but it is ryght by the law of loue that I runne to hym helpe him vp agayne ¶ By what ê“cesse we shuld go to law with our trespacers christ teacheth vs Math. xviij Tell hiÌ„ hys faute betwene hiÌ„ the with all mekenesse remeÌ„bryng yâ— thou arte a man mayst fall also Yf ye repet thou loue hiÌ„ ye shall sone agre theÌ„ forgeue hiÌ„ And wheÌ„ thou forgeuest thy neyghbour theÌ„ thou arte sure that god forgeueth the thy trespaces by his holy promysse Math. vi If he heare yâ— not theÌ„ take a neyghboure or two If he heare theÌ„ not theÌ„ tell the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ wher thou art let the preacher pronouÌ„ce gods law agaiÌ„st hiÌ„ let the sad discret meÌ„ rebuke hiÌ„ exhort hiÌ„ vnto repeÌ„tauÌ„ce if he repeÌ„t yâ— also loue him accordyng to the professyon ye shall sone agre If he heare not the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ then let him be taken as an hetheÌ„ Yf he that is offeÌ„ded be weake also theÌ„ let them that be strong â—o betwene helpe theÌ„ And in lyke maner if any sine agaiÌ„st the doctrine of Chryst the professioÌ„ of a christeÌ„ maÌ„ so that he be a dronkard aÌ„ horekeper or whatsoeuer opeÌ„ sinne he do or if he teach false learniÌ„g then let such be rebuked opeÌ„ly befor the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ by the auctoritie of the scripture And if they repeÌ„t not let theÌ„ be put out of the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ as he theÌ„ people if they theÌ„ be not a shamed â— we haue no remedye but paciently to abyde what god wil do to pray in the meane time the god wyll opeÌ„ their hartes giue them repentaunce Other law then this Chrystes gospell knoweth not nor the officers therof It is manifest therfore that the kingdom of christ is a spirituall kingdom which no man caÌ„ mynyster well a teÌ„porall kingdoÌ„ to as it is sufficiently proued because yâ— no maÌ„ whiche putteth his hand to the plow loketh backe is apt for the kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ as Chryst answered Luke ix vnto hiÌ„ yâ— wold haue folowed hiÌ„ but wolde first haue take leaue of his housholde If a man put hys haÌ„d to yâ— plow of gods word to preach it loke also vnto worldly busines his plow wyll surely go a wry And therfore sayth Christ vnto aÌ„ other yâ— wold likewise folow hiÌ„ but desyred first to go aÌ„d bury his father Let the dead bury the deade but come thou aÌ„d shewe or preach that kingdom of god As who shuld say he yâ— wyll preache the kingdom of God which is Chrystes gospell truly must haue his harte no where else ¶ What officers yâ— apostles ordeyned iÌ„ christes church what their offices wer to do Wherfore the apostles folowâ—g obeiÌ„g the rule doctrine coÌ„mauÌ„dmeÌ„t of our sauiour Iesus Christ their master ordeyned in hys kyngdome aÌ„d congregacioÌ„ two officers One called after the greke worde byshop in english an ouersear which same was called preast after the greke elder in eÌ„glysh because of his age discrecioÌ„ sadnes for he was as nygh as coulde be all waye aÌ„ elderly man as thou seist both in the new olde testament also how the officers of the Iewes be called the Elders of the People because as thou mayst wel thynke they were ouer old men â–ª as nygh as could be For vnto age do men naturally obeye and vnto age doth god commaunde to geue honoure sayenge Levi. xix Ryse vp before the horehead and reuerence the face of the old maÌ„ And also experience of thynges and couldnesse without which it is hard to rule wel is more in age then in youth And thys ouerseaâ— dyd put hys haÌ„des vnto the plow of goddes worde and fed Chrystes flocke and tended them only without lokyng vnto any other busynesse in the worlde An other officer they chose and called hym Deacon after the greke amynystre in
thou shalt se in the glasse folowing which I haue set before thine eyes not to resyst the hypocrites wyth vyolence which vengeaunce perteyneth vnto God but that thou myghtest se their wicked wayes and abhominable pathes to wythdrawe thy selfe from them and to come agayne to Chryste and walke in his lyght and to followe hys steppes and to commyt the kepyng both of thy body and soule also vnto him and vnto the father thorow him whose name be glorious for euer Amen â—xed who shulde be greatest in the kingâ—â—â— of heauen Chryst called a yong chyld vnto him and set him in the middes among theÌ„ â–ª sayeng Excepte ye turne backe and become as chyldreÌ„ ye shall not enter in the kingdome of heauen Nowe yong chyldren beare no rule one over an other but all is fellowshype among them And he sayd more ouer Who soever humbleth him selfe after the ensample of this Chylde he is greatest in the kingdome of heauen that is to be as concerning ambicion and worldely desyre so chyldish â–ª yâ— yâ— couldest not heyue thy selfe aboue thy brother is the very bearing of rule and to be greate in Chrysts kingdome And to describe the very â—aâ—ion of the greatenesse of his kingdome he sayde He that receyueth one such chylde in my name receaueth me What is that to receaue a chyld in Chrystes name Uerely to submâ—â— to meke and to humble thy selfe and to cast thy selfe vnder all men and to consider all mennes infirmities and weakenesses to helpe to heale their dyseases wyth the word of trueth and to lyue purely that they se no contrarye ensample in the to what soever thou teachest them in Christ that thou put no stumbling blocke before them to make them falle whyle they be yet Younge and weake in the fayth But that thou abstayne as Paule teacheth .i. Thessalo v. Ab omni specie mala from all that myght seme euyll or whereof a man might surmyse amysse that thou so loue them that whatsoeuer gifte of god in the is thou thynk the same theirs and their fode and for their sakes geueÌ„ vnto the as the Truthe is and that all the infyrmytyes be thyne and that thou feale them and that thyne hart mourne for them and that wyth all thy powre thou helpe to amende them and cease not to crye to God for them neither daye nor nyghte and that thou let nothyng be founde in the that any man maye rebuke but whatsoeuer thou teachest them thou that be And that thou be not a wolf in a Lambes skynne as our holye father the Pope is whych cometh vnto vs in Name of hypocrysye and in the tytle of cursed Cham or Ham callyng hym selfe Seruus seruorum the seruante of all seruantes and is yet founde tyrannus tyrannorum of all tyrauÌ„tes moste cruell Thys is to receaue yonge chyldern in chrystes name and to recaue yong chyldern in Chrystes name is to beare rule in the kyngdoÌ„ of christ Thus ye maye se that Chrystes kyngdome â—s alltogether spirituall and the bearynge of rule in it is cleane contrary vnto the bearing of rule temporallye Wherfore none that beareth rule in it maye haue any temporall iurisdiction or ministre any temporal office that requyreth Uyolence to compell with all ¶ Peter was not greater then the other Apostles by any aucthoritie geuen hym of Chryst. THey saye that Peter was chefe of the Apostles verely as Apelles was called chefe of painters for his excellent conning aboue other euen so Peter may be called thefe of the Apostles for his actiuitie aÌ„d boldnes aboue the other but that Peter had any aucthoritie or rule ouer his bretheren fellow apostles is fals coÌ„trary to the scriptur Christ forbad it the last euen before his passion aÌ„d in dyuerse times befor and taught always the contrary as I haue rehersed Thou wylt saye thou canst not see how there shuld be any good ordre in the kingdom where none weare Better then other and where the superiour had not a lawe aÌ„d authoritie to compell the inferyour with violeÌ„ce The world truly can se none other way to rule then with violence For there no maÌ„ absteyneth from euel but for feare because the loue of ryghtuousnes is not written in theyr hartes And therfore the Popes kingdome is of thys worlde For there one sorte are your Grace your Holynesse your fatherhod An other my lorde bisshop my Lorde Abbot my Lord Priour An other master doctour father bachelar master parson master vicar and at the last commeth in simple sir Iohan. And euery man reygneth ouer other wyth myght and haue euery ruler his pryson his iayler hys chayne 's hys tormentes euen so much as the fryers obseruauntes obserue that rule and coÌ„pell euery man eyther with violence aboue the cruelnes of the heatheÌ„ tirauÌ„ts so that what cometh ones in maye neuer out for feare of tellyng tales out of scole They rule ouer the bodye with violence and coÌ„pell it whether the harte wyll or not to obserue thinges of their owne making But in the kyngdom of God it is contrarye For the spirite that bringeth theÌ„ thether maketh theÌ„ wyllyng geueth theÌ„ luste vnto the lawe of God loue compelleth them to worke and loue maketh everye mans good and all that he can do commune vnto hys neyghbours neade And as every man is stroÌ„ge in that kingdome so loue compelleth him to take the weake by the hande and to helpe him and to take him that can not goo vppon his shulders and beare him And so to do seruice vnto the weaker is to beare rule in that kyngdome And because Peter did excede the other apostles in ferveÌ„t service towarde his brethern therfore is he called not in the scripture but in the vse of speaking the chefeste of the Apostles and not that he had any dominioÌ„ ouer theÌ„ Of which truth thou mayest se all thy practise in the Aâ—tes of the Apostles after the resurrectioÌ„ For when Peter had bene preached in the house of Cor +nelis an hetheÌ„ maÌ„ the other that were circuÌ„cysed chode hym because he had bene in an vncyrcumcised maÌ„s house and had eateÌ„ with hiÌ„ for it was forbyddeÌ„ in the lawe neyther wist they yet that yâ— hetheÌ„ shuld be called And Peter was fayne to gyue accountes vnto theÌ„ which is not tokeÌ„ of superiorite aÌ„d to shew theÌ„ how he was warned of the holy gost so to do Actes xi And Actes the .xv. wheÌ„ a counsell was gathered of the apostles aÌ„d dyscyples aboute the cyrcuÌ„cysioÌ„ of the hetheÌ„ Peter brought forth not hys coÌ„maundemeÌ„t and the auctoryte of hys vycarshyppe but the myracle that the holy gost had shewed for the heathen how at the preaching of the gospel the holy gost had lyghted vppon theÌ„ and purytyed theyr hartes thorow fayth and therfore ê“â—ed that they ought not to be circumcysed And Paule Barnabas brought forth the myracles also that God had shewed by theÌ„ amoÌ„g the heatheÌ„ thorow preachyng of fayth And theÌ„ Iames brought
neuer be out of syght But where oure Charles was there must that lord also be and what charles dyd that must he be preuye vnto vntill that thâ—s lord perceauing that it came because of this enchaunted rynge for very paine and tedyousnesseâ— toâ—â— and cast it into a well at acâ—n in douchland And after yâ— the rynge was in the wel â–ª the Emperour coulde neuer departe from the towne but in the sayde place where the ring was cast though it were a foule maâ—resse yet he bylt a goodly monasterye in the worship of our ladye and thether brought relikes from whence he coulde gett theÌ„â—aÌ„d pardons to sanctifye the place and to make it more hauÌ„ted And there he lyeth and is 〈◊〉 sainte as ryght is For he dyd for chrystes vicar asmuch as the greate Turke for mahomete but to saue hys Holynesse that he myght be canonysed for a saint they fayne in his lyfe that hys abydyng there so continuallye was for the hote bathes sakes with be there AFter Charlemain lewes the milâ— was emperour which was a verye pacieÌ„t maÌ„ an other phoâ—â—â— an other pray for the pope so meke and softe that scaâ—elye he coulde be angrye â—f any thynge at all Whan oure holy fathers had sene his water and spyed what complexion he was they chose Steuen the iiij of the name Pope with out his knowlege and bad him nother good morowe nor good eueÌ„ nor once god spede about the matter pope steueÌ„ 〈◊〉 .iij. against theyr own graunt vnto hys father for his good seruice And hys softnes was yet somwhat dyspleased there with in as muche as the electyon of the Pope partayned vnto his right But the Pope sent Ambassadoures and wrote al the excuses that he coud and cam after him self to frauÌ„ce to him pleased him aÌ„d crouned him yeâ—e emperour and passed the tyme a ceason with him and they became verye famylier to gether After that they chose Paschalis pope of the same maner pope paschale which phascalis sent immediatly legates vnto the emperour softe lewes excusing him selfe and sayeng that it was not his faute but that the clergy and the comen people had drawen hym therto with violence agaiÌ„st his wyll Then the emperour was conteâ—tâ—or that ones and bad they shuld no more do so but that the old ordinaunce ought to be kept The softenesse of this Lewes did him much care For he was after presoned of his owne sone 〈◊〉 helpe of pope Gregory the fourth After this mans dayes the popes neuer regarded the Emperours nor did the clergy of Rome sue any more to the emperour ether for the electioÌ„ or coÌ„firmacioÌ„ of the pope Moreouer after this Lewes there was nev emperour in christeÌ„doÌ„ of any power or able of his owne might to correcte any pope nether was there anye kyng that coud correct the outrages vices of the spyritualty of his owne realme after this tyme For this Lewes lefte .iij. sonnes amonge which he deuided the realme of Fraunce and all douchloÌ„d Which same for pride disdaynâ— that one shuld haue more then aÌ„other fell to gether as we say by the eares eche destroyeng others power so that fraunce was afterward of no might to do any great thiÌ„g And theÌ„ the pope reygned in Italy alone without care of any Emperour Alone pope Niclaus the .i. in so much that Nicholaus the firstâ— decreed that no seculare prince or emperoure shuld haue ought to do or be at the counsels of the clergy pope adriaÌ„ the ij ¶ And after that AdriaÌ„ the secoÌ„de was choseÌ„ pope the eÌ„perours debite beyng in Rome and not ones spoken to of the matter And when the emperours ambassadoures disdained they answered who can resiste the rage of the peple prayed theÌ„ to be coÌ„tent to salute him as pope And Adrian the third decreed that they shuld not abyde aÌ„d tarye for the Emperours confirmation or aucthoritie in chosing the pope and hatâ— the pope onely shuld call a generall councel and not the emperour or if the Emperour wold presume that to do the councell shulde be of none effecte though all the prelatâ— of chrystendom were there though what soeuer they did were but GODS worde So mighty was the beast now waxed when he ones began to raygne alone And from this tyme hâ—therwarde perysshed the powr of the Emperours and the vertue of the pores saith platina in the lyfe of popes For sins that tyme as there was none emperour of myght so was there no pope of any vertue Alter thys lewes the empyre of Fraunce and of all doutchlande was diuided betwene his thre sonnes which as I sayde fought one with an other and destroyed the strength of the empyre of fraunce And froÌ„ that time to this which is aboue .vij. hundreth yeares thou shalt reade of fewe popes that haue not led their lyues in bloudsheading in so much that if thou consydre the storyes well thou shalt easely perceaue that there hath bene slayn about theyr cause farre aboue .xl. C. thousand meÌ„ besides that there hath bene but fewe princes in christendom that hath not bene busyed and coÌ„bred a greate parte of his lyfe about their mater Eyther in warres begonne at their setting on ether in ceasing scismes or diuision that hath bene amonge the clergye who shuld be pope or striuing of bysshops who shulde be greatest as betwene the bisshop of Yorke and Caunterbury in Ingland betwene the bisshops of InglaÌ„de Wales wherof al the chronycles be ful or in reforming friers or monks or in sleing them that vttered their false hypocrisy with goddes woorde When the Emperour was downe no man in christendom of any powr to be feared then euery nacion fel vppon others and all landes were at variaunce betwene them selues And then as the Danes cam into Ingland and vexed the Inglishmen and dwelt there in spyte of their hartes euen so came straunge nacions whose names were scace hearde of before in these quarters as the Uandales Hunnes and Gothes and ran thorowout all christeÌ„doÌ„ by C. thousands together Uandales â–ª Hunnes· Gothes and subdued the landes and dwelt therin maugre the inhabitours as thou mayest se in Douchlond how diuerse nacions are inclosed in the middes of the land of a straunge tongue which no douchman vnderstandeth and that rule continued wel .viij. or ix score or .ij. huÌ„dred yeres And in all this ceason who soeuer wan the maystrye him the spiritualtye receaued and him they crouned king aÌ„d to him they cleaue And what so euer any tyrauÌ„t had robbed al his lyfe that or most parte therof must he deale amoÌ„g them at his death for feare of purgatory The spirytualty all that ceasoÌ„ preached the pope myghtely bylt abbayes for recreatyon and quietnesse shryninge them alwaye for sayntes which purchased theÌ„ priuileges or fought for their liberties or disputed for the popes powr how so euer they lyued but after L. yere wheÌ„ their liues were forgotten aÌ„d if any resisted
mariage of som doughter vnto the duke of Uenyce then the holy father that succedeth wheÌ„ he seeth his ceason sendeth for it agayne sayenge that it is not laufull for lay men to with holde sainct Peters patrimony Yf they allege that they bought it and so forth his fatherhod answereth that the old Pope had none auctoritie to make any such cheuisaunce with sainct Peters enheritaunce he coude haue but the vse of it his lyfe longe and after it must nedes returne vnto his successoure agayne And vpoÌ„ that he interdytâ—th them and curseth them as blacke as coles and doune to the pyt of hell But the Uenecians knowing more of oure holye fathers practyse for their nyenes then we which dwel a farre of and wyser then we of cold contrees perceauing also that their colour chauÌ„geth not with his cursynge and that they syncke not aÌ„d that their meate digesteth as well as before and that as Erasmus sayeth they sâ—yte as easyly as before with reuerence of the holy course I speake it therfore feare not his interdiction nor excommunicatyon Then our holy father raiseth vp all his power that he is able to make in Italy agaynste them sendeth for the zwytzers to come and helpe Yf he be not yet strong ynough then he sendeh vnto the bysshops of fraunce warning them that if hys seate decaye theyrs can not longe prosper and therfore that they put theyr kynge in remeÌ„braunce how that he is called most chrysten kyng and that they desyre hym to do somwhat for hys tytie against this disobedieÌ„t rebellyons vnto the most holy se of Rome our mother holy churche FreÌ„chmen Yf an other tyme the frenchmen come to nye our holy father as they be euer gaping for Italy to brynge the empyre home agayne to fraunce Then the moost holy vicare bryngeth his whole power agaynste them with the power of the venecians and with hys old frendes the zwytzers If he be not yet stronge ynough then he sendeth to the bisshops of England EnglishmeÌ„ to help their god and to moue their kyng to do somwhat for holy churche puttyng him in remembraunce of whom he holdeth his croune of hys othe and how many cappes of mayntenaunce haue bene euer sent vnto hys forefathers and what honour it was vnto them and that he maye easely gett as greate honoure as they and happly a more excellent title yf he wyl take our holy fathers parte besydes that he shall purchase remyssyon of all hys synnes Then must the peace and all the apointementes made betwene vs and fraunce be broken and the kynge must take a dyspensacion for hys oth For the kynge of fraunce wyll attempte nothing in Italy vntyll he haue sent hys ambassadours and haue made a perpetuall peace wyth oure kynge the Sacrament of the bodye of oure sauiour broke betwene them to confyrme the appointement But I suppose that the breakyng signifyeth that the appointemeÌ„t shall not long endure for a greate deale of flower wolde not make so manye hoostes The abuse of the sacrament as they call them or synginge loues as hathe bene broken in our dayes betwene christen princes as they wylbe called to confirme promises that haue not long bene kept Other vse of that blessed sacrament wyll the priÌ„ces none know but christ ordeined it to be a perpetuall memorye that his bodye was brokeÌ„ for oure sinnes vpoÌ„ the crosse that all that repent shuld receaue as oft as they eaâ—e of it forgeuenes of their misdeades thorow fayth Yf the kiÌ„gs of the earth wheÌ„ they breake that sacrameÌ„t betwene them do say on this wyse The body of our sauiour which was broken on the crosse for the synne of al the repeÌ„t haue good harts wold faine kepe his law be brokeÌ„ vnto my daÌ„nacion if I breake this oth theÌ„ is it a terrible oth and they had neade to take heade how they make it â—d if it be lawfully made not to breake it at all But as they care for the â—rothe whiche they make in wedlockeâ— so they care for this Whatsoeuer nead the pope hath he wyl not send to the Emperour to come helpe hiâ— in Italy for feare lest he wold take to hiÌ„self what soeuer he coÌ„quered of the freÌ„chmen and waxe to strong and minish oure holy fathers power and become our holy fathers vicar as he is saint Peters Neuerthelesse if we englishmen will hyre the Emperour to com and fyght agaiÌ„st frauÌ„ce for the right of the church in these quarters that â—e next vnto vs his fatherhod is coÌ„tent to admyt his seruice When our king hath graunted to take our holy fathers part then the pretence cloke out ward must be that the kyng wil â—alenge his ryghte in fraunce And to ayde the king in his ryght must the commens be mylked tyll they blede agayne Then to do the king seruice the lordes sell or laye their landes to morgage Then is cleane remission geuen to sleo french dogges Remissioâ— of synnes He that dyeth in the quarell shall neuer see purgatorye but file tor heauen streyght euen with a thought WHen the Pope hath what he desyreth in Italye then muste we make peace wyth the Frenchmen agayne immediatlye that fraunce be not all together trodeÌ„ vnder the fete but that it remaâ— alwaye in a meane state stronge Inough to match the emperour to kepe hym doune but not to myghtye for oppressinge the pope and then oure prelates to bringe the peace about sende immediatly a fryer forest or a vicar of croiden to preach before yâ— king his lords which preacher roreth aÌ„d cryeth vnto theÌ„ as though he halowed hys houndes and maketh exclamations sayenge Alas what wyll ye do spare Chrysten bloude wyll ye slea youre owne soules Be not the freÌ„chmeÌ„ as well christeÌ„ as ye Moreouer ye slea pore innocents that neuer offeÌ„ded make peace for the passioÌ„ of christ kyll not one an other as though Christ had not dyed for you but fyght rather agaynst the turkes TheÌ„ come in the Ambassadours of frauÌ„ce and money a fewe prelates and certayne other the kynges playfellowes yâ— be sworn with them to betraye both the kinge and the royalme too And then is peace concluded But outwardelye there is nothinge saue a truce taken for halfe a yeare tyll our souldiers be at home again for feare least they wold not be conteÌ„t â–ª Then coÌ„meth the whole host home beggerd both great and smal And the poore that can not sodenlye gette work fall to stealyng and be hanged at home Thys could More tell in hys Utopia before he was the cardenalles sworn secretarye and fallen at hys fete to betraye the truth for to gett promocyon HeÌ„ry the .v. Take an ensaÌ„ple the bysshops sent king Henrye the fyft out to conquere Fraunce The cause was sayth the chronicles that the kynge went about to take theyr temporallyes from them And therfore to bringe the kynge into an other imaginacyon they monyed hym and