Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	apostle_n	church_n	successor_n	2,614	5	9.1249	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14268	Two treatises the first, of the liues of the popes, and their doctrine. The second, of the masse: the one and the other collected of that, which the doctors, and ancient councels, and the sacred Scripture do teach. Also, a swarme of false miracles, wherewith Marie de la Visitacion, prioresse de la Annuntiada of Lisbon, deceiued very many: and how she was discouered, and condemned. The second edition in Spanish augmented by the author himselfe, M. Cyprian Valera, and translated into English by Iohn Golburne. 1600.; Dos tratados. English	Valera, Cipriano de, 1532?-1625.; Golburne, John.	1600 (1600)	STC 24581; ESTC S119016	391,061	458

remit they are remitted vnto them and whosesoeuers sinnes ye retaine they are retained To all equally doth Christ shewe mercy to all equally graunteth Christ the priueledge and giueth authoritie To thinke that Christ reserued matters for the sea Apostolique of Peter which neither Iohn nor Iames nor Paule nor any of the other Apostles were able to dispatch is meere mockerie and Impietie also In authoritie and dignitie were all the Apostles equall And long continewed this order in the Church among the ministers of the Gospell vntill couetousnesse and ambition crept in and confounded this good order making one greater and another lesse because one was more rich then another we speaking of the Primacy confirme this with the sayings of the ancient Doctours If Christ by these words Thou art Peter c. had appointed Saint Peter vniuersall Bishop and head of the whole Church as they say to what purpose did then the Apostles so often reason among themselues vpon this questiō of the Primacie who should be chiefe amōg them Saint Matthew from the 1 verse to the 5. of the 18 chapter maketh mention hereof S. Marke cap 9 from the 33. verse vnto the 37. S. Luke from the 46. verse vnto the 48. of the 9. chapter doth mention it S. Matth. 20. 20. saith That the mother of the sonnes of Zebedeus and as saith Saint Marke the sonnes themselues 10. 15. besought Christ that one might sit at his right hand and the other at his left for which cause as say both the Euangelists the tenne Apostles disdained at the 2. brethren Saint Luke cap 22. 24. telleth that there was a contention among the Apostles which of them should be greatest What answereth Christ Iesus to the demaund which the Apostles made Matth. 18. 1. who shal be the greatest c. He set in the middest of them a little child and said vnto them Whosoeuer shal humble himselfe as this little child he shal be the greatest c. S. Marke 9 35. saith he that will be the first he shal be the last seruant of al. S. Luke 9. 48. he that is least among you shal be great Christ reproueth the sonnes of Zebedeus for their ambitious demand He said vnto them ye know what yee aske c. the tenne were angry with them for this superioritie which they pretended Christ said vnto them that in a Politicall kingdome there it superioritie and so kings and princes holde authoritie ouer all But that in his kingdome which is spirituall wherein there neither is nor ought to bee superioritie it is not so But it shall not bee so saieth Christ among you c. Would our aduersaries well examine this they would be ashamed of their primacy and principalitie that they seeke to g●ue to their Pope which neither Saint Peter nor any other of the Apostles euer had For had Christ giuen the primacie to Saint Peter when hee heard them contend which of them should bee the greatest doubtlesse hee would haue said vnto them Wherefore striue you know yee not that I haue giuen the Primacy to Peter Doe yee not knowe that I haue made Peter the chiefest of you all Quiet then your selues and for such a one doe yee holde him The same also would Saint Peter haue said I am hee whom Christ hath appointed to bee the head of the whole Church c. But neither did Christ so say but rather for their ambition and affectation of the primacie reproued them Nor yet did Saint Peter alleage that Iesus Christ had said vnto him Thou art Peter and vpon this rocke c. The second place fundamental which our aduersaries doe alleage to mainetaine the primacy of the Pope is that Christ saide to Peter Louest thou mee c. Peter answered Yea Lord c. Then said Christ vnto him Feede my sheepe Here doe they inferre that seeing that Christ said this to Saint Peter and sayd it not to any other of the Apostles that by the same reason hee made him Prince of the Apostles The most high wisedome and loue of Christ in Peters confirmation and comfort they nothing consider There times had Peter denyed Christ And Christ three times demaunded if hee loued him Twise answered Peter Yea Lord but the third time he waxed sorrowfull and to comfort him Christ saide vnto him Feede my sheepe As if he should haue sayd Thou hast thrise denyed mee Peter but hast repented and with most bitter weeping craued pardon for the same Thy sinnes I pardon and restore thee to the same state thou wast formerly in Feede then my sheepe And to cheere him the more he said ●nto him that he should be constant should not denie him And gaue him to vnderstand as there saith the Euangelist with what death he should glorifie God The same charge and office of feeding gaue Iesus Christ to all the Apostles Mark chap. 16. vers 15. when he commanded them to goe through the world and preach the Gospell to euery creatu●e and when he said vnto them Receaue yee the holy Ghost Whosoeuers sinnes ye remit c. So that in this carried not Saint Peter any preheminence ouer the rest of the Apostles In dignitie and authoritie all are equall and principall members of the mysticall body of Christ which is his Church which body seeing it is no monster hath but one only head which is Christ And yet say I further suppose that Saint Peter had bene Prince of the Apostles and of much greater authoritie then they all yet not withstanding the Pope not being Peters successour nor the Vicar of Christ as already we haue proued shall not be prince of Bishops nor vniuersall Bishop ouer all Churches He should content himselfe to be Bishop of Rome nor is he yet so but Antichrist These two be the principall fundamentall places wherewith the Romists endeuour to maintaine their primacy And seing they proue not these thinges much lesse will they prooue the rest by them alleaged to which may be answered that which I haue before said One thing wil I demaund of them and this it is If it be necessary for a man to beleeue the Pope to bee the successour of Saint Peter Vicar of Christ and vniuersall head of all the Church as Boniface the eight ordeyned what shall become of the Greeke Church which neuer so beleeued what shal become of all those that liued in the time of Pope Ione what shall become of all them that liued in the time of Anastasius 2. Liberius and Felix 2. these three Popes were Arians Iohn the 24. an heretique For the which and other great abhominations proued against him in the Councell of Constance he was deposed What shall become of them which liued in the time of this Pope and other heretiques and of the Popes that by Armes or bribes or both armes and bribes ioyntly obteyned the Popedome Such according to the decrees of the Popes themselues be not Popes And yet notwithstanding is this almoste

did also a Councell holden in the time of this Stephen condemne him But Romanus successor of Stephen and Theodorus And Iohn 10 or 9 condemned Stephen and iustified sn Formosus And this did not these 3 Popes onely but a generall Councell of 74. Bishops holden in the time of Iohn 10. did also the same But all this notwithstanding the third time that Sergius was Pope he tooke part with Stepben against Formosus Condemding that which 3 Popes and the Councell had done and was most cruell against the bodie of Formosus vntombing it and doing that vnto it which vpon his life we will declare Read their liues Christian Reader Dogges shalt thou see that teare in peeces and eate one another Not men shalt thou see but diuels incarnate Thou must also vnderstand that in the names of some Popes there is great disagreement Pope Iohn the last Platina calleth the 24. and in order 214. Carança calleth him 24. But the 213. in order Pero Mexia calleth him the 24. Another way carrieth Panuinus 22. he calleth him or 23. and saith that he is the 209. in order Thus taketh he from out the Catalogue Fiue Popes two whereof be Iohns And it is also to be noted that from Iohn 8. which was a wicked woman All the Iohns almost haue bene pestilent fellowes Read their liues Three causes there be why some do number lesse Popes The first is because some Popes a very small time Poped The 2. is because many reckon not for Popes all those that were not cannonically elected The 3. is because some will not hold them for Popes who albeit they were connonically elected yet in there Popedome wickedly gouerned For the first reason many reckon not for Pope Stephen 2. who but three or as some say 4 dayes Poped For the 2. reason exclude they all those whom they call Antipopes chosen in the time of Schisme 30 Schismes counteth Panuinus to haue bene wherein at one time were 4 Popes another time 3. another 2. Herehence is it that they count not Iohn 18. Whom others call 17. nor Clemēt nor Clement 8. And therefore Clement 9. they call 7. nor Benedict 5 nor Benedict 7. called they 6. nor Benedict 13. For these 2 reasons exclude they al thē that by wicked artes deceipt force gifts or promises were made Popes Such doe the Councels and decrees of the Popes themselues not hold for Popes Read that which the Councell of Lateran holden in the time of Nicholas 2. ordained touching this matter And so many hold not for pope Constantine 2. Who being a lay-man and without any orders was by force made Pope Should this decree be obserued neither Siluester 2. the great inchaūter nor Boniface 8. nor Gregory 7 nor an infinit nomber of Popes which by wicked artes c. Were made Popes shuld be called Popes so very few shuld remaine in the catalogue of the Popes The 3. reason why some be not counted Popes is that albeit they were cannonically chosen yet during their Popedome either in life or in Doctrin or both in life Doctrin were they abhominable For this cause some count not Lando Read his life For the same cause some reckon not Iohn 8. a whore before when she was Pope Were this reason ought worth very few should be counted for Popes For all the Popes ingenerall from Boniface 3. vntill Sistus 5. who now tyrannizeth haue either in life or Doctrine bene wicked And so ought not to be connted Boniface 8. Of whom say all that he entred like a Foxe liued like a Lyon and died like a Dogge And alone was not he that did this he had many companions These be the causes why some reckon lesse Popes then others And in these names Stephen Iohn Clement Benedict Constantine and Felix shal be found this abridgement of Popes There are no liues of kings nor Emperors were they Christians pagans Iewes Turkes Scithians or of whatsoeuer other nation so confusedly and diuersly written as are the liues of the Popes And that which is more to be maruailed written imprinted and approued by the papists themselues The holy Ghost it seemeth hath purposely cast into the writing of their liues this confusion For the Popes being kings and Lords of Rome And Rome as say Saint Ierom Petrark Laurentius Valla and many others is Babilon And Babilon as much to say as confusion all whatsoeuer the Popes haue done doe and shall doe is and shal be confusion And so can no order be held in counting of them And with what more proper name then Babilon or confusion can that Church be called wherein they so pray and sing in straunge confused Language that one vnderstandeth not another And that yet which is worse he him selfe that praieth of singeth vnderstandeth not oft times that which is sayd My desire is friendly Reader to aduise thee of this confusion That if thou shalt read in one author that Pope Iohn 24. for the great villanies and heresies which in his presence and to his face were proued was condemned in the Councell of Constance and others say this happened to Pope Iohn 23. others to Pope Iohn 22. then nothing maruaile For these 3 Iohns 22. 23. and 24. be one selfe same Pope Iohn Concerning the concurrences of the kings of Spaine which I place with the Pope I haue followed Don Alonso de Carthagena Bishoppe of Burgos in his Latine Historie of the kings of Spaine which he calleth Anacephalaeosis as much to say as a Recapitulation No other hath bene the purpose and motiue me mouing to write these 2. Treatises of the Pope and of the Masse But the great desire I haue that they of my nation might enioy the same mercies which the Lord in these last times hath shewed to many nations in Europe giuing them liberty of conscience this not to let loose the raynes to serue the lusts of the flesh but in spirit and truth to serue the liuing God whom to serue is to raigne I very much sorrow that my nation to whom the Lord God for the things of this world hath giuen so much wit hability and vnderstanding which other nations cannot deny In things pertayning to God in the things concerning the saluation of their soules or going to heauen or hell is so blockish and blind that it suffereth it selfe to be carried by the Masse that it suffereth it selfe to be gouerned troden vnder foote tyrannized of the Pope of the man of sinne of the sonne of perdition of Antichrist whom as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himselfe that he is God And that moreouer which S. Paul 2. Thess 2. saith All the euill of the Spaniards cōmeth vnto them of a false perswasion which they haue conceiued of the authority of the Pope The Pope they beleeue to be the successor of Saint Peter the Vicar of Christ God vppon earth They beleeue that all whatsoeuer the pope doth on earth God doth it in heauen and what soeuer he vndoeth

of Spaine would not obey the lawe which commanded them to leaue their wiues At the hearing whereof Siricius was angry and sayd That such as were in the flesh could not please God Rom. 8. 8. The same Siricius alleageth this authoritie in the fourth epistle which he wrote to the Bishops of Africa Siricius vnderstanding this place of maried folks writhed and wrested the scripture So also was this place wrested by Innocent the first But S. Paule by this in the flesh meant not maried folks for therby should he condemne the estate of matrimony instituted by God in Paradise Gen. 3. 24. sanctified by his sonne Iesus Christ with his presence working there his first miracle Ioh. 2. 11. Very well knew the Apostle Mariage to be honorable among all men and the bed vndefiled Very well did he know that God would chastise fornicators and adulterers Heb. 13. 4. Wherfore he commandeth that they which had not the gift of chastity should marie 1. Cor. 7. 2 9. And he himselfe defendeth the liberty which he and Barnabas being Apostles had to haue their wiues and to carry them with them Or haue not we authority saith he 1. Cor. 9. 5. to leade about a sister that is to say faithful aswell as the other Apostles and the brethren of the Lord c. Paule then with fauour of Siricius and Innoncent 1. by being in the flesh vnderstandeth not the maried but carnal men and vnregenerate by the Spirit of God Such saith he be they single maried or widdowes cannot please God And that this is so appeareth by that which the same Apostle speaking to the Romanes of whom many were maried saith But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit because the Spirit of God dwelleth in you c. Rom. 8. 9. By this interpretation which Siricius and Pope Innocent 1. made of the place of S. Paule shall our aduersaries see albeit they denie it that the Pope may erre that in the interpretation of the Scriptures Siricius after Platina hauing bene Pope almost 16. yeares died Anastasius the first Innocentius the first Zozimus the first and Bonifacius the first succeded him Betwene Boniface and Eulalius was the 4. Sisme in the yeare 420. Eulalius verie vnwillingly renounced but yet was made Bishop in Campania Celestine succeeded Boniface Sistus 3. succeeded Celestine who being falsely accused made answere for himselfe in an open Sinod and Bassus his aduersarie was condemned The councels were then aboue the Pope Leo 1. Hillarius Simplicius Felix 3. Gelasius succeeded Sistus To this Gelasius that notable saying of communicating in both kindes is attributed which we will alleage in the Treatise of the Masse After Gelasius 1. Anastasius 2 succeeded Anastasius 2. tooke parte with the Eutichians and other heretiques and communicated with them For confirmation hereof reade Gracian in the decree dist 19. Cap. Secundum ecclesiae Catholicae And Cap. Anastasius And the 2. Tome of the Councels and Platina Beleeue not the Popes Parasites as be D. Illescas and the two late writers Albertus Pighius Diego de Couarrunias whom he alleageth Anastasius in doing his needes voided say Volateramus and Platina his guttes into the draught At this time in Spaine the Gothes reigned who began there to reigne in the yeare of the Lord. 417. where expelling the Roamanes and other nations they reigned three hundred yeares After Anastasius succeeded Symachus Between Symachus and Laurencius was the 5. Sisme But Laurencius renounced and in the 498. yeare as saith Panuinus was made Bishop of Nucesino after Symachus succeeded Hormisda Hormisda Campanus was the first as saith S. Isidor that by means of Iustin the Emperor in the 520. year of an Archbishop was made Patriarch by litle litle they proceeded they wil shortly be Popes I wold say perfect Antichrists He excōmunicated the Emperor Anastasius because he said the Emperor was to cōmand the Bishop to obey At this time began Antichrist to appear Hormisda died in the 523. year Genselaricus reigning in Spaine and Iohn 1. succeeded Hormisda Iohn 1. a Tuscan being made Patriark was iointly with others sent Embassador for Theodoricus king of Italy vnto Iustinus the Emperor The Bishops of Rome had not as yet that absolute or to speake better that dissolute power which now they hold He died a Martyr in the 527. yeare I cannot omit a ridiculous historie which Friar Iohn de Pineda speaking of this Iohn the first reporteth for a miracle About to go saith he to the Emperour he tooke a borrowed horse which when Pope Iohn was mounted vpon him would not permit his maisters wife to ride Felix the third called the fourth succeeded Iohn and Boniface the second succeeded Felix In the 530. yeare was the 6. Sisme betweene Boniface the second Dioscorus After Boniface Iohn the 2. Agapetus Siluerius Vigilius succeeded Vigilius a Romane and a crafty accuser of his predecessour Siluerius by deceit aspired to the Bishopdome whereunto he was aduanced by meanes of Theodora Augusta and of Antonina the wife of Belisarius But God who is iust gaue them both their reward Vigilius by subtilty and Siluerius the sonne of Pope Hormisda by force obtained the Bishopdome This was the seuenth Sisme And Theudiselo or Theodisco in Spaine at this time reigned Pelagius a Romane was the first that affirmed the primacie of the Church of Rome to depend neither of the Councels nor men but of Christ himself dist 21. But the Cannonists are against him saying that Omnis maioritas minoritas etiam Papatus est de iure positiuo that is all maioritie and minority yea the Popedome it selfe is of the positiue lawe He ordained that Ecclesiasticall persons should pray or mumble vp the seuen Canonicall houres which be the Mattens Prime Third Sixt Tenth the Euenings and Completes Pelagius ordained saith D. Illescas that the Priestes should each day pray ouer the seuen houres which we call Canonical And the same Illescas vpon the life of Sabinianus saith Sabinianus was the first that set an order in prayer diuiding the Office into seuen houres which we call Canonicall How can Sabinia●●us be the first that ordained the 7. Canonicall houres if Pelagius had first ordained them This institution was an occasion that Ecclesiasticall persons should not read the Bible And so we see that very few Church-men in Spaine haue the Bible in their houses but none of them is with his Breuiarie which all of them do hold for a verie Catholike booke but the Byble in generall doe they call a booke of heresies One day will God punish this blasphemie In the time of this Pelagius Agila reigned in Spaine and in the 561. yeare Iohn 3. suc●eded Pelagius Iohn 3. made a contrary decree to that which his predecessor Pelagius had made and Dist 99. comaunded that none should call him high priest nor vniuersall bishop So one Pope did that

in the 885. yeare In whose time Don Garcia reigned in Spaine Stephen the 5. or 6. was the first saith Gracian dict 16. cap. Enimuerò that commanded al men of necessitie to obserue the statute of the Roman Church In the 891. yeare he died In whose time Don Alonso 4. reigned in Spaine Formosus being Bishop was deposed and sworne neuer to be so againe of which oath made to Iohn 9. Martin 2. for m●ney absolued him Stephen 6. being dead Formosus by giftes obteyned the Popedome albeit Sergius who sought to haue had it did greatly withstand him but Formosus with his faire giftes preuailed This was the holy spirit that did choise him In the 895. yeare dyed Formosus Don Alonso 4. then reigning in Spaine The 14. Sisme wherein Sirgius 3. was elected against Formosus But vnable to striue further renounced was banished Formosus being dead Boniface 6. was chosen who continewed Pope 15 dayes Don Alonso 4. reigned in Spaine Stephen 6. or 7. was vngratefull to Formosus that had made him Bishop whom he so much abhorred that being Pope he not contented himselfe to disanull and make voyd all whatsoeuer Formosus had don● saying that he was not lawful nor truly Pope but afterwards condemned him in a Councell which he held After he was condemned he caused him to be vnburied and being vntombed taking from him all his pontificall ornaments clothing him in secular habite did disgrade him he caused the 2 fingers of his right hand which the priests vse chiefely in consecration to be cut off and cast into Tyber The very same almost did Pascal 2. to the body of Clement 3. Herein did he not imitate Christ who commanded to pardon iniuries and to do good to them that hate vs but Silla who for the great hatred he bare him caused Marius to be vntōbed Platina vpon the life of this Stephen saith that he raised hereby an euill slaunder and example to his successors for the Popes afterwardes did vsually disanul that which their predecessors dad ordeined yea albeit by a Councell confirmed by authoritie of another Councell they made it frustrate And so did Romanus successour of Stephen condemne all whatsoeuer Stephen had done and restored to his honour Formosus The same did Theodor 2. and Iohn 10. or 9. These Popes saith Platina were monsters or to speake better diuels in carnate Iohn 10. held a Councell of 74. bishop wherin he iustified Formosus condēned Stephen 7. Note here that frō the 891. yere to the 903. which was 12. years were 10 Popes Formosus Sergius 3. Boniface 6. Stephen 7. Romanus Theodorus 2. Iohn 10. Sergius 3. againe Benedict 4. Leo 5 Christopher And lastly Sergius 3. whom in this catalogue haue we three times named For thrise was he Pope the 1. 2. time deposed but the third time truly because he caried away the matter In the first time that Sergius was Pope was the 14. Sisme and in the second the 15. Sisme in the 897. yeare dyed Stephen 7. And Don Alonso 4. reigned in Spaine Plati●a speaking of Benedict 4. saith that when the Church through wealth began to wax wanton and wanted a Prince to bridle the villanies of the Clergie then libertie to sinne brought forth these monsters and intolerable burthens This honorable testimony of him giueth Platina Leo 5. being Pope liued in great troubles For one Christopher whō he had brought vp aduanced not without great bloudshed as noteth Platina tooke cast him into prison by that meanes made himselfe Pope whose violence ingratitude and wicked artes were the holy spirite that did chose him But Sergius 3. ayded by Marozia his strumpet of whom he had a sonne that after his father was Pope as Luithprandus in his historie doth witnesse deposed the Pope put him into a monasterie and by the helpe of his Marozia a famous and notable whore made himselfe Pope This Sergius 3 was competitor with Formosus in the Popedom but Formosus as vpon Formosus we haue said preuailing Sergius wēt into France From whēce returning he so intreated Christopher as afore is declared When Sergius was made Pope he called to mind the iniuries receiued of Formosus and thirsting for reuenge vntombed his body that had eight yeares bene buried made shewe to kill him as though he had bene liuing cut off the three fingers which Stephen had left and moreouer his body as vnworthy of Christian buriall he cast into Tyber And notwithstanding that Formosus had by three Popes bene approued yet did he condemne whatsoeuer Formosus had done ordeined a new all those by Formosus ordeined Behold here how Stephen and Sergius condemned Pope Formosus Romanus Theodorus Iohn approued him and all that he did In these Popes time Don Ramiro 2. reigned in Spaine Anastasius 3. succeeded Sergius 3. in whose time histories report that certaine fishermen in Tyber found the body of Formosus they say further that when his body was buried in the Church of S. Peter the Images of the Church did salute him doing him certaine reuerence gaue him the welcome Monstrous is this lie or if it be true the diuell the more to blind the people with superstition and deceit caused that motion For Antichrist as saith S. Paul shall come with lying wonders In the 913. yere died Anastasius D. Ordono 3. reigned in Spaine Lando as saith Petrus Premostratensis had a sonne in adultry before he was Pope which also was Pope and called ●ohn 11. or 10. of wicked life was this Lando he was Pope but 6. moneths 22. daies therfore by some not counted among the Popes Iohn 11. or 10. succeeded his father Lando another such or rather worse then he for he was Pope 14. yeares Platina saith that he was the sonne of Sergius 3. whose life Luithprandus which then liued noteth to be wicked At this time Theodora a shameles strumpet is said to haue commaunded in Rome two daughters she had Marozia and Theodora and if the mother were a notable whore the daughters were more notable Of this Iohn before he was Pope was the mother enamored and by his strumpets meanes was he first made Bish of Bologna afterwardes Archbishop of Rauenna during which time the Pope dyed Now Theodora seeing this occasion and vnwilling to remayne so far remote from her louer for that Reuenna was 200 miles distant frō Rome she caused him to leaue his Archbishoprick and made him Pope The same Luithprandus in the 12. chap. of his 3. booke reciteth the miserable end of this Iohn And thus it is Marozia his daughter in law say we the daughter of Theodora intending to make Pope his sonne Iohn 12. the son also of Pope Sergius 3. caused him to be taken with a pillow laid ouer his mouth to be murthered But

spripture The same God which of old made Saint Paule to speake the same made Valer also to speake And as Paule was holden for a Preacher of Nouelties and foolish for such another was Valer held also The newe Pharesies seeing themselues thus handled demaunded whence he had such wisedome and knowledge of holy thinges whence being a secular man not hauing studied nor giuing himselfe to vertue but so euill spent his youth in vanities proceeded his bouldnesse so vnreuerently to handle the ecclesiasticall persons which be pillars of the Church By what authoritie demaunded they did hee this Who had sent him What signe had he of his callings The selfe same demaundes made the old Pharesies to Iesus Christ and his Apostles when they could not deny their villanies nor well be silent when he shewed them their wickednesse Behold how the old Pharesies and the new be all one and the sonnes of the deuill To these demaundes excellently and with great constancy answered Valer This knowledge of holy thinges he had obteyned said he not of his owne stincking pudles but of the spirit of God which maketh flowing riuers of wisedome runne from the harts of those which truly beleeue in Christ He told them that God and the cause he had in hand gaue him courage and bouldnesse that the spirit of God was not tyed to any estate how ecclesiastical soeuer the ecclesiasticall state especially of any other being the most corrupted and neerest to destruction That the spirit of God in old time made of secular vnlearned and fishermen Apostles that they might clerely shew the blindnesse ignorance of all the Synagogue so well instructed in the law and call by their preaching the That Christ had sent him That in the name and authoritie of Christ he did that he did But the adulterous generation said he which hath long time degenerate from the true race of the sons of God seeing that darknesse to be much manifested by the light and reshining of the sunne demaundeth a signe In conclusion for so liberall and constantly speaking was he called before the Inquicisitors valiantly did Valer dispute of the true Church of Christ her markes and signes of the Iustification of man and other like chiefe points of Christian religion the knowledge whereof Valer had obteyned without any ministery or humane helpe but by the pure and wonderfull reuelation of God His foolishnesse as the Inquisitors called it did then excuse him and so first confiscating all that hee had they sent him away To take away his goods pleasant meanes to reduce a mad man to his sence Valer notwithstanding this losse of goods ceased not to prosecute what he had begun A few yeares after for the selfe same cause they called him againe and yet supposing that he was a foole indeede they burned him not but made him to recant or deny not in open audience but to himselfe alone in the great Church betweene the two quiers For all his foolishnesse they condemned him to continuall wearing of a great Saint Benito or diuels coate and to perpetuall prison From this perpetuall prison euery Lords day they carried him with many other penitents to heare masse and sermons in the Church of Saint Sauiour where set to heare the Sermon albeit a prisoner he oft times rose vp before all the people and when he preached false Doctrine gaine said the preacher But the Inquisitors as then not so wicked with conceit of his folly excused him Much did it also auaile Valer to haue bene an old Christian and not descended of the Iewish or Morish race The Inquisitors in the end drew him from this perpetuall prison in Seuill and sent him to a monasterie in Saint Lucas called of our Lady of Barrameda where being 50 yeares old and vpwardes he died By the meanes of this Valer many that heard and conferred with him had knowledge of the true religion chiefly that famous and good Doctor Egidius Cannon preacher in the great Church of Seuill that so much good did in Seuill both with his good good life and Doctrine I haue long dwelled vpon discourse of this Historie of Valer but pardon me for this Valer was the first that openly and with great constance discouered the darkenesse in our time in Seuill After this persecution of Rodrigo de Valer many others were persecuted some of whom escaped as Doctor Iohn Perez who came to Geneua where he imprinted the new Teament other bookes in the Spanish tongue others aboade there stil of whom many perseuered And others of the Inquicitions conceiued such feare that they denyed the truth and which is worse were persecutors therof as was doctor Herman Rodriguez maister Garci Arias whom commonly they called maister White But God shewed mercy vpon White and of a woulfe made him a lamb so was he with great constancie burned This White when God had made him truly White said freely vnto the Inquisitors whē they examined him in the audience that they were fitter to follow a droue of asses then to sit and Iudge matters of faith which they nothing vnderstood In the 1555. yeare seuen persons men and women went out of Seuill and came to Geneua where they made their aboad In the 1557. yeare happened maruelous things in Seuill worthy of perpetuall memorie namely that in a monasterie called S. Isidor the most famous and rich in all Seuil the busines of true religion went so so plainely forward that vnable with good conscience there to stay longer 12 of the Friars in short time departed some one way and some another al which within a yeare came to Geneua whither at their departure they determined to goe None of thē there was that passed not great dangers perils but from all these perils God did free them with a mighty hand brought them to Geneua Thees that abode in the monasterie for it is to be noted that almost al those of the monasterie albeit they went in woulues habits had knowledge of Christiā religion suffered great persecution taken they were tormented disgraced very hardly cruelly intreated and in the end many of them burned and in many yeares almost was there no act of Inquisition in Seuill in which there went not more or lesse out of this monasterie Among those that went out and came to Geneua was the Prior vicar procurator of S. Isidor with thē the Prior of the Vale of Ecija of the same order And God with his mightie arme did not only deliuer these 12 from the cruel grype es the Inquisitors before the great persecution began in Seuill but afterwards also in the time of the great persecution deliuered other 6 or 7 from the same monasterie making foolish and of no worth nor effect all the stratagems Councels subtelties craftes deceits of the Inquisitors that sought but could not find them for who shall destroy whom God wil preserue In the same yeare

tyranny subiected his companions to obey him Also he complaineth that the prophane Sismatikes withdrew themselues to the Bishop of Rome There was none saith he that would doe this but certaine lost and desperate men making men beleeue that the Bishops of Affrike had lesse authoritie thē he of Rome S. Ierome to this selfe same purpose saith Wheresoeuer a Bishop shal be be it in Rome or in Egubium be it in Constantinople or in Regium one selfe same dignity he hath and one selfsame priesthood riches nor pouertie either make him superiour or inferior And so the ancient Doctors as Ireneus Tertullian Hillarius Cyprian c. when they wrote to the Bishop of Rome they gaue him not the glorious titles which the flatterers of our times now giue him Most holy father most blessed Pope chiefe Bishop our Lord God vpon earth they called him brother fellow Bishop companion in office other such like titles which sauored of loue Christian simplicitie not of flattery pride wherewith the miserable Popes are puffed vp rest much contēted And if it seemed to those Fathers that the Bishop of Rome countermāded or in any thing faulted seeing he was a man either in life or doctrine they aduised him if need so required reproued him Thus not once by chance but many times that very sharply did Cyprian handle Stephen Bishop of Rome Ireneus reproued Victor for that through an impudent ambition he excōmunicated the Churches of Asia for the differēce in celebration of Easter Who should now dare to do this albeit the Pope were another Iohn 8. 12. 13. 14. 23. or 24. or were he another Boniface 8. another Syluester 2. another Gregory 7. another Alexander 6 Paule 3. 4. or Pius the fift By diuine law all Bishops are equall and so as brothers are to aduise and correct one another If any difference there bee of Maioritie or Minoritie by positiue lawe it commeth as the Cannonists themselues when the truth doth inforce thē confesse saying Quod omnis maioritas minoritas etiam Papatus est de iure positiuo That all maioritie and minoritie yea the verie Popedome it selfe is by the positiue law as much to say that men haue made it And yet go I further The maiority say I which the Pope hath vsurped ouer all the Churches being against the Lambe of the Apocalyps and against his Saints is not by diuine nor yet humane law I say it is de iure diabolico of the diuell that it is an infernall tyranny against which all the world is to rise vp as against a fire and generall burning which toucheth euery particular person Note here that which in the life of Iohn 24. we haue noted where the Pope by a decree of the Councell of Constance and Basile is proued to be subiect to the Councell and that more ouer which there we haue said Not bluntly and foolishly as they say but with good reason me seemeth do I say this as by the sayings of the Fathers and decrees of ancient Councels we haue sufficiently proued the same And had there bene none to haue said it yet their proper life and doctrine which we haue in the beginning mentioned are most euident testimonies to confirme our sayings By their liues may each one see if of wilfull ignorance he become not blockish foolish and blind the Popes which haue bin bishops of Rome from Boniface the third who was a creature of Phocas the Emperour an adulterer murderer and tyrant vntil Clement 8. or 10. which now tyrannizeth to haue almost bene al noted read their histories of terrible enormious and wicked vices and sinnes Witches they haue bene murtherers ill beloued tumultuous troublers of common wealths and kingdomes seditious reuengefull brothellers simonists sodomites periured incestuous Nigromancers sacrilegious wicked without God without religion They then being such we conclude them not to be successors of Peter but of Iudas not to be vicars of Christ but of the Diuell and verie Antichrist But now for more confirmation of that which is said we will alleage certaine passages of holy Scripture which the Papists themselue vnderstand and interpret of Antichrist we will consider if that which the Scripture saith Antichrist shall do and say the Pope doth and saith And seeing that the doctrine and life of the Pope is the very same which the scripture doth say shal be that of Antichrist by the Papists owne confession will we conclude the Pope to be Antichrist The first passage is taken out of Daniel the 11. chapter which saith And the king shall doe what he list By king aswell in this place as chapter 8. 23. and 24. is ment Antiochus a great persecutor of the people of God This Antiochus was a figure of Antichrist which is the Pope Antiochus burned the Bible aduanced his God Mauzim forbad marriage made Idols of gold and siluer adorned them with rich ornaments c. and the same doth the Pope Daniell proceedeth He shall exalt and magnifie himselfe against all that is God and shall speake marueylous thinges against the God of Gods and shall prosper till the wrath be accomplished for the determination is made Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers nor the desires of women nor care for any God for he shal magnifie himselfe against all c. Note here in Daniel 3. notable markes which saith he Antichrist shall haue In whomsoeuer then we shall see them hold we him for Antichrist The 1. is that he shall not acknowledge the God of his fathers 2. is that he shall not regard the loue of women 3. nor care for any God The cause of all this saith he is the excessiue pride The Pope being of the race of Christians which haue worshipped the true God father of our Lord Iesus Christ hath brought into the Church of God where he holdeth his seat Idolatrie and superstition commaunding men in afflictiō calamitie to inuocate another others then God contrary to the expresse cōmandemēt of God Thou shalt haue no other Gods before me and contrary to that which he commaundeth by his Prophet Call vpon me in the day of trouble There is no commaundement of God either in the old or new Testament that commaundeth vs to inuocate any other but God alone Neither is there any example of Patriarke Prophet or Apostle which hath called vpon any saue God alone For how shall they call vpon him in whom they haue not beleeued as saith Saint Paule In one onely God we beleeue vpon him onely let vs call This new Doctrine hath the Pope brought into the Church to call vpon others then God alone Therefore is he Antichrist Who hath forbidden Christians to reade the law of the Lord the bookes of the Prophets Apostles and Euangelists The Pope Who burneth these holy bookes and those that for instruction of their conscience read them The Pope Who hath taken vppon him authoritie

king of kings and vnder the name of Pastor he sheweth himselfe a rauening Wolfe and vnder pretence to be S. Peters successor he declareth himselfe the follower of Iudas For as Iudas with a kisse fayned friendship betrayed his Lord so with fayned holinesse and outward ceremonies doth the Pope draw the common people into the chaines and snares of ignorance and superstitions The said title therefore which Christ gaue vnto Iudas Ioh. 17. 12. the Apostle giueth to Antichrist 2. Thess 2. 4. A contemner of mariage when he esteemes it a carnall estate and therefore with such seuerity forbiddeth it to his Clergie that although fornicators and adulterers can easily purchase absolution of their sinnes no pardon remaineth for the Clergie that mary according to the ordinance of God but the same is reputed and punished by the Pope for an vnpardonable sinne Albeit the holy scripture teacheth 1. Cor. 7. 9. That it is better to marry then to burne And Hebr. 13. 4. Marriage is honorable among all men Also 1. Timoth. 3. 2. Euery Bishop must be the husband of one wife Insatiable is the couetousnesse of the Pope and extendeth into all parts For money he pardoneth sinnes selleth ecclesiasticall functions maketh marchandize of his Bulles indulgences Iubilies Reliques Masses praiers and sacraments and compelleth the miserable people to buy his marchandize not on such dayes onely as other marchants vse to traffique but also and principally on the feast dayes the Lords dayes and Sabboths when other men rest And raketh together euery day in the yeare and of all sortes of people euen of the Iewes and Curtesans of Rome A tyrant he is and persecutor of Saints being the cause of the sheding of so much Christiā blood inciting kings princes to persecute such as contradict him and abandon his Idolatries and superstitions to serue God according to his will and word whom the Pope condemneth for heretiques to be burned and least they should speake putteth a gagge in their mouthes And to fill vp the measure of his crueltie he spareth not Emperours nor kings being the Lords Annointed when they refuse to execute his tyrannies as histories plainely witnesse A deceauer he is sundry waies because he deceaueth the common people with false doctrine and vaine promises with high titles and fayned holinesse with bulles Pardons false miracles and illusions of the diuell c. He is full of impietie because he pleaseth and delighteth himselfe not only in sinne but causeth others also to sinne because he hath depraued the worship of God with idolatrie the authoritie of kings with tyrany The common faith with deceit and the life of his Clergie with shame and filthinesse occasioned by constrayned single life To conclud in the kingdome of the Pope is the fountaine and spring af all abhominations and slaunder according to the old prouerbe The neerer to Rome the worse Christian So the neerer to Antichrist the further from Christ By these demonstrations it appeareth plainely that the Pope is Antichrist whom the Holy scripture hath foretold and by whom the Church of Christ hath so much suffered The second Treatise of the Masse and the holinesse thereof WE haue passed by the Lords assistance the Laborinthe not of Creete but of Rome of the Pope and his Roman Court another much worse and for more intricate troublesōe The Pope haue we proued to be a false Preist and very Antichrist to be the man of sin sonne of perdition to be that whereof whom speaketh S. Iohn in his Reuelation This haue we proued by his euil life wicked Doctrine by the sayings of Doctors and ancient Councels and by three notable passages of holy scripture Now will we shew the Masse which is the second pillar that supporteth and vpholdeth the Roman Church to be a false sacrifice an inuention of the diuell and a profanation of the holy supper which Iesus Christ our redeemer instituted And if such bee the Masse as we will proue it to bee it followeth that wee ought to flie and detest it and so doe we flie and abhorre it as a thing condemned and abhominable before the face of God This done wee will shewe by the Lordes assistance without which we can doe no thing that good is Iesus Christ to be the true and onely priest and chiefe bishop And his propper body blood which he offered vpon the crosse to his father to be the true only sacrifice the memory wherof we shew forth so oftē as we celebrate his holy supper A table wil we place at the end of this Treatise wherein we will shew the conformity vnion and likenesse which the holy supper instituted by Iesus Christ holdeth with the holy supper in the reformed Churches celebrated And thē also wil we shew the differēce disconformity contrariety that the Masse which our aduersaries celebrate holdeth with the holy supper of Christ which is the same we now celebrate As the name of Pope is not found in the holy scripture as little also is there found the name of Masse And doubtlesse had it bene so necessarie for a Christian to beleeue the authoritie of the Pope and holinesse of the Masse without which faith say they it is vnpossible for a man to bee saued It is I say to bee beleeued that Iesus Christ or his Apostles would haue made some mention thereof For all whatsoeuer is necessary for our saluation doth Christ and his Apostles teach vs. Saint Paule speaking to the Ephesians saith Ye knowe that I keepe backe nothing that was profitable but haue shewed you and haue taught you openly and throughout euery house Witnessing both to the Iewes and Grecians the repentance and faith in our Lord Iesus Christ But this holy Apostle so diligent in teaching that which we ought to beleeue maketh no mention of the Pope nor of the Masse Hereuppon it followeth that to beleeue the authoritie of the Pope or holinesse of the Masse is no Article of faith But true it is will they saie vnto me that this word Masse is not found in the scripture but its equiualent is found the supper of the Lord And if we ought to admit the Lords supper thē must we admit this name Missa Whereunto we aunswere that most great Iniurie and wrong doe they to the holie supper which the Lord instituted in saying it to be the same that is their Masse which they haue imagined and forged For how great difference there is betweene Truth and Falshood Light and darkenesse God and Belial So great is the difference betweene the holy supper and the profane Masse Had the question bene concerning the name whether the holy supper were to be called Missa or no. It should not be of great importance Agree wee in the substance of the things and call it as ye list Albeit it bee il done when the holy spirit calleth a thing by such or such name that man dare call it by another name The Apostle calles it