A MITTIMVS TO THE IVBILE AT ROME OR THE RATES OF THE Popes CVSTOME-HOVSE Sent To the POPE as a New-yeeres-gift from ENGLAND this Yeere of IVBILE 1625. And faithfully published out of the old Latine Copie with Obseruations vpon the Romish Text By WILLIAM CRASHAVV Batchelor of Diuinity and Pastor at White-Chappell LONDON Printed by G. P. for Iohn White and are to be sold at his Shop at the Signe of the Holy-Lambe in Little-Brittaine neere Aldersgate-Street MDCXXV TO THE ENGLISH READER whether Protestant or Papist be he a true Catholique or a Romane An Aduertisement to helpe his Vnderstanding in the reading of this strange Booke I Hope the learned will giue me leaue to informe the lesse skilfull Readers such especially as haue beene vnacquainted in the Popes proceedings and Romish Markets in some particulars wherein otherwise they can hardly satisfie themselues Obiect As first it will be obiected by them that maintaine their owne Religion or rather Romish faction by such tricks that all this is but counterfeit and falsly fathered vpon them to their disgrace Answere But heereto I answer First the Originall Booke in Latine out of which this is taken and translated is their owne and none of ours and printed amongst themselues at Paris more then an hundreth yeeres agoe being first made and printed at Rome in the dayes of Pope Leo the Tenth and the Booke it selfe remaines in a publique Library ready euer to bee shewed for the iustification of our sincere dealing heerein and the satisfaction of all such as shall make doubt thereof This euidence is true and dare abide the Test yet for further cleering of the truth take one more against which the very enemies shall not except Know therfore good Reader that howsoeuer this vngodly Booke past currant and relisht well enough in Rome and Italy yet when it came into France it tasted not so well but contrariwise was so harsh and vnpleasant nay so loathsome and odious to them who had any sense of sin or sparks of Gods feare in them as though they were otherwise Papists yet they cryed shame vpon this Booke and vpon the Makers and Patrons of it Amongst whom Claudius Espencaeus a Doctor of Sorbone one of the most learned of that time noble by his blood but more by his Learning and good life a Bishop before hee dyed and designed also to be a Cardinall but as one writes hee was too good as John de la Casa was too bad Thnanus Hist Lib. 16. ad An. 1555. and so both of them mist the red Hat Espencaeus I say was both so honest and so hardy as not onely publikely in the Pulpit but euen in priuate to reproue this shamelesse Strumpet by laying open to the worlds view the vilenesse villany of this Booke whose very words because they speake home to the Point and containe a most excellent and irrefragable euidence for the truth the true Church and worthy to be kept as a neuer-dying witnesse against the Whore of Babylon and her spirituall abominations I hold well worthy to bee heere inserted the rather seeing since the Iesuites preuailed to abuse the World those worthy Commentaries of Espencaeus that formerly were so frequent in learned mens hands are now so sought and snatcht vp euery where and burnt by those wily Inquisitors as they are now very hard to come by Thus then speakes this Popish yet honest Bishop in his learned Commentaries vpon Titus hauing cryed out vpon the horrible abuses reigning in the Court of Rome especially the setting to sale of all sorts of Sins hee proceedeth and saith Ipsa Verba Espencaei FIcta sint haec Ci. Espenc Commentan Lit. Cap 1. Digress 1. in odium Romanae sedis ab haereticis iactata si non quod ait conqueritur ille velut prostat in quaestu pro Meretrice sedet liber palam ac publicè hic impressus hodieque vt olim venalis Taxa Camerae seu Cancellariae Apostolicae inscriptus in quo plus scelerum discas licèt quà m in omnibus omnium vitiorum Sūmistis Summarijs Et plurimis quidem licentia omnibus autem Absolutio ompturientibus proposita parco nominibus nam quod ait nescio quis Nomina sunt ipso pene timenda sono Mirum hoc tempore hoc Schismate non suppressum tot tamque foedorum tamque horrendorum scelerum velut Iudicem adeo infamem vt non putem in Germania Heluetia vbicunque à Romana sede defectum est opus prostare maiore huius scandalo adeo tamen non supprimitur ab Ecclesiae Romanae fauissoribus vt tantorum ac talium facinorum licentiae ac impunitates in facultatibus Legatorum illine tunc venientium bona ex parte innouentur atque confirmentur aduersus si Deo placet quaecunque fatalia restituendo ac etiam quoscunque Spurios Manseres Bastardos ex quocunque illicito coitu c. Cum his qui se per adulterium polluerint vt connubere possint Periuros Simoniacos Falsarios item Raptores Vsurarios Schismoticos Hereticos sed ad cor reuersos non absoluendi tantùm sed ad ordines honores dignitates beneficia quaecunque quotcūque qualicunque dispensandi homicidasquoque sed casuales seu inuoluntarios nam nec voluntarios quidem excepit Taxa superior Presbytericidas Patricidas Matricidas Fratriecidas Sororicidas Vxoricidas Infanticidas Venisicas Jneantatrices Concubinarios Adulteros Incestos cum Affimbus aut Consanguineis denique contra naturam cum Brutis c. Habeat iam Roma pudorem tam nullius frontis criminum omne genus Catalogum prostituere desinat c. The Words of Espencaeus in English or the same in effect LEet all this bee held faigned falsly charged vpon vs by the Lutherans were it not that the Booke it selfe being come from Rome is openly set to sale and as the Poet saith euen like a Strumpet offers it selfe to all that will but pay the price being here publikely imprinted and euery where vendible as well at this day as in former times and beares this shamelesse Title The Taxe or the Rates of the Chamber and Chancerie Apostolicall A Booke wherein if thou couldest not thou mightst learne to sinne and hee that is so minded may come to the knowledge of more wickednesse then was yet euer discouered in all the Summists and Summaries of Vices that bee in the World And for all those sinnes there is offered to all that will pay for it Absolution for what they haue done and to many License for what they shall doe I spare to name them for the very names of some of them are enough to make an honest heart to tremble It 's more then maruell that in the time of this dangerous Scisme when so many fall dayly from the Church so shamefull a Booke should not bee suppressed which is no better then a very Index pointing men the way to the most foule and hatefull sinnes so as I am perswaded
Booke saith Our holy Father Sixtus the fourth hath granted to all them that be in the state of grace saying this Prayer immediatly after the eleuation cleane remission of all their sinnes perpetually induring Nor doe these Indulgences onely deliuer those that purchase them but also others euen the soule of the deceased out of Purgatory for thus saith the same Booke of certaine Prayers called Saint Bridgets Oo's Ibid. fol. 59. There be the 15. Oo's the which the holy Virgin Saint Bridget was wont to say dayly before the holy Rood in Saint Pauls Church at Rome who so say this a whole yeere he shall deliuer 15. soules out of Purgatory of his next Kindred and conuert other 15 sinners to good life and other 15. fifteene righteous men of his kind shall perseuere in good life And whatsoeuer ye desire of God ye shall haue it if it bee to the saluation of your soule Nor is this all but they haue Indulgences annexed to certaine Prayers which shall deliuer them also from bodily dangers for thus saith the Booke of another Prayer Ibid. fol. 69. This Prayer was shewed to Saint Augustine by reuelation of the holy Ghost and who that deuoutly say this Prayer or heare read or beareth about them shall not perish in fire nor water neither in battell nor in iudgement and he shall not die of sodaine death no venim shall poyson him that day Nor is this yet all but they haue other Prayers whereunto are annexed such powerfull Indulgences as hee that saith them cannot be damned nor goe to Purgatory but must needs goe to Heauen immediately when hee dyes let the Reader iudge for these bee the words This Prayer made Saint Augustine affirming Ibid. fol. 65. who that say it daily kneeling shall not dye in sinne and after this life shall goe to the euerlasting ioy and blisse And the Conclusion of the former Prayer is this VVhatsoeuer he who saith this Prayer asketh of God Fol. 69. hee shall obtaine if it bee to the saluation of his soule and when thy soule shall depart thy body it shall not enter to Hell Nay they haue one Prayer which shall do more then all these witnesse the words for saith the Booke This Prayer is written in a Table that hanged at Rome in Saint Peters Church neere to the high Altar Ibid. fol. 78. there as our holy father the Pope is wont to say Masse and who that deuoutly with a contrite heart dayly say this Orizon if hee bee that day in the state of eternall damnation then this eternall paine shall bee changed him into temporall paine of Purgatory and if he haue deserued the paine of Purgatory it shall bee forgotten and forgiuen through the infinite mercy of God Of the infinitnesse of Gods mercy we are well assured and doubt not but by that mercy all sinne may bee forgiuen and this we know to be good Diuinity but that God forgiues sinnes by that meanes as by the saying of that Prayer is new Diuinity coynd in Rome but shall neuer be currant in Gods Church And yet this is not all but as the former Prayer makes a man happy when he dies so they haue also a Prayer that shall make a man happy all his life long and prosper in what hee goes about for thus saith the Booke The Prayer of Lot Iacob and Moses Ibid. fol. 10â— for them that haue taken any new great thing vpon them that the would haue brought to good end VVe neuer knew till now that Lot Iacob and Moses did vse the same Prayer but when they made this Booke they might say any thing for they knew not one of a thousand had a Bible and so there was none that but either would not or could not controll them And that our English Papists may know the better what a Iewell they haue of this Booke and for that there bee diuers if I mistake not which beare this same title therefore that they may the better know it when they haue it and make account of it as it deserues I will let them know that there bee other precious Romish Iewels in this Cabinet there is a Prayer bearing this title Ibid. fol. 101. Ista nomina Regum videlicet Jasper Melchior Balthasar 12. Apostoli quorum nomina sunt haec Petrus Paulus c. Mihi assistant in omnibus necessitatibus meis ac me defendent liberent ab omnibus periculis tentationibus angustijs corporis animae ab vniuersis malis praesentibus praeteritis futuris me custodiant nunc in aeternum Amen Ibid. fo 101. Prou. 18.10 A deuout Inuocation and Prayer of all the blessed names of our Lord Jesu Christ as wee find them written in holy Scripture then followes a Prayer beginning thus and thus adorned OMNIPOTENS DOMINVS ✚ CHRIST VS ✚ MESSIAS ✚ SOTHER ✚ EMANVEL ✚ c. And so it goes on with 43. names and as many red Crosses and betwixt euery name a Crosse after all which the Prayer is that those names may defend and blesse him that saith it Nay not onely these names of Christ but euen the same Prayer is made of the VVise-men that came from the East to worship Christ whom they call Kings and the Prayer is this These names of the three Kings Jasper Melchior and Balthasar and the 12. Apostles whose names are Peter Paul c. Assist me in all my necessities defend me and free me from all dangers temptations and extremities of soule and body and keepe me from all euil past present and to come now and for euermore Amen Salomon told vs that The name of the Lord is a strong Tower and the Righteous flying to it are helped But it seemes Salomon was short in his Diuinity for heere bee names of men not one but many that can doe it as well Moreouer you Romish Catholickes know to your speciall edification This is the Booke wherein you haue that rare piece of Deuotion which I dare say Gods Church neuer had namely a Prayer which the Diuell taught Saint Bernard for saith the Booke VVhen Saint Bernard was at his Prayers Ibid. fol. 125. the Diuell said to him I know certaine Verses in the Psalter who that say them dayly shall not perish and shall haue knowledge of the day that hee shall die but the Fiend would not shew them to him who then said I shall say dayly the whole Psalter and so I shall be sure to say those verses but rather then hee should doe so the Fiend shewed him those Verses And so follow 12. Verses of the Psalmes taken for the most part our of the 119. Psalmes and there is a Title ouer them in these words Precor te 〈◊〉 Princeps egregiâ— Gabriel fortissimè agonista certantium exurge mihi in adiutoriuâ— aduersus malignantes Esto mecum contra aduersarios meos omnes operantes iniquitatem delegâ— versuros busies â—â—â—na violentes omnes aduersantes mihi
tue epitilatu victi fugentur fauente Domino nostro Iesu Christo Ibid. fol. 96. Versus Sancti Bernardi but sure they might better call them Versus Diaboli for howsoeuer to vs they bee of the holy Ghosts inspiring and Dauids penning yet to them they be of the Diuels choosing and commending Well let them thus learne both their Doctrines and deuotions from the Diuell wee for our parts enuy them not it sufficeth vs to bee of the number of those the Prophet speakes of They shall be all taught of God Moreouer this is that Booke wherein Saints and Angels are not entreated to pray for them to God but there are Prayers directed to them with these Titles A Prayer to Saint Gabriel a Prayer to S. Raphael c. and the same things are therein cal'd for of them which Christians doe of God take one Example I beseech thee thou excellent Prince Gabriel thou valiant Champion rise vp in my defence against the wicked be on my side against my enemies and all that worke iniquity discouer their crafty plots confound their power that all who oppose me may be put to slight by thy assistance with the fauour of our Lord Jesu Christ There is also a Prayer to thy proper Angell and another to the 1000. Virgins another to all both Hee-Saints and Shee-Saints and there is also a Prayer or else two that are farre more excellent then the Lords Prayer I am not willing to bee trusted in so strange a report let the Reader Iudge by the words themselues Ibid. fol. 55. This Prayer was shewed to Saint Bernard by the messenger of God saying that as gold is the most precious of all other mettle so exceedeth this Prayer all other Prayers and who that deuoutly saith it shall haue a singular reward of our blessed Lady and her sweet Sonne Iesus Then followes a Prayer to the Virgin Mary which thus begins Aue Maria Ancilla Trinitatis c. and though it bee a long Prayer yet is it all to that blessed creature the holy Virgin and not one word to God Lo heere is a Prayer to a Creature more excellent then any to God and a Prayer made by a man as farre more precious then the Lords Prayer as gold is then lead You may do well to tell your Confessors or if you will the grand Penitentiary at Rome that wee poore condemned Heretickes of England aske them vpon their consciences what kind of Diuinity and deuotion this is for our parts wee would account him a Blasphemer that should say so amongst vs. There is also another Prayer of which this strange report is made in that Booke Ibid fol. 50. This Prayer shewed our Lady to a deuout person saying that this golden Prayer is the most sweetest and acceptablest to mee and in her appearing shee had this salutation and Prayer written with Letters of gold in her brest Then followes a Prayer to the same holy Virgin beginning thus Aue Rosa siue Spinis c. Here is another piece of rare Diuinity and Deuotion that the holy Virgin should recommend a Prayer made by a man and to her selfe alone as more excellent in it selfe and acceptable to her then the Psalmes that were dictated by the holy Ghost and all the Prayers made to God himselfe Lastly in this Booke there is a Prayer where God is made Mediator to a Creature nay to a silly VVoman S. Sithe euen such a one as wee are not sure whether she euer was or no The words are so strange as it 's pitty but they should bee knowne For first they pray to her to prepare the glory of Heauen for them which she hath merited Aue Sitha famula Sancta Iesu Christi para nobis gloriam quam tu meruisâ—i Our Bibles teach vs that God the Father prepared the glory of Heauen and Christ Iesus purchased it for vs But here is Romish Catholike Diuinity which teacheth vs we may haue them both another way for S. Sithe both prepares it payes for it Then followes such a Prayer as all the Lutherans and Caluinists cannot shew the like for thus goe the words O God who didst honor the blessed Virgin Sithe Deus qui beatam Sitham Virginem famulam tuam in ipsius vita multis miraculis decorasti te suppliciter exoramus vt omnes qui in tuo nomine ab ea postulant auxilium eius obtentu apud te sibi sentiant opportunum per Christum Dominum Taeter noster Jbid. fol. 26. thy seruant with many miracles in her life we humbly beseech thee that all those who in thy name doe seeke helpe of her may by her meanes finde it seasonably to themselues from thee by Christ Christian Religion teacheth vs to pray to God in the name of Christ but heere is a Religion teacheth to pray to Saint Sithe in the name of God Iudge good Reader if heere God be not made a Mediator to a Creature Thus haue I giuen you yee Romish Catholikes a full taste of the dainties laid vp for you in this Booke If these bee all lyes falshoods and fooleries then see with what food your fore-fathers were fed and learne what to iudge of those Popes Pastors Teachers and Confessors that thus gaue them Scorpions in stead of Bread and see how foulely the Romane Church erred which for many ages allowed this Book by publike authority But if these be true then see what a braue thing it is to be a Papist who vpon such easie condition can purchase such Pardons procure such Jndulgences to himselfe to others both for body and soule both for this life and for Purgatory both for the penalty and for sinne it selfe nay for deliuerance not onely from Purgatory but from Hell No maruell verily if so many beleeuing this doe become Papists and certainly wee were worse then Heretickes and worthy to bee damned deeper in Hell then Julian and Judas if wee beleeuing this did not presently turne Romane Catholicks And all this thus presupposed wee must needs confesse these prices for these Indulgences very cheape if they were much dearer for suppose they haue the power of giuing these Indulgences but a few yeeres nay but one and pay 20. 40. if it were 100. Grosses for the same no great matter nay a very good Bargain and a quick Market seeing it's likely enough so much and more may bee gathered in againe in one weeke as will pay for the whole yeeres rent And whereas many amongst vs out of ignorance of these Romish secrets and some out of charitable construction beleeued not they euer allowed such Indulgences for so many thousands of yeeres and for remission of all or halfe or a part of a mans sinnes now comes the Pope in this Book satisfies vs to the full that such Merchandises are common in the Romish Market and that the Popes Exchange is neuer empty of them And so indulgent and fauourable a Father is the Pope as he will not
there was neuer set out in Germany Switzerland nor among any of our enemies that bee fallen from vs any Booke that euer bred more scandall or did more hurt to the Romane Church And yet so farre is it from being supprest at Rome by our great States-men there as contrariwise the Licenses and impunities for these abominations are for the most part daily renewed and confirmed in the Commissions and faculties of those Nuncious or Legats that be sent from thence to vs who haue power not onely to legitimate all kinde of Bastards of neuer so damnable copulations and to giue leaue euen for Adulterers to marry but to dispence euen with Forgery Symony Periury Robbery Schisme Heresie and not onely to absolue them from the Sinne but to enable them to be capable of benefices dignities honours nay to absolue Murderers one book excepts not so much as the villaine that shall wilfully kill his owne Father or Mother Wife or Childe nay keepers of Whores violaters of Virgins Adulterers Incestuous euen in the neerest bloud nay sinnes against Nature and not to be named euen with beasts c. O Rome blush at these abominations and cease for shame to prostitute thy selfe thus in the sight of friends and enemies c. And thus writes not Luther nor Caluin those Arch-heretiques nor male-contented Erasmus for so they stile them nor any of ours but Espencaeus a Sorbonist a Papist and euery way their owne saue onely for his honesty Of whom not onely Thuanus Bechellius and other indifferent and moderate But euen Posseuine the Iesuite and Genebrard that rough and bitter Papist giues most honourable testimony And lest it might be obiected that this Espencaeus being a Frenchman spake partially as one infected with the old iealousie or emulation that hath bin betwixt France and Rome That therefore the indifferent Reader who desires to sway on no side but to be informed in the truth may see our faire dealing and sincere intention to doe right take another testimony touching this booke out of Guicciardine an Jtalian nay a Florentine euen the Country-man of that Pope in whose time this Booke was written A learned and iudicious Writer and one held on all sides as indifferent and free from passion or partiality as any Writer of these later ages whose words are as followeth Guicciard hist lib. 14. LEo Papa x. à natura ocio voluptatibus deditus tunc verò etiam ob nimiam Licentiam potentiamque supra modum à negotijs alienus musicis ac scurris totum diem audiendis immersus praeter decorū voluptatibus deditus à bellis penitus alienus esse debere videbatur huc accedebat quod cum in eius animo tanta magnificentia splendor inesset vt vel in quonis qui longissima successione à potentissimis Regibus oriundus esset summa admiratione digna fuisset Neque in sumptibus muneribusue dandis modum delectumue seruaret non modo breuissimo temporis spatio gazam ab Iulio cumulatam incredibili profusione exhauserat verum etiam cum ex ijs quae in curia expediuntur multisque nouis ad pecuniam emungendam excogitatis ingentem auri copiam cumulâsset adeo profuisse sumptus fecerat vt subinde nouas rationes quibus immanes illos sumptus quos non modo continenter faciebat verum etiam augebat sustinere posset excogitare cogeretur c. The same in English POpe Leo the x. beeing giuen by nature to ease and pleasure and much more by the great licentiousnesse that beares sway in the Papacy would trouble himselfe with no businesse but spend the whole day in musicke mirth sports and pastimes amongst witty fellowes and ieasters and beyond all decorum was drencht and drowned in voluptuousnesse And moreouer was of so stately a minde and carriage and so magnificent in all things as though hee had descended by many degrees from the greatest and most illustrious Kings of Europe Neyther kept hee any measure nor practized any discretion in his gifts and bounties so as in short time hee had not onely foolishly exhausted and shamefully wasted the great treasures his Predecessour Iulius left him but also gathered great summes by all the businesses expedited in the Court of Rome Nor contented with the old hee had them who dayly deuized him new trickes and wayes to bring in money Insomuch as in his time an incredible masse of Gold was gathered or rather scraped vp yet was all this too little for money came not in so fast as hee found vents and meanes to spend it so as to maintaine his charge and satisfie his new pleasures and occasions of expence which hee also daily deuised hee was euen forced still to excogitate and by fit instruments to finde out new wayes and meanes to bring in money into his alwayes filling and yet alwayes empty Coffers Now consider good Reader who these two witnesses were consider their Nations and Reliligion consider their places and professions and weigh well their words and then wee dare put this issue to tryall to a Iury of any indifferent men in the World whether this Booke be counterfeit by vs or rather the Popes owne brood euen the true and vndoubted childe if not of the Church yet of the Court of Rome And if eyther trauellers may be trusted or bookes beleeued that speake and write of the Pope and Court of Rome it so kindely shewes the House it came of as they cannot for shame deny it or so much as doubt it to bee their owne for neuer was Bastard more like the father than this resembles the manners disposition custome and complection of the Court of Rome And this good Reader is the first thing I desire to cleare to thy vnderstanding before thou take in hand the reading of this Booke Another matter whereof I would informe the Reader is touching the meaning of those offices or Courts at Rome which are so often mentioned in this Booke Namely the Chauncery the Chamber the Penitentiary and the Datary The Chauncery is the highest office in the Popes Court The Popes Vice-Chancellor and his Vice-chancellor is the first and immediate officer next himself and is called Vice-chancellor not Chācellor because by the Popes presumptuous Law God and hee haue but one and the same Consistory or Chancery whereof say they only the Pope himselfe is Chancellor And because they make him Gods Chancellor therefore the other is but his Vice-chancellor This office as it is of supreme authority so it is of mighty reuenewes but was of much more when England and other Nations were vnder the Popes command for his Writ for matters Ecclesiasticall went as familiarly into euery Nation as our Chancery of England sends into euery Shire Vnder him are many great officers vnder them an incredible number of inferiour officers who are all fed and maintayned by the multitude of suites and Suitors from all parts of the Popish world who come thither like foolish wandring Sheepe and
a mortall and capitall sinne in the Court of Conscience before God Anno 1. E. 6. cap. 12. but also punished with no lesse than death in our exteriour Courts of Iustice And that with so great seuerity as some helpes of life allowed by our Lawes to other Fellons are vtterly denyed to the Church-robber * In Saint Andrewes in Holborne the common Prayer-booke was stolne and the Fellon was condemned for it And some haue dyed in our times for things of small value onely because it was Sacriledge Therefore how great wrong they doe vs thus to censure vs and how vniustly they challenge to themselues to be the onely holy Church let God and his Angels and all good men iudge betwixt vs seeing with them 7. Grosses will suffice for Sacriledge which among vs is euer punished with no lesse than death And if a Priest may steale the goods of the Church and then be absolued for 7. Grosses when happely he hath sacrilegiously stoln more neere to 700. we must needes say with Espencaeus that a tolerable man may by this booke learne to be naught and an ill man to be much worse CHAP. II. For reuealing of Confession The Romish Text. An Absolution for him that reueales another mans Confession is taxed at 7. Grosses English Obseruations TOuching Confession to Man howsoeuer Gods Church knowes no reason to enioyne it to bee practized by all Christians as is the Popish Auricular Confession because it s simply necessary to saluation to confesse to God but to man not so Yet our Church and Doctrine not onely allow but aduise and exhort all men to vse it euen to man for their consolation or direction when they finde cause And we deny not but it may be of great vse and hath euer beene practized in Gods true Church by such as tendred the quiet state of their owne soules And we doubt not but many doe grieuously burthen their consciences and carry sore troubled and full heauy hearts about them because they doe not open their mindes and discouer the spirituall state of their soules vnto their godly Pastors whose duty by our Doctrine is not only readily louingly and patiently to heare them but with all his power and best skill to direct aduise and comfort them and most faithfully to keep secret whatsoeuer is thus in confession made knowne to them as Ministers of God especially if it be a blemish to the party confessing vnlesse eyther the penitent giue him leaue to discouer it or that it be a matter of blood or some enormious euill to be committed for preuention whereof it may and ought yet with great caution and discretion be discouered to the Magistrate Now the Romish Church makes vse of this as one of her principall stratagems whereby to know the hearts and dispositions of all men and women especially the Princes and great Ones of this world And howsoeuer to bring them on the better to confesse freely and fully they make a shew that the Seale of Confession is not to be violated but most strictly and sacredly to be obserued yet this strictnesse they keepe in their owne power like St. Wilfrids Needle to inlarge or restraine at their pleasure or as shall make for the good of the Catholique cause Therefore on the one side when it makes for them the Popes and Popish Princes haue by the Conduit of confession beene made priuy to the purposes of such great Princes as walking in their simplicity did freely impart their mindes to their Confessors who like good soules little feared any false measures in so holy a businesse as Confession And on the other side when it makes against them to open it then the Seale is sacred and then all the world must perish rather than it be violated And therupon * Delrio disquis mag 〈◊〉 3 â—iâ— Câ—aâ— 1. Sect. 2. Delrio the Spanish Iesuite concludes that Garnet hauing knowledge of the Powder-treason in Confession long before the execution was bound to conceale it and so suffer it to come to passe not careing though it concerned the Kings life and all his Issue and thousands with them and the safetie of the whole Kingdome Thus can they fight on both sides And by these meanes no maruell if their Kingdome haue stood so long and if they doe such strange things as they doe dayly And here let the world consider and wisely obserue what is it in all the Popish world that the Pope or Spanish King may not know at their pleasure seeing to that end they haue many apt Instruments especially the Iesuits and Capuchins and so many fit Engines with this two-handed sword of Auricular Confession And to shew how little they care for the keeping safe of this Seale when they list to breake it it appears in that the Iesuites who be the refined Papists are in many places almost the sole Confessors So as it was complayned of in France that the Confessionall places of Parishes were left desart and those of the Iesuites so thronged as one could hardly haue a roome there And what vse they make of it and how safely they keepe it is manifest by the Register found at Venice vpon their late expulsion wherein they carefully recorded the secret Confessions of all great persons and so most wickedly made vse of such things to their wicked ends as in all honesty ought to haue beene eyther buried in obliuion or at least supprest in silence And if there were no record in the world to this purpose there needs no more euidence than this which is their owne euen the price of his absolution who eyther by drunkennes or carelesnesse or corruption or vpon any other knauish ground haps to reueale it which seeing it is so far their own as they little thoght we should euer haue knowne it it concerns vs the more to make much of it For it may giue vs and the world good cause to wonder at their wickednes and hatefull hypocrisie so seriously to commend to the people as a sacred holy matter that Confession which themselues account of so lightly and so slightly as that the Absolution for the breach of it shall cost the Villaine but 7. Grosses who rather deserued 7. Halters And howsoeuer these Censorious Pharises disgrace and disparage vs yet I dare say that Minister amongst vs who should so far forget himselfe and the honour of his Calling as to discouer the secret Confession of any Penitent who powred out his soule into his bosome should be so far from passing with the leane punishment of 7 Grosses as hee would rather bee iudged vnworthy of his place and held hatefull amongst his fellowes and vnfit for the society not only of Christians but euen of ciuill men CHAP. III. For polluting and prophaning of Churches The Romish Text. An Absolution for him who lyes with a Woman in the Church and there commits other enormities is rated at the price of 6. Grosses English Obseruations ALl Christians nay most of the
Child took medicinall drinke to destroy her Birth or doth any other Act whereby the Childe being aliue in her Wombe is destroyed is taxed at the rate of 5. Grosses English Obseruations IF the slauery of Women and Iealousie of Husbands in Italy bee so common as Trauellers tell and the violent beating of Wiues so ordinary as this Particle implies then certainly our English Women may iustly thanke God for that comfortable freedome that they enioy which is such as made Erasmus and other strangers comming hither say That no Women in the World liued so faire liues as ours in England And our Catholike Women may heere see how little they are beholding to the Pope who cares so little for them more then for seruing the filthy lust of him and his lustfull law-lesse Clergie that all the base Iealousies vnworthy vsage and cruell blowes of their imperious Husbands moue not him at all nor holds hee it worthy so much as a poore Purse-punishment vnlesse it cause the death of the Child Haue not our Catholike Dames great cause to runne after Romish Religion as they do If they loue it so well Oh that they would euen runne to Rome and enioy it there where they may haue the Popes dayly blessing to make amends if their Husbands should pay them with dayly and sometimes deadly blowes It is also fit for the Readers obseruation what little account is made in Rome of killing Infants and his Shauelings and vnholy Cloyster-brethren shew themselues children not vnlike their Father amongst whom and their carnall Sisters the Nunnes their Chronicles and all Trauellers and the Visitations of their Abbeyes doe all declare how wickedly hundreds and thousands of Infants doe perish amongst them some newly borne and baptized in their blood and either cast into Ponds or buried in their Gardens Celles Cellers Vaults hollow Walles and sometimes in baser places some slaine and strangled in the Birth many destroyed and neuer suffered to see the light of this Life and those bee held of tender and honest hearts among them who feare to destroy these harmelesse Babes and doe therefore saue them sending them out to be nursed and liue And yet these are the men that condemne holy Marriage as vncleane and vnholy nay as a foule sinfull and punishable fault aboue Whoredome and all Fornication CHAP. XIII VVhoredome or keeping of Concubines The Romish Text. An Absolution for a Priest or Clergie-man that keepes a Concubine as also his Dispensation to saue him from being Irregular which by the generall and Prouinciall Constitutions hee incurres all this together is rated at the price of 7. Grosses And if a Layman will keep a Concubine his Absolution also will cost him the same price euen 7. Grosses English Obseruations SEe the horrible impudencie of this shamelesse Generation they confesse that euen their owne both Generall and Prouinciall Councels doe condemne the keeping of Concubines vnder paine of Irregularity and yet the Pope is not ashamed against them all to set to sale this filthy sinne and to put down so base a price as seauen Grosses But speak you monstrous Whore-maintayners Is not the keeping of Concubines or Whores for what is shee better then a Whore whom a man keeps as a wife and is no wife Is it not I say as well against the expresse Law of God and Gospell of Christ as against Canons of Councels and Constitutions of the Church If it be as euery Child knowes it to be so why doe you then conceale it The reason is plaine enough to them that bee acquainted with your pollicies euen because it little moues you what is commanded or forbidden by God in the Law or in the Gospell But all that you care for is what is forbidden in your owne Constitutions And lest that should breed some scruple of conscience that keeping a Concubine is forbidden in your generall and prouinciall Constitutions you take a course to quench that also euen that little sparke of conscience and feare of sinne and tell the offendor that besides his Absolution from the sinne hee shall also haue a dispensation to deliuer him from the danger of Irregularity that most seuere and most iust punishment which the Canons of the former and better times inflict vpon that sinne See all good Christians marke I beseech you you potent Princes and Kings of Christendome you godly Bishops and faithfull Diuines who all in your seuerall places wish the welfare of Sion and seeke to settle true peace in the Church See to what little purpose it is to haue any generall Councell or to make any wholsome Canons and Constitutions as long as this Man of sinne is suffered to sit in the Chayre of Pestilence seeing all the good and carefull Canons the Councels haue made against that filthy and reigning sinne of whoredome in sixe and sixe hundred yeeres are all cast off cashierd and nullified for the bringing in of scuruie sixe or seuen Grosses into the Popes Coffers See what all your labours tend vnto Kings and Princes in calling learned Bishops and Diuines in managing the proceedings of Generall Nationall or Prouinciall Councels as long as hee is suffered in his exorbitant pride and insatiable couetousnesse and vnmeasurable lasciuiousnesse thus to tyrannize ouer the World And you that bee learned marke heere what good cause had Erasmus the Low-Germane Espencaeus the French-man Ferus the Dutch-man Caranza Oleaster Stella and Viues the Spaniards Sauanarola Mirandula Mantuan and other Italians to cry out vpon the Romish abominations and to call so earnestly for reformation as they did both in Pulpit and Print And because they set so easie a penaltie euen for a Lay-man also that shall keepe his Concubine it puts mee in minde of a memorable example in that kinde whereof I can make report vpon my owne certaine knowledge wherein it is manifest that this villany though hatcht at Rome yet reacht euen as farre as England Mr. William Strickland of Bointon neere Bridlington in the Eastriding of Yorkeshire whose sonne Mr. Water Strickland or else his sonne liues there at this day Lord of that Towne and diuers others in that Countrey can witnesse the same An ancient Gentleman in Yorkeshire told me himselfe neere thirty yeeres agoe that liuing at Yorke in Queene Maries time where hee was one of the Councell of State or else the Queenes Secretary to her Councell there and fearing to be questioned for not comming to the Church to Masse which hee resolued neuer to doe whatsoeuer it cost him and hearing that Cardinall Poole was come from Rome to reconcile England being Legat à latere and came furnisht with these faculties and power of giuing the Dispensations and Licences mentioned in this booke and complayned on by Espencaeus sent to his Sollicitor at London to get him a Dispensation out of the Lord Legats the Cardinals Court not to goe to Church but that hee might exercise his Deuotions at home The Sollicitor going about it found it somewhat difficult because they
that forgeth Letters of Priuiledge at 16. Grosses And for him that forgeth the Popes hand or Letters Apostolicall at 18. Grosses English Obseruations Anno 5. Eliz. Chap. 14. ANd for Forgery though it bee not flat Fellony yet finds it such censures in our Courts of England as for this World some Offenders would rather wish to bee hanged then vndergoe them yet in this mercifull Mother-Church of Rome it is so ordinary a matter as the highest Penalty euen for forging the Popes hand is vnder 30. shillings yet I must needs herein commend the Pope for his courteous dealing in measuring other men by himselfe for knowing himselfe to bee the great Forger of the World thrusting vpon the Church continually counterfeit Bookes and sometime whole Authors counterfeit hee deales the more fauourably with them who take to themselues the boldnesse to counterfeit hands for he iudgeth and Oh that none of his iudgements were more vniust that a name is nothing to a whole Booke and a hand but little to a whole Man But withall obserue good Reader how hitherto you haue heard of the Penalty of 6. or 7. neuer aboue 8. Grosses how then come wee so sodainly to a double price or Penalty of 16. and 18 Oh the case is altred the former faults were against God the breach of whose Lawes and neglect of whose Commandements are but Peccadils at most but petty Treasons at Rome But these are such as trench vpon the Power and Prerogatiue of the Pope these touch his Free-hold therefore now the prizes are higher and the Penaltie heauier Thus are they blinded with selfe-loue mis-led with mis-conceits of themselues and carried away wholly with care of that which concernes themselues And God himselfe little better then forgotten amongst them CHAP. XVIII False VVitnesse-bearing The Romish Text. An Absolution for him who in a criminall cause takes a false Oath is rated at 6. Grosses English Obseruations BVt the iust God who knowes that a false Oath in Iudgement may lose a mans Credit State or Life allowes neither sixe nor sixe score nor sixe hundred Grosses as a competent recompence to the partie wronged nor a proportionable punishment to the Offendor * Leuit. 6.5 but ordaines that hee shall satisfie fully the partie wronged and receiue other punishment for his breach of Gods Law What shall wee then say to this fellow that makes thus base account of a false witnesse nay of a false Oath wherein besides all the confusion that thereby may breed amongst men God himselfe and his glorious Maiesty is immediately assaulted and most impiously abused CHAP. XIX Commutation of Vowes or Absolutions for the same The Romish Text. For a man to haue leaue to change his Vow will cost him 10 Grosses For a Lay-man to change his Vow of going to Rome to visit the Apostolicall Churches 12. Grosses For a Prince who vowed to visit the Sepulchre 20. Grosses English Obseruations ALl men know how sacred a matter they make of their Vowes they fill the World with the noyse of them Such a man say they hee is cursed if he marry for he hath vowed the contrary such a one is damn'd if hee or shee enter not such an Order for hee hath vowed to doe it Luther must needs bee damned in Hell because hee married a Wife for hee broke his Vow and a Hundreth like Quanto conatu quantas nugas What adoe heere is about nothing or little better then nothing when a matter of 10. Grosses that is fifteene shillings will purchase him a Pardon or a Faculty to change his Vow into somthing else But such is their Religion and such be their trickes as Vowes are the strongest bonds when the vrging of them makes for their owne ends But if to break them be for their turnes then they be of no force their Sampson of Rome can breake them in pieces like a threed Oh shamefull and yet shamelesse Hypocrisie to make so great a shew where is so little substance for why the tender consciences of poore men bee so terribly intangled and burthened about their Vowes which sometime negligently sometimes merrily nay in drinke sometimes hastily somtimes impiously oft-times rashly alwaies ignorantly do fall from them If the Pope can so easily as for a matter of 15. shillings take the burthen from them surely they are simple that trouble themselues when they may so easily bee discharged It seemes the High Priest in the Old Testament tooke no such power to himselfe Iudg. 6 for then good Ieptha and his Daughter needed not to haue mourned so much for his vnaduised Vow who I warrant you would haue giuen 10000. Grosses to haue been discharged from his Vow But he held as wee doe that if a Vow bee vnlawfull it binds not at all but breaks in peeces of it selfe so if it be lawfull it binds so firmely as no man no money no price no power on earth can dispence with it And here we challenge that grand Hypocrite of Rome and all his Colledge Consistory to answer vs but this one Question If it bee an vnlawfull Vow how dare he for want of money bind where God loseth if lawfull how dare hee for money lose where God binds And if hee will not answer vs wee bind him ouer to the great and generall Sessions in the bonds of an euill Conscience which will hold him fast and sure enough to answer it before God for thus abusing the World and turning Religion vpside downe to serue his owne carnall and lawlesse lusts For the particulars Will it cost a man but 20. shillings to change his Vow who vowed to visit the Churches in Rome then sure your owne consciences know it to be a lye when you write that such great Indulgences for thousands of yeeres and forgiuenesse of sinnes and releasing of soules out of Purgatory belong to them that visit the 7. Churches in Rome for if that were true you could not bee such Villaines as suffer men for a little money to misse so great a blessing as indeed is worth all the World And if a Prince that vowed to visit the Sepulcher would be discharged of it change his Vow it must cost him 30. shillings Verily the price is easie enough But how came it to passe you trench thus vpon the sacred Prerogatiue of Princes elsewhere hee might not goe without License if hee doe hee must pay you Now if hee say hee will goe and after change his mind hee must pay you for that also How dare you thus play with edge-tooles and dally with your betters and prey vpon them that are able to make a prey of you at their pleasures Againe is this it for him that cals himselfe the Seruant of Seruants But heerein appeares your Hypocrisie in words to maske vnder the vaile of Humility and in deeds to declare your selfe the Commander of Kings Let the rest of the Kings and Princes of Christendome open their eyes and learne at last to tread the pathes
priuiledge of the Popes owne that is saith Rebuffus hee hath a power to send men to hell more then any other and himelfe with them Now for the reall practice of this enormous abuse he that reades the Canon Law and liues of the Popes and Cardinals can tell that Pope Leo was made a Cardinall at 14. yeeres old and many Cardinals and some Popes at the same age or younger and Rebuffus cites the whole Bull granted to one in his time Reb. Prax. benef lib. 1. See the whole Bull in the end of the Booke as a President for them that should seeke the like wherein Pope Iulius grants to a Noble mans sonne who therfore you know was well able to pay soundly for it one Benefice before he was 15. yeeres old and leaue to take another so soone as hee should bee twenty See good Reader what a Clergie the Romish Church affoords and maruell not if they bee such feeders and their sheepe so starued as they be and as we reade it bitterly complained of in some of their own bookes for if it be true in ciuil gouernment Eccles 10.16 Wo be to thee O Land where thy King is a child then much more may we say in the spirituall gouernment of the Church Wo to that Church where their Clergie are children and where boyes of 15 14 nay 10. yea 7. yeeres may for money be made capable of holy Orders and of the best Benefices in the Land CHAP. VIII LICENCES The Romish Text. A Licence to eate flesh butter egges and white meates in Lent and other fasting dayes or prohibited times is rated at 7. Grosses English Obseruations WHo knowes not that knowes what Popery is how highly the Popish Fasts are magnified their vertue and merit extolled and how it 's held a mortall sinne to breake those Fasts in the least degree and what horrible Heretickes we must be because wee hold not with them heerein And is now all this turned into smoke And is it all no more but a matter of 7. Grosses Parturiunt Montes How is the world abused with their Gulleries How is the supposed glory of the Carthusians for men and women the Order of Saint Clare eclipsed Wee silly fooles simply beleeued they meant as they spake and performed as they professed namely that they neuer tasted flesh But now we see our errour for seeing ten shillings and sixepence will procure them a Licence wee dare say many of them will not want it Againe the worlds eares are filled with their lewd and lowd noyses against vs of our carnality loosenesse and licentiousnesse in this kind But if Bookes and Trauellours say true more meales are fasted in England in a yeere then in the Iesuites Colledges in two And I beleeue they who try doe finde that a Licence heere to eate flesh for one yeere is not so easily had as at Rome for ones whole life if they pay the new Rates in the Exchequer CHAP. IX Licences for the Laity and first for Kings and Princes The Romish Text. A Licence or Faculty that a King or a Queene shal enioy such Indulgences as if they went to Rome will cost 200. Gross A Licence for a Queene to adopt a Child is rated at 4000. Gross That a King or a Prince may exact Contributions of the Clergie will cost 50. Gross If the Contribution arise to 100000. Florens then for the first 1000. 5. Gross And for euery other Floren 1. Gross That a King vpon Christmas day morning may cause a naked sword to bee borne before him as it is before the Pope 150. Gross That hee who preacheth before a King may giue an Indulgence to all that heare him 12. Grosses That a Noble-man may goe into a Monastery with a certaine number of followers 12. Grosses That hee may receiue the Sacraments or be buried in a Church interdicted 30. Grosses English Obseruations COnsidering the Romish State stands more by policy than by holinesse it would be a wonder to the wise how they durst thus encroach vpon the places and prerogatiues of Kings were it not that the Holy Ghost hath preuented it by telling vs that shee should make the Kings of the Earth drunke Reuel 18.3 and infatuated with her fornications But seeing shee is blinded and so shall be to her destruction for my part I much more wonder and hold it a deeper and more secret iudgement of God that some of the great Kings of the Earth should lye so long in their Lethargie and in this spirituall drunken slumber and doe not rather rowze vp themselues as ours of England haue done before them and say to themselues WHere are wee What doe wee Where haue wee beene What hath bewitched and blinded vs so long What makes vs sit still and suffer our selues to bee of their number of whom it is said Reuel 17.17 The Kings of the earth haue giuen their Kingdome to the Beast which wee would neuer haue done had not wee beene turned and transformed into beasts by the poysoned Cup of her abominatiōs Let vs at last see our selues know our owne and for feare and shame challenge and re-assume to our selues that Kingdome and power which God hath giuen vs and wee most basely haue giuen from vs to this Beast or at least suffered him closely and by degrees to vsurpe vpon vs and steale it away lest God who gaue it vs be iustly angry with vs for so little esteeming and so basely bestowing that power which hee so bountifully bestowed on vs and holding vs vnworthy as well of that wee haue as that wee gaue vp to the Beast of Rome doe iustly take it all from vs and hauing confounded vs together with him doe iustly giue it to such of his friends as will vse it to his glory and not bestow it vpon his enemies Thus me-thinkes I should heare the Kings of France and Spaine and some other Princes of Europe speake to themselues especially when they reade the seuenteenth eighteenth and nineteenth Chapters of the Reuelation Or if hee will not let them looke vpon the Scriptures yet when they reade that royall and friendly warning giuen them by the great KING of our Great-Brittaine in his learned and Princely Premonition At least when they doe but looke vpon this booke of the Popes which hee purposely wrote for their sakes and to ensnare them and prey vpon them as well as others How can they reade it but wonder at themselues that they should sit still and suffer such base bondage to be layd vpon their neckes For what a shame is it that a King shuld not cause a naked sword to be borne before him at his pleasure but hee must aske the Popes leaue pay for it also what his Popeship shall set downe Or that a childelesse King or Queene should not adopt one to themselues as they the Princes of their Bloud and States of their Kingdome shall thinke good without paying to the Pope so great a matter for the licence As
Christs passion are granted 32755. yeeres of pardon And lest any should thinke this too little seeing there bee many prayers put in one it is said Pope Sixtus the fourth hath doubled this aforesaid Pardon which amounts to 65410. And of another Prayer the Booke saith that Pope Iohn at the request of the Queene of England granted to all them that deuoutly say this Prayer before the Image of our Lord crucified as many dayes of pardon as there were wounds in the body of our Lord in the time of his bitter Passion which were 5465. And in another place thus of the Aue Maria Our holy Father Pope Sixtus the fourth at the instance of Queene Elizabeth wife to Henry the 7. granted out of the spirituall treasure of holy Church that who so shall say at the 3. tollings of the Aue-Bell 3. Aue Maria's that is at sixe a clocke in the morning three and at noone three and at sixe a clocke at night three shall haue for euery Aue 860. dayes of pardon which amounts in one day to about 8000. daies and in a yeere to diuers hundreths of thousands of yeeres And the Booke saith That this grant of the Popes was strengthened and augmented by the two Metropolitans of England and nine Bishops with them At which we maruell not for certainly our Bishops might as well confirme it as he grant it and to as good purpose adde more as he gaue so much And of another Prayer the Booke saith This Prayer ye shall say in the worship of all the blessed members of Christ deuoutly and yee shall haue 300. daies of pardon for euery Salue Now there be 13. Salue's in that Prayer And of another Prayer containing 5. short petitions the Booke saith These 5. Petitions and Prayers made Saint Gregory and hath granted vnto all them that deuoutly say these 5. Prayers with 5. Pater nosters 5. Aue Maria's and a Credo 500. yeeres of pardon And of another Prayer the same Booke saith This Prayer is made by our holy Father Pope Iohn the 22. and hee hath granted to all them that deuoutly say it beholding the glorious visage of our Lord 10000. dayes of pardon and they that cannot say this Prayer for it is in Latine let them say 5. Pater nosters 5. Aue's and 5. Credo's And of another short Prayer little longer then an Aue Thus Alexander the 6. Pope of Rome hath granted to all them that say this Prayer deuoutly in the worship of Saint Anna and our Lady her Sonne Jesus 10000. yeeres of pardon for deadly sinnes and 20. for veniall totiens quotiens And of another Prayer to bee said as one goes thorow a Church-yard the same Booke saith Iohannes Papa 12. concessit omnibus dicentibus orationem sequentem transeundo per Cemilerium to◠antes Indulgentiarum quot fuerunt ibi corpora inhumata à constitutione ipsius Cemiterij Pope Iohn the 12. granted to all that shall say the Prayer following as they passe by any Churchyard as many yeeres of Indulgences as there haue beene bodies there buried since the Consecration of the said Churchyard And no matter though this Iohn the 12. was a most wicked monstrous man as all Stories testifie for no doubt he had for all that as good power to grant these Indulgences as any other of his fellowes And to draw to an end of these endlesse Indulgences take one more good Reader which is an endlesse one indeed namely one that holds hundreds and thousands of yeeres nothing but giues a whole million at once for my part I should not hold my selfe worthy of beliefe in so transcendent a relation if the Booke it selfe and the very words were not extant to all the worlds view for I am sure the Booke was once as common amongst the Papists as is now the office of our Lady and if their later policies haue supprest it it will but redound the more to their shame for it is yet faire and perfect to be seene Ibid. fol. 73. Sacellum sanctae Crucis septem Romanorum The very words are these These 3. Prayers bee written in the Chappell of the holy Crosse in Rome otherwise called the Chappell of the holy Crosse of the 7. Romanes who that deuoutly say them they shall obtaine X.C.M. yeeres of pardon for deadly sinnes Marke good Reader ten hundred thousand yeeres granted by our holy Father John 22. Pope of Rome See you Romish Children the bounty of your great Father you that beleeue this wee maruell not that many goe so fast but that any of you can be kept from going to Rome to enioy the embracements of so bountifull and tender a Father that hath his hundreds and thousand nay a million of yeers ready at hand for them that follow him and whose Exchequer is not like other Kings sometime open and sometime shut sometime full and sometime empty but euer open and neuer empty being Treasurer of such a treasure as is neuer spent Neither stayes his bounty heere but because hee knowes that some are not onely vnlettred and cannot read but dull of vnderstanding and vnfit to learne therefore out of his tender compassion to his Children he hath deuised meanes to helpe their infirmities and supply their defects to which end hee hath deuised and appointed certaine holy Pictures to the very sight and contemplation wherof he hath granted as much grace as to the saying of the forenamed Prayer As namely to one Picture of the Crucifixe in that Booke and to the beholding of the same are annexed no fewer then many thousand yeeres of Pardon the words themselues are these Who that deuoutly beholdeth this Armes of the Lord Iesu Christ Ibid. fol. 75. shall obtaine sixe thousand yeeres of pardon of our holy Father Saint Peters first Pope of Rome and of 30. other Popes of the Church of Rome successors after him And our holy Father Pope John the 22. hath granted vnto all them very contrite and truly confessed that say these deuout Prayers following in commemoration of the bitter Passion of our Lord Iesus Christ three thousand yeeres of pardon for deadly sinnes and other three thousand for veniall sinnes and say first a Pater noster and Aue Maria. Surely heere is an Indulgence cheape enough 6000. yeeres only beholding deuoutly the Picture of a Crucifixe Verily all the Hereticks and Huguenots in the world cannot bragge of such bounties in their Churches Nor are these Jndulgences onely giuen which as they say free them onely from Penance inioyned but they haue others which free them also from their sins and purchase them pardon and remission of them For example the same Booke tels vs that to the saying of 3. Prayers there specified the Pope granted remission of all sinne the words are these Fol. 70. Our holy Father Pope Jnnocentius the 3. hath granted to all them that say these 3. Prayers following deuoutly remission of all their sinnes confessed and contrite Fol. 69. And of another Prayer the