to build them a stately Church all the Pillars Arches and the Porches being of fine Marble and the whole Church couered ouer with fine Copper adorned within without with many curious and costly Images Pictures Tablets and the Vtensels belonging to the Altars of gold and siluer Copes and Vestments of cloth of gold cloth of tissue and curious imbroideries And withall to infeoffe whole Townes Castles and Mannors vpon their new College his sonne and heire being constrained to liue in a meane house in the same towne with such small pension as his father had formerly assured vpon him And albeit the old Iesuited Duke had surrendred this gouernment of the Country vnto him at his first entering into their Society yet he durst not doe any thing without the Iesuits aduice and approbation The old Duke being a silly zealous simple well minded Prince was wont to entertaine into certaine Chambers or Lodgings in his Court appointed for that purpose all such Pilgrims as trauelled that way with meat drinke and lodging of the best for three daies and three nights and this was the manner of their entertainment At the gates of the Towne among the Souldiers that had the guard for it is a Garison Towne there were certaine Officers to receiue all such Pilgrims as had good Letters of commendation or testimony that they were Romish Catholikes and bound to Rome or any other place of pilgrimage vpon deuotion or else returning homewards which Officer was to conduct these Pilgrims presently vpon their arriuall to a certaine lodging in the Dukes Court where was another man of purpose to receiue them but before that they entred into their lodgings they were brought into a roome where euery man had deliuered vnto him a cleane Shirt a long Wastcoat made of red Cotton a paire of new blacke Canuasse breeches a paire of new linnen Stockins a paire of Slippers a blacke Gowne a Girdle a blacke Cap and a little sticke in his hand for they were to put off all their owne clothes and to put on these which being done they were shewed the way to the Church there to say a few Aues and Paters and then to returne to their lodging to dinner or supper according to the time of the day that they came thither These poore men had meat sent them from the Dukes owne Table and serued in by his seruants and the best Wine and Beere that the Country did yeeld besides euery man lay alone in a good Feather-bed with sweet fresh linnen more like a noble man than a Pilgrim where they remained for the space of three daies and so many nights Moreouer the Duke came himselfe sometimes and washed these poore mens feet in warme water with sweet herbs and dryed the same with sweet damaske Napkins when they were to depart they had Shirts Shooes those Stockins and Breeches which they had formerly worne a Pilgrims staffe and money in their Purse according to their wants and quality And when the Duke became a Iesuite it was agreed betweene them that the Pilgrims should haue the selfe same entertainment there for euer which indeed they had as long as he liued But as soone as euer the breath was out of his body albeit they had meanes giuen vnto them by the Duke not onely for their owne maintenance more than that was sufficient but also to entertaine the Pilgrims these vnconscionable Machiuillians who can neuer abide any poore body gaue straight order at euery gate of the Towne that no Pilgrim or any other poore man should come in but send their Letters vnto them the which if they like of they marke with a priuate marke that they may know if they come thither againe and then they write their names and Country in their bookes of Record and perhaps send these poore creatures three pence or a groat after such time that they make them attend three or foure houres for it The Polonians and some Netherlanders that did vse to goe that way to Rome doe giue them many a bitter curse for their vncharitable dealings with them but they care not for there is none there that can controll them nay this Duke dare not offend them and whatsoeuer they doe or say is a Law They haue at Bourdeaux in Aquitania built their College vpon the land belonging to an Hospitall that appertained to the Pilgrims that goe to Saint Iames of Compostella and in the end because they would enlarge their College they pulled downe the Hospitall and got into their hands all the reuenues thereof vndertaking to the Magistrates of the Towne and ouerseers of the Hospitall to maintaine the same in farre better manner than it was kept before But now these Vsurpers will admit none to haue a nights lodging there but such as haue speciall Letters of recommendations from some of their Society All which I know to be true for I haue beene told by more than a hundred poore Pilgrims of seuerall Nations of these their vnchristian-like dealing with them The Magistrates and Clergy of Turnay in the Low Countries would not by any meanes receiue them into their Towne albeit they had the King of Spaines Letters Patents In the end vnder hand they got one of their Factors an Antwerpian Merchant to buy them one of the fairest houses in the Citie and a whole rew of houses besides where they built their Schooles and taught maugre all the Magistrates the Bishop and all the Monks Friers and Clergy men whatsoeuer Yea they haue there now two Colleges and a Seminary where they lodge and boord Noblemen Gentlemen and rich mens children which brings them in no smal profit The Magistrates and Citizens of the Towne of Isle or Rissel alias Insula in the confines of Flanders receiued the Iesuites into their City with such honour and respect as is to be admired at and yet they required their kinde courtesies most basely First the Magistrates and the inhabitants assured vnto them an annuall rent of about two hundred pounds sterling And because that there was no spare place in the Towne that the Iesuites did like of to set vp their rest the Magistrates with the common consent and charges of all the Citizens about the yeere 1608. brake downe a great part of of the wall rampier and a great bulwarke of the towne and damped or filled vp the Mote and tooke in aboue a hundred acres of ground into the Towne inclosing and fortifying it againe with a high strong brick wall rampiers bulwarkes and another mote and there built them vpon their proper cost and charges a goodly sumptuous College magnificent Schooles furnished with fine pleasant Gardens Orchards and walkes yea with all necessary offices in so much that they brought water into euery office in the College I omit to speake of a maruellous faire Church adorned with all necessary vtensills thereunto belonging And all this in lesse space than two yeares Moreouer this new plot which was thus taken in was diuided among the chiefest
of the Mendicant Friers which the Romish Antichrist hath set forth as the last proppe and stay of his tottering and ruinous kingdome for he perceiuing that as Saint Paul hath foreshewed Christ hath begun to consume it with the breath of his mouth and abolish it with the brightnesse of his comming that is the preaching of the Gospell And seeing moreouer the world to grow to a disliking contempt of the ignorance sluggishnesse lewdnesse of the other Orders of Monks and Friers taken from men as Benet Dominick Francis and such like hath sent abroad into Christendom this new Sect hypocritically adorned with the name of Iesus and furnished with more shew of learning holinesse and godlinesse than their other Popish fraternities to the intent that Iesus Christ may be the sooner betrayed while these holy Iesuits giue him a Iudas salutation and kisse Because hee is in good hope that they are the men by whom he shall recouer againe that so large a circuit of ground which he hath lost in France England Germany Scotland Ireland Denmarke Swethland and other Countries of Christendome Furthermore he vseth this speciall policy to cause them by all meanes priuily to allure and entice the youths of the Vniuersities and Countries where the Gospell is preached to depart from the places where they are vnto his Colleges Seminaries and Cloisters to the end that being there for a time nuzled and trained vp vntill they bee hardened in hypocrisie obstinacie and malice against the truth and poisoned with the pestilent errours of the Romish Synagogue they may be sent out as new false Apostles into their owne countries or else thither where it is thought they may doe most harme Wherein they follow their forefathers the Scribes and Pharisees the like hypocrites who as Christ saith compassed both sea and land to make one Proselyte or of their profession and when he is made they make him two-fold more the childe of hell than they themselues Now to the intent my Country-men who as yet are not throughly acquainted with these Monks Friers and Iesuits or with their profession doctrine and purposes and therefore are in danger the sooner to be deceiued by them may be the better admonished yea armed and prouided against them I haue compiled this ensuing discourse or Treatise of their Genealogie Proceedings and present estate my purpose being at this time in some sort to vnmaske these monsters wherein I doe vse such modestie as the subiect can beare to reproue their errours the which the loue of the truth and vertue enforceth me and not to cauill or to slander any one of them which I detest and abhorre Moreouer I doe craue of the Readers that they bring with them to the reading hereof a loue and zeale of the truth ioyned with godlinesse and desire of their owne saluation Farewell Thine in the Lord LEWIS OWEN GEntle Reader I pray thee if thou seest some literall faults escaped in this Discourse correct them but especially I must admonish thee of these viz. Page 74. line 27. for vniuis reade viuis p. 93. l. 11. for 1504. r. 1540. codem p. l. 12. r. in stead of Paul the 5. Paul the 5. or Gregory the 15. p. 98. r. Catulos in some bookes for Catulo p. 160. l. 34. for you vnto r. vnto you THE VNMASKING OF ALL POPISH MONKS FRIERS AND IESVITES ALbeit that the Apostle Saint Paul saith Coloss 2.2.3.4 vnto the 22. verse That in Christ Iesus and in the knowledge of him all the treasure and wisdome of God lieth hidden so that the faithfull ought not to receiue any institution or doctrine of men Yet many hundred years after the Apostles decease the Church of Rome hath found out a wonderfull and vnspeakable hoord of wisdome and knowledge through which a man may come to perfect Iustification and to an Angelicall life and withall get a store and a heape of merits and good workes to helpe a good friend withall at a pinch and to release a dozen or twaine of silly soules out of Purgatory And these are they especially the holy Orders and full perfections of Monkes and Friers especially of Saint Francis Saint Bernard Saint Dominick Saint Ignatius and many more of the same stampe which the Apostles knew not of when men were satisfied with the pure and vnmingled milke of God Word Like new-borne children as Saint Peter saith 1 Pet. 2.2 Iohn 14.29 15. yea these rich treasures were not yet reuealed to Christ himselfe who taught nothing but that which he had receiued of his Father and the same did he fully and wholly deliuer to his Disciples and Apostles This is plainly written in the fifth booke of Sexti Decret in Bulla Nic. 4. beginning at Exit qui Sem. nec his 1. de Verb. sign And in their Legends and in the booke which Almas made in the Inspiration of Mary the Aegyptian Vid. Conformitat S. Francisci 83. and established with the Popes Bulles But this as it seemes was too daintie a dish for his mouth and therefore must be kept for the last course against the time that the holy Fathers Saint Francis Saint Dominicke and Saint Alane who sucked the blessed Virgins brest as well as Christ himselfe and walked about the towne with her as the Bridegroome with the Bride and many more of that rable should appeare I dare giue them a paire of siluer Eyes to be offered to the blacke woodden Lady of Loretto if they can finde in the Bible that either Christ or his Apostles did euer know or teach that whosoeuer should die in a Gray-friers habit should neuer come into Purgatory or that Saint Francis is placed in Lucifers seat in heauen aboue all Angels at the vpper end and that he did liue a more perfect life than Christ and that the Angels are not to be compared with him or what knew they that he that should die in a White-friers Scapularie should be saued as they say the blessed Virgin did declare to Frier Symon Stocke In hoc moriens saluabitur that is Who so dies in this shall be saued as in their Churches euery where is painted forth Or what knew they that Frier Alanus should make the Rosary of our Lady which must be esteemed as the Gospell as Tarthemius Leander and others their Diuines haue written and their famous great Champion Blindasinus in his book called Panopolie or his full furniture of Weapons and harnesse saith that Saint Francis his Vineyard the Golden Legend the booke of the Conformitie of Saint Francis and the mass-Masse-booke must be as much esteemed in all respects as the holy Scripture yea in the booke of the Conformitie of Saint Francis made by Frier Bartholomew of Pisa Anno 1389. and allowed by the Chapter generall of Assyso is written that the same booke is better than the Gospell And therefore to maintaine these errors and blasphemies the Church of Rome and the Popes her holy Vicars haue at sundrie times erected seuerall
like a madde man as sometimes their fashion is in their Sermons Pedro Pedro que aveys dexado vna barca podrida c. Peter Peter what hast thou forsaken to follow Christ an old rotten boat and a few torne nets But our Spanish Saint forsooke a kingdome Calla Pedro hold thy peace Peter and giue the vpper hand to our Saint a certaine English Gentleman standing by me told me in my care this Saint forsooke his Kingdome when he could not keepe it any longer Being in my lodging in the Citie of Valencia in Spaine vpon Shroue-sunday in the after-noone there came in two Dominican Friers and a man that carried a great paper-paper-book and an inkhorne in his band The Friers demanded of the good-wife if shee would haue her name written in their booke The woman told them that her husband had beene taken twice prisoner by the Moores and that she had spent almost all that she had to pay his ransomes and therefore desired them to excuse her for that time whereupon the Friers departed away in a great rage I maruelling to see them depart so discontented asked her the reason she told me that these Friers had in their Cloister a viall full of the milke of the blessed Virgin and that the most part of all the women of that Citie and Countrey neare adioyning did vse to write their names in their booke and in the Lent-time to come to them for a little of the milke And why said I would you not let them write your name in their booke she answered me because shee was not able to giue them money for said she the poorest woman doth giue them two crownes and yet they haue not aboue a little thimble-full of milke Then I began to question with her and demanded of her how long had these Friers this milke and how much might it be in quantitie that could serue so many women what was it good for and withall I told her that I did much wonder that it consumed not and how they could get enough to serue so many persons for the Citie is very great and in my conscience sixteene of the best kine in Cheshire cannot giue at one milking so much milke as would suffice to giue euery woman in that Citie and the Countrey thereunto adioyning a thimble-full of milke Then she began to tell me how that these Friers had a little viall full of the milke of the blessed Virgin for many yeares ago and in the time of Lent they vsed to powre one drop of it into a great quantitie of white goats-milke the which it sanctified being stirred together and yet the milke in the viall doth not waste or diminish The Poet perhaps meant this milke when he said Ouo prognatus eodem Mille licet sumant deperit inde nihil Though thousands take and none say nay Yet nothing wastes or weares away This milke say they is good for a thousand diseases and for young children when they are new borne before such time that they did sucke of their mothers brest Moreouer whosoeuer tooke of this milke must spend the same within the space of one whole yeare next after the receiuing of it from the Friers vpon paine of excommunication And that it was worth vnto the Friers of that Cloister one yeare with another aboue foure or fiue thousand crownes And is not this I pray you fine cheating and cousening And yet in Spaine and Italy it is death to speake against their impostures and iugling trickes and are not these simple ignorant people in a miserable and lamentable bondage and slauery that liue in those Countries I dare say that there are more than fortie Cloisters of Monks Friers and Nuns that pretend to haue of the milke of the most blessed Virgin Mary which they keepe as a holy relique and shew it in a viall to be adored and worshipped of such ignorant fooles as will bring a good offertorie with them but I neuer heard of any that made sale of it in this fashion but those Friers of Valencia I wonder how they came by this Milke or the like Reliques of our Sauiour his Mother and the Apostles which they and other Friers and Nuns pretend to haue for there was neither Monk Frier or Nun in the world for many hundred yeeres after the time of our Sauiour his blessed Mother and the Apostles I know what they will say Forsooth the holy Angels of God did bring it them as they did transport the house of the blessed Virgin out of Palestina into Dalmatia and thence to Loretto in Italy Oh horrible lies doe not these impudent and brazen fac't liers deserue the Whetstone of all other men And yet it is heresie to contradict them A learned Doctor saith Consuetudo peccandi tollit sensum peccati the custome of sinning takes away the sense or feeling of sinne In like manner all Monks Friers Iesuites popish Priests and Nunnes yea the Pope and all his Cardinals and Prelates because it is their common trade to cogge cheat and lie make no scruple of it because I say it is their profession and the profession of their grand Master the Deuill Nay I imagine that some of them do thinke they speake truth when they lie according to the old Prouerbe Vsus promptus facit Practise makes a man expert What an infinite number of Mony doth that Idoll which they call La Virgien Santissima de Atocha by Madrid in Spaine bring yeerely to these Dominican Friers in whose Church it is to be seene I meane the goodly Image of the blessed Virgin Mary I make no question but some of our curious English Gentlemen that did attend his Maiesty in his voiage into Spaine haue seene this rich Lady let them then report how many great siluer Lamps hanged vp with siluer Chaines some worth one hundred pound some more some lesse with Oile of Oliues still burning in them what store of siluer yea golden Chalices siluer Patents Candlesticks Basens Ewers and other Church-furniture of gold siluer veluets silkes and sattens great Torches made of pure Bee wax some of them of one hundred pound weight What siluer Ships siluer Armour Eyes Hands Armes Thighs Legs Feet and whole bodies are there to be seene I omit to speake of woodden Crutches that lame Beggers offer and leaue there to honour this goodly woodden Lady and all to cheat fooles of their mony Haue they not in euery great city or towne of the old and the new Castile yea and Toledo men of purpose that go vp down the streets all day long with a box in their hands fast lock't with the picture vpon it of this holy Image of our Atocha Lady and a little hole in the lid of it for men to put in their deuotion crying like so many Costermongers or Oister-women in London Para Alumbrar la Virgien Santissima de Atocha por amor de Dios as if they would say Good people bestow your charity to buy Oile and Wax to burne
and Obedience but how well they performe and keepe these Vowes God and all those that are well acquainted with their Iuglings doe know full well Now if a man enter into any Order of Monks or Friers no man dare trouble him for all his debts are payed though he owed ten millions for then he is a holy man though neuer so wicked a knaue before and to arrest him is no lesse offence than sacrilege Now let vs speake a word of all these in order First of all these Monks Friers Iesuites and Priests doe get a world of money by their Masses for they haue men that sit all day long in some place in their Churches especially in Spaine and Italy with a great paper-booke like a shop-shop-book vpon a table to write downe the names of all such that bring money to haue Masses said and how many Masses they would haue said and wherefore whether for the liuing or for the dead or for their good successe in their iourney or to obtaine their desire against their enemies or for their good intents or for their friends either liuing or for their soules in Purgatory or for their health or for their cattell heards or flockes or for the Popes Holinesse and the extirpation of the Gospell which they call Heresie and the exaltation of their Catholike Religion or for a woman that is great with childe that she may haue a speedie deliuerance and sometimes that the childe may proue to be a boy and a thousand such matters for they will say Masse or at least-wise they will promise to doe it for any thing if you will giue them money If your head doe ake or if you haue paine in your teeth or in your belly or if one be in danger to lose his eye-sight or his hearing or if you are troubled with the cholike the gowt the dropsey or the French P. or the like bring Monks Friers Iesuits or any other Popish Priests money and they will mumble a Masse for you nay they will doe you more good as they say than all the Doctors of Physicke Montebancks or Chirurgeans in the world can performe The price of the Masse is set downe by the Popes holinesse In Spaine and Italy it is two shillings in France a shilling in the Low Countries Germany and Poland eight pence or nine pence and in some poore Countries six pence for the Protestant Ministers haue spoiled their market In England now adayes the ordinary price is a shilling neuerthelesse none or few at all will offer them so little because that our Monks Friers Iesuites and other Popish Priests are in more danger than those forraigne Clergie men and withall haue no other maintenance but their Masse and breaden god vnlesse it be such as are entertained by noble and rich personages and therfore they do vse to giue them a peece or halfe a peece to say as many Masses for them as they please And indeed our English collapsed Ladies and others of their sex are more bountifull vnto these holy men for they giue these busie hornets ten or twenty pounds at a clap to say a Trentall or two of Masses for them and for their friends that are in Purgatory Secondly it is worth the obseruations vpon what sleight pretence they ground the necessitie of Auricular Confession deceiuing the ignorant people with their smooth and plausible impostures wherein they say the Priest cannot remit sinnes vnlesse men will confesse them vnto him Then which Proposition nothing can bee more false for the Priest may preach and publish Remission or Retention of sinnes to those whose faults he knowes not and those men by a faithfull application of what they heare may receiue the Remission of their sins who neuer reuealed them to the Minister but confessed them vnto God alone Ric. à Sancta vict de Clauibus Sola enim cordis confessio poenitenti ad salutem animae sufficit veraciter Which kinde of Confession is truly and only necessary vnto Saluation for as Cassander saith there had beene no controuersies about this point of Confession had not some ignorant and importunate Physitian corrupted this wholesome Medicine with their drugs of Traditions Est enim multis inutilibus traditiunculis infecta c. quibus conscientijs quas extricare leuare debebant laqueos iniecerunt tanquam tormentis quibusdam excarnificarunt By which meanes they haue made it only a snare to entangle and inuolue the simple and ignorant people and an engine to entrap and torment not to ease the conscience of all those that seeke vnto them And thereby they diue into the secrets and drifts of all men acquainting themselues with their humours and imperfections making as time and occasion serues their owne vse and best benefit And it is most certaine that manifold absurdities and abuses are committed vnder the colour of Auricular Confession It being a thing which the Church of Rome without any warrant of Gods Word and quite contrary to the practise of the Primitiue Church hath taken vp at her owne hand Distinct 5. de Poenitentia Petrus Oximensis sometimes Diuinity Reader in Salamanca And Bonauenture and Medina were of the same mind Histor Tripart lib. 9. cap. 35. Socrat lib. 5. c. 9. Zozom l. 7. c. 16. Niâ—…pher lib. 12. cap. 28. For their Canon Law in the Glosse saith That Auricular Confession was taken vp only by a certaine tradition of the Church and not by any authoritie of the old or new Testament Yea their owne Diuines haue taught that not many yeares agoe That Auricular Confession had the beginning from a positiue law of the Church and not from the Law of God And withall that the Primitiue Church did not vse it is most apparant as appeares by the act of Nectarius Bishop of Constantinople who when as Auricular Confession did first begin to creepe in put it downe in his Church and all the Bishops of the East did the like in theirs as being not only a Noueltie but also so far from being a soueraigne medicine for sin as the Papists doe hold it that it was found rather to be a nurse for sin Churches being conuerted into Stewes Confession playing the Pandor vnto the Priest and his Penitents there to parle and consult I meane vnder Confession how to effect and practise their carnall affections and designes which indeed was the chiefest cause that moued Bishop Nectarius to thrust it out of Constantinople to preuent such wickednesse For in truth there is nothing that openeth a wider gap or way vnto sinne than Auricular Confession because there are very many that care not what they doe or say but thinke it sufficient be they neuer so great swearers slanderers or blasphemers or whatsoeuer actuall sinnes they commit to goe once a yeare to Confession And moreouer all the villanies conspiracies which are either intended or practised against either Princes or Countries are for the most part opened and consulted vpon in Confession for men not daring
and the concupiscence thereof but they carry it with them into the Monasteries for without doubt it is not possible to see the world better than in the Monasteries where a man shall behold nothing else but affections and passions of minde quarrels discords ambition pride hypocrisie and the like Oh that men will suffer themselues to be thus mocked and deluded by these Frierly shauelings that endeuour as much as they may in deceiuing the people with their counterfeit holinesse to liue like Epicures and to bee esteemed like Lordlings Oh that men should credit these Pharisaicall hypocrites that more regard the pampering of their bodies than the saluation of the soules of men which is the end of our hope and faith yea the very end of our life in this life Oh that men cannot see how they fight against the Gospell and seeke to ouerthrow faith with superstition couered with the cloake of true piety Why do not men open their eyes and perceiue how these Masse-mongers daily studie to inuent and finde out some new toy or bable therewith to draw the common people vnto them who are so simple and ignorant that they are straight way bewitched with euery new foolish and apish Ceremony that these Iuglers represent to their view What Christian is he that seeth not their hypocrisie that vnderstands not their fraudulent superstition wherewith the foolish people is inueigled Is there any but blinde buzzards that thinke that to weare the weed or habit of Saint Francis or to goe cloathed in that colour is good against the quartane ague and other diseases and to be buried in that habite is the right way to goe to heauen And therefore the Emperour Charles the fitt and his sonne that ambitious King Philip the second of Spaine the Count of Arrenbergh the Lord Albertus of Carpi Rodulphus Agricola Longolius a Noble Roman and many other great personages haue beene perswaded by the Franciscan Priers to die in Saint Francis his frocke But what need I to vse so many words These Monks Friers Iesuits and Popish Priests are come to that point with that opinion of holinesse that they haue rid themselues out of all other mens hands and aurhoritie and haue brought all other men vnder their feet They know not Christ whom the Gospell doth plainly set forth vnto vs which they keepe in prison And since they only had the handling of the booke of peace and libertie the common people thought they had taken all their doctrine out of that booke and with cursed and abominable lyes they take out here a peece and there a peece and with strange and fearfull false miracles and fained dreames of Purgatory they keep the people in so great feare and awe that they are constrained to beleeue their blasphemous and wicked lyes and deceits And withall if we consider their lawes and the waight and heauie burthen they lay vpon mens shoulders we may truly say that the Iewes law is farre more easier than theirs Thus haue they turned Christian liberty into slauery and bondage worse than that of Aegypt if worse could be What a presumptuous boldnesse is it to vsurpe the name of Saints yea of the most glorious and blessed Trinity and that sweet name Iesus which signifieth a Sauiour and vnder those godly and most blessed names to deceiue the world vnder the formes of Angels to worke all their deceits and trumperies Verily I beleeue that their cowles and ridiculous party-coloured habits were inuented by the Deuill to deceiue the world withall for if they were the same they pretend themselues to be and would be accounted for what need they weare such foolish disguised habits or garments more like women than men the which say they doe signifie that which they ought to be And therefore I say vnto euery hypocriticall Monk Frier and Iesuite Appare quod es vel est◠quod appares Appeare to be what thou art or else be such a one as thou seemest to be for it is a cleare case that where there is but a shew or signification of a thing the thing it selfe is not there If they were so in deed what need they to be in shew Praestat esse quam videri It is better to be than to make a glorious shew of being and againe Quid simio prodest leo si creditur Outwardly they are one thing and inwardly another of whom our Sauiour forewarneth vs in the Gospel saying That there should come wolues to deuoure vs clad in sheep skins because they would not be knowne The Deuil is craftie and he knowes how prone men are to beleeue euery toy or trifle euery counterfeit holinesse and superstitious hypocrisie hee oftentimes transformeth himselfe in his members to an Angell of light he informeth and teacheth his children to frame themselues after the manner of Hypocrites he maketh his seruants learned and expert in that art he maketh them to goe bare foot and bare leg'd to weare shirts of haire that by meanes of their outward austerity in apparell and food although all but meere deceits the people may proclaime and extoll them as Saints and honour them as Gods omnipotent and finally beleeue whatsoeuer they teach them their words to bee Euangelicall Much more could I say but because I am perswaded these few examples may suffice any iudicious and indifferent Reader I passe them ouer and referre him to the Histories of euery age since their first creeping into the world yea when Antichrist chiefly raigned in the hearts and consciences of most men and when his doctrine repugnant to Gods Word flourished most in all quarters of Christendome yet God raised vp some that spake boldly in publike assemblies and wrote against him and his Monks and Friers and their impious doctrine In their owne bookes one may reade how wickedly and hypocritically the papisticall votaries liued and daily experience teach vs how incontinently they liue at this present I will shew you what nine famous and eminent men in the Church of Rome wrote of them in a booke and exhibited it to the Councell of Trent and to Pope Paul the third desiring the Pope to haue certaine abuses corrected and amended in the Clergy men which booke is extant in Tom. 3. Concil per Crab. editionis Colon. Anno 1551. but in all other impressions through the thefts and deceits of the Monks Friers and Iesuites left out and suppressed In that Booke among many other things the Monks and Friers were taxed in these words Alius abusus corrigendus est in ordinibus Religiosorum quod adeò multi deformati sunt vt magno sint scandalo secularibus exemploque plurimum noceant Conuentuales ordines abolendos esse putamus omnes non tamen vt alicui fiat iniuria sed prohibendo ne nouos possint admittere sic enim sine vllius iniuria citò delerentur Nunc verò putamus vt omnes pueri qui non sint professi ab eorum Monasterijs repellerentur that is to say Another abuse
these Franciscan Friers doe affirme that the Virgin Mary by the merit of her Virginitie saued all women to the time of Saint Clare who was the first Nun of Saint Francis Order and his most deare Companion as Christ saued all men vntill the time of Saint Francis as appeares in that booke which is intituled Flosculi Sancti Francisci which blasphemous booke Vergerius did answer But what followed his Answer was condemned as hereticall in three seuerall Indices of bookes prohibited by the Popes sweet holinesse and last of all by Pope Clement the eight Vide annot Vergerij in Iudic. lib. prohibit Anno 1559 pag. 9. And Discorsi sopra gli fiorreti di S. Francisco lit D. another Italian booke And is not this horrible blasphemie to make not only the Virgin Mary but also Saint Francis and Saint Clare equall to Christ Neither doe the Iesuites come short of these wicked blasphemers for they attribute as much vnto lame Ignatius their Patron as hereafter shall be declared when I shall come to treat of the Iesuites There was printed at Bononia in Italy An. 1590. a booke intituled Liber Conformitatum vitae Beati ac Seraphici Patris Francisci written by one Bartholomëus Pisanus and published by one Hieronymus Bucchius of which booke it is affirmed in the title page that it is Liber Aureus a golden booke In this golden booke is written that a Copia literae à Pisano generali Capitulo directa ad mitium lâ—b Conformitat Christus ipsum Patrem Franciscum sibi per omnia similem reddidit conformem Christ made Frier Francis like and conformable to himselfe in all respects And that b Lib. 3. Conformitat 31 fol. 303. col 3. fol. 306. col 4. In monte Aluernae Franciscus cum Deo Domino Iesu Christo vnius spiritus efficitur In the mount of Aluerna Frier Francis was made one Spirit with God the Father and his Sonne Iesus Christ And that Frier Francis said that the words of Christ c Matth. 25 40. Quod vni ex minoribus meis fecistis mihi fecistis That which you haue done to one of these my little ones you haue done it vnto me were spoken by Christ first Literally and secondly Particularly of his d Lib. 1. Fruct 1. fol. 13 col 3. Minorite Friers And that e Lib. 3. Conformitat 31. fol. 300. col 3. Beatus Franciscus titulatus fuit titulo Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum Frier Francis had the title of Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iewes And that f Lib. 1. Fruct 1. fol. 13. col 2. Nemo fuit Minister seruus Christi vt Franciscus ipsius perfectus imitator Christ had neuer such a seruant as Francis there was neuer any man who imitated Christ in so perfect a manner as Frier Francis Againe g Lib. 1. Fruct 9. fol. 112. col 4. Similis Beato Francisco suo ordini non est inuentus qui seruauit ad literam legem excelsi There was neuer such a person heard of as sweet Saint Francis and his lazie disordered Friers who kept Gods Law literally Yea h Lib. 2. Conformitat 17. fol. 228. col 1. Conformitate 25. fol. 272. col 2. B. Franciscus totum Euangelium ad literam obseruauit Saint Francis kept the Gospell literally Nec apicem vel vnicum transgreditur nec iota He brake not a tittle of it nor a iod These and many more fooleries and blasphemies are in that booke Againe i Director Inquisit par 2. q. 8. teste Capuccino in Euchirid Eccles fol. 236. Quod B. Franciscus est ille Angelus de quo dicitur in Apocalypsi vidi alterum Angelum habentem signum Dei vini That Frier Francis was that Angell of whom it is written in the Reuelation I saw another Angell which had the seale of the liuing God And also Quod Prophetia Apoc. 7. fuerit ad literam de B. Francisco diuinitus Domino Bonauenturae Cardinali ostensum They affirme likewise l Capuccinus lib. citato Quod B. Franciscus semel in anno descendit ad Purgatorium extraxit indè animas illorum qui in hac vita fuerunt de ordine suo seu de ordinibus per cum institutis ducit ad Paradisum That Frier Francis descends once a yeare down to Purgatory and brings thence all the soules of them who in this world were of his Order or any other Order instituted by him and caries them to heauen with him Moreouer they bring Christ in speaking to Frier Francis in these words m Lib. 3. Conformit 31. fol. 306. col 2. Sicut ego in die obitus mei ad limbum accessi meritis ac virtute stigmatum Passionis meae omnes animas quat inueni extraxi Sic volo quod tu vt fis mihi conformis in morte sicut es in vita in die Natalitij tui vadas quolibet anno ad Purgatorium omnes animas trium ordinum scilicet Minorum Sororum Sanctae Clara continentium 3. ordinis quos ibidem inueneris in virtute efficacia tuorum stigmatum eruas ad gloriam Paradifi perducas That is to say Euen as I meaning Christ at the day of my death went to Lymbum that is the place where they say the soules of the Patriarkes were and by the merits and vertue of the markes of my passion brought thence away with me all the soules that I found there so is it my will and pleasure to the end that you should be conformable vnto me in all things when you are dead as well as when you are liuing that you would vpon the day of your natiuitie euery yeare go downe vnto Purgatory and bring thence all the soules of those of your three Orders that is to say of the Minorite Friers of the Nuns of Saint Clara and of the Chaste and of the third Order by the vertue and effect of the markes that you haue receiued from me in your body and so bring them all to the ioy and glory of heauen Also they affirme n Capuccin lib. citato Quod nullus potest damnari qui deserat habitum B. Francisci No man can be damned who weares the habite or liuery of Saint Francis And that Christ himselfe reuealed it to Frier Francis o Lib. 1. Fruct 9. fol. 130. col 4. Quod nullus qui moreretur in tuo habitu esset damnatus Yea Quod Ordo B. Francisci in perpetuum durabit That Saint Francis his Order should continue till doomes day And againe this Frier Francis is by them highly commended for three notable acts 1 Antonin hist part 3. tit 24. cap. 2. sect 8. First for gathering worms out of the way that they should not be trodden on 2 Pisan Conformit lib. 1. Fruct 10. lib. Conformit 13. fol. 140. col 1. Secondly for calling all manner of beasts as Wolues and Asses c. his brethren 3 Vide Canum
Order soeuer they be of but especially the Franciscan Friers all that they weare about them is holy yea all that they eat drinke or touch is sanctified their greasie Cowle Habite Sandalls and especially their knotty girdles which they call S. Francis Cordon or Girdle hath many vertues and therefore they haue a fraternitie of this holy rope of the Lay people of both sex which brings them in yearely no small profit for all those that are of this holy fraternitie doe weare this Cordon and haue many graces and priuileges for their paines as I told you before But I pray you obserue what one wrote many yeares agoe of these Friers Habite Cordula nodosa pes nudus capa dolosa Hac tria nudipedes ducunt ad Tartara fratres The knottie rope bare feet deceitfull Cowle Bring bare-foot Friers into hell to howle And another saith Buchan En tunicam fluxam nodosa cannabe cingit Cùm melius fauâ—es stringeret illa suas The knotty rope that binds that Slouens coat Were better vs'd being ty'd about his throat They will neuer or seldome giue any of their broken meat or their superfluitie to any of their poore neighbours except it be a little peece of drie bread that is giuen them which they themselues scorne to eat but will giue it either to Whores and Bawds or to strangers and then they will make them eat it in their Cloisters because they would not haue their neighbours and benefactors to know that they haue any thing to spare but rather want than abound for if they did know how princely they fare they would not be so liberall vnto them as they are nor send them such presents of the best flesh fish or fowles that they can get for money when they themselues and their wiues and children are content to liue at home with courser and meaner diet I protest to you if I should relate vnto you all the impostures hypocrisies deceits and villanies that I haue my selfe both knowne and seene among them this pamphlet would be boundlesse and my labour endlesse but I am content to recite but a few for breuitie sake I had an Hostesse at Orleans in France that sent two great Carps in the Lent time which cost her two French crowns sod in wine together with a dainty delicious sawce for a present to the Capuchin Friers desiring them to pray for her for she was great with childe and neare her time And yet shee her selfe and her husband together with their children and family had but pease-pottage and a few salt hearings for their dinner But now what did the Friers send her againe Marie a very holy thing a little picture of S. Francis sewed in an old clout or peece of one of their old habits wishing her to weare that tyed with a tape or riband about her necke for it had some celestiall vertue and aboue all the rest it was exceeding good for women in the time of their labour of child-birth O the blindnesse of these poore people that cannot see themselues guld by these Impostors and Montebanckes Truly the Capuchin Friers and their Nuns or holy Sisters whom they call Capuchinesses yea all the whole rout of begging Nuns and Friers doe professe to liue very austerely nay and Angelically and to spend their time in watching praying fasting meditations and also punishing their bodies to bring them in subiection to the spirit But to say the truth they liue very dissolutely for they spend the time in banquetting quaffing whoring cheating begging and idlenesse for I dare boldly say there are no greater drunkards gluttons whore-mongers yea Sodomites beggers Impostors and Hypocrites in the vniuersall world than they are for they will eat vntill their panches are ready to cracke and carowse vntill they cannot see goe or stand and then they begin to quarrell and fight and breake one anothers pate as for whores alas they haue their choise and none of the meanest but rich mens wiues young virgins and votary Nuns wherof I could produce here no few examples but I will forbeare all And lastly their only profession is begging and cheating the simple people as all men doe know A Franciscan Frier lodging in the house of a Gentleman of Perigot in France found the meanes to lye with his wife vpon her purification See a book intituled A Looking glasse for Franciscan Friers in French the women thinking at the first that it had bin her husband but afterwards perceiuing it was the Frier for very griefe after that she had discouered all to her husband while hee was pursuing after the Frier who was fled hanged herselfe and in the mischance ouerthrew her childe downe dead to the ground Not long after her brother comming to see her found her dead who imagining that her husband had done the deed flings out of doores and meeting her husband returning home hauing not ouertaken the Frier drew his rapier vpon him and so wounded one another to death so that by this meanes this Frier committed shamefull fornication and was the occasion of the vntimely death of these foure persons The Franciscans of Argentinum or Strasburgh in high Germany heretofore accustomed to steale away mens wiues and keepe them in their Cloisters like young Nouices cutting off their haires and shauing their crownes Ibidem In the end a Butchers wife going along the street in the habite of a Frier together with another Frier her mate her husband met her and hauing well eyed her laid hands vpon her and the holy Frier and by that meanes recouered his wife and discouered the Friers knauery who were for these and other hainous crimes and offences banished that noble and famous Citie and neuer after receiued or entertained there againe Another good religious man of this Order and an English man who borrowed the name of Father Gray for these Monks Friers Iesuits and Priests are like our proud punkes of London who as they say are all Knights or great Gentlemens daughters who were vndone by their elder brothers that wilfully consumed and wasted their portions and therefore are the more either to be honoured or pitied albeit they are some poore Mechanicall mens daughters In like manner I say our English Monks Friers Iesuites Seminarie Priests and all other fugitiues doe change their owne names and assume vnto them the name of some noble or ancient family of England yea of those that are true professors of the Gospell and this they doe because vnder colour of that honourable name they would not onely walke securely and without any suspicion or trouble but also perpetrate any villany for euery generous spirit will loue and honour any man that is honourably descended especially if his behauiour and carriage be good and correspondent to his honourable name or family But now againe I will retreat to Father Gray from whom I am a little digressed Father Gray about fifteene yeares agoe lodging in one Mr. V. his house in Sheere-lane neare Temple-barre in
men of the Towne where they built the goodliest houses in all the Citie because forsooth they would be neare these holy Fathers to haue their spirituall comfort and consolation in time of need The Iesuits being thus seated and setled like Princes the first thing was that they did to requite the Citizens great loue and extraordinary charges They procured vnto themselues from the King of Spaine the Archduke the Archduchesse Letters Patents that they should haue for euery barrell of beere that is drawn within that Town two shillings nine pence farthing which is for euery quart pot two Liards or halfe a Stiuer which is about an halfe-peny halfe farthing English and doth amount to a great summe of mony yearly considering the greatnesse of the Towne and the multitude of the people that are the Inhabitants thereof Albeit the Assise which they were constrained to pay before that time for their beere was as much in equall portion to the King and the Archduke as they did pay to the Brewer from which the poore begger was not free but if he did drinke he paid so much vnto the King as he did to the Victualer And yet these vnconscionable and couetous Iesuites did for their benefit and better maintenance procure this other imposition to be laid vpon the Inhabitants notwithstanding the former extraordinary loue and kindnesse which they receiued from them Both which assise of the beere the poore inhabitants haue beene constrained to pay euer since as well to the King as to the Iesuites by means whereof and other their politike cheating and cosenage they are become not only exceeding rich but also odious to all the Townes and Countrey there adioyning And besides whereas the inhabitants of this Towne had been for many hundred yeares free and exempt from all forfeiture or confiscation of their lands and goods to the King if any of them had committed any felony murder treason or the like their bodies being only liable to the Law and not their lands or goods Now these Iesuites perceiuing that the State-house the Towne Charter and all the ancient Records of the Towne had beene some certaine yeares before burnt by occasion of fire procured vnder-hand a Patent to be granted to their College of all forfeitures and confiscations whatsoeuer that should happen to fall due to the King within that Towne and the liberties thereof and hauing so done they began to seize vpon the land and goods of all such as were conuicted for any of these or the like crimes or offences The Magistrates of the Towne and all the rest of the inhabitants with one consent did oppose the Iesuites as intruders vsurpers and common perturbers of their Priuileges and Liberties whereupon the Iesuites commenced their sute against the Magistrates and all the inhabitants of the Towne in the higher Courts wherein the Iesuites would haue surely preuailed if that a certaine Religious man as I thinke a Canon Regular of the Order of S. Augustine that liued in an Abbey about six miles from the Towne and yet in the territories of the same had not found out in the Library there an old booke of Histories or Antiquities in Manuscript written many hundred yeares since wherein was contained among other things a Copie of the Charter of this Towne of Lysle which being shewed vnto the Councell of State the Iesuits with much shame disgrace had a definitiue sentence giuen against them neuer afterwards to intermedle with the Priuileges and Statutes of the Towne and to pay cost and charges besides Oh the honestie of these holy men of the society of Iesus Iohn Chastell was taught and perswaded by the Iesuites to murder Henry the fourth of France and yet some Papists would deny it if they could because they are loth to make the Iesuites odious and yet others did helpe to erect a pillar of stone neare to the Kings Palace in Paris whereby so much was signified But the Iesuits when they were recalled againe into France from their banishment got leaue of the King vpon the Queenes request to deface it some few yeares before the King was murdered by Rauillacke In the yeare 1607. The Iesuites procured the Emperour Rodulphus to prescribe that ancient Imperiall City Donawert in high Germany and to giue it in prey vnto the Duke of Bauaria who came priuately with foure or fiue thousand men and tooke it and ransacked it and afterwards put a strong garrison therein altering their Lawes and Customes and debarring them of all their former Priuileges whatsoeuer in so much that the chiefest men in the Citie were constrained to abandon both house and home and to seeke after another place to inhabite I came thorow this Citie within three moneths after that the Duke of Bauaria had taken it and it grieued my heart to see into what miserable bondage the poore Citizens were brought and all through the deuillish practise of these irreligious Machiauills who then did tyrannize ouer them like so many Turks or Infidels for they managed the whole affaires of the Citie the Gouernour which the Duke had placed there ouer the souldiers stood but for a cipher for he durst doe nothing without the consent of the Iesuits The Magistrates were all put out of their charge offices other base poore mechanicall fellowes appointed in their places farre vnworthy the high dignitie of Consuls or Burghemasters in such an ancient free and noble City as that is The souldiers were billeted in all the Protestants houses and not in any Papists house where they dominierd like so many deuills making hauock of all that they could come by and yet the Protestants were constrained to pay them their wages besides What shall I say The Iesuites in effect did command and controll the whole Citie as they pleased They banished their Ministers and compelled the inhabitants either to goe to heare Masse contrary to their consciences or else forsake the Citie and liue in exile And yet this is nothing in comparison to that the Protestants of Aquisgranum haue endured and yet doe suffer The Emperour Charles surnamed the Great hunting vpon a time in the Forest of Arden found out certaine Bathes or hot waters in which place he built a very faire Citie and called it Aquisgranum and gaue it many priuileges and great freedome among other things he ordained that all other Emperours his Successours should be crowned there and that the Imperiall Diadem which is now kept at Franckfurt vpon Main should be kept in this Citie Here likewise hee built among other Churches a very faire Collegiat Church endowing it with great reuenues within a Chappell of this Church the craftie Clergie men obseruing the ignorance of the people in those daies set vp an Image of the blessed Virgin Mary which they affirmed to worke great miracles by meanes whereof and of the hot Bathes this Citie came to be very famous and haunted by many people for many that were visited with sicknesse and diseases came from farre
or originall c. neuerthelesse say they if they be hainous and notorious mortall sinnes the Confessor if he absolues the partie must by his owne superabundant merits that is to say his good workes which he hath in store ouer and aboue that which is sufficient and necessary to saue his owne soule satisfie Gods diuine Iustice and take vpon him to discharge his Penitents sinnes and to free and acquite him of all sins and the penalty and guilt for the same Oh horrible blasphemie Doe not these Impostors as much as in them is annihilate the Passion and Merits of Christ Doe they not animate and encourage men to perpetrate any villany or wickednesse whatsoeuer For if one bring them money all shall be forgiuen all the score shall be wiped cleane out of Gods bookes of accounts by these Ball-pates But let them trust to the Popes and his Shauelings pardons and absolutions that will I for my part will make my confession to God and desire his Diuine Maiestie for Christs sake to pardon and forgiue me all my sinnes and iniquities for I am assured hauing obtained this absolution I need not feare and as for the Pope and his Clergy mens pardon I doubt that it will not passe currant at that day when all men yea the Popes worship himselfe and all his Clergy must reddere rationem although Pardons are sold in Rome for Sodomy Incest Treasons Sacrilege Murders and all other abominable sinnes as ordinary as Hogs at Rumford yea oftner for at Rumford there is but one market day in the weeke and in Rome euery day in the yeere is a free Mart for these Pardons Absolutions and Indulgences Bishoppricks and Benefices nay Heauen and God himselfe are there to be bought and sold for money for the Popes Treasury or Shop like hell gate is alwaies open and the price of Pardons some to be granted to priuate persons others for whole Families Kingdomes and Nations are there registred and set downe by his sweet Holinesse in capitall Letters as by the bookes of Taxes printed many yeeres agoe by the Popes owne commandement and approbation may appeare O is not this a goodly Mart where all manner of spirituall wares are vendible as Baptista Mantuanus a Carmelite Frier long agoe witnesseth in this Distick Eglog 5. Templa Sacerdotes Altaria Sacra Coronae Ignis thus preces Coelum est venale Deusque Temples Priest-hood and Altars so holy Frankincense prayers heauen and its glory Yea holy Fryers nay God himselfe is sold By the Pope of Rome for siluer and gold Moreouer if any be sicke especially of the richer sort for the poore are none of their Clients these shauelings will speedily repaire thither to administer vnto them some spirituall but to say truth spightfull food for it is their ordinary custome to bring the sicke parties almost to desperation because they would gull them of their mony the only comfort or consolation that they will bestow is to tell them that there is no other way for them to expect but damnation vnlesse they will deale liberally and giue good store of money to good vses to whom I pray you in good sooth to them to pray for their soules when they be broyling in Purgatory and to sing Masses Ad requiem de profundis and such like popish prayers to free them from thence For this hot scalding furnace or Purgatory is the best possession that the Pope and his Monks Friers and other his Clergy men haue for it yeeldeth them more profit gaine rent and reuenues than all the other benefices whatsoeuer Neither is there any Realme Lordship Land or Heritage that yeeldeth more profit vnto their Lords and owners than Purgatory â—oth vnto them And therefore it is no maruell if they feare so much to lose it for if that should be taken away from them they were quite vndone and ouerthrowne horse and foot O all their care and chiefest study is to describe this famous Country vnto the common people Verily I thinke there is neuer a Geographer be he neuer so learned that can so well paint and describe the earth with all the parts thereof as these Mountebanks I meane Monks and Friers and popish Clergy men doe draw out these infernall Regions and those Low Countries but I wonder whether they speake by heare say or that they haue beene there in proper person for they can tell of euery little creeke or corner Howbeit we see that the best Cosmographers doe faile oft times in the descriptions of the earth and of many Countries and Regions which are most familiar and best knowne vnto vs. As for example there is not almost a Country better knowne than France and England neuerthelesse we often times see great errors in those Cards in which they are described And therefore we may coniecture that it may so chance in other Tables Maps or Cards containing the description of the Heauen Earth and many other Countries vnknowne But Monks and Friers haue the spirit to compose and make a Table or Map of these low infernall Regions yea better than the Painters haue painted them out in their Churches or the Printers in the Shepherds Callender And therefore I would aduise all that intend to trauell into the Kingdome of Purgatory to take a Monk a Frier or a popish Priest for their guide as Circes guided Vlysses to bring him to speake with Elpemenor and as Sybilla brought Aeneas to the speech of his father Anchises Homer Odyss 1. 11. Virgil. Aeneid lib. 6. Ouid. Met. l. 14. But would you know who was the first that found out this hot Region or Kingdome of Purgatory haue but patience and I will tell you Mine Author is Peter of Amiens who wrote in a booke of this discouery in the time of Pope Iohn the eight 1000. yeeres after the passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that one Odillus Abbot of the Monks of Cluny being in Sicilia and hearing oftentimes the noise cries and bewailings which were made continually about the hill Aetna which now is called in the Italian tongue Gibello monte did imagine that it came from the Deuils lamenting that the soules of the faithfull deceased were deliuered from torments through the Masses Vigiles Prayers Sacrifices and Offerings of the liuing Christians he presently declared the same to his Monks and they all decreed together that after they had offered their Offerings the first day of Nouember and celebrated the Feasts of All Saints in their honour they would in like manner the next day make prayers and supplications for the soules of all the faithfull deceased And afterwards in succession of time others receiued and allowed that manner of doing as good and holy The reason was as I thinke because the Poets and the foolish common people imagined that there was a place there to descend into hell and the place in which the soules of the wicked were tormented for their sinnes because that in the same Mountaine there is a perpetuall fire