Bishop of Rome and Pope vniuersall in the Church of God and in that seat ruled two yeares and thirtie and so many dayes And albeit placed in this throne yet liued she not chastly but vsed priuate familiaritie with her slaue in whom she much trusted and by whom she was great with child yet so diligently she cloaked it that no other but himselfe knewe it And as God would not suffer so great wickednesse to rest any longer vnpunished so it happened that vppon a day being the time of her child-birth as she went with accustomed pompe to visite Saint Iohn de Lateran of a secrete sinne it pleased God to shew an open punishment and comming to a certaine place betweene the Church of Saint Clement and the Theater which they call improperly Coliseo with extreme paine shee brought forth a creature to the wonderfull amazement of those that were present and therewithall sodainly died and without honour or pompe was buried For this so strange accident in this place happened it is commonly sayd that when the chiefe Bishops go sithence to the Church of Lateran comming neere vnto it they turne aside go not that way in detestation of so horrible a chance And lest happily another such like woman might worke the like deceit there is now in the sacred palace a seate open below that it may secretly be seene if it be a man that is chosen The Romans now ashamed at the ceremonie for which his seate was inuented call it a dunghill imploy it to other purpose Another like seat there is or was if it be not thence taken in the Monasterie de Monte Cassino where in olde time they chose many Popes The same Author proceedeth In that way saith he is also a statue of stone representing the child-birth and death of this bold woman Thus farre Pero Mexia That which he saith of the statue and the cause of it there being is most true But it is to be vnderstood that the ceremony of the seate to knowe whether it be man or woman is not now vsed because those which are chosen for Popes haue so honestly liued that wanting lawfull wiues amongst their concubines whores and strumpets which they keepe and by whom they haue had he or she bastards they haue shewed themselues to be men Sergius had a bastared by a notable strumpet called Marozia as saith Luithprandus an ancient Writer in his secend booke and thirteenth chapter and in his third booke and twelfth chapter This sonne of the Pope was Pope also called Iohn the twelfth This Iohn the twelfth had a bastard which also was Pope called Iohn the fourteenth Innocentius 8. had 8. sonnes and as many daughters But leauing out the auncient let vs come to our later Popes How manie hee and she bastards had our Spanish Alexander the sixth Of Leo the tenth it is sayd that he had bastardes and that Clement the seuenth was his sonne of whom the Bishop Paulus Iouius counteth manie abominations Paule the third had bastardes among whom was one and Pero Lewis his name the most abominable Sodomite of his time and for the same was put to death Pope Gregorie the thirteenth not long since deceased before and when he was Pope had also bastardes Iohn Pannonius giueth the like reason with vs in these verses Non poterat quisquam resorantes aethera claues Non exploratis sumere testiculis Cur igitur nostro mos hic iam tempore cessat Antè probat sese quilibet esse marem The Church of Rome then hauing such certaine proofes a seate now is not needfull Friar Alonso venero in his Enchiridion of times speaking of the vnhappines of these times saith thus What greater euil thē a woman by her subtiltie worldly learning dissembling her sexe and nature to vsurpe the Pontificall seat of Christ Friar Iohn de Pineda par 3. lib 18. cap. 23. ¶ 6 saith This deede caused great admiration that a woman did dare to be the vicar of God sith the holy virgin Marie for being a woman is held irregular for any ecclesiasticall act or holy gouernment soeuer c. So long haue I dwelled vpō this historie of Pope Ione and with so many to wit 12 authors at the least confirmed it to confound some papists of our time which seing the disorder of this Pope this shee Pope I saie because the Pope is oft of the common of two genders to auoide the same very maliciously denie any such Pope to haue bin and the more to fortifie their vntrueth they are not contented to speak but also to write and print the same Amongest whom Onuphrius Panuinus of Saint Augustins order as they call it is one who among many other notes vpon Platina concerning the liues of the chiefe Bishops speaking of this Pope Ione maketh one verie large note wherein he absolutely or rather dissolutely denieth any such Pope to haue bene And his chiefest argument drawne to confirme his opinion is that such a one and such c. writing of the liues of the chiefe Oishops doe not once mention this Pope Iohn 8. whereupon it followeth as he concludeth that there was neuer any such Pope To this I answer that the Authors by him alleaged either by forgetfulnesse or ignorance or which is more credible mallice or else at least for shame haue made no mention of him As a Logitian I further answer that an argument taken ab authoritate negando is nothing worth For example Cicero vsed not this word therefore it is not Latine but if any other Latine authour as Caesar Liuius Salust c. vsed it it shall be Latine though not vsed by Cicero I now likewise answer that albeit those Authors by him alleaged make no mention of this Iohn the eight others and manie more such also as Pero Mexia calleth faithfull Authours haue done it An argument taken not ab authoritate negando but affirmando is good Of this Pope Mautuan in his third booke vpon Alphonsus speaking of hell thither saith he Iohn the eight descended Hic pendebat adhuc sexum mentita virilem Foemina cuitriplici Phrygiam diademate mitram Et tollebat apex pontificalis adulter Here will we make to the Papists and with much more reason the same demaunds that we did speaking of Constantine the second What will they say of those Bishops Archbishops and other Ecclesiasticall persons by her or her authoritie ordained Take away the cause and the effect ceaseth As she by their owne Cannons was not Pope so all those that she ordained were not Priestes nor did celebrate nor consecrate And all the people in hearing their Masse committed idolatrie Who then was head and vniuersall Bishop of the Church Who Saint Peters successour Who the Vicar of Christ A woman and that a whore both before she was Pope and after Pero Mexia hereof aduising answereth that albeit neither she nor any other woman be capable to receiue any character of ordination nor to ordaine
Sodomit c. Wherfore Iohn changing his garmeÌ„t fled from ConstaÌ„ce went to Friburg but by coÌ„mand of the CouÌ„cell after he had 5. yeares poped he was depriued of his Popedome euery other office He was sought for found caught imprisond in the castle of Hidelberga in Germany where he was 3 yeares prisoner in great affliction for that his kepers were Germans simple rude which neither vnderstood Latine nor yet Italian the miserable Pope neither spake nor vnderstood Duch From this prison he afterward escaped The questioÌ„ whether the Pope be aboue the CouÌ„cel or the Councel aboue the Pope was in this CouÌ„cel debated And in the 4. 5. SessioÌ„s coÌ„cluded as Caranâ—a himselfe saith that a general Councel lawfully assembled which represeÌ„teth the catholike church millitaÌ„t had it authoritie imediatly of Christ which Councel euery person of what estate dignitie soeuer yea the Pope himselfe ought to obey in matter coÌ„cerning the faith c. This decre of the CouÌ„cel of CoÌ„staÌ„ce is confirmed in the 3. and 18. Sessions of the Councell of Basile In the Councell of Constance was Iohn Gerson a famous diuine present who not onely with wordes but also with writing approued and extolled this decree that the Pope was to be subiect to the Councell This decree he saith deserued to be fixed in all Churches and in all publike places for a perpetuall remembrance He saith that those which brought this tyranny into the Church that the chiefe Bishop ought not to obey the Councell and that the Councell neither ought nor could Iudge the Pope were pernicious flatterers As though the Councell receiued all that power and dignity of the chiefe Bishop and could not be assembled but at the will of the Pope As though there were no law for the Pope nor account to be demaunded of that which he did Such monstrous words saith he ought to be far from vs as those that be contrary to lawes equitie and reason He saith that all authoritie whatsoeuer the Church holdeth the same holdeth the Councell and that apleales from the Pope ought and may be made to the Councell He saith that they which demaunde whether the Pope or Church be greater Doe no lesse then they that demaunded whether the whole or parte bee greater The Councell saith he hath authoritie and right to chuse Iudge and depose the chiefe Bishop All which with the Councell of Constance Gerson confirmed This Councell Iudged the causes of three Popes Gregorie 12. Benedict 13. and Iohn 24. and finding them all there faulty deposed them and elected Martin 5. Eneas Siluius afterwardes called Pius 2. was present in the Councell of Basill and wrote all whatsoeuer was there debated extolling to the clouds that was there decreed but afterwards being Pope he changed his opinion saying that the Councell ought to be subiect to the Pope The vniuersitie of Paris a few moneths before Luther handled the question of Indulgence from Leo 10. appealed to the Councel This decree of the Councels of Constance and Basill did not nor yet doth please the Popes flatterers who against their owne consciences make the Pope God in the earth absolute Lord of all Iohn Wickeliffe an Englishman before in England deceased for freely preaching the euangelical Doctrin which discouereth hypocrisie and false papisticall doctrine was in this Councell condemned For the same also were Iohn Hus Ierome of Prage who suffered their Martyrdome with great constancie and ioyfulnes condemned and burned Pius 2. saith that Iohn Hus was greater in age authoritie but Ierome was greater in learning and eloquence And a little before he saith both suffered death with a constant mind as if they had bene inuited to some banquet they prepared themselues to go to the fire When the fire began they sung a Psalme which the flame rushing in of the fire could hardly hinder None of the Philosophers with such constancy fortitude of mind is read to haue suffered death as these men endured the fire Eneas Siluius albeit an enemy thus speaketh of them Vnder safe conduct came these two to dispute maintaine their cause as they did in the Councell But neither faith nor promise regarded they against all law and reason were condemned and burned The reason which the Papists yeeld for this deed doing is because no faith is to be kept with heretiques This faith-breach was cause of great bloodshed in the great warres which afterwards happened in Bohemia as Siluius himselfe reporteth Great praise worthy are the Bohemians that with great constancy haue continewed in the good Doctrine and reformation which these holy martirs of Iesus Christ taught them And so much the more is their praise by how much the more they haue suffered troubles persecutions for almost 200 yeares yet by the mercy of God doe they stil vse this good doctrine and reformation which from thence hath crept to Morauia and Polonia the bordering regions In our time hath God stretched the same through Germany from theÌ„ce spread throughout al Europe and hath further passed the great Ocean sea and gone to India all the lets of Antichrist by meanes of his Inquisitors notwithstanding and the more they shall burne the more will it spread abroad because as before we haue said of Tertulian The bloud of the Martirs is the seede of the Gospell Carança in his Summa Conciliorum noteth 45 errors as he calleth them of Iohn Wickelife and 30 of Iohn Hus who listeth to knowe what Iohn Hus taught let him read Carion lib. 5. When Iohn 24. had as we haue said escaped out of prison he came to present himselfe to Pope Martin 5. who was chosen in the CouÌ„cel of Constance to Florence came he prostrated himselfe at the feet of Pope Martin acknowledging him to be Pope kissed his feet Martin moued with this humilitie within few dayes after made him Cardinal Bishop of Tuscan read Friar Iohn de Pineda lib. 23. cap. 20. ¶ 3. O. what a Cardinal O what a Bishop if that be true as it was which was obiected and proued against him in the Councel of CoÌ„stance But no new thing it is that the Popes Cardinals bishops should be as he was But a few moneths after Iohn in his Cardinalship of very griefe is supposed in the 1419. yeare died Friar Iohn de Pineda saith that it was suspcted they gaue him poyson And saith that most solemnly was hee buried in the chappel of S. Iohn Baptist Don Iohn 2. theÌ„ reigning in Castil Martin 5. was made Pope in the Councel of CoÌ„sance of whose electioÌ„ Sigismund the Emp. much reioyced so thaÌ„ked the Councel for chusing such a Bishop And prostrating himselfe before the Pope kissed his feete This pope embraced him as his brother gaue him thankes that by his meanes and trauell the Church was quieted after so great a Sisme But for all this
young maidens also This was the first occasion of the warres This warre ended others much more great had they wherein they so much increased and inriched themselues that not contented with Italy they made warres also vpon forreigne nations and leauing their owne limits they inuaded Affrike and Asia Thus were they dayly increasing vntill another Prince and Lord arose vp in Rome thrusting himselfe into the same seat of the Empire and at the side as it were of the Roman Emperour This new Prince at the first made no shew that he purposed ought to diminish the authority of the Emperor but only took care of the affaires of the Church wherein whiles he was so employed the strength of the Emperour Empire flourished But afterwards he began to thinke how to benefite himselfe of that opinion of religion and holinesse which he held and to attaine hereunto he doubted not to intreat the Emperour that by his authority he might hold the souereignty ouer all Churches The cause that this new Prince alleaged was that Rome was alwayes the Lady of the whole world and therefore was it meet that the Bishop of that city shuld go before other Bishops in degree dignity To obtaine this was a thing most difficult For albeit that the Emperour let it slip yet did the Bishops of other nations confidently gainesay him alleaging lawfull causes why they withstood him vnwilling to acknowledge the Bishop of Rome otherwise then for a brother companion and in power equall with them Notwithstanding all this he of Rome forslowed not but continually vrged to attaine to his purpose vntill he obtained of Phocas the Emperour who murthered Mauricius his good Lord and Emperour that which he would and so called himselfe vniuersall Bishop and what besides he best pleased Here may ye see that olde Rome was founded vpon one murder and the new which is the Popedome vppon another In this concerning the primacie was the Pope merely oposit to Christ who sharpely in his disciples reproued the like strife and ambition But the Pope mounted to this height by the benefit of the Emperours did nowe further dare to promise to himselfe greater matters yet long time proceeding with great dissimulation A hundred yeares almost after the death of Constantine the great was the Empire much weakned it lost Fraunce England and Almaine The Hunnes held Italie the Vandals Africke Such was the dissipation that the Emperours leauing Rome which is in the West went to Constantinople where they made their abode The Bishop of Rome seeing the scattering of the Empire minded not to let slippe occasion but armed a question for his parte against the Emperour The chiefe cause was that the Emperour commaunded all statues and Images to be taken out of the Churches So greatly did the Pope withstand this commaund that hee dared to excommunicate the Emperour so much nowe was the horne increased At this time in the East arose vp Mahomet who tooke many landes form the Empire The Emperours notwithstanding would haue it vnderstood that all the dignitie power and Maiestie which the Pope did hold depended vppon them The Pope then to bee freed from this subiection and the warres which the king of Lumbardie made in italie deuised a notable policie and this it was To aduaunce of himselfe another whom he liked and to name him Emperour of the Romans Who accknowledging the benefit should deeme himselfe happie to please and serue him in all that he would And so Charles the great he elected and declared Emperour who had chased out of Italie the king of Lumbardy and enemie to the Pope This caused great anger and strife betweene the Easterne and Westerne Emperours and not betweene them onely but the Churches also of both the one and other partie of all which the couetousnes and ambition of the Pope of Rome were the cause Much contention was there afterwards among the Italians French and Almaynes about the election of the Emperour But in the end when Otho the third Duke of Saxoni◠was Emperour and Gregorie 5. an Almayne Pope order was giuen that seuen electors should choose the Emperour as in the life of this Gregorie the fift we haue declared And this was done to exclude straunge nations that none but an Almayne should be Emperour Great garboyles arose afterwardes betweene the Pope and the Emperour who could no longer endure the vnmeasurable arrogancie and ambition of the Pope Reade the Histories of Henry the third and fourth and of Frederick the first second and to come neerer our time those of the Emperour Charles 5. whose host in the 1527. yeare sacked Rome tooke Pope Clement 7. and held him prisoner This Clement as sang the Spaniardes at the Popes windowe whiles hee was prisoner would haue taken away the cloke from the Emperour as vppon the life of this Clement we haue before declared So also sought Paule the fourth to take away the cloake from our king Don Philip the second The kingdome of Naples would he haue taken from him but the host of the king whose captaine was the Duke Dalua put the Pope into such a straight that he was contented to make peace and chiefly hearing of the taking of Saint Quintans which was in the 1557. yeare as vppon the life of this Paul the fourth before we haue said So proud is the Pope become that he hath made the forme of an oath the which he causeth the Emperour to sweare being in time past his maister and Lord and so Saint Gregorie called Lord the good Emperour Mauricius but now is he his seruaunt and vassall This forme of oath conteyneth that the Emperour by all possible wayes keepe increase and defend the goodes of the Roman Church and chiefe Bishopes their dignitie priueledges and decrees And so no Emperour but if he would be holden infamous a faith breaker durst in any thing contradict him The oath which the Emperour Charles 5. made to Clement 7. or 8. in the 1530. yeare at the time of his Coronation will I here put downe Ego Carolus Romanorū rex c. That is to say I Charles king of the Romans which by Gods assistance hold to be Emperour promise protest affirme and sweare to God blessed S. Peter that I will henceforth be protector and defendor of the chiefe Bishop and of the holy Church of Rome in all their necessities and profits keeping and preseruing their possessions dignities and rightes c. When he had made this oath was Don Charles made king of Lumbardy and after he was king of Lumbardy another oath in this forme hee made Ego Carolus c. I Charles king of the Romanes and Lumbardes promise and sweare by the father sonne and holy Ghost and by the word of the liuing flesh and by these holy reliques that if the Lord permit mee to come to be Emperour I shall to my power aduaunce to holy Romane Church the holinesse thereof and her
bishop of Rome albeit the Councel was holden in Italy But what forceth it to alleage so many Councels sith in one Councell this question was heard and determined and both parties heard also The bishop of Rome with the title of Patriark tooke vpon him much authoritie ouer the Churches of Affrique So that the Sismatiques of Affrick as to a refuge retired vnto him For this cause the Councell of Maleuant wherein was Saint Augustine and a great number of fathers pronounced al those excommunicate which should appeale to parts beyound the seas The Bishop of Rome grudging here at sent his Legates to the 6. Councell of Carthage wherein also was S. Augustine present to defend his right This question in this Councell was truly handled Zozimus Boniface and Celestine successiuely being Bishops Aurelius Archbishop of Carthage where the Councell was holden and not the Legates of the Pope albeit they were three and present namely Faustine Bishop Philip Aselias presbiters there gouerned These had the Bishop of Rome sent to the Councel of Carthage to defend the authoritie which the Nicen Councell said they had giuen to the Bishop of Rome to wit that appeale might be made to the Bishop o of Rome from the sentence giuen by any metropolitaine whatsoeuer One Daniell a notarie red the whole 5. chap. of the Councel of Sardice which the Bishop of Rome said but very vntruly was of the Councell of Neece The Pope like a good apothecarie when it is for his profit well knoweth to giue quid pro quo All the Bishops and Archbishops much marueyled and said that such a thing was neuer read in the Councell of Nice and so the same Councell of Nice which they had then in writing they commaunded to be read which beeing read and no word of such appellation found yet did the Romane Legates insist that it was so Needefull it was then to send certaine men to Constantinople Alexandria and also to Rome it selfe that they might bring other copies of the Nicen Councell Within one yeare were they brought and the originall it selfe chiefly which was kept in Constantinople Read they were and no mention nor ought else that might giue suspition of this priueledge which the Romans alleaged to haue bene graunted them in the Nicen Councell was at all found in any of these coppies A letter then was written by consent of the whole Councell of Carthage to the Bishop of Rome wherein no such thinge said they but the contrary rather was found in the Councel of Nice that the Bishop of Rome as did other Popes and metropolitanes should medle within his owne limits and boundes And that therefore if he were wise hee should thenceforth be content with his owne dioces and bishorick not intrude vpon an others possession This letter was subscribed by 230 fathers and among them the Popes selfe same three Legats before named If the Pope and his Legats when they vsed not such tyraÌ„ny as now they vse did dare to falsifie a Councell in almost a thousand two hundred and so many yeares passed after this Councell of Carthage vnto this yeare 1598. What shall they not haue done Quien haze vn cesto hara ciento He that maketh one basket wil make a hundred And no wonder it is that they haue dared to falsifie the Councels seeing they haue shamelesly taken from the law of God the 2. Commandement Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any image c. And seeing but 9 Commandements of the tenth commandement Thou shalt not lust c. haue they made two commandements as in the beginning of this Treatise we haue noted Our Spanish Caranâ—a in his Summa Conciliorum setteth down no one of so many Cannons in it of this 6. Councell of Carthage the cause is least he shuld therein haue discouered the falshood of the Bishop of Rome in alleaging of the Nicen Councell that which the Councell neuer but the contrary rather determined A Summarie onely he made and verie briefe saying that the Councell determined what the Nicen Councell demaunded of the Easterne Bishoppes but saieth not vnto what purpose O great subtiltie This Councell of Carthage albeit it was generall called he prouincial So also calleth it Panuinus notwithstanding they both coÌ„fesse that there were found there present 217 Bishops and three legates of the Pope what letteth it then to be generall The Papists what they may wil forget this sixt Councell of Carthage albeit saith Panninus it was confirmed in Trullo Gracian also interpreting the words of the Councell vseth the same malice That none appeale saith he to partes beyond the sea except it be to the Bishop of Rome The cause why it was commanded in this 6. Councell of Carthage that no appeale should be beyond the sea was for that the sismatikes of Affrike condemned by the good Bishops of Affrike appealed to Rome Therfore commanded the councel they should not appeale but that the businesse without seeking further should be concluded in Affricke And so was the conclusion of this Councell That the Bishop of Rome should not receiue those that were excommunicate by the Bishops of Affricke nor accept their appellations which had in Affrike bene condemned and those that appealed to him should be for the same matter excommunicate The reasons whereuppon this Councell was founded sent by it to Celestine Bishop of Rome be these That in no CouÌ„cel was any such thing determined But that the Nicen Councell contrariwise gaue the charge of the Bishops and Ecclesiasticall persons to the Metropolitane The grace of the holy Spirit saith it will assist euery prouince to iudge controuersies that each one which felt himselfe greeued might appeale to a prouinciall Councell For it is more to bee beleeued that God will rather inspire manie Priests in a Councell assembled then one only man c. By that which wee haue alleaged of the sixt Councell of Carthage it clearely appeareth how false is that which the Pope said that in the Nicen Councell the primacie was giuen him and yet want there not some in our times also which renewe this falshood And so D. Illescas vpon the life of Boniface 3 in the marginall note saith these words Phocas de clared by the Law that the Roman Church is head of the Church vniuersall Also he saith This superiority of the Roman Church hath euer sithens bene and by all faithfull and Catholike Christians is holden for a thing proued without dispute as the Councell of Neece chap. 6. and Raimundus Rufus against the heretiks of this time for louers of nouelties c. most plainely proueth In the seuenth Councell of Carthage the matter of the primacie was also debated The cause was this That Iohn Bishop of Constantinople seeing himselfe fauoured of Maurice the Emperour called himselfe Bishop of Bishops and vniuersall bishop And this because he was Bishop of the citie where the Emperour was resident Mauricius willing to aduaunce his citie and abase Rome did
thee beholde it is layd ouer with gold and siluer and there is no breath in it In like manner The stocke saith Ieremie is a doctrine of vanitie Againe Euery man is a beast by his owne knowledge Euery founder is confounded by his grauen Image for his melting is but falshood and there is no breath therein They are vanitie and the worke of errors c. wherefore well said Athanasius When a liuing man cannot moue thee to knowe God how shall a man made of wood cause thee to know him Epiphanius Bishop of Cypres comming into a Church and seeing a veyle wherein the Image of Christ or some other Saint was pictured cōmanded to take it thence and that the veyle should be imployed for the buriall of some poore vsing these wordes To see in the Temples of Christians the Image of Christ or any Saint pictured is horrible abhomination Of this moreouer wrote he to Iohn Bishop of Ierusalem vnder whose Iurisdiction was that people of Anablatha where the veyle was to prouide that no such veyles which be contrary to that which Religion permitteth should thenceforth be had in the Church of Christ So greatly did this epistle please Saint Ierome that he translated the same out of Greeke into Latine The same Epiphanius said Remember my beloued sonnes that you place no Images in the Church nor churchyardes but carry God euer in your hearts and yet say I further permit them not in your houses For to be fixed by the eyes but by meditation of the minde c. is vnlawfull for a Christian c. The most ancient Councell of Eliberis holden in Spaine as now we will declare and many other ancient Councels condemned Images and manie Christian Emperours haue forbidden them And for that purpose wrote Valens and Thedosius to the chiefe Gouernor of the Councell house saying As our care is in and by all meanes to mainteine the religion of the most high God so permit wee none to purtrayt engraue or picture in colours stone or any other matter whatsoeuer the Image of our Sauiour Moreouer we commaunde that wheresoeuer such an Image can bee founde it be taken away and all those to be chastised with most grieuous punshment that attempt ought against our decrees and commaund Seeing then the Christian Emperours Doctors and ancient Councels yea and that which is all the scripture it selfe to forbid Images let not our Aduersaries be obstinate Let them not thinke it to be nowe as in time passed when the blind led the blind and so both fell into the ditch Blessed be God we nowe see and neede not them which be more blind to guide vs. Where or when I demaund hath God commaunded to doe that which they doe Let them giue me one only example of the olde or newe Testament that any of the Patriarches Propetes Apostles or Martyrs of Iesus Christ did that which they doe adored or honored God or his saints in their Images They will not giue it Then let them not be more wise then they Let them take heede least God say vnto them Who required these thinges at your handes This is not the worship by God appointed but humane and diuelish inuention And so shall God punish them as hee punished Nadab and Abihu Leuit. chap. 10. ver 1. that offered strange fire which he neuer commaunded them Hold we fast that which God hath commaunded Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image c. And so shall we not erre The Church of Rome hath taken away the second commandment and hath but nine commaundements But to fill vp the number of tenne of the tenth commandement which forbiddeth lust in generall and afterward the chiefe kind and partes thereof hath shee made two But the Hebrewes and ancient Doctors Greeke and Latine do not so who place that of Images for the second commaundement Some thinke saith Origen hom 8. vpon Exod that all this together meaning the first and second commandements is one commaundement which if it so should be taken there wold want of the number of ten commaundements and where then should be the tenth of the Decalog of ten commaundments but deuiding it as afore we haue distinguished the full number of the ten commaundements will appeare So that the first commaundements is Thou shallt haue no other Gods but me And the second Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image c. hitherto Origen Chrisostome hom 49. vpon Saint Math. Exposition 2. Athanasius in Synopsi Seripturarum Saint Ambrose vpon the sixt chapter of the epistle to the Ephesians and Saint Ierome vpon the same place all these Fathers place as we doe that against Images for the second commaundement And for the third Thou shalt not take the name of the lord c. For the 4. Remember thou keepe holy c. for the 5. Honor thy father and thy Mother c. and for the tenth that we shall not couet any thing of our neighbors c. Iesephus in his 3. book of Antiquites chap. 6. and Philo in his booke which he made of the tenne comandements deuide them in like manner with vs. If this be the true deuision of the Decalogue as it is and by the expresse word of God Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image as by the Hebrew Greeke and Latin Doctors we haue proued Hereupon it followeth that the Church of Rome is accursed of God because she hath dared to diminish and adde any thing to the most holy eternall and inuiolable lawe of God whereunto being perfect full and entire no man ought to adde or take away according to that which the same God saith Thou shalt adde nothing to the word which I commaund thee neyther shalt thou take ought therefro but keepe the commaundements of the Lord your god which I commaunde you Deut. 4. 2. Deut. 12. 32. Prouerb 30. 6. If the Church of Rome heere in a thing so cleere so notable and of so great importance hath so apparantly and without shame dared to adde and diminish what will they not dare Let vs looke more neerely The belly say they hath no cares These things will not the Romists heare Images in the Popedome fill the bellies and the chests Great is the treasure that is giuen to Images Oyle waxe perfumes silke siluer gold cloth of gold and precious stones wherein Theeues and wicked women are most liberall The Pirestes and friers doe clothe and decke their Images with the giftes of strumpets wherein they transgresse the commaundement of God which commandeth that none shall bring the hier of an whore into the house of the Lord c. because God who is iust and pure abhorreth robbery and detesteth that which with sinne and filthinesse is euill gotten And the Glosse in Decret dist 90. Cap. Oblationis determineth that no gaine of a whore be offered in the Church And that the suprestitious vulgar sort may giue the more they make them beleeue
Sadduces shamelesly denied the resurrection and allowed neither Angel nor spirit As by the disputation which they held with Christ about the woman that had seauen husbands appeareth Matth. 22. 22. and in the Acts 23. 8. The Essees apart had their opinions It was a people solitarie like the Charterhouse Monkes They had no wiues drunk no wine nor did they eat any flesh a people they were very austere and euery day fasted Whiles the Church was deuided into these sects when all was confused came the sonne of God into the world With such he conuersed And of such for preaching the truth vnto thē he was crucified When the light of the Gospel was come which Christ and his Apostles preached who allowed it not but rather killed and crucified those that preached the same The same people of God the Church of God chiefly the Scribes Pharisies priests and high priests These came togither held a Councell wherein they concluded that Christ should die and all those that should preach the same Doctrine They tooke him because they wanted authoritie to put any to death with false witnes they accused him before Pilate Deputy to the Emperour Tiberius and thisin the holy Ierusalem And so was he condemned for an euil doer for such a one was crucified O what a Church O what a Councell if the cheife Preist may erre and erred in dede The Lord by diuine power eftsoones raysed vpp who suborned his keepers to say that his disciples had stollen him away Who assembled a Councell to persecute the Apostles and commaunded them that they should not preach who caused S. Iames to be put to death Who made S. Peter to be taken to cause him to die had not the Angel of the Lord deliuered him The visible Church of God the scribes and Pharisies and high Priests Not without cause faid the Lord speaking of Ierusalem Ierusalem Ierusalem which killest the prophets and stonest those that be sent vnto thee Afterwards the very same hath hitherto happened leauing former times spake we of these wherein we liue Who hath for the space of 70 or 80. yeares hitherto shed so much bloud of Martyres they that call themselues the Church of Iesus Christ chiefly the peeuish Friars Bishops chiefe Bishops and the same shal they doe vntill the end of the word And so Christ speaking of his second comming when he shall come to the vniuersall Iudgement saith Luke 18. 8. The son of man when he commeth shall he find faith vpon the earth As if he should say no. And in the XXIIII chapter of Saint Matthewe he maketh a discourse hereof verse 12. And because saith he iniquitie shal be increased the loue of many shal be cold And verse 24. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders so that if it were possible they should deceiue the very elect And thinke we not these false Christs and false Prophets shal bee Turkes and Iewes Christians they shal be and for such shall they be holden Bishops and chiefe Bishops shal be the principally as at this day they be I haue sufficiently proued me thinketh by many examples and passages of the old and new Testament that the Church of God may erre and hath erred indeede which to our aduersaries seemeth vnpossible Now will we resolue a doubt and this it is If the Church bee such and subiect to fall into Errours superstitions heresies and idolatries as before we haue proued How shall that be vnderstood which the scripture saith That the Church is the body of Iesus Christ That the Church is the spouse of Christ That the Church is the pillar of truth founded vppon the sure foundation That the Churche is without spot or wrincle and wholy faire That the gates of hell shall not preuaile against her and other like commendations and prayses thereof the word of God witnesseth To this may we answere that both the one and the other may very well stand For God neuer suffered all his Church to fall togither into Error But rather hath alwayes reserued some good and some times also seauen thousand As said he speaking of Elias albeit in corners which neuer bowed the knees to Baal Such as these the common error dispatched wherewith all the Church was generally deceaued Against this Error such others of these spake preached and wrote and most times it cost them their liues and had each one of them had a thousand liues a thousand liues would each one of them haue lost for the same cause That Church wherein Catholiquely and vniuersally raigned that Errour or heresie shee and her Bishoppes did persecute condemned and kill them As by examples wee haue confirmed the same So that when the scripture saith All Israel all Iuda all the inhabitants of Ierusalem turned away from God committed Idolatrie c. Of such a manner ingenerall must wee vnderstand which hath it Exceptions for in the middest of these Errours and idolatries so Catholique fo vniuersall had alwayes God some particular men whom he reserued cleane and pure from that common errour So reserued God Moses and Iosua and some other particular persons also which worshipped not the calfe when all Israel ingenerall and Aaron the high Priest him selfe worshipped it The same will wee say of the time of the Iudges that God neuer forsoke his Church The same wee say also of the times of the kings of Israel and of Iuda When all committed Idolatrie God raysed vp an Esaias a Micheas a Ieremias an Ezechiel a Daniel c. Who reproued vices and false Doctrine and declared the truth But which of these did not the Church and her high priests persecute and kill So also reserued the Lord vnro himselfe at his first comming into the worlde A Simeon an Anna widdowe a Ioseph and his spouse the virgin Marie mother of our sauiour An holie Elizabeth and her sonne Saint Iohn Baptist which were Godly very well thought of the true religion and agreed neither with the Pharisies nor Sadduces nor Essees And so the Lord in so vnhappy times preserued his Church And so likewise vntill now hath he preserued the same And now also in these lest miserable times wherein neither faith Luk. 18 8. nor loue is found Matth. 24. 12. God reserueth some which oppose themselues to the tyranny of the Antichrist of Rome and to the common errour and Idolatrie of all the Romane Church ingenerall And so God hath not permitted that his Church hath wholly bene deceiued nor according to his promise I am with you vnto the end of the world Wil he euer permit the same Euer thē hath God reserued fome that haue not bene deceiued with the cōmon errour many from time to time be enlightened As by experience we haue seene it God of his infinit mercy increase them that the number of his chosen may be fulfilled so sinne may cease and only Christ
wit If the head of an horse be put to a humane body A distinction truly very rediculous Conclude we this matter with that which was ordeyned in the Councell of Eliberis in Spaine holden about the yeare of the Lord. 335. whose 36. Cannō was as Carranza noteth in his Summa Conciliariorum Placuit picturas in Ecclesia esse non debere ne quod colitur aut odoratur in parietibus depingatur It pleaseth vs that pictures ought not to be in the Church lest that be worshipped or adored which is painted on the walles Eliberis where was celebrated this ancient Councell was a Cittie neare vnto that place where is now Granada Eliberis was destroyed and of the ruines thereof was Granada builded or augmented And there is one gate in Granada euen to this day called the gate Deluira corrupting the worde in steed of Elibera The gate is so called because men goe that way to Elibera Had this Cannon made in our countrie of Spaine 1263. yeares past bene obserued in Spaine there had not bene such Idolatrie in Spaine as now there is Vp Lord regard thine owne honour Conuert or confound not being of thine elect all such as worship Pesel grauen or carued Images or Temuna picttures or patternes All that whatsoeuer we haue sayd against Images is meant of those that are made for religion seruice worship and to honour serue and adore them Such Images are forbidden by the law of God And so the Arte of caruing grauing painting and patterne making not done to this end is not forbidden but lawfull The superstition and Idolatrie taken away the Arte is good If there be any people or nation that haue and doe commit inward and outwarde Idolatrie it is the Popish Church For what else see we in their Temples houses streetes and crosse-streetes but Idolles and Images made and worshipped against the expresse commaundement of God Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image No nation hath bene so barbarous to thinke that which they outwardly beheld with their eyes to be God They supposed as before we haue said their Iupiter Iuno Mars Venus to be in Heauen whom they worshipped in the Images that did represent them Many of the Moores Turkes and Iewes would conuert vnto Christ were it not for the offence and scandall of Images in the Churches Therefore said Paulus Pricius a most learned Hebrew which became in a Christian Paue that it was very meet Images should be taken out of the Temple for they were the cause that many Iewes became not Christians The Popish Church doth not onely commit the Idolatrie of the Gentiles but farre exceed them also One Idolatrie it committeth which neuer Pagan nor Gentile euer committed It beleeueth the bread and wine in the Masse called a sacrifice celebrated by her Pope or a Priest made by the authoritie of the Pope to be no representation nor commemoration of the Lordes death but his very body and bloud the same Iesus Christ as bigge and great as he was vpon the crosse And so as very God doth worship it We will then in this first Treatise proue by the Lords assistance whose cause we now maintaine the Pope to be a false Priest and very Antichrist that such Idolatrie and other much more he hath inuented in the Church In the second Treatise we will also proue by the same assistance the Masse to be a false Sacrifice and great Idolatrie And because our chiefe purpose is not so much to beat downe falshood as to aduance the truth after we haue shewed the Pope to be a false Priest And the Masse a false Sacrifice we will shew also which is the argument of the Apostle in the Epistle written to the Hebrewes Iesus Christ to be the true and onely Priest and his most holy body and bloud which he offered vnto his father vpon the Crosse to be the true and only sacrifice where with the eternall father is well pleased and receiueth vs into his fauour and friendship iustifying vs by faith and giuing vs his holy spirit of Adoption whereby we crie Abba father and liue in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life And so be glorified of him to reigne ' with him for euer Many will wonder that we with so great constancie or as they call it sawsinesse reiect condemne and abhore the Pope and his Masse And therefore doe slaunder and defame vs not among the common people onely but amongest the Nobles also and great Lordes Kinges and Monarches that we are fantasticke heady arrogant sedicious rebellious partiall and many other false reportes they raise against vs wherewith they fill and breake the eares of the ignorant and of all those that take pleasure to heare them To shew them then that it is no foolish opinion nor fantasie which doth lead vs neither any ambition vaine glory nor other passion that doth alter moue or transport our minds but a good zeale rather of the glory of God and feruent desire of the health of our owne soules A reason will we giue in this first Treatise vnto all that desire to heare vnderstand it of that which we beleeue hold concerning the Pope and his authoritie And chiefely if we be asked because as saith Saint Peter we ought to be ready with meekenesse and reuerence to make answere to euery one that demaundeth a reason of the hope which we hold The reason then which we giue for reiecting condemning and abhorring the Pope and flying from him as from the pestilence is his euill life and wicked doctrine Note also what the Doctors and ancient Councels the holy Scriptures in three wonderfull places chiefly for that purpose say concerning him In the second Treatise we will declare what wee thinke of the Masse and the holinesse thereof The Pope and Masse two pillers of the Popish church be very ancient For it is now a thousād yeares past since they first began to be buylded Their beginnings were very small but they dayly increased adorning and decking themselues vntill they attayned to the estate wherein we now see them For aswell the Pope as the Masse is holden and called God Without are they made very beautifull couered ouer with silke gold siluer cloth of gold rich stones but within is superstition hypocrisie and Idolatrie I haue often pondred with my selfe whether of these two pillers the Pope or the Masse were strongest and more esteemed The vertues excellencie holinesse and diuinitie which they say is in the Masse who can declare How profitable it is for al things liuing and not liuing quick dead By cōsideratiō hereof the Masse I supposed was chiefest and therefore ought to begin with it But the Pope vpon better aduisement mee seemed notwithstanding to be the chiefest piller The reasons mouing me so to beleeue are these that the cause in dignitie is before the effect the creator before the creature the maister before the seruant the Priest before the
Ambassadors which the Emperor sent for his excuse he would not heare He incited manie Princes against him which thing the Emperor seeing to auoyd the furie of the Pope he went to Palestina to make warre with the Souldan as the pope commanded But when the Emperor was passed the sea then the Pope made himselfe Maister of Pulla and would not consent that the crossed souldiers which were to go and serue the Emperour should passe the sea The Emperor went thither where so valiantly he behaued himselfe that he wan Ierusalem and other cities and made truce with the Souldan for ten yeares All which by his Embassadors he signified to the Pope supposing that the Pope would haue reioyced But so farre off was the Pope from reioycing at the newes that he commanded those which brought them to be slaine lest they should tell them to others and bruted it abroad that the Emperour was dead This did the Pope that those certaine citties of Pulla which were not yet rendered hearing of the Emperours death might yeeld themselues vnto him Herein the Pope shewed himselfe a murtherer and lyer the verie sonne of the diuell And that the Emperour might not returne the Pope by letteres requested the Soldan not to deliuer the holie land vnto him But the Emperour set all things in good order returned into Italie and recouered againe that which the Pope had vsurped in Pulla The Pope seeing this did excommunicate him againe obiecting against him that hee had made truce with the Souldan yet in the end by the mediatiation of the Princes the Pope absolued the Emperour prouided that he payd for his absolution an hundred thousand ounces of gold or as saith Hist Pontific vpon the life of this Gregory the ninth a hundred twenty fiue thousand ounces But Nauclerus Friar Iohn de Pineda Rerum Germanicarum Epitome and Carion lib. 5. say 120000. ounces of gold How deerely the Pope selleth his vile merchandise here appeareth There is no Mercer chapman nor Pedler which sell so deere their wares as the Pope selleth his inke paper waxe and leade When the Emperour was departed out of Italy hee vnderstood that the Pope and his confederates sought to depriue him of the Empire whereupon he returned into Italy and chastised the rebelles The Pope hearing thereof did eftsoones excommunicate the Emperour as then in Pauia who now vnable any longer to endure the couetousnesse sausinesse and tyranny of the Pope resolued to make them knowne to all faithfull Christians that they might fly from the error false religion of the Popes For this cause he commaunded a man well exercised in the Scripture to preach in his presence wherein he should intreate of Excommunication and the Roman Church And so it was The Sermon being ended the errours of the Romane Church were so discouered and the craft and subtiltie of the Popes so manifested that the Emperour wrote to the Pope these verses Roma diu titubans longis erroribus acta Corruet mundi desinet esse caput To wit Rome that long time hath stumbled shall fall and cease to be the head of the world The which we see dayly more and more to be verified How many kingdomes haue cast off the Romane tyranny This Pope commaunded that at the Aue Maria the Salue Regina that so blasphemous Antheme against Christ which this Pope first cōmanded to be sung in the Churches and also at the eleuation of his pasted God the bel should be tolled To Saint Fraunces was this Pope very much deuoted and so commaunded that the faithfull should beleeue Saint Fraunces to haue had the fiue woundes Frier Iohn de Pineda as a Frier Franciscan libr. 22. cap. 23. ¶ 3. handleth this matter at large And in the 39. cap. ¶ 3 he intreateth of the Saints which he saith had the woundes as had Saint Fraunces which historie among the swarme of false miracles you shall find in the end of this booke This Pope as noteth Frier Iohn de Pineda lib. 21. cap. 33. ¶ 3. compiled and ordained the Decretals The lawes of the Popes whereby the Cannonists be gouerned some are called Decretals which be as Pineda in the place alleaged doth note it determinatiue Epistles of some doubtful causes which the Pope alone or with the opinion of the Cardinals and consultation of some maketh A Decree is called that which the Pope establisheth by aduise of the Cardinals without request of any A Cannon is that which in an vniuersall Councell is established And this is a distinction of the Glose Cann Omnis Dist 3. vpon a Decree He addeth that the statute in matter of faith is called Dogma and that which consisteth in matters of vices or vertues Mandatum And if it be prohibitiue an Interdiction it is called without punishment assigned and Sancion is the member of the lawe that appointeth the punishment to transgressors c. And somewhat lower Other constitutions which other popes haue sithens inuented remaine in another volume which wee call Liber Sextus compiled and authorised by Pop Boniface the eight and in the Councell of Lyons in France by him published And Clement the fift made afterwards many others which are called Clementines c. Other Extrauagants many Popes made c. Extrauagants be they called because they are not put in the titles of the Law as other ordinarie ones be but each one apart by it selfe euery one intreating of it distinct matter euen as Quodlibets are so called because they be put amongst diuine questions handled apart by themselues euery one according to it matter I thought good seeing in this booke is handled the authoritie of the Pope to set downe here the names of the lawes wherewith the Pope gouerneth his Church Iesus Christ the only vniuersall head of his vniuersall Church with the word of God conteined in the old and new Testament which we call the Byble and our aduersaries so much abhor and detest as the pestilence and doctrine of diuels gouerneth his Church and therefore vnder such rigorous paine forbid they the reading thereof calling it a booke of heresies Arise ô Lord sleepe not disperse thine enemies and driue those away that abhorre thy holie lawe which thy Maiestie hath published by the mouth and writing of thine holy Prophetes and Apostles In the 1241. yeare this Gregorie 9. died Don Fernando 3. reigned in Castile Celestinus the fourth a Milanist assayed what he might to secute the good Emperour Fredericke but for that hee was Pope but eighteene dayes and as is sayd poysoned hee could not performe it In the election of this Celestine the fourth saith the historie an English Cardinall called Robert Somerton lest he should haue succeeded Gregorie the ninth was poisoned Celestine being dead because the Emperour tooke the Cardinals the popedome was voyd almost 21 moneths but in the end at the request of Baldwin Emperour of Constantinople and others
friendship the Pope secretly departed from Constance as saith Volateranus against the will of the Emp. and so came to Florence where taking his pleasure he 2 yeares remained Before he departed from Constance the Emp. and other Princes exhorted him to giue some good order for reformation of the ouermuch libertie euill customes of the Clergie Whereunto Martin answered That this was with time nature consideration to be done and for confirmation of his answere hypocritically aleaged the saying of S. Ierome that euery prouince hath it customes maners which could not sodainly be abolished without great trouble and damage How much better should he haue put his hand to the worke begun to reforme himselfe and his court of Rome To speake of reformation to the Popes is to speake or preach death vnto them And this is the cause why they cannot brook to heare tel of a Coūcel because they then know that each one tam in capite quà m in membris Aswell in the head as in the members wil begin to speake of reformation They remēber that the Councels haue deposed Popes and placed others They remember that in the Councell of Pisa celebrated in the 1410. yeare 2 Popes were deposed and Alexander elected that in the Councell of Constance in the 1416. yeare were 3 deposed and Martin chosen And in the Councell of Basil in the 1432. yeare Eugenius was deposed and Amadeus chosen For this cause would the Popes haue willingly no Councels And albeit for shame they cannot but graunt that a Councell shal be the Pope feareth as to eate poyson to be present therein but sendeth his Legats which accustomably as in the last Trident Councel which buried so many Popes and none of them appeared in the Councell was seene The Popes doe feare as before we haue said least the like to them as to the others Popes should happen in the Councels For these causes made Martin a decree that no Councel after that of Constance before 5 yeares passed should be holden after that Coūcel ten yeares should passe before another Coūcell were holden See here the reformation which the Popes desire If any Pope in maners be lesse wicked for in Doctrine be they al Antichrists in his Roman Court wisheth practiseth some reformation then doubtlesse ensueth some conspiracy against him that they giue him a morsel wherewith they dispatch him An example we haue in Celestine 5. whō his Cardinal that after him was Pope dispatched in Adrian 6. as afterward we wil declare It is said of this pope Martin that he dispensed with one to mary his own sister After 2 yeeres he went frō Florence to Rome The cause of this going was for that the pages as saith I. de Pineda sang in his disgrace a Sonet which began El Papa Martino no vale vn quatrino Martin the Pope is not worth a rope Whē he came to Rome saith Pineda his face shewed him to be quite chāged for before he was pope he was demed a man gētle simple vnwise wāting that gētlenes that was suposed to be in him was afterwards discouered to be most wise And a litle lower So scraping he was couetous a mony-gatherer that he gaue great cause of slander chiefly because what he euilly got he worse spēt c. whē he was come to Rome he gaue himself to repaire not the true Church of Iesus Christ which is his mēbers but the wals of the citie Churches he adnulled the decrees of the Popes passed in the time of the Sisme he depriued Dex Alonso king of Arragon of the kingdom of Naples gaue it to Lewes And in the 1431. yere died D. Iohn 2. reigned in Castile Eugenius 4. a Venetian after the death of Martin his predecessor was elected in Rome In so great a straite was seene this Eugenius that to saue his life being Pope be left his owne garments in a Friers habit put himselfe with his companion in a fishers boate which he found certaine Romanes which perceiued his flight cast many stones and arrowes at him In the end he scaped and went to Florence where some yeeres he abode and for his better defence made 16 Cardinals In the 1432. yeare was the Eugenius cited by the Councell of Basil But he knowing that the Councell would be aboue the Pope and that vpon appearance he should answere the exhibited accusations against him would not appeare Eugenius not appearing was deposed by the Councel Amadeus Duke of Sauoy who had made himself an Hermit and now called Felix 5. was elected in his place yet for all this would not Eugenius leaue to be pope And so to defeat the Councel of Basil hee assembled another Councel in Ferrara frō thence went to Florence Don Iohn 2. king of Castile albeit he had sent his Embassadors and learned men to the Councel of Basil yet fauored this Eugenius Eugenius incited Lewes the Dolphin of France with an host to go to Basil and breake off the Councell whereof ensued great mischief This Eugenius was the cause of the vnfortunate death of Ladislaus king of Hungarie in counselling him to breake his faith word giuen to the Turke which counsell this poore yongling but of 22 yeares tooke so set vpon the Turke when by reason of the peace betweene them he least suspected The Turke seeing this vnfaithfulnes reinforced himselfe returned vpon him In which battel the king with Cardinal Caesarinus the Popes Legate was slaine his host destroyed It hath wontedly bene argued whether faith and promise giuen to an infidell might lawfully be broken wherunto I answer that which Frier Iohn de Pineda lib. 26. cap. 28. ¶ 1. to this purpose saith There is no doubt saith he but faith is to be kept aswel to an enemy albeit he be an Infidel as to a friend Christian the reason which he giueth is this because the bond to obserue it issueth from the law of nature which is indispensable God hauing bin put for witnes of the truth that each one promiseth to another c. So that Eugenius the fourth was wicked indispensing and Ladislaus was periured against God notwithstanding the Popes dispensation Wickedly did the Councel of Constance which brake faith with Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage Much better did the Emperour Don Charles who being but young of 21 yeares sent with safe conduct for Luther who appeared before the Emperour at Wormes and publikely gaue an account of his faith and the Emperor keeping with him his word sent him backe albeit the Spaniards did incite him to kill him Much better did the Captaine Mondragon in keeping the faith which he had promised to the Prince of Orange whose prisoner he was This Eugenius most cruelly burned a Frenchman called Thomas Rēdon a Carmelit for saying that in Rome were committed great abominations that the Church had need of great reformation and that
deliuer vs from it The Bubos a disease vntill then vnknowne in Spaine they brought with them which returned from the Indies wherewith God did punish them for taking the wiues that were not theirs This filthie and contagious disease hath spread it selfe so greatly throughout all Europe that they make now almost no reckening thereof And he is not holden for a gentleman which hath not had two or three times the bubos as they call them Other nations call them the French euill The Frenchmen call them the disease of Naples A disease it is wherewith God punisheth such as liue in that filthie single life dispising mariage which God in Paradice the state of innocencie ordeined and Iesus Christ with his first miracle as saith Saint Iohn at a mariage in Cana of Galile confirmed albeit the popish votaries call it filthie c. Returne we to Alexander 6. Of him saith the Enchiridion of times that many thinges in his time did he license which neither for his person his estate nor for Rome being that it ought to be were lawfull and honest Machauell lib. de Principe cap. 18. of him saith Nought else but deceiue men did euer Alexander the sixt nor euer did hee thinke vppon other thinges and found meanes suficient to effect it and neuer had man more efficacie in striuing to affirme and with greater oathes would promise a thing and lesse performe it notwithstanding his deceit did alwayes prosper with him c. Guicciardine a graue author and of much credit as faith Doctor Illescas in the life of Alexander 6. ¶ 2. lib. 2. of his Historie giueth this notable testimonie of him The most vile nature saith he of the bishop made what wickednesse soeuer in him credible Who listeth to know further of this abhominable Alexander 6. great shame of our countrie of Spaine let him read Paulus Iouius In the 1503. yeare Alexander with poyson as before we haue said died Don Fernando and Dona Isabella then reigning in Spaine Pius 3. of Sena nephewe of Pius 2. was thus chosen when Alexander was dead Caesar his sonne which murdered his brother c. aduanced with al the treasure and iewels of the Pope and with twelue thousand men garded the Vaticano a place where the Cardinals vse to assemble for a new election And this he did that the Cardinals should make Pope whom he best pleased But to another place they went called Minerua which when Caesar vnderstood he sent thither his people and beset thē about Then ran the report through Rome that the Cardinals were prisoners and that there was nothing but death to be expected throughout all Rome So great was the feare that it only seemed Haniball was eftsonnes to enter Rome Caesar in the end at the request of the Romans and the Embassadours of Spaine and Fraunce And for that his purpose he saw would not preuaile with all his people departed from Rome And so the Cardinals went to their Conclaue where after long contention they elected Pius 3. who being Pope he presently conspired against the French which occupied a great part of Italy But he proceeded not further for hauing Poped but 27. dayes in the 1503. he died Iulius 2. a Genowey nephew of Sistus 4. by his great and subtill wit obteined great dignties and in the end to be Pope A man he was naturally inclined to warres which inclination albeit he were Pope yet mortified he not but holding rather absolute power as the Popes faine to haue put the same in execution He had great warres with the Venetians the king of France the Duke of Ferrara the Bentiuolians and other Princes This Iulius in the space of 7. yeares that he warred with his excommunications and armes he tooke many things from Christian Princes In which seuen yeares through the intollerable tirany of the Pope ther died by the sword aboue 200000 men And yet nothing at all he grieued imitating therein the cruell Nero who hauing caused Rome to be fired reioyced to see it burne as saith the Spanish song Mira Nero de Tarpeya A Roma como se ardia Gritos dan ninos y vieios Y el de nada se dolia Tarpeyan Nero did behold Rome Citie how it burned Yeeld shrikes and cries did young and old His heart yet nothing turned This Iulius was the cause of that so cruell and bloudy battell of Rauenna betweene the Spaniards and Frenchmen wherein both the conquerors and the conquered remained loosers He seeing himselfe vnable to vanquish the French king by armes attempted another way and so excommunicated him and also with him the king of Nauarre which tooke part with France he gaue their kingdomes for a pray to such as could get them By vertue of this excommunication Don Fernando the king that wanne Granada entered into Nauarre and in the 1512. yeare by force of armes tooke it Guicciardine in his 11. booke of his historie speaking of this taking of Nauarre saith these words The king of Nauarre being vnprepared and hopeles of power to make resistance fled to Bierna on the other side of the Piren mountaines The kingdome of Nauarre being abandoned except certaine forts kept for the fled king without any cost or difficulty and this more through the reputation and neerenes of the English then his owne force came into the power of the king of Aragon who vnable with other title to auouch his lawfull possession alleaged the occupation thereof to be rightfully for the seate Apostolique The noble Acts of king D. Fernando be summed vp in this Sonnet Iunté Aragon con Castilla Gané à Nauarray Granada Puse in Napoles mi silla Conquiste desde Sevilla Otro mundo con miarmada Castile with Aragon I ioyned I wanne Nauarre and tooke Granada In Naples my seat I placed Another world from off Seuilla I conquered with my Armada In this selfe same yeare 1512. as Frier Alonso Venero in his Enchiridion of the times reporteth died Pascall Bishop of Burgos In this Bishopricke he ordeyned that no vigils should be kept in Churches for the dissolute behauiour dauncings and other thinges much offensiue to God which there passed and oft times whordomes and other grieuous sinnes Thus farre Venero fol. 117. For the same causes in all Spaine were they also taken away for Pilgrimages were commonly turned into whoredoms Doctor Illesoas vpon the life of Eugenius 1. saith that in the time of this Eugenius was celebrated the Councel of Cabilona c. In which it was cōmanded that in Churches hermitages other houses of deuotion where it is accustomed to goe on pilgrimage to make watches no dauncing nor vauting should be vsed c. alittle lower This is a thing that requireth remedy I hold it for good if the prelates should cōmand to shut by night the houses of deuotion that there should not be in thē the crie small deuotion the other inconueniences which we
dominican Friar whose wordes be these In the time of Leo 1â— Martin Luther an arch heretique arose vp in Germany who first preached and wrote against the Indulgences of the Pope afterwards against the Primacy of the Roman Church then against constraned single life and other rites and customes of the ancient Church Carança our aduersarie doth herein witnesse what was the cause that moued Luther to speak against the Church of Rome Who listeth to know this let him read Sleidons Historie Eckius tooke part with the Pope and Luther and Eckius in the pulpits preached the one against the other When Leo 10. heard of these rufflings he condemned Luther for an heretike which condemnation vnderstood by Luther he apealed to the first General CouÌ„cel wherin he did imitate the vniuersitie of Paris which a few moneths before had appealed froÌ„ the same Leo to the CouÌ„cel In Rome Leo caused Luthers bookes to be burned which when Luther vnderstood he burned in Wittenberg the Cannon Law which is the decretals and Popish decrees saying as they haue done vnto mee So haue I also done vnto them VVho will not wonder and be astonished at so great a courage and daring boldnesse that a poore begging Augustine Friar should dare to doe such a disgrace and to giue such a blowe and to whom thinkest thou to the Pope Was not the Pope he whom in times past the potentates Princes kinges and Emperours fell prostrate vnto and worshiped How commeth it then to passe that a meane man of no esteme gaue him such a blow that hee left him for dead Not Luther but God it was that chooseth the low thinges to confound the most high Tâ—e stinke of the villainies and abhominations of the Popes Clergie was gone vp to heauen now were the iniquities of the Amorites come to their height And God cast downe the pride of the Pope a second Lucyfer God gaue vs the grace that acknowledging such a benifit we may be thankfull and in holines and righteousnes serue him all the dayes of our life By this meanes hath God brought vs out of darkenesse into light and out of thralldome into libertie And Luther not content here with came to Wormes or Wormacia where Charles the Emperour held his first Dyet presenting himself before the Emperour so many Papists as were with him he disputed mainteined his cause and in the end departed the Emperour better keeping promise with him then it had formerly bene kept with Iohn Hus and Ierom of Prage in the Councell of Constance One thing here I cannot leaue to speake of that Luther going to wormes his friend aduised him in the way before they came at wormes to beware of going thither because they would doe to him as they had done to his bookes which they had burned Whereunto Luther with great courage answered that albeit he knew there were so many diuels against him in Wormes as there were tyles vppon the houses yet for all that would he not let to appeare there and giue account of his faith in so solemne an assembly And so he dyed In the 1522. yeare Leo 10 hearing that the Frenchmen by the Imperialls were vanquished slaine taken and cast out of Italy and that through his assistance died by his excessiue ioy and laughter his soule departed from him but of poyson that they gaue him as Panuinus supposeth An Atheist he was thought there was after this life neither heauen nor hell And so he died without receiuing the sacraments He could not saith Sanazaro receiued them because he had sold them And so almost no chiefe bishop as noteth Panuinus vpon the life of Pius 4 receiued them His Atheisme plainely appeared by an answere which he made to Cardinall Bembus who had alleaged vnto him a passage of the Gospell Whereunto in these wordes he dissolutly aÌ„swered what profit this fable of Christ hath brought to vs and our company All the world knoweth Leo by this answere well shewed himselfe to be Antichrist Obey him then Spaine and hold him for Chists vicar Paulus Iouius wrote the life of Leo 10. where among other thinges he saith these words Leo had also an euill report because it apeared that he affected vnhonestly some of his chamberlaines which were of the greatest nobles of all Italic hartely and freely played with them It is not Luther his enemie that saith this against him but his friend an Italian and Bishop Paulus Iouius Albeit that such a one was Leo as the historians of his time doe paint him yet so great is the flattery of D. Illescas that vpon his life ¶ 12. these words of him he saith After that he came to the Bishopdome his care was alwaies to eate litle of meats but meanely hot because they should not prouoke him to dishonesty Hither to Illescas In the time of this Leo Charles the Emprour reigned in Spaine Adrian 6. a Hollander was tutor to Don Charles the Emperonr and by his meanes came to be bishop of Tortosa Cardinall and ioyntly with Don Francisco Zimenes Archbishop of Toledo gouernour of Spaine being resident in Spaine after the death of Pope Leo was in his absence elected when he was Pope he promised to the princes by his letter to cause the court of Rome which had giuen occasion of commiting great wickednesse to be first of all reformed amended to the end that that which had giuen cause of the malady should giue also the beginning of the medicine health but all was but words For Adrian following the steps of his predecessor the Antichrist of Rome gaue himselfe to persecute Luther Ecolampadius other godly ministers of the word of God He changed not his name nor yet in customes life was so wicked as the other Popes for not being so wicked many say he was dispatched with poyson in the 1523. yeare dyed In whose time Don Charles the Emperour reigned in Spaine Clement 7. or as after some others 8. or 9. for the cause we haue spoken of in the life of the other Clement 7. Florentine was nephew or as others say the sonne of Pope Leo 10. Panuinus saith he was the sonne of Iulianus de medices and of another not certenly or manifestly his lawfull wife D. Illescas vpon the life of this Clement ¶ 5. saith It is a thing much to be noted that Clement hauing all his life time bene most liberall and a spender here with al affable and well spoken exceeding discreet and a great Negociator when he came to be Pope he was not knowne for he wholly changed his conditions and became most sparing and remisse So great is the change which dignities honours doe often make c. In the time of this Clement was great war betweene the Spaniards and French which this Clement did much kindle to his owne shame and Infamie And this by his vnconstancie for now
and lyars will the Lord abhorre Returne we now to Paul the third who approued sanctified aduaunced and extolled such monsters in nature Paule 3. hauing Poped 15 yeares in the 1549. yeare dyed In whose time Don Charles the Emperour raigned in Spaine Iulius 3. an Aretinian after great discord had among the Cardinals was chosen who for that by the ancient custome he might giue his hat where his listed gaue it to a youth called Innocent whom he had fauoured being Legate in Bologna so made him Cardinall and receiued him to his ancient office This pleased not the Cardinals And albeit one of them spake freely vnto the Pope saying what saw your holinesse in this young man for which he ought to be placed in so great dignitie The Pope answered what saw yee in me that ye elected me chiefe Bishop So that seeing it is the play of fortune which aduaunceth whom she pleaseth as your aduaunced me without desert of mine we aduaunce this young man and make him Cardinall and so he was This Innocent the Romans called Ganimedes and the Pope they called Iupiter The Fable of Iupiter and his Ganimedes is filthy and therefore will I passe it ouer When the same Iulius was merry he said of his Innocent that he was very laâ—ciuious c. O what a vicar of Iesus Christ ô what a holy father D. Illescas albeit the Popes parasite vttereth these wodes Iulius 3. gaue his hat with the tittle of Cardinall de monte to a youngling of 15 or 16 yeares whom he held with him and mostâ— strangely affected him He shortly made him rich Caesar holpe him with sufficient pensions and all this to gaine the fauour of the chiefe Bishop that the Councell should eftsoones returne and be holden in Trent hitherto Illescas vpon the life of Iulius 3. Iulius was a great blasphemer very filthie in his wordes and much more filthie in his deedes the same blasphemyes he vsed that the desperate souldiers and horsekeepers are accustomed to vse which for that it is so much against the maiestie of that good God that with so great patience suffereth the blasphemy of him who boasteth to be his vicar calleth himself most holy father A sathanicall father I call him I omit to write them Swines flesh peacoks he greatly loued which flesh is euill for the gout therefore his Phisitions forbad them to be set on the table but notwithstanding he would haue them And when vpon a time they failed to set them on the table the Pope missing them demaunded where the porke was become And when the steward answered that the Phisitions had commanded not to set it on the table he cursed with his cursed mouth dispiting God with the same words which ruffians villaines in Italie blaspheme saying that they should bring him the porke Another time as he was eating they brought vnto him a peacocke which was vntouched and the Pope commanded they should reserue it for supper And when he saw not at supper that cold peacoke albeit he had hot peacokes he was terribly enraged blasphemed as he was wont A certaine Cardinal which supped then with him said Let not your Holinesse be so angry for a thing of so small importance whom Iulius answered If God would be so angry for an apple that he cast our first pareÌ„ts out of Paridice why shall it not be lawful for me that am his vicar to be angry for a peacocke seeing a peacocke is a thing of greater importance then an apple If this be not to profane the scripture what shal be So wicked was Iohn of the house of Florence Archbishop of Beneuent Deane of the Chamber Apostolike and this Iulius his Nuncio in Venice that he compiled a booke in prayse of the wicked sinne which booke was printed at Venice in the house of Troyano Nauo Behold if the abhominations of the Ammorits be come to the height Awake Lord remember and iudge thine owne cause behold for thy Churches sake that swine doe destroy her Qual Abad Aizen tal Monazillo such Abbot say they such nouice An abhominable Sodomite was Pope Iulius an abhominable Sodomite was his Nuncie which sat to Iudge the cause of Christians Open thine eyes O Spaine Vpon the money made by Iulius he put this circumscription Gens quae non seruierit tibi peribit The people that will not serue thee shall perish Wherein Iulius 3. appeareth to be another Nabuchadnezzer K. of Babilon of whom these words are spoken Ier. 27. 8. In the 1555. yeare he died In whose time the Emperour Don Charles reigned in Spaine Marcellus 2. a Tuscan changed not his name who being meanely learned in humanitie was made maister of Grammer and afterwards Paul 3. made him tutor of Alexander his grandchild whom he had made Cardinall being a youth of 12 yeares old What a pillar of the Church was this Thus by little and little came Marcellus to be Cardinal afterwards to be Pope He was one of the three Legats whom Paul 3. sent to the CouÌ„cell of Trent This man as he whom the Pope most trusted the Pope commaunded that nothing in the Councell shoud be suffered to be spoken which might any way preiudice the Maiestie of the seat Appostolique that all those which any such thing attempted should be expulsed the Councell and when Iacobus Nachiantes Bishop of Clodia Fossa said that he could not approue the decree which said That traditions ought to be receiued and kept with the same Godly affection and reuerence as the Gospell which was written This Marcellus was the cause that the said Bishop was expulsed the Councell and when Gulihelmus venetus a Dominican Friar said in the CouÌ„cel that the Councel of Constance was aboue the Pope This Marcellus sent for him and most sharply reproued him and when the Friar answered that experience shewed the Councell to haue bene aboue the Pope sith it desposed him Marcellus answered it is not so For that the Pope willingly depriued himselfe said moreouer that this he could proue by a bul of lead and so commanded him to depart the Councell Petrus Paulus vergerius Bishop of lustinople was at this time come to the Councell some held this man suspected in doctrin For that he had bene often the Popes Legate in Almaine The other two Cardinals Legats of the Pope Poole monte the Cardinall of Trent himselfe and Pachecus would haue permitted the fore named Vergerius to haue entred the couÌ„cel this lest in should be said the Councell was not free if they chased away Vergerius a man well knowne in Germany But Marcellus the Popes third Legate neuer stayed vntill hee saw him forth of the Councell Many Bishopes hearing that the purpose was to expulse Vergerius The Councell agreed to write to the Pope that in no wise he should suffer such a thing to be done because many would say the Councell was not free
spripture The same God which of old made Saint Paule to speake the same made Valer also to speake And as Paule was holden for a Preacher of Nouelties and foolish for such another was Valer held also The newe Pharesies seeing themselues thus handled demaunded whence he had such wisedome and knowledge of holy thinges whence being a secular man not hauing studied nor giuing himselfe to vertue but so euill spent his youth in vanities proceeded his bouldnesse so vnreuerently to handle the ecclesiasticall persons which be pillars of the Church By what authoritie demaunded they did hee this Who had sent him What signe had he of his callings The selfe same demaundes made the old Pharesies to Iesus Christ and his Apostles when they could not deny their villanies nor well be silent when he shewed them their wickednesse Behold how the old Pharesies and the new be all one and the sonnes of the deuill To these demaundes excellently and with great constancy answered Valer This knowledge of holy thinges he had obteyned said he not of his owne stincking pudles but of the spirit of God which maketh flowing riuers of wisedome runne from the harts of those which truly beleeue in Christ He told them that God and the cause he had in hand gaue him courage and bouldnesse that the spirit of God was not tyed to any estate how ecclesiastical soeuer the ecclesiasticall state especially of any other being the most corrupted and neerest to destruction That the spirit of God in old time made of secular vnlearned and fishermen Apostles that they might clerely shew the blindnesse ignorance of all the Synagogue so well instructed in the law and call by their preaching the That Christ had sent him That in the name and authoritie of Christ he did that he did But the adulterous generation said he which hath long time degenerate from the true race of the sons of God seeing that darknesse to be much manifested by the light and reshining of the sunne demaundeth a signe In conclusion for so liberall and constantly speaking was he called before the Inquicisitors valiantly did Valer dispute of the true Church of Christ her markes and signes of the Iustification of man and other like chiefe points of Christian religion the knowledge whereof Valer had obteyned without any ministery or humane helpe but by the pure and wonderfull reuelation of God His foolishnesse as the Inquisitors called it did then excuse him and so first confiscating all that hee had they sent him away To take away his goods pleasant meanes to reduce a mad man to his sence Valer notwithstanding this losse of goods ceased not to prosecute what he had begun A few yeares after for the selfe same cause they called him againe and yet supposing that he was a foole indeede they burned him not but made him to recant or deny not in open audience but to himselfe alone in the great Church betweene the two quiers For all his foolishnesse they condemned him to continuall wearing of a great Saint Benito or diuels coate and to perpetuall prison From this perpetuall prison euery Lords day they carried him with many other penitents to heare masse and sermons in the Church of Saint Sauiour where set to heare the Sermon albeit a prisoner he oft times rose vp before all the people and when he preached false Doctrine gaine said the preacher But the Inquisitors as then not so wicked with conceit of his folly excused him Much did it also auaile Valer to haue bene an old Christian and not descended of the Iewish or Morish race The Inquisitors in the end drew him from this perpetuall prison in Seuill and sent him to a monasterie in Saint Lucas called of our Lady of Barrameda where being 50 yeares old and vpwardes he died By the meanes of this Valer many that heard and conferred with him had knowledge of the true religion chiefly that famous and good Doctor Egidius Cannon preacher in the great Church of Seuill that so much good did in Seuill both with his good good life and Doctrine I haue long dwelled vpon discourse of this Historie of Valer but pardon me for this Valer was the first that openly and with great constance discouered the darkenesse in our time in Seuill After this persecution of Rodrigo de Valer many others were persecuted some of whom escaped as Doctor Iohn Perez who came to Geneua where he imprinted the new Teament other bookes in the Spanish tongue others aboade there stil of whom many perseuered And others of the Inquicitions conceiued such feare that they denyed the truth and which is worse were persecutors therof as was doctor Herman Rodriguez maister Garci Arias whom commonly they called maister White But God shewed mercy vpon White and of a woulfe made him a lamb so was he with great constancie burned This White when God had made him truly White said freely vnto the Inquisitors whē they examined him in the audience that they were fitter to follow a droue of asses then to sit and Iudge matters of faith which they nothing vnderstood In the 1555. yeare seuen persons men and women went out of Seuill and came to Geneua where they made their aboad In the 1557. yeare happened maruelous things in Seuill worthy of perpetuall memorie namely that in a monasterie called S. Isidor the most famous and rich in all Seuil the busines of true religion went so so plainely forward that vnable with good conscience there to stay longer 12 of the Friars in short time departed some one way and some another al which within a yeare came to Geneua whither at their departure they determined to goe None of thē there was that passed not great dangers perils but from all these perils God did free them with a mighty hand brought them to Geneua Thees that abode in the monasterie for it is to be noted that almost al those of the monasterie albeit they went in woulues habits had knowledge of Christiā religion suffered great persecution taken they were tormented disgraced very hardly cruelly intreated and in the end many of them burned and in many yeares almost was there no act of Inquisition in Seuill in which there went not more or lesse out of this monasterie Among those that went out and came to Geneua was the Prior vicar procurator of S. Isidor with thē the Prior of the Vale of Ecija of the same order And God with his mightie arme did not only deliuer these 12 from the cruel grype es the Inquisitors before the great persecution began in Seuill but afterwards also in the time of the great persecution deliuered other 6 or 7 from the same monasterie making foolish and of no worth nor effect all the stratagems Councels subtelties craftes deceits of the Inquisitors that sought but could not find them for who shall destroy whom God wil preserue In the same yeare
the 170. yeare the Gentiles forced with tormentes the seruants of the Christians to say of their maisters many abhominations and among others that they eate their owne children Celsus the Gentile Philosopher accused the Christians for disloyall and traytors and said that their religion they had taken from the Barbarians and Iewes Origen defended the Christians with 8 bookes which he wrote against this Celsus In the time of S. Augustine were great calamities and wars the which Symachus an orator and many other imputed to the Christians saying that whiles the Roman Empire adored their Gods it prospered The like Historie reciteth Ieremy that when they worshiped the Queene of heauen then all thinges prospered Read the bookes intituled of the citie of God where Saint Augustine wrote against this slaunder in defence of the Christians In the time of the glorious martyr Saint Ciprian who many yeares liued before S. Augustine there was a Proconsull in Africa called Demetrianus a great enemy of the Christians he and others such like with him said that all the wars famine and pestilence wherewith the world was then afflicted ought to be imputed to the Christians because they did not worship the Gods Against this Demetrianus wrote S. Cipriā saying that not the Christians but the Gentiles were the cause of these calamities because vnwilling to worship the true God they adored false Gods and afflicted the Christians with so great and so vniust persecutions not that they should confesse God but that they should denie him The weakenesse of their Gods he shewed them seeing they could not defend themselues c. Al this in our time fully passeth For the selfe same causes are we at this day slaundered and vniustly to the most cruell and shamfull kind of death condemned The same state of the Church is now as it was in the time of Saint Ciprian and of the other Saintes by vs named And as they were defended against the Gentiles So we against the Antichristians doe now make our defence We tell them that God sendeth in our dayes so many calamities of wars famine and pestilence because they haue profaned the diuine worship and in the place of the creator they honour the creatures They worship not God as he hath commaunded in spirit and truth but after the doctrines and commaundements of men and God alone doe they not worship but also the Saints their Images and pictures They adore not will they tell me the Images but that which they represent albeit their second Nicen Councell not the first which is holy and good commaundeth Images with the same adoration to be worshiped as that which they represent as in the beginning of this Treatise we haue declared Also our aduersaries seing themselues in some affliction inuocate the saints of Paradise without any commandement or example in al the holy scripture so to do where they ought to inuocate none but God alone Also wheras ther is but one only mediator Intercessor aduocate betwixt God mā which is Christ Iesus as the Apostle calleth him they not contented with the only Intercessiō of Christ for were they cōtented Christ is sufficient for thē many mediators do they inuent each one maketh choice of one for himself Also they take away ad to the law of God he which so doth being cursed of God so take they away the 2. cōmandement against Images to fil vp the number of ten of the tenth doe they make two commandements Also we read in holy scripture that the Lord in his catholike church did institute but two sacraments baptisme the holy supper they haue made 7. They also say that neither the Pope nor Coūcel nor the Inquisition can erre hence commeth it that they giue so much credit to the decrees constitutions of the Popes Councels Inquisitors as if they were the word of God it selfe yet would God they gaue not more credit to them then to the word of God Very common are ignorance supersticion Idolatrie in the Romane Church This is the height of al their wickednesse that with fire bloud doe they persecute the true catholique Christiās because so instructed gouerned by the word of God they worship one only God in spirit truth because they hold Iesus Christ for the only and alone mediator and because they ad not nor ought diminish from the law of God nor his worde When our aduersaries shal then say that we trouble the world with our new doctrine we will make them the same answere that Elias inspired with the diuine spirit freely made vnto K. Achab. Art thou he saith Achab which troublest Israell Elias answered Not I but it is thou thy fathers house that trouble Israell because ye haue forsaken the commandements of the Lord and followed Baall yee then will we say to our aduersaries are they that haue forsaken the commandements of Christ haue followed the traditiōs of Antichrist your father the Pope ye are they which worship not nor honour God but ye worship and honor Images against the expresse cōmandemēt of God Exod. 20. Deut. 5. with many other places Let our aduersaries at last vnderstand these others such like to be the cause why God afflicteth the world with so great wars famine pestilence diuers other calamities within our dayes we haue yet doe suffer His maiestie for his infinit mercy for his Christs sake opē their eyes that they may consider the works of God so may soften not harden their harts as did Pharo who by the more God did afflict him for his rebellion contempt by so much the more was he hardened against God the people of God But leauing ancient histories come we to that which in our dayes happened let vs come to our countrie of Spaine God by his iust iudgement hath many times in the space of 40 yeares afflicted Spaine with wars famine pestilence and other calamaties which began a little after that great persecution against the faithfull and catholique Christians This persecution beginning in Seuill hath stretched almost throughout all Spaine against the noble learned people as after we wil declare The priests of Baall in their pulpits cōfessiōs discourses do affirme all this of right to be imputed vnto those whom they cal Lutheran heretiques The common people which neither know nor other thing beleeue but that which these Baalamites tell them cōmand thē to beleeue doe beleiue it so to be For confirmation of my sayings I wil here recite that which D. Illescas cap. 31. vpon the life of Pius 4. saith His wordes be these In the 1561. yeare on Saint Mathewes day the 21 of September being the Saboth two howers before day in the morning aftre was kindled in the streete called Costanilla of Valladolid so terrible and fearefull that without hope of remedy in the 30. howers space it ruined aboue 400. of the most
principal rich houses of that famous citie So wonderfull almost neuer seene was this calamitie that it was taken for a thing myraculous For the neighbour houses and neere adioyning to those that burned were not onely burned but the fire in a moment did leape from one streete to another farre of distant and beginning at the top of the house brought the whole presently with it to the earth Many marchandizes much wheat wine and other thinges which by reason of the great furie and fiercenesse of the fire could not be put in safe keepeing were lost The whole Citie was greatly troubled because none could know how or by whom the fire was kindled And all feared that it was some coniuration of the Lutherans And a little lower There is made euery yeare vpon Saint Mathewes day a most solemne procession to intreat our Lord to be pleased by the meanes of his holy Apostle to deliuer the citie from the like plague tribulatiō Thus far D. Illescas To the selfe same purpose wil I here also recount a very pleasant tale which I read in a historie I my selfe also heard D. Bourne who in Queene Maries time was bishop of Bathe in England tell the same The historie is this In the time of K. Henry 8. one Malary maister of Arte of the vniuersity of Cambridge was for profession of the Gospel of Iesus Christ condemned to doe publique penance in the Church of S. Mary in the vniuersitie of Oxford The penance was that he should publiquely recant and beare vpon his backe a faggot for the terrour of the studentes of that vniuersitie And for the more solempnitie of this recantation D. Smith diuinitie reader preached The principall and only matter which he handled in his sermon was concerning the Sacramēt of the altar The Doctor for more confirmation and credit of that he had to say in his sermon caused their holy and catholique peace of White bread which they call the Sacrament of the altar to be hanged in the pulpit before him To this spectacle ran very much people aswell students as citizens which heard the sermon with great attention hardly had the doctor halfe finished his sermon when a voyce of one that cried in the streete Fire fire was suddenly heard in the Church The cause of the crie was for that one comming along the streete espied a chimnie on fire and after the English vse in such cases he cried through the strete Fire fire Whē they within the Church nere to the doore heard fire fire they also began to say fire fire And so frō mouth to mouth went fire fire euen to the doctors the preacher himselfe who at the hearing of fire fire remayned astonished with the great feare he conceiued and marueyling what it might be began to lift vp his eyes and behold on all sides the roofe and walles of the Church His auditorie seeing him looke vp began with a loud voyce to crie Fire fire some demaunded of other some where see yee the fire To this demaunde one answered In the Church◠Hardly had the other answered In the Church when all in a moment began to crie out The Church burneth the heretiques haue set the Church on fire And albeit no man sawe any fire all notwithstanding together cryed Fire fire and each one supposed that was truth which he heard Then feared they indeede such was the concourse and tumult in the Church that cannot with wordes be expressed such as haue found themselues in the like cases haue experience thereof This strong Imagination of fire possessing their heades all whatsoeuer they saw or heard confirmed and increased in them the imagination conceiued The principall cause that augmented this suspition was to see him with his faggot whom they held for an heretique This made them beleue that al the other heretiques had ioyntly conspired with him to set fire on the Church The great dust which with the vnquietnes concourse tumult of the people was raised in the Church did augment in thē also this suspitiō This dust then seemed to be smoke of the fire which they had imagined This concourse was also the cause that many came to their deathes for the small ribs bones were broken whereof many died The people flocked to the doores of the Church but so great was the throng presse that none could go out of the Church In the end seeing no remedie they begā to crie out against the cōspiracie of the heretikes which had kindled the fire to burne thē aliue It was a world to see those great rabbines those great doctors with their long scarlet robes doctorall habits runne from one side to another blowing panting and sweating seeking some corners where to hide themselues In all this cōpany was there none more quiet then the poore penitent heretique who throwing from him the faggot it fell vpon the head of a Friar that was next him so abode quiet expecting what God would doe with him Among thē al was there none more feareful nor more cried out for feare then Smith the preacher who with the first began to crie from the pulpit saying These be the webs crafts of the heretiques against me Lord haue mercie vpō me Lord haue mercy vpō me But his breaddē God which he called Lord was hanged as we haue said neere vnto him could not quiet him Nought in this garboile more caused thē to feare then when the lead was to begin to melt for ye must know that many Churches in England are couered with lead many of thē began now to affirme that the molten lead fell vpon thē Then were they amased many of them that had authoritie cōmand seeing that neither by force regard of their learning nor authoritie they could ought preuaile they chāged their purpose began to vse very gentle words promising to them they would pull them from that daunger albeit by the eares a good reward There was a man that gaue 20 pound euery pound is forty Spanish ryals an other promised his garment others other like thinges They that might placed thēselues in the hollownes betweene pillar pillar that the lead which they said was moltē should not fal vpō thē A maister of the Colledge ther was which vnnailed a table couered therwith his head shoulders that the lead should worke him no anoyance There was a mā albeit very grosse who seeing there was no meanes to goe out of the Church needs would be breaking of the glasse to go out by the pane of a window but half of his body being forth he stuck fast in the grate so that he was not maister of himselfe nor could he go forward nor backward The poore paunched monke saw his danger doubled for if the fire or moulten lead should fal without that part then that was without the window would be in danger if it fell within the Church the part then within was in
the same danger To another monke another chaūce hapned And this it was A certaine boy seeing that by reason of the great presse and multitude of people he could not goe forth clymed as he could vpon their shoulders and heades and so came and placed himselfe on the top of the Church dore where he aboade not able to passe further Thus resting vpon the height of the dore he espied by chaunce among those that came crawling vpon the heades of others a monke comming towards him who bare at his backe a great and large cowle the boy seing good occasion offered let it not slip and so when the monke was neare vnto him he let fall himselfe from the height of the dore and very wittily put himselfe into the monkes cowle supposing if the monke escaped that he also with him as it hapned should goe out of the Church In conclusion the monke crawling vpon the heades of others at last escaped carrying the boy at his backe that was placed in the cowle for some time perceiued not any weight or burthen vpon him In the end within a while the monke came somewhat to himselfe felt his cowle more weightie then wontedly it was and hearing the voyce of one that spake in his cowle then began he afresh to feare more thē before when he was thronged among the people supposing that verely that the euill spirit which had fired the Church was placed in his cowle then presently began he to coniure the spirit saying In the name of God and of all the Saintes I commaund thee to tell me whom thou arte that hanges at my backe To whom the boy answered I am Beltrams boy for so was his maister called But I coniure thee said the monke in the name of the indiuisible Trintie that thou wicked spirit tell me who thou art whence thou comest and that thou depart hence To whom the youth answered I am Beltrams boy I beseech you sir let let me goe and so speaking assayed to goe out of the cowle which with the weight and the boyes endeuour to goe out began to rend vpon the shoulders of the monke When the monke well vnderstood the matter he drew the boy out of the cowle The boy seeing himselfe out of daunger tooke him to his heeles and ranne with what speede he could In the meane time whiles this passed they that were with out the Church beholding on all sides and seeing there was no cause of feare marueyled to see them in such a straight and made signes showes to them in the Church to be quiet and told them abroad there was no cause of feare But for asmuch as they that were in the Church could not for the great noyse and rushing within heare that which was told them the signes which they made they interprete to the worst sence as though all without the Church had with liuely flames burned and that for the distilling downe of the molten lead and for that it fell in many places they should abide within the Church and not aduenture to goe forth So that signes and voyces much increased the feare For the space of some howers indured this confusion The day following and that whole weeke also were many billets fixed one the Church dore one said If any haue foūd a payer of shooes lately lost in the Church of Saint Mary another said if any haue found a garment In another it was prayed that a hat should be restored In another a girdle with a purse and mony which was lost In another was demanded a little ring other such like thinges for there was no one person almost in the Church which had not lost or forgotten some thing As touching the poore penitent him they commaunded that for asmuch as he had not by reason of this tumult done his pennance as was meete he should doe it the day following in the Church of Saint Frideswid and so he did it These Histories of the fire of Rome of the fire of Vallodalid and the imaginarie fire of Oxford doe very wel confirme that which wee haue said that the poore Chistians haue at all times bene slaundered and vniustly condemned Therefore are they called sheepe appointed to the slaughter God who is Iust will not leaue without punishment such monstrous lies such false testimonies and such fierce cruelties his day albeit he slacke will come vpon the Inquisitors For the bloud of the Iust holy faithfull and catholique Christians by them shed cryeth vnto God as did the bloud of Abell saying How long Lord holy and true wilt thou slacke to Iudge and reuenge our bloud on those that dwell vpon the earth To whom it was answered that they should rest yet a while vntill their fellow seruantes were fulfilled and their brethren which were also to be slaine with them This day let vs then expecte with pacience God one day shew mercie to Seuil that this monasterie of Saint Isodor be conuerted to an vniuersitie where diuinitie may be chiefly professed The rents of this monasterie which be great suffise with ouer plus to maintaine the said vniuersitie and the ruyned house of Isabella de Vaena may be conuerted to a publique Church where the word of God may be preached and the Sacraments without adding or diminishing according to the institution of Iesus Christ administred So great and greater things then these hath the Lord in our time brought to passe It shall not be from our purpose to recite that which D. Illescas reporteth to haue happened in Spaine in the time of this Paule 4. touching the great nomber of Spaniards of the religion which he calleth Lutheranes that was discouered His words be these In the former yeares were Lutheran heretiques accustomed to be taken burned whatsoeuer in Spaine but al those that they punished were straungers as Dutchmen Fleminges or Englishmen c. And of those which came from these kingdomes And a little lower vile people and of most wicked race afore times did wontedly goe out to the Scaffoldes and to weare the Sarbenitos in the Churches but in these latter yeares haue we seene the prisons scaffolds and fires also furnished with famous people And which is more to be moaned of illustrious persons also and of such as to the eie of the world in learning and life were farre before others c. And somewhat lower The businesse came to termes that they practised now among themselues a most fearefull conspiracie such as had it not happened so soone to be discouered as it was afterwardes vnderstood al Spaine had run in great hazard to be lost c. And a lttle lower In Valladolid D. Caçalla his fiue brothers and mother with most great secrecie singular diligence were taken In Toro was taken Herrezuelus many other in Cemora in Pedrosa many men women Nunnes maried women and damsels famous and of great qualitie c. Among those that were burned were also certaine Nunnes very young and
tyranny subiected his companions to obey him Also he complaineth that the prophane Sismatikes withdrew themselues to the Bishop of Rome There was none saith he that would doe this but certaine lost and desperate men making men beleeue that the Bishops of Affrike had lesse authoritie thē he of Rome S. Ierome to this selfe same purpose saith Wheresoeuer a Bishop shal be be it in Rome or in Egubium be it in Constantinople or in Regium one selfe same dignity he hath and one selfsame priesthood riches nor pouertie either make him superiour or inferior And so the ancient Doctors as Ireneus Tertullian Hillarius Cyprian c. when they wrote to the Bishop of Rome they gaue him not the glorious titles which the flatterers of our times now giue him Most holy father most blessed Pope chiefe Bishop our Lord God vpon earth they called him brother fellow Bishop companion in office other such like titles which sauored of loue Christian simplicitie not of flattery pride wherewith the miserable Popes are puffed vp rest much contēted And if it seemed to those Fathers that the Bishop of Rome countermāded or in any thing faulted seeing he was a man either in life or doctrine they aduised him if need so required reproued him Thus not once by chance but many times that very sharply did Cyprian handle Stephen Bishop of Rome Ireneus reproued Victor for that through an impudent ambition he excōmunicated the Churches of Asia for the differēce in celebration of Easter Who should now dare to do this albeit the Pope were another Iohn 8. 12. 13. 14. 23. or 24. or were he another Boniface 8. another Syluester 2. another Gregory 7. another Alexander 6 Paule 3. 4. or Pius the fift By diuine law all Bishops are equall and so as brothers are to aduise and correct one another If any difference there bee of Maioritie or Minoritie by positiue lawe it commeth as the Cannonists themselues when the truth doth inforce thē confesse saying Quod omnis maioritas minoritas etiam Papatus est de iure positiuo That all maioritie and minoritie yea the verie Popedome it selfe is by the positiue law as much to say that men haue made it And yet go I further The maiority say I which the Pope hath vsurped ouer all the Churches being against the Lambe of the Apocalyps and against his Saints is not by diuine nor yet humane law I say it is de iure diabolico of the diuell that it is an infernall tyranny against which all the world is to rise vp as against a fire and generall burning which toucheth euery particular person Note here that which in the life of Iohn 24. we haue noted where the Pope by a decree of the Councell of Constance and Basile is proued to be subiect to the Councell and that more ouer which there we haue said Not bluntly and foolishly as they say but with good reason me seemeth do I say this as by the sayings of the Fathers and decrees of ancient Councels we haue sufficiently proued the same And had there bene none to haue said it yet their proper life and doctrine which we haue in the beginning mentioned are most euident testimonies to confirme our sayings By their liues may each one see if of wilfull ignorance he become not blockish foolish and blind the Popes which haue bin bishops of Rome from Boniface the third who was a creature of Phocas the Emperour an adulterer murderer and tyrant vntil Clement 8. or 10. which now tyrannizeth to haue almost bene al noted read their histories of terrible enormious and wicked vices and sinnes Witches they haue bene murtherers ill beloued tumultuous troublers of common wealths and kingdomes seditious reuengefull brothellers simonists sodomites periured incestuous Nigromancers sacrilegious wicked without God without religion They then being such we conclude them not to be successors of Peter but of Iudas not to be vicars of Christ but of the Diuell and verie Antichrist But now for more confirmation of that which is said we will alleage certaine passages of holy Scripture which the Papists themselue vnderstand and interpret of Antichrist we will consider if that which the Scripture saith Antichrist shall do and say the Pope doth and saith And seeing that the doctrine and life of the Pope is the very same which the scripture doth say shal be that of Antichrist by the Papists owne confession will we conclude the Pope to be Antichrist The first passage is taken out of Daniel the 11. chapter which saith And the king shall doe what he list By king aswell in this place as chapter 8. 23. and 24. is ment Antiochus a great persecutor of the people of God This Antiochus was a figure of Antichrist which is the Pope Antiochus burned the Bible aduanced his God Mauzim forbad marriage made Idols of gold and siluer adorned them with rich ornaments c. and the same doth the Pope Daniell proceedeth He shall exalt and magnifie himselfe against all that is God and shall speake marueylous thinges against the God of Gods and shall prosper till the wrath be accomplished for the determination is made Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers nor the desires of women nor care for any God for he shal magnifie himselfe against all c. Note here in Daniel 3. notable markes which saith he Antichrist shall haue In whomsoeuer then we shall see them hold we him for Antichrist The 1. is that he shall not acknowledge the God of his fathers 2. is that he shall not regard the loue of women 3. nor care for any God The cause of all this saith he is the excessiue pride The Pope being of the race of Christians which haue worshipped the true God father of our Lord Iesus Christ hath brought into the Church of God where he holdeth his seat Idolatrie and superstition commaunding men in afflictiō calamitie to inuocate another others then God contrary to the expresse cōmandemēt of God Thou shalt haue no other Gods before me and contrary to that which he commaundeth by his Prophet Call vpon me in the day of trouble There is no commaundement of God either in the old or new Testament that commaundeth vs to inuocate any other but God alone Neither is there any example of Patriarke Prophet or Apostle which hath called vpon any saue God alone For how shall they call vpon him in whom they haue not beleeued as saith Saint Paule In one onely God we beleeue vpon him onely let vs call This new Doctrine hath the Pope brought into the Church to call vpon others then God alone Therefore is he Antichrist Who hath forbidden Christians to reade the law of the Lord the bookes of the Prophets Apostles and Euangelists The Pope Who burneth these holy bookes and those that for instruction of their conscience read them The Pope Who hath taken vppon him authoritie
our cause which is his because it is the vndeceiueable truth which his maiesty in his holy Scripture hath reuealed Concerning the lies false doctrine of the authority of the Pope the holines of the Masse which our aduersaries maintaine persecuting with fire bloud all those that beleeue it not nor worship it therefore trouble they the world as at this day we see it troubled We assuredly know that it shall perish According to that which the Lord saith Euery plant which my heauenly father hath not planted shal be plucked vp by the roote And we haue the axe which is the word of God put to the root of the two trees the Pope the masse to cut them downe I beseech the Lord our God Christian reader which hath giuen thee a desire and will to be informed to know the causes why we subiect not our selues to the Pope nor wil heare his Masse but rather detest and abhor the one the other that he would please to lighten thine vnderstanding that thou maist comprehend what in these two Treatises haue bin said confirmed not with the sayings of men but of God himselfe of his holy Scripture giue thee such a mind and strength that thou maist wholly depart out from this wicked Babylon which is Rome deliuer thee from all the enormities abominations horrible superstitions and detestable idolatries which Rome hath inuented among which the principal is the Masse These idolatries without doubt be the chiefe cause original and fountaine of all miseries calamities and warres where with they that are called Christians be at this day afflicted For if God in the primitiue Church plagued with infirmities death the Corinthians for the abuses which they had brought into the holy supper the Apostle S. Paul yet liuing which he reporteth in his first epistle that he sent them what shal we say this selfe same Lord wil now do when the malice impiety superstition idolatry haue so greatly increased that the holy supper of the Lord which he instituted and commanded vs in remembrance of him to clebrate haue they wholy conuerted into the prophane Masse of the Pope Truly the abuses of the Corinthes as touching the Supper had no agreement by far with the erronious intollerable abuses which those that are called Christians commit at this day in their Masse And notwithstāding all this Saint Paul speaking to the Corinthians saith vnto thē For which cause many ef you are infirmed and weake many sleepe he wold haue sayd are dead We are not then to maruel if God strong iealous of his honour do chasten at this day such an idolatry as is that which in the Masse is committed with such great warres famine pestilence and which is worse and lesse perceiued a reprobate sense And no other mean there is Christian reader to obtaine pardon for these superstitions passed idolatries to get and keepe the grace of God of whom thou oughtest not only to expect all prosperity goodnesse but to endeuour by all possible meanes to serue him honour him applying thy selfe with all thine heart to all that which pleaseth him which is that which his Maiestie hath ordained and instituted in his holy word flying contrariwise all whatsoeuer may displease offend him and especially all kinds of idolatrie which he more detesteth abhorreth then all other sinnes abhominations and as such doth punish it as in the beginning of the first Treatise we haue declared Such is the Masse fly then from it follow the holy institution which Iesus Christ our king prophet and onely high Priest ordained This is the holy Supper as the Euangelists and S. Paul do shew Do this thē which Iesus Christ ordained commanded vs to doe in remembrance of him as by the mercy of God with all simplicity without all superstition or idolatrie is celebrated in our reformed Church and thou shalt walke aright All they that do otherwise erre God giue thee grace to walk aright that thou be not with this world coondemned And this do he for the vertue merit of the sacrifice with our high and only Priest Christ one onely time offered vnto him To whom who liueth and reigneth with the Father and the holy Spirit be euerlasting glorie and perpetuall power Amen A SWARME OF FALSE MIRAcles and Illusions of the diuell wherewith Maria de la visitacion Prioresse de la Anuntiada of Lisbon deceiued very manie and how she was discouered and condemned Anno. 1588. FOr confirmation of that which in these two Treatises so often I haue said that the Papists confirme their religion with false miracles inuēted by their ecclesiasticall persons or wrought by the Art of the diuell I will here set downe a most true historie deliuered in two popish bookes which by the prouidēce of God came to my hands Out of which with all faithfulnesse as he that must appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ giue an account not only of that hee hath done and said but of that also which he hath thought I haue taken that which I will deliuer Hee that will not beleeue me let him reade the two bookes from whence I haue taken that which I say I name the Authours of these bookes the Printers the yeare and place where they were imprinted as a litle after you shall see Our Aduersaries I wot well would haue buried all these thinges for they open a dore to men to seeke to vnderstand and the truth And that they may vnderstand it I haue put it in writing The Lord which knoweth my desire blesse my trauaile Our Aduersaries hauing no sound proofe to confirme their new articles of faith which they haue made as in very truth there is none haue confirmed them with dreames with fained apparitions and visions of Phantasmes of spirits and of soules come as they say from another world Now I hauing met with a new great and thicke swarme of such things which I found in a Portugal hiue me seemed I should do well by a new familiar and domesticall example which be they that most moue and that none can denie seeing it happened in our countrey of Spaine in the yeare 1588 truly to manifest the same that all the world and chiefly my countrimen the Spaniards for whom I haue taken this paine may hasten to know them and knowing them may abhorre them so may turne to the holy catholike faith true religion of Iesus Christ which is written in holy Scripture This hiue is Maria de la Visitacion Prioresse of the Monastery de la Anunciada in Lisbon who was held so certainly for holy whose hypocrisie false miracles were discouered publikely condemned as we shall after see I hearing much talke of the great holinesse admirable life and maruellous miracles of this womā whom for excellency they called The holy Nunne aduised my countrimen the Spaniards in a booke which I published in the
of our Saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. No other willeth God for all his benefites but that we be thankfull and call vpon his name Thus shall the number of those whom God hath elected to life eternall encrease and so the kingdome of sinne death the diuell which is the kingdome of lies of false new doctrine confirmed with dreames false miracles and illusions of the diuell shal be destroied and that of grace life and of Christ which is the kingdome of truth the true and old doctrin confirmed with the word of God shal abide for euer To whom which is one God Father Sonne and holy Spirit who liueth and raigneth be perpetuall honâ—â— and glory Amen An Addition I In the moneth of Aprill 1588. Philip the second of that name king of Spaine pretending to send his inuincible fleet for the Conquest of England made choise by the aduise of the Prioresse of the monastery of the Anunciada whose name was Mary of the Visitacion as most worthie for her holinesse to blesse his Standard royall the which she did with vsing diuers other câ—remonies in the deliuery thereof to the Duke of Medina Sedonia who was appointed chiefe Generall she did pronounce openlie good successe and victory to the Duke in saying he should return a victorious Prince This standard was carried in procession by Don Francisco de Cordoua who was a Spaniard the tallest Gentl. that could be found he being on horse backe to the end it might be the better seen at the solemnzing wherof there was such a number of people assembled that diuers of them perished with the throng There was present the Archduke Albertus which then was Cardinall and Gouernor of the kingdom of Portugal the Popes Nuncio the Archbishop who was head inquisitor with diuers other Nobles Prelates Gentlemen This solemnization dured so long that Albertus fainted with fasting and this holy Nunne to comfort him caused a messe of the broth which was for her owne diet to be brought presenting it to him which he accepted most willingly coÌ„ming from the handes of so holy a Nun as then she was holden to be but about the beginning of DeceÌ„ber next after all her holines false miracles and great dissimulations was then found out and she condemned punished for the same according as is râ—bersed in this booke About the end of this yeare 1588 that this holy Nun was discouered in Lisbon there was also discouered in Seuil one father â—yon who was counted to be a most deuour and religious man but by his owne fellowes of his profession he was discouered to be a great hypocrite and a most vicious 〈◊〉 giuen to carnall lustes and for this and diuers other causes he was committed to the prison which is in the Cardinals house of 〈◊〉 A Table wherein by certaine Antitheses is declared the difference and contrarietie which is betweene the ancient doctrine of God contained in the holy scripture and taught in the reformed Churches and the new doctrine of men â—aught and maintained in the Roman or Popish Church Ierem. 6. 16. Thus saith the Lord stand in the wayes and behold and aske for the old way which is the good way and walke therein ye shall find rest for your soules THe ancient doctrine of God doth teach that the holy Scripture being the word of God diuinely inspired hath most sufficient authority of it selfe containeth all necessary doctrin to pietie and our saluation as S. Paul clearly teacheth 2. Tim. 3. 15. 16. 17. The new doctrin of meâ— teacheth that the holy Scripture although it be the word of God should haue no authority were it not for the approbation of the Church and that it is an vnperfect and maimed doctrine which containeth not doctrine sufficient to pietie nor our saluation but that this defect must be supplied by vnwritteÌ„ traditions Belar de verb. Deâ— noÌ„ scrip l. 4. The ancient doctrin of God doth teach that ignorance of the holy scriptures is the cause and mother of errors as Iesus Christ our Lord doth witnesse Mat 22. 19. saying to the Sadduces Ye erre because yee know not the Scriptures nor the power of God and therefore the duty of euerie faithfull Christian is to reade meditate and search the holy scripture as God commandeth his people Deut. 6. 7. chap. 12. 32. chap. 17. 19. Iosua 18. Esa 8. 20. And Christ our Lord in the new Testament Ioh. 5. 39. And as did the faithfull in the time of the Apostles Act 17. 11. 2 Tim. 3. 15. The new doctrin of men doth teach that ignorance is the mother of deuotion and that to keepe religion safe it is needful to forbid the lay or secular men the reading of the holy scriptures seeing it is the cause of many heresies Bellarm. de verbo Dei lib. 2 cap. 15 16. cens col f. 19. The ancient doctrin of God doth teach that many deceiuers and false Prophets are gone out into the world and that the faithfull therfore are to proue the spirits whether they be of God 1. Io. 4. 1. And that the holy scripture is the touch whereby this proofe and examination ought to be made Ioh. 5. 39. Act 17. 11. So that all doctrine contrary and repugnant to holy Scripture be it of Councels Fathers Doctors old or new and that as saith the Apostle of himselfe or of an Angel from heauen ought not to be receiued nor taught in the Christian Church Gal. 1. 8. 1. Tim. 1. 3. chap. 6. 3. 1. Pet. 4. 11. 2. Ioh. 10. The new doctrin of men doth teach that whosoeuer coÌ„tradict the Pope his decrees human traditions be false teachers that the Pope hath authority to iudge of all controuersies and of the true sense of holy Scriptures and that from his iudgment it is not lawfull to appeale Bellar. de verbo Dâ—â— interp lib. 3. cap. 3. c. The ancient doctrine of God doth teach that we ought to serue God alone which is the Creator and gouernour of all the world following the doctrin of Christ which saith Matt. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God him only shalt thou serue The new doctrine of men doth teach that we ought not to serue God alone but also the Saints that they hold them for patrons of kingdoms people cities societies and infirmities Bellarm. de Sanct. beat lib. 1. cap 12. Cens Col. fol. 230. The ancient doctrine of God doth teach that the lawful worship of God is to be founded vpon the holy Scripture that God will be serued according to his will and word in spirit and truth Ioh. 4. 24. and not after the opinion nor by the traditions nor customes of men as God by his prophet Eze. 20. 18. doth very expresly teach vs saying Walk not in the ordinances of your fathers nor obserue their lawes nor defile your selues with their idols I am the Lord your God Walke in mine ordinances and
their religioÌ„ One Pope doth that another Pope vndoeth The first Iubile Indulgences The Pope cannonizeth and vncaÌ„nonizeth Boniface stretched his pardons to purgatorie Anno 1304. Entered like a Foxe c. Benedict 11. Anno 1305. Poyson Clement 5. In the 1305. yere the Court of Rome passed into France there remained almost 74. yeers The Templars dissolued The Fraticellians Begardians and Begninians condemned Anno 1314. Poyson in the Sacrament wherewith the Emperor dieth The Dominicans and their monasteries destroyed and the cause The Pope a Simonist A great vacatioÌ„ Iohn 23. au heretique cruel Iohn 23. elected himselfe The terrible crueltie of the Pope Caragoca an Archbishoppricke The knights of the order of Christ in Portugal Note why the Pope coÌ„maunded men to be burned The Pope erreth in faith touching the estate of soules departed The heresie of the Pope confuted Luke 24. 46. True happines consisteth in seeing of God and enioying his presence Pope Iohn 23. disalowed Images The Grecians answere to the Pope is well to be noted Nothing is giuen by the Pope to the Emperour The ancient custome of Pope choosing renewed Nicholas 5. Sisme 28. Anno 1335. The Pope recanted Benedict 12. The Emperor is Emperour without confirmation of the Pope The County Palatine and not the Pope gouernour of the Empire One Pope vndoth that another hath done The sister of Petrarca the Popes minion Anno 1342. Clement 6. The Pope a Tyrant The Pope causeth poison to to be giuen to the Emperour Iubile from 50 yeares to 50. Anno 1350. The Pope coÌ„mandeth the Angels The Pope speaketh blasphemy What thing a Bull is Anno 1352. Innocent 6. Don Gill Carillo of Albornoz The yeere began at the incarnation Anno 136â— Vrban 5. The institution of the Rose sent by the Pope The Archbishop of Colonia maried The heads of S. Peter and Paule lost and found Anno 137â— Poyson Gregorie 11. In the 1376. yere the Pope returneth to Rome Anno. 1378. Vrban 6. a most cruel Pope Two Popes The 27. Sisme lasted 50 yeeres A cruel Pope Anno 1385. A cruel hatred Poyson Anno 1390. Gunnes Clement 7. Anno 1387. was the question of the conception Anno 1392. The Popes titles Bonifâ—ce 9. 2 Popes First fruits Benedict 13. Two Popes Anno 1424. Clement 8. 2 Popes Theodoricus de Nyem Innocent 7. Two Popes Anno 1407. Gregorie 12. 2 Popes The Councell of Pisa deposed both Popes elected Alexander a Cretian Anno 1410. three Popes Anno 1415. Anno 1424. Alexander 5. An article of faith that S. Fraunces bare the fiue wounds Gal. 1. 2. Libr. 3. Ch. 15. Lib. 3. cap. 53. Anno 1411. Poyson Iohn 24. a notable villaine A stratagem to be Pope A notable election of the Pope The Councell of Constance 1414. The Emperour is a Deacon The Pope by the Councell deposed The Popes customes The Pope an heretique The Counce is aboue the Pope Notable saying of Gerson As the whole is greater then part So the Councell is greater then the Pope Historia Bohemia cap. 36. The Constancie of Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage The BohemiaÌ„s Constancie Iohn 24. for his villanies depriued of the Popedome is made Bishop Cardinall Anno 1419. Martin 5. The Popes will heare no man to speake vnto them of reformation The Councels haue deposed Popes and elected others The Popes enemies to the Councels lib. 23. cap. 20. ¶ 4. Anno 1431. Eugenius 4. Anno 1432. The Councell of Basil Felix 5. Two Popes A miserable example for such as keepe not their faith albeit to an Infidel Thomas Rendon Anno 1446. Felix 5. Two Popes The 30. Sisme Anno 1439. Anno 1447. Anno 1549. Nicholas 5. Platina One Mule the cause of 200 mens deaths more S. P. Q. R. Constantinople lost Anno 1455. Calistus 3. The Preachers of Buls called Carmerants The Pope forbiddeth appellation to the Councell Anno 1458. Pius 2. The tyranniâ—â— of Pope Pius Anno 1464. Note for this purpose the following life of Paule 2. Paul 2. The Pope a Simonist The red had Pope against Pope Gregorie 1. Nicholas 1. Pius 2. Paule against forced single life Anno 1471. Sistus 4. 300000 duckets euil spent 40000 duckets the Pope hath yearely of the Curtisans The Iubile froÌ„ 25 to 25 yeers The Rosary inueÌ„ted by Saint Dominick Anno 1200. after wards renewed Anno 1470. Blasphemous dishonesties If this be not to make a mock of the death of Christ what shal be The mother of Sistus dreame Papisticall religion founded vpon dreames false miracles 2. Thes 2. 11. Anno 1484. Innocent 8. most luxurious Sixteene sons and daughters of the Pope The Pope found the title of the crosse Iron of the speare Anno 1492. Alexander 6. abhominable Alexander vpoÌ„ condition to be Pope gauehimselfe to the deuill Anno 1500. The first Iubile conditional The ceremony of the yeare of Iubile The holy gate The Iubile by God instituted The Symony and sacriledge of Alexander The Pope calleth the Turke against the French king Poyson Anno 1503. Anno 1499. Sauanarola his life doctrine Sixe notable things happened to Spaine about the yeare 1492. 1. A Spanish and abhominable Pope The taking of Granado 2 3 The discouerie of the Indies Iohn 4. 23. Gen. 2. 24. 4 The InquisitioÌ„ 〈◊〉 The manner of the Inquisitors teaching sheweth the spirit that moueth them 4 The InquisitioÌ„ is the cause of the reuolt of the low countries 1. Pet. 2. 14. Apoc. 6 9. 5 The Brotherhood The 3 holy sisters of Spaine 6 The Bubos a disease called the French pockes Iohn 2. 11. Anno 1503. Pius 3. Anno 1503. Iulius 2. a warriar 200000. men slaine by occasion of Iulius 2. Anno 1512. Nauarre taken Anno 1512. Vigils prohibited in Buâ—gos The Councell of Pisa Anno 1511. The Pope periured The Councell of Lateran Anno 1512. Esaias 5. Anno 1513. Leo 10. An Atheist Matâ—h 16. Martin Luther What the cause was that moued Luther to speake against the Church of Rome Lnther burneth the Cannon Law 1. Cor. 1. 26. Charles the Emperor kept his word with Luther The magnanimity of Luther Anno 1522. Leo dyed for ioy Poyson The Atheisme of Leo. Adrian 6. Poyson Anno 1523. Clement 7. The king of France prisoAnno 1525. Rome Sacked Anno 1527. The Coronation of Don Charles Anno 1530. The confession of Augusta for which they are called protestants He that of a theefe doth steale 100 daies pardon doth not saith The vertues of the Pope The Pope is Diotrephes 3. Iohn 9. Anno 1534. Poyson Paul 3. accursed Poyson Poyson 40000 Curtesanes in Rome Henry 8 made no reconing of the Pope Anotable villany done by the Franciscan friars at orleans The Franciscans deceiue the people with false apparitioÌ„s Iesuites Anno 1537. began the Iebusites or Iesuites The Duke of Gandia a Iesuite Iesuites attempt to kill the Queene of England Iesuites attempt to kill the French king The cause why the Iesuites banished France The Citie Geneua in
the laÌ„d of Sauoy A qualified lie of the Iesuites Iohn 8. 44. Ier. 13. 23. Psal 5. 6. 7. Anno 1549. Iulius 3. a blasphemer The Pope giueth the bar to whom he list The Pope saith that fortune is it that maketh the Pope Pope Iulius 3. his blasphemy for swines flesh Terrible blasmy for a peacocke Anno 1555. Marcellus 2. A youth of 12 yeares old Cardinall The Popp permitteth not any to speake his mind freely in the Councell The blasphemy of the Trident Councell The Legends of S. Christopher end Saint George false after Paul 3. It is no Councell except it 〈◊〉 free Poyson Paul 4. an enymâ—e to the Spaards Anno 1555. The vices 〈◊〉 the Roman Church Anno 1557. The taking of S. Quintanes The death of Don Charles the Emperour and of Mary Queene of England Anno 1558. Elizabeth Queene of England England a refuge for strangers Persecution in Seuill Ephes 1. 3. Seuill the first Citie in Spaine where the Gospell in our time was almost clerely preached Rodrigo de Valer. 1. Cor. 1. 18. Actes 2. 13. Matth 21. 23. Iohn 7. 38. The Principall pomtes of Christian religion About the yeare 1545. D. Edigius Anno 1555. Anno 1557. Iulian brought many bookes to Seuill 800. prisoners for the teligion in Seuill The like was done of the house of Doctour Cacalla in Vallodalid D. Vargas D. Egidius D. CoÌ„stantine The persecutioÌ„ of Voll odalid c. D. Cacalla Cap. 7. â—8 Cap. 44. 17. c. The cause of the present calamities The Pope the Councell and Inquisition can not erre 1 Kings 18. 17. Fire in Valladolid A historie of Iohn Fox Imaginary fire in the Church A boy put himselfe in the cowle of a Monke Apoc. 6. 10. Anno 1559. Pius 4. Pope against Pope So did Benedict 3. Pius 2. Martine 5. and Paul 4. The hypocrisie of Pope Pius 4. The Popes esteeme not the Sacraments be case they be Antichrists Anno 1563. Confession was almost the cause of the ruine of the Popedome Confession serueth for a band Pius 5. Psal 97. 7. Pius 5. tooke out of the bookes that which the authors with great truth said against the Pope Anno 1572. Gregorie 13 The crueltie of a father Luke 21. 18. Ioh. 16. 2 Sistus 5 A notable acte of the seigniory of Veniâ— Ephes 1 21. The French K. causeth the Duke of Guise to be slaine A Dominican Friar killeth the French K. Iudith 13. 10. 1. Samuel â—6 4 2. Sam. 1 A Capuchan fryar practised to kill the French king God commandeth the king to read the holy scripture Prouerbes against the Ecclesiastical persons Euill life Whoredome Couetousnesse Hypocrisie â—â—monie Idlenesse the mother of many vices Ier. 51. 6. Psal 147. 9 Iob. 39. 3. Psal 37 25. 1. King 17. 6. Dan. 14. 32. Two Roman Empire The beginning of the Popedome which is the new Empire Boniface 3. The Popedom founded vpon murder Marke 13. 41. Luke 22. 25. The Pope taking occasioÌ„ of the question about Images denyeth obedience to the Emperour Charles the great made Emperour and why The oath which the Emperour maketh to the Pope The 1. oath of the Emperour The 2. oath The Emperour made a chanon and kinght of S. Peter Matth. 16. 16. The 1. Reason Clemens ad Iacobum The 2. Reason Actes 15. The 3. Reason The 4. Reason Gal. 2. 11. The 5. Reason 1. Thes 2. 3. Apoc. 17. 9. The 6. Reason Lib. 2 de concordia Cathol cap. 12. The Councell of Mileuant against the Primacie The deceit of the Pope discouered In those times euery Bishop was called Pope Cursed is the glose that corrupteth the text Anno 600. The Doctors against the primacie Saint Gregory against the primacie A notable discourse made by Edward bishop of Salisburg How the Popes employ themselues All this is fully accomplished The title of the Pope Arnulphus Bernard Ioachin Fluencius Nicholas Gallus Marsilius Cesenas Wickliffe Iohn Hus. Ierom of Prage Petrarcus Dante The Popes foure cardinall vertues auarice heresie sodomy and simonie Bocace Sanazaro The Church of Rome erreth in faith Thomas Rendonio Laurencius Valla. Sauanarola 3. Io. 9. Epistle 162 The Emperors called the general Councels Epistola ad Liberium Epise opum RomanuÌ„ De simplice Prelat In senâ—entiis Episcoprum libro 1. epist 1. Hieronymus in Epist ad Euagrium repetitur in Decreto Graciani Hieron ad Nepotianum Anno. 605. Dan. 11. 36. Three markes wherewith Antichrist shal be marked The Pope is an Apostata in religion Exod. 20. Psal 50. 51. Rom. 10. 14. The Pope abhorreth matrimony by God ordained Rom. 1. 1. Timothy 4. 2. The Councell of 〈◊〉 S. Gregorie permit mariage 1. Cor 7. 2. The Pope an Atheist Boniface 8. The 2. passage 2. Thes 2. 3. Verse 9. What thing is Antichrist Verse 7. Iohn 6. 15. Contrarieties between christ the Pope The first Contrarietic Phil. 2. 6. The 2. Contraritie To this purpose read Damascen in the sermon of the dead The 3 Contrarictie Iohn 5. 39. The 4. Contrarietie Matth. 11. 28. Ieremy 2 1â— The 5. Contrariette The diuell also worketh miracles Matth. 28. 18. Lying wonpers 2. Thes 2. 11. Purgatorie Of 30000. men one only went to heauen 3 to Purgatory and all the rest to hell Luke 16. 27. Matth. 24. 24. Verie subtill was the Pope in forbidding the reading of the holy Scripture The 3. pasâ—age of the holy Scripture The viâ—tory of the Lambe The waters be kindreds c. The 10 kings hauing altered their minds shall persecute the whore The whore is the Pope The Beast is the Romane Empire Gen. 4. 10. Tertullian The woman is he great citie 7. Mountanes Ten Hornes Apoc. 13. 18. Iohn 1. 29. 2. Thes 2. Ierome in prçfat lib. de spiritu sancto in vita Marci Apoc. â— 3. In prooemio Sexti in Glo. Matth. 16. 18. Iohn 10. 4. An answere to the 2 places wherewith the Pope confirmeth his primacie 1. Cor. â— 11. Ioh. 20. 21. Feede my sheepe Iohn 21. 16. Marke 16. 15. Iohn 20. 22. â—0 Sismes In Cronico pontifiâ—um 4 popes at once 3 Popes â—t once in Rome Sergius 2. and Benedict 9. were each of them thrise Pope Great vacatioÌ„s Matâ—h 28. 18. Extrauag de maiori obedient ca 2 â—an 2. 21. lib 7. Decretal dâ—senten re indicata Extrauag 〈◊〉 Cathol 〈◊〉 Clement in Clement pastoralie Item in rescripto This writing is kept in viena del Dolfinado Et in Extrauag eadem Decisiones Rote Baldu Franciâ—cus de Ripa Phillippus Decius Hostienâ—is Carolus de Ruino Iohannes de Anauias c. Dist 40. cap. â— Papa Ths Pope after the Romists is more mercrfull then Christ why Ca. Non nos Dist 41. 2. Thes 2. 4. Iohn 5. 39. Esay 31. 7. A briefe of the CoÌ„tents of this 2. Treatise Masse There is no thing necessary for our saluatioÌ„ which the scripture declareth not Actes 20. 20. It is not yet knowne where of the Masse is deriued what the Masse is 8 reasons wherwith they confirme