and I will here mention nothing that may not be found in their owne bookes litterally in expresse tearmes Afterwards I will propound the arguments and reasons for which they of the reformed religion refuse to acknowledge and accept for their Iudges the Popes the Councels the Fathers Traditions Miracles or other such like witnesses but doe instantly require that all such differences of Religion may be decided and determined by the written Word of God And after you shall haue apprehended and considered all these things in the feare of God and without any preiudicate conceit or partiality then I will willingly permit you to chuse the better of those two parties pretending right or contending one against the other The differences of the reformed Christians and the Catholike Romanes touching the principall points of Religion Concerning the first point which wee haue at this present to entreate of Behold heare the principall and most important controversies in the doctrine of these two parties First the reformed Church beleeveth â— Of the holy Scripture Io. 5. Io. 10. 1 Tim. 3. that there is nothing necessary to salvation which is not fully comprised or contained in the holy Canonicall Scriptures of the old and new Testament But the Church of Rome saith Aug. 49. cap. 11. in Iohan. Petr. Sot in Schol. de Scrip. Pig de Ecles hierar lib. 1. cap. 14. Cens col pa. 19. that the holy Scripture is vnperfect and vncertaine or doubtfull compareth the same holy Scripture to a nose of wax to a leaden rule It affirmeth also that without the authority of the Church it is but as a fable of Esops that the Scriptures is the cause of al heresies that it is accommodated and applyed to the time and that therefore the reading thereof must bee forbidden to Lay-people that is to say to the simple and common sort The reformed Church beleeveth that credit must not be given neither to the Councels 2. Of Tradidions Gal. 1. Esay 8. nor to the Fathers no nor to an Angell descending from heauen if so be he should teach contrary to the written word and doctrine of Iesus Christ Chrysost 49. in Mat. Aug. lib. 3. de Trin. Trident Concil Sess 4. Linden lib. 1. cap. 4. Hosius de verbo in Sol. in Con. Late enlo pag. 133. 3. Of the Law of God Rom. 7. Mat. 5.1 Io. 1. The Church of Rome teacheth that vnwritten traditions must bee held in as great estimation and reverence as the holy Scripture as being the foundation of Faith without which foundation the authority and waight of the Scripture vanisheth away or loseth the reputation The Reformed Church beleeveth that the Law of God cannot perfectly bee fulfilled or performed by man and that whatsoever is committed against the same Law is sinne Aug. lib. 2. con Iuli. hom 48. in Ioan. Lindu lib. 3 cap. 19. Andrad lib. 5. Ruord Tap. The Church of Rome teacheth that the Law of God may be so perfectly kept and performed that one may doe workes of Supererrogation or surplussage also that all which is committed against the law of God is not sinne as amongst other things concupiscence 4. Of Sinne. 1 Io. 3. Rom. 5 Aug. lib. 2. con Iul. in hom 41. in Iron The Reformed Church beleeueth that the want of originall iustice or originall corruption concupiscence or coveting and whatsoever is repugnant to Gods law is sinne and maketh men culpable of the wrath of God Counl Col pag. 49. Ruor Tap. de per. orig Conc. Bes. Sess 36. The Church of Rome teacheth that concupiscence and originall sinne is not properly sinne neither is subiect to the wrath of God nor lyable to punishment 5. Of free-will 1 Cor. 2. Rom. 7. Ephes 2. Aug. de Sp. lit cap. 30. The Reformed Church beleeveth that since the fall no free-will is left in man touching things belonging to salvation vnlesse God change and moue the will of man by his holy Spirit The Church of Rome teacheth that man can loue God Ex puris naturalibus that is to say only by his owne power and naturall facultie Also that man euen being in mortall sinne de congruo that is to say according as is meete proper or agreeable may deserue the ordinance or disposition of grace The reformed Church beleeueth that the elect of God are Iustified only by faith in Iesus Christ 6 Of Iustification Rom. 3.4.5 Io. 3. Act 10. Aug. de Trin. Ser. 114. Barn sup cont Ser. 6. Con. Trid. Ses cap. 11. Audred lib. 6. pag. 447. Sot in Schol. de purga Concil Col. pag. 156. 7 Of the mediator Iesus Christ Io. 3. 1 Tim 1. 1 Iohn 2. Math. 20. Esa 53. Aug. lib. 1. c. 42 in Iran hom 85. Ambros de Isa without any good workes of the Law in such sort notwithstanding as the said faith must not be vnfruitfull or dead but a true and liuely faith working by good deedes of Charity The Romish Church teacheth that men are not Iustified by grace and by the imputation of Christs Iustice but by obedience of the law as our owne inherent righteousnesse The reformed Church beleeueth that there is but one onely mediator betweene God and man that is to say Iesus Christ very God and very man who by his death and passion hath canceled and done away the sinnes of the faithfull and by his resurrection hath for them purchased and merited life eternall The Church of Rome teacheth that Christ died for originall sinne onely And that Iesus Christ is not our only Mediatour but together with him all the he-Saints and shee-Saints of Paradice The Reformed Church beleeueth 8. Of the Sacrifice of Iesus Christ Heb. 10. 1 Ioh. 2. Heb. 9. 43. Esa 53. Act. 24. that the faithfull are reconciled to God the father by the onely sacrifice of Iesus Christ once offered and performed or finished on the Crosse The Church of Rome teacheth that the death of Iesus Christ Con Trid. Sess 6. con 2. Cat. Rom. pag. 11. Gab. Bel. 11.12 Linda lib. 4. pag. 375. not the onely expiatorie and purging sacrifice but that the Masse is also such an expiatorie or satisfying oblation as abolisheth the sinnes of the liuing and of the dead it is also availeable to obtaine all good things both spirituall and temporall 9 Of Repentance Eph 4. Rom. 3. Io. 1. c. 19. Esa 19. c. 5. The reformed Church beleeueth that such a repentance is acceptable and pleasing to God wherein appeareth a true mortification of the old Adam and a true viuification or quickning of the new man proceeding from a true faith Lom lib. 4. Dist 16. Cat Rom. pag. 421. Com. Tho. 6 cap. 241. Con. Trid. Ses 4. And. lib. 9. cap. 18. 10 Of the Church Io. 10. Eph. 2. 1. Cor. 3. Math. 18. The Church of Rome teacheth that such a repentance is requisite in which there is a perfect contrition of heart confession of mouth and satisfaction of workes by
tipice dux normaque Minorum See lib. con Fo. 228. Col. 4.231 Col. 1. Sedes nobis perpetuò da regni caelorum that is to say Good Saint Francis head of Friers minors which of Iesus Christ art the true figure Cause vs to haue part of heauenly honours and life to obtaine that ever doth endure And the Iacobins are so bold as not onely to compare there Saint Dominicke with our Sauiour Iesus Christ See epist Flor. Aut. intust part 3. art 23. 24. but which is more in many thinges they placed him afore Iesus Christ The golden legends of the he-Saints and shee-Saints are all at this day printed which sufficiently set forth the fained miracles of one Stanislaus Adulbertus and of such other Saints And for so much as the Popes approue and allow such bookes yea and propound them to Christians to be held in equall honour and reuerence with the written word of God Aut. 23.27 fo 137. From thence also the Reformed Christians conclude that the Popes are prophane Tyranny the second cause of refusall The second reason for which the Reformed will not accept the Popes for their Iudges The second reason is that they haue vsurped dominion and soveraignty ouer the Church For first of all the Pope causeth himselfe to be stiled the Head the Spouse and Soveraigne Bishop of the Church Howbeit that title cannot properly appertaine to any person but Christ Iesus alone In the second place because that the Pope will beare rule and haue soueraignty over all the earth and all the Potentates of the earth Of the donation of Constantine For touching the donation of Constantine the Great by which they striue to confirme their dominion and rule besides that it hath beene heretofore sharpely questioned by Nicolaus Cusan Laurentius Valla Volaterranus Aeneas Silvius and diverse other very learned Authours the which notwithstanding haue not ceased to bee patrons and defenders of the Romane Sea The Reformed Christians maintaine that they can convince the sayd donation of falshood and vntruth by these reasons following Ten reasons by which it is proved that the donation of Constantine the Great is false and counterfeit First because none of the best and most approoved Authors either affirme or speake any thing of this donation of Constantine 2. Because that Eusebius and other ancient Historians testifie that the Emperor Constantine divided the three parts of the world to his three sonnes Socr. Theolo Evagr. Ruffin Okeb Beda Sozom. hist pan 2 Vol. lib. grn 3. 3. Because the Instruments and Decrees which touching the same were imprinted are very different and their stile no whit agreeing 4. That it is an absurd thing and likewise incredible that Saint Peter and Saint Paul should haue appeared to Constantine in his sleepe and that hee should haue adored them as gods 5. That hee was never infected with the Leprosie 6. That he was not baptized by Sylvester at Rome but by Eusebius in Nicomedia Alb. Krant in Sax lib. 2. ca. 1. Mansil indefens part cap. 11. 7. That it is a prophane kinde of speech to say that the hand of God was seene by Constantine 8. That he could not giue to the Pope a greater right then he had himselfe 9. That hee could not conferre or bestow vpon the Pope power or authority over the Patriarch of Constantinople the sayd title at that time being not built nor finished 10. And lastly Euseb de vita Constan Ruff. l. 1 c. 39. Viues l. 24. hist Beul de Con. Nue l. 8. c. 4. because such donations contained in the priviledges and grants made to the Popes which they haue received from the Emperour Constantine are the certaine markes of Antichrist Surely by all these reasons aforesayd it manifestly appeareth say the Reformed that such donation was never made to the popes by Constantine but that it hath beene forged and counterfeited by the Popes themselues And concerning the wordes of our Saviour Christ pronounced to Saint Peter and to all other Preachers Teachers of the word of God Aug in Io. tract 10 12. de ver dom Ser. 20. Cyril in Dial. de Trin. lib 4. Ambr. Epist ad Ephes cap. 2. saying Feed my sheepe this sentence and speech doth not import or signifie a politique and outward dominion or authority but onely the ministery of the Gospell For in another place our Lord Iesus Christ taxeth the ambition of the Apostles for that some would beare rule and haue dominion over other some and for that vpon this occasion they entred into consultation Chrys hom 55. in Math. Ber. Epist 230. Mat. 20.25 Dist 4. ca. multi quicunque cap. 1. Sedis dist 99. si quis 7. Der. de por The Kings of the Nations saith Iesus Christ beare rule over them but it should not bee so among you yea and the very Canons haue expresly forbidden that the Bishop of Rome should be called Soveraigne Bishop or vniversall head of the Church wherefore say the Reformed the Popes beat themselues with their owne rodde seeing they cannot rightfully attribute or appropriate to themselues such authority and domination and that for diverse causes and reasons Corruption of Religion the third cause of refusall The 3. reason which the Reformed Christians produce for which they will not submit themselves to the iudgement of the Popes is this that they haue not only intricated and confounded religion and divine service with many vaine ceremonies Can. 9. dist 34. Can 4. in dist 82. Can praeb lib. decretal Greg. tit 7. can 5. but haue also grossely erred in doctrine For some decrees affirme of the Popes that they are not men but gods that they cannot bee iudged by any person in the world that they may dispose and dispense against the Apostles that they can change the properties of things that they can make something of nothing that they haue power to make iustice of iniustice Io. 1.4 2 Tim. 3. Mat. 15. Gal. 1. Ier. 7. Iren. Epist 4. Con. Trad. 4. con li. cer per. sur 7. Now how exceeding false all this is say the Reformed it appeareth by that which almighty God testifieth himselfe that there can be but one forme of religion that is to say that which is contained in the writings of the Prophets and of the Apostles yea verily that an Angell from heauen hath no power to adde thereunto nor from it to diminish Whereas the Pope for all that will haue religion to consist in humane traditions such as are the Agnus Dei which they call 2. The complaint of Maximilian the baptisme of Bels the invocations of Saints the single life of Priests the withdrawing or depriving of the Cup in the Lords Supper De coen dom lib. 3. decret Greg. tit 41. Cal. cum dist 2. the vsing of a strange language and not vnderstood in the outward service of the Masse Buls and Indulgences and other like traditions all which as they say came
some others auerred and acknowledged it The Councell of Gelase decreed against Transubstantiation contrariwise that of Florence in the time of Victor the second and that of Lateran in the time of Innocent the third maintained ratified it Consider now well say the Reformed of what force and authoritie Councels can be and how litle they consent and agree together So that for those and such like reasons the Reformed will not accept or acknowledge the Councels for Iudges of the differences in Religion but they wil admit them for witnesses deposed in this action or sute so far forth as their testimonies agree with the publike Letters Patents or words of the testament and with the words and meaning and intention of God our Soueraigne testator As also S. Austine aduiseth vs verie well that is to say that in differences of the Church we must neither follow the authoritie of the Councell of Ephesus nor the Councell of Arminium seeing we are not therevnto obliged but rather that by the authoritie and force of the holy Scripture we should set and weigh cause against cause reason against reasoÌ„ Also that we ought to giue more credite to a Lay-man who speaketh the truth accoring to that which is coÌ„tained in holy Scripture then to a general Councel alledging falshoods coÌ„trary to the Scripture Here now further followeth the third kinde of Iudges that is to say the ancient Fathers The ancient Fathers cannot be Iudges in Religion which are also produced as Iudges of religion by them of the Church of Rome but they of the Reformed Church will not admit them absolutely for their Iudges For first of all say they that there are very false doctors that are very ancient and which is more ancient Fathers haue also confessed of themselues that they might all erre and bee deceived On the other side because that in the ages ensuing the false opinion and peruerse perswasion touching the invocation of Saints deceased the too great veneration or reuerencing of Martyres the allegoricall and too curious exposition of holy Scripture single life or abstinence from marriage Monkerie and Monasticall or retyred kind of life and the great number of ceremonies haue bin long since so deeply rooted that euen some learned Doctors haue not onely endeavoured to suppresse the aforesayd errors but contrariwise haue rather vpheld them partly thorow couetousnesse partly of ambition The faults errors of the Fathers partly also of set subtle purpose The which the Reformed say they can plainely proue by diuerse and sundry examples but they suppose that those ensuing will satisfie for this purpose All Christians acknowledge in the first place Tertullian for a good ancient Father and an vncorrupt and Orthodoxe Doctor Tertullian so farre forth that he confuted by the written word of God the Heretiques Marcion and Praxias both which denied the divine and humane nature of Iesus Christ but for so much that he maintaineth the error of the Chilliasts and disalloweth of second mariages all Christians must confesse he erred Cipryan Cyprian held very true opinions of the holy Trinity of the Baptisme of little children and of the right vsage of the holy Supper yet herein also hath he failed that is to say That hee holdeth that such should bee baptized againe as were formerly baptized with Heretiques that hee too excessiuely praiseth single life and abstaining from marriage Ambrose Saint Ambrose hath written diverse godly bookes of the holy Trinity and of the doctrine of Iustification but the subborned or supposed books in our time published vnder his name are refused by the Reformed Hierome Hierome hath greatly edified the Christian Church by his writings wherein hee teacheth that the true regeneration or renewing of man proceedeth not from the power and naturall faculties of free-will but hee greatly over-shoots denies himselfe when he so much disesteemes and disgraceth the state of marriage as to pronounce her a whore that after her first marriage marrieth againe Augustine Saint Augustine being the most vncorrupt Doctor of all the ancient Fathers hath in truth done great service to the Church of Iesus Christ when hee fundamentally by the Word of God confuted the Arrians the Manicheans the Donatists and the Pelagians but for so much as manet hoc that children should receiue the Lords Supper herein hee did not sufficiently consult with the Word of God Saint Gregorie held a good opinion Gregorie in saying that hee was Antichrist who caused himselfe to be called supreame and vniversall Bishop yet did hee greatly erre in forbidding and infringing the lawfull marriage of Pastors and Ministers of Gods Word when he thus writeth That it is by no meanes lawfull to renounce or giue ouer a monasticall life and when hee is so carried away with apparitions spirits and visions that hee is absolutely repugnant to the Word of God Furthermore how say the Reformed can we simply accept of the ancient Fathers fully and wholly for our Iudges Sentences and testimonies of the Fathers contrary to the doctrine of the Church of Rome Ambrosius considering that our accusers the Popes themselues doe not allow and admit all the sentences testimonies of the ancient Fathers S. Ambrose saith that for honesty sake and for seemly respect vnto the dead they should be suffred to remain at rest in their graues Gelasius l. 1. de Aba in Con. Re. Gelasius saith that the substance or essence of Bread Wine in the holy Supper remaineth inseparable even as in our Saviour Christ the humane nature abideth vnited with his owne nature Aug. l. 2. per. morit cap. vlt. Saint Augustine saith that it is presumption to conclude or determine any thing on any side in divine things which are obscure without cleere and manifest testimonies of holy Scripture Calix dist 6. de Con. Calixtus distributed the Sacrament of the holy Supper to all the Church and debarred from it dissolute persons and excommunicated all them which being present in the assemblie received not for all that the supper of the Lord. Cyp. l. 1 epist 2. Saint Cyprian sayd that the blood of the Lord ought not to bee denyed to Christians for the confession whereof they are bound to shead their blood Apollonâ—us taxed MintaÌ„us with this heresie among others Apol eccl hist lib. 5 cap. 22. to haue beene the first that had instituted certaine lawes and ordinances concerning fasting Paph hist lib. 2. cap 14. Paphnutius maintained that marriage should not bee forbidden to Priests or Pastors of the Church declaring that the company with a mans owne wife is chastitie Cyp. l. 1 epist 3. Saint Cyprian affirmeth that the Lord Iesus alone is to be hearkened vnto concerning whom it is pronounced or commanded heare him Also that we must not regard what they which haue beene before vs haue said or done but what Christ who is before all hath commanded S. Augustine saith that the Christian Church
onely example of Iohn the 22. The excessiue treasure of Iohn the 22. who left after his death in his owne treasurie about the summe of two hundereth and fifteth tunnes of gold As Francis Petrarch an author worthie of credit doth plainly testifie Boniface the seuenth seeing he could stay no longer at Rome in safetie by stealth conueyed away out of the Chest or Shrine of Saint Peter the most precious Iewels kept therein fled to Constantinople Clement the eight and diuers other Popes haue beene often conuinced by their owne fellowes of such like sacriledges Gregorie the ninth sold to the Emperour his absolution for an hundered thousand ounces of gold Benedict the twelfth being possessed with feare sold to Gregory the sixt the Popedome for fiue and twenty hundred pounds of silver The simonie of Alexander the sixt is also sufficiently knowne by his Epitaph which is yet fresh in memory Vendit Alexander Coelos Altaria Christum Emerat ille prius vendere iure potest That is to say Heaven Altars Christ did Alexander sell He bought them first sell them he might as well Furthermore how Leo the tenth caused to be sold by Tetzalias and diverse other Popes by their Emissaries or Legats their Indulgences Buls pardons is better knowne throughout all Christendom then is wel-pleasing to the Popes Treason the fift cause of refusall The fift cause wherefore the Popes cannot be good Iudges in the differences say the Reformed is the crime of high treason or conspiracy The fift reason for they proue by true Histories that in all times they held the Emperours Kings Extrava de maior obed Can. 1. extra Mat. cons Extra de ma. obed and Princes of all Europe not onely for their vassals and liege-men or homagers but also for their vile slaues and base servants Pope Adrian alighting from his horse as the Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa The Emperor horse-keeper to the Pope with great reverence approached to the right side of his horse to hold his stirrop the Pope was offended at the fault committed by the Emperour Hol. chron 5. Cal. cap. 8. Nau. lib. 1. Gen. 79. Ram. in vit Pontif. reproving him somewhat sharply whereupon the Emperour still full of devotion answered in excuse that it so fell out with him because hee was not accustomed to hold stirrops and that it was the first time he ever exercised such an office And the Popes choller being the more stirred by such an excuse the Emperour said vnto him I would faine know whether this my service proceed from good-will or from dutie If it come from good will who will taxe for any negligence him that is officious and ready to do service And if it proceede not of dutie it imports not much on which side he holds the stirrop who came but to show and performe courtesie and seruice The next day the Emperour met the Pope and being become more circumspect by the foresaid reprehension held the left stirrop so conducting and guiding the Pope towards his armie Behold surely an exceeding contempt and disgrace of superiour authority Nau Ga. 39. Bern. dâ—pen Funct in cron And yet the Reformed affirme that they can produce a greater despitefulnes and indignitie that is to say of Alexander who became Pope after Adrian aforesaid For hee having excommunicated the said Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa when he requested to bee absolved of his excommunication the Pope assigned him a certaine day vpon which hee should appeare in the great Church of Venice whither being come into the presence of this Pope and of many Cardinalls and Bishops hee would not giue him his absolution vnlesse first he prostrated and cast himselfe downe at his feete entreating pardon of him The which the Emperour doing the Pope lifted vp his foot and put it on his neck causing at the instant his Prelats to sing that verse of the 91. Psalme Platinâ— Thou shalt walke vpon the Lion and Aspe the young Lion and the Dragon shalt thou tread vnder thy feete Wherewith the Emperour being much displeased answered hereunto Not vnto thee but to Saint Peter but the Pope treading the second time on the Emperours necke replyed both to mee and to Saint Peter And the History of Philip the faire King of France agreeth very well with the former For whereas the sayd King was by Boniface the eight banished or accursed as an Heretique and Enthusiast The King notwithstanding surceased not to proceed in his resolution And after hee had convinced the said Pope by evident testimonies of diverse grievous faults and offences hee caused him to be imprisoned in Rome And as this Pope entred like a Fox and raigned as a Lion in the end hee died like a dogge In the yeere 1300. a great number of people of all Nations being assembled in Rome to celebrate the Iubilie the same Boniface shewed himselfe to the people the first day adorned with pontificall vestments and attyre The Pope beares the two swords Abbas Vesp in Pâ—â—a Annal. Gal. Mâ—â— in Euseb cap. and the next day appearing in Imperiall habite caused a naked sword to be carried before him crying with a lowd voyce I am Pope and Emperour I haue Signiorie or Dominion earthly and celestiall And a few dayes after when Albert who was chosen Emperour by the Electors requested to be confirmed by the sayd Pope hee refused at the first entreaty saying that such an Election as was made without his commandement authority ought not to be esteemed for good and lawfull yet within a short time after he condescended to the desire of the Emperour but vnder this condition that vpon the first occasion offered hee should invade the kingdome of France Innocent the third did so hate the Emperour Philip because hee was chosen Emperour against his will that he often-times sayd Let either the Pope take away the Imperiall Crowne or let Philip take the Apostolicall Diademe from the Pope Ab Vesp Ser. Plat. Mars an Gal. imper Clement the sixt sayd to the Embassadors that hee would never giue absolution to their King Lodowicke or Lewis for his offence vnlesse freely yeelding vp his kingdom he committed himselfe with his kingdome and all his goods into the Popes power with promise not to accept nor receiue againe any of those things but from the meere favour and onely grace of the Pope The Reformed adde moreouer to the former that vpon the same foundation and ground Pope Constantine the first was the first that caused the Emperour to kisse his feet That Martin the fift caused the Emperour Sigismund to doe the like as also Iohn the 17. Crescent Consull of Rome Emperours excommunicated by Popes and Benedict the third the Emperour Moreover say the Reformed this ought not to be passed over in silence that is to say that Pope Innocent the third excommunicated O tho the fourth as also Gregorie the seuenth excommunicated Henry the fourth and Paschall the second Aug. stan
called God sitting as God in the Temple of God The whore that is drunke with the blood of the Saints being seated vpon the Beast with seven heads who committeth fornication with the Kings of the earth and fighteth against the Lambe by whom shee shall be ouercome and finally shall bee forsaken by seven hornes or seven Kings For since that the Popes attribute to themselues more honour then to Iesus Christ and to the Magistrate and so advance and lift vp themselues aboue God Behold the reason why they dispence against the commandements of the Apostles against right and the law of Nature Ten arguments that the Pope is Antichrist that they place their acts aboue the iudgement of man that they equall their ordinances to divine institutions That they attribute to themselues the power of transferring and changing of kingdomes That they name themselues head spouse and high soueraigne Priest or Bishop of the Church The Heralds cry before the Pope Abasso Abasso that is all downe on your knees Dist 19. 11. 96. Bald. vlt. cap. Decius 1. de constit Felin c. eg 1. de iure Eber. Hardin Anna. Iron yea verily they terme themselues the cause of causes and the Lord of Lords That they are seated in the Temple of God being drunken with the blood of the Saints possessing the Citie set vpon seven hils which hath had soveraignty and rule ouer all the Kings of the earth In briefe seeing that all the things which haue beene foretold of Antichrist in the holy Scripture agree fitly sort rightly and are proper to the Pope we need expect no other Antichrist from Babylon Beholde wherefore the Reformed conclude from all the reasons before going that the Popes of Rome are the true Antichrist The villanies of the Popes the eight cause of refusall The eight reason In the eight place the Reformed Christians will not admit the Popes for their Iudges for these their filthy vices and villanies ensuing First they haue beene whoremongers 2. Tyrants 3. Possessed by Divels 4. Atheists without any sence or feeling of God 5. Tormentors or bloody persecuters 6. Traytors 7. Poysoners 8. Bastards All the which things the Reformed say they can sufficiently proue true by the testimonies of such Writers and Authors being Papists as in diverse ages past haue written bookes thereof which are at this day every where printed and set out and consequently may be read by every man And first of all the Reformed prooue That the Popes haue been whoremongers and Sodomites that diuerse Popes haue beene Brokers or Bawds whoremongers incestuous and Sodomites For Sergius the third committed filthinesse with diverse Harlots but especially with Marozia that famous strumpet of whom hee begat Pope Iohn the twelfth Landus the first begat Iohn the eleventh in beastly whoredome Iohn the eleuenth being heire to Landus the first came also by right of whoredome to the Papall dignity by the meanes of the Romane Courtezan Theodora Luitpran Firm. lib. 3. cap. 12. De gest imper Patr. praem Platin. Firm. l. 2.13 Luitp lib. the which being often enflamed with the fire of lust I would spare or favour chaste eares if I were not to expresse the very wordes of Luitprands did not onely allure and provoke the Pope to vse carnality with her but did also sometimes importune and compel him Iohn the thirteenth Mantuan was conuinced at a Sinode in the presence of the Emperour Otho the first of diverse notorious vices among which the principall was his horrible incontinency which was that hee committed incest with both his sisters that hee had made a brothell-house of the Laterane Palace that hee had forced Stephana his fathers concubine as also the widow Paniete and Anne together with his Neece And being convinced of all these villanous acts hee was deposed from the Papall throne but the whores restored him againe by a sedition and mutiny that they raised among the Nobility of Rome Alexander the sixt suffered Peter Mendoza Cardinall of Valence to abuse his bastard sonne the Marquis of Zanete Vates Volater as if he had beene his wife And how much the said Pope was tainted and polluted with lustfulnesse sufficiently appeareth by this Epitaph of his daughter Lucrece Hac iacet in tumba Lucrecia nomine sed re Thais Alexandri filia sponsa nurus That is to say Here lies entomb'd Lucrece by name but in her life Alexanders daughter daughter in law and wife Ioan or Ione Pont. Iohn the eight before called Gilberta being gotten with childe by a Cardinall was delivered in a publike Procession going towards the Church of Laterane betweene the Collosse or Statue and the Temple of Saint Clement Actus Sanara and that in the presence of all the people in the open street in which place also she died in labour vpon which occasion Baptist Mantuan composed these verses ensuing In Alphon. l. 3. Platin. Funct Hic pendebat adhuc sexum mentita virilem Foemina cui triplici Phrigiam diademate mitram Extollebat apax pontificalis adulter Non poterat quisquis deferrantes athere claues Non exploratis sumere testiculis Curigitur nostro mus hic cum tempore cessat Anne probat sese quilibet esse marem That is to say Here was a Wench disguis'd in mans attire to Popish triple Crowne that did aspire Shee was with child a Cardinall was the fire none afterwards might vse heauens opening keyes Vnlesse his markes of manhood were espied why ceaseth then the custome in our dayes Because each Pope himselfe a man hath tried We reade that Iulius the second besides diuers others did principally spoyle by Sodomie two very yong noble Gentlemen which Anne queene of France Ian. Panop Epist Quin qua ecclesia Commenta Mag Paris Greuel George Iuil had recommended and giuen in charge to Robert Cardinall of Nauetia to traine them vp in good instructions Innocent the third was so villanous a leacher that he abstained not euen from the Cardinals whose Sodomie hauing beene followed by Grouanni Delacasa a Florentine Archbishop of Beneuent The Booke was imprinted at Venice by Troy anq Xanius he wrote a a booke in Italian verses in prayse of Sodomie which hee termeth diuinum opus affirming that hee merited there by Sixtus the fourth set vp at Rome publike stewes and appointed them for fleshly villaines allowing to the Cardinal of Saint Lucie the act of Sodomie during the three hottest months of Summer adding for the conclusion or shutting vp Fiat quod petitur Iron Qucis Ioan Rauis Bap. Man lib. 4. Alphons Volat in declam ad Leo. that is be it done that is required or I grant thy request Iohn the fourth was deposed from his papall seate at the Councell of Constance because of his Sodomie rauishing of women and such other enormious and haynous acts and afterwards detayned prisoner at Hedelberge for the space of three yeeres Valer. Anctin Vergarius Agrippa Clement the eight was