Lumbardes restoring it to her auncient peace and libertie Than Pipine not forgetting the good turne that he hade receaued of Bishop Zacharie before allowed Pope Stephanes peticion and promisyng him aide against his enemie gathered out of hande a myghtie valeaunt power of French-men He wente wyth Pope Stephan beyonde the Alpes and at the straite of the mountaynes geuing the onlette vpon the Lumbardes he wanne the victorie and ranne through the fielde and vehemently besieged their king Aistulphus lyeng in Papia for his sauegarde and at leynght he compelled Aistulphus perforce by marcial power to graunt these condiciones that he should graunt peace and obedience to the churche of Rome and also to sende ouer to Pipine fourtie men to be pledges in confirmacioÌ„ of the mater By reason wherof Pipine him selfe retiered in to Fraunce and sent Pope Stephan wyth Folradus the kinges chaplayne and a doughtie coÌ„panie of FrenchemeÌ„ to Rome These thinges were done in the year of our saueours birthe DCCLV Notwythstanding bicause Aistulphus king of the Lumbardes perfourmed nothing that he hade promised to Bishop Stephane and hade coÌ„firmed by an othe being constrayned therto by Pipines force of armes Pipine immediatly the next yeare folowing weÌ„t agayn in to Italie wyth a mightie rowte of Frenchemen to deliuer the Pope from the LuÌ„bardes armye And assone as he passed the alpes cam downe in to Italie Gregorie themperour CoÌ„stantine the fourthes chief secretorie with other of them perours embassadours mette him and admonished him in themperours name that he shoulde not meddle wyth the Exarcheship of Rauenna whom the Lumbardes hade possessioÌ„ of themperour being letted of the Saracenes either to chalenge it for him self or geue it to the pope or to the Romaynes but forasmuche as they were of the empire and not the popes he shoulde cause them to be restored to Constantine agayne Hereunto Pipine saide naye and affirmed that he wolde not serue either Constantine or any man elles sauing the churche of Rome protesting that he hade put on harnesse for that intent to deliuer the sea apostolike from the iniurie of all men on the earthe and therupon that he wolde doo the best for the commodities of it that shoulde lye in his vttermost possible power to doo And so assone as he hade wonne the victorie and ouerthrowne the power of the Lumbardes he gaue to the sea of Rome the Exarcheship of Rauenna and what so euer places elles hade before that tyme ben in subiection to the Emperour and Empire WhervpoÌ„ it came to passe that the Grelie Emperour beyng before dryuen out of Italie by the Lumbardes force of armes yet not cleane spoiled of his ryght and title of iuste possession hathe nowe lost them altogether and beyng dryuen out of al hole Italie hathe loste al the Empire that before he had in it Nother was he hable to resiste the Popes wicked endeauours ne reuenge the wronges done vnto him bicause he was letted by the Saracenes warres which disquieted the east Empire with coÌ„tinual inuasions of batailles And surely it is to see the Popes subtile wylynesse to be suche that they haue ê“uided for their owne maters at that tyme specially as they haue sene the inperours and other kinges that were against theÌ„ occupied with other warres so as they should be the lesse hable to wythstande their endeauours But Pipine for doyng these his so large good turnes for the bishoppes of Rome hade worthily for his labour the excellent highe title of Most Christian Kyng Most christian king bothe to him his successours which the Frenchekinges are prowde of eueÌ„ at this daye for this one cause you must vnderstande that they toke the places which belonged to the Emperour in Italie out of the Lumbardes handes restored not them to the emperours agayne as ryght was but gaue them to the churche of Rome Notwithstanding al this gaire the Popes ambicion couetousnesse was not satisfied as long as they sawe the Lumbardes whose powers were at that tyme exceading great in Italie not al together ouerthroweÌ„ extinct King Desiderius Pope Adriane And therfore whaÌ„ their last king Desiderius began to attempte some thing against Pope Adriane the furst of that name by by he also besought Charles that sonne of Pipine who afterward for his nobly done dedes receaued the name of Charles the great for the defense of the sea Apostolike And he easyly Charlemayne obteyned his desyre For Charles renneth through by by into Italie with an hoost of men whan he mette Desiderius wyth his armie of Lumbardes he cruelly bette them downe in the fielde he hade all their townes yelded vp vnto him and sent the king prisoner wyth his wife and children awaye in to Fraunce as banished folkes And in dede thus was the reigne of the Lumbardes which they hade possessed in Italie more than CC. yeares all together despeched And therfore the thrid horne was through Antichristes subtilties and violence smytten of also in the yeare of our Lorde DCClxxvi Than Charles the Frenche king which was Pipines sonne after this gaire was done came in to a perpetuall league wyth the Bishoppes of Rome and what his father Pipine hade geuen before to Stephane the seconde of the landes that he hade violently taken from the Emperour he coÌ„firmed the same also wyth more ample priuileges and with a solenne othe to make sure worke Hitherto now it hathe with cleare euideÌ„t exposicion ben declared welbeloued brethren in Christ that the olde notable saienges of the holy goost which are in Daniel be most truly fulfilled by the Bishoppes of Rome that the B. of Rome is that littell horne which figureth vnto vs the emperial autoritie of Antichrist which in dede at the furst begynnyng of his reigne was but vile naught set by but anon he ouerlaide three very mightie kingdomes with his wyly fatches and deceates and wyth their powers which he claymed to him selfe he was aduaunced to so great a height of reignyng Now it remayneth dearely beloued brethren that we consideratyuely weighe out of the Emperours histories wyth what craftes he made sure and augmented his streinght and power and how he became superiour and aboue euen the emperours them selues The bishoppes of Rome being not The translating of the empire to the Frenche men wythout cause afraide of the greke emperours powers for the many and sondry wroÌ„ges and most mysheuous losses that they hade occasioned vnto theÌ„ least padueÌ„ture the Saracenes other eastren enemies being wel tamed the emperours hauing leasure wolde set vpoÌ„ Italie goo about to clayme to them selues again the Exarcheship of Rauenna other places beloÌ„ging to the empire which Pipine and Charles hade violently takeÌ„ from theÌ„ and bestowed vpoÌ„ the churche of Rome by by they beganne as they are myschieuous wylie felowes to bende their for casting studies to this ende that they might plucke all the greke Emperours power force awaye from
them that was yet lefte in the west parte of the empire and to translate it from them som whider elles and that they might get suche Emperours whose powers they shulde haue the lesse nede to be adradde of and by whose autoritie and empire they shoulde be defended from the driftes and conspiracies of their foes For which cause Leo the thrid sake pope Leo the thrid being endued wyth very large benefites of Charles the great and seing euidently his valeaunt courage of stomacke his notable boldenesse his ioyous successe of victories his redy good wil wythal towardes the churche of Rome the Bishoppes of the same toke vpoÌ„ him so bolde an entreprise to doo so great a feate as none of his pÌ„decessours euer did greater nor aueÌ„tured with more perile that was to traÌ„slate the empire Than to thintent he might get the most men to fauour his purpose and the more easily bring the mater to passe that he wolde he complayned long many tymes to the people and cleargie of Rome of the decayed streynght of the empire and of the vnprofitablenesse of the greke emperours For they ê™ he dwelling being so very farre of can be hable in no wise to assiste sely Italie being many wayes distressed especially seing they were daily vexed with newe and that most haynous batailes And therfore sauegarde peace and freedome can not be better restored to Italie again than if a newe chosen emperour in the west take vpon him all the dignitie of the empire and the charge of the same These wordes in dede moued many meÌ„nes heartes which being ledde wyth the likelyhode of the wordes perceaued not manifestly what the popes drift was Than perceauing the greatest parte of the people to incline to his purpose in the yeare of our Lorde Iesu Christ DCCCiij he brought the mater to ful effecte For in Petres churche after the solemne seruice by the sentence and at the besechinges of the people of Rome the pope ordayned Charles with a great lowde voice emperour gaue him the crowne Imperial and ther vnto the people of the Romaynes shouted three tymes aloude To Charles the mightie crowned of God the great and peacemaking Emperour be life and victorie And albeyt the greke emperours toke these maters right greuously yet they were not hable to leste these thinges froÌ„ doing bothe in that they were turmoiled with innumerable warres and also bicause the empresse Hirene being polluted with the cruel murthering of her sonne stered vp newe hurly burlies and exceding great stormes of busynesse for she can in nowise seme to haue ben vnknowing of this dede seing Charles now made emperour went about to mary her she her selfe not being discoÌ„tented So the bishoppes of Rome vsing these knackes promoted the Frenche kinges their most earnest defendours and most trusty aiders with wonderful sleyght subtiltie to the highe dignitie of the empire by whose helpe and mayntenaunce they became afterwarde of higher power than all their enemies Than after Lewis that was called Pius gaue Rome to the Pope emperour Charles the great Lewis his sonne succeded who also for his great liberalitie was very dearely beloued of the bishoppes of Rome for that cause they named him Pius godly or deuout For he did not only coÌ„firme the gifte of his progenitours that is to saye of Pipine his grandfather and of his father Charles but he also wonderfully augmented it and gaue them ouer those thinges they hade before the citie of Rome with his iurisdicioÌ„ and al the landes rouÌ„de about with the cities hauens and sea coastes of Hetruria Wher vpon bishop Antichrist is encreaced agayn with newe streynghtes is become Lorde of the olde auncient seat of the Empire that is to wete Rome Ther is no cause welbeloued christian brethren why we shoulde maruaile that the bishop of Romes dignitie and power growed vp on such an heyght that he hade all the bishops not only of Italie but also of Fraunce Germanye and Spayne vnder their daungier and in subiection to their sea seing they coulde fynde out such men to be their defendours and patrones which hade the administracion of all those naciones and the power of the empire it self in their owne handes Nowe though all these maters which we haue hitherto made rehearsall of are muche vnworthye and also full of wickednesse and falsehead yet the bishoppes of Rome not conteÌ„t herewith thought they might be bolde to doo more vnworthye more wicked entreprises thaÌ„ al those And to thintent they might vse their dignitie and power with the more ease quietnesse they were nothing ashamed at all to mocke the Frenchemen also with the same falshead that they practiced before against the greke emperours For they thought to chearishe and make muche of Princes and peoples freÌ„dship so farre as it might serue to mayntene their pleasur idlenesse Kyng Beringarius And for that cause wher as Berengarius whych at that tyme bare the rule in the LuÌ„bardes landes greued al Italie very muche with his power disquieted it many wayes the Frenchemen cam not whan they were called but gaue ouer their aide froÌ„ the defeÌ„ce of Italie of the church of Rome ne yet folowed the example of their auÌ„cettours forewardenesse in that behalfe Bishop Agapetus and after him Iohn the. 13 of that name wrote lettres to Ottho which thaÌ„ being king of Germanye Prince of SaxoÌ„ was after warde made emperour and garnished wyth this syrname Augustus humbly beseching him for the loue of God the apostles Petre Paule to de liuer the holy churche of Rome out of the daungier of Berengarius and his coÌ„plices In this mater Ottho being a very mightie Prince and moued Ottho also by other meÌ„nes instaunt desires and lettres tendred the bishoppes peticiones And therupon he gathered a great armye of Germaynes cam in to Italie He ouercame Berengarius and whan he hade takeÌ„ him prisoner he banished him away wyth his wife and Albert his sonne in to Babenberge and so deliuered all Italie from the feare and tyrannye of him And than like a conquerour he entred the citie of Rome and was most honourably receaued of pope IohnÌ„ and crowned in the title of the Empire of Germany Pannonye To be brief this IohnÌ„ through whose crafte and deuise the empire was translated was he that as the Italian writours recorde being euen froÌ„ his springing youthe tyme spotted with al the villanye in the worlde and all filthynesse and geuen more to hunting if he hade any spare tyme from hooring than to praier shamed the churche of Rome wonderfully with his lyuing polluted that sea in many behalfes and at leynght being takeÌ„ in the abominable synne of hooredome was slayne and suffred worthie paynes of his wickednesse and hooreoome But how muche either of honour or profite in the wanyaunt came hereof vnto king Ottho being otherwise a very good and a right noble man it
our saueour Christes birthe CCCC LXXI For Odoacer ordayned the seate of his reigne in the cytie of Rome and reigned in it fourtene yeares and that with so myghtye a power and great puyssaunce that he coulde not be gotten out for no deuise nor force of warre that Zeno the Emperour of Constantinopole could do Howbeit within a fewe yeares after that is to wete in the yeare of our Lorde Iesu Christ CCCCC LXX Iustinianus the Emperour ordayned Iustinianus a new Magistrate in Italie whoÌ„ men called the Exarche But he laye at Rauenna not at Rome bicause it was miserably throwen downe wasted spotled by the Barbarians breaking into it To conclude whilest the weste The contencion for the Supremacy of Churches Empire fadeth in the cytie of Rome is after this maner vtterly dispatched that litel prety horne which Daniel speaketh of that is the Bishop of Rome beganne out of hande to thrust furthe hym selfe to worke the mistery of Antichrist For in the tyme of Odoacers reigne in the citie of Rome the yeare of our Lorde CCCC lrxx Achatius the Bisshop of CoÌ„stantinopole Note wrote to Simplicius the bishop of Rome desyryng that he wolde also coÌ„demne Perre bishop of Alexandria of heresie for folowing Eutices this Achatius being bishop of the head churche whose autoritie was very muche regarded with all men But takyng occasion herby a sorte of ambicious persones began anone to reason of the dignitie of the church of Rome the autoritie of the Bishop of Rome and stil went on with disputacions so farre that they contended that the Sea of Rome was the heade of all churches and that the Bishop of Rome was the head of all Bishoppes and euen the catholike or vniuersall bishop ouer al. Howbeit those bishoppes of Constantinopole that succeded Achatius obiected them selues agaiÌ„st these mennes ambicion For they coÌ„tended that the supremacie belonged vnto their churche inasmuche as the Emperours of Rome hade made CoÌ„stantinopole the seate of their empire and for that cause this honour ought to be graunted to the bishop of ConstaÌ„tinopole that he maye be called the vniuersal of all prelates and the bishop of bishoppes And this same so vnworthye a contencion and so ambicious a strife continued a long season that is to saye an Cxij yeares vntill that horne of Antichrist yet litel weake burst out wyth bigger streinghtes growed out not a litel For in the yeare of Christ our saueours birthe DC ther was one Iohan bishop of Constantinopole a notable prowde arrogaunt man and excedingly ambicious The bishop of Constantinopole made the Supreme head This man whaÌ„ Mauricius was emperour called the Greke bishoppes together vnto ConstaÌ„tinopole to kepe a counsail wherin it was decreed and ordayned that the bishop of Constantinopole should be called the general or vniuersal bishop of al churches And whan Mauricius the Emperour Gregorius magnus sent ouer the decree of the counsail vnto the bishop of Rome Gregorie which afterwarde was called Gregorius magnus meaning to obteyne of Gregorie that he wolde also submitte him self his churche to Iohn the bishop of Constantinopole Gregorie wyth a great aduisednesse and a singular constauncie refused and contraried him not that he thought him self superiour and of more dignitie than Iohan but that he so vehementlye abhorred the insolent statelynesse and prowde ambicion of the cleargie which than begonne to growe vp by litell and litell Wherevpon among certain other thinges to Gregories answer to the supremacie the Emperour Maurice Be is the forrennyng messagier of Antichrist ê™ he who so euer he be that coueteth to be called the vniuersal Bishop And in an other place the same Gregorie writting to Anastasius Bishop of Antioche and Eulogius Bishop of Alexandria against the ambicion of the Bishop of Constantinopole saithe thus Your reuerende holynesse knoweth that this name vniuersal was offred by the sacred counsail of Chalcedon vnto the Bishop of the sea Apostolike whych by Goddes disposicion I serue howbeit none of my predecessours consented to vse that so lewde a worde to be called by For you must vnderstande if one Patriarke alone be called the vniuersal patriarke the name of patriarkes is taken away from the residue But farre be it from a christian mynde to scratche that thing from any man to him self wherby he might seme neuer so litell to minishe the honour of his brethren Verily these are Gregorie the bishoppes wordes wherwith he so earnestly taunteth those prowde and ambicious titles of bishoppes abhorring dephyeng those titles as cursed and abominable whom at this daye their endeauour is with force of armes and most cruell policies to chalenge to them selues Notwithstanding albeit Gregorie wrote thus vpoÌ„ a godly zele and syncere mynde and immediatly to the intent to brydle those ambicious spirites of the bishoppes he was the furst as some saye that named him selfe Seruum Seruorum the seruaunt of seruauÌ„tes Yet his successours by and by forgette all this gaire and folowed their owne sondry deuises For wher that most arrogaunt slaue of ambicion Iohn the bishop of Constantinopole after Gregories deceasse wolde not only not geue ouer his begonne purposes but rather with the greatest forcasting fatches that he might he entreprised to chaleÌ„ge to him self that title of vniuersal and the supremacie of all the hole churche anon Boniface of Rome Boniface the. 3. the thrid of that name steart vp Who being puised vp with like folie and ambicion set his fote against him and sought meanes to conueye the same title and honour of the highest autoritie vnto him selfe and to the churche of Rome And whan he hade once taken in hande that deuise of Phocas ordayned Rome to be the head of al churches stryfe and ambicion he stiffely set it forewarde stil and gaue not ouer till he hade obteyned of the emperour Phocas that Rome shoulde be called the head of all churches In this behalfe we must note welbeloued brethren in Christ what a man this Phocas was Euen he that kept the Empire by treason and robbery For he toke Mauricius the emperour being a good man and a godly and than his wife and his children by sedicion and in his wicked manfulnesse slewe furst his wife and than his children before Mauricius owne face and last of all he also slewe the Emperour him selfe being a man of good age as a man is that is aboue three score and three yeares This man was the furst I saye that ordayned the Bishop of Rome to be head of the churche and graunted to those ambicious and insolent Bishoppes of Rome the tyrannous power that they hade long wished for Those most holy fathers therfore haue to boast goodly of in the Deuilles name in that they are promoted to so highe dignitie and power by suche a mannes autoritie who lyke as he caryed an heart infected wyth treason and falsehead euen so he was not afrayde to defile his handes also in the
Antichrist not only to knowe but also to folowe And furst he repeteth the same that he hade spoken before and biddeth vs beleue Beleue thē not them not that saye Christ is here or there that is to saye that goo about to shewe vs a false Christ or tel vs that the giftes of God which are geuen vs by non but by only Christ are to be hade elles where Now that we may vnderstande folowe this warnyng as we should doo it is necessary for vs to call to remembraunce that sayenges that are spoken in the Homilies before bothe of the true Christ I meane the only saueour of this worlde also of the false Christes He is the true Christ whom the autoritie of the holy scripture describeth to be very God and very mā the only saueour of the worlde the only priest the only sacrifice for the synnes of the worlde yea the only head of the churche and mennes intercessour in heauen As many thā as shewe this Christ any wher elles than in heauen as many as appoint other heades of the churche other redemers of the worlde other sacrifices for the synnes of the worlde and other aduocates intercessours and mediatours are comprehēded in these wordes of Christ and those be euen they whom it is not laufull for vs to beleue or to geue credence vnto And this is so openly done in the papacie of the pope him self and his membres that no man can say naye to it For furst they are not wont to shewe Christ our Lorde in heauen which was crucified for vs and died which rose again and ascended in to heauen according to the articles of the apostles Crede but to tell folkes that he is either conteyned in a prety litel white cake or in churches consecrated for that purpose which they are not afraide to dresse with these written wordes Hic Deum adora Here worship God Are not these they than that shewe Christ our Lorde in closettes or secret places as he hī self told before hāde As we will speake nothing how their vse is to teach vs a farre other Christ thā is purported in the holy scriptures for the scriptures beare recorde that he was only incarnate made very mā for our sakes But these men not contenting them selues with that feyne him also to be impanate or embreaded Yea and they ymagine him to be such a one that he may be called euery daye in to a piece of breade by the priestes enchauntementes as though he were a certain new Elicius Iupiter Furthermore if they purpose to speake of those thinges that Christ our Lorde hathe purchaced with the merite of his owne death as of remission of synnes the grace of God the father iustice right of adopcion and the possession of euerlasting blessednesse than their maner is with such open wickednesse shamelesnesse to shewe them elles where thā in Christ alone that they can not denie it though they wolde neuer so fayne The Apostle Paule sayeth that Christ is made of 1. Cor. 1. and. 2. God vnto vs wysedō righteousnes sanctificacion redempcion that he knewe nothing els but Iesus Christ euen him that was crucified And in an other place declaring the certaintie of his doctrine he sayeth Although we Gal 1. or an Angel from heauen shall preache vnto you any other gospel than that we haue preached vnto you cursed be he But we heare the popishe shauelinges greasye doctours preache a farre other maner of Gospell than the Apostles haue sent vnto vs in their writynges For they teache righteousnes to be in mennes owne workes merites They teache folkes to seke forgeuenesse of synnes at the handes of wicked and hooremonging yea most filthie rakehell masse priestes As for the grace and fauour of god they ascribe it against Goddes commaundement vnto ymages that they set vp and therfore they vse to name them gracious as Our lady of grace such other Tushe yf a mā wold recken vp al the hole dong hil of popishe religiō vnto these he shal see that they ascribe al that is necessary vnto saluation to externall toyes and trifles And wher the scriptures shewe vs one only patron mediatour euē Iesus Christ very God very man they haue deuised as many mediatours patrones and intercessours besides him as they beleue ther be sayntes soules in heauē Therfore wil we nyl we we must nedes saye that they be the same that the redemour vndenyable scholemaister of the worlde maketh mencion of in this place What must we doo now in this behalfe you mē and brethren Christ saithe Beleue them not Lo our saueour geueth a shorte symple playne commaundement which is a present medicine against all the obiectiones that man can deuise Thow shalt take them to be deceauours as many as goo about to bring in this maner of doctrine and therfore thow shalt not beleue their sayenges Here therfore lieth all the autoritie The B. of Rome of the bishoppes of Rome of fathers and of the counsailes in the Dust which they holde them most chiefly by For if they wolde obiecte the B. of Rome as though men must nedes beleue him bicause he is with to ambicious a name and title called the head of the churche yet ther is no cause why we should be afrayd of hys autoritie For here we do heare the true and supreme head of the church and our chief priest saye Beleue them not Nother is ther any cause why they Counsailes fathers should vaunt of the canones of counsailes and decrees of fathers For the autoritie of them is spoken against by this counsaile which is the holiest counsaill that maye be hade or deuised and the presidēt and head of this counsail is the only begoten sonne of God and the eternal truthe of God who hauing communicacion in the presence of his welbeloued apostles of the deceauours that should com in the later age of the worlde commaūdeth them not to beleue them Now let them hearken to the decrees of fathers let them beholde the Canones of counsailes and make thē selues subiectes vnto the ymaginacions of most shameles vile men which sermore by lyes thā by the truth and hade rather be dāned than saued For wherto doo we passe vpon them any more Wherto doo we wretches take hede to the autoritie of coūsailes Cā not the autoritie of Christ deserue credence at our handes onles it be approued by the consent of mē Nay let vs rather heare Christ him self him that Christ ordayned to be the doctour of the gentiles If an angel from heauen preache any gospel besides that we haue preached cursed be he And If they saye vnto you Lo here is Christ or ther is Christ beleue them not Who so euer therfore dare be so sawcye as to declare forgeuenesse of synnes righteousnesse the grace of God and saluacion any wher elles than in Iesus Christ alone and to shewe him any wher elles
suffre them to rushe in and to haue his churche somwhat exerciced therwithall For that cause the Lorde calleth the Kyng of Assiria the rodde of his furie Esa 10. Psal 17. and Dauid calleth the wicked Goddes hande and Goddes sweorde where as nother the Kyng of Assiria hade any respect vnto the wil of God nother do the wicked regarde the couÌ„sail of Goddes prouidence But thys louing brethren is ful of comforte that nother the aduersaries haue of them selues any power against vs nor that any thing befalleth vs without the wil of God For seyng the holye scriptures declare vnto vs that Psal 11. 2. Corin. 1. God is not only a ryghteous Lorde but that he is also a most merciful father certainly what aduersitie so euer chauÌ„ceth vnto vs through his couÌ„sail it threatteneth not to destroy or vndo vs but promiseth vs saluacion For how can he mynde the vndoing of meÌ„ which is the maker of maÌ„kynd wold a father haue his owne children destroyed wolde he be content to haue them vtterly destroyed slayne No. But forasmuche as that propertie is most farre froÌ„ the nature of a mortal maÌ„ that is a father doubtles we may Luce. 11. not thinke God which is the fountayne of mercie and grace to be more vngentil and harder harted than a mortall man Why than saye they suffreth he most merciles enemies to fall vpon vs by heapes so why dothe he cast vs in to their handes and vpon their we apones than But what are you good folkes that grunt at this gaire Thinke ye it a wondre or neuer hearde you that a father shaketh the rodde at his children yea Hebre. 12. and that he clappeth them on the buttockes to for their correction Let vs rather loke vpon our selues and we shall sone see the causes of all this gayre For where we being Psal 51. conceaued and borne in synne coulde not chose but be lyke our owne original state and therfore shoulde be the slaues of deathe and damnation the father of heauen tendring vs wyth mercie by his owne sonne hathe takeÌ„ awaye our sinnes choseÌ„ vs to be his childreÌ„ hathe made vs heires of his grace kingdome This ioyfull gracious prouideÌ„â— of our saluatioÌ„ euen the doctrine of the gospell bringeth vs worde of And that is it that telleth vs how we are endetted to god again therfore It enformeth vs how we must beleue it teacheth vs howe to frame our life and it correcteth our naughtie corrupte maners Howbeit forasmuche as our fleshe can not abide to be corrected nourtured it wolde not in this case be monished rebuked corrected nor founde fault at no it abuseth the doctrins of the gospell to clooke his licencious libertie and lust wythall the more careles securitie and libertie it hathe to liue at pleasure so muche the more it foloweth his owne affections and renneth wilde wythout bridling Than therfore it standeth wyth the heauenly fathers iustice that they which wolde not amende wyth courteous warnyng of wordes must be corrected with stripes And yet he sendeth not them for any cause but that we shoulde cast awaye our careles necligeÌ„ce turne in to the right way again As for examples or testimonies of scripture ther nedeth none in this case seing euery one of vs fâ—leth in our selues this corrupt disposicioÌ„ of our owne nature Neuertheles I thinke it not amysse to note suche thinges as haue fallen in our tyme. The worde of the gospell hathe by the fauourable grace of God ben reuealed and preached to the people of Germanye now about fyue twentie yeares and more Ther hathe ben disclosed the fraudes the false sleightes subtil wiles and blasphemous deuises of Antichristes tyrannye All darkenesse hathe ben scowred awaye by the light of the truthe The endles knottes that befor tyme were indissoluble and the most sorowfull boÌ„des Hebre. 4. of deathe were let lose and cutte in pieces wyth this most kene two edged sweorde the Gospell And whan this gaire was ones losed all that euer Antichrist hade buylded in mennes consciences fell sodaynly downe and the vayne dredes of conscience vanished away like smoke That made the Bishop of Rome sory for it straight at the furst begynnyng And right myghty Emperours Kinges Princes and people were greued at that Yea they laide their heades together at sondry counsailes wherby they wolde fayne haue troden downe the corne of the gospell which was than but grene newly sprongen vp But al wolde not serue No. we haue sene theÌ„ fall out among them selues and horribly torne and arayed wyth making warres one against an other which intended to make warre against Christ And now euen the same are at hande ready to cheoppe of our neckes now they set vpon vs wyth fyre and sweorde now they make hauocke of euery thing wyth murthering and smothering But what is the cause Is Christ more weake and lesse skilfull in his science than he hathe ben before tyme Is it bicause he is not hable to restrayne that he hathe restrayned and kepte of all this while vnto these dayes No That is not the mater But we haue deserued this miserie through our owne synnes We haue prouoked him vnto wrathe through our vnthankefulnesse Our aduersaries are weaponed wyth our owne wickednesses and therwith they make batail against vs. And bicause we haue synned in that we haue shamefully abused the quiete rest that God hathe geuen vs now a great while he loketh vpoÌ„ vs his necligeÌ„t naughty children wyth this his present sharp rodde Howbeit this we maye comforte our selues in that seing he is our father he desireth not the destruccioÌ„ nor the death nother the vndoing of vs his childreÌ„ but wold haue vs to ameÌ„de to be saued and to lyue And the very cause of the warres and persecutioÌ„ which the Bishop of Rome him selfe preteÌ„deth in euery place by his bulles is an vndeniable proofe of this mater For he crieth out to haue vs burned bicause he saithe we are heretikes But what heresie is it Mary Sir this bicause we will none of the Romishe supersticion we trust not to what is heresy wyth the Papistes our owne merites we layne to none but only Christ Him we acknowlage to be our head our king our Bishop our only sufficieÌ„t sacrifice bicause we accordingly as the Apostle Paule did knowe nothing sauing Christ Iesus and that he was crucified And although by reasoÌ„ of our wickednesses which forasmuche as we are infected wtall we frame not our selues according to the ê“fession of our faith our heauenly father suffreth vs to be plagued yet that is not the mater that they which are a great deale wickeder thaÌ„ we are angrye with vs for but for this only cause they are horne woode against vs that we holde vs to Christ alone are gone quite froÌ„ their filthy faithles God seruice For where som fynde fault at vs for a disobedience I wotte not what it is a most
that if it were possible the very electe shoulde be brought in to errour Beholde I haue tolde you before Wherfore if they saye vnto you Beholde he is in the deserte goo not you furthe Beholde he is in the secrete places beleue it not c. Our Lorde saueour Iesus Christ as his disciples behelde the mightie noble building of the temple of Ierusalem saide vnto them See you all these thinges verily I saye vnto you ther shall not one stone be left vpon another that shall not be destroyde And wyth these wordes of Christ his disciples were excedingly amased And where as according to the custome of their auncettours and of their owne tyme they hade as yet the busye and glistering gaye ceremonies of outwarde worishipping that in tymes past were set furthe by Moses lawe in great price and euen so estemed them worthy to be honoured and obserued wyth a certain deuocion of coÌ„science they were muche afraide at this so greuous and sharpe senteÌ„ce of their Lorde and maister Christ concernyng the temple WhervpoÌ„ at the tyme that they came al one vnto him whan he taried alone in the mountayne they desyred him to solute vnto them three questiones which they propounded vnto him Furst they asked him whaÌ„ the Temple and citie of IerusaleÌ„ shoulde be takeÌ„ destroyed Secondarily wher in the ende of the 23. Chaptre after he hade so sore quereled wyth the scribes chief rulers of the Iewes he made meÌ„cion of his last commyng they questioned therof wyth him also and of the despeching of all the hole worlde whan it shoulde be Thirdely they required tokens wherby they might discerne aswell whan the destruction of the citie and temple as also the finalle ende of all the hole worlde and his commyng again shoulde drawe nere and be at hande To these three questiones therfore the Lorde maketh answere in this chaptre And wher as he being a trusty teacher of those that his are dothe truly teache those thinges that only serue vnto our saluacion he talketh nothing in this place of the appointment of the tymes ne yet sheweth what yeare moneth or daye these thinges shall chaunce that is to wete bicause the certainly perceaued knowlage therof shoulde make nothing at al to the furtheraunce of our saluation or to thamendement of life but shoulde most specially prouoke vs vnto careles slouthfulnesse and necligent leauing vndone of good workes and vertuous dedes But he instructeth them wyth euident and vnfailing signes by token wherof they might clearely discerne that these thinges shall assuredly com to passe and also he teaceth them whether they shall shortly com to passe And forasmuche as Christ the Lorde is the vniuersall teacher of all the worlde vniuersally we shall not reckeÌ„ that these tokens were geuen to non other but to the Apostles alone for it is manifest that they were geuen no lesse to vs than vnto theÌ„ to thintent vndoubtedly that we shoulde be diligently occupied in the consideration of them and that whan we see them happen we shoulde shake of all drowsinesse of our myndes and like faithfull hearty seruauntes loke for the commyng of our Lorde For this conclusion of his doctrine the Lorde him selfe dothe most diligeÌ„tly treate vpoÌ„ in this Chaptre and in the Chaptre folowing Finally wheras the disciples desired to be instructed not as touching the destruccion of the citie and temple only but also concerning the final despeche of all the worlde and the last coÌ„myng of Christ and required for that purpose tokeÌ„s of sondry kyndes wher by they might be hable to discerne the truthe and the tyme of bothe those maters the Lorde setteth furthe such maner of tokens vnto them wherof the most parte of them maye ought to be applied to bothe the questiones on either parte For like as the Lorde God in tymes past chosed the people of Israel to him selfe peculiarly out of all other naciones and people and coupled them to him self with a most holy sacred couenaunt euen so was it his will that the same people shoulde be an example to al other wher into as in a certain coÌ„mon glasse all people shoulde loke And therfore that haynous and horrible destruccioÌ„ of that same people ought to be a figure of the last coÌ„myng of Christ the saueour and thending of all the worlde which indede to all wicked persones shal be bothe haynous and horrible But in this present place which I haue now out of Christes wordes rehearced before the eleuenth token is set furthe vnto vs not wythout exceading holsom commaundement and faithfull admonicion wherwith we are informed by our saueour what is to be done of vs in this behalfe Ther shall ryse ê™ he / false Christes and false Prophetes and shall shewe great myracles and wonders in so muche that if it were possible the very electe should be brought in to errour Therfore beleue not their false promises and feyned tradicions Herein furst of al welbeloued brethren in the Lorde this is our parte to searche out that we maye knowe fully what this worde Christe is what the meanyng of it is in the scriptures and what it signifieth For therby it shall also euidently appeare vnto vs without doubte who is a false Christ who be false Prophetes that coÌ„moÌ„ly set furthe vnto vs a false Christ This worde Christ is taken out of Greke signifieth the same that the Hebrues vnderstaÌ„de by their worde Meschia soundeth in Englishe anoynted And the maner of anointing amoÌ„g the people of Israel was this that the chief Bishoppes kinges should be anoynted wyth holy oile so dedicated to their offices in so muche that as coÌ„cerning kinges anoynting was the same amoÌ„g theÌ„ that the custome of CoronacioÌ„ is among vs. Here vnto the places of scripture do bear record as Exo. 29. Leui. 7. and. 8. and also 1. Re. 10. 16. Chap. wher the anoynting of Saul Dauid is treated of And of this maner custome of anoynting of Bishoppes kinges that sede that was promysed from the furst begynnyng of the worlde euen the saueour of all maÌ„kinde is called in Hebrue Meschia in greeke Christus in Latine Vnctus in Englishe Anoynted for this cause sake that he is anoynted wyth the oile of gladnesse that is to saye wyth the spirite of God euen he that very chief Byshop and most victorious King which came in to the worlde was made man and in offring him selfe vp for our sakes toke awaye the synnes of the worlde by his deathe and deliuered vs quite from the cruel tyranny of the deuil deathe and hell and so by this meanes he is become our most mightie valeauÌ„t king that proclaymeth the lawes of euerlastyng saluacion and defendeth and reuengeth vs from al the crafty wyles and assaultes of our enemy the deuil Finally lyke as he is the onlye sonne of God that for vs was made man and is the one only redemer saueour of vs all euen
maye be playnly ynough perceaued of the othe that he was constrayned to bynde him self in to pope IohnÌ„ that monstre of hooredome For his successours enrolled the forme of it in their Canones and decrees on this wyse To thee Lorde Pope IohnÌ„ I Kyng Otthoes othe Ottho doo promyse and sweare by the father the GoÌ„ne and the holy Goost by this tree of the quickening crosse and by these reliques of sayntes that yf by the sufferaunce of God I shal come to Rome I shal exalte the holy churche of Rome and thee the gouernour of the same according to my power lyfe and membres and thou shalt nor lose the honour that thow haste by my will or by my couÌ„sail or by my coÌ„sent or by myne exhortacion and in Rome I shall make no pleaye nor ordinaunce in al the thinges that perteyne to thee or to the Romaynes And what so euer shall come to our possession of G. Petres lande I shall rendre it to thee againe And to whom so euer I shallcommytte the gouernaunce of Italie I shall make him sweare to be thy helper to defende G. Petres lande according to his power Lo welbeloued brethren in christ this is the soleÌ„ne excellent othemaking of the emperour Ottho which othe dothe well beare witnesse that Ottho hade non other rewarde geueÌ„ him for his most large good turnes shewed to the pope and for the deliueraunce of all Italie but that he was constrayned to bynde him selfe to the popes seruice and become a mayntenour a defeÌ„dour of that hoore of Babilon and of her wicked tyranny Besydes this assone as he came furst in Apo. 17. to the citie he was commaunded to subscribe with his owne hande to the donacion of king Lewis wherof we haue spoken a litell before to this ende you must vnderstande that he should by no clayme chalenge to the Empire either the citie of Rome or other places belonging to the Empire out of the popes handes and that the bishoppes of Rome might vse their wickedly goteÌ„ goodes with the more ease and securitie These maters as they are now set out the historie wrytours make meÌ„cioÌ„ were done about the yeare of Christes birthe DCCCC lxij Furthermore albeit the FreÌ„che men toke it very euil that the title and dignitie of the empire was taken from them and translated to the Germaynes yet the bishoppes of Rome considered that suche mightie emperours of the Germaynes which hade bounden them selues by a sore othe vnto their will as it is allready declared should not be reiected And for that cause they set their myndes with diligent studie to this ende the rather that by som haÌ„dsom meane they might confirme the Empire to the Germaynes and reserue the clayme and dignitie of it in their owne hande And in this case pope Gregorie the. 5. Gregorie the. 5. shewed his sleightye witte which helped and set forewarde this deuise very mightyly For he inasmuche as he was borne in Sarone and was kynsman also to Emperour Ottho the thrid of that name toke this establishement for chosing the emperour Ottho him self not denyeng but coÌ„senting to it rather that it should be lauful froÌ„ thensfurthe to the Germaines alone to chose the emperour And he ordayned sixe Electours which at the deceasse of euery Emperour should of duetie haue the charge of that mater that is to wete three Prelates of the bishoppes noÌ„bre as many princes The Emperour chosen by 6. Electours of Germany And vnto theÌ„ he added a seuenthe the king of Boheme to sattle the discorde of the ê‘tes But although he wold seme to haue coÌ„mitted al the power of chosing the emperour vnto them yet he hathe bouÌ„den both them al the Germaynes with this condicion that whom so euer they should haue chosen he should than be taken for emperour and Auguste in case the bishop of Rome hade comfirmed him These appeare euidentlie to be done in the year of our Lorde M. II. But in this place also it is to see the popes craftes and deceates to be in a maner vnauoideable wherby they confirmed their supremacie and power in more ample wise than afore with a newe addicion For furst of al he placed amoÌ„g the Princes Electrours three bishoppes who seing they are straitly bouÌ„deÌ„ to the sea of Rome by an othe they dare chose non other man to be Emperour but whoÌ„ they perceaue maye be allowed by the popes good will And moreouer although the election succede not all after the popes mynde yet hathe he reserued the confirmacion coronacion to himself which if he denye to him that is chosen he shall nother be called Emperour nor August Wherof it is manifestly apparent that the electours haue nothing geueÌ„ them but bare titles of honour and that the popes by this contrefaicte colour wolde cloke their ambicion and tyraÌ„nye which they are ashamed to practice more openly Hereof their owne Canons beare witnesse which saye that like as the secular sweorde wherby the armed Emperour reigneth ought to be in subiection to the spiritual that is to saye to the bishop of Rome him selfe so they clayme that power to the bishop also that he alone by his owne autoritie with out al consent either of the hole Counsail or any prelate maye depryue the Emperour of his dignitie yf he perceaue him to be in displeasure with him And verily they haue alwaies foughten with this their autoritie against euery of the most holy empeperours not wtout greuous losse of al Germanye like as the actes of HeÌ„ry ye. 4. Lewis ye. 4. Friderich Barbarosse others make meÌ„cioÌ„ of which maters it shal be treated more pleynteously and more clearely in the homilies folowyng Of these thinges now which hitherto haue ben reckoned vp I suppose it appeare sufficieÌ„tly opeÌ„ ynough with what beginninges they clymbed vp aloft vnto so highe estate of dignitie power wherof they vse euen at this daye so prowdely so shamelesly to boast that is to saye that they haue conueyed these maters to their owne haÌ„des through most wicked craftes treasoÌ„ robberies periuries falshead For furst of al they obteyned at Phocas that most cruel tyraÌ„nes haÌ„des the proude title of general vniuersal bishop not wtout stiffe striuing had with the bishoppes of ConstaÌ„tinopole And they vsed Phocas autoritie power furst of al against the emperours of the grekes which were their benefactours For wher they wolde not abide to haue ydolles nor maintenaunce of Idolatrie in their temples the popes layde at them with the cruell thoÌ„derbolt of cursyng expulsed them froÌ„ the coÌ„munioÌ„ of the church were so bolde as ê‘tly to kil their Exarches in Italie ê‘tly to driue theÌ„ out of Italie so as whaÌ„ they had draweÌ„ it al together to the Departing they plucked it cleane out of the emperours power FroÌ„ thece they ranne sawcely into FrauÌ„ce oppressed the kynges blood aduauÌ„ced such to the crowne of the realme as
coÌ„trary purposes setteth his delyte to haue a do with them that be of the most wealthy the most myghty astates He playeth he baÌ„ketteth he kepeth all maner of voluptuous cheare with the most delicate companies of the most fyne meÌ„ Besydes this least his statelynesse rufflyng riote yea aboue the ryote of Siracuse should bring him into pouertie at any tyme his custome is either by false countrefaicte supersticion or elles by open force armes to get the rychesse of al nacions into his owne handes Christ whaÌ„ the people wolde haue geuen him the title crowne to haue Ioh. 19. ben a King fledde away mynding so to auoyd that honour said with plaine purposed wordes that his kingdom was not of this world But the b. of R. chaleÌ„geth to him selfe the title of a King wickedly coueteth the kingdome that is of this worlde and to that purpose he hathe alwaies applied him selfe with all his forcast and wyth al the powers bothe of his witte and of his bodie vntill he became not aboue kinges only but also aboue emperours and made them fayne perforce to fall downe like an houÌ„de kisse his fete Yea he boasteth him selfe to be heire of the empire if an emperour dye as ye shall fynde ClemeÌ„tines the 2. boke the 11. title and 2. chaptre Christ vsed a more diligent studie to excute his fathers will which he was seÌ„t for thaÌ„ to promote encreace such as were his kinsfolkes as coÌ„cerning the fleshe with worldly wealthe and honours But the B. of Rome studie forcaste for the most parte how they maye endue suche as be either their kinsfolkes or their alliauÌ„ce or elles their bastardes with greatest pleintie of richesse to aduauÌ„ce them to the most high honours And that they maye that more easily bring that to passe they vse many tymes to put awaye the treasures of the churche which they call with to muche shamelesnesse S. Petres patrimonie to bestowe them vpon their owne frendes Which thing like as many other haue in tymes past done eueÌ„ so is our Paule the thrid not afrayd also to do the like opeÌ„ly wtout blushing Christ was coÌ„tet to submitte hiÌ„ self to the autoritie lawes of the laufull magistrate payed with a good will the reuenues of the taxes tributes being asked of others he taught that those were due to theÌ„ Matth. 17. 22. But the B. of Rome thinking to ê“uide better for him al his hathe forged a certain immunitie for the churche which maketh al those that are marked with his marke free froÌ„ al lauful publike burtheÌ„s setteth theÌ„ in suche case that sence they owe naught to no maÌ„ they geue theÌ„selues to do what they lust serue their bely vicious carnalitie wherin the meane while al meÌ„ aswel magistrates as subiectes are occupied busy how they maye with their sweat substauÌ„ce vpholde mayntene those most holy fathers intentes Christ led a life al together geueÌ„ to the notable Matth. 11. studie of al peace softenesse coÌ„meÌ„ded the same vertues to vs also But the B. of Rome is fearre swelling rageing in malice desire of reueÌ„gemet He passeth not also to moue horrible batailes to set al folkes together by the eares amoÌ„g theÌ„ selues for light tryfling causes which thing they haue so shamelesly practiced these v. hundred yeares euen vnto our tymes that it nedeth no further declaracion Christ led an innoceÌ„t a blameles Io. 8. Matth 26 an vnreprouerable life so as his enemies could nother fynd nor ymagine any thing worthie of deathe in him for al the lies that the false witnesse made But the B. of Rome being most farre of froÌ„ this studie of innoceÌ„cie is the maÌ„ of synne drowned in synne geueÌ„ in al thiÌ„ges to al kynd of vicious liuing as I haue alredy declared Christ toke to be his disciples suche as were poore Matth. 4. 1. Cor. 1. vile of no reputacioÌ„ meÌ„ of simple witte But the childe of this world the B. of Rome mynding to seme wyser in his generacioÌ„ choseth men out of the most noble houses of Italie FrauÌ„ce Spayne other naciones to be Bishoppes Cardinalles to thinteÌ„t being afterwarde supported by their autoritie fauour he might not nede to passe vpoÌ„ his enemies threattes and mightie powers Christ seÌ„t out his disciples to preache the Gospell But the Matth. 10 28. B. of Rome suffreth none of his to go any whidre froÌ„ him but loueth to be waited vpoÌ„ with their preseÌ„ce rufling or if he send out any he biddeth them not preache the gospell nor teache faith to wynne some to Christ but with their false wyles fraudes lyes deceates to begyle princes the people to stere vp hurly burlies ciuile mocions of warres Christ was diligeÌ„t to care for his shepe vsed the office of a most Io. 10. faithfull shepeherde in that he fedde theÌ„ taught theÌ„ continually But the B. of Rome being geueÌ„ to the wealthe of richesse delicacies pilleth of the shepes wolle yea the skynnes the fleshe to as for fediÌ„g of theÌ„ he maketh litel mater Christ neuer enforced any man vnwillingly to cleaue either to him or to Luce. 9. Matth. 26 his doctrine nor coÌ„pelled euer any maÌ„ by violeÌ„ce to grauÌ„t on his syde but with freÌ„dely faithful teaching he studied to moue the heartes of meÌ„ But the B. of Rome as a right warlike emperour yea like a yong Salmoneus rather and as a newe countrefaicte Iupiter shaketh the thondre of excomunicacion the thonderbolt of cursing externe gonneshote also and weapones at all men as many as goo about to slyppe from his doctrine and supersticion as the horrible vproare of this present warring dothe most euidently proue it Christ sent out such Apostles to preache the gospel as were most readyly Act. 2. instructe in the ample large giftes of the holy goost in the vnderstanding of tongues in the knowlage of the scriptures But the B. of Rome not caring for the prouision of Christes shepe but mynding to gratifie his owne secte folowers committeth the cure of the congregacions almost to none but to his Curtisanes bawdes cokes huÌ„tors and mule dryuers which though they be cleane voide of all maner of learning bothe diuine prophane yet they are connyngly skilled in abominable sciences lecherous lustes corrupt filthye maners Christ hauing coÌ„flicte with sathan his enemie wonne not the victorie with the Matth. 4. weapones of this worlde but with the sweord of the spirite the worde of God But the Bishop of Rome mystrusting Christ setteth vpoÌ„ his enemies wyth worldly weapones conspiracies treasones robberies poysonynges also wyth sweorde and fire Christ our Lorde oftentymes seing Matth. 6. Luc. 19. the dispersed shepe of the house of Israel and pitieng them euen from the botome of his heart wepte ouer their
In Boheme God by Ioh. Hus. his decreed prouideÌ„ce stered vp Iohn Hus a singular famous maÌ„ bothe of learning and of godly life which whan he hade diligently searched the mysteries of the holy scripture sone espied also the B. of Romes tyrannie and abominable ambicioÌ„ in the church and disclosed it vnto many meÌ„ of his tyme. But assone as he like a godly a blessed man begonne to attempte this mater these purpled fathers and ambicious ruffliÌ„g lusty guttes being afraide least their power dignitie wolde decaye neuer ceassed layeng baites to catche him till they hade throughe false flatring promises brought him wtin their clowches at the counsail of Constaunce ther contrarie to their open fidelitie yea contrary to the emperours faithfull promise also they burned him and for non other cause but for the truthes sake And yet not being content with that haynous crueltie vniust doing and falsehead they also moued muche cruell warres against the Bohemies stered vp the force and power of the hole empire sondry tymes against them But what nede we to rehearse olde exaÌ„ples Let vs marke their doinges in our dayes and we shal sone knowe the batailes that Antichrist maketh against the Lordes sayntes For euery man knoweth that his tyraÌ„nie hathe ben so cruell now for these 20. yeares and more that no man lyuing might so hardye fynde fault at their abominable popishe supersticion no maÌ„ might also affirme that Christ our Lorde is the only king the only priest and the only saueour of the worlde but he should be had by the backe for it For assone as any man confessed Christ to be the only head of the churche and the only saueour of the worlde he was hade straightwaies to prison and laden wyth as many fetters as he could beare and either he died ther miserably wyth the stynke of the prison or elles he was hanged or slayne or elles burned and suffred as muche torment as could be deuised so that the lightest punyshement was to be banished And if any prince abhorriÌ„g suche horrible crueltie wold not be their slaughterman vpon his owne subiectes by and by he began also to be suspecte of heresye and was layde watche for by these gaye goostly fathers In this behalf I reporte me to those faithfull christianes that lye yet still in prison I reporte me to the swordes to the halters and ryuers wherwyth they were murthered most cruelly I reporte me to the galowes stakes in euery place wher their dead bodies heng I reporte me to the feldes and grouÌ„des wher an infinite nombre of them were slayne for they are moo than any true christian man can thinke vpoÌ„ wtout weping teares And yet for all this the cruell beast not contenting him self to be filled with so bocherly a slaughter of sayntes whan he perceaueth that the doctrine and faithe of Christ is stroÌ„ger than all his tormeÌ„tes punyshementes thought good to stere vp the most cruell people in all the worlde the most deadly foes of the name of Germanie to destroye with fire sweorde theÌ„ that take Christ for their only saueour wil not be conteÌ„t to worship the B. of Rome nor his God Mayzim In this place we ought also to Antichrist shall preuaile against the Sayntes marke this well most louyng brethreÌ„ in Christ that the prophet Daniel saithe that Antichrist shall not only make batail against the Lordes sayntes but also that he shal haue the vpperhande of them For he speaketh not thus to thintent we shoulde be afraide cast downe our heartes al together but he vttreth meaneth by these his wordes after the sorte that Christ our Lorde speaketh of in Iohn The time shal com that who so euer killeth you shal thinke he dothe God seruice Io. 16 Io. 16. For what so euer is spokeÌ„ coÌ„cernyng Antichristes successe and victories it must be vnderstandeÌ„ but of the bodies and externall goodes of the sayntes or faithfull people For God our heauenly father dothe somtymes permyt either Antichrist or other aduersaries of his name and of his people to haue som power and to spoile his flocke of life and goodes bicause wher they which ought to haue serued him were geueÌ„ to muche vnto the worlde and neclected those thinges that are diuine heaueÌ„ly And this we reade hathe ben the principal cause almost of all persecucioÌ„s Howbeit the Lorde dothe not neclecte to saue those that his be for all that but defendeth theÌ„ vnder his owne fatherly protection most safely And whan his people be tried with the crosse and blustring stormes of persecucious as Gold and siluer are tried in the fire they are â— Pe. 1. scowred cleane from all drosse of maÌ„nes infirmitie and of fleshly desires so that their soules departe not only without any harme but also more holy and muche the perfiter Wherfore it is conuenient for vs not to be afraide in any wise of this present ê‘secucion which we see raised by Antichristes drift and false fetches But as it becometh hearty souldiours let vs rather reioyce that ther is occasione offred vs to shewe a specialtie and a perfite lesson of our faithe and with lusty courages to beate Antichrist backe by the aide of so noble a captain Christ our most victorious king but not with outward marcial weapones which Antichrist is smally afraide of but with true repentauÌ„ce with the amendement of life with constaunt faithe with pacience and with continual feruent prayers for as these be most acceptable vnto god euen so their custom is to burst asondre all the violent force that satan beÌ„deth against vs and also to ouerthrowe the couÌ„sailes of Christes enemies For these are the weapones that the Lord hath deliuered vnto his churche and he hathe promised to be present him self to assiste it Therfore brethren Christ seeth the daungers that his churche is in he beholdeth the painfull labours of his people he seeth the cruell and horrible deuises and doinges of Antichristian meÌ„ he seeth his enemies and the wolues that vexe his churche yea he not only seeth them but he also brydleth theÌ„ ruleth theÌ„ nother dothe he suffre theÌ„ to rauine any farther thaÌ„ he seeth it profittable for vs al his faithfull flocke Necligent forgetfull childreÌ„ must nedes taste of the rodde and the rebellious stubburne fleshe must nedes be walked with a good cudgell in a staues ende The Lordes rodde staffe is the crosse of persecucioÌ„ which he sendeth by the cruell enemies of his name As for them they folowe theyr owne lust and are geuen al together to the seruing of the filthie fleshe and euen theÌ„ the Lorde vseth as a meane to chastise our fleshe wtall And in case God fynde that in vs by their meanes that he is desirous to doo he is hable in a moment bothe to deliuer vs to tame their tirannie surely ynough This mater is witnessed by the vngracious ende of Pharao the shamefull deathe of
might be obteyned with al that the B. of R. is the head the vniuersall bishop of all the churche as he that being successour of Petre the prīce of the apostles Christes vicare hath his sea in the principall churche And bycause this so ambicious and lickepeny lieng glose shoulde not lacke his countrefait colour these arrogaunt sawcy helhoūdes haue brought furth places of scripture violentlye wretchedly wrasted for their purpose And where as we reade that Christe sayd to Petre whan he confessed him to be the sonne of God Thou art Petre and vpon this rocke will I buylde my churche They sayde Christes wordes are thus to be vnderstanden that Christ made Petre the foundacion of hys churche and that al churches are bounden therfore of duetie to be vnder the obedience of Petres successour the B. of Rome Againe wher the Lorde saithe Petre fede my shepe these men haue expounded this worde fede so that they wold nedes haue the autoritie and supremacie of all bishoppes and churches geuen to the B. of Rome as vnto Petres successour They haue also violently wrasted this vnto the same purpose the Christ speaking of the keyes sayth What so euer thow shalt bynde in earthe shal be boūden in heauen and what so euer thow shalt lose on earthe shal be losed in heauen For they saide whom so euer either the B. of Rome him self or any other sacrificeing priest being consecrated by the B. of Romes autoritie assoiled was losed and ridde from the bondes of synnes and contrary wise that vnto whom so euer that maner of absolucion was denyed he was bounden still in the cheynes of synne and in the state of damnacion These toyes I saye and infinite other haue the subtil sleighty marchauntes beaten in to the eares and heartes of the common simple sorte And as sone as these maters beganne once to growe in to credence men beganne also to taste of the B. of Romes power and tirannye For if any mā hade so good a stomacke that he durst set his fote either against the B. of Rome or his he was straightwaies knocked in the head with the thonderbolt of excommunicacion and reputed of all men for a damned and an vndone man and thus the mater growed so farre furthe that euen most mighty emperours began to be afraide of the B. of Romes power For they spared not emperours but shotte of their ordinaunce at them also and commaunded straitly vnder great paynes that no mā should obey those emperours that were excommunicate as it is to see in the chronicles of the greke emperours by the vnworthy falles of the emperours Hēry ye. 4 5. Lewis ye. 4. Friderike ye. 1. 2. And doubtles albeit they did with al diligēt forsight resiste the wicked tirānie of the bishoppes of Rome entred Italie sondry tymes with roiall strong armies droue their enemies the bishoppes of Rome out of the title set others in their rowmes yet all their trauailes were vayne to no purpose nother were they hable to twytche awaye so muche as one heare of the bishoppes cruel violēce nor to pul it vnder any whitte at all For as sone as their backs were once turned departed Italie the bishoppes of Rome came in to the citie again occupied their lost tirannye afreshe and with the thonderclappes of their curse they made the Emperours fayne to be obedient vnto them And the only cause of this mischief was that the B. of Rome was not yet dead in mennes consciences bicause they beleued that he was Christes vicare hade power to lose bynde yea power ouer heauē hel to Therfore the streinght power of emperours was neuer hable to preuaile or bring any thing to passe against the craftye doiges force of the bishoppes of Rome For although emperours thē selues other of their courtes householdes espied the romishe fraudes deceueable wiles wel ynough yet the vulgare people being ignoraūt of al that thought that the B. of Romes decrees ought to be honoured as the lawes of God and bicause they dradde the thonderclappes of his curse as though they hade ben the fearfull sentences of the iudgemēt of God they wold nother meddle nor be of counsail with suche as they sawe knocked downe with the laitbolte of excommunicacion And this the bishoppes of Rome could the easylier bring to passe bicause ther were bishoppes and doctours of churches scatred throughout al the coastes of christendom which set furthe the autoritie of the churche of Rome for apostolike and godly But now let vs speake also of such maters as haue chaūced in our tyme that we maye see how Paul the Apostles prophecie is fulfilled at this daye At such tyme as it pleased God our heauenly and mercifull boūteous father to set his people at libertie which had ben long holden in bondage and to brydle Antichristes tirānie he chosed the small vesselles and such as were of no reputaciō to cōfoūde by thē those thinges that semed most mightie inuincible For two or thre faithful doctours ministres of churches being enlumined with the spirit of God whan they were growne to more perfite knowlage of the scriptures vttred openly the breathe of the Lordes mouthe that is to saye the worde of God and weaponed many a one with the same sharpe strong sweord Thā whā men hade once goten that weapon in their handes to kepe their heades against the craftye wiles of the false prophetes they began to acknowlage Iesus Christ and to beleue that he is the only head of his churche the chief priest and king the sufficient sacrifice for the synnes of the worlde and the only mediatour and aduocate wyth the heauenly father yea and such a one that is neuer absent from his churche and nedeth not the seruice of any vicare in his rowme And in dede the knowlage of these maters dothe also reproue the lies and legier demayne of the B. of Rome to the intēt they might see on the other parte that he is nother the head of the churche nor the high priest and king muche lesse the vicare of Christ our saueour They haue moreouer learned that the Masse is no sacrifice for synnes nor the popishe absolucion is of any autoritie Furthermore those places of scripture which the bishoppes of Rome like most shameles helhoundes hade violētly wickedly and sawcely wrasted were plainly opened in their owne true meanyng whan the light of the truthe was laide to them And out of those places men learned that Petre is not the rocke it self but that he hade his denominacion of Petra that is the rocke whiche he confessed Christ is the Rocke and not Petre. and so they acknowlaged that Christ is the rocke which is the only foundacion of the churche wherupon the churche of faithfull people being surely buylt can not swarue 1. Cor. 3. Men haue learned also that the office of feding signifieth not an empire or a kingdome but