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
to al his Canones and statutes We nede not to make long rehearsal of thīges done lōg agoo but let vs beholde the state of thinges that are presently in al mennes eies in all mennes handes Almightie God our most merciful father tedring the treason ruinous state that we haue suffred hathe vouchedsafe in these our dayes to reueale vnto vs through the light of his worde al that is necessary vnto saluacion And yet here a man may fynd an infinite multitud of mē whiche being geuē to the affectiō of their owne fleshely fantasie hade rather be gouerned guyded by lies false doctrine thā by the light of the truthe yea Hearke my gentilmen Iackes on bothe sides to this saing mary to thintēt they may frely folowe their owne affectiones filthy fleshely lustes and serue all vicious wickednesse their trade is not only to be haters of the truthe which they embraced before but also as muche as in thē lieth to psecute oppresse it But if we loke vpō the life behaueours religiō of those same mē we shal see more clearely thā the daye light that it is the iust iudgement of God which Paule maketh mēciō of in this place For the wicked helhoundes are dropped in to so great a folishe fōdenesse are so farre past thē selues that now they haue reiected dephied the true preachers of God the trade of Goddes holy worde they The praise of Maidē priestes heare those mē obey their doctrine whom they see most shameful hooremōgers cuckold makers dycers drōkerdes ful of al kynde of vices yea they require to be pourged of their sines at those mēnes hādes whō they knowe to be the very bonde slaues of al wicked synnes mischief They also wil be taught by those mē whom they them selues confesse to haue lesse learnyng than an asse And yet they are not cōtēt to be thus fōdly madde but now in this daūgerous peril that al Germanie stādeth p̄sētly in they holde with those mēnes entreprises and further their intētes with al their diligēce power yea with their prayers bothe priuately and openly who as al mē may Italiane◠Spanyardes Antichristes garde see are the most deadly enemyes of the common wealthe of our coūtrey For shall we thinke any man to be so folishe and ignoraunt that he can not perceaue what malicious heartes the Italianes and Spanyardes beare to all Germanie Is ther any man so deafe and doltishe that he neuer hearde how they raile against vs They thinke it not ynough to call vs barbarous rude beastes lowtes fooles and dogges but their maner is to burthen vs also wyth the horrible cryme of heresye yea they thinke it laufull for thē to exercice all kynde of wickednesse tyrannie and merciles So they are welcome in to England also to traitourous popishe priestes to hoores bawdes cuckoldes c. crueltie vpon the Germaynes as though they thought the Germaynes not worthy to be coūted among the nombre of men And yet we see these men the most welcome gestes that hearte can thinke vnto many in Germany yea ther be sō that beleue they shal be defended and haue a mery worlde by these mennes marcial powers which haue alwaies hitherto by so many euidēt tokēs vttred their malicious heartes against all Germanes But this is the very iust iudgement of God that they which hate the light of the truthe shall not only be blynde but being robbed also of their commō witte they shall not be hable to see that they see with their open eies nor heare that they heare wyth their owne eares Now must we diligently obserue in this place louīg brethrē in Christ what is our office to doo if we be desirous to escape this greuous hurt of so pernicious a blindenesse That is we must beware that we be not so vnthankefull we must arme our selues also wyth such faithe and diligence as maye worthily receaue the light of Goddes worde and truthe whā God offreth it vs. Wherin aboue all thinges we must beware of this brethrē that we geue not our myndes to our owne priuate affections nor set more by them than by the knowlage of the truthe For who so euer hathe mynde to folowe his owne pleasur shall neuer com to the true faithe Therfore it standeth vs in hande to tame our affectiones and to bring thē vnder the obedience of the spirite And among other thinges this also dothe muche hurt for folkes to hunt gredily after the pleasures of carnalitie and present prosperitie of worldly thinges for that we see is the cause of the greatest wickednesse that can be the vndoing to many a one at this daye For ther be some that coulde be well content to beare the gospell and the glad tydinges of saluacion purchaced by Christ if it wanted the crosse and stormes of persecuciō But whan they see them once com they not only let the most holsom doctrine of the gospell god and greuously blaspheme it but also they dare raile most deuillishlye against Christ our Lorde him selfe But let the inuincible heartie māful constauncie of the most holy men that were our auncettours make vs heartie in this behalfe brethren For with how glad an hearte and with what thankes to God shal we thinke that they wold haue receaued that doctrine of the gospell if any man hade preached it vnto them in the dayes of the emperour Lewis the. 4. Whan they abode the thōderclappe and most heauy burthen of Antichristes curse eightene yeares space like right hartie true men to the emperour And shall we than being perfitly instructed by the lighte of the truthe be more cowheardly afraide of this enemye the B. of Rome than they were Shall it be sene that we are more colde and faynter hearted to Christ our king and saueour than they were to their emperour that was but a mortal man And shall we passe lesse of our faithe that we haue promised to Christ than they did of their fidelitie that they promysed to a mortal man Deliuer your selues brethren from the slaunderous infamye of so great a wickednesse Thinke it a goodly thing for you to folowe the vertuous heartynesse of your elders Thinke it well done to bring mennes soules out of bondage in to libertie though you should sheade your heart blood for it Take it for a goodly mater a ioyous for you to suffre deathe for the loue of your countrey for your wyues your children and for the sauing of mennes soules and for the glorye of our saueour Christ Ther are the fotestepppes of so many martires that are gone before vs and the example of Christ him self that it is not possible for vs to shrinke without to muche shame But aboue all thinges it shal be necessary for vs to pray heartily and continually that he wolde vouchesafe to deliuer vs from the tyrannye of Antichrist and to instructe vs with his spirite and faithe that we may
Emperour Mauricius blood But what maner men they should become our Lordes wil was to shewe by thys tokē that they should be most diligent folowers of theyr founder and through conspiracie treason warres hyndre the godly and holy endeauours of Emperours Which thing we shall a litell after shewe by more euident profe Nowe then the litel horne which in Daniel is a figure of Antichrist was growen out and wyth an exceding proude gay glisteryng title was named the head of the churche Howbeit he florished not al this while with so great streynghtes nor atchieued so mightie highe power as the forcast of so weightie a mater did necessarily require For wher the bishops being chosen of the cleargie people of Rome must nedes be confirmed either of the Emperour him selfe or elles of his lieutenaunt the Exarche of Rauenna the bishoppes by them confirmed were not hable to obteyne any power against the emperours of Rome and therfore they durst not for their eares ymagine any thing that might be in any condicion derogatorious either against the power or honour of the emperours So that the bishoppes thought it not good for them to rest vntill about the year of our saueour Cōstātine the. 4. Benedicte the. 2. DClxx the mater was brought to that passe that Constantine the fourthe emperour of that name endued bishop Benedicte the seconde with this priuilege that whom so euer thensfurth the cleargie and people of Rome should haue made bishop the same should also be acknowlaged of al mē as the head of the churche and Christ our saueours vicare wythout any meane confirmaciō either of the Emperour him self or of his lieutenaunt the Exarche of Rauenna But anon as the prowde ambicious Bishoppes of Rome hade obteyned this their maters begāne to succede euen after their owne purpose by this meanes so great streynght might and autoritie happened to that litell horne which yet hitherto appeared in all mennes sight to be but vile weake and naught set by that afterwarde it became intolerable euen to the Emperours them selues by whose counsailes and helpe it was promoted so high that it made batail and preuailed euen against them their selues And ther wanted not at that tyme signes and wondres wherby the heauenly father admonished wretched mortal folkes of the periles which shoulde be brought in by Antichrist For as Platina who out of all paraduenture was bothe the Bishoppes owne secretarie and also their trusty Oratour beareth record a fearfull and an vnwont blasing starre appeared and so vehement a fyre brake out of Vesuuius a mount Vesuuius of Compaigne that the places roūde about were brent vp By these tokens it was vndoubtedly the father of heauens will to shewe vnto all men that Antichristes fire began allready to burne in Italie which wyth a sore burnyng flame should consume and disquiete the consciences of many men For euen at the furst whan the Bishop of Rome was aduaunced to so highe power ther past scarcely fourtie yeares but he beganne to set out all his streinghtes and autoritie against the very Emperours them selues not wythout their greuous sore damage and perile For in the yeare of our saueour Christes birthe DCCxij Philippicus the Emperour of the Monothelites was infecte wyth the heresie of them which holde opinion that ther is but one only wil in Christ Iesu By reasō wherof pope Constantine stryketh him wyth the Striuing about ymages thonderbolt of his curse and maketh this decree and statute wythall that the ymages of the holy fathers which were present at the sixe furst and general counsailes should be painted in S. Petres porche But this mater bredde newe stryfe and newe hurly burlies For vpō that the bishop hade also occasion geuen him wherby he might throwe downe and ouerwhelme the three hornes or kingdomes that Daniel maketh mencion of For the bishoppes of the greke churches set their fote with most eagre stomackes against the bishoppes decree For in asmuche as they sawe God hade by his owne mouthe forbidden the vse of ymages in tēples with so earnest and so perfite a commaundemēt they affirmed that no ymages at all ought either to be hade or suffred in christen mennes temples But wher as the most parte folowed the Monothelites heresie they were also ouercome and ouerthrowen from this godly and holy sentence of abolishing of ymages so that vse of ymages being confirmed by the bishop Emperour Leo the third banished ymages of Romes autoritie brought a newe parte of supersticiō in to the churche Than foure yeares after that in that year of our saueour Christes birthe DCCxvi the emperour Leo that thrid of that name begāne his reigne which being instructe in that knowlage of God des lawe caused al the ymages stāding in the tēples through out all the coastes of the empire to be abolished taken awaye and sent lettres to the bishop of Rome Gregorie the seconde commaunding Gregorie the. 2. him that he should also do the same But ther was kyndled a great greuous cōtenciō a sore fraie For the Pope that most holy father in the wanyaūt had wyth so great studie diligēce dronkē of the cōmaūdemētes wherw t the Lorde condēneth forbiddeth ymages that he was so sawcy as to call Leo thēperour by a most odious name wicked ymage quellour yea also set him in so deadly an hate with the people of Italie bringeth him in suche a contēpt with al men that som wold haue gone about to chose a new Emperour And albeit ther purpose toke none effect for euen Gregorie him self could not allowe it the cause why was that the bishops ambicion could not awaye with any Emperour in Italie seing they wolde be lordes of al thinges thē selues yet the people of Rauenna stered vp a great mightie sedicion wherin the emperours lieutenaunt Paule the Exarche and his sonne were bothe slayne of the sedicious multitude of the commōs But forasmuche as that vproare coulde not moue Leo his mynde but he wold most constauntly goo on forewarde wyth his purposed intent he was at leynght strikē wyth the curse of pope Gregorie the thrid of that name and depryued bothe of the communion of Gregorie the. 3. the churche and of his empire Besides this whā he hade purposed to haue sent an other Exarche to Rauenna to ordre the maters of Italie the Pope also resisted him and wythstode him that he coulde not by reason of the Lumbardes whom he hade drawne on his parte against the Emperour For they wyth a strong power besieged Rauenna bette it and at leynght toke it and therwythall depryued the Emperour of al his iurisdicciō in Italie Here now we see the furst horne throwen downe For al the Emperours power which he hade yet vnto The greke Emperours this tyme holden in Italie was opprest at the popes settyng on by force of armes of the Lumbardes and the dryuē out of Italie Emperour him selfe was all
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
is he that wold not abhorre the force of this argument Christ saide to Petre Fede my shepe Ergo the B. of of Rome is the head of the church A ioyly conclusion But how shal it be ê“ued that to fede Christes shepe to be the head of the church signifieth al one thing Dyd Paule whaÌ„ he spake to that ministring elders of the Ephesians called theÌ„ bishoppes put in autoritie ouer the Lordes flocke make as many heades of the church as were elders ther Or what shal we saye to that whiche was enioyned to the other disciples whan the Lorde sayd Go into the hole vniuersal worlde and preache the gospel to al creatures And yet that shal you coÌ„fute to in case you proue the gospell to be nother that foode of the soule nor the pleasaunt pastures for coÌ„scieÌ„ces to fede on But admit we grauÌ„t you this what a doo hath Christ with Belial with Symon Magus or with the B. of R But they must nedes be shameles haÌ„dlers of the scriptures that in humane thinges are voide of al shame Wel in the same Canone Boniface gothe on claymeth also the secular power of the emperour to him self least in disputing of diuine power he lose that other And at leynght he cometh to the ful purposed ende of his disputacion concludeth after this sorte Therfore who so euer resisteth this power thus ordayned of God resisteth goddes ordinauÌ„ce except he feyne two beginniÌ„ges as Manicheus did which we iudge to be false heretical For as Moses recordeth God made heaueÌ„ earthe not in the beginninges but in the beginning And finally we declare saye define and pronouÌ„ce to be of playne necessitie of saluacioÌ„ that al humaine creatures be subiect to the B. of R. Doest thou now make vs a newe article of faithe saluacioÌ„ Boniface But the Lorde sayeth those shepe are saued that folowe him their shepehearde that knowe his voice that seke to entre into the shepefolde by him But these maters make but a very litel to thestablishmeÌ„t of the B. of R. tyraÌ„nie lustye ruffling Therfore say they the B. of R. must be obeyed of necessitie Do we not knowe nowe those presumptuous woÌ„derful thinges that Daniel tolde of before that Antichrist should speake But let vs passe ouer to other maters so as the more playnly we se this gaire the more lyghtly we may dephie theÌ„ For the 9. Quest 3. Pope Gelasius writeth to the bishops throughout Dardania Gelasius on this wise Al the church throughout the hole worlde knoweth that the seat of S. Petre the apostle hathe power to lose what so euer is boundeÌ„ by the senteÌ„ces of any bishoppes who so euer they be bicause you must vnderstaÌ„de it hath power to iudge of all churches And again Al the churche throughout the hole worlde knoweth that the holy sacred church of Rome hathe autoritie to haue the iudgemeÌ„t ouer al meÌ„ that no maÌ„ maye laufully iudge of her iudgemeÌ„t For vnto it must al the partes of that worlde appeale but froÌ„ it no maÌ„ is ê‘mitted to appeale Hereunto is applied the sayeng that is written Cap. Quanto de Translat Episc tit 7. the pope is reported to be the arbitre of heauenly thinges and therfore he chaungeth the nature of thinges in applieng the substaunces of one thing to an other And he of nothing can make somthing and can make a sentence of nothing to be somwhat For in those thinges that he will his wil standeth in stede of reasoÌ„ And yet ther is none that maye saye to him why doest thow so For he may dispense aboue the lawe make right of vnright in correcting and chaungeing of lawes For he hath the fulnesse of power in his owne haÌ„des Lo these be those presumptuous wonderfull wordes of Antichrist dearely beloued brethreÌ„ in Christ by the whiche he gothe about to seme not only to be like God but also to be greater and of more excellencie than God For he saithe not only that he can make somthing of nothing which is the office of non but of the only power and vertue of God but also according to Daniels prophecie he teacheth that all rightes and lawes are vnder his arbitrament so muche that euen in them he maye dispense as it pleaseth him self make wrong to be right yea and that vnright shal be taken for right if he so geue sentence And least any sawcie boldenesse shoulde be waÌ„ting in him he vsurpeth the olde propretie of tyrannes Sic volo Sic iubeo Sit pro ratione voluntas This I will thus I commaunde let will stande for reason For in those thiÌ„ges ê™ he that he wil he hath wil in stede of reasoÌ„ And ther is none that maye demauÌ„de of him a reason and causes of his doynges O slaunderous infamye o vnexcusable shame of a christiaÌ„ mans name Wherto doo we any more laughe the Iewes dreames to scorne or deteste the blasphemyes of Mahomete seing greater maters of more crueltie are spoken not without feare heard of among christian menne and that wtout correction as yet hitherto Let vs be ashamed of our neclegeÌ„t naughtinesse Let vs be weary of so great heartlesnesse Let vs also repent our wicked sufferauÌ„ce in hearing so abominable blasphemies O foles that se not this gaire O wicked ones that whaÌ„ they see them yet can heare theÌ„ and beare with them For albeit they be cruell and abominable maters that we haue talked of yet ther folowe more abominable more blasphemous more haynous maters that they are not afraide to speake of For in the. 40. Distinction Chap. Si Papa We reade that it is thus written Though the pope neclecte bothe his Note owne saluacion and his brethrens and be founde to be vnprofitable and slacke in his doinges Yea and moreouer though he speake neuer a wit of goodnesse at all which is more hurteful to him self and all men and leade innumerable people by heapes with himself to the chief deuil of hell ther with him to be whipped with many strypes for euer yet may no mortall man in this case rebuke his faultes for he shall iudge al be iuged of none him self except he be depre hended out of the waye from the fayth Hearke brethren the presumptuous horrible wordes of Antichrist yea heare them not but rather spitte them out of your eares out of your hartes that you be not polluted with them For what christiaÌ„ man can awaye with the hearing of theÌ„ Who is it that can paciently abyde theÌ„ We see brethren the readynesse of God towardes vs we see the softenesse and heartie purpose of Goddes righteousnesse towards vs to be such that he disdayneth not to declare vnto vs wretched persones which shall lyue here but a shorte space a plaine reckonyng almost of all his iudgemeÌ„tes But this maÌ„ of synne the sonne of perdicioÌ„ the brothel of al fleshely filthinesse of all wickednesse whaÌ„ he is waited
are infinite past al nombre that are dayly blustred vp of hym whiche like as he walketh about as a roaring Lyon to destroy vs so is he most craftie in layeng of snares 1. Pet. 5. and false deceaueable baytes yet we ought before al thinges to considre two maters false doctrine the griefe of the crosse and persecution which are speciall snares to ouerthrowe our weaknesse withall For the deuil knoweth the disposicion of our nature that in diuine and heauēly affaires it is wonderfull dull and drowsye and maye very easely be deceaued but in other causes in religiō specially it estemeth euery thyng accordyng to the successe and spede so it is offended at persecution and aduersite By reason wherof we se that he vseth alwaies this knacke against the flocke of Christ that either he deceaueth the simple sorte with falsly cōceaued opinions or disquieteth them with cōtentions and wrangling disputatiōs or els he feareth them with the crosse of persecution and bloody warres of cruelly procured tyrannes Yf any man wolde require examples herof he shal mete them so thick that he shall not nede to take muche paine in searching of them For the deuelishe dreames of the Nazarenes maye stande for an example whiche iomble the lawe and Christ together and make his merite of none effecte And whan those dreames were euen scarcely repressed ther was persecucion done by that monstre of nature Nero. Hervnto we maye make rehersal of Cerinthus and his successour that prodigious slaue of lechery pryde crueltie Domitianus Among these we wil reckē Arrius and the tyrānes that folowed his heretical madnesse And lyke as the nerer we drawe to th ende of the world so muche that more pernicious and more perilous is euery thing so in our tyme we see that myghtye houge Antichrist the bishop of Rome farre excede al his predecessours in tyranny and so outragiously raue wyth bothe these sweordes that a man can not wel discerne with whether he dothe hurte the churche The vertue of the Popes doctrine the sorer For he hath brought in doctrine that is cleane contrarie repugnaunt to the true doctrine For it draweth men from God maketh them to serue creatures it teacheth mē also to seke saluacion in their owne merites and to trust in their owne strenghtes He hath also forged suche a kynde of religiō as hath more twitle twatle toyes in it then the Leuitical lawe and al the supersticion that euer the gentiles vsed Yea it is patched together with parte of both of them and is most farre of frō spirite truthe Ioh. 4. And yet vnder pretense of this religion he is aduaunced to so highe power and tyranny that he is hable to compel them that repyne against it to represse them that speake against it to kil and slea them that resiste can not beleue it Therfore the lyeng spirite of errour playeth the deuil in the churche at this daye and the Bishop of Romes tyrānical swoord layeth on load withal and that not vpō priuate persons now as in tymes past long ago but vpon most myghtye Princes the most famous cyties yea vpon al sortes of people his sweorde is drawen maketh streames of blood to renne downe euery where For now we see great cities takē and throwē downe fieldes laide waste honest wemē and maydēs defiled with abominable lecherie and yong babes also either killed or elles which is the more horrible maymed of their limmes We se the flowre of youthe brought to the horrible wyckednesse of buggery and al hole Germany in the meane space euery where cruelly vexed And albeit that chosen instrumēt of Satan Antichrist rage with open tyranny yet by ioynyng lyes to his tyranny his drift is to cloke his deuillishe attemptates and the occasions therof to enueagle the vnlearned and simpler sorte with false forged causes craftily to cause many folkes to hate the truthe of the Gospel true religion Let vs awake therfore brethren seing we are placed in the watche towre let vs reproue the sweorde not that is yet commyng but presently come and layeth on loade yea and batheth it self all ready in the bowelles of the flocke For in this case ther is many a mannes faithe assayed Ther be som whych bicause they perceaue not the feate of forgeing of lies are sone begyled Ther be some which bicause they can not discerne the true doctrine ymagined supersticiō asondre take falshead for truthe And som ther be that are yet still afraide of the thōder bolt of the Romyshe curse that is to saye Antichristes curse And som ther be also which are so offended whan the crosse and heate of persecucion cometh that after that triall euery mā maye plainly perceaue they receaued the sede of the Gospell in to stonye grounde In this case therfore is our diligēt cure required good brethren In this behalfe it standeth vs necessarily in hande to shewe our selues faithful watchemen so as the people being warned by vs maye be hable to knowe false fained doctrine to beware of forged supersticion to shonne the baites snares of lies and in no wise to be offēded whā persecuciō cometh And principally it shal be our parte to geue the onsette vpon the autour of so haynous a mischief the bishop of Rome whom not only the prophetes but also Christ and thapostles according to the histories directly proclayme to be the right mightie houge Antichrist He it is therfore whom our duetie is to reproue to set him out plainly in his colours for the congregatiōs to loke vpon him that no man be amased by reason of his falsly causeles vsurped persone or title or be afrayde of his vayne gōneshotte of wordes bicause of his pratīg power And against forged supersticion lyeng doctrines ther is doutles no presenter a remedye than to knowe the truthe For where the lyght of the truthe spreadeth out his beames ther maye the deuil put vp his pypes for any hurt he can do with his darke dongeon of lyes As for the talkes of some fyne fyngred tēdrelinges they are not worth the hearing which bycause they are afrayde of their owne carcasse and pelfe wolde in no wise haue an enemye of so great myght power spokē against to be prouoked through such maner of open mouthed playne declaraciōs Is ther not vnquiet trouble ynough otherwise saye they Is ther not dissension tumultuous vproares ynough besides what auaileth it to throwe fire in to the fornace and oile in to the fire I beseche you good brethren felowe curates beare wyth me though I answer these men playnly home at fewe wordes For I coulde easily cōtemne their prittle prattle talking if ther were not som of their company that loke to be reported not only for fanonrers of the gospelles truthe but euen doctours also and that not of the cōmon sorte of doctours Who forasmuche as they wōderfully myslike this worke which I purpose to
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
our heartes diligētly and neuer forget that in any case which he vouchedsafe to warne vs of with such earnest fidelitie Moreouer whan he should expoūde in his holy sacred reuelaciō which it was his pleasure to shewe vnto his entierly beloued disciple Iohn̄ the sore and dredefull payne of Antichristianitie which he wold haue figured in the name of Babilon among other thinges he speaketh thus in great sadnesse Get you our from her my people be not partakers of her synnes that Apo. 18. you be not partakers also of her plagues Christ our faithfull schole maister biddeth vs get out frō thence that we be not made partakers of her wickednesse idolatrie and supersticion Yea and onles we doo so he threatteneth the payne to heng ouer our neckes Wold to God those men wolde pōdre and thinke vpō this in their heartes which for feare of losing of a litel paltring pelfe or elles for a muckering vile aduauntage sake hade rather he vnder the tirannie of Antichrist than to abyde stil in the feloweship of Christ and of his churche Yea and they also which witting and willing and with circumspecte aduisement deliberate for sight put their children in subiection to the churches of the popishe religion wher they are compelled to worship Idoles yea and though they knowe the true faithe yet dare they not confesse it I knowe what many will obiecte against me in this behalf if thow Note well make all them damned say they that folowe the trade of Antichrist that is of the B. of Rome thā must our fathers auncetours nedes be damned also In dede this is the cōmon querel of the papistes which they are alwaies prating and beating in to the rude vnlearned common peoples heades and trouble many folkes myndes therwithall which thinke it were a most vnworthye mater for them to beleue that their elders were the children of damnacion And this their meanyng is to gather hereof that if our auncettours which lyued vnder the popishe religion were saued than they may be saued by the same meanes also As for me I will speake somwhat sobrely of these maters nother will I searche nor rippe the iudgementes of God to depely For to what purpose were it to searche what maner of iudgemēt almightie God vsed towardes our auncettours which departed this life befor the truthe came to light Howbeit touching his grace and mercie we will not hope but the best in euery cōdicion namely seing it were not impossible for him to lighten them that erred and were deceaued with a common ignoraunce euen at the last breathe of their life that they might acknowlage receaue the true faithe in Christ and so be saued But in the meane space this we are sure of that if they were saued as we trust they were they were saued by non other reason nor waye but by the merite of Christ and not by the helpe of popishe supersticion Ther is no cause therfore why you should goo about to clooke your errours and supersticion with the exāples of our elders O you most shameles protectours of the Romishe abominacion For ther is no like comparison nor agrement in them Our elders could not see the light of the truthe which shyneth most brightly at this daye although they were men otherwise nother wilfully stubburne nor opēly wicked Besides this Christ our Lorde calleth them dāned lost which whan they hearde the worde of the gospel disdayne to be leue it or to heare it whā it is brought to them Wherfore seing our elders nother hearde nor could heare the gospell you shall neuer be hable to nōbre them among the rable of you which synne against the holy goost him self in that you wil nother heare the truthe whā it is offred you nor geue credēce to it whan it is playnly knowne And this so manifest a wickednesse dothe presse you so heauily that we may truly frely saye by the autoritie of Goddes worde that as many as at this daye in so great a light of the truthe doo folowe and defende the tirannie of Antichrist contrary wise doo wickedly persecute the health geuing worde of the gospell and the faithe that men haue in Christ shall at leynght be tormented with their head the Romishe Antichrist in the payne of euerlastīg damnacion except they learne to renounce their wickednesse in tyme turne their heartes to God with a true faithe And that they may so do spedily by the light of Goddes grace it shal be our partes continually to praye Let these now suffice to be spoken cōcerning the abominable cruel perilous tyrannye of Antichrist Secondely this is to be noted louing brethren in Christ that by Paules sayeng Antichrist shall endure til the last cōmyng of Christ vnto iudgemēt reigne by one maner or other For albeit he be dead flayne by the breathe of Goddes mouthe and with the sweord of Goddes worde in many folkes cōsciences yet he lyueth through his sleightes false wiles in many Antichrist abideth til the Lord's commyng peoples heartes yet still and bicause he abuseth their power against faithfull christianes he stereth vp batail continually Therfore we shall neuer be quyte ridde of him for good all as long as the worlde abideth in this state but he shal alwaies haue seruauntes and complices of his owne to rage playe the tyranne against vs withall So that it standeth vs in hande to watche cōtinually and fight like tal felowes night and daye that he ouercome vs not and pull vs vnder his fete Now brethren we haue sene the hole mysterie of that mighty houge Antichrist We haue sene that the B. of Rome is only worthy of this name and title and ought to be taken for Antichrist We haue sene how great haynous his abominacion is and how perilous a thing his religion is We shall therfore geue thankes vnto God from the botom of our heartes in that he hath vouchedsafe to reueale vnto vs so great an enemye to open his false snares vnto vs. And we shall pray vnto God also that it will please him to defende vs wyth the protectiō of his grace from all this enemies tiranny Now remayneth the last faithfull admoniciō of Christ wherby he teacheth vs diligently what we ought to doo in this last tyme of Antichrist For wher he hathe declared that periles shall aryse hereof he warneth vs to beware of them in these wordes Than if they shall saye vnto you Lo Matth. 24 he meanyng Christ is in the deserte goo not furthe Lo he is in closettes or secrete places beleue them not For like as the lightenyng cometh from the caste and shyneth in to the west euen so shall the commyng of the sonne of man be For wher so euer the dead carcasse is ther also shall the eagles resorte In these wordes most louing brethren in Christ we are taught three thinges which it is conuenient for vs during the reigne of