A worke entytled of the olde god the newe of the olde faythe the newe of the olde doctryne and the newe / or orygynall begynnynge of Idolatrye REade most gentel reader for many diuers causes this moost goodly boke excellent and notable in doctrine lernynge that thou mayst knowe wheruÌ„to thou oughtest to torne the / what to beholde what to beleue in this so greate dyssencion of all chrystendome and in this so vnquiet troblous estate of comen weales / Fare well in our lorde LOke how peuysshe a foole I am mooste gentil reader but what caÌ„ I be els but a fole I do am bycyously set my name before the boke vnto which the author hym selfe and maker of it through humilite and mekenes dyd not put his name for if I were the very father of this boke as I am but only the instructour and teacher to hit in as moche as I haue taught it to speke latyne lorde with howe goodly and glorious titles so gredy of glory and renoume am I wold I garnysshe it and set it forthe entitlinge it either The goldeÌ„ cheyne or elles the myne of heuen or elles the floure of floures or elles the rose of roses of the moost cunnynge maÌ„ HartmaÌ„nê° dulichiê° maysted of the seuen lyberall sciences and an excellent doctour of diuinite then to shewe myn hublenes lowlynes I wolde adde these wordes though vnworthy But to take this busines and labour of translatynge this worke into latyne I was moued because of the excedinge greate goodnes and vtilite of the boke it selfe to th entent that it being taught to speke latyne myght in what soe euer places it shuld walke abrod in the worlde be so moche the better welcome and myght the soner wynde it selfe in to the familiarite and fauour of all men For there are some men whiche haue more delyte and pleasure in latyne workes and as for the workes made in the vulgare tong they do litle sette by as thynges beinge of lesse weight and value And this I dare be bolde to say that scantly hathe there ben any better boke then this put forthe sent abrode in these troblous tymes in this greate vnquietnes of comen weales whiche is no doubte moste worthy to be redde of all men And to th enteÌ„t that it may in the fronte and begynnynge appere what is conteyned in the innermoste partes of the same I wille couche within a narowe rowme thys large and longe treasure which lyeth hydde and as it were buryde in this boke The summe effecte of this worke is this The suÌ„me and effecte of this worke It declareth that the begynnynge of Idolatrye did springe and ryse of the philosophiers whiche through manyfolde dissensions haue couered the scriptures through the fraudes of SathaÌ„ haue brought forthe newe goddes It sheweth in the meane season the ruyne decay of the florishinge Empier of the romaynes and howe the Cytye of Rome the ladye and maystres ouer all the world was made a praye to all natioÌ„s And howe at the laste by Iustiniane it was restored from ruyne and decay from whense cam also the ryches of the Chirche at the coÌ„mygne of whiche Ryches forth with the boke of the gospel was closed and shute vp And the bisshops of Rome in stede of euangelicall pouertye begane to put forthe theyr hedes garnyshed with thre crownes After that it folowith forth with by what beginnynges the primacy and preeminence of the pope of Rome came first vp and howe by his power myght the noble empyre of the worlde was brought frome the Romaynes to the frenshe men / last of all how and after what maner by the craftye and subtile meanes of a certaine pope beyng of the famylye and kinred of the most noble dukes of Saxonye it was translated from the frenshe men to the Germaynes / where beganne fyrst the forme maner of electynge of the kynge of Romaynes by the seuen Prynces of Germanye whiche are called the Electours Then after the Rome had wtdrawen their neckes from vnder the yoke domynion of the Emê‘our whiche the popes dyd feare forthwith the popes beynge instruted wel armed and made myghtye stronge with the ryches of the Chryche dyd breke in violeÌ„tly in to the kyndomes of the worlde takynke in to bothe their handes the materyall swerde the sheder of blode in stede of the spirytuall swerde wherof cometh the cursed natyuite byrthe of the lawe called canonycall whiche Oh good lorde how lytel canonicall that is to saye how vnrulie is it what nedeth me to make manye wordes thou shalt here perceiue very playnly the begynnyng the ê“gresse eÌ„crease the dominioÌ„ of that strumpet clad in purple which holdeth in her handes eueÌ„ yet stylle a golden bowle full of blasphemies agaynst almyghty god with the whiche she maketh all men droÌ„ken Thou shalte se also howe vndre the tytle name of holy fathers those religiouse ê‘sones haue goten occupyed the tyraÌ„ny of the worlde whome with grete iniury wronge doubtles we do call Monachos eyther because they are not in the worlde Monachi solitari religioê° men whan in very dede the worlde that is to wyte Enuie Couetousnes suche other monstruouse vyces are in no place more vyolent and strong than in Monasteries and the houses of religeouse ê‘sones eyther elles because they be solitarie whaÌ„ in very dede thei haue so mightely strongly wouÌ„de in them selues as it were pestyleÌ„t and myscheuous vaynes iÌ„ to all the meÌ„bres lyÌ„mes of the worlde that they are dreed feared both of all Emê‘ours Prynces yea and also of the pope of Rome beynge yet more myghtye than all the sayd Emperours Princes which sayd pope hathe set rouÌ„de aboute hym selfe a garde of these stoute chaumpyons to th entent that he wolde be taken of vs eueÌ„ for Chryst hym selfe Thou shalt also fynde here ê‘ceyue the cursed vngracyous craftes of relygyous ê‘sones theyr monstrous habytes also fro whens came so many thousandes of names / whatte is mente by Thomasys dooue by domynykes starre by FrauÌ„ces wouÌ„des the dyuersites and vices of ordres are here dispraysed and rebuked / there is aso set forthe here the offyces of Bysshopps and of abbotes / and the pompes the maners and the abuses of preestes namely of greate prebendaries canones Besydes this the ceremonies are here iudged and sette forthe and the hurte that is in them is pyked oute / and what good is in theÌ„ here it is shewed Briefly religious and this our christen lyf are here so tried that thou mayst perceyue the deceyte clokede vnder them Here I do wittingly passe ouer many thynges lest I shuld make suche a prologue where by some might fynde the defaulte that hit were lenger then is the hole worke for as moche as in this worke the hole narration is meruelous compendious beyng deryued oute of the veray owne propre fountaynes deducynge
he dyd by fraude depose the laufull natural kynge from his seate whom they fayn to haue ben vnprofytable to the realme what maner of folkes be they also in that he did assoyle and lose the othes holely made the faith true allegeance ê“mymysed what more ê‘fecte ioye pleasure thynkeste thou coulde haue happened vnto the olde serpent than this mater broughte luckely to passe Howe be it the Pope hath a colour of this power and auctorite in the holy canon law in the .xxvij. distinction Omnes c. The firste new god Lucyfer was of good conforte and courage vpoÌ„ the settyng vp of the temple of the newe god in comparyson of whiche temple that sumptuous and gorgyous temple of Diana was in a maner nothynge but he wolde also receyue and beare aweye the frutes trybute of his labour for thempier of Rome was plucked vp bi the rotes clene destroied the citie of Rome was become the Popes seate / whiche reioysedde greatly was proude in spirite that he was comeÌ„ into the place of so great an emperour he toke agayne Astulphe kyng of Lumbardie which did warre against the pope and dyd sore vexe hym for that he dyd so by lytle lytle take awaye of the lordshyps lyenge nere vnto the citie of Rome with the iniurye of the pope wherfore Stephen the pope did desyre Pipine of ayde and helpe and that he wold defeÌ„de his goods and the prouince from the kynge Astulphe so Pipine dyd on his harneys went to Rome with the Pope whiche was comen his owne selfe vnto hym for succour dyd dryue out Astulphe from Rome At whiche tyme Pipine did graunte vnto Stephen RaueÌ„na and certeyn other cities as a gyfte In the meane season How the pope came by the cityes of Italye whaÌ„ Pipine was thus ordeined and made kynge of Fraunce by the power of the Pope / and the fauour of the people ther reygned at Constantinople Leo the fourth Romane / and as moche as FrauÌ„ce grewe and encreased so moche dyd the reigne of Rome / and of theÌ„perours minyshe and decaye all obedience at Rome / being clene extincte / no lawful Emperour gouernynge Rome where as in olde tyme of auncieÌ„t custum there had ben lordes and rulears Now the pope had fouÌ„de mayntenaunce of his power in Pipine whiche gaue frely vnto hym accordynge to his owne lustes and pleasure cities / prouinces / and nations in al Italy For what cause I do reherse these hystories thou shalt anon perceiue / for they are profytable and necessary / but the thou mayste gette out the very treuthe what the pope is After these thynges don which we haue rehersed in the yere of our lord .vij. C.lxxxi Leo beyng deade at Constantynople there succeded hym ConstaÌ„tyne his son / and Pipine also the king of Fraunce died / leuing behynd hym alyue his two sonnes Charles / and Cherlemaine Charles beinge kyng of FrauÌ„ce came to Rome and was very louingly receyued of pope Adrian whose two sonnes that is to wete Pipine / and Ludowyke / he dyd his owne selfe make and anoynt kynges / the one that is to wyte / Pipine of Italie the olde kyng taken and banysshed and the other that is to wyte Ludowike of Aquitania / the comen people was taught to say that Charles was of the senatorie stocke gouernour of Rome This Charles Pipine had subdued vnto theyr owne dominioÌ„ all Rhenus euen vnto Antwerp / Saxonie / Durenne / Colayen c. Bauarie / NormaÌ„dy / Britaygne / Austria Vngaria In the yere of our lorde .vij. C.xcix the popes lyuing quietly in good peace no man daryng openly to vexe or troble them for feare of the kynges of Fraunce whiche were the only refuege of the popes in whom the popes did put all their hoope and trust How the kyngdome of Fraunce came from the pope and whiche had gyuen to the same roiall gyftes of regions and people In the meane season Constantyne the sonne of Leo themê‘our dysceassed without any heyre after whome his mother Hyrena reygned by the space of fyue hole yeres / then came the tyme in whiche it was or deyned by desteny that the kynges of Fraunce sholde / clymbe vp to hygher honours The pope of rome after Adryane was Leo the thyrde / to whome the Romayns had done I wote not what contumelye and dyspleasure which he takynge verie heuely fled vnto his wont remedy charles the kyng of fraunce declarynge vnto hym with lamentable wordes his calamities and besechynge him of helpe Charles then gatherynge a great armye incontynent went forthe ryght fyetsly agaynste the Romaynes Oh howe greate a reioysynge and gladnes was this to the olde serpente and reuenged the pope gaylye of his aduersaryes / for whiche cause he was of Leo the pope crowned kynge of Romaines all the people crieng Charles the great emperour So this was the fyrste kinge of Fraunce that euer was made emperour of Rome In the yere of our lorde eyght hundreth and one But from that time forwarde the emê‘ours of Constantynople had no lenger the name of the romane emê‘our but were content with theyr owne tytle medlynge nothynge at all with Rome / whiche was the cause that moeued me to reherse this hystorie / for thou hast herd how the people by lytle and lytle forsoke holy scrypture An epilogatioÌ„ or recapitulatioÌ„ of all the thiÌ„ges a foresayde the gospell the steppes of the olde bysshops falling froÌ„ pouerty / conteÌ„pte heuynes lowe vyle state / torning him selfe vtterlye vnto the coÌ„trary thinges TheÌ„ afterward how he gate the preuylege of the emperour Focas that he myght name hym selfe the highest of all bysshoppes pope and his chyrche of Rome the cheefe and heed chyrch of all other Forthermore howe they gaue dylygence and laboured that theyr pryuyleges sholde be approued confyrmed of Iustinian themperour gatherynge also in the meane seasone many other preuyleges by flateryng / by subtil craftes deceites for trewe christen men suche as were the first bisshops of Rome had no nede of suche pryuyleges and lybertyes / neyther dyd they ones coueyte desyre any suche / wherfore accordyng to theyr deseruynge they receyue the croune of glorye of etnal god but these meÌ„ dyd wynde them selues in to the courtes of prynces kinges being choseÌ„ called otherwhiles to be of theyr counsayles as the vse maner is euen now a daies also dyspatchyng bryngynge to an ende their maters alwaies well and honestly to syght apparaunce In conclusyon they desyred ayde helpe of the kynges and pryÌ„ces agaynst theyr aduersaries enemyes and dyd suffre also that they sholde be slayne albeit that they dyd greately abhorre and hate to beare the name of the effusion of theyr blode At lenght they dyd coÌ„federate theim selues with prynces and began to take couÌ„sayle with theym as it chauÌ„sed with Pypyne the admynystratoure and orderer of the realme agaynst the
had taken flesshe vpon hym afterwardes had suffred passyon being nayled on a crosse / had dyed / had ryson agayn from dethe to lyfe / that they ought to beleue the gospell accordyng to the rule wherof we ought to lyue to be pacient iÌ„ tribulation necessite / to loue our enemyes / to do them good / to pray for theÌ„ suche other thynges which the prestes of the maumettes had neuer told to the kiÌ„ges princes but had often tymes told them the contrary thynges to these Also chrysteÌ„ men did so constantly perfectly leade an honest a louing a peasible life / that one of them that is to wyte Augustyne did say I wold not beleue the gospell onles the auctoryte of the chirch that is to say of the chrysten meÌ„ whych by the meanes of the gospell haue growen vp in so coÌ„mendable a lyfe dyd compell me / as though he sholde say seing that so honest meÌ„ vertuous so good so charytable louing amoÌ„g theÌ„ selues so holy iuste men do springe growe vp of the doctryne of the gospell it can not be otherwyse but that the doctryne of the gospell is true and iuste And afterwardes this wycked vngratious serpent full of a thousande craftes and gyles The second degre of ydolatry consydered and pondered the fyrste pryncyples that is to saye the foundacion and grouÌ„d worke of the christen faythe dysputyng reasonyng in this wise with hym selfe thou waste amonge all creatures the fayrest and most beautyfull / the most wyse the most noble in nature / and most resonable and most perfyte of vnderstanding / and thou gauest no credence to the worde and commauÌ„dement of god but thou wast dysobedient to his precepte therfor thou wast cast downe hedloÌ„g from the place that thou wast in and was reiected and forsaken Then afterwardes he vsed suche a maner of argumeÌ„t also The fyrst men Adam and Eue they also by the reason that they dyd not beleue God nor obey his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t came in to the same estate of ê‘dition And lyke wyse Cayne and Saul wherfore experieÌ„ce doth teache me that who so euer doth not beleue God gyue credence to those thynges either whiche he hath promysed or whiche he hath spoken that man shal be reiected and forsaken of God and shall be dampned Of whiche thinges doth folowe this corner stone for the foundation That there can be no greater no more profytable nor none more acceptable worke to God than if a man dothe holly in all thynges gyue credence to the wordes and coÌ„maundementes of God with out any questioniÌ„g or enserchiÌ„ge of the causes as my capitall and deadly enmy Esaie dothe saye in the forty chapitre / who was of couÌ„sell with him Besydes this I do vnderstoÌ„d and perceyue of the apostles that they vtterly beleue theyr Iesus of Galyle / and what soeuer they do speake it is scrypture / they do neyther adde any thynge therto neyther mynishe any thyng therfro leauing the wordes as god spake them wherfore Messias dothe assyste them so strongly that no power of the Emperours of Rome can any thing preuaile agaynst theÌ„ For the mo chrysten men that are out to deathe by sore cruell tormeÌ„tes by somyche the more cherefully and the more boldlye and manfully do they fyght for the fayth and do teache it But this polycye and crafte thou shalte vse thus thou shalte do Thou knoweste very well he worme with which the hoke was bayted wherwith Adam / Eue / Cayne / Nembroth / Saul / Hieroboam / and suche other were allured taken Thou shalt cast thy hoke agayne and lette it hange / thou canst not telle what fysshe thou mayst happen to drawe vp at the next draught if the hoke be deuoured swalowed in together with the bayte and so the olde wylye gylefull serpent began his fysshyng coueryng and hyding the hoke with meate / conuenient bayte for his pourpose by the hoke vnderstandyng dysobedyence / by the bayte incredulitie For whosoeuer distrusteth doth beleue nothing So anon he gat certeyn of the Iuwes / whiche dyd repyne speake agaynst the doctryne of the Apostels accusing them to be seductours deceyuers whiche went about to wtdrawe the people from the lawe of Moyses to an other lawe therfore that they were not to be folowed nor theyr doctryn to be beleued / for who so euer they sayed were not circumsised and did not lyue according to the lawe of Moyses that man was falleÌ„ from eternall helthe saluation O howe delectable plesaunt and also how bryght and howe clere a bayte dyd that most vngratious and myscheuous deceyuer lay for the iewes Suppose you or wene you that the iewes myght with honestye haue sayed The Apostles do teache a newe faith and they do teache errours and heresyes / but we will beleue in the olde god of Israell and we wyll gyue credence to the old fayth and doctryne wherunto what dyd Paule answere he dyd not make any phylosophycall disputation reasonyng but sayd If you wyll be circumcised Gala. v. then is Christe not ê“fitable nor aduayllable vnto you O folyshe creatures who hath bewytched you that you sholde not beleue and obey the truthe O Paule wold god thou were lyuynge nowe these days with this deceiptfull bayte the olde serpent dyd crepe thorough all the corners of the worlde and in what soeuer place the apostles and disciples dyd preache the gospell sodeynly the chefe preestes the pharyseys brake forth laying agaynst them the lawe of Moyses the olde god of Israell the olde faythe and belefe when they were not able to make their partie good nor to matche them in doctryne / then they fell to opprobrious and rebukefull wordes / to raysynge sedicions agaynst them / to beatynge and punishyng of them which thing the most noble capitayne Paule doth witnes in the .xi. chap. of his seconde epistle to the Corinthyanes moost greuously complayning from the botom of his hart of the labours and trauaylles / of the strokes / of the shypwrakes / of manyfold daungers and ieoperdyes of false brothern c. which place I beseche the to rede dylygently and it shall make the sorye at thyne harte to see that Paule for his so great labours and trauaylles was so vnkyndly and vngentily entreated And this moste vngracious and cursed bayte of vnbelefe the deuyll caryed aboute nygh the space of two and forty yeres vntill that the iewes were all wholy vaynquesshed and ouercomeÌ„ by Tite and Vespasian and were coÌ„pelled to forsake theyr owne countrey and wandre about lyke banyshed men whiche sayde iewes euen yet at this day do receyue the aforsayd bayte of perdition wherwith alacke for pitie they shall be stangled for euermore But after that this bayt was so publyshed and so well knowen The thyrde degre that men being ware and wyfe wolde no lenger be taken and be made faste with the hoke despisynge
our lorde fyue hundred lxxx Gregory the fyrste Gregoriê° Magnus the fyrst of that name was made the bysshop of Rome the fyrst emperour also then beinge of the Grekes / one Maurice a Capadociane At that tyme the ryches of the bysshop of Rome beinge wel encreased the olde serpent brought forth his hoke agayne / styrryng mouyng entysing Maurice that he shulde deadely pursue Gregorie that all the other bysshops also shulde be in great contempt But whan themperour continued and hylde on stylle to hate holye Gregorie the prouidence of god graunted vengeaunce to be taken vpon hym that is to wyte that he was takeÌ„ of Focas whiche beheding Maurice dyd afterwardes hold the empier him selfe This Gregory the fyrst was the last bysshoppe of Rome that dyd folowe the steppes of the martyres and apostles in lyuynge and doctrine And albe it that from the reigne of Constantine the bisshops of Rome had dayly encreased more more in riches and had not any lenger all of theÌ„ ordered and ledde al theyr lyfe so straightly perfectly accordyng to the rule of the gospell as they had don afore that tyme but declynede fell downe by lytle and lytle from the gospell to ceremonies makynge and publishinge one lawe after another yet had they but tollerably chauÌ„ged theÌ„ selues vntyll the tyme of Gregory after whom they dyd vtterly close and shytte vp the gospel boke breakyng in by salutations into the courtes of princes opeÌ„ly / as folowethe The fyfthe degre of idolatrye In the yere of oure lord CCCCC iij Focas a man borne of a lowe stocke and degre but a valiant man of armes and a doughtie warrier was fyrst in seruice with the capitayne gouernour of Rome and afterwardes beinge elected chosen Emperour in the tentes was a cruel tyrant In the seconde yere of his reigne deceassed out of the worlde the holy father Gregorie which is accompted and rekened one of the .iiij. doctours of the churche But than the olde dragon dyd garnyshe his hoke with a bright bayte by this crafte The laufull emperour was resideÌ„t had his seate in ConstaÌ„tinople But yet neuertheles he hadde chosen and taken to hym selfe a ê“tener and felowe whiche shulde occupye gouerne the kyngdome and Empier of the west parte as Rome Italye / FrauÌ„ce / Germanie theÌ„perour of the westpart then beinge slayen as we haue sayde before dryuen out so that Rome was set out to rauyne and robbery vnto euery man the nations dyd ransake away whatsoeuer thinges they myght In the meane season ryches grewe and encreased to the byshop of Rome but not regions or peoples / but as it happeneth other whyles in treasures of money Therfore than began the spirite of the gospell to kele and waxe faynt in hym bicause that the bysshope of Constantinople dyd preferre hym selfe afore the bysshoppe of Rome to whom forthwith the olde serpent did proferre and reche forthe a bayte which he had prepared and made redy before for the same purpose Boniface the thyrde the bysshop then was Bonyface the thyrd of that name wiht this maner colour / what wylt thou alwayes lye styll in misery in coÌ„tempte Rome is the hed citye of all the worlde it is a foule shame and rebuke to the that thou thy selfe art not also called the hed bysshop of all other whiche name sholde moche more ryghtfully agree belonge to the then to the patryarche of coÌ„stantynople The domynyon and empyer of Rome is chaunged and thou thy selfe art not in so lowe a condycyon and estate or degre among themperours / as thy predycessours haue ben The hoke of this pryde togyther with the bayte dyd Bonifatiê° vtterly swalowe in fleynge to the frendship of the emperour Foeas to whom he made instaÌ„te request and prayer for the preuelege that the bisshop of Rome shuld be the highest of all other bysshoppes / that is to say that he shulde be pope or father of fathers / and that the chyrche of Rome shulde be hed chirche of al other / which thynge albeit that it was longe and moche adoo Howe the name of pope fyrste beganne ere it wolde be grauÌ„ted yet for all that thrughe importune request and prayer he opteyned and brought it to passe at the last that Focas dyd coÌ„sent to the sayd pryuylege But this thinge do the Popes now a dayes wysely dyssymule and speake no worde of it at all cryenge out the the pope is the greatest of all bisshopps and the chirche of Rome hedde aboue all other churches and that by the ordenaÌ„ce of god immediatly as they do say in the xxij distinction omnes .c. why or for what cause then was the donation of Constantine forged by whiche the bysshopryche of Rome shulde be aboue all other bysshopryches / and raigne ouer them al as they haue it in theyr decrees in the xc.vi distinction Constantinus c. The Romanistes do saye euen what soeuer they lyst of theyr own priuileges and do put into their lawe what so euer thyng smyteth into theyr braynes and cometh in to theyr mynde but yet no man durst be so bold to say against their lawe onles he wyll be contented to be called bi that terrible name of an heretyke as it is decreed in the .x. and .xij. distinctions and also in the distinction Sic omnes et cete This bayte of glorie as I haue sayde dyd Boniface the pope deuoure and swalowe in But whether this thynge be coÌ„formable and agreeynge to the gospell of God lette other men iudge and this same hoke dyd also catche and drawe al the bysshoppes that haue succeded the sayde Bonyface so that it is made a lawe yea more ouer a deuyne lawe vnder payne of commyttynge deadely sinne / who so euer shuld haue other opinioÌ„ or shuld thynke other wyse of the primacye or preemynence of the bysshop of Rome Here begaÌ„ the name of most holy father the pope and hereof came the name of the most holy father the pope / and so they fondly framed the scripture tu es Petrus c. thou art Peter to the priuileges of the emperours / and of bothe these they made them selues a diuyne lawe Oh what a stroÌ„ge and myghtye Idole and a newe god dyd then sprynge vppe and begynne For this name hadde neuer any bysshoppe of Rome afore that tyme. But when the fyar of contempte and pouertye was quenched and put out / thaÌ„ dyd ryches and slouthfull ydelnes brynge forthe suche maner frutes as we do se remaynynge stylle euen at these dayes Bonifaciê° euen then forthwith vsurped the tytle of Pope wrytynge hym selfe Bonyface the thyrde of that name greattyste bisshop and he gathered a counsell at Rome of the other bisshops and preestes / in whiche counsell he decreed that from that tyme forward the pope beinge elected of the prestes the people shuld be of the same streÌ„ght and auctoritie and of as great reputation as if he had ben
also confirmed by theÌ„perour / which decree was cleane repugnant and contrarye to the olde vsage and custome of the emperours and agaynst the auctoryte of confirming the bysshops whiche they had vsed froÌ„ the fyrst begynnyÌ„g that emperours became christen But Boniface after he had obteyned and goten the priuilege of themperour that he myght call hym selfe pope this recompence he made to Cesar to acquite him his kindnes withal he dyd pryuely derogate and minyshe themperours maiestie and prerogatiue / and presumed to be lorde and ruler ouer the same emperour of whom afore as of his lord emperour through huÌ„ble petitioÌ„s and lowly requestes he had obteyned the pryuylege of primacy and preeminence aboue other bisshopps / howe be it neyther he hym selfe nor a certeyne mayny of his successours durste be so bolde as to put this decree openly in execution and vse bycause at that tyme the emperour had set a captayne and deputye vnder hym at Rome one of the Senatorie stocke by whose election and approbatioÌ„ the popes were created and made But yet from then forward the popes dyd so beare them selues as thoughe by ryghte they were superiours to theÌ„perours without whose helpe they dyd what soeuer thiÌ„g they myght teaching bysshops that they shulde obeye the pope / rather than themperour Yet is there one thing that thou maiste compare and matche to this so passinge and outragious pryde For not loÌ„ge after Focas beinge slayne whiche had graunted so great pryuileges to the vicar of Christe so humbly and louly requirynge and besechynge hym Heraclius was made emperour in the yere of our lorde syxe hundred and twelue The beginning of mahomettes sect belefe at which tyme the newe ydole in very dede and the newe god Mahomet an Ismaelite dyd ryse / whiche hadde byelded and set vp a newe fayth and belefe in which the Turkes do lyue After that the fyrst new god Lucyfer had promoted and put forwarde his cause so farre forthe that he had gotten one amonge christen men / which dyd take vnto hym selfe the name of highest bysshop and the greatest lorde of all men the sayde Lucifer was wel apayde and proude therof and thoughte this in his mynde Thou shalt procede and go further fourth yet seing that thou hast thus broken the bedge and lept ouer it he cast forth his olde bayte well ouerlayed with gyles afore the pope Constantyne in the yere after the natiuite of Christe syxe hundred .lxxxvij. whiche bayte he gredyly swalowynge in dyde desyre moo priuyleges to be confirmed of Iustinian themperour of Rome / the thyrde of that name not of hym that made the Ciuile law by which thinges it is easy to ê‘ceyue by what meane that so great holines hath sprongen groweÌ„ vp And so the popes of Rome felle from the holy scrypture takyng so great a name vnto them selues and takyng also the chefe rule in all matters and busynes / and the chiefe seates and moste honorable places and beganne to ioyne amytie and frendshyps with princes emperours and learned to visite theyr courtes / entermedlyng and making them selues to do with al matters and causes / that were to be treated of this partie and that partie / growynge also and encreasynge welfauouredly in possessioÌ„s and ryches whiche maner of lyuyng endured and contynued by the space of one huÌ„dred yeres The mischeuous cursed feende toke great ioye and pleasure that his sleyghtes and craftes dyd go so royally forwarde For within a lytle whyle after about the yere of our lorde seuen hundred and eyghte / the Emperoure Leo the thyrde of that name a Syriane borne / deposed the patriarche of Constantinople whiche was a Germayne borne and dyd substitute in his crowne Anastasius Then the pope Gregory the third brake forth The fyrste dissentioÌ„ of the pope themê‘our and wrote to themperour that he shulde restore the Germayne to his olde honour agayne which thyng whaÌ„ Leo themperour wolde not do Gregorie after the counsell of the olde serpent dyd moue and perswade all Italie that they shuld forsake themperour but not accordyng to thensample of the olde popes whiche lyued after a lowe sorte / whom also he dyd excoÌ„municate to th eÌ„tent purpose / that whyles the emperours dyd kepe warres amoÌ„ges them selues the empier myght falle in to his handes for asmoch as he was of gret name amonge the prynces The olde serpent strayghte way without any delay annoynted bayte and put vpon the hooke to caste it forthe agayne for this was all his trauayle and labour that if he myght not suppresse and hold vnder the faythe of Christe yet at the leaste wyse that he myght by some maner what so euer it were entangle and trouble it he gaue this counsayle to the pope and dyd put these thoughtes in his mynde In as moche as the laufull Romane Empier is destroyed and euery stranger from euery parte of the worlde dothe breake into it makyng hym selfe emperour at Constantinople / setting here ouer thy necke some of the Senatorie bloude why dost thou not put thy lyfe in ieoperdy that thou mayst not only haue the name of greatest but the thyng also with all Rome shall be thy seate thempier shal be at thy pleasure to whome soeuer it shall lyke the to gyue it The fyrste breaking in of popes in to kingdoÌ„s After Leo themê‘our succeded Constantine his sonne a very tyrannous persone / vnder whome Pypine sent embassadours from Fraunce vnto the pope in the yere of our lorde seuen hundred .lij. and the pope lykewyse agayne of his parte / layenge theyr wittes together and brewyng craft ye counsailes betwene theÌ„ that pope zacharie shulde take certeyne power auctorite vpon hym so deposyng the olde kynge he made Pypyne kynge of Fraunce / with the fauour and consent of the prynces to the same / and this Pypyne is rekened the fyrste kynge of that lande made by the benefyte of the pope as the popes lawes do recorde in the .xi. cause the fyrste question De quidam The next yere folowing the pope zacharie beinge deed Stephen the secoÌ„de was substituted in his place This Ste. willyÌ„g to vse his power whan kynge Astulphus did molest and disease him in Italie he dyd forthwith call vpon Pypyne met hym certeyne myles of the waye besechynge hym to gyue ayde defence to the churche of Rome for he had leuer to be a confessour then a martyre / thynkynge it ynoughe yf he dyd by that title breake in to heuyn Then the olde wycked deuyll toke no more thoughte thynking his matier in good case ynoughe after that he had made the trewe kernell of the christeÌ„ diuinite corrupte and fautye For those meÌ„ whyche in tymes afore passed were the moste stronge pyller of all christen men in contempte martyrdome nowe beinge alienated and turned from the holy scriptures had taken vpon them worldely earthely busynesses / of creatyng eÌ„perours kynges / of drawynge kyngedomes and lordshyps
saintes that if it please god to suffre me that I maye come to Rome I shall exalte the holy Chyrche of Rome and you the gouernour of it accordinge to all my myght and powere and also you shall neuer lease your lyfe no neyther ony meÌ„bre of your body neyther this honour which you haue by my wyll or by my counseyll or my coÌ„sent or my exortation and I wyl make no decre or ordenauÌ„ce in Rome concernyng ony of al those thynges whiche do belong to you or to rome without your counsayll what so euer londes of saynt Peters shall come in to my handes and power I shall restore it vnto you and to whome so euer I shall coÌ„myt and betake the gouernauÌ„ce of Italye I shal make hym swere that he shall ayde and helpe you to the vttermoste of his power to defende the patrymony of saynt Peter The pope hath power and auctoryte to requyre suche a maner of othe as this for so doeth the canon lawe witnes in the twelfth cause and the fyrst questyon Clericus This is indede to deuoure swalowe in the soppe that is layed afore the. From this Otho all themperours that folowed euer after euen to this daye haue ben compelled to bynde them selues vnto the pope as to theyr lorde by suche an holy othe Oh Romane empire suche a meate or supping as this is thou woldest in olde time not ones haue tasted of But nowe there is no remedy but that thou muste eate it clene vp / but thou wilt none other for the scripture also muste be fulfylled To the making of this greate othe fyrst Otho the fyrst of that name dyd consente / then afterwardes his sone Otho the seconde and after hym Otho thyrde also dyd the same breefly the same dyd all the dukes of Saxonye But when Otho the thyrd was elected beyÌ„g yet in a maner but a chylde the Romanes were greatly offended and greued therwithall for they dyd couet greatly to haue had a certeyn man Crescentiê° magnê° whiche was consull of the cytye of Rome made emê‘our / whome when they had also elected and chosen then pope Gregory the .v. fled to Otho in germanie whose cousyn he was And otho goyng forth with verye greate strenghe besyeged the cytye of Rome with a passynge great hoste and waÌ„ne it in whiche bykeryng Crescentius was stryken thoroghe and slayne and the newe pope IohnÌ„ had his yeis put out / pope Gregory the .v. therfore gathered a counseyll that he myght decree after what forme and maner the elections were to be made of the newe kynge or emperour for the emê‘ours were in the power of the popes because they had sworne to theym as vnto theyr lordes lykwise as the Othoes had don wherfore the popes toke then vp on theym selues to gouerne and rule thempyer with full powere auctoryte For when one wold not sweare to suche thynges as they dyd requyre nor kepe and fulfyll suche thynges as he had sworne to there was fouÌ„de another prynce which was ful glad to sweare onely to th entent that he myght ones be made Emperour And suche maner contentions and pryde of the Prynces dyd gyue the pope occasyon and place often and sundrye tymes to inuade thempyer ¶ In this great counseyll it was decreed and ordeyned by the pope he beynge a Germayne whiche descended of the lynage of the dukes of Saxonye that frome that tyme forwarde there sholde no more ony Emperour be made of the lyne or blodde of the Romanes The begynnyng of chosyng the emperour in Germany but onely of the Germanyes and it was put in thelection power and auctorite of the prynces of Germanye to make emperour whom they lyst And this thynge was constytuted by Gregorie the .v. and by the counseyll in the yere of our lorde M.ij. From suche a begynnyng it came afterwardes in to a custome that thempeours were made by the voyces of seuen prynces of Germanye the electours which thynge we do se to be done euen at these present dayes therfore the kyng or emperour of the Romanes is named the son and the defender of the chirche of Rome oneles we wyll that our faythe shold decay perysh After suche facion do the popes now a daies vexe dyuers wayes and subdue vnto them the sely emperours of Rome euen as coursers do horses / what soeuer thyng they couet to be brought to passe in any parte of the worlde they do send a cardynall called a legat a latere vnto themperour puttyng hym in remembraunce of his offyce duetye and of the othe which he hathe made and oneles he wyll be made periured he is compelled to assyst the pope in all thynges whether it be right or wroÌ„g which in the meane season being instructe with goodly paynted eloqueÌ„ce ê‘swadeth euen this thyng also for that the Pope can not erre c. Reade thou the histories whether this thynge be trewe or not / now all power auctorite is turned cleane contrarye to the ryght way Constantyne the fyrst with his successours which professed Chryste dyd create make and confyrme all the popes of rome also all the other bysshops but nowe the popes of Rome do make both kynges and emê‘ours bysshops and abbottes / what so euer is in the worlde Moreouer the pope that he myght ordre all thinges accordyng to couÌ„seyl and polycye of the olde serpente dyd assemble one counseyl after another in whiche counseylles he dyd constytute and decree what so euer thynge made for his purpose and what so euer thyng did not lyke hyÌ„ or dyd make against his purpose that he dyd forbed vnder payne of the thunderbolt of excommunycation Thus were the pryuyleges of the chyrche of Rome inuented and afterwardes obteyned by the confyrmation of the Romane emperours and dylygently gathered to gether into the canon lawe / but yet if any thing had ben forgoten by theyr necligence strayght wayes they patched to an extrauagant with this lawe the pope hath well armed and fenced hym selfe that there shold be no maÌ„ at ony tyme whiche myghte be bolde in ony thynge to gayne say hym Here the pope settith his seate egall to god or to reproue hym constytutyng and exalting hym selfe aboue all men in the whole worlde as it is writen in the same lawe in the .ix. cause the thyrde question Nemo c. with many other vayne tryfles / and he dyd not onely reiecte men from hym selfe or his owne ê‘son but also he hathe drawen bothe the verye gospell yea and all the hole scrypture in to captyuite no man darynge ones to vse it but as farforthe as his consent and fauour shall permitte and suffre Be sydes that he hathe decreed that no man shall either teache or vnderstonde the scrypture otherwise then as the Pope hathe gyuen sentence and iudgemeÌ„t vnpon it Also that no man shall either truste or gyue faste and sure credence to the vertue and auctoryte of the holy scriptures yf the
Pope wyl not consente therto in the .xvij. cause and in the fourth question Nemini c. in the .xxiiij. cause and the fyrst questioÌ„ Quotiens / and so coÌ„sequeÌ„tly in diuers other chapiters But what other thyÌ„g is the scrypture then the word of goddes mouthe as the .lxxxvj. psalme doth wytnes saing Dominus narrabit in scripturis c. The lord shall speke or tell in the scryptures The scrypture therfore is the speache of god which is the verye truthe selfe / and his speache is truthe in the .xvij. of IohnÌ„ Moreouer Chryst sayth I am the waye veryte and lyfe / Yf chryste then is the truthe and the scrypture as is sayd before is also the same truthe now then seynge scrypture as is afore declared is the popes captiue which maketh of it what he wyll it foloweth necessaryly that chryste the eternal god is the popes captyue also presoner Oh serpent Lucyfer what maner a newe god doest thou here brynge forthe to vs what maner a newe fayth it lacketh not moche but that I do thynke hym to be that beaste with .vij. heddes and .x. hornes of which IohnÌ„ speakith in the .xiij. chapiter of the apocalypse / of these thynges dothe folowe this proposytion that it were as profitable yea I had well neare sayd more profytable also that all the hole scrypture the holy gospell were abrogate and cleane put awaye then that it sholde contynew in suche state and captyuyte / Yf this holsom message ought to be preached and shewed to no man more largly as they do say then as moche as the pope / wyll confyrme and alowe Be sydes this we do se openly before our yeis that the pope dothe in some places moost openly and playnly reiecte the scripture and mynyshe the auctorite of it settyng his owne lawes in egall degree of honour and makyng theym egall vnto it in reuerence and strenghte and vertue whiche thyng that thou mayste perceyue to be trewe rede the canon lawe in the .xix. distinction Sic omnes c. But wherfore serueth the holy scrypture or what nedeth vs to haue it if the pope hym selfe be to vs the scripture Oh wretched man how farre doeth thy madnes procede whiche doeste make thy seate equall to thy lorde god whiche did not suffre neither Lucyfer in heuen neither Adam in paradise so longe as he doeth patiently suffer that in earthe But suche maner blasphemyes agaynste god doeth the olde serpeÌ„t bryng forth by Aristotelycall Thomisticall diuynite Freers and the subtyll ymagynation of the Scotistes do rayse vp suche maner goddes lykewyse as the lorde god hathe sygnyfyed by his holy prophete Ezechiel in the .viij. chapytre do you not thynke that the walles of our herte and the vsage of the chirche doeth conteine the moste greatest parte of the pyctures the ymages of abhomynations which are mentioned in the sayd chapyter and vnder a good and religious semblaunce euen suche goldeÌ„ calues also as hieroboam dyd make in the olde tyme The pope a new god euen lykewyse as yf he dyd say in that place you christen men loke well vpon the Pope whiche is your god whiche hathe in his power heueÌ„ and hell you do beleue him iii ReguÌ„ xii what soeuer he doethe is ryghtwyse neyther do you nede to requyre ony more of hierusalem tary you styll in Bethell ther to offre your brent sacrifices Many thynges myght be wryteÌ„ of this boystous newe god but who soeuer list to know his newe faith his lyfe and his gouernauÌ„ce let hym rede the canon lawe whiche he hath made / and let hym compare it to the holy scrypture and to the olde faythe of Christ and it shall appere to him more clerly then the sonne that he is a newe god and a newe faythe / let ony man searche thoroughe out the cronycles and hystoryes and he shall fynde in a maner that not the deuyl hyÌ„self was euer so ê‘suÌ„ptuoê° so filthy so synful mischeuoê° Now he that hath ben at Rome Pope Alexandre the vi pope Iuly the ii in the tyme of Pope Alexandre the vi or of Pope Iuly the seconde he shall not nede to reade manye hystories / I put it to his Iudgement wether euer ony of the pay nyms or of the Turkes dyd euer leade suche a life as did these our most holy popes And albeit peraduenture that I do ouermoche touche the fundation do medle to moche with this matier / whiche may turne me to dyspleasure yet that not withstondynge it is profytable verye necessarye that the trouth be assysted defended leaste that ony man do preferre or make egal the Imaginations and inuentions of man vnto the euerlastynge ryghtuous moost good most greate and myghty god least man do put his trust and confydence in man and so by the reason therof be condempned aeternally The greattest plage punyshmeÌ„t in earthe This I do saye god coulde neuer haue suffred a greatter nor a sorer punyshement and plage to falle in to this worlde then blyndenes ygnoraunce and vnbeleefe for the scrypture sayth mooste euydently who so euer doeth not beleue vnderstande thou the holy scryptures he is alredy iudged Therfore when we will by no meane gyue credence to the holy scrypture but we will with roten gloses expouÌ„de it turne it in to all facions after our pseasure as it were a peace of wexe the god of his ryghtuousenes doeth permit and suffre that we can none otherwyse iudge nor otherwise knowe but that in so doyng we do all ryght and well In suche maner and incredulyte we do continue and in our owne carnall and wordely wysedome we do contynually procede and go forwarde and so we do rayse vp a newe faythe / we do set vp a newe god / of whome we shall also receyue the rewarde of our merytes and deseruynges O. wo. wo. be to this rewarde eternally O moste tender dearly beloued chrysten men plucke backe your fote gyue your selues to Christ the most good gentill lorde that he maye gouerne you whiche may helpe vs for euermore The cause of the exaltation of the pope and of sayntes So then the olde serpente Lucyfer hathe broughte to the worlde this excellent straunge new god no lesse craftely then in the olde tyme they whiche wrote tha fable of transformatyon as Ouide amonge latine meÌ„ by shewyng of Homere as I suppose in which sayd fable men are turned in to wolues into asses in to gotes / in to byrdes / in to herbes / in to stones / whiche thynge the goddes and goddesses Iupyter Pallas Iuno Appollo Venê° c dyd work by theyr power which after theyr deth were made gods of meÌ„ For iÌ„ the olde tyme as euery man or woman was excellent notable whiche had syngularly either inuented or elles done ony thynge whiche the people knewe not before so was he or she magnyfyed and exalted for a god or goddesse as Hercules an excellent