God his worde and true religion the other the vnfayned goodwill and fidelitie which I euer haue and doe beare to that honorable house the verie diademe and mirroure of true nobilitie And to say truthe to whom should one dedicate the fruites of his labours but to such as be both learned themselues and otherwise famous and illustrious whiche thing yf it be so to whoÌ„ shold I present these few blossoÌ„es of my immature studies rather then to your honorable Lordship whose worthy fame not onely for your incomparable curtesie affabilitie and gentlenes towardes all men but also and in especiall for your singular zeale to God his sacred truth integritie of life liberalitie towardes them that haue need valoure prowesse magnanimitie or els whatsoeuer may decore or beautifie true nobilitie is blowen throughe out all Europe Which brute throughe the golden trumpe of fame sounding in my eares excited me the rather to present this my booke to your sacred honour rather then to anye others moste humblye beseechinge the same not onely to pardon my great presumption in this my bolde attempt but also to receiue the same into your honors patronage and protection defending as well the author from the open violence of malicious enimies as also the booke from the slaunderous tongues of flouting Momus and raylinge Zoilus to whom all good thinges are had in contempte and I shall daylie praye to God for your honorable Lordeshippe long to continue in health and prosperity both of body and soule with increase of much honor reward of laudable vertue and eternall felicitie in the heauens by Iesus Christ. Your honours most humble to command Philippe Stubbes The Theater of the Popes monarchy wherein is described as wel the vncleane liues of that wicked generation as also their Antichristian gouernment and vsurped kingdome together with their horrible superstition and blasphemous religion as it is nowe vsed at this present where Antichrist the Pope and his members doe beare rule The Speakers Philemon and Stuperius Philemon MY friende Stuperius seeing it hath pleased God that we be heare mette togeather at thys present so conuenieÌ„tly let vs spend the tyme in some suche godly talke and communication as both maye tend to the glory of God for to that end chiefly was man ordeined and also to the mutual edification one of another knowing that at the day of iudgement we must reÌ„der accounts not only for al our thoughts words and deeds whether they be good or bad but also for euery least moment of time that hath been lent vs in thys life how we haue spent and bestowed the same Stu. I am very glad brother Philemon to heare you so well affected And with all my hearte I will obeye your good aduertisement and godly request assuring you that I reioyce not a lyttle of such a good companion For indeede as you say all our speeches ought to tende to the glory of GOD. And therefore when we speake wee ought to followe the commaundement of the Apostle who sayeth Si quis loquitur vt sermo Dei loquatur That is If any maÌ„ speake let him speake as the word of God teacheth him Again we haue an other commandement geuen vs by God himselfe in the sixt of Deuteronomie namely that we talke and commune of the worde of God when wee rise vp in the morning when we are at our meat when wee lay vs downe to sleepe when wee walke abroade by the waye when we are at home in our houses or whatsoeuer wee doe els all our communication ought to be of God and of his woÌ„derous workes And the Apostle in another place willeth vs that our communication be such as may giue grace to the hearers and not offence to anye But now adayes the cleaue contrarye is euerye where practysed For if anye man talke of the woorde of GOD neuer so lyttle a whyle doeth it not mouere nauseam as it were that is seemeth it not lothesome when in the meane tyme too talke of bawdrye of filthinesse and vncleanenesse a whole houre a whole daye together yea all their liues thorow seemeth a recreation as they cal it and an exercyse most pleasant But if they would remember what our sauiour Christ saith in the gospel of S. Mathew 12. chap. I think they would take heede what they said De omni verbo otioso homines reddituri sunt raetionem nouissâ—me die That is Men shal giue account of euery ydle word at the day of iudgement Againe hee telleth them that Exsermonibus suis iustificabuÌ„tur ex sermonibus suis condemnabuntur Of their wordes they shall be iustified and of their words they shalbe coÌ„demned If they woulde bee mindeful of this I doubt not but they wold leaue off to interlace their speeches as they doe wyth bawdry scurrilitie wantonnesse blasphemy with swearing cursing and banning rather resembling heerein the infernall furies then sober wyse Christians Phile. You haue saide well And therefore the Apostle Iames biddeth vs if we be merry to sing Psalmes if we be sadde or sorrowfull to pray by whiche rule of the Apostle is forbid and condemned all filthye talke or communication contrary to the word of God all vncleane woordes wanton songues lasciuious sonettes bawdye ballades and all other prophane talke whatsoeuer For wherefore did the maiestie of GOD giue vnto manne the vse of the tongue aboue all other creatures but to this ende namely that he might gloryfie his Creator therewith and edifie his Christian brethren And therfore that wee may discharge our dueties as well in the one as in the other let vs descende intoo some particular poynts which we may handle to the glory of God and our mutuall edification Stupe I am wel contented proceed in Gods name and demaund what you will Phile. I pray you how many churches are there generally Stupe To speake generally there be two Churches to wit the Church of God the Church of the Diuel the beloued spouse of Christ the whoorish sinagogue of Sathan the Electe and the Reprobate the vessels of saluation the vessels of damnation Philem. Howe many folde is the Church of God Stupe Two fold militant and tryumphant Miliâ—â—nt is that which beyng dispersed euery where vppon the face of the earth fighteth and warreth dayly against the Diuell the world the fleshe And Triumphant is that which beeing deliuered out of this life resteth in eternall glory Both which Churches Militant Triumphant as they be meÌ„bers of one misticall bodye Christe Iesus so shal they aâ—ter the dissolution of this life bee vnited together as members of the same body christ Iesus being their head And albeit that they be distinct in tyme and place onely yet make they both but one true Church of God as many members make but one perfect body Phile. Howe manye folde is the Church malignant Stupe Two fold the wicked reprobate which liue here militant
vppon the earth the wicked reprobats which are departed hence which last may bee called the Church infernall Phile. Why cal you it militant Stupe Because it fighteth warreth against God against Christ Iesus his worde against his glorye and sacred trueth in al things yea and agaynst all godlinesse and vertue in general Phile. Why cal you it the Church infernal Stupe Because it beeing dissolued liueth in eternal paines suffering in the iustice of God the punishment of euerlasting damnation And euē as the mylitant triumphant Church of God doe make but one body so these Churches of the diuel both which do liue here whiare departed hēce do make but one bodie also the Diuel being the head thereof Philemon What doe you call the Church of God Stupe I cal the Church of God the vniuersal number society of al Christian people dispearsed throughout the whole worlde agreeing together in one trueth one faith and one hope of eternal life by Iesus Christ. Phile. What be the marks and tokens wherby this church is knowen and discerned from the Church malignant and sinagogue of sathan Stu. They bee many but especially these The true preaching of the worde of God the due administration of the sacramentes the execution of Ecclesiasticall discipline according to the prescript rule of Gods woorde and the like So that where thou seest these things duely truely practised know thou that there is the vndoubted church of God Upon the other side where thou seest all these things neglected as it is in the papacie nay cleane impugned knowe thou that there is not so muche as the face of the true visible Church of God but the coūterfeit church of Sathan where the Diuel maketh his continual residence Phile. Seeing that the Lorde hath his Churche his beloued spouse and chosen congregation in this worlde whō hath he constituted the supreme head and gouernour of the same Stupe Christ Iesus whose the bodie is muste needes bee the heade of the Churche according to the saying of the Apostle I will that you knowe that Christ is the heade of euery manne Agayne God hath made al things subiect vnder his feete and hath appointed him ouer al things to be head ouer y e church In another place he saith But let vs folowe the truth in loue and in all things grow vp in him which is the head that is Christ. And to the Collossians he saith plainly thus And hee meaning Christ is the head of the bodie of the Churche Againe in the second chapter following he sayth And yee are complete in him which is the hear of all principalitie and power And further in the booke of Samuel he saith Thou hast deliuered mee from the contentions of my people thou hast preserued me to bee head ouer nations c. By all which places besides infinite the like which fearing least I might seeme tedious I omit it appeareth that Christ Iesus onely is the sole true only head of his body the church and not anye other power or principalitie vpō earth whatsoeuer And althogh that Christ bee the onelie vniuersall peremptorie head of his Church yet my meaning is not to denie Christian Princes that lawefull power and authoritie which y e word of god doth alow thē that is to be the chief heads ouer euery seuerall Church or congregation and ouer euery particular person and member of the same within theyr kingdomes and dominions as his Lieuetenaunts and Uicegerents vnder hym to rule and gouerne the people of God by the rule and scepter of his worde Phile. But I haue harde that no christian prince can be head ouer the Church of God but the pope onlie what is your opinion in that Stupe In deede the Pope I will not denie is Supreame head ouer the vniuersall Church vpon the earth but of what vniuersall Church Of the Catholike or vniuersal church of satā acording to my former diuisiō Of this malignant church I confes he is the only Supreme head But ouer the church of God the Spouse of Christe Iesus hee is so farre from beeing head that hee is not so much as a perfect member of the same For proofe whereof doe marke but thys one reason he that impugneth the worde of God and the doctrine of Christ Iesus wittyngly and willynglie is no true member of Christe Iesus But the Pope as the worlde beareth witnesse in all his Actes Dooinges and Proceedynges generally impugneche the woorde of GOD both wittinglye and willingly ergo neither hee nor any of hys Adherents are the true members of the mysticall bodie of Christe Iesus And notwythstandinge that hee is conuinced both by the worde of GOD the testimonie of his owne conscience the common verdict of all the woorlde that he is so farre frō being the supreme heade ouer the Uniuersall Churche of Christe vppon the earth that hee is not any true member thereof yet hee beareth or woulde beare the worlde in hande that hee is the onely Supreame head ouer the Churche of GOD that Christe Iesus hath made and constitute hym his Uicare and Lieuetenaunt generall to rule and reigne according too hys owne corrupt humour But howe falsly hee arrogateth this superioritye to hymselfe euery manne except wilfullie blynde maye perceyue For is not the Church of GOD the wyfe and Spouse of Christe Iesus Than howe dareth he challendge to be head ouer another mans wife Is he not a verlet that will require it and is not the wife a harlot that will permit it And is not that a monstrous bodye whiche hath moe heads then one Therefore co conclude Christ Iesus is the only Supreme head of the Churche and not the Pope The Pope hath his Churche to wit the malignant church Sinagogue of Satan whereouer he is head And as for the Church of God hee may let it alone for he hath no part nor fellowship therein except hee repent and conuert in time Phile. Who was the first of those lustie bruites that challendged this Supremacie before all others Stupe It is saide that Iohn Patriarch of Constantinople beganne to take vpon him to bee called the supreme head or vniuersall Bishop ouer all christendome Then Bonifacius the thirde Bishop of Rome seeing that to bee called head ouer all the worlde was a glorious title obteined of Phocas the Emperour to be called head ouer al the world in the yeere of our Lord .680 And thus was the egge laid that hatched this Cokatrice with all his filthie pewling brood Phile. There hath bin is great controuersie amongst many concerning the Pope of whom yet hitherto I could neuer heare a perfect description I pray you therefore what is the Pope Stupe Are you such a simple foole that you knowe not what the Pope is Hee is a manne as others are but in all kinde of mischiefe farre surpassing any who by blood
times aboute the Church casting therof vpon the walles of the Churche as he goeth Than hauing gone thrise aboute the Churche in this order hee commeth to the Church-dore and knocking three times on the dore with his staffe saith these woordes of the Psalme Lift vp your gates c. as though a whole legion of Diuelles were within the Church Then commeth me Master clark and in the name of all the Diuels he saith what king is hee that thus dareth knocks at these gates And straight way as though the Diuels gaue place the Clarke openeth the doores and the bishop entreth wyth a fewe others who are thought worthye to beholde such mysteries Being then come into the Churche first of all hee calleth vppon Saints and Images crosseth and blesseth euery thyng that he seeth or commeth neere The Churche floore also beeing strowed ouer withe ashes or els with sande â—â—e first maketh crosses thereon then letters in Latine Greeke and Hebrewe whereof hee nothing vnderstandeth what they meane no more then the manne in the Moone Then falleth hee to coniuring of newe holy water for now the old hath lost his force wyth wyne Salte and Ashes intermixt This doone hee proceedeth too hallowe the Altare and hauing first made twelue crosses theron he annointeth it with oyle and chrisme rounde about after thys hauyng set vpon euery corner of the Altar a great manye of crosses he besprynckleth it all ouer with his new made holy water neuer ceasing but ietting about it 7. times and as many times sprinkling it with holy water as before In the middest of the Altar is a foure square hole hewed out by great art representyng the Sepulchre thys hee annoyteth wyth chrysme and oyle with a thousande crosses on euery side In thys Sepulchre hee layeth his reliques hys Frankensence and hys geare Thus all thynges done in order and annoynted with Oyle and Chrisme be-sprynkled with holy water and crossed on euery side hee endeth his Pageant and departeth And thus much concernyng the hallowing of Churches and churchyards Phil. This is a wonderful enterlude indeed the sight of this woulde make a Dogge too cast his gorge I pray you what Ceremonies vseth thys Suffragane in giuing of orders The Manner of popish orders giuing and what Ceremonies are obserued in the same Stuperius FIrst of all the Suffragane Bishoppe being come in place cloathed in his pontificalibus euery one that is too bee made Priest is called particularly by name who standing all vpon a cluster or heape together clad in their long albes the bishop asketh whether they be good and vertuous men and of sufficiencâ—e able to take vpoÌ„ them that high calling The officer greased in the fist before answereth that they are learned able sufficient men and yet he neuer knewe them in all his life nor yet so much as euer sawe or heard of them before Then is ther a candle a candlestick brought from the high Altar to the Acolouth with instruction giuen them that their office is continually to light candles in the Church and to beare them aboute This done than is there an emptie cup brought and put into their handes with lessons giuen to them that their office is too giue wyne too the Priest at hys masse which they doe not yet is their crowne shorn for it neither it is lawful for them euer after to weare hayre there any more After this mayster Coniurer the Bishop receiueth the bookâ— and deliuereth it to the new Priestes commaundyng them to learne it by heart by power and veritie thereof to cast out Diuels Than is the booke carryed againe to the hygh altarâ— the Priest neuer reading one worde of it beeing deliuered him clasped and yet is he commanded to get it by hearte and to caste out Diuels with the same Then is deliuered him the tastament in token that hee ought to preache the same truly too the people whiche thing neyther hee their great grandsire the Pope nor any of them all do perfourme Next after this there are deliuered vntoo them the keyes of the Churche dores togeather with ropes of Hempe in token that their office is too shut fast the dores too driue out the Dogs out of the Churche and to keepe the Churche and al the holy Reliques fayre cleane Then is there oyle brought wherewith euery Priest hath his head his fingers and thumbes oyled and greased In the doing whereof is great heed taken least any of the oyle shoulde chaunce to drop â—owne vpon the grounde for that were a haynous offence And therefore the Suffragan Bishoppe and the Priestes they spounge they wipt they rubbe and drye their fingers their head all wonderfull to beholde And for feare of the worst they scoure their fingers head wyth ashes or sande to the ende that all the holy oyle may be dryed vp and none spilt For further securitie whereof because they will bee sure that 〈◊〉 shall be spilt they send for hot bread from the oâ—en which being carryed to the â—olye Altar 〈…〉 they apply it too theyr heads and fingers that they maye be sure the 〈◊〉 of their farred oyle is 〈◊〉 Whiche 〈◊〉 the Bishoppe and Priestes departe and so endethe the play Phile. What is the order obserued in Christening of Belles and what ceremonies doth he vse therein The order and maner of christening of Belles with the ridiculous ceremonies vsed there in by the papists Stuperius WHen the◠〈◊〉 disposed to christen any Bell first of all there in warnyng therof giuen in the church good while befoâ—e the day appointed which day being come the people â—â—ock thicke and threefold to see this commedie played The godfathers godmothers also being warned before by the churchwardens are present in all the best apparrell that they haue Besides whom you shall haue 2. or 3. 〈◊〉 present euery one striuing contending who shall bee godfathers godmothers to the bell supposing it a woÌ„derful preferment a marueilous promotioÌ„ singuler credit so to be Thus all things made readie the bishop in all his masking geare commeth foorth like a coniuring iugler and hauing made holy water with salt and other sibbersause he sprinkleth all things with the same as a thing of an vnspeakable force And althogh it be at noone dayes yet must he haue his tapers burning round about on euery side then kneeling downe hee very solemnely desireth the people to pray that God wold vouchsafe to graunt to this Bell a blessed and happie Christendom and withall a lustie sounde to driue away diuels and 〈…〉 against all kinde of peril and â—â—â—â—peâ—s whatsoeuer This prayer ended the Bishop â—â—mâ—yuteth the bell in 〈…〉 plaâ—s with oyle and chrisme mumblyng 〈◊〉 himselfe certaine coniuratâ—ons exorcismes whiche no man heareth but he alone and yet doe all meÌ„ vnderstande iâ— as well as hee Then commandeth hee the godfathers godmothers
Macarins of S. Theon of S. Frontinean S. Horns S. Helene S. Apolonia S. Paule the Heremite S. Piamotus S. Casomianus and infinite the like members of the same rabble all which too recite were infinitum fiâ—ito comprehendere that is to comprehend that in number whiche is wythout number Besides these they haue also knightes of the Rhodes or of Malta Dutch knights the knightes of Saynt Iames our Ladies knights S. Georges knights knights of HerusaleÌ„ Calitrauenses Montenienses Gartarienses Templers Iesuites and the like which for breuities sake I omit Phile. I pray you what is the order and originall of these Iesuites Iesuites their order originall treason hypocrisie and sedition Stuperius THE order of these dounghill Iesuites was first founde out in the yeere of our Lorde 1537. by a Spaniarde borne in Biskey named Don Egnatio Leguiola who with twelue of hys companions whom he called hys Apostles went to Rome from thence too Uenice pretending to goe too Hierusalem but finding no shipping at Uenice readie returned to Rome againe where he published and set abroche hys holy religion of Iesuitanisme neuer heard of before since the beginning of the world There was also one Iohn Peter Guarrassa Bishop of Quietta a little before found out a stampe or patterne of the same in they are kinges and princes ouer sinne that they haue cut of and diuided them selues from the world with many other like fanaticall mysteries Phile. Are these fryers also annointed as others are at the time of their initiation Stupe They are all annoynted euen from the highest to the lowest froÌ„ the meanest priest to the head ruler gouerner of all But from whence they deriue this annoyling and greasing I cannot tell except it be from the ceremonies of Moses lawe which if they doe then denie they Christ to be come and to haue fulfilled the lawe for vs. For all ceremonies of Moses lawe ceassed and were abrogate by Christe as beeing but types and shadowes of things to come and therefore may they not be vsed now vnder the Gospel without great impietie And albeit that they grease and annoynt themselues at sundrie tunes yet espeically doe they it at three seuerall times namely the day of their christendom the day of their consecration or initiation as they cal it at y e day of their death Besides all this the church churchâ— walles are anointed the high altar the bels euery thing els almost for their holy oyle hath a wonderfull power and force in it selfe therefore as without it they can almost coÌ„iure nothing so with it they canne in effect doe any thing Phil. What other orders of religioÌ„ haue they besides these that you haue spoken of Orders of religion amongest the papistes Stuperius THey haue infinite orders of religion and religious men as orders of the Basilians Augustinians Benedictines DominicaÌ„s Iacobines Carthusians Carmelites Lady brothers Seruitors Obseruants ConueÌ„tnals Penitenciaries Minimers Capucines Mendicants Cluinares CamalduleÌ„ses Valenbrosences Cisteriences Bernardines Coelestines GiberteneÌ„ses Milicenses Castellenses Mountoleuites Castinenses Armetes Regulars PremonstrateÌ„ses Whilliamites to making of filthie bookes raylyng pamphlets against theÌ„ therby to discredit both them the doctrine which they professe They are also ghostly fathers do shriue as wel kings princes dukes noblemen as also all others of what degree soeuer they bee of haue absolute power or els they lye to absolue them a culpa poena as pleaseth them to distinguysh from their sinnes and the punishment due for the same so soone as euer they haue whispered theÌ„ into their eares This is a deuise passing all deuises for by this he knoweth and vnderstandeth the secretes of al both men and women of kings princes if they perceiue any thing to bee intended againste the state of their vsurped kingome they certifie the pope of it who straight way sendeth out his flashing thunderbolts of excommunication neuer ceasing til the authours of that practise be cursed with booke bell and candle as blacke as Hell pitch These friers cary pardoÌ„s through the world shriue forgiue sin certifie y e pope of the secrets estate of euery couÌ„trie often times return to Rome with their bags and their caskets stufâ— full of money like faithfull children of suche a cursed father Phile. Haue these poling friers shauen crownes as the other theyr cousin germans the monks haue Stupe Yea their crownes are shauen but after an other maner For loke how much holier they be then the moÌ„ks or any others so muche broder are their crownes shorne than any others and therefore is there no hayre permitted to growe all their head ouer saue around ring or circle compassing their pate like a headlace or band with these shauen seoÌ„ses they raunge all abrode despising all others that haue not their heads so shorâ— as theirs is Phile. I wonder that they bee not ashamed to put off their hats or to let their heads be seene bare Stupe They shame at nothyng For knowe you not that they haue brasen faces and therefore cannot blushe But if they hadde not yet woulde they not blushe at this for say they hereby is signified great thinges as namely that â— VVhy manne was created What accouÌ„ts wee must render at the day of iudgement All our speeches ought to bee to Gods glory VVe ought alway to talke of the woorde of God Filthy talke counted a creation Mat. 12. A caâ—eat for vncleane talkers All filthy talke condemned VVhy God gaue man the vse of the tongue Two Churches Militant churche what it is Churche triumphaÌ„t what it is Churche tryumphant and militant all one What the church of is The infallible narkes of the rue Church Cor. 11.3 â—e 1.22 Ephe. 4.15 Colos. 1.18 Colos. 2.10 2. Sam. 22.44 Christ the onlie head of his body the church Howe princes are heads ouer the church of God The pope head ouer y e churche of Satan The pope no head ouer the church of god nor any member of the same The pope in pudent The pope dâ—â—ludeth the worlde The Pope a verlet â—â—rist Iesus â—â—t toe pope is â—â—ad ouer his â—â—urch â—ho challenâ—ed the name â—f vniuersal â—â—shop first The pope haâ—â—ched of a Câ—â—catrices egge VVhat the pope is The pope 〈◊〉 foorth in hiâ— colours â—he pope Anâ—â—christe 〈◊〉 a commoÌ„â—â—me to all B. 〈◊〉 fathers in 〈◊〉 time â—hy the pope called Papa â—hereof papa â—â—mmeth No power vpon earth comparable to the pope The wonderfull power of the pope The Pope â—reatly feared â—n purgatorie The Popes armes which he giueth None can enter into heauen without the Popes pasport The force of the Popes keies The pope plaieth the iugler and the traitor together How the pope commeth by al things Doubted wheâ—ther Peter werâ—euer at Rome Peter neuer pope of Româ— The Pope puâ— to his shifts The Popes whelpes The no pope meÌ„ber of the church of god The spiritual keies of