Crownes must yéeld humble obeisance and be subiect hauing full power to take them from whom he list and giue them againe to others as it may best please his Holines And touching the kingdome of heauen hée hath it so at commandement that he hath power to open it to some and to shut it to other some as he that kéepeth the keyes of heauen gates in his owne handes as for Hell his power serueth him as well to send thither whole Cart loades of soules no man so bolde for his life as to aske him why nor wherefore These things made Kings Princes so sore astonished that the Emperours at their Coronation abase themselues so low as they promise to serue the Pope for Subdeacon to hold the stirrope while he get on horsebacke and to leade his Horse by the bridle a litle while A worthie péece of homage for the Italians to remember who haue exalted their Sea and Bishop to so great preheminence Of which act they may be well ashamed as also of the dispossessing of Childericke descended from Pharamond of the Crowne of France to inuest Pipin great Maister of the Pallace whome he had sent with his Army to succour the Romanes against other Italians in recompence of his conquestes which hée forgaue the Pope and the people of Rome which was a reward out of other mens purses for it cost Childericke full deare He learned not this by the succession of the Apostles neither did he herein imitate Iesus Christ for he himselfe paide tribute to Caesar and he whose heire and successour he saith he is teacheth him another lesson in his first Epistle Feare God Honour the King And S. Paul writing to the Romanes willeth that euerie soule bee subiect to the higher powers and that in resisting them they resist the ordinance of God Likewise S. Iohn Chrisostome interpreting this place saith that by these words Euerie soule is meant Apostles Prophets Euangelists Bishops Monkes none excepted In like manner the high Priestes representing the person of Iesus Christ did neuer enterprise to make such braueries against Dauid Salomon their successours kings of Ierusalem Is it then likely that a Bishop or poore Monke should go about such high enterprises of his owne motion wée may easily iudge that it is the Italians of Rome who vnder the couering of their names and by their subtill meanes extort from them such things to make themselues rulers and get mony vnder the maske of their authorities from other peoples and nations of the earth Cap. 17. That to make the kings of the earth vassalles tributary to the Romanes they sow warres amongst them and vse Censures ALthough the Italians hauing aduanced their capitall Citie and high Priestes to so high dignitie and soueraigntie ought to haue rested content without encroching any further yet such is the naturall inclination of this nation that hauing an inch granted them they will take an ell they begin now to cast about and deuise some meanes to winde vnder their armes the neckes of Christian Kings and Princes to bring them to be their tributarie vassals To make way to this considering that from the beginning the Popes were not admitted in the election of Emperors or the Kings of France by reason wherof they could not so well master them nor turne and winde them at their pleasure because they durst not enterprise against them so fréely the Councell of Rome taketh away this obstacle and worketh so wel in the matter that the election is translated to the Priests of Rome who are my Lordes the Cardinals That once dispatched séeing themselues greatly aduanced thereby they contriue other meanes which they sée more fit to effect their purposes whereof one is to stirre vp warres and debates betwéene Christian Kings Potentates wherby they may destroy and weaken them selues by their owne proper armes and bow more at ease their neckes vnder the Italian Domination The other is by the Popes censures to set them together by the eares with domesticall and ciuill quarrels and in the meane time while they iarre to get some prouince or kingdom from them into their owne handes it is long since the Romanes vnderstood this practise yea a good while before the domination of Caesar For desiring to bring Greece in subiection wherein there were two inuincible leagues to wit of the Achayans and Ethobians who held so fast together that it was impossible to vanquish them any way by armes they found out this hole to enter in to make them fall to warres and diuisions among them selues so to ruinate their owne countrie that they might more easily set foote into their prouinces And if we looke well vnto the violeries that Caesar won on this side the mountaines the Italians redoubting the Switzers more then any nation in the world as Cicero saith in his Philippickes we shall sée that Caesar charged them by surprise at great disaduantage and against the law of armes they hauing passed the one halfe of their armie ouer the riuer Soane and the other remaining on the other side of the riuer could not come to fight being as yet then no declaration made of open warre betwéene the Switzers and him Besides he tooke Ariomistius chiefe Captaine of the Almanes and all his troupes at vnawares and assailed them in time of truce after to couer his sport and to make the matter good he saide that he had discouered how they went about to surprise him By meanes whereof hauing furnished his armie with two strong and warlike peoples and hauing by diuisions that he sowed euerie where got most of the Gawles on his side being beside verie skilfull to kéepe good order of militarie discipline it was an easiie matter for him to ouerthrow all other peoples Amongst the rest the English withstood him most couragiously at the first and gaue him repulse but he went another way about with them for before he departed he kindled such quarrels and diuisions among them in the which they were verie hote one against another before he returned to set vpon them againe wherefore it was an easie mater for him to vanquish and conquest them afterwardes Cap. 18. The Councell of Rome setteth kinges and christian princes together by the eares and the way how they discouer all their counsels and enterprises THe Romane Councell hath got some more aduantage by this their pollicie and deuice since the creation of their Pope for pretending to bring all kinges peoples and princes of christianitie Catholikes as well spirituall as temporall vnto their subiection vnder cloake of their Bishops they haue spunne the thred of all the warres which haue béene betwéene the Emperours and other christian princes so to bring them on their knées and to vndermine them that waies that they must still of force haue recourse to them as to a place of refuge and protection the onely meane to pull downe their hautie stomakes and to set the Italian farre aboue them To passe ouer this plancke well
by their profound wisedom that there was no meanes to be had for the reestablishment of their first Domination because the nations of the North most strong and warlike had made proofe that the corporall strength of Italians was farre inferiour to theirs and that it was impossible to bring them euer so low againe by armes or force to yéelde them that obedience they had done in former time yet the Italians lay other ambushes for them and begin to deceiue these people to bring them vnder againe by a victorie altogether spiritual voluntarie and nothing at all carnall tastiug nothing but a spirituall gouernment and such a one as might guide men to life euerlasting and to lay the foundation stones of this Domination they must vphold that there is none other meane to be brought for the confirmation of the christian Church but by establishing of a soueraigne Heade and vniuersall Bishop in like manner forsooth as it is in the Monarchies and Empires of the world Perswading themselues that if they had carried awaie this pointe once they might verie well preuaile in the rest séeing that Rome had béene the seate of the rulers and Emperours of the earth they might rather then any other nation com by this prerogatiue to dispose of christian people vnder the cloake and authoritie of their vniuersall Bishop at their owne will and pleasure so that they might without euer striking stroke or shedding bloud be kinges and make money come apace from al prouinces which should protest to hold y e christian part And for a fairer shew and more credit of the matter it were verie méete to publish by word of mouth by reporte and writings that Rome had béene the seat of S. Peter and that he suffered martiredome there so that thereby he had planted in that citie a more excellent dignitie and prerogatiue then in anie other citie of the world Cap. 12. How in creating an vniuersall Bishop at Rome the Italians entred into possession of a farre more excellent Domination then that which they had lost before THese two pointes being once granted them the Italians might verie well dispose at their pleasure of all christiandome putting on but the cloake and authoritie of their vniuersall Bishops This was an easie way for them to hold for the recouerie of a more excellent Domination being now spirituall and heauenly then the first which they had lost and by this prerogatiue might they make the purest and most precions golde and siluer of all christianitie to flie to Rome It was most easie of all to make this currant among other Bishops perswading them that all this did but encrease their dignitie and profit and inuest them with a power to make heade against the kinges of the earth to cast of their yoake and neglect all their magistrates By reason whereof this inuention was found good and passed quickly without any contradiction but there was onely a little strife betwéene the Bishop of Rome and him of Constantinople for the superioritie of them two But yet on the Italians side there was no meane to make them forgoe this dignitie they would in no wise lay it downe because they foresaw that therby they could make what doctrin they listed currāt throughout all churches and their constitutions to be receyued euerie where as the decrées of their soueraigne and heauenly Court they could make them selues redoubted and feared of the kinges and princes of the earth as though they were the onely Porters of heauen gates and that no man coulde come in there but by their leaue meane and fauour To make the rest of the Clargie receiue this inuention there was no more adoe but to performe it with a smell of the augmentation of their dignitie and profit and they straight waies embraced it with all ioy and gladnesse for whilest that men are liuing here in this earth verie few are found but will suffer themselues to bee infected with such plagues which as Galen saith are Auarice and Ambition which bring vnto the soule that which the falling sicknesse doth bring to the bodie And if there be anie found anie found amongst the rest which haue the glorie of God and the saluation of men in greater regarde it is in so small number that the greater part shall soone ouercome the better and bring them quicklie to a contrarie bow Cap. 13. How the people follow none other religion but that which their Pastors teach them and how the Romanes giue vs one according to their owne nature TOuching the people by whom I comprehend Nobles Citizens and Pesants in matter of religion they will embrace that which their Pastors shall preach vnto them or that wherein they haue béene brought vp without making any further choice So that if a man be of the Empire of Tartarians he will frame himselfe to the forme of diuine seruice that is there established in like manner will hée doe that is borne among Turks Iewes Lutherians and Catholiks the worst is when he is grounded in one he wil take no knowledge nor make none examination of anie other but will haue them all in detestation and shall be as glorious in his owne as if he had found some pretious treasure of inestimable valour especially when he hath his eyes dimmed by sensible terrestriall and humaine religion The Italian is not here to séeke how to deale with him he can handle the matter so well that he will fetch some substance from him without any warre or violence and at his owne pleasure and to effect the same he hath no more to doe but to winne to his side the Doctours and Priestes which instruct the people who may teach them a religion which is altogether agréeable to their owne nature But here is the point of controuersie which hath and shall be euer betwoone God and men that God wil be honoured with a seruice agréeable to him selfe and of the qualitie of his owne nature to wit spirituall diuine and heauenly and wee humaine creatures cleane contrarie will serue him with a seruice that is nearest and best agréeing to our owne nature for it is his will that when we adore and inuocate his holy name we should lift vp our spirits aboue the heauens and we desire to finde him here below on earth in our Temples vnder some visible forme which we may sée and touch because that our earthly nature taketh farre greater delight in that which it séeth with the bodily eyes then to transport it selfe in spirit aboue the azured heauens so farre distant from vs. In like manner those which will make their prayers to the saintes of Paradice take great pleasure to haue their images here below on earth sauing a long iourney to goe into the kingdom of heauen to séeke them God will haue his diuine seruice procéeding from his diuinitie and such a one whereof he himselfe is the authour and we take more delight in that which is humaine and procéedeth from our owne braine
contrary to our dutie towards God which is to shew our selues humble lowly and glad to bee taught by him and to tremble at his words as this Dampish earth an insensible and deafe creature taught vs at the publication of the law when it reeled trembled and was readie to shake in sunder at the voyce of God Moreouer what fayre shew soeuer they can set on the Constitutions of Pastors the shall alwayes be humaine and whosoeuer obayeth them obayeth but men and there inuentions But he that woulde looke with a vigilant eye to the neere examination and déepe sownding therof shal easily discouer that their only purpose is to amplifie there authoritie more and more still and to drawe coyne from people secretly selling that at an hard and deare rate which God geueth vs fréely and offereth vs most gratis And this is the reason why the Italyans fearing lest the publications of such doctrine altogether heauenly and diuine would make there Domination shake from the top quickly turne it vp side downe and soone diminish all the profits that the reape out of the countries of all Christendome by meanes of their reaching inuentions they haue therefore by a most subtill péece of prouidence toke order in the matter that the Doctrine and lessons of these men come not to light by remedies which séeme to be the fittest in the world for their purpose Cap. 26. The first meanes that the Romanis vse to maintaine their Domination FIrst to preuent lest any should attaine to so great knowledge in the holy Scriptures that they should finde out of themselues the most perfect and onely wholsome meanes of saluation to consist therein and to despise all other humaine seruices the haue caused all that concerneth the Diuine seruice to be written and pronounced in a tongue out of vse with all nations the vnderstanding whereof cannot be attayned but in consuming many yeares great trauels and much cost to th ende to kéepe the people still in ignorance of the true way to serue God Taking good héede not to translate it into Italian lest by and by they should proue to lerned to suffer the councell of Rome to handle them as they haue done And beside all this to vse the matter so that the that vnderstand Latine should not learne to much by the lecture of the Epistles and Gospels the haue set downe an order that the shall sing thē with such a Note that those which vnderstand the tongue very well otherwise shall not vnderstand much more in that place then the ignorant people for to speake troth the councell of Rome vseth the word of God no further but so fare as it will serue for there Domination and enriching in other partes of Christendome and would be willing that whatsoeuer therin is contained importing any disaduantage to their dealinges had bine cut of fiue hundred yeares since for that they haue no néede of it obseruing therein verie well the saying of a certaine Philosopher vsed in these speaches Take heede leste in seeking to much the Heauen yee loose not the earth Which is as much to say that they must prefere earthly things before the kingdome of God As we sée the Italians doe interpreting or reading Gods commandements when the cutof the defences made in the law of God againste Images whereof one is not to make Images another not to bow downe to them and the third not to worship them Would they euer do this thinke you but that they foresée that the true vnderstanding of this commandement wold coole fréeze the zeale of those that bring offrings to the worshipping of their Images with the which they licke their lippes full swéetly But they will not I warrant you peruert or misconster this article Thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke will I build my Church All the world shall heare what these wordes signifie they will want no Trumpets for the matter that they may therby be Dominators and Kings and fetch in mony by Cart lodes to Rome such force and vertue haue those wordes so sure a staffe vnto them is the rocke of S. Peter Sée then this is one mean most ingeniously inuented to containe the people within the obedience of the Romane Councell Cap. 27. A second meane that they haue to keep men in their seruice still BVt iudging that to be a sufficient remedy to withhold learned men who by reading of the holie scriptures by true contemplation of thinges created by the handie worke of God and by the great harmony of both these ioyned togither should be brought to the knowledge of the Creator and to the true seruice conuenient for his holie name and so fall to be opinatiue reiecting the Italian Domination and by such meanes shake their so sure gouernment make it totter a litle Against whom being men well armed with sound arguments it were a most dangerous thing for the Italians and their suppostes to deale by way of disputations yet sée they haue defenses ramparies to let them for making any breach in their Domination First to make them hold their tongues no more but to giue them some fat benefice some Abbey or Priory and to schoole them a litle with this lesson that the veritie which they saie they know is but poore and bare god wot wearing but a thrid bare coate neuer able to make a man rich as it was apparant indéed in him who was the Veritie it self hauing no place to hide his head in that beside it had the world all Kings and Princes of the earth for enemy On the other side he that wold be employed for Rome she had to command all ouer y e world and had the bestowing of Bishoppricks Abbies Priories and Parsonages to aduance and make happie all those that imbraced their part Now of a great number few or none stand out with them but are ouercome with such temptations if there be any that will not yéeld to them we sée by and by that the Bishops and their Officials haue them in chace and do their vttermost to inflame the Magistrate against them to put them to death as did the Priests of the old law against Helias Ieremias and the rest of the Prophets their successors against Christ But if the Magistrates chance to wincke at them the Councell of Rome hath caused Ecclesiasticall Counsellers to bee admitted into all Courtes of Parlament to aduise stire vp and inflame all Presidents Proctors of the King and all other councellours to make open warre with fire and sword against such people not without sore charge to the Iudges to looke vnto them menacing their negligence herein with double punishment By reason whereof it shal be heard for them to escape their handes Whereby appeareth how great the carnall wisedome of this nation is to maintaine and hold fast their reuenues and Domination Cap. 28. The third meane whereby they fortifie thēselues with the Forces of three of the most mightiest in al Christēdome NOt to
of how great miseries troubles calamities warres quarrels diuisions and hatreds should Christians haue saued deliuered themselues But at the least we shal be preserued in time to come by experience of these oppressions that are past which cannot chuse but be to our great good and profit Cap. 40. That the Councell of Italy neuer made conscience to cut off the authoritie of the Pope when they smelt that there was any thing for them to be gained WHen we come then to remember how they make the people belieue that the Church cannot stand without an vniuersall Bishop who without euer looking to that which might follow thereupon allowed verie well of all that They incontinent hauing this aduantage made him proper to themselues by such deuise haue vsurped a domination ouer all the world prepared a way to fetch great summes of money out of all parts of Christendome vnder the name and authoritie of this their Bishop Whose authoritie notwithstanding they neuer make conscience to abridge when they smell any profit for themselues how did they practise in the great Pardons which were sent abroad in the time of Charles the eight and Lewes the twelfth by the which generall remission of all sinnes was giuen and Paradice opened to all those that would go in pilgrimage to Rome Wherein I say that they did limit and restraine the power of their Bishop for being vniuersal as they maintain so also is his power extended ouer all and not restrained or tied within Rome Wherefore did they this then but for a fine deuise to enrich their Citie by the concourse of diuers straunge peoples who flocked thither from all partes of the world to go into Paradice preferring by this meane the inuentions of men before the commandements and decrées of God and the way that he sheweth them to attaine to heauen This is an euident token that this nation being most subtill measureth all things as they sée they may turne her to profite and augment her authoritie Cap. 41. That other kingdomes may create and constitute Popes within themselues because the Italians refuse their Pope of Rome to be common to all NOw if there had béen in other nations any craft or sutiltie any thing néere like to that of Italy after they had perceiued how by this prerogatiue they were brought vnder the iurisdiction of the Italians and dreyned of their money by this country if they had straight pretended that the vniuersall Bishop ought as well to visit and be resident among other nations and principall parts of Christendome as at Rome and in case the Italians wold not consent to haue told them plaine that euerie nation should haue procéeded to the election of an other in euerie seuerall countrie as the Frenchmen for their part who held that the Gospell was first brought vnto them by S. Dennis and that therefore he is their Apostle to constitute the Sea of their Bishop at the Temple of S. Dennis for France and for Spaine at S. Iames Church in Gallitia so in like manner for other nations And in case hereupon they should enter into choller and storme at this they might be answered that S. Panl did admonish the Corinthes to follow him euen as he imitated Christ And in good faith it is honour inough for these Romish maisters in imitating them to establish the like order gouernment as they allow best of among themselues for truth it is that the true manner of honouring and worshipping of Saintes consisteth in doing our vttermost to imitate and follow their footesteps According to this euen as they wold neuer consent to be depriued of their Pope without whom they cannot beare sway in the world and purloyne money from other nations not so quick spirited as they so in like maner if the French would looke well into their affaires it were necessarie for them also to make a Pope among themselues to serue their own turne And by the example of the Romanes they should endeuour their vttermost to raunge vnder their iurisdiction not onely a whole kingdome but also other nations more Septentrionall who are lesse ingenious then they and principally this might be effected by the Prouensals or Gascons being a people more meridionall then the other Frenchmen As for y e English although by reason of the great trafficke they haue into all partes by sea they are not a people altogither so dull spirited and grosse yet they confesse that the French haue subtilly recouered that of them by conclusions of peace which they by great victories had conquered from them before So that it is verie like by this meane that if in imitating the Italians there were a Pope constituted but in France onely yet he should haue vnder his iurisdiction England Scotland Ireland Norway Friseland and all the Netherland By this shift they might fetch in coyne from these parts after the example of the Romanes and the people of Italy who haue had a hand of such people whereas if the French had practised such conter-pollicies whereas the Italians contemne them at this day as grosse and barberous they would haue made as much of them otherwise as a nation and people as pollitike craftie and subtill as themselues might bée All which is to shewe how farre they excell vs in inuention and subtiltie of spirit Cap. 42. Arguments in defence of a Pope if there were any in France against him of Rome BUt if any obiect that the Italians would neuer endure y e for because he were first in possessiō of one only Pope I agrée well to that so they were the stronger but when we sée that many of our Kings haue passed cleare through the countrie of Italy without any contradiction and gone as farre as Naples and that those that at any time went about to withstand them were by and by ouerthrowne wee must néedes thinke that it were great disaduantage for them to deale that way but if on the other side they would go to dispute and combat of wordes to discide whether the succession of S. Peter and the lieftenancy of Christ be tyed to Rome or no we shall néede but to sende them to combat in this dispute with the Lutherians who maintaine according to the saying of Virgil that the propertie and true description of Rome is to containe seuen mountaynes thereby geuing vs to vnderstand that it is the Citye remarked in the Apocalips to be the seate of Antichrist Now in y e towne of Saint Dennis in France there is no such matter therefore such qualitie cannot be attributed truely to the Pope as the haue giuen him But some may reply y e the people would neuer beléeue so much in any other Pope as in him of Rome to that I answere that if they had made one of as subtill a preist as him of Bellouet if no man had gone about to descrye his knauery as some did he might haue easily preuailed for that poynt for there was neuer any Pope of Rome
who for his owne persons sake nor for his miracles that euer was so followed with so great troupes as was he of whome I now speake But if they went about to terrifie the French Pope by excommunications and interdictions so that he would but practize y e like against theirs of Rome it is most certayne that whosoeuer would but looke on the one and the other should sée the Italians farre more black in the face and more melancholike and the French farre more cherefull and Iocande then they Sée her then in mine aduise are medy which being put in practise of vs as it ought will ruinate the Domination of the Italians and the counsellof Rome in the personnes of there Popes which likewise would quit cut of the way whereby the transport all our siluer from vs As for those who would not nor could not away with the Pope shall by that meanes kéepe themselues exemted from there Domination without paying them any mony at all no more then y e protestantes doe which will haue nothing at all to doe with them And here I will aduertise the Readers of a fine deuise to feare the Romans and to make there Popes tryple crowne shake on his head if they had but the newes carried them how that the most Reuerend Cardinall of Vendome were elected Pope in France it would make them all quake for feare and put them in worser case then if an Army of ministers should goe thether to set vpon them But if any Frenchman should to make them more certayne of it tell them againe that hée were wonderosly affectionate to the masse and to the ancient ceremonies they would thinke him more asse and sot then sottise it selfe because that is no part of the greife that tormenteth them but the name of their Pope onely And if the Spanyard likewise would but follow this example the lead of Rome that the haue sold for a dearer price then the finest golde in the world which men come to séeke so curiously out of all partes shonld tarie with them at Rome to help them to make there gutters of there houses cestrenes to hold there water or Carracters to print what they please withall Cap. 43. How the Roman Ecclesiastick knaweth the people of his owne countrye and teacheth those of other nations to doe the like to their countrymen BUt because the Italians is so subtill and wary that hee will slip none occation but he will take it fast by the haire assone as it is present and will neuer let go his hold til he haue made thereof all the commodityes that it may yéeld sée he deleth hardly with his owne countrymen to there great hinderance and losse Now they detayne a good peece of their gayne from them who making vp part of tbe body of the commonwealth hold there assemblies a parte and neuerthelesse the themselues are present at the assembles of others who moreouer can of themselues publish and by there owne reasons confirme that which they will haue established and set downe no man so hardye as to open his mouth to speake to the contrarye which is the easiest meane to obtayne any thing whatsoeuer a man would haue in this world For look into the Soueraigne courts and other Iurisdictions where in there are many learned and eloquent Lawyers although they bee suspected to pleade the weaker causes yet so it is that if they haue this aduantage to propounde onely that which concerneth the iudgment of the cause being no aduerse partie or aduocate that dare speak any thing to the contrarie they wil be sure to discourse and pleade in such sorte and with such dexteritye that the Iudge and the Assistances shal be so rauished caryed way by there reasons that they shall obtayne victorie of the cause were it neuer so vniust Now the Roman Ecclesiasticke hauing won this aduantage to himselfe to the great preiudice of the Nobilytie and the Commons and hauing beside giuen light and instrution to those of other Countyes to doe the like haue robbed all other Estates of there goods and dignityes tryumphing and swimming in riches themselues vp to the chin caring not a straw to goe against there profession which should bee by contempt of the world to afpire to heauen For proofe hereof there was a president who was verie curious to count al the reuenue of the Kingdome of France and hauing made his computation he found that the some did amounte to twelue thousand Millyons and that the Ecclesiasticks who are not the hundreth parte of the people carried away seuen parts hereof Whereas in the old testament they had but a tenth neuer speaking of any oblations that the haue at Baptismes churchings confessions and the great ransomes that thy extort after the death of the deceased husbandes of poore widowes orphans and pupilles vnder the coullour and pretense of their long prayers all which ought in déede to be employed to the instrution of children and the marriage of poore parentles maydens besides in all the Churches of Cittyes a man of any honour cannot scape there nets but he must leaue behinde him some halfe Teston a matter of two groates if he will not be in disfauour of these Ecclesiastickes Touching any charges watchings and trauels that they should be at to teach reprehend and comfort the people as S. Paule requireth these great pillers of the Church the Cardinals Bishops and Abbots they draw back and will not come neare them and yet it neuer ingendereth any remorseof conscience to take fiftie thousand crownes of yearely reuenue referring the exercise of their charges to their courts who after their example discharge themselues by their Vicars and their Vicars they hang all vpon the begging Fryers so that the Nobillitie and the people be well serued betwéene them all by this shift which sheweth verie well that they can deuise shifts meanes now for their commoditie in this world Cap. 35. Verie fit meanes to hinder the Ecclesiastick for medling with that which concerneth the Magistrates TOuching the Magistrates to whom they are bound to giue all honour and yéeld them all subiection they robbe them in part of their Iurisdictiō exempe themselues from their power and taking themselues the prerogatiue of honour that they owe vnto them And further that which is to bee noted more strange in stéede of supporting the poore Priestes who haue all the heauie burthen of their charges vpon there backs they still ouer loade them with so many seruises and cut them out so great quantitie of matter to sing that those of Cities in lesse thē ten or twelue yeares become so hoarse that they are not able to serue any longer but must be cast off to goe séeke where they can by reason wherof seing them at some sollemne feast surcharged with such quantitie of seruices whereas they sing on their part for my part I bewayle their miserable condition estéeming it worse then that of poore flaues and captiues in the Romane Gally and
of the other prophets who haue endured greuous persecutions and neuer moued any of ther dissiples to persecute againe or take any vengeance at all nor of all the sectes of philosophers as of Socrates Plato Pythagoras Aristotle and others who alwayes laboured all the could to wine men to peace quietnes goodnes gentilnes and mildnes whereas this fellow will imprinte in there hartes all rage crueltie outrage and madnes whereby appeareth that he is a very limme and instrument of this olde and subtile Dragon who made Cayne conceaue in his harte the murther of his owne brother Abell the same which moued the preists of Ierusalem vnnaturally to sawe in twayne in the middest this heauenly and diuine Prophet Esaye and to persecute the processe and condemnation of Ieremie He sheweth himselfe seton by a more blooddy spirit then euer were Marius and Silla who shed so much of there owne Citizens boodes but rather more like to Phalaris Catiline Nero Commodus and other such cruell and saluage beastes al together voyde of all humanitie towardes there owne countrymen His shamelesse impudencie and his so insatiable thirst after blood is so apparant that it is not to be hid for he representeth himselfe as a Standerbarer of Christs catholike church who ought to here his voyce and doe after his commandements who pronounceth in the fifth of S. Mathewes Gospell that The mercifull pittifull and peace makers are blessed and that we must forgiue if we wil be forgiuen And the Apostle S. Paule writing to the Romans teacheth vs To haue peace withall men without taking any vengeance which belong onely to God And that if our enimie hunger we shonld giue him to eate and if he thirst we should giue him drinke surmounting his malice by our mildnes and mercy And last of all S. Iohn in his first Catholike Epistle saith That he which hateth his brother is in Darkenes and cannot tell whether hee goeth because the Darknes hath put out his eyes Cap. 35. How this false Catholike Englishman voide of all humanitie transformeth himselfe into all crueltie and rage SOme were then to examine this bloodie booke wherewith he would infect all Christendome with the rage and rancor that possesseth his furious stomack wherby he goeth about to set the people of France togither by the eares to destroy one another like fierce Dragons and cruell Tygers it argueth his cowardly most dastard effeminate spirit for these are things that are neuer in a man that hath any magnanimitie or greatnes of courage in him Wherein he sheweth that he is the verie disciple and trumpet of the maligne spirit the diuell that in shape of a filthie and stinking hée-Goat vseth the like spéeches vnto sorcerers witches who hauing forsaken Iesus Christ go vnto his sabboths to do him homage where he giueth them none other lessons but to put in practise vengeance murthers and cruelties whose footesteps he followeth right pretending to ouerthrow in man all the cléere light of reason and vnderstanding vtterly to extinguish that which maketh him foresée in his actions whether they tende to his honour profit and securitie or no before he vndertake them to abse and make him stoupe to blinde beastlie and furious passions so to make men flie one at another like mad dogs cruel beasts when we sée any aduantage of the side that we take for his drift is to make the Catholikes roote out the Hugonots as a people not to be tollerated in religion yet there is no people vnder heauen that agreeth so well with them as they be the Iewes Turkes or Tartarians against whom thou shouldest rather scum of the froth of thy furie and heate to combat and employ the floud and force of thine eloquence then conspiring the total ruine of Christians against those who receiue and allow of all the bookes of the Bible the foure first Councels with whom hauing none other quarrell but for humane Constitutions thou oughtest rather to take part And furthermore I say that the truest and best Catholikes and Protestantes are for the most part the surest and best friends that any Citie or common wealth hath there is but the Cockle which groweth among this good wheate and other dogs and hogs who smelling out any commodious profite by the Italians and their supposes much like himselfe who for rewarde of his forged crimes and lies smelleth out some Crosiers staffe miter or Abby vnder a false maske and shew of religion passing not to be recognished for the true sonne of the father of lies and auncient slaunderer the diuell when maliciously and vntruly he bringeth the mightie Princesse Elizabeth for an example of wonderfull crueltie against Catholikes to make our French Nation conceiue a great hatred and feare of our King wherein I thinke that his father the diuel would haue béen ashamed himselfe to haue published such impudent lies for as much as this gracious Princesse the Quéene of England and our King of France whom he representeth as her imitator haue neuer béen accused of any blame and reproach but to haue béen too mercifull and pittifull towards such pestiferous mates and seditious spirits as is hée himselfe whom I should haue made knowne for the most pernicious and damnable enemy of all Christendome that euer was on any side whatsoeuer as him that hath fastened the authour of his hope vpon a particular and temporall commoditie caring nothing at all to be cause of the subuersion of the common weale and to depriue himselfe of life euerlasting But because I am preuented by others that haue answered the booke I will not enter further to confute any particularitie thereof I thinke now by a most manifest and briefe description I haue set before the face of the Readers as wel the meanes as instruments by the which the Italians know how brauely to conserue and maintaine their Domination to the great shame and dishonour of those that are subiected thereunto as slaues wherfore it is now conuenient to manifest and propound the remedies by the which all noble and gentle spirites louers of their owne libertie may easily deliuer themselues from their slauery and thraldome Cap. 36. The first remedy by ouerthrowing the foundation stone vpon the which the Romane Domination is builded AS it were a smal matter for a Phisition to be able brauely to discourse of the causes beginnings augmentation and nature of any disease if he should not giue remedies to cure the same so it shal be requisite to set downe the meane whereby men might as well in times past as also hereafter throw away this Italian yoke kéep their mony in their purses without enriching strangers with it for this matter I will begin at the foundation stone vpon the which they haue built augmented and eleuated there so great and loftie Dominatious that it hath no boundes here on the face of the earth as haue the kingdomes and empires of Emperours and Kings but being eleuated if we will belieue them
as high as heauen gates shutteth openeth them euen as they do the doores of the Consistorie at Rome In some this foundation stone is that Saint Peter had his Apostles seate at Rome and there was martired whereof followeth that the Romane Bishop is his successour and hath vniuersall charge ouer the whole world For the first I deny séeing that neither the Acts of the Apostles nor any other of the Epistles of S. Paul hath made mention therof that he himselfe witnesseth that he was the Apostle of the Iewes called to those that were of the circumcision For the second y t he was martired there I cōfesse for that those of Rome and their Emperours to make a triumph of Iesus Christ and of his doctrine to quench their insatiable crueltie against Christians had caused S. Peter to be transported to Rome from another place where he was detained first prisoner to put him to death ignonimiously and make him a publike spectacle to the world But for hauing by this crueltie and iniustice depriued the world of so famous excellent seruant of God that they should be reputed his successours there is no reason at all nay contrarie I will stand to it they ought therfore altogither to be disinherited for was there euer any man so impudent that for hauing murthered another would dare to challendge his succession And if he had béen borne at Rome and appointed Apostle to the same place which he was not neither they haue made themselues vnworthie of all successorie right and title For this were a prettie matter that for vsing all crueltie and committing bloodie murthers against the seruants of God men should get domination and principalitie as well in earth as in heauen it were farre wide to say so and the greatest absurditie in the world that men might imagine Nay contrarie Christ menaceth great punishment for the like matter when he cried out Ierusalem Ierusalem thou which killest the Prophets thereby denouncing her ruine and ouerthrow by the fire of Gods vengeance foretelling her destructiō to come and the miserable estate wherein she is at this present houre If then this were sufficient to depriue Rome of her succession yet furthermore were she worthie to be depriued for her rebellion against the Gospell and the doctrine of S. Peter wherein she hath perseuered since the death passion of Christ hauing brought foorth the most detestable monsters for Emperours as Tyberius Nero Calligula Commodus and Heliogabalus which haue euer béen remarked to liue vnder the vaute of the heauens who as cruell beasts estranged and degenerat from all Christian blood by reason of y e enormitie of their liues could not suffer any such cleare light to shine there néere them being also set on by their sacrificing Priests Pagans and Idolaters who only taught publikely at Rome soone to extinguish the same But if there were any good Bishops there they laie close and did not openly discouer themselues and were no part of the bodie of this people being indéed sent thither from diuers other partes personages of great learning and eloquence rather to make residence there then in any other part for that this citie was stil replenished with learned men cunning Philosophers and Pagan Oratours against whome it had not béen for Pastors meanely learned to haue disputed without ouerthrow and conuiction Yet all this hath nothing eleuated the Italians aboue any other people of Christentie for hauing Domination ouer them but rather it bringeth lower and abaseth them as a testimonie of their great resistance and rebellion to the truth and the teachers thereof Cap. 37. Constantine the Great King of England apposed himself against the tyrannous persecutours of Christians that Italy brought forth BVt if ye come to aske me what Nation hath more right to haue the Sea of an vniuersall Bishop erected in it then Italy I answere that as Italy hath made it selfe vnworthie by bringing forth the murtherers of S. Peter and of other tyrannous and persecuting Emperors hauing a long time made resistance to the Gospell so those haue best deserued it who being pushed forward with an holie zeale of Gods glorie and of the saluation of men hauing abandoned their liues kingdomes and treasures to make passage for the Gospel throughout the whole worlde in destroying the doctrines of Pagans and all idolatry which had raigned before more then two thousand yéeres all ouer the world except only among the Iewes Now what nation hath that béen of so hautie and magnanimous courage which hath done God so signall a péece of seruice Surely it was England which hauing brought forth that great and thrise sacred Constantine who of a Pagan that hée was making profession of the Christian faith and receiuing Baptisme straight began to warre vpon Maxentius the Romane Emperour a most cruell murtherer and a great persecutor of Christians whome he vanquished and planted the true Gospell and kingdome of Christ not onely in the I le his natiue countrie that bred him but also at Rome the receptacle of all Idolatrie and from thence made passage for it vnto Alexandria the capitall Citie of all Affrica to Constantinople and all that countrie bordering towards Asia enlarging the kingdome of the sonne of God farre and wide which séemed at that time to be banished out of this worlde by the continuall warres of the Romans destroying and ouerthrowing wheresoeuer he went that of Sathan shewing himselfe to be the Executour of that which Iesus Christ had foretold in the twelfth of S. Iohn saying Now is the iudgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world be cast out O that the wonder of thy holie and almost diuine enterprises do make thée go farre beyond all humane creatures for the light that thou madest to shine in the world surmounteth as much that of the holie Kings of the old Testament as doth the light of the Sunne the cléernes of the Moone And as for that which the Apostles and other faithfull Pastors which went before thée it was alwaies diuined and entermingled with the darknes of superstitious Idolaters which had full course among the Emperours and Kings of the earth but thou great Instrument of the Eternall thou hast chaced farre out of thy sight all the sacrifices seruices that men did dedicate vnto the diuil according to the witnes of S. Paul who saith that the Gentiles did sacrifice vnto him And more then this it is thou great Monarke that hast so firmely planted and established this light in the world that what assaults so euer haue béen made to extinguish it yet could it neuer altogither be put out and defaced If then one so great and diuine a benefite had procéeded from Rome as is from England who could imagine how great prerogatiues and honours almost diuine they would challenge from other people whereas neuertheles the Emperour sprung out of Italy haue euer béen the most signall persecuters of Iesus Christ and of his Martirs for all