As much is of the head of Mary Magdeline which is showed nere the towne of Marseilles wyth the morsel of past or ware that is fastened vpon her eye Men do make a treasure of her as it were a god descended from heauen but if a trial wer made of things men might clearely finde the deceyt and craft It wer then a thing to be desired to haue a certentie of al the trifles that men kepe heare and there for reliques or at the least to haue a regester of thē to shew how many falshodes there are But seyng this is not possible to be done I wishe to haue onely the Inuentory of ten or twelue townes as of Paris Thoulous Raines and Poiters yf I had but onely these yet neuerthelesse men shoulde see a meruelous great swarme or at the least a confused heape And it is a wishe that I haue many times desired that I might recouer suche an Inuentory neuertheles for so much as that would also be hard for me to doe I thought it much better in the ende to giue this lytle aduertysement which foloweth To the ende to awake them that slepe and to make them thynke what may be sayd of the whole number when that in so very a lytle a portion there is founde so much abuse I meane when there shall be founde so much vntrueth in those Reliques whiche I shall name the which is almost not the thousande parte of that which is shewed and sene what maye one thynke of the residue Moreouer if it apear that those which were counted and estemed for the moste certayne haue bene fraudulently inuēted and counter feyted what maye men thynke of those that are more doubtfull And woulde to god that Christen Princes would somewhat thinke vpon thys For it were their office and dutye not to suffer theyr pore subiects to be so deceiued not onely by false doctrine but visibly in makynge them beleue as the Prouerbe sayeth that Rammes bladders are lanternes for they shall make accounte before God for their dissimulyng yf seing and beholdyng the same they kepe silence and it shall be dearely solde them to haue permitted men to mocke God where as they myght haue remedied the same How soeuer it be I trust that this lytle treatise shal serue al geuing euery one occasion to thinke with himselfe that which the tytle importeth that is yf there were a regester made of all the reliques of the worlde that men should clearly see how they haue bene deceyued and blynded heretofore and what darkennes and ignoraunce hath bene throughoute the whole earth Let vs begynne then at Iesus Christe of whome because they coulde not saye that they had the naturall body for concerning hys miraculous body they haue found such meanes to forge it and that in such number and at all times as often as semed good to them they haue gathered in stede therof thousands of other trifles to supplye this want Although yet not withstanding they haue not to let the bodye of Iesus Christ escape without retaynyng some lytle gobbet thereof For besides the teath and the heare the Abbey of Charour in the diosis of Poiters vanteth it selfe to haue the prepuce that is to saye the foreskyn that was cut from him in the circumcision I prai you from whence came this skinne vnto them Sainct Luke the Euangelist reciteth very well that our Lord Iesus was circumcised but that the skinne was locked vp to be reserued for a relique he maketh no mencion at all All the auncient histories speake neuer a worde thereof And for the space of fiue hundred yeres it was neuer spoken of in the Christian churche Where is it then that it was hidden for to be founde agayne so sodenly Moreouer howe coulde it flye vnto Charour But for to proue it to be that thyng they say that certain droppes of bloode fell from it This is their saying which had nede of probation Wherefore a man maye well see that it is but a plaine mockery or delution Yet neuerthelesse although that we shoulde graunte them that the skynne that was cut from Iesus Christ was kepte and that it might be either there or els where What should we sai of the foreskinne which is shewed at Rome at Sainct Iohn of Latrans It is most certain that there was neuer but one It coulde not be then at Rome and at Charour both together So then beholde a most manifest fashold and deceite There remanieth afterwardes the blood for the which there hath bene great stryfe and much dissention For many haue sayde that there was found no blood of Iesus Christ but miraculous bloode yet neuerthelesse it is shewed natural in more then an hundred places In one place certaine droppes as at Rochell in Poitou the whiche Nicodemus as they saye dyd gather in his gloue In other places violes full as at Mantone and els where in other places gobblets ful as at Rome at sainct Eustace Yea men haue not bene content to haue bloode alone but they must haue mingled it wyth water as it did issue out of his side when he was pearced on the crosse This merchandise is to be founde in the church of S. Iohn of Latran at Rome I leaue the iudgement to euery man what certentie may be had hereof And namelye whether this be not a manyfest lye to say that the blood of Iesus Christ hath bene founde seuen or eyghte hundred yeres after his death for to be shewed throughout the world seing that in the auncient churche there was neuer made mencion thereof There foloweth after that which did touche the body of our lorde Iesus or rather al that thei could gather together for to make reliques of in memorie of him in stede of hys bodye Fyrst of all the Maunger in the which he was put at the tyme of his birth is to be shewed at Rome in the church called our Ladye the greater Also in S. Paules church the clothe wherein he was wrapped although that there be some lytle part of it at S. Sauiours in Spaine Hys Cradle is also at Rome wyth the shyrte that hys mother Mary the Virgyn made hym Item in s Iames church at Rome they doe shewe the aulter on the whiche he was set in the temple in the time of his presentacion as though there had then bene dyuers aulters as they make in the Papistrie as manye as they wyll So herein they lie without colour or cloke Beholde what thynges they haue had for the time of Christes childhode It is now not nede full to dispute muche where it is that they haue founde all this baggage so longe a tyme synce the death of Iesus Christ For there is none of so litle iudgement that doth not see their foly Throughout the whole historie of the gospell there is not so muche as one worde mencioned of these thynges In the tyme of the Apostles it was neuer harde once spoken of Aboute fyftye yeares after the death of Christ Iesus
wraped and of an other side the kercher whiche was put vpon the heade for such is the signification of this word Suaire to take it for an hankerchere or couercheffe and not for a greate shete that serueth to wrape the body in For to conclud briefly Ether the Euangeliste sainct Iohn must be a lyer or els all they that boste them selues to haue the winding shete must be conuicted of falshode and it must euidentlye haue apered that they haue deaceaued the poore people by a moste extreme impudency it should neuer be done if I wold intreate perticulerly al the mockeries that they vse one dothe showe at Rome at saincte Iohn of Latran the rede that was put by mocking in Iesus Christes hand in stead of a septer when he was beaten in Pylates howse Lykewyse at the churche of the crosse is showen the sponge wher the gall and myrrhe was put in his mouthe I praye you where is it that thei recouered them It was the Infidelses that hade them in their handes dyde they delyuer them thinke we to the Apostles to make reliques of them Or dide they thē selues looke them vp for to preserue them for the time to come What sacreledge is this so to abuse the name of Iesus Christ for to cloke and couer fables so leude lye forged Asmuche is of the pence that Iudas receued for betraying of our lorde It is sayde in the Gospell that he dyd render them agayne in the sinagoge of the pharises and that after they bowght afylde therew t for to burye the strangers Who is it that hathe gotten those pence from the merchantes Handes If one should say that it was the desciples that were to folyshe Therfore a better coulor must be sought to cloke the matter If on saye that it was done longe tyme after yet that were lesse apparente forsomuche as the mony myght haue passed throughe many mens handes They must neades showe them that either the marchante that solde his possession to the pharises for to make a buriynge place did it for to buye the pence to make reliques of them or otherwyse that he sold them againe to the faithefull Now hereof their was neuer newes in the auncient Churche It is a like glose of the stayres of Pilates Iudgement halle whiche are at S. Iohn of latran at Rome with holes where they say dropes of blood fell from the body of our lorde Iesus Christ Item in the same place in the Church of sainct Praxede the piller wherto he was bounde when he was scourged and in the churche of the holy crosse three others rounde about the which he was lead when he went to his death I knowe not where they haue dreamed on all these pellers so is it that they haue imagened them of their owne fantesyes for in the holle historye of the Gospell we reade nothing of them It is sayde that Iesus Christe was whipped but that he was bonde to a peller that is of their glose One maye easely see then that they haue gone about nothing els but to heape as it were a seae full of lyes Wherin they haue geuen them selues suche lybertye that they haue not bene ashamed to make a relique of the asses taile whereon our lord Iesus rode for it is to be showne at Genes but we haue no more cause to be astonishede at their iupudencie then at the folishenesse stupidite of the world who hath receiued wyth great deuotion such a delusion Some man might obiecte heare that it is not like that they doe showe all the Reliques which we haue already named autentiklye but that they cā also by by proue frō whense they come out of whose handes they haue receaued them To this I coulde answere in one worde that in so euident lyes it is not possible to pretende any aparances of trewthe For howe so euer they arme them selues with the name of Constantine or of King Louis or of any pope all this aualith nothinge for to approue that Iesus Christ was nayled with fourtene nayles or that a hole hedge was consumed to make hys croune of thornes with or that one Speare blade shuld haue ingendrede since thre others or that his cotte shuld be multiplied into thre and haue chaunged fashion for to become a pristes coope or that of on onelye windinge shete their should haue spronge a broode as it were the Chikennes of one Henne that IESVS CHRIST was buryed cleane contraye to the maner that the Ghospell mencyoneth If I shoulde showe a Lumpe of leade and shoulde saye This Lumpe of Golde was geuen me by such a prince I shoulde be estemed for a mad foole and for my saying the leade wold not change his colour nor his nature for to be changed into golde So when they say to vs behold what Godfrey of Bullon did sende hether after he had conquered the countrey of Iude and that reason doth declare vnto vs that it is but a lye shoulde we suffer our selues to be abused wyth the wordes and not beholde that whyche we see before our eyes But yet to th ende that we may knowe howe sure it is to truste to all that they aledge for the approbation of their reliques it is to be noted that the principall Relyques and the moste notable that be at Rome were brought thither as they saye by Tytus and Vaspasian Trewlye it is as playne a mockedge as if one shoulde saye that the Turke wente to Ierusalem for to seeke the holye Crosse of IESVS CHRIST to the ende to place it at Constantinnople Vaspasian before he was chosen Emperour conquered and destroyed part of Iude afterwardes when he came to the Empyre he lefte hys sonne Titus to be hys Leutenant who afterwards won the citie of Ierusalem Nowe these were heathen who cared or set as muche by Iesus Christe as by him that neuer had bene So one may iudge whether they durst not as frely lye in alledgyng Godfrey of Bullon or sainct Louys as they haue alledged Vaspasien Furthermore let it be considered what iudgement as well the kyng had whome they call sainct Louys as all other such like had He had in dede such as it was a deuotion zeale for to augment christendome but if one shoulde haue shewed them goates dunge and haue saide to them beholde here be our Ladyes Beades they woulde without any agayne saying haue worshipped them or woulde haue brought them hyther in their shippes for to haue set them vp honorably in som place and ī very dede they haue consumed their bodies their goods a great part of the substaunce of their countrey for to brīg ouer an heape of smal trifles wherewith they were brought in a fooles Paradise thinkinge that they were the moste precious Iewels in the worlde But yet to geue more ample vnderstandynge of this matter it is to be noted that in all Grecia and the lesse Asia and Mauritania whyche we nowe commonly call the countrey of Iude they shew
of longe tyme after vntill such tyme as the church was corrupted with superstitiōs On the other part al the quarters almost of the worlde are full of Images of the virgin Mary which some do say he made as at Cambery and here and there But after what sorte and forme are they paynted There is asmuch honestie and comlynes as if one would picture a dissolute womā Behold how god hath blinded them that they haue had no more consideration then brute beastes But I am not greatly astonished in that thei haue imputed to S. Luke for to haue made Images of the virgine seyng they haue bene so bolde to impute the lyke vnto the prophet Ieremy I can witnes the same in Auuergnie It shoulde be time as I thinke that the worlde woulde once open her eyes for to see that which is so manifest I leaue to speake of S. Ioseph of whom som haue his slippers as in S. Simōs abbey of Trier Other some as we haue already said his hose others also his bones The example which I haue already alledged suffiseth me for the discouering of the folishnes that is therein I wil place S. Mihell here to the ende he may accompany the virgin Mary Some will thinke that I do as it were iest or mock in rehearsing the reliques of an Angell Yea the abusers them selues haue mocked them but they haue not therfore letted to abuse in good earnest the poore people For at Carcassone they bost to haue certain reliques of him likewise at S. Iulians of Tours They do show at great S. Mihels which is so well haunted of pilgrimes his sworde which is like a childs dagger and his buckler likewise which is as it were the bosse of an horse bitte There is neither man nor woman so simple who may not iudge what mockerye this is But because suche lyes are conuered vnder shadowe of deuotion it semeth that it is not ill done for to mocke God and his Angelles Thei wil alledge that the scripture witneseth that sainct Mihell dide fyght against the Diuell but if it hade bene requisite that he shoulde haue ouercome the diuell with the sworde it was neadfull that he should haue had one more stronger better pointed and of a better blade then that is Are they such beastes to imagine that it was a carnall combat which is foughtē with the material sword which aswell the Angelles as the faythfull haue agaynst the diuells But it is as I haue sayde in the begeninge that the worlde worthelie dede deserue to be deceaued in such bestlinesse forsomuch as it was so peruersse for to couet to worship vaine Idolles maumettes in stead of worshiping the liuing God for keapeng of order It is now requisit that we should intreat of S. Iohn Baptist who according to the Euangelicall histori after he was beheded was buried by his disciples Theodorit an auncient cronicler of the church mencioneth that his sepulchre being in Sebaste a towne of Siria was opened a certain time after by the paiens that his bones were burned by them the ashes esparssed in the aire Albeit that Eusebe addeth that certeyn men of Ierusalem chaūsed to come thither secrettly toke some litel part which was caried to Antioche ther buried As cōcerning his head Sozomenus an other cronicler saith that it was caried away by Theodose the emperor neare to the citie of cōstantinoble Wherefore according to the ancient histories al the whole body was burned except the head al the bones the ashes lost except som certen litel portiō which the hermites of Ierusalē stale frō thense let vs se what is now foūd They of Amiens boste themselues to haue the visage and in the maske which they shewe there is the signe of the cut of a knife ouer whart the eye which they say Herodias gaue him But they of S. Iohn of Angel say there agaynst and doe showe the like parte As concerning the rest of the head from the crowne to the forehead was at Rhodes and is nowe at Malte as I thinke At the least they haue made men beleue that the Turke did render it them The hinder parte is at S. Iohn of Nemours the braine is at Noyon Besides all this they of S. Iohn of Morien doe not wante some certayne parte of the head his chawes are sene at Besanson at sainct Iohn the great there is another part at S. Iohn of Latrans at Paris and at S. Flour in Auuergne Thei kepe his heare at sainct Sauiours in Spaine the brow and some of the heare There is also some lytle iote thereof at Noyon which is showen very autentikly There is also some part I knowe not of what place at sainct Lukes Is al this done Let one goe to Rome and to the monestary of saint Siluester and one shall heare besides sayde beholde here is sainct Iohn Baptistes head The Poetes fain that there was in tyme passed a king in Spaine named Gereon who had three heades If our relique forgers coulde saye as much of sainct Iohn Baptist this wold serue well for their purpose to helpe them to lye But seing thys fable hath no place how wyl they excuse them selues I wyll not presse them so neare as for to aske them howe the head was so hacked for to be parted in so manye places and so diuerslye neyther howe they haue gotten the same from Constantinople but I onely saye that sainct Iohn must nedes be a monster or that they be vnshame fast abusers for to shewe so many peeces of his head And which is more they of Sene boste to haue his arme the which is repugnant to all the auncient histories And yet neuerthelesse this abuse is not only suffered but also approued as in dede nothinge is founde euel to the kingdome of Antichriste prouiding that it intertaine the people in superstition Nowe they haue inuented an other fable that is when al the body was burned that the finger wherewith he dyd pointe and shewe our Lord Iesus dide remayne hole not beyng consumed This not only is not conformable to the auncient histories but it may also easely be reproued by them for Eusebe Theodorite plainly say that the body when the payens reueshed it was alreadye cōsemed to bones And they would in no wise haue forgotten suche a miracle if their had bene any thīg at all for they are but ouermuche curiousse in mencioninge of vaine and trifeling thinges Not withstandinge althoughe it hade bene so yet let vs heare in howe manye places thys fynger is There is one at Besanson in the church of saint Iohn the great another at Lions another at Burges at Florence another another at Saincte Iohn of Aduentures neare to Mascon I saye nothyng herevpon except that I praye the gentle readers not to harden theyr hartes agaynst such a cleare and certayne aduertisement and that they woulde not shutte theyr eyes to suche a clearnesse for to lette them selues always to be
is a piece of waxe which some doe thynke to be the marke that Iesus Christ gaue her in despit because he was sory that she woulde touch him I make no mencion of the reliques that are disparsed throughout the worlde aswel of her bones as of her here he that wil haue the truth of this he should fyrst of all enquire to wit if that Lazarus his two sisters Martha and Magdeline were euer comme into Fraunce for to preache For in readynge the auncient histories and in iudgynge of the whole matter wyth reason one maye euidentlye see that it is the moste folyshe fable of the worlde and the which hath as muche appearaunce as yf one dyd saye the cloudes are Calue skynnes And neuertheles these are the moste certaynest Reliques that they haue But yet yf it hadde bene so it myght haue suffised to abuse a bodye to Idolatrye wythout makynge of one Deuyll two or thre Thei haue also canonised hin who perased the side of oure lorde Iesus on the crosse and they haue called him sainct Longes after hauīg so baptised him they haue geuen him two bodyes whereof the one is at Mantone and the other at our lady of the I le nere lions Thei haue done the like of the wysmen which came to worshipe our lord Iesus after his natiuitie And first they haue determined of the number sayng that they were but thre The Gospell maketh no mention how many they were and certain auncient doctours haue said that they were fourtene as he which wrote the imperfect commentarie vpon sainct Matthewe which some doth Intitle of Chrysostome moreouer in stead wher as the Gospel nameth thē philosophers they haue made them Kinges in haste with ought Countrye and subiectes Finally they haue baptisede them naming the one Balthasor the other Melchior and the other Gaspar Now although we did graunt all their fables so friuolous and fonde as they are it is certain that the wise men retournede into the easte coūtrye For the holye scripture so sayeth and one can not saye anye other wise but that thei died there Who is it that hathe caried them awaye sinse And who is it that knew them for to marke them to the ende to make reliques in such sort of their bodyes but I leaue it to Iudge forsomuch as it shoulde be but folishelye done of me for to redargue so euident mockeries I only say that they of Colongne they of Milline must fight which of the two shal haue them for they both pretende to haue them The which cā not be whā their proces shall be void finished then will we auise what shall be beast to be done Amongest the auncient Marters sainct denis is the most estemed for some do take him for one of the Apostles disciples and the first Euangeliste of fraunce Because of this his dignity they haue of his reliques in diuersse places Neuertheles as thei say the body remaineth hole but onli in two places at sainct Denis in fraunce and at Regesbourge in douchelād Because the French men maintained to haue him they of Regesbourge dyde make their proces at Rome It is neare an hundrethe years a goe the body was graunted them by diffinitiall sentence the frenche Embassadour beyng present whereof they haue a fayned Bulle Who so shall saye at sainct denys nere Paris that the body is not there he shall be stonned whosoeuer contrariwise shall say that it is not at Regesbourge shall be helde for an Heritike for asmuch as he should be rebellious to the holy sea Apostolike So it shall be most expedient to make nor medell with theyr quereles Let them put out the one the others eies if thei wil in so doing thei shal win nothing at all except to discouer that their whole matter consisteth in liyng They haue in such sort parted the bodi of S Steuen that it is hole at Rome ī his church His head in Arles of his bones in more thence places But for to shew thēselues to be the adherēts successors of them that murdred thē thei haue canonised the stones wherew t he was stoned one might aske where thei foūd thē out of whose hāds by what meanes thei haue gottē thē I briefly answere that this questiō is folish for mē do wel know that stones may be foūd euery where so that the cariage of thē shal cost litle or nothīg thei do shew thē at Florēce ī Arles at the Augustins at Vigā in Lāgedoc He that wil shut his eies his vnderstāding wil beleue that thei ar the self same stones wherw t s Steuen was stoned He cōtrariwise that wil a litle cōsider wil mock at thē in dede the carmes of poiters haue foūd one wtin this .xiiii. yeres to the which thei haue assignd the office to deliuer womē of childbed the Iacobins from whom they had stolne one of sainct Margarites sides seruing to this vse haue made great bruite criyng agaynst their abuse but in the ende thei wan in keping good holde I had almost determined to speake nothing of the Innocents because that whē I shuld haue gathered an army thei would styll allege that this dothe not disagre to the historie because that the numbre is not prescribed I leaue therfore to speake of the multitude It suffiseth that one note that there is of them in al the regions of the worlde I now aske how it is that they haue foūd their sepulchres so long time after seing that they were not counted for saincts whē Herode put them to death Moreouer when it was that they were caried away Thei can answer me no other thing vnlesse that it was fiue or sixe hundred yeares after their death I importe me to the moste simplest idiots what a man may fynde yf one should beleue so absurde things put the case yet yf perchaunce there had certain bene founde yet howe coulde it be that thei could cary diuers bodies into Fraunce Dutchland and Italy for to distribut them in townes so farre of the one from the other I leaue them this falshead as altother cōuicted For asmuch as sainct Laurence is of the number of the auncient Martyrs we wyll here geue him his place I knowe not whether his body be in any more then one place to wit at Rome in the church named after his name It is true that there is beside a vessel of his flesh broyled Item two viols ful the one of his blood and the other of his grese Item there is in the church surnamed Palisperne his arme and certain of his bones at sainct Siluester other reliques But if one would gather all the bones together which are onely in Fraunce there would be sufficient for to make whole large bodies There foloweth after the Griderne I could well let it passe but they haue other more notable thynges of the whiche it is not lawfull for me to holde my peace As coles whiche they do shewe at sainct Eustace
but also by a most execrable sacriledge haue worshipped dead and insensible creatures in steade of the onely liuyng God Now as one euil is neuer alone but that it draweth another with it this mischeuous wickednesse is crept in since that men haue receyued for reliques aswell of Iesus Christ as of the sainctes I cannot tell what fylthinesse and baggage wherein is neither rime nor reason And the worlde hath bene so blinded that what title so euer were geuen to euerye trifle that was presented vnto it the same was forthwith receyued withoute all iudgement or further inquisition So that what bones so euer of Asses or Dogges that the firste mocker or deceyuer woulde haue had preferred for bones of martirs men haue made no difficultie to receyue them verye deuoutlye As much hath bene of all the rest as it shal be hereafter entreated For my part I doubt not it hath bene a iust punishment of god For seyng the worlde hath gone a maddyng after reliques to abuse them vnto a most peruerse kinde of superstition it stode with good reason that god shuld permit that after one lye another should folow On this maner was he wonte to aduenge hym selfe of the dishonoure that hath bene done to his name when that men did transfer his honour to others Wherefore in that there are so many false and counterfeyte reliques throughout the whole world this procedeth from none other cause but that god hath permitted that the world for so much as it did delight in deceyte and lying shoulde be double begyled and deceyued It had bene the parte or dutye of christians to haue left the bodies of saincts in their graues for to haue obeyed to this vniuersall sentence That all men are dust and to dust thei shal returne And not for to lifte them vp in pompe and sumptuousnes for to make as it were a resurrection before the time This was not ment but to the contrary against the ordināce of god they haue vnburied the bodies of the faithfull for to exalt them in glory whereas they oughte to haue bene in their graues and restyng places waityng for the latter day Man hath desyred to haue them and hath put his truste in them he hath honored them and hath made all signes of reuence to them And what hath folowed The Diuil seyng men so amased was not content to haue deceyued the worlde in one sort but hath set forth this other deceit to geue titles of reliques of sainctes to that which was altogether prophane And god by hys vengeance hath taken awaye vnderstanding iudgement from the vnbeleuers in such sort that with out any further inquisition they haue accepted al what soeuer hath bene presented vnto them putting no difference betwene white and blacke Now for this present I minde not to entreate what abhomination it is to abuse the reliques aswell of our Lorde Iesus as of the sainctes in such sorte as men haue hitherto done and as is yet done in the most part of christendome for it woulde require a whole boke to deduce this matter But for asmuch as it is a thing notorious knowen that the most parte of the reliques that are shewed throughout al places ar false and counterfaite and haue bene set forth and preferred by deceyuers who impudētly haue abused the world I haue thought good to speake somwhat therof to the end to giue occasiō to euery mā to think thereon to take hede therto for somtime we aproue a thīg rashly For so muche as our mindes are occupied in such sort that we take not leasure to examine what it is to the ende to giue good and right iudgement so we fayle for lacke of takyng heede But when one doeth admonishe vs we beginne to thinke thereon and are wonderous much amased how we haue bene so easye and lyght to beleue that which was in nothyng probable Euē so hath it com to passe in thys matter herein for lack of aduertisement euerye one beyng preoccupied with that which he heareth sayde beholde the body of such a sainct beholde his showes behold hys hose suffereth himself to be persuaded that it is so But when I shal haue euendently shewed the deceyte that is committed therein who so euer hath any sparke of wisdome and reason wil open hys eyes and giue him selfe to consider that which neuer before he thought vpon Although I cannot do as I wold in this litle boke For it should be nedful to haue regesters frō al partes for to knowe what reliques are sayde to be in all places to the ende to make comparison of them And then men shoulde know that euery Apostle shoulde haue more then foure bodyes euery sainct at the least two or thre and so many should be of all the rest To be shorte when one shoulde haue gathered all on a heape there is no man that woulde not be astonished seyng a mockery so folish and absurde the which neuertheles hath had power to blind the whole earth I thought that for as much as ther is not so lytle a cathedrall church that hath not as it wer thousands of bones and other such litle trifles what shuld it be if one should gather together the whole multitude of two or thre thousande bishoprickes of twentye or thyrtie thousand abbeys of more then fourtye thousande couentes of so many parishe churchs chappels But yet the chiefe principal shuld be to viset them not to name thē only for thei ar not al so knowen that thei can be named In this town thei had as men say in times passed an arme of S. Anthony the which whē it was inclosed in a glasse they kissed and worshipped but at such time as it was takē out shewed forth it was foūd to be the mēber of an Hart there was also on the high aulter hangyng the braine of Sainct Peter as longe as it was inclosed men did not doubte therof For it had bene blasphemie not to beleue the superscription But when as the neste was pulled out and that men did better beholde it it was founde to be a marble stone I could recite many thinges by like examples but these shall suffice to do you to vnderstande what great filthines ordure shoulde be disclosed if there were some good vniuersall visitasitation made of all the reliques of Europa Yea and that with wisedome and prudence to knowe how to discerne them For many beholdyng a relique shut their eyes through superstition to the ende that they seing shoulde see nothyng at all that is to say that they dare not looke in good earnest to consider what the thing is Euen as many that bost them selues to haue sene S. Gloudes bodye whole or the bodye of some other sainct and haue neuer had this boldnes to lifte vp theyr eyes to beholde what the thynge was But he that should haue the libertie to see the secreat and the boldnesse to vse it shoulde well know how to speake otherwise
bowe that is at Sainct Sauiours in Spayne For they say that it is the same that Iesus helde in hys handes when he entred into Ierusalem on Paulme Sondaye nowe the Gospell maketh no mencion that he dyd holde any such therefore it is an imagined thing Finally we must place in thys rancke another relique which semeth the selfe same that is the earth whereon Iesus Christ stode when he raised vp Lazarus I prai you who was it that marked the place so well that after the destruction of Ierusalem when all was changed in the countrey of Iuda he coulde goe so rightlye to the place wher Iesus Christ had once gone It is time to come to the principal Reliques of oure Lorde Iesus to those I meane that appertayne to his death and passion And fyrst of all let vs begynne to speake of his crosse wherevpon he was hanged I know that it is holden for a certaintie that it was founde of Heline the mother of Constantine the Romaine Emperour I knowe also what certaine Doctours haue written touching the approbation hereof for to certifie that the crosse which she foūd was without doute the selfe same on the whiche Iesus Christ was hanged Touchynge all this I reporte me to the thynge it selfe so much is there that it was but a folish curiositie of her or at the least a folishe and vnconsidered deuotion But yet put the case it had ben a worke worthye of prayse to her for to haue taken paynes to fynde the trewe crosse and that our lord had then declared by myracle that it was his crosse which she found Yet let vs onely consider that which is of our time Euery one doeth holde that this crosse which Helene founde is yet at Ierusalem and none doeth doute thereof Although the Ecclesiasticall history against sayeth the same not ablye For it is ther recited that Helene toke one part therof to send to the Emperour her sonne who put the same at Constantinople vpon a fyne pyller of Marble in the myddest of the market Of the other part it is sayde that she did locke the same in a copher of siluer and gaue it the Bishop of Ierusalem to kepe So then eyther we shall augment the historie of a lie or els that which is holden at this daye of the true Crosse is but a vayne and triflyng opinion Let vs consider on the other part howe many peeces there are therof through out the worlde Yf I woulde onely recite that whych I coulde say there woulde be a regester sufficient to fyl a whole boke There is not so litle a town wher there is not some peece thereof and that not onelye in cathedrall churchs but also in some parishes Likewise ther is not so wicked an abbey where there is not of it to be shewed And in som places ther are good great shydes as at the holye chappell of Paris and at Poiters at Rome where there is a great crucifix made therof as men saye To be short yf a man woulde gather together all that hath bene founde of thys crosse there would be inough to fraighte a great ship The Gospell testifieth that the crosse myght be caried of one man What audacitie then was this to fyll the earth wyth peeces of wod in suche quantitie that thre hundred men can not cary them And in deede they haue forged this excuse that howe muche so euer be cut therefrom yet it neuer decreseth But this a mockerye so absurde and folyshe that euen the supersticious men themselues know the contrary I leaue them to iudge what certentie a man mai haue of all the trew crosses that are worshypped here and there I leaue to declare from whence and by what meanes certayne peeces are come As some saye that the which they haue hereof was broughte them by Angels others saye that it fell from heauen to them Those of Poiters saye that that which they haue thereof was brought them by one of Helenes ladyes who had stolne the same and as she fled she was founde beyng gone astraye nere vnto Poitou Thei ad to this fable that she was lame Behold the goodly foundations they haue to persuade the poore people to commit Idolatrye For they haue not bene content to deceyue and abuse the simple people in shewynge common wodde in stede of the crosse but thei haue resolued that it ought to be worshipped which is a deuylishe doctrine and sainct Ambrose namely hath reproued it as a Heathenesse supersticion After the crosse foloweth the title which Pilate caused to be put thereon where he had written Iesus of Nazareth kyng of the Iewes But it were requisite that we shoulde knowe bothe the place and the tyme and howe it was founde Some wyll say to me that Socrates the historian of the church maketh mencion thereof I grant it But he maketh not mencion what was become therof So then this witnesse is of no great value nor force Moreouer it was a writyng made in haste and withoute consideration after that Iesus Christ was crucified Wherefore to shewe a table curiouslye made as it were to be kept for a shew is without all reason therein So then although there were but one only title it might neuerthelesse be counterfaite false and fained But seynge the towne of Thoulouse bosteth to haue it and those of Rome saye there against shewing it in the church of the holy Roode they falsecifie and bely one the other Let them fight together then so much as they wyl in the ende bothe of them shal be conuicted of a lye yf a man would examine the thing as it is Yet there is a greater combat of the nayles I wyll recite them onely that are come to my knowledge Therevpon there is not so lytle a childe but wyll iudge that the Deuyll hath to much deluded the worlde in takyng from it both vnderstandyng and reason that it coulde discerne nothynge in thys matter If the auncient writers saye trewe Historia trip lib. 2 and namely Theodorite Historiographer of the auncient churche Helene caused one to be nayled on her sonnes helmet the other two she put in his horse bitte How be it Sainct Ambrose sayeth not fully so For he sayeth that one was put in Constantins crowne of the other his horsebit was made and the thirde Helene kept Wee se that already more then twelue hundred yeres agone this hath bene in controuersie to wit what was become of the nayles What certentie can be had of thē then at thys present tyme. Now at Millan they boste that thei haue the nayle that was put in Constantines horse bitte To the whiche the towne of Carpentras opposeth her selfe sayinge that it is she that hath it Nowe S. Ambrose doth not saye that the nayle was knit to the bitte but that the bitte was made thereof Whiche thyng can in no wyse be made to agre eyther with their saying of Milan or with theirs of Carpentras Moreouer there is one in Rome at Sainct
Helenes annother also in the church of the holy crosse another at Sene another at Venis◠In Germany two at Collyne one at the three Maries another at Triers one in Fraunce at the holy chappell of Paris another at the Carmes one also at Sainct Denis in France one at Burges one at Tenaill one at Draguigne Beholde here fourtene whereof account is made in euery place they alledge good approbation for them selues as they suppose And so it is that euerye one hath as good right as annother Wherefor there is no better way then to make them all passe vnder one fidelium That is to saye to repute all that they saye hereof to be but lyes seyng that otherwise a man shoulde neuer come to an ende There foloweth the Speare-head which can be but one but we must nedes saye that it hath passed throughe the fournace of some alcumiste For it is multiplied to four beside those that mai be in other places here and there whereof I haue not hearde There is one at Rome the seconde at the holye chappel of Paris the thirde in the abbey of Tenaill at sainct Euge the fourth at Selne near to Burges Which of them nowe wyll a man chuse for the trewe Wherefore the shortest waye is to leaue them al foure for such as they are But presuppose that there were but one onely yet I would know from whence it came For neither the auncient histories neither also al the other writers do make any mencion thereof It must nedes be then that they were forged a new Touchynge the crowne of thornes we muste nedes saye that the peeces thereof wer planted again for to grow waxe greene otherwise I can not tell howe it coulde haue bene so augmented For an Item there is the third part in the holy chappell of Paris there are three thornes at Rome in the churche of the holye Crosse and in the church of S. Eustace of Rome likewise some litle porcion at Sene I can not tell how many thornes at Venice one at Bourges fyue at Besanson in Saynct Iohns church thre at Muntroyal three at S. Sauiours in Spayne I can not tell how many at sainct Iames in Galice two at Albye three at Tholouse at Mascou at Charoux in Poiters at Clere at sainct Flour at Sainct Maximin in Prouince in the Abbey of Salle in the parishe church of S. Martin at Noyon in euery one of these places ther is at the least one If one woulde make diligent inquisition hereof he might name foure times as many Necessarily it is sene that there is much falsehode vsed herin What confidence then may a man haue either of the one or the other Herewith it is to be noted that in the whole ancient church they coulde neuer tell what was become of this crowne Wherefore it is easye to be concluded that the fyrst plant therof beganne to budde longe tyme after the death of oure Lorde Iesus Christ There foloweth after the gonne of Purple wherewith Pilate cloched our Lorde in dirision for as much as he called him selfe a king Nowe it was a precious robe which was not to be cast away it is not to be thought that Pilate or his men would let it be lost after that he had once mocked our Lorde Iesus therewith I woulde gladlye knowe who was the marchaunt that bought it of Pilate to kepe it for a relique But the better to cloke their deceyt they shew some spots of bloude thereon as if these wicked men woulde haue spylte a princely robe in putting it by mockedge vpon the shulders of Iesus Christ I know not whether there be any more in any other place But of the garment that was wouen from top to toe without seme whereon lottes were cast because that it semed more proper to moue the simple people to deuotion ther hath ben diuers foūde for there is one at Argenteul near Paris at Trier another And if the bulle of Sainct Sauiours in Spaine sayth trewe the Christians through theyr rashe vnconsidered zeale haue done worse then euer did the vnfaithfull souldiours for they durst not teare it in peces but for to spare it cast lots therefore and the Christians haue torne it in peces to worship it But yet what wyll thei answere to the Turke who mocketh their follye saying that he hath it in hys handes Howbeit it is not now nedeful to make them plede agaynst the Turk for it suffiseth that they ende the strife amonge them selues The meane while we shal be holden excused thoughe we beleue neyther the one nor the other for feare lest we shoulde fauoure the one parte more then the other wythoute knowledge of the cause for that were against all reason Moreouer if thei wold that men shuld beleue theyr sayings It is first of all requisite that thei wold agre with the Euangelists Now it is so that this garment wherevpon lots were caste was a coat or a Iacket which the Grekes cal Clicoton and the Latins tunica Let one marke if the garment of Argenteul or that of Trier haue such a forme and fashion One shal finde it to be like a priestes cope although thei should put out mens eyes yet myghte they know their fashold by feling with their handes To make an ende of this article I woulde gladly aske a litle question touching that that the souldiers did What moued the souldiers to deuide amongst them the garmentes and coat of Iesus Christ as the scripture witnesseth It is most certaine that it was to serue them selues for their owne profite Let them tell me yf they can who was that Christian that boughte them of the souldiours I meane as well the coat as the other garments that ar shewed in other places as at Rome in the churche of Sainct Eustace and els where Howe is it that the Euangelistes haue forgotten this For it is an absurde thing to saye that the souldiours had taken in boutye the garmentes without addyng that they were bought of them agayne at their handes for to make reliques of Moreouer howe is it that all the auncient wryters haue bene so ingrate to make no mencion thereof I geue them terme to answere me to these questions when men shall haue no moore sence nor vnderstandynge to iudge The best is that wyth the garment they woulde also haue the Dise wherewith the lot was cast by the souldyours The one is at Trier and two other at Sayncte Sauyoures in Spaine Wherein they haue shewed lyuely what is their folyshenesse For the Euangelistes saye that the Souldyours dyd caste Lottes whyche were then drawen oute of an Hatte or oute of somme such lyke thyng Euen as when men chuse the kyng of the Beane or when as men playe at the Blancke or at such other lyke games and pastimes To bee shorte euerye man almoste knoweth what castynge of Lottes meaneth it is commonly vsed in deuydyng of partes These Beastes haue imagyned that the castynge of the Lottes was to playe
at Dise When they were not in vsage at the least such as we haue it now in our time for in steade of sixe and ace and other poynctes they had certayne markes which thei named by theyr names as Venus or dogge Now let thē that wyll go kisse the reliques in credite of so loude playne and manifest lyers It is time to entreat of the head shete wherein they haue yet more plainly shewed as wel their impudencie as their folyshenes for besides the heade shete of the veronicque which is shewed at Rome in Sainct Peters church and the kercher that the virgyn Mary as they say put about the priuy membres of our Lord which is shewed at Sainct Iohn of Latrans The whiche is also at the Augustines of Carcossone Item the cloth that was put vpon his head in the sepulchre whiche likewise is shewed there There are halfe a dousen townes at the leaste that doe boaste to haue whole wyndynge shete of the sepulchre As Nice it was transported from Chamberie thither Item Aix in Dutchlande Item at Traicte Item at Besanson Item at Cadoin in Limosine Item a towne of Lorraigne standyng vpon the porte of Assois Besides the peces that are disparsed from one side to another As at Sainct Sauiours in Spaine and at the Augustins of Albie I leaue oute yet a whole windyng shete which is at Rome in a monestarie of women because that the Pope dyd forbyde to shew it solemnlye I praye you hath not the worlde bene merueylouslye enraged to trot a hundred or sixe score legues longe wyth greate charges and great paynes for to see a cloute of the which they coulde haue no certentie but rather wer constrayned to dout thereof for whosouer estemeth or iudgeth the windyng shete to be in one certaine place he maketh all the others false which boste that they haue it As for example he that beleueth that the cloth of Chamberie is the right windynge shete he condemneth those of Besanson of Aix of Cadoin of Trier and of Rome as lyers and as them that wickedly make the people commit Idolatrye in deceyuyng them and making them beleue that a prophane cloth is the winding shete wherein theyr redemer was wrapt Let vs nowe come to the gospell for it wer but a smal matter for them to accuse one another of a lye but the holy ghost speakynge agaynst all doeth confounde them altogether aswell one as another Fyrst of all it is much meruaile that the Euangelistes make no mencion of this portrature that touched the face of IESVS CHRIST with a kercher seing they make mencion of all the women that did accompany hym to the crosse It was a right notable thyng and worthy to be regestred that the face of Iesus Christ should be miraculouslye imprinted in a lynnen clothe contrarywyse it semeth that it is but a matter of small importance to saye that certayne women dyd accompanye Iesus Christ to the crosse without there had chaunsed some miracle to them How is it then that the Euangelistes rehearse smale thynges and of lytle importance holdyng their peece and makynge no mencion of principall thinges Truly if such a miracle had bene done as some make men to beleue we muste needes accuse the holye ghost of forgetfulnesse or lacke of discretion that he could not chuse prudently that which was moste expedient for to be reported Thus much be spoken touchyng the veronicque shete to the end that men might know what an euident and manifest lye it is which they wold persuade the simple in Moreouer concerning the windyng shete in which the body was wrapped I aske them a like question the Euengelestes recite diligently the miracles that were done at the death of Iesus Christ and do leaue nothinge out that appertaineth to the historie howe is it then that thys escaped them that they speake neuer a worde of so excellent a miracle To wit that the printe of the body of our Lord Iesus dyd remaine in the lynnen cloth wherein he was buried This if it had bene so was as worthy to be spoken of as manye other things Yea the holy Euangelist sainct Iohn declareth howe that Sainct Peter beyng entred into the sepulchre saw the linnen clothes of the sepulchre the one of one side the other on the other syde but that there was anye miraculous portrature he maketh no mencion And it is not to be thought or presumed if there had ben any such matter that he wold haue suppressed such a worke of God There is yet another dout to be obiected that is that the Euangelists make no mencion that any of the disciples or of the faythfull women did cary awaye the shetes wherof the question is out of the scripture but rather they giue vs to vnderstand that they left them there although they playnely expresse not the same Nowe the sepulchre was kept with the souldiours Who afterwardes had the shete in their owne power Is it to be supposed or thought that they gaue it some faithfull man or woman for to make reliques of Seinge the Pharises had corrupted them for to make them forsweare them selues saying that the disciples had stolne the bodye I leaue to reproue them of falsehode euen by the very sight of the pictures that they shew For it is easie to be sene that they were payntinges made by mans hande And I can not merueyll ynough fyrst howe they were such blockheads that they had no better fetch for to deceyue and much more how the worlde hath bene so doltishe for to suffer it selfe to be blinded in such sort that it could not see so euident a thyng Moreouer they haue well declared that they had the painter at commaundement For when one wyndyng shete was burned there was alwayes another found the next daye They woulde notwithstandynge saye that it was the selfe same that it was before the which miraculouslye was saued from the fyre but the pryntyng was so freshe that the lye auayled nothyng if there had bene eies for to haue sene and to behold But yet to make an ende wyth There is a paremptorye reason by the which they are all together conuinced of their impudencye In all places where as they saye they haue the holye winding shete thei showe a greate shete whiche did conuer all the body with the head and their in is to be sene the printe of a body togeather al in one pece Nowe the Euangelyste S. Iohn saithe that Iesus Christ was buried accordinge to the maner of the Iewes And what their maner was one maye not onely vnderstande it by the custume that the Iewes obserue yeat to this daye but also by their bookes whiche sufficiently declare the auncient custume that is to binde the body a parte euen to the shoulders after to wrappe the heade in a kerchere bindinge it at the foure corners The which also the Euangeliste expresseth whan he sayethe that sainct Petter sawe the linnen clothes of one side wherein the body hade bene
with great assuraunce al these antiquities which the poore Idolatours that be about vs thynke that they haue What is to be iudged betwen the one and the other We shall saye the reliques were broughte vs frō those countreys The Christians that yet remain ther affirme that they haue them and deride our folyshe bostyng How should one decide thys processe without an inquisition which can not be made nor neuer wil be made wherfore the only remedy is to leaue the thyng as it is not caryng neither for the one part nor for the other The laste reliques that appertain to Iesus Christ are those that they haue had since his resurrection as a morsell of a broyled fyshe which sainct Peter presented him when he appeared to hym on the border of the sea We must nedes say that it was wel spiced or that it was merueylously well soussed that it coulde be preserued so long a time But withoute laughter it is to be thought that the Apostles made a relique of the fishe which they had prepared for their dynner Whosoeuer shall not see that this is a manifest and open mockedge of God I leaue him as a beast which is not worthye that one shoulde teache hym anye further Ther is also the miraculous blood which issued out of the cake Gods as at Paris in sainct Iohns churche at Dion at Sainct Iohn the Euangelists church and elles where in many places And to the ende they might make the heape more greater they haue ioyned thereto the holye penknife where with our maister of Querne was not content but did reproch them that thei were worse then Iewes For asmuche as they did worship the knife that had bene an instrument to violate the precious bodye of Iesus Christe The which I alledge because as much might be sayde of the speare nayles and thornes That is that al they that worshyppe them according to our mayster of Quernes sentence are more wycked then the Iewes who crucified our Lord. Likewise they shewe the forme and prynt of his fete where he marched whē he appeared to certaine of his disciples after his ascention as there is one at Rome in Sainct Laurence church in the place where he met Sainct Peter when he foreshewed him that he shoulde suffer at Rome Another at Poiters at S. Raguonde another at Soison an other in Arles I dispute not weather Iesus Christ coulde haue imprinted the fourme and fashion of his fete on a stone But I only dispute of the facte and I saye that seyng there is no lawfull probation hereof all this ought to be coūted for a fable But the most beastly relique of this kynde is the forme of his hippes which is at Reins in Champania vpon a stone behynd the hyghe aultare And they saye that thys was done at such tyme as oure Lorde became a Mason for to buylde their church porche This blasphemie is so execrable that I am ashamed to speake any more thereof Let vs then passe further and let vs se what is said of his images I mean not of them which are comonly made by painters stonegrauers or Ioyners for the number of them is infinite but of those which haue a certayn special dignitie for to be kept and contende with some singularitie as reliques Now hereof there are two sortes Some were made miraculouslye As that whiche is shewed at Rome in Sayncte Maries churche that they call in Poeticu Item another at S. Iohn of Latrans Item another wherein is drawen his picture at the age of .xii. yeres Item that of Lukes which the saye was made by the angels which thei cal vultus sanctus These are such fonde vayne fables that it semeth to me it shoulde be lost labour yea that it should be rediculous and folishe if I dyd occupy my selfe therein Wherefore it sufficetth to haue noted them by the way for men knowe ryghte well that thys is not the exercise or vocation of angels to to be paynters and that our lorde Iesus wyll otherwise be knowen of vs and brought into oure remembraunce then by carnal images Eusebius in dede writeth in the Ecclesiasticall historie that he sent a lyuelye Printe of hys visage to kynge Abagarus but this is as certaine and of as much credit as one of kyng Melusines commandementes in his chronicles and folishe that the most part count this as certaine as the Ghospel I place also in this ranke the crucifixes that haue spoken wherof the multitude is great but let vs be content with one for an example To witte with that of sainct Denis in Fraunce It spake saye they for to beare witnesse that the church was dedicated I leaue it to be cōsidered whether the thing were worthe so much But yet I aske them howe is it that the crucifix could be then in the Church seing that when men wil dedicate them they remoue all the Images howe stale it then away or hide it selfe to the ende it myght not be caried awaye with the others we must neades saye that they thoughte to deceaue the world at their pleasure seing that they haue not cared manifestly to contrarye them selues but that it hathe suffysed them to lye with open mouth not regardinge what men mygth reply agaynst them There remaineth last of all the teares wherof one is at Vandosme one at Trier one at saynct Maxymyn one at sainct peters in Orleans besydes them that I knowe not Some as they say are naturall as that of sainct Maximin which according to their Chronicles fell from our Lord Iesus whilest he washed his Apostles fete the residue are miraculous As thoughe it were to be beleued that the woden crucifixes were so greued or sorowful that they shoulde weape But we must pardē them this faught For they were ashamed that theyr Idolles shoulde not doe asmuch as those of the heathen Nowe the heathen haue fained that theyr Idolles did wepe certain times Wherfore we maye right well put them together As concerning the viergen Mary forsomuch as they holde that her bodye is no more in yearthe the meane for to bost themselues to haue her bones is taken awaye From them Otherwise I thynke they woulde haue made the world beleue that she had had a body sufficent to fell a great poudryng fatte Moreouer they haue venged them selues vpon her heare and on her milke for to haue some parte of her bodye There is of her heare at Rome at sainct Maries Churche vpon miuerne at sainct Sauiour ī Spaine at Mascon at Cluny at Noers at sainct Flour at S Iaqueries and in many others places touching the mylke is not nowe nead full to number the places where ther is of it neither shuld we come to any ende therof for their is not so littell a towne nor so wicked a conuent be it of monckes or be it of Nones wher some percell therof is not showed some more some lesse not that they were not ashamed to bost thēselues to haue had holle potte
Auergne At the leaste it is nedeful they shoulde consult together for some good remedye that their lyes maye not be so much discouered as the Chanons of Trier haue done with them of Lieg touchyng the head of sainct Lambert for they haue geuen a certaine summe of money for the interest of the offerings to the ende they should not publikly shew them for feare least men should be astonished to see them in two townes so neare together But it is as I haue said in the beginning thei haue neuer thoght or loked for to haue any that should controle them who durste be so bolde as to open his mouth for to declare and shew their impudencie One might aske how these relique Iugglers seyng that they haue so vainlye curiously imagined al that hath come in their braines and in blowyng haue forged what soeuer hath pleased them haue left behind them and forgotten the notable thinges of the olde testament To this I know not what to answer but that thei haue despised them because that thei hoped for no great profit of theÌ„ But yet they haue not all together forgotten them for at Rome at S. Maries aboue Minerue they saye they haue the bones of Abraham Isac and Iacob At sainct Iohn of Latrans thei boste to haue the arcke of the couenant with Aarons rodde and yet neuerthelesse this rod is also at the holy chappell of Paris and they of Sayncte Sauiours in Spayne haue a certaine piece Moreouer besides this thei of Burdeaur affirme that the rod of sainct Mertial which is shewed ther in S. Seuerins church is the self same of Aaron It semeth that thei woulde haue made a new miracle to enuye god with for as this rod was turned in to a serpent by his vertue euen so nowe thei haue coÌ„uerted it into thre rods It may wel be that thei haue many other monakles of the olde testament but this wherof we haue spoken suffiseth to declare that they haue as largely delt with this parte as with al the rest I now pray thee reader to be mindfull of that which I haue saide in the beginninge That is that I haue not had commissioners for to visit the reliques of al the countreys whiche I haue here before mencioned Wherefore that whiche I haue said must not be taken or counted as a ful and perfect regester or inuentory of all that may be founde For I haue named but onelye aboute halfe a dousen Townes of Doutchelande I haue named but thre of Spaine as farre as I know Of Italye aboute the numbre of fyftene Of Fraunce from thyrtye to fourtye And yet of those haue I not spoken all that is to be sayde in that behalfe Let euerye one then coniecture in himself what a heape nuÌ„bre it shuld be if one shuld orderly place the multitude of reliques that are through out al christendom I mean only the countreys that we know where as we vse to trauail For the principal is to note that all the reliques that they do shew in these countreys of Iesus Christ and of the prophetes men shal find them aswel in Grecia and in Asia and in other regions where as there are Christian churches But I nowe aske that seing the orientall christian churches say that all that we thinke we haue here with vs is with them what resolution or assurance one may haue thereof If one shuld contrary them alledging that such a sainctes bodie was brought away by marchantes another by monks another by a bishop one part of the crown of thornes was sent to a king of Fraunce by the emperour of Constantinoble the other part conquered by war so of al the other pieces thei would nodde and lifte their heades in mockage Howe shall one auoyde these quarelles For in a doutfull matter it is requisite to Iudge by coniectures Nowe in so doyng they shoulde alwayes wynne the vpper hand for that which thei haue to sai for theyr part is more lyke to be trewe then all that one can pretende of the partie on this side It is a troublesome and angry matter to intermedel for them that woulde defende reliques For to make an ende I pray and exhort all readers in the name of God to employ them selues to vnderstaÌ„d the trueth whilest that it is so manifest and openly shewed them acknowledge that this is done by a singuler prouidence of God that they who woulde haue in suche sorte deceyued the poore worlde haue bene so blynde that they haue not considred or thoughte howe they myght haue had better hid and couered their lies but as the Madianites who hauyng their eyes pulled out were at strife and varience the one agaynst the other So we see that they make war against them selues and mutuallye belye the one the others Whosoeuer wil not harden thâ—â—r heartes to repugne against al reason and truth Albeit that he be not fullye instructed or persuaded in him self that it is execrable Idolatrie to worshippe any kinde of relique what so euer it be yet neuerthelesse he seing so euident falsheade shall neuer haue the heart so much as to kisse any one of them and what deuotion so euer he hath had to them before it shall be fullye and altogether extinguished The principall should be as I haue sayd in the beginning to abolishe amongest vs christians this heathenly superstition of canonising the reliques aswell of Iesus Christe as of his saincts for to make idols This kind of doinge is a filthy polution the which ought in no wise to be suffered in the church We haue already showed by what reasons and witnesses of the scripture it shuld be so If any be not coÌ„tent or satisfied therwith let him consider the vse of the auncient fathers to the end to confirme him self after their examples There hath bene many holy patriarches many prophetes many godly kings other faithfull in the old testament God had ordeyned more ceremonies in that tyme then we ought to haue in our tyme Yea it was requisite that the buriyng places shoulde be more gorgeouslye and fairer made then now for to represent by figure and shadowe the glorious resurrection for so much as it was not so clerely reueiled by word as we haue it doe we read that they haue plucked the bodies of sainctes out of their sepulchres for to make puppies of them Abraham the father of al the faithfull was he euer taken vp Sara also Princesse in the Churche of GOD hath she bene taken oute of her graue Haue not they lefte them at rest with all the other saynctes Moreouer Moyses bodye was not it hydde by the wyll of God so that men could neuer finde it Hath not the deuil foughten against the angels as sainct Iude saieth Wherefore is it that the lorde hath hyd it from mans sight and the deuil would there again place it It is as euery one doth confesse that God would take from his people of Israell the occasion of Idolatrie The deuil on the contrary part would establishe it But some will say the people of Israel were inclined to superstition I aske what we are is there not without comparison more peruersitie amongest the christians concerning this matter then euer was amongest the Iewes Let vs consyder what was done in the auncient churche I graunt you the faithfull haue alwayes taken paines to withdraw the bodies of Martyrs for that they should not be eaten of dogges or beasts or byrdes haue honestly buried them as we reade both of S. Iohn Baptist and of sainct Steuen But this was done for to bury them in the earth for to leaue them there vntyll the daye of the resurrection and not for to place them in mans syght for men to knele before them This wycked pompe of canonisyng them was neuer broughte into the church vntyll such tyme as all was peruerted and as it were prophaned partly by the beastlinesse of the priestes and pastors partly by their couetousnes partly also because thei could not resist the custome after that it was receyued And partly in that the people did seeke to be abused in setting their mindes rather on childishe playes then on the true worshippynge of God Therefore that which hath bene ill begon and established against all reason oughte to be clean abolished who so wil rightly correcte the abuse But if one can not come at the first to thys vnderstanding at the lest let him come by litle and litle and let him open his eyes for to discerne what the reliques are that they do shewe Nowe this is not harde to be sene to them that wyll vnderstand For amonge so manye euident lyes as I haue mencioned where shall a man chose one true relique of the which he may be certainly assured Moreouer this is in a maner nothing which I haue touched in value of that which remaineth Yea in the meane time as this boke was a printing one dyd shew me of the third foreskyn of our lord Iesus which is shewed at Heldeshem whereof I had made no mencion There is an infinite number of such like Finally the visitation of them would disclose and vncouer yet an hundred times more then al that one could say or speake therof So then let euery one particulerly take hede that he suffer not hymself as a beast to be drawen or led after his own braine not perceyuing neither way nor meanes for to haue any grounde I remembre that which I haue sene done to the idols of our countrey being at that time a litle child When sainct Steuens day drew nere one did aswell trym the hattes and images of the tirauntes that stoned him for so thei are called in coÌ„moÌ„ language as his image The poore simple women seing the tyrantes so decked and set in order toke them for Sainct Steuens felowes and so euery one of them had their candell And moreouer this was done to the diuell Sainct Mibell So is it of the relique for all is so mingled and confused that one can not worshyp the bone of a Marter but he shall be in danger to worship the bones of some certaine Murtherer or thefe or els of an asse or of a dog or of a horsse neither can one worshyp our ladyes ringes or her comme or girdell but one shall be in danger of worshipping the ringes of some certaine hoore Wherefore take hede of the danger who so will for none from hense forth can pretende any excuse of ignoraunce FINIS