that escapest aliue shalt be in worse case than he that is dead A continuall torment pinching tearing of a man liuing is worse then any sharpe death The senses by death are taken the anguish on the other liuing in torment in the day time is euill and in the night worse It fretteth and suffereth still and continually as is the fable of Prometheus his liuer which as it wasteth by féeding the gréedis vultures mawes So it is renued and encreasing againe ministreth matter euery day of nâ—w and fresh torment and punishment This one chiefe and principall comfort but there bee many mo besides may make glad all true Subiects to call to remembrance how our Quéenes most excellent Maiestie Quéene Elizabeth together with her Graces prudent Counsellers haue prouided such plenty from the beginning of her Raigne of principall Armour Artillarie Munition aâ—d all other necessary furniture of warre as neuer was in England at any time before and thanked be god therefore the English throughout the Realme so appointed and fenced with Corselets and weaponed in all sortes with such readines at one houres call so forward in theyr musters that the children and yonglinges leape and spring for ioy at the sight of the same imitate men in their order of warlike array A greater comfort is that our gratious Lady and Quéen hauing reigned ouer vs now thirtie one years with al clemency administration of Iustice hath conserued this noble Island of England in long 〈◊〉 with increase of great wealth in euery sort and her highnes gouernement is such that it farre excéedeth the rule of any whatsoeuer Princesse either in Affrica Asia or Europa from the beginning of the world to this day except Debora that beloued of God among the Iudges of Israell Read the Cronicles and Histories in gâ—nerall written in Greeke Latine or any other tongues and it may be séene that her Maiestie is without comparison Elizabeth of England her gifts of the mind be so rare so excelling so surpassing that is her most fine and royal peircing wit in al her Princely spéeches and communications freâ—â—ent and moâ—â— apparant her learning and knowledge in the Gréeke Latine Italian French and Spanish tongues well knowen to all Ambassadours and others who haue conference in causes with her Grace farre aboue the capacitie in the Feminine Sex oner and beside the gifts of the body and other that they make this Queene of the West noble through the whole world Note also how oft by the mercie and great prouidence of God and carefull watch of her most noble Councellers her Maiesties person hath beene deliungred from perill and daunger of Treason and lately from the deuelish praâ—â—ses of Pary first alias Vphary called after that of Babington and his fellowes a thing miraculous in the sight of all good Subiectes in the which the wonderfull mercy and loue of our God hath bene shewed to her grace and Realme of England Looke and read ouer the Chronicles of all nations for the long raigne of women Princes and ye shall find non to haue raigned so long but Debora and one more wee English trust in GOD shee shall double her yeares of her raigne with like felicitte and victorie as her Maiestie hath already inioyed which one thing is a sure token of the fauour of God towardes the Realme and vs the inhabiters of the land For as it is written in the Prouerbes of Salomon Short raignes of Kings and Princes and oft changing of the regall seat signifieth that God is displeased with that Country or land And contrary the long raigne of a prince betokeneth Gods great blessing God grant Quéene Elizabeth long to raigne Amen Ouer and besides this the care study and diligence by her highnes Lords â—f the priuie Counsel hath beene and is such for to continue good gouernement and to preserue in vnitie peace and loue both England and her Subiects that it must néeds breed a comfort and ioy in all true Englishe people Further howe déepely hath her Grace lamented the rage and furie now many yeares practised and put in execution both in France and in the Low-Countries How hath her highnes endeâ—oured with all Godly zeal first to stoppe and represse the great cruelties there exercised Secondly to make mediation for vniting perfect amitie and peace betweene the one side 〈◊〉 the other heerein and in this poiâ—â— the 〈◊〉 Noble and valiaunt Robert Earle of Leicester who from hence lately deceased meriteth his commendation of eternall fame and glory who of his own frée will and zeal to true religion leauing at home his deare Lady and wife his lands and possessions in maner and sort neglected his ease and pleasures altogether abandoned hath in two seuerall voyages very fortunate in the yeares 1586. and 1587. aduentured and hasazarded his person spent and consumed his goods money and plate euen to the great endebting of himselfe The first time he went ouer in the deepe and middest of the winter in a dark and stormy night taking shipping at Harwich Sir Henry Palmer knight Captaine and M. Gray Maister of the ship and landed the next day at Flushing so passed by Zealand into Holland And this is to bee remembred that during his abâ—ad in Zealand and Holland for the more force of his martiall affaires hee was accompanied with the Earle of Essex the noble and valiant Lord Willoughbie The Lord burrowes The Lord Wentforth Lord Rich. The Lord North. Sir Thomas Cicil son heire to the Lord Burghley Lord high Treasurer of England Sir Phillip Sidney Sir Thomas Gorge Sir Thomas Sturley knight Sir William Pellam knight Sirr Thomas Perot knight Sir William Druery knight Sir Phillip Butler knight Sir William Goodier knight Sir William Read knight Sir Iohn Connaway knight Sir Iohn winckefield knight Sir Robert Sidney knight Sir Cholmely knight And many other worthy Knightes and Gentlemen of England furnished with great Horse Geldings and Armour that it was a most worthy sight to bee séene What care study and watch being there in the Low-Countries as a most wise and politike Captaine and Generall did hee vse in the night what industrie labour and paines did hee take in the day both in the house in consultations necessarie and abroad in the fieldes present in person at skirmishes and sieges of sorts and strong townes What occasion rei benè gerendae as the latine phrase is did this Earl omit either to aduance the honour of his Country either to preferre the weale publique there what good example of religion and good life did not this valiant Gentleman and noble Lord giue hauing two godly and famous learned men adorned with degrées of the Schoole of the Vniuersitie M. D. Tomson and M. D. Holland euery day preaching Gods word and saying diuine seruice what Hospitality and open house as we terme it what princely Court did this Earle kéepe for bread meat wine and béere and all other
The Fountaine and VVelspring of all Variance Sedition and deadlie Hate Wherein is declared at large the opinion of the famous Diuine Hiperius and the consent of the Doctors from S. Peter the Apostle his time and the Primitiue Church in order to this age expresly set downe that Rome in Italie is signified and noted by the name of Babylon mentioned in the 14. 17. and 18. Chapters of the Reuelation of S. Iohn Chap. 17. verse 5 And in her foreheâ—d was a name written a mysterie great Babylon the mother of whoredome and abhomination of the earth 6 And I saw the woman dronken with the blood of the Saintes and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus LONDON ⧠Printed by Roger Ward dwelling vpon Lambard hil neere vnto olde Fish-street 1589. ¶ TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND noble Earls the Earls of Huntington and Warwicke Grace Peace felicitie in the Lord Iesus RIght Honorable the warres rumors of warres breach of brotherly loue manifolde troubles and dissention growing euerie where through Europe which is the part of the worlde professing Christ argue the dissolution of all things premonished by our Lord not to bee farre hence distant It behooueth therfore all good Christians considering the time to be circumspect to watch and pray accordingly as vve are commanded by our Sauiour in these words Vigilate Orate againe Estote prudentes sicut Serpentes Be ye wise as Serpents And we are deeplie to consider from whence this venome and poyson floweth which drunk and sucked in by the space of many years passed hath transformed and as it were charmed the braines and sences of many men that according to the words of the Prophet seeing they see not hearing they heare not and vnderstaÌ„ding they vnderstand not in matter concerning principally the saluation of their soules The remedie of which mortall maladie consisteth in this to knowe and search out the cause and that knowen to remooue the same and then to apply medicine for curing of it In all which pointes Right Honorable I shew briefly in this small treatise following the doctrine of S. Peter the Apostle and the best learned and most approoued Authours opinions consenting deliuered from age to age which open the sinfull man and misterie of iniquity the onely cause of troubles and not yet well perceiued neither vnderstanded of the greater sort Committing these my labours to your Honors tuition and protection whose zeale to true and sincere Religion attentiue eare giuen alwaies to the Preaching of Gods worde and laudable life concurring as sure testimonie well knowen to the world makes me bolde to dedicate vnto your LL. this Pamphlet hoping that the booke beeing your own as it is and therefore the more to be desired to be read and to come into many mens hands whome all in generall for your singular vertues do reuerence honour and loue may profite doo good and perchance conuert not a few from their obstinate opinion in cleauing to the woorishe Babilonicall Church wherein rather of selfe-wil than of any grounded reason they dwell and persist And on the contrarie side confirme and establish the others whose hearts alreadie conducted by the holy spirite see the light of Gods truth and ensue it And herein withall humblenes I make manifest my conscience according to the small talent which vnto me is lent hope that my dutie obedience and good vvill to her Maiestie Lords of her Counsell and my Countrey may in the sequel sufficiently appeare Praying God to send both your Lordships long life with encrease of honour Your Lordships most humble Christoph. O. The Fountaine and VVelspring of all Variance Sedition and deadlie hate throughout Christiandome MEdicines be applied to the bodie sicke and diseased but exhortations are vsed to giue courage and more stomacke to the forwarde stout and industrious that the spark of vertue alreadie ingenerated in them may grow to a bigger flame and substance with increase or els to stir vp raise and plucke forward the mind of man when it languisheth I therefore of the lowest sort of all among the learned purposing to vtter my conscience and knowledge by way of exhortation my most bounden dutie first towardes the Quéenes Maiestie and neâ—t to the people of my natiue soile and Country of England déeply considered and moouing me thereto doo earnestly pray and instantly require al true English men of euery degrée as they tender y â— safty of their soules and bodies to giue attentiue eare and wel to marke the whole discourse of this my purposed treatise the rather because it is of waight of most great importance touching the weale publique in this litle Isle of England and preseruation of our most royall and gratious Quéene Elizabeth and next of vs all English ingenerall our countrie wherein we are bred and borne our wifes children kinsfoolkes and posteritie whereof we should haue a most cheefe and especiall care regard especially and aboue all of religion which concerneth our soules to liue here and euer in the world to come In al which by God his grace I intend to vse perspicuity to be as briefe as the vrgent occasioÌ„ of so necessary a cause shal suffer me yet pretermitting many things which otherwise should haue bene touched to auoid tediousnes and prolixitie in matter now apparant already and many yéeres alredy past made manifest vnto y â— whole world CoÌ„sider O noble Eugland that thou hast enimes that hate thée deadly that go about as much as in them is to work thy destruction Consider how the professors of the word of God els wher in Europe far hence and those that dwell next almost vnto vs be manaced vexed and persecuted with all rigor and crueltie from time to time afflicted euen to death the malice whereof procéedeth of causes of long time afore growen hereafter specified and fore warned in holie Scriptures Ponder déeply and call to minde with your selues Nos incidimus in tempora periculosa We are fallen into the perillous time Nos sumus in quos fines Seculorum deueneruÌ„t We be those vpon whom the ends of the world be come The tokens thereof be plaine and manifest told afore by our Sauiour and Lord Iesus Christ which be these Nation shall rise against nation and Realme against Realme then shall they put you to trouble and shall kil you and yee shall be hated of all Nations for my names sake And then shall many be offended and shal betray one another c. So the time is certaine that the day of iudgment is at hand But of the day and hower saith Christ knoweth no man no not the Angels of heauen but my father onely The Apostle S. Paule in his 2 Chap. of his Epistle of the Thessalomans teaching when the day of Christ shall be at hande thus saieth Let no man deceiue you by any meanes For the Lord shall not come except their come a departing first and that the sinfull man be opened the
confusion of dissention by y â— which the Church is at this day tornin sunder for although the Church be in Babylon of the world yet it ought to be gathered by brotherly vnanimity And a litle after Esay saith Babylon my welbeloued is turned to me into a miracle but I say Rome my beloued is turned to me into a miracle yea what is so marueâ—lous yea what is so miserable Dauid saw the Angel of the Lord standing with a drawn sword ouer Ierusalem we the daughters of the Romish Church behold we sée the Bishop there which is or should be the Angell of God ready with a drawn sword ouer the Church Dauid praied that y â— people might not be killed our Angel reching to the Earl of Flanders the sword praieth that we may be slaine wher many mo things touching the crueltie of Babylon be adiected in their place whosoeuer listest to search and read the history at large About the yeare of our Lord 1200 S. Barnard the Monke liued in great estimation with Kings and Princes euen with the Kinges of this Land For he was a man of great fame both for his godly life and learning This S. Barnard in his bookes written to Pope Eugenius doth rehearse and carpe so many and such crimes both of the Bishops and Citizens of Rome how many and such as none of the old prophets is read to haue obiected to the Babilonians which to 〈◊〉 tediousnes here I omit to rehearse who so is 〈◊〉 to seée his words the books be extant at this time though written 400 year past more Likewise Petrus Iohannes Pyranensis about 1330 did openly in schole teach that as the Pope was Antichrist So no other Church but the Romish to be vnderstood by the name of the whore of Babylon Also Wickliefe of England and Iohn Hus and Hierome of Bohemia taught affirmed the same doctrine of the Pope and of Rome the first of these thrée his bones burned 18 yéeres after he had bene dead the other two brent aliue yet consenting in opinion to all the godly Fathers and Doctors in these points that be aboue rehearsed Now it hath bene sufficiently spoken with the approoued testimo-of euery age euen from the Apostles time and the opinion and sentence of the best learned cited thereto touching the place that Rome is signified by Babilon Now let vs return againe to the ruler of this Babylon and his tragicall actions who putteth on him the vizard of piety and is altogether vnder his Maske impiety it selfe This impudent and shameles man of Rome yea rather beast he may be called which doth the iniuries afore rehersed to our Lord Christ what presumeth not he to aduenture vpon daily among his inferiors for equals hee will haue none and both Emperor and King professing Christ within Europe he hath made subiect vnto him and ready at â—all to do his will and commandâ—ment He maketh War himselfe he prouoketh one prince with fire sword to assault another he sheddeth innocent blood in persecuting those that dare or wil open their mouth against him Hée maintaineth Subiects so rebell against their Soueraigne Lords kings he is the firebrand to set an outrage of burning in al parts of Christendome he is a deadlie poison which hath infected y â— church of God with notorious dregs Did not the Pope stir prouoke Sigismond the Emperor and the noble Princes of Germany with force of armes to inuade the realm of Bohemia Upon what ground or occation Truly because Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage had by preaching of the word of God began to reueale the son of perdition in the same country of Bohemia The Pope therfore féeling himselfe touched to the quicke endeuoured as much as in him did lie to destroy and extirpate all the Bohemians First Hus Ierom were cruelly burned and yet the desire of the people to the knowledge of true religion thereby not quenched but inflamed and kindled the more What ensued of this with huge power and most puissant 〈◊〉 the Bohemians were inuaded two yeares together And both the times with wonderful courage prowes of the Bohemians the assault makers were repulsed and put back to shameful flight by the miraculous power mighty hand of God who fought for them did set theÌ„ at rest peace in despite of the Bishop of Rome his Cardinals cleargie I omit here for breuities cause to inferre manie examples how the Popes froÌ„ age to age moouing war haue procured by their Legates and messengers one Prince to wage battel on his next brother and Prince adioining and when the Armies were readie to encounter and méete then would he colourably as though no fault were in hym Friers and other messengers were despatched betweene perswading peace and reconcilement The Chronicles in euerie Realme can sufficientlie testifie the same And therfore I remit those that be desirous to know further herein to the said Chronicles This I say and affirme boldlie that it was the Pope that did animate and set on Robert Earle of Flanders against Henry the fourth Emperoâ—r It was he the Pope that maintained the warres with ten thousand Italians and gaue money to pay them wages on the behalfe of the Emperor Charles the fift against the Duke of Saxony and the noble Péeâ—es of Germany because the said Pope would haue had the light of the Gospell darkened which at that time had sprong vppe from the first preaching of Luther séeking to bring ignorance in place againe though it wer with the shedding of Christian blood and vtter vndooing and spoile of many both men women and children It is he the Pope that to his great ignominy and shame for euer cherished a ranke Traitor named Stukeley a man of euill life and conuersation and mainteyned him against his Soueraigne Ladie and Quéene with money men Shippes and munition to enter Ireland God confoundeth the deuises and purposes of the wicked and maketh them frustrate contrary to their expectation What followed Stukeley when he had sailed from Italie to the Bay of Portugale and there hearing that the King Sebastian was going ouer into Barbary with all royall preparation of warre offered his seruice to the said King not for any zeale or good will but vpon a subtill pretence that Warres there ended hee woulde borrowe a summe of money of the King the better afterwards to goe through with his enterprises in Ireland In the battell in Barbarie the King of Portugall the blacke King with others and this Stukley also was slaine This you may sée that God sent a curst Cow short hornes and Ireland was deliuered and England also from a most cruell enemie and Traytor though he died a fairer death then he should haue done or had deserued yet such was the malice of the Pope this enterprise began by Stukley was afterward prosecuted by the sayd Antechrist of Rome who first sent Buls full all impiety as it were with a bayt to allure the
wilde Irish to rebellion and armed shippes and Souldiors to infringe the publike peace there who not long after their arriuall had their welcome so that of faure or fiue hundred not past twentie escaped aliue The English vnder the conduct of the Lord Gray Lord Deputie of Ireland atchieuing the victorie vpon the Pope his Italians and Spaniardes the fourth day after they came to the place where these Strangers had entrenched themselues in good order of war He remarke well gentle Reader the great goodnes and mercy of God towards our most gratious Quéene Elizabeth and her realme of England and Ireland Note the wisedome forwardnes and diligence of the Noble man chiefâ— Captaine and General of her highnes Armie How he spared not to catch hold of oportunitie in the colde and deepe of the winter according to the saying Principijs obsta arripienda est occatio For if they with the badge of the crosse Keies of their brests might haue bene suffered to harbour the winter time there this small sparke would haue growen to a bigger flame and not so easilie haue beene quenched But the Lords of England be so hot with their souldiers vnder them that let the enemies make triall when they will let them trust to it they shalbe fought withal if they attempt to come on land before the swimming growen of the Sea-sicknes bee quite out of their heads The Pope can and will raise warre to spill Christian bloud take out of the Uestries Church plate for not any must controlle him exact tasks vpon his Cleargie to cause his Cardinals and Bishops to giue contribution to bestow the same where it pleaseth him to murther innocents to force wiues and widowes to deflower virgins For these be the fruits of warre the benefits that be reaped vpon insolent victories Now take in few woordes of what godly conuersaâ—ion and life Popes haue bene of late time that either the Catholiques may be ashamed of such spirituall and holy Fathers or els in time to forsake them and to begin to abhor and detest them and their most wicked and abhominable actions and to learne to bee of better vnderstanding than they haue bene For the successor is commonly worsse and more had than his predecessour Séeke and sée the writer Raphaell Volaterranus whether I make true report of them or no. Search in other faithfull Historiographers what Xistus the 4. was in his Sée of Rome A man not caring so hee might haue his will whether it were right or wrong raising warre for euerie trifling matter selling benefices and offices for mony rouling himselfe middle among harlots What was Innocentius the eight a man both couetous and factious giuen to set out the Sword and pike boasting aboue measure of his aduoultries and bastard Children and occupied continuallie in aduauncing and promooting them to high dignities What was Alexander the sixt a man of lust and carnal desire that it is to be wondred at and for shame almost not to be named which thing very cunningly did he paint out which wrote these two verses of his Daughter Hoc tumulo Dormit Lucretia nomiâ—â—e sed re Thais Alexandrifilia Sponsa nurus In this graue sleepes Lucretia so men her cal'd by name Yet Thais she by maners might and eke be clipt for fame Daughter she was to Alexander the Pope and sometime wife And married was to bastard his marke here the fathers life This Alexander created of his bastard sonnes not without great ignominy to true Nobilitie Earles Dukes and marquesses and did beare the charge of the Armie of the which is sonne was generall Of this sort and facultie was Iulius the second and likewise also like to these was Leo the tenth And to these is annexed Clement the 7. a subuerter and destroyer both of Rome and of his natiue soile the city of Florentia And after these succéedeth Paulus tertius for his auarice wicked liuing incest tyrany and other horrible crimes so odious that men indewed with any sparke of honesty and godlines abhorre to remember them the Heauens the Earth and the Seas wil flie away from the hearing of them Heere the place moouing me thereto let such as bee addicted to the Church of Rome beware in season that they be no longer seduced and take héed and learne to knowe the bad from the good by that token which our Lorde Christ himselfe gaue saying Ex fructibus eorurn cognoscetis eos Ye shall know them by their fruits These Popes afore rehearsed were not men but monsters of men and to read their liues trulie penned and set down and déepely to consider of it were sufficient to drawe away any man from that selfe-will loue and confidence they haue put in that whoorish and Babilonicall Church of Rome Homines sunt ergo errare labi possuÌ„t saith he But these be men monsters of men as I haue already said and their errors be so grosse and palpable that children and boyes sée them and are able to confute them their maners actions so wicked and vicious that euery good Christian must condemne them I am bere further to vse a few wordes to the Papistes who call and terme themselues Catholiques by a word as it should seeme that many of them doo not well vnderstand or if they doo they haue no great reason to vse it For Catholique a Gréeke word signifieth vniuersall in English and Ecclesia Catholica in our Crâ—â—de or Articles of our beliefe hath Sanctam set afore that is the Catholique Church of God dispearsed wheresoeuer it bee vppon the faâ—e of the Earth not tied to any one certaine or terminate place but vniuersall where the Congregation small or bigge is dispersed throughout the world professing truly Christ and his holy Gospell We beléeue one holy vniuersall Church to be How holy the Romish Church is let indifferent men iudge where such good liuers as the Popeâ— aboue mencioned be the chiefe aâ—â—ors in the plaie So the word Catholike maketh quite against the papists who would haue the true church at Rome depending vpoÌ„ the same Romish church as tied to one certaine place where many of the Bishops of the same church haue bin at this day be as wicked and cruell as were in times past Phalaris Dionysius Nero or Diocletian Nam vitiato capite vitiâ—ntur meÌ„bra corporis The head being corrupt néedes must the members of the body be infected with corruptioÌ„ I therfore pray you which be not yet come out of the mistie clouds of Papisme in the bloud and bowels of our Lorde Iesus Christ deceiue not your selues Look wel about you in time Pin not your faith vppon another mans sléeue No man can make attonement for his brothers soule It is the bloud of Iesus Christ the son of God that clenseth vs from all sin as witnesseth S Iohn in the first Chapter of his Epistle Againe he the same Apostle saith in the same
Chapter If we acknowledge our sins he that is Christ is faithfull aend Iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnes And our Lord himselfe giueth vs this lesson Venite ad me omnes qui laboratis onerati estis ego reficiam vos Come vnto me all yee that Labour and are heauie laden and I will refresh you It is he our Lord Christ that hath borne our sinnes and paied the ransome for them vpon the Crosse. Now brethren wil you trust in the Popes Pardons who hath no more authority than any brother Bishop or Minister hath to forgiue sins and to pronounce absolution to them that be hartely penitent by authoritie giuen to the Apostles generally and so to their successours and all Ministers that come not in by the window but by the doore For as for the wordes spoken by Christ to Peter alone of binding and loosâ—â—ng it is answered If all the Apostles had the same authoritie by Christes his worde as it may appeare in Mathew 18. and Iohn 10. Than Peter being but one had it not alone But if if it were spoken to him alone in Mathew yet it doth not restraine the generall grant made to others in the places cited before Quorum remiseritis peccata c. Whose sinnes yee shal forgiue they shalbe forgiuen quorum retinueritis retenta sunt For those words are spoken in the plurall number whereby all Priests claime true interest in absoluing For will you hear what the Priests vtter after auricular confession hard at any mans hand and iudge your selfe Dominus Iesus qui est summus Pontifex absoluat te ab omnibus peccatis tuis c. ego auctoritare mhi commissa absoluo te in nomine patris filij Spiritus sancti Amen which is to say Our Lord Iesus which is the highest Bishop absolue thee from all thy sinnes and I by the auctority committed vnto me absolue thee in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Amen Where is sinnes reserued in the Canons to the Pope onelie to forgiue Why practiseth hee to send abroad his pardons in parchment with leaden seales for money where is his warrant in holy Scripture wherevpon our Sauiuiour Christ saith in the fiftéenth of S. Mathew In vanum colunt me homines docentes doctrinas mandata hominum In vaine doe they serue me teaching the doctrines precepts of men Here I must put you in remembrance of a fond fellow who hath set out a book intituled Hierarchia a Gréeke word a glorious title a shewe or promise by the word of a great matter where in the end and effect it prooueth nothing It is a rehearsall by name of the popes from Peter which was the first Bishop of Rome if it so be true and how one succéeded an other from time to time and this was by Election in diuers sorts one whiâ—e by the voice or suffragies of the people as though Democratia were in vre sometime by the consent of the better sort in degrée as when the Deane and Chapter elected and that doth adumbrate Aristocratia And lastly and principally when the chiefe gouernour maketh his choice of any person where is the rule of Monarchia But succession by election is one thing and the right of inheritance another We daily sée that a good father hath sometime an vngratious sonne that godly parents haue a child descended from them afterward to be euill disposed I haue found a man according to my hartliking saith God of Dauid the king And yet his son Salomon succéeding him fell to women and Idolatry insomuch that God being angry rent his kingdome after his daies into two parts viz. Rehoboam reigned ouer 2 tribes Ieroboam ouer 10. If this be where state of inheritance claimeth his right that for sin God put teth downe one and setteth vp another and oftentimes changeth the inheritance from one line of kindred in to another of what force is succession that commeth by Election which is grounded upon humaine pollicie The Electors naming and appointing to office whome they will mooued thereto somtime by méed and corruption of mony sometimes by fauour and friendship procured somtimes by hatred and enuie the better maâ—râ—iected and the worse chosen It is not denied but that many lerned vertuous of laudable life haue bene Bishops and Pastors professing Christ in Rome But tâ—ey with their whole flocke as they might be caught for the most part suffered Martirdome vnder the persecuting Emperors of the same city as Nero Diocletian others A body of the best complection which is sanguine by continuance of time and disorder of diet in meats drinks and other féeding draweth vnto it grosse humors and so â—alleth into diseases that the alteration wil be such that ye shall not know it to be the same So the See of Rome both during the time of the Primitiue Church and long after retained a beautie of knowledge and holynes but by litle and litle it fell away and was defaced as rust créepeth vpon yron and other metals by continâ—ance especiallie when they be not rubbed scraped and dried S. Paule spake these words in this time Etiam mysterium iniquitatis operatur and now the mistery of â—iquitie doth worke And againe as is aforesaid by the said Paule what withholdeth euen that the sonne of perdition might bee reuealed at his time Most true it is where Christ saith Ego sum vobiscum vsque and consumationem Seculi I am with you euen to the end of the world that the holy ghost hath bin is and will be with his Church to to the end and wil neuer leaue it destitute As when the Heresie of the Arrians oueâ—â—â—owed the worlde the holy Spirite of God stirred vp Athanasius to defend his truth which Athanasius albeit he was forced to flie hide himselfe oftimes in dens caâ—es for the space of diuers years yet the Church of God was with him in hys dens and caues For where the truth is there is the church Idolatry worshipping of Images masses dirriges and Heauen to be sold for mony murdring of saints stewes in whole stréets of Curtesans blessings for méed cursings for enuy are to be found in Rome yea and Antichrist himselfe who exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God therfore there is not the true Church What monsters haue bene admitted to the Papacie after one thousand and od yeares after Christ it hath bene somewhat afore touched may séeme to such as haue not read Histories almost incredible What execrable practise was this to enter and possesse the Popes chaire by Magicke and Art forbidden both by Gods law and mans to giue himselfe to the deuill to gette worldly dignitie and promotion to infame himselfe for euer to purchase a momentary and transitory pelfe to win wealth glory on the earth to léese eternal ioy and heauen Upon this monster last rehersed popes afore
sonne of perdition which is an aduersary and is exalted aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he doth sit in the Temple of God boasting himselfe to be God Remember yee not that when I was yet with you I told you these things And now you know what withholdeth euen that he might be vttered reuealed at his time For the mistery of iniquitie doth alreahy work c. Againe in the 10 Chap. of S. Mathew these be Christ his words The brother shal deliuer vp the brother to death and the father the sonne and the children shall arise against theic fathers and mothers and shal put them to death And ye shal be hated of all for my names sake But he that endureth to the end shall be saued Now considering that these be the latter daies that the end of the world is hard at hand by these tokens manifest and dayly to be séene euery where in Christendom before our eies let vs diligentlie search of whence this variance and deadly discorde sowen and sprong vp through all Europe is deriued out as it were of a welspring or fountaine For euery malady proceedeth of his cause take away the cause and imediatly ensueth the curing of the sore or disdase What hath bene and is the originall cause that the knot and band of brotherly loue is broken in the partes of the world professing Christ that the rage cruel and beastly fearcenesse taketh place bearing sway that the Peace which was in one house is put to flight that enuy hatred and maâ—â—ce créepeth in that War and the sword threatneth destruction euery where euen to the Innocentes That Sathan is let loose abroad to increase the malice of men and to kindle the fier brand of all wickednesse Uerily the originaull causes of all these troubles at this present broiling and afore this time many yeares past hath bene and is the holie Father as they call him the Pope the Bishop of Rome whom Saint Paule as ye haue heard now before couertlie describeth to be Antechrist the Son of perdition which is exalted aboue all that is called God I beséech you gentle Readers bée yee indifferent Iudges euen as the trueth of God his word shall leade you as the interpretation vpon holie Scripture made and set downe by the ancient approoued Doctors of the Church euen from the Apostles time til 1000 yeares past shal direct you when the Pope rideth from his castle to S Peters Church in Rome and is caried sitting in a Chaire aloft by men vpholding the same vpon their shoulders And the Sacramentall bread is set in a Pyx on a Nag or white horse backe led by a Priest in a white Surplice going afore him his gard enuironing the holie Father and crying with aloud voice to the people gazing on to sée the sight in this Italian word Abasso Abasso which is to say Bow and bend downe your selues or knéele downe not so much to the Pix as to the Pope Is not here the Bishop of Rome exalted aboue all that is called God and aboue the God in the box For the Popes doctrine teacheth men to cal the SacrameÌ„tal bread God when they term it their Maker when the make it a Sacrifice propiciatory for the quick and the dead in their Masses when they reiterate day by day on the Altar that oblatation once offered vpon the crosse once for all for filthy lucre and gaine as in trentals of Masses c. Doth not the Pope boast himselfe aboue all that is called God when hee sitteth in S. Peters Church enthronished thrée or foure yardes higher then the Altar or Sacramental bread reserued in the Pix blessing and crossing them that lie prostrate before him when he vnder his Buls writteÌ„ or printed in shéeps skins sent to those that dwell 1000 or 1500 miles from him being at Rome forgiueth vpon mony taken horrible murders incest parracide and such like crimes the heartes of the parties not considered whether they be trulie and vnfainedlie penetent or no. When the Pope most arrogantly peruerteth the wordes spoken in the Psalme 90. only of Christ. Super Aspidem Basiliscum ambulabis conculcabis Leonem Draconem Thou shalt goe vpon the venemous beast and Adder the yoong Lion and Dragon shalt treade vnder thy feete and applieth them with a Sathanicall pride vnto himself and to those that from time to time â—it in his Chaire which is horrible basphemie But here I will vse a litle digression from the man to the certaine place of his habitation that the Beast may the better bee knowen by his den and accustomed haunt where he fatteth and franketh himselfe For more and better prooffe of the sequele of this matter and so to settle their consciences in the truth which hitherto haue but blinded Hear I desire you in the Lord Iesus certaine authorities from the Primitiue Church to this age consenting and agréeing together that Babylon specified in the Reuelation of S. Iohn doth â—â—te and signifie vnto vs the Cittie of Rome in Italie First it is vsuall in holie Scripture to set downe some word by some Trope to signifie a thing turned away from that which it properlie betokeneth And it is vsed in writing when an argument commeth in handeling out of which may grow either vehement suspition or feare of an imminent danger In this sort S. Paule 2. Tim. 4. sayeth himselfe to haue bene deliuered out of the mouth of a Lion meaning by naming the Lyon the cruel Prince Nero. That in this place the sence is Nero to be taken for the Lion The ancient Doctours of the Church as Hierome vpon the life of Paule Chrisostomus Theophilactus Aquinasâ— Lyranus Interpreters vpon holie Scriptures doe agree consent By like Trope our Lord Christ in the 13 of Luke calleth the King Herode by the name of a For. Ignatius an holie writer in the Primititiue Church vsing this maner of spéech saith that he he himself was compassed about with ten Leopards which Ignatius afterwarde interpreteth to be ten cruel souldiors to bring him captiâ—e to Rome Thus as S. Paule couertlie by the name of a Lion would haue to be vnderstanded Nero. Our Lord Iesus by the name of For meaneth Herod And Ignatius by the Leopardes tearmeth Souldiors So the authour of the Reuelation would haue Rome to bee knowen by the voâ—able of Babylon With this also agreeth S. Peter who in the end of the fifth chap. of his former epistle writing from Rome saieth thus The Congregation which is at Babylon saluteth you Here note that vpon this place of Peter as well the olde and ancient Interpreters as the newe doe agrée that the word Babilon is set downe for Rome as testifieth Pâ—pias Hierapolites in Eusebius vpon the Ecclesiasticall Historie 2 booke 15. Chapter Hierome vppon the life of Marke the Euangelist Nicolaius Lyra an approoued writer by the Romishe Church and