in poperie and therefore was hee enforced to vse this sillie sillie euasion viz. that the church doth tollerate them because it cannot altogether abolish the same Fourthly that God doth suffer myracles or strange euents to bee done by the power of the diuel that so the wicked for their iust deserts in regard of their former sinnes may be more confirmed in their superstitious dotage and receiue due punishment for their vaine credulitie Fiftly that not to take a â—ourney or not to doe such a thing on such a day which many Papistes obserue most superstitiously for feare of some misfortune or ill successe is heere condemned for superstition by this famous Papist Sixtly that popish priestes which daily and vsually take vppon them by their exorcismes to cast out diuells are by this learned Papist accused and condemned both of infidelitie and of temeritie And his reason is this because that the diuell cannot bee compelled to doe anie thing vnlesse it bee by the speciall and myraculous worke of God Seuenthly that the diuel therefore faineth himselfe to be compelled by such wicked rites superstious dealing thâ— his worshippers may thereby be the more deeply confirmed in their superstitious dotage and vaine credulitie To which I must needs adde as a delicate pâ—st-past for all the Iesuits and Iesuited papists that the supposed myracles done by papists are often counterfeit and plaine Legerdemaine This I wil not barely say but after my wonted maner proue it euen by the testimonie of their owne popish writers Marke well gentle Reader what I shall truely deliuer thee in this behalâ— The papists in their booke intitulted the Iesuits Catechisme haue these expresse words The kingdome of Portugall being fallen to Sebastian the holy Apostles the Iesuits conceiued a hope that by this meanes it might descend vnto their Familie and dealt with him many wayes that no man might from thence forward be capable of the crowne of Portugall except the were a Iesuit and chosen by their societie as at Rome the pope is chosen by the colledge of Cardinals And for as much as he although as superstitious as superstition it selfe could not or rather durst not condescend therevnto they perswaded him that God had appointed it should bee so as himselfe should vnderstand by a voyce from heauen neere the sea-side Insomuch as this poore prince thus carryed away resorted to the place two or three seuerall times but they could not play their parts so wel as to make him heare this voyce Thus write the learned papists of France in their booke called the Iesuits Catechisme Which booke vpon the good liking thereof the English Secular priestes haue translated into our vulgar language to which storie I adde this for explication sake that this yong king 〈…〉 vp vnder the Iesuits therefore they thought to haâ—e drawne him to their lure and bate And when they could not preuaile that way they disswaded him from marriage and to goe personally to the warres in such sort as they designed him By which vnchristian meanes he was cut off and the kingdom devolued to the King of Spaine For their onely intent was this to maintaine poperie and to suppresse the Gospel I haue proued this else-where where I haue made euident demonstration that poperie is inseperably lincked with treason and cannot consist without the support of the Spanish king There may the Reader finde at large many other like miracles wrought by the Iesuits as also their seditions and traterous dealing euery where It were expedient for all simply seduced papists and for all such as are by any meanes carryed and led into errour by the Iesuits of which faction there is too great plentie in this Realme to prouide my Anotomie and to read it againe and againe for in so doing I am perswaded and fully resolued that all carefull of their saluation would vtterly abhorre and detest all popish faction The Iesuitical religion which is the Popes owne doctrine is nothing els but an hoge-poge of Omnigitherumâ— as the secular popish priests haue constantly avouched in their printed books divulged to the whole world Alas alas how hath the late Romish Church bewitched vs. CHAP. XIX Of Popish adoration and invocation of Saints COncerning this controuersie I haue written else-where at large I deeme it here to be enough to vnfold that great superstition and grosse idolatrie which the papists commit in this behalfe The popish invocation of Saintes this day vsed in the Romish Church is the selfe same which the Gentiles vsed in olde time when they did invocate false gods I proue it because they haue pecular saints for their seuerall necessities viz. Saint Loy for their horses S. Anthonie for their Pigges S. Roch for the pestilence S. Steuen for the night S. Iohn for the day S. Nicholas for their studies Saint George for their warres S. Cosma and S. Damian for their sores S. Appolonia for their teeth S. Agnes for their Virginitie and others innumerable for the like ende and effect they errect Churchâ— to their saints they frame images to them they carry their images about in Procession they consecrate alters to them they dedicate Holy-dayes to theÌ„ they make vowes for the honour of them they offer presents to their altars and images they put Lampes tapers torches and lights before their images they kneele downe before their images they touch them they embrace them they speake to theÌ„ they intreat them as if they were yet liuings yea they seem to surpas the folly impietie of the Gentiles For they ascribe their saluation to their saints euen to such saints as of whose saint-hood wee may well stand in doubt They invocate Campion Sherwin Ballard Hart Nelson and the rest of that seditious faction Alphonsus the Iesuitâ— and late Rector of the English Colledge at Rome caused the Organs to be sounded and all the Students to come to the Chappell where himselfe hauing on his backe a white Surplesse and the stole about his necke sang a Collect of Martyrs so after his maner canonizing Campion the Traytor for a Saint Such is the seditious impudencie of newly hatched Râ—mish Iesuits of which cursed broode I haue written at large in my Anatomie And least any Iesuit or Iesuited Papist shall bee able to denie that they ascribe their saluation to saints for they vse to say they make them but Mediators of intercession and not of saluation or redemption I will proue it flatly out of their owne Bookes yea euen out of their Church-seruice which I wish the Reader to marke attentiuely In the Prayer of the Church of Rome vpon Thomas Bâ—â—kets day some-time the Arch-byshoppe of Canterbury I finde these expresse words Deus pro cuius ecclesia gloriosus pontifex Thomas gladijs impieruÌ„ occubuit prasta quasumus vt omnes qui â—ius implâ—rant â—â—xiliâ—â— petitionis suâ—â—alutarem consequantur effectum Englished thus O God for whose Church the glorious Byshop Thomas was put to death by the
mercie of grace and of glory For she is the throne of mercie vnto sinners the throne of grace to the iust and the throne of glory to the saints in heauen In an other place thus Obviat ipsa nobis auxilijs oportunis dando nobis s. panem gratia virtuteÌ„ perseverantiae exaltationem gloriae Englished thus Shee comes to vs with helpes in conuenient time giuing vs the bread of grace the vertue of perseuerance and the exaltation of glorie Thus writeth this Iacobus de Voragine who was a famous Thomist a Dominican Fryer and a professor of divinitie Out of whose doctrine which he preached openly in the popish Church to the people I gather plainly and euidently most palpable idolatrie and intollerable blasphemie inseparably linked and necessarily implyed in popish invocation and adoration of Saints For first the blessed Virgin is invocated and adored of the Papists as their owne deere Fryer teacheth vs as the giuer of constancie in the beginning of tentation as the giuer of perseuerance in the midst and as the giuer of the crowne of glory in the ende Secondly the Papists are taught to sacrifice their bodyes to her as to the Queene of Heauen Thirdly they are taught to beleeue that the Virgin Marie controwleth Christ telleth him what he ought to doe and causeth him to alter hiâ— determination in iudgement according to her pleasure Fourthly that the Virgin Marie hath the custodie of mens soules and defendeth them from the snares of the deuill Fiftly that shee is the throne of mercie vnto sinners the throne of grace to the iust and the throne of glory to the elect Which things being thus taught beleeved and practised by the papists I see not what remaineth for them to doe but pull GOD out of his holy throne And yet this impious Idolatry and execrable blasphemie is very currant in the Romish church For besides that which is already aleaged out of the Romish church-seruice wherby the same is proued sufficiently the vsual practise of the papists especially of the Iesuits doth euidently confirme the same The proofe is at hand because in the ende of their absolution which they impart to euery one that maketh his auricular confession to them they adde these words Passio D. N. I. Christi merita B. Virg. Mariae omnium sanctorum quicquid boni feceris vel mali sustinueris sit tibi in remissionem peccatorum tuorum in augmentum gratiae in praemium vitae aeternae Englished thus The passion of our Lord Iesus Christ the merites of the blessed virgin Mary and of all Saints be vnto thee for remission of thy sinnes for increase of grace and for the reward of eternall life Behold here the daily practise of the Romish church For first we see the merits of Saints ioyned as a fellow-commissioner too and with the holy passion of our Lord Iesus Then we see remission of sinnes and eternall glory ascribed not onely to the merites of the blessed virgin Mary whom I honour and reuerence in mine heart as the dearest childe of God and most blessed Saint in heauen but also to the merits of all Saints Yet not onely the blessed virgin but God himselfe is by this means most highly dishonoured his holy name blasphemed and his proper glory giuen to his creatures And for this ende did the most blessed virgin make this answere to the Angell Behold the seruant of the Lorde be it vnto me according to thy word And this vnto her cozen Saint Elizabeth My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit reioyceth in God my sauiour Alas alas how hath the Romish church seduced and bewitched vs Pantòte dòxa tô Theô FINIS A Table containing the principall contents of all the Chapters CAp. 1. of the originall of popish primacie Cap. 2. of the meanes of aspiring to the same Cap. 3. of kissing the Popes feete Cap. 4. of power ascribed to the pope Cap. 5. of the antiquitie of popish pardons Cap. 6. of popish dispensations Cap. 7. of popish auricular confession Cap. 8. of Priests marriage Cap. 9. of popish vnwritten traditions Cap. 10. of the popes manners Cap. 11. of the Popes tyranny Cap. 12. of the abhomination of popish proceeding Cap. 13. of popish purgatory and of a challenge withall to all the papistes Cap. 14. of the popes double person Cap. 15. of popish generall councels Cap. 16. of popish succession c. Cap. 17. of popish excommunications Cap. 18. of popish images and reliques Cap. 19. of popish inuocation of saints Philip. 3.8 Psal. 84. vers 10. Heb. 11. vers 24. Pro. 1.7 Eccles. 12.13 1. Reg. 3. verse 59.11.12 Matt. 14.8 King Salomon the wise Ioh. 17.3 1. Cor. 2.9 2. Tim. 3. vers 15. Iohn 3.20 Psal. 119.105 2 pet 1.19 Ioh 5 39. Rom. 10.13 Leu. 19.18 Maâ— 19.19 Gal. 5.14 Rom. 12.20 â—â—â—oh 3.16 Luke 3.11 Leu. 19.15 Exod. 23.2 Deut. 16. ver 19.20 Esa. 5.23 In my suruay of Poperie Tres sedes patriarchales Romana Alexandrina Antiochâ—na Gregor libro 2. epist. 61. chap. 100. Marke this o Papist In my suruay of Popery Rhegin Anno. 628. Herm. Contr. Anno. 600 Nauclerus in Ebronic pag. 629. Bellarmine Lib. 1. de conâ—cilijâ— Cap 19. Tom. 1. In the downfall of Poperie Victor de potest Eccles. relect 1. sect 6. Praâ— 39. Roffensis art 37. aduers. Luther pa. 11. Marke wel for Christs sake Antonin part 3. tit 22. cap. 5 §. 1. â—4 Antonin part 3. tit 22. cap. 5. §. 8. eius cap. 7. in fine August de Anc. in summa pag. 152. Gerson de potest eccles consid 12. Part. 3. Gregor 9. libr. 1. decr tit 33· chap. 6. Glossa vbi supra Super cap. 1. Glos. lib. 1. Decretal tit 7. cap. 3. Gratian dist 22. can omnes Gloss. ibid. Appendix fuldenâ—is apud Maâ—t Polon Fumus de Papa Par. 11. Sâ—lu deindulg Viguerius de sacram ordin in fine Aquinas in suplem 9.25 ar 1. Siluester de indulgentiam 33. 28000. yeares of pardon 6048. yeares of pardon Syluester de indulgentia Sacri Palatij magister Antoninus Part. 1. Tit. 10. Cap. 3. in initio In my booke of motiâ—â—s preamble Angelus de indulgentia Ios. Angl. in 4. Par. 2. Pag. 15. See more in my bookâ— of In the downfall of Poperie Vict de potest papae concil relect 4. P. 139. Victor vbi supra pag. 151. Loe poperie crept in by little and little See the 12. Chapter and note it well In the suruâ—y of Poperie Rhenan in annotat ad lib. Tert. de paeâ—â—t Alas alas who will not defie Poperie God of his mercy conuert all papists to the truth Many among the papists dare not vtter their mindes In the suruay of poperie Panormit de cler coniugal cap. cum olim Polidorus lib. 5. cap. 4. Poperie is the new Religion Platina in vita Pij 2. pag. 342. â—ist 56. can Osius Dist. 56. can caenomanem seâ— In the Suruey of Poperie Platina in vita Bonifacij octaui For
increments Now it shall bee sufficient to touch succinctly and plainely when by what meanes Româ— became the head of al Churches the truth therfore of this point is this viz. That for the space of sixe hundred and six yeares after Christ the Byshops of Rome liued in all dutifull obedience vnto the Emperours neither was the Church of Rome the head of all other Churches but one of the three patriarchall seates wherof mention is made in the first famous councell of Nice which was called by the worthy Emperour Constantinus surnamed the great Two things I haue to proue for the clearing of this question the one the subiection of the Bishops of Rome in Anno 606. vnto the Emperour The other of the supremacie of the Church of Rome after that time Concerning the former most impudent and intollerable is the Popes insolencie when he exalteth himself aboue kings and Emperours threatning them that he can depose them from their scepters regalities dispossesse them of their Empires and dominions For Gregory surnamed the great a very famous Byshop of Rome when he was appointed by the Emperour Mauritius to publish a certaine law sent him from the said Emperour did not refuse to accomplish the Emperours designement but very dutifully and loyally acknowledged himselfe to be the Emperours subiect and of duty bound to execute his coÌ„mand therein albeit he deemed the law to be in some part therof disagreeable to Gods holy wil. These are the Byshops own words Ego quidem iussioni subiectus eundem legem per diuersas terrarum partes transmittifeci quia lex ipsa omnipotenti deo minime concrodat ecce per suggestionis meae paginam serenissimis dominis nunciaui vtrobique ergo quae debui exolui qui imperatori obedientiam praebui pro deo quod sensi minime tacui Englished thus I subiect to your coÌ„mandement haue caused the same law to be sent through diuers parts of the land and because the law is not agreeable to Gods holy wil behold I haue intimated so much vnto your maiesty by my Epistle I haue therfore discharged my duty in both respects as who haue yeelded my obedience to the Emperour haue concealed what I thought in Gods behalfe These are the words of the good Byshop of Rome for that Church was in good case order in his time age out of whose discourse I note first that Pope Gregory S. Gregory as the Papists terme him as famous as learned a man as euer was Byshop of Rome acknowledgeth the Emperour to be his Lord and Soueraigne Secondly that he confesseth himselfe to be the Emperours subiect Thirdly that he freely and willingly granteth that hee oweth faithfull and loyall obedience to the Emperour for which duty he durst not but publish the Emperours law though in some part against Gods wil as he deemed it and that least he should haue bene guiltie of disloyaltie towards his Prince and Soueraigne Touching the latter the cruel tyrant Phocas who rauished many godly matrons murdered the emperor Mauâ—ritius with his three sons Theodosius Teberius and Constantinus decreed that the RomaÌ„ seat shuld be the head of al churches This to be so I haue proued else wher at large out of many famous Chronographers viz. Sigebertus Platina Palmerius Bergomensis Polidorus Marianus Scotus Martinus Polonus Here it shal be enough to adde the testimony of Rhegino a famous popish Abbot These are his words Hic obtinuit apud Phocam principem vt sedes romana caput esset omnium ecclesiarum He obtained hee speaketh of Bonifacius the Byshop of Rome of the Emperour Phocas that the Church of Rome should be the head of all Churches Hermannus Contractus an other famous Chronographer hath these expresse words Hoc tempore Phocas Romanam ecclesiam omniuÌ„ ecclesiarum caput esse constituit Englished thus At this time Phocas decreed the Church of Rome to be the head of all other Churches So then Gregorie the good Byshop of Rome died in the second yeare of Phocas his Empire about which time Mauritiuâ— the Emperour was murdred fiue yeares after that Rome was made the head of all Churches That is to say 607. yeares after Christs sacred byrth and most holy aduent Iohannes Nanclerus a late writer of high esteeme with all papists and consequently of great force against them hath these words Phocas pontificis suasione publica ac ad vniuersum orbemdimissa sanctione constituit vt romanae ecclesiae romanoque pontifici omnes orbis ecclesiae obedirent quod retroactis temporibus non ad vnguem seruabatur maxime a graecis Englished thus Phocas by the perswasion of Boniface the third then Byshop of Rome made a publique coÌ„stitutioÌ„ sent it through out the whole world in which he decreed that all churches in the world should obey the church and Byshop of Rome which thing was not exactly obserued in former time especially of the Greekes Thus writeth this famous popish Cronographer whose testimony is able to confound al papists popish falsely challenged primacie For first pope Boniface was made byshop of Rome but Anno. 607. so that Rome was 606. yeares without her now chalenged primacie Secondly the fathers of the great church S. Epiphanius S. Chrisostome S. Bassil S Gregorie Nazianzene and the rest did not yeeld so much to the Church of Rome as to admit it for the chiefe patriarchall seate To this testimonie of this great Papist it is not amisse to adioyne the flat and humble confession of the Iesuiticall Cardinall Bellarmine who confesseth roundly and peremptorily that the popes would neuer come in person to the councels in the East-church because the Emperour would euer sit in the highest place although the Pope himselfe had bene there present in his Pontificalibus Out of whose grant three things are cleared First that the highest place in general councels was in old time reserued to the Emperour SecoÌ„dly that our holy father such is his humilitie could not endure the Emperours superioritie ouer him as the good Byshop Gregory did in his time Thirdly that the Greeke Church did neuer acknowledge the Popes vsurped primacie Alas alas how hath the late Romish Church bewitched vs CHAP. II. Of the way and meanes by which the Popes attained their vsurped primacie OF the steppes of the ladder by which the Byshops of Rome did clime vp vnto their Lordly primacie I haue elsewher discoursed at large Now I deeme it enough to insinuate in brief the generall meanes of the accomplishment thereof That Romish pontificalitie and pompe of popery came vp first by beggerly Canonists who to aduance theÌ„selues flattered the Pope gaue him more then princely and royall titles the popes owne deare Doctor a Spanish Fryer professour of Theologie in the famous Vniuersitie of Salmantica Franciscus a Victoria a witnesse that cannot but carrie credite on his backe telleth vs roundly without blushing who after hee hath rehearsed
omnes qui sunt in purgatorio si quis pro eis faciat quodiubet Englished thus As the pope can deliuer all that are in this world from paine due for sinne in this world if they doe that which he appointeth though they were many thousands moe then they be euen so can hee deliuer all that are in purgatorie if any doe that for them which he commandeth Viguerius a famous popish Fryer Dominican Doctor and professor of Thealogie proceedeth somewhat further then Siluester and Fumus auouching it to be neither inconuenient nor against Gods iustice These are his expresse wordes Nec est inconueniens quod papa posset purgatorium â—â—â—cuare Non enim per hoc aliquid detraheretur diuinae iustitiae Englished thus Neither is it conuenient that the pope can harrow hell for that doth nothing derogate from the iustice of God Aquinas the popish angelicall Doctor whose Doctrine no papist may reiect because sundry popes haue coÌ„firmed the same for authentical hath these words Christus poterat relaxare ergo et Paulus potuit ergo et papa potest qui non est minoris potestatis in ecclesia quam paulus fuit Englished thus Christ could pardon therefore Paul could also pardon and therefore the pope can likewise pardon as who hath no lesse power authoritie in the Church then Paul himselfe had So then the pope can doe as much as Christ if we belieue popish Doctors and Doctrine He can make the deafe to heare the dumbe to speake the lame to walke the blind to see and the dead to arise to life againe which I must first see ere I can belieue it howsoeuer Aquinas with his fellow Fryers doe write in that behalfe and doubtlesse this Doctrine and this supereminent power ascribed to the pope is plaine diabolicall and meere Antichristian Alas alas how hath the late Romish Church seduced vs. CHAP. V. Of the qualitie and condition of the Popes pardons together with the antiquitie thereof The first Section of the qualitie of popish pardons SIluester Prieras hath these words qui plenariaÌ„ indulgentiam rite assequutus est si eo instanti moreretur euolaret statim in caelum Englished thus He that hath lawfully gotten a plenarie pardon if that man should dye at that instant he should incontinently go 〈…〉 Aquinas Fumus Viguerius Antoninus Augustinus de Aneona and other papists teach the same Doctrine But it is needelesse to alledge more authoritie for this point seeing as it is already proued the pope hath as large power as Christ himselfe by the constant doctrine of best approued popish writers I wil therfore at this present onely name some pardons that haue bin granted the places and times where and when they were granted and the popes that did grant and giue the same referring the reader for a larger discourse therein vnto my booke of Motiues First many pardons are set down in the old english primars which giue many thousands of yeares pardon to all that shall but say very short prayers Before the prayer called Auste omnes animae there the reader shal finde in Latine set down in red letters that pope Iohn the twelft granted to all them that would say that prayer following so many yeares of pardon as there haue bin bodies buried in that church-yard since the originall therof A great reward for a very small labour for the prayer containeth but ten lines Before the prayer called Aue vulnus the reader shal find in latin red letters that Pope Innocent the second graunted 4000. yeares of pardon to euery one that should say the same prayer This was a greater reward because the prayer is shorter then the other Before the prayer called Aue domina there is set down in red letters that whosoeuer shall say the short prayer following shall enioy eleuen thousand yeares of pardon and withal shal see the blessed Virgin so many dayes before his death as he shall continue yeares in saying the same praier A large bountiful reward indeed Secondly huge infinit number of pardons are hanged vp in pardoning-tables at the pillars of euery Church for the most part in Rome not my selfe onely but many others haue both seene and read the same Thirdly there is a little pamphlet of the marueilous things of Rome which is commonly to be sold euery where in Rome one of which my selfe brought from thence and haue it at this houre which pamphlet sheweth many pardons for many thousands of yeares to be graunted to many Churches for such as will but come vnto them and there pray and visit the relikes thereof some fewe I am content to rehearse for the good of the readers In the Church of Saint Iohn Lateran there are euery day graunted to all that come thither 6048. yeares of pardon vpon the festiuall day of Saint Iohn the Euangelist 28. thousand yeares of pardon with so many quarantenes and plenarie remissions of their sinnes In the church of Saint Peter in Vaticano are so many yeares of pardon giuen as no man can number them Vi sono indulgentie senza numero there are pardons without number In the Church of Saint Paul there are giuen euery day 6048. yeares of pardon to all that come thither to pray Many other like pardons are named in the foresaid Pamphlet with the deliuery of certaine soules out of purgatorie But these fewe may bee a sufficient patterne how to giue iudgement of the rest peruse the 13. Chapter of purgatory and note it well for the explication hereof The second section of the antiquitie of Popish pardons THat the Doctrine of popish pardons is strange and new and that neither Christ nor his Apostles euer taught or practised the same as the late Romish Church hath vsed and daily vseth them Syluester a Papist so famous that he was not onely reputed but as it were surnamed Absolutus Theologus hath these words Indulgentia nobis per scripturam minime innotuit licet inducatur illud apostoâ—i si quid donaui vobis sed nec per dicta antiquorum doctorum sed modernorum Englished thus The popes pardons saith the popes owne deare Doctor sometime the maister of his sacred pallace were neuer known to vs by the scriptures although some doe alleage S. Paul for that purpose neither were they known by the auncient fathers but onely by late writers Antoninus the popes famous Arch-byshoppe and canonized saint hath the very same words and holdeth the selfesame opinion with Syluester he addeth some thing as it were for an explication of the matter These are his words Dicitur tamen Gregorius imposuisse indulgentias septennes instationibus Romae quia ecclesia hoc facit seruat non est credendum quod erret Englished thus Yet Gregorie is reported to haue graunted seuen yeares pardons when the stations were kept at Rome And because the Church vseth to practise this kind of pardoning we may not thinke that it erreth therein Or as
sonne as if he had said I neither dare say all I thinke neither all I know Alas alas how hath the late Romish Church deceiued vs. CHAP. IX Of Popish idolatrous vnwritten Traditions POpish vnwritten Traditions hath brought flat Idolatry into the Church teaching to adore them as saints and Gods friends who were known afterward to be Heretiques and professed enemies to God and his Church This to bee so their owne deare friend and brother Plaetina will tell them for hee affirmeth in plaine termes that the dead corps of one Hermannus was worshipped for a saints relique at Ferrara the space of 2. years together who for all that was an Heretique as the same Platina auoucheth Appendix fuldensis which is added to the chronicle of Martinus Polonus telleth vs that inquisitores haereticae prauitatis the maister of the popish Inquisition caused the corps of the said Hermannus to bee taken out of the graue and to bee burnt as the corpes of a damned Heretique where three speciall things are to be remembred and seriously obserued First that popish vnwritten traditions are most fallible and vncertaine Secondly that it is a thing very daungerous and too too preiudiciall to mans saluation to giue credit to the same Thirdly that the papists are most cruell and blood-thirstie fellowes who after many yeares death cannot suffer the dead corps to lye in the ground vnlesse they be taken vp and burnt in the fire He that requireth a larger discourse thereof may peruse the Downe-fall of Poperie Alas alas how hath the late Romish Church seduced vs. CHAP. X. Of the Popes manners POpe Christopher came naughtily to his pope-dome and lost it as naughtily For before the seuenth moneth expired fully he was depriued of his pontifical dignitie and inforced to become a monke the sole and onely refuge of al distressed persoÌ„s Thus writeth Platina and Carranza contesteth the same to be the truth Pope Boniface the 7. and pope Siluester the 2. did both aspire to their popedomes by Necromancie and diabolical meanes Siluester the 3. attained his pope-dome by sedition and Damasus the 2. was made pope by violent means without consent either of the Clergie or of the people This to be so both Platina Carranza two famous popish writers wil contest with me Yea Platina addeth that pope-dome was now brought to that passe that who so could be the chief in bribes ambition not in holy life and doctrine he only should haue the degree of honour and good men should be reiected Gregorie the first was by sedition thrust out of his throne and pope Iohn the 18. by tyrannie occupied the pope-dome So say both Platina and Carranza Yea Platina addeth that pope Iohn was a theife and a robber and entred not into his pope-dome lawfully Pope Stephanus the sixt persecuted the very name of Formosus disanulled and condemned all the orders which he had giuen Pope Romanus did abrogate all the acts of Pope Stephanus Pope Sergius the third did persecute the name of Formosus whose body after it was interred he commaÌ„ded to be takeÌ„ vp to be beheaded Pope Iohn the 13. was more addicted to hunting then hee was vnto prayer and many other vnworthy things are reported of that Pope This is the ceÌ„sure of Bartholomaeus Carranza a lear Thomst and a Dominican Fryer and therefore hath he not said more against the popes of Rome whose vassal he was then the very truth it selfe which must in time preuaile did enforce him to vtter and disclose Platina affirmeth no lesse against these Popes then his Brother Carranza hath done Hee saith plainly that they sought nothing but ambition and pleasure and to extinguish the dignitie of their auncestours The popes owne decrees tell vs that though the pope be neuer so wicked though he carry thousaÌ„ds of soules with himselfe headlong into Hell yet may no man take vppon him to iudge the pope vnlesse he be an Heretick And what is the reason hereof I pray you It is alleaged already out of Gerson their owne deare Doctor who is ashamed of popish dealing in that behalfe viz. Because forsooth Christ hath written in his thigh the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to whom no man may say why doest thou so but how the pope may be iudged I haue else where disputed more at large To which treatise I referre the gentle reader as well for his better satisfaction how the pope may bee iudged as concerning his double person his errors personall and iudiciall and other things coincident Pope Iohn the twelfth was made pope by violent meanes For his father Albericus being a man of great power and might in the citie enforced the nobles to take an oath that after the death of pope Agapitus they would promote his sonne Octauianus to the popedome Which oath was accomplished and he was named Iohn He was a great hunter and a man of licentious life He kept women openly to the notorious scandall of the Church in so much that some of the Cardinals wrote to Otto king of the Saxons to come besiege Rome and so to redresse the licentious dealing of the pope Which the pope perceiuing commaunded that Cardinals nose to be cut off that gaue the counsell and the Cardinals hand to be cut off that wrote the letter Pope Syluester the second was first a Monke a Frenchman borne Gilbertus by name hee promised homage to the diuell so long as he performed and accomplished his desires and that in the end the diuell should haue both his body and soule This Syluester being very ambitious did so often expresse his desire to the diuell as hee made homage vnto him Hee was first made Arch-byshop of Rhemes then of Rauennas at the length pope of Rome for the diuell knowing his ambitious minde thought good to bring him to honour by degrees Being made pope hee must needes knowe of the diuell how long he should liue in his pontificall glorie the diuell answered that hee should liue lâ—ng if he said not masse in Hierusalem The pope receiuing this answere was a very ioyfull man hoping to be so farre from death as he was farre in minde and purpose from saying Masse in Hierusalem as who thought neuer to goe so farre a iourney much lesse to say Masse there Well it so chaunced that in Lent the pope saide Masse in the Church Sanctae crucis which they call in Hierusalem my selfe know the place It seemeth that the pope infatuated with pride and honour had quite forgot the name otherwise doubtlesse he would neuer haue celebrated there while the pope was at Masse he heard a great noyse of diuels and so both remembred the place and his death to bee at hand Wherefore hee wept although before most wicked disclosing his offence to all the company and nothing doubting of Gods mercy withall he commaunded to cut away from his body all the members with which he had done