was giuen by the inspiration of the holy ghost so did the same spiritie infuse it aboundauntly into the heartes of the Apostles and likewise doth at this present with the faithfull and of the same spirite hath this holy Scripture his endurance and true interpretation Antichrist is not ashamed too bragge that hee is Lorde ouer the Scripture to alowe or disalowe it For of me saith he it taketh his full authoritie And for a token of this the Scripture of Christe is laied vnder his fete when he is at Masse 57 Christe commaunded by his Apostle sainct Paule that a bishop should be apte to teache and that hee ought to bee well learned that he may be able by his wholsome doctrine both to exhort and to ouercome all theym that resiste and be against the faith Antichrist will neither teache nor dispute with any man in the holy scripture for the maintainaunce of the Christen faith but onely for to augment his owne kingdom and to stablish his owne lawes And if any dispute with him they shall be cast first into prison where he and his ministers haue deuised and inuented proper engins too wryng their fingers so sore that the bloud shall braste out of their fingers endes Moreouer he will peine them and scourge them and with infinite other tormentes punishe theim to make theim forsake the trueth and afterwarde make them sweare on a booke that they shall tell no man of it Thus cruelly doth Antichrist entreate man for the truthes sake againste all iustice And if he can not subdue them to his will then either he murdereth theim priuely in Prison or els hee committeth them vnto the seculer power as vnto his Hangmen or Butchers to be burned And thus is the disputation ended and Antichrist hath gotten the victorie Sed viuit dominus qui custodit veritatem in seculum seculi facit iudicium iniuriam patientibus 58 Christe cursed the Figge tree vppon whiche he found no fruite and forthwith the Figge tree wethered and neuer bare fruite after Antichrist hath cursed and enterdited Landes and Realmes and yet did not the people dye but they prospered well and the earth brought forth her fruite and encrease no lesse then before yea much more aboundauntly thankes be vnto God that this saiyng may bee founde true Maledicent illi tu autem benedices They shall curse but thou shalt blesse 59 Christ calleth hymselfe the good shepheard saiyng I am the good shepheard The good shepeheard geueth hys life for his sheepe Antichrist saieth that he is a good sheepeheard and yet he pollet and pilleth hee sheareth and scrapeth the sheepe so neare that he leaueth not one locke of wolle on their backes And thinke ye not that hee is in al pointes the selfe same shepeheard of whom Zacharias prophecied whiche saieth in the persone of God Behold ▪ I will raise vp a Shepheard in the Lande whiche shall yot seeke after the thinges that be lost nor care for such as go astray He shall not heale the wounded He shall not nourishe the thyng that is whole but he shall eate the fleshe of suche as be fatte and teare their clawes in peeces c. Hee shall nourishe hymselfe and not the shepe And this Prophete criyng out on hym saieth O thou shepheard and Idoll forsakyng the flocke As though hee shoulde say thou bearest the name of a shepheard but thou arte an Idoll and counterfaite Thou art called a Shephearde but thou art a plaine murderer Thou arte named a feeder but thou art a destroyer Is it to bee thought that this Shephearde will giue his life for his Shepe 60 Christ chargeth Peter three tymes to keepe well and nourishe his Shepe Antichrist chargeth his Officers to keepe well his money And as for the Shepe he hymself taketh paines to shere theim and to keepe theim lowe with iufinite exactions 61 Christ gaue a commaundement that a manne should forsake his wife or putte her awaie for no cause but onely for adulterie Antichrist if he bee well monied will make diuorces for what soeuer cause a manne will haue hym yea and for money he will ioyne theim together whom the Lawe of GOD by no meanes suffereth to marrie 62 Christe beside the twelue Disciples sent forthe to Preache seuentie and twoo other Disciples whiche freely promised heauen to theim that would beleue in the name of Christe Antichriste sendeth out his Preachers and Pardoners whiche teache the people to beleue his power and to truste to his Pardons for their saluation addyng that thei can not otherwise bee assoiled nor come to heauen And all for money 63 Christe tooke awaie from his Disciples all temporall iurisdictiō and worldly power saiyng vnto them The kynges and Princes of the Gentiles haue rule power ouer them but ye shal not so haue Antichriste lifteth vp hym self aboue al power and saieth Emperours Kynges and Lordes bee my Subiectes This is daiely read in his Bulles wherein he cōmaundeth the Nobilitie like as a Master doeth commaunde his seruaunt 64 Christ gaue commaundement to his Disciples saiyng Looke whiche emong you will bee greatest let hym bee the lowest of all Antichrist saieth The Emperour must sweare vnto me as vnto his Lorde that he will bee my subiect and exalt and worship me with honour as his owne Lawe testifieth 65 Christe in all places of the holie Scripture reiecteth and casteth awaye mennes Traditions and Decrees Thei worshipp me in vaine saieth he teachyng doctrines that are the commaundementes of menne Antichriste magnifieth the Traditions and Decrees of his Canon Lawe and saieth that thei ought to bee kept as duely as if GOD hymself had commaunded them Or as if sainct Peter had preached them hym self 66 Christe wishyng no man to erre no manne to bee deceiued no manne to perishe or to bee damned called hym self in his Sermons the waie the truthe and the life I am saith he the waie the truth and the life Beleue in me and folowe me in my learning and rule you by the scripture For that shall bee your Iudge Antichrist saieth ye shall in all thinges followe the Churche of Rome meanyng thereby hym self and his Cardinalles as appeareth in his owne Lawe And as for the Scripture saith he it standeth in my power and aucthoritie For I maie make of it whatsoeuer pleaseth me 67 Christe loued them that were his ennemies blessed theim that cursed and did good to them that hated hym Antichrist can not finde in his harte to loue and blesse his ennemies nor to dooe good to his aduersaries but suche as in any point be against hym he curseth with the great cursse and will not absolue them till thei haue made perfect submission and paied greate sommes of money 68 Christe commaunded his Disciples that thei should not resiste euill but if a manne strike them vpon the one cheeke that thei
wepe and lament Antichrist saieth Blessed are thei that make mery and take no thought for thei are sure to haue a good and ioyfull portion in this worlde 46 Christe saieth My kyngdome is not of this worlde Antichriste saieth My kyngdome is of this worlde The Emperour with his Empire the Kyng with his kyngdome the Duke with his Ducherie and all other with al that euer thei haue are mine and at my commaundemente Yea my kyngdome is not onely in this worlde but also in Heauen and in Purgatorie yea and in Hell also For euen out of Hell doe I deliuer damned soules by the vertue of my Masses and the paines of diuerse there also doe I mitigate by thynges doen at myne appointemente Thus am I lorde of Heauen of Hell of Yearth of Purgatorie 47 Christe saieth that no man can come to hym that is to saie beleue in hym excepte his heauenly Father by his holie Spirite drawe hym Antichrist saieth If any will not beleue Fire Fagotte Sworde and Halter shall make hym to beleue 48 Christe by his holy Apostle teacheth that a Bishoppe whiche ought to bee the seruaunte of the Lorde Christe muste bee quiet and gentle no fighter nor tyraunte but suche one as is readie to enfourme suche as doe erre and with wholsome doctrine to reduce theim vnto the waye of truthe Antichriste commaundeth that suche as are Bishoppes should bee stoute and sturdie and couragious in the defence of his doctrine If any bee stubborne and will not relente his will is not that they should refourme hym by the woorde of GOD wherof the greatest part of them hath no knowledge at al but handle them accordyng to the Decree of his Lawe whiche is to burne them It maie not be considered whether the matter be right or not Nos habemus legem secundum legem nostram debet mori 49 Christ commaunded in his doctrine that the Tares whiche grow emong the Wheate should not bee plucked vp but suffered to grow vntil the Haruest come when the Wheate shall bee gathered of the Reapers into the barne and the Tares shall bee burnte with vnquencheable fire Antichriste cleane contrary behaueth hymself For the good Wheate he plucketh vp and burneth and the Tares he suffereth still to growe By the good wheate I vnderstande the true and faithfull Preachers of Goddes worde and so many as vnfeignedly embrace and professe the sincere pure religion of christ These as his moste extreame enemies Antichrist persecuteth apprehendeth accuseth iudgeth condemneth and giueth ouer to the Seculare power with fire to bee consumed vnto ashes By the Tares I meane Tyrauntes Persecutours of Goddes truthe commonly called Inquisitours Canonistes Scotistes Hypocrites Monkes Friers Chanons Nonnes Arkers Ankresses Uotories Uowesses Pardonners Proctours Promotours Purgatorie rakers Massemongers Pilgrimage gadders and all other supersticious and vngodlie people These as his moste deare and tender freÌ„des he kisseth and culleth he promoteth and auaunceth vnto high dignities promotions Bishoprickes Cardinalshippes Archedeaconries Prebendes Parsonages c. and diligentely watcheth as a moste diligente watcher and Pastour ouer his flock that no crosse no aduersitie no misfortune no trouble chaunce vnto them but all game and glee all sporte and comforte all ioye and solace c. 50 Christe taught not his owne but his Fathers doctrine and what he receiued of his heauenly Father that taught he to the people Antichriste setteth naughte by the worde of GOD excepte it bee to colour his wicked tyrannie withall He teacheth his owne deuilishe Decrees and triflyng Traditions and enforceth the peoplâ— euen with violence to followe them 51 Christe would haue his doctrine no further beleued then it did consente and agree with Moses the Psalmes and the Prophetes Antichrist will haue his Traditions and Constitutions beleued and obeyed though Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles should saie naie For thei bee of no further aucthoritie then it shall please hym to limite and appointe 52 Christe saieth Learne of me â–ª For I am humble and meeke Antichrist saieth ye that belong vnto me muste bee stoute and lustie For I your Lorde am lustie and stoute in all quarters rounde aboute neither will I loute or stoupe either to Kyng or Kesar Yea whom it pleaseth me I will exalte and aduaunce and at my pleasure will I hym againe depose All without exception yea the verie Angelles also in heauen shall obeye me and accomplishe my commaundement 53 Christe entreatyng of Fastyng appointeth no certaine daies or tymes but leaueth it free to all that professe his holy Lawe that thei maie faste when occasion is offered and when the Spirite of God moueth theim yea and that after suche sorte as thei bee taught in the woorde of God that is to saie to mortifie their carnall affectes to subdue the bodie to the spirite and to spare out of our owne beallies that wee maie haue the more liberally to giue vnto the poore accordyng to this commaundemente of GOD by the Prophete Breake thy breade to the hungrie and leade the needy waifaryng man into thy house When thou seest a naked man couer hym and despise not thy flesh Antichriste prescribeth certain daies to bee fasted yea and that vnder paine of euerlastyng damnation as the tyme of Aduent Lent Embryng daies Saincts euens c. All these daies must bee fasted of all maner of people that bee twelue yere olde and vpwarde 54 Christe saieth My house is the house of Praier Antichriste saieth My house is the house of money He that bryngeth not money commeth not in there neither is there any place for hym 55 Christe saieth The Kyngdome of God commeth not with waityng for that is to saie with outwarde obseruaunces and externall ordinauÌ„ces at the appointment of men For beholde the kyngâ—â—me of God is within you Antichrist saieth Weare this cappe or that Caule this graie habite or that white habite Professe this rule or that rule Faste this day or that daye Bye this Pardon or that PardoÌ„ c. and thou shalt be saued 56 Christ saieth If any man saye vnto you Loe here is Christ or there beleue it not For there shall arise false Christes and false Prophetes and shall shew great wonders and miracles insomuche that if it were possible the verie electe should be deceaued Beholde I haue tolde you before Wherefore if they saye vnto you Beholde he is in the deserte goe not ye forthe Beholde he is in the secrete places beleue it not Antichrist saieth Loe here is Christe at this Altare and at that Altare in this Priestes hande and that Priestes hande in this Pixe and that Pixe in this Boxe and that Boxe Come and see thy Maker Worshippe hym meekely kneelyng vppon thy knees Holde vp thy handes vnto hym This is he that killed thy father This is the Aplemaker of Kente If thou wilte not beleue that this is thy Maker thou shalt burne for it without redemption
breathed vpon his disciples and gaue theim the holy ghoste saiyng Take ye the holy ghoste that they beyng endued with his Spirite might brynge forth the fruites of the same and be therby knowen to his Apostles Antichrist doth breath the spirit of Sathan into his shauelinges and will that they shall be knowen to be his chaplaines by their long gownes shauen crownes horned cappes flaryng tippets c. 119 Christ sent forthe his disciples for to preache vnto all nations Antichrist sendeth forth his chaplaines to be Massemongers soule cariers Purgatory rakers Godmakers coniurers of salte water bread fyre c. 120 Christ commaunded his disciples to preache not mennes traditions but the Gospell that is to say repentaunce and remission of sinnes in his name to all creatures Antichrist commaundeth his praters to set forthe to the people his lawes and decrees and to entermedle them with tales out of Legenda aurea and narrations out of Festiuall Martyrologe c. He sendeth forth also his Pardoners to publike fables and lyes vnto the people and therto graunteth he Letters and Seales and many daies of Pardon and all for money 121 Christ willed his disciples to say vnto their hearers that whosoeuer beleueth and is Baptised he shall be saued But he that beleueth not shall be damned Antichrist commaundeth his Trompetters too blowe abroad into the eares of the people that whosoeuer will buye his pardons shall be absolued a paena culpa toties quoties and then must he needes be saued And he that teacheth otherwise is an heretike This his Bulles and Pardons do plainly testifie 122 Christe charged his Disciples diligently to teach the people to obserue and kepe those thynges that he commaunded theim and so doyng he promised to bee with thē vnto the very ende of the world meanyng not bodily but ghostly Antichrist giueth a great charge to his Chapelaines to inculcke and beate into the peoples heades vnder paine of deadly synne and euerlastyng damnation the keepyng of his Canons and Lawes and in so dooyng he promiseth to assiste them continually with the Spirite of Errour and falshode 123 Christe a little before his Ascension into the Kyngdome of his Father gaue a greate charge to Peter and his fellowe Apostles that thei with al diligēce should feede his Lambes and Sheepe with the moste wholsome pasture of his most swete woorde saiyng Pasce pasce pasce Feede feede feede Antichriste giueth straight commaundemente to his Captiues that thei shall poison the people with the Pharisaicall Leauen of his Lawe and by no meanes teache them the truthe of Gods woorde least thei should spie out his falsehod and aboue all thynges plaie Tolle Tolle Tolle Poll Poll Poll pill pill 124 Christe commaunded his Apostles not to departe from Ierusalem but to waite for the promes of the Father Antichrist thrusteth forthe into the ministerie his Greaslynges and Shauelinges without any consideration or motiō of Goddes Spirite If thei can Masse it or Mattens it he careth for no more 125 Christe when he should departe and goe vp into Heauen lifted vp his hande and blessed his Apostes that is to say wished well vnto them Antichrist lifteth also vp his hāde and blesseth the people that is to saie waggeth his fingers ouer them But whether he curseth or blesseth that is vncertaine 126 Christe by the power of his Deitie Ascenden into heauen perfecte God and perfect man. Antichrist through the multitude of his moste detestable synnes and vile wickednesse descendeth into hell bothe body and soule and hath his portion with Idolatours Witches Theefes Adulterers Whoremongers cursed speakers c. in that Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone where he and all his shall bee tormented with moste intollerable paines worldes without ende Hetherto of the life of Christe and of Antichriste ¶ Of the doctrine of Christe and of Antichrist FIrste Christe saieth that he came for this purpose into the worlde euen to testifie beare witnesse of the truth and that his woorde is the Truthe Againe that the holie Ghoste shall leade vs into all Truthe hereby manifestly declaryng that in his holie woorde is contained sufficiente doctrine for our saluation as saincte Paule saieth All Scripture giuen by inspiration of GOD is profitable to teache to improue to amende and to instructe in righteousnesse that the manne of GOD maie bee perfecte and prepared vnto all good woorkes Likewise saied the woman of Samarie to Christe I knowe that Messias shall come whiche is called Christ When he is come he shall tell vs all thynges And the Apostle in his exhortation to the Elders of Ephesus said I haue kepte nothyng backe that was profitable vnto you c. Againe I haue shewed you all thynges Antichriste saieth that though it bee truthe that is contained in the Bible yet all truthe necessarie to saluation is not there to bee founde but there are other truthes as necessarie to bee beleued vnder paine of damnation as those that bee contained in the holie scripture and thei bee called vnwritten verities He saieth moreouer that his Decrees and Lawes are necessarily to bee kepte as the Commaundementes of God and addeth moreouer that thei bee of equall aucthoritie with the worde of God. 2 Christe saieth that no man can come vnto hym except his Father drawe hym Againe that all shall bee taught of God Signifiyng hereby that no man can vnderstand and perceiue the misteries contained in the woorde of God excepte thei bee reueled and opened vnto hym by the Spirite of God whiche alone is the aucthour thereof for asmuche as a naturall manne can not come vnto the vnderstandyng of those thynges that belong vnto the Spirite of God. And as sainct Peter saith that the Scripture is not a priuate interpretation that is to saie not to bee expounded after the iudgemente of reason and as euery man of his owne braine fantaketh but as GOD is the alone aucthour of the worde so is the true vnderstandyng thereof to bee begged of God alone by feruent praier and by diligente conference of the scriptures Dauid consideryng this praied to God on this maner Open thou myne eyes that I maye see the wonderous thynges of thy lawe Make me to vnderstande the waie of thy Commaundementes and so shall I talke of thy wonderous woorkes O learne me true vnderstandyng and knowledge O giue me vnderstādyng that I may learne thy commaundementes c. And Sainct Paule writyng to Timothe saieth God giue thee vnderstandyng in all thynges Antichriste saieth that the interpretation of the Scripture hangeth of the iudgement of the Fathers and old auncient writers and of the aucthoritie and consente of the Churche of Rome whiche is the true Churche and mother of all churches and can by no meanes erre without the approbation of the whiche no interpretation of the Scripture can bee good and catholike 3
and haue their consciences marked with an hotte yron forbiddyng to Marrie c. And as he forbiddeth certaine degrees of menne to Marrie so doeth he forbidde at certaine tymes of the yere to celebrate Matrimonie in somuche that whosoeuer presumeth in those forbidden tymes to Marrie is not onely accursed but his Marriage also is not lawfull Notwithstandyng if any man will bryng money and purchase a licence to Marrie he shall easely obtaine it though it were on good Fridaie so deare and tenderly beloued is that greate God Mammon in Antichristes courtes But if it bee lawfull at these tymes to Marrie for money Is it not lawfull to marrie without money Doth money make a thyng either lawfull or vnlawfull God destroye thy kyngdome O Antichriste Thy money perishe with thee For thy harte is not right in the sight of God. 72 Christe in his holie Gospell commaundeth vs to praie but he prescribeth no certaine tyme of Praier Antichriste appoincteth certaine tymes to Praie whiche tymes whosoeuer doeth not obserue he is coumpted grecuosly to offende 73 Christe by his blessed Apostle sainct Paule giueth vs libertie to praie in euerie place liftyng vp pure handes without wrathe or doubtyng And he hym self in the Gospel saied to the woman of Samaria Woman beleue me the hower cōmeth and now is when the true worshippers shall worshippe the Father in Spirite and in the truthe For suche also the Father requireth to worshippe him God is a Spirite and thei that worship hym must worshippe hym in spirite and in the truthe Antichrist teacheth that though wee maie praie to GOD in all places yet ought wee moste chiefly to praie in suche places as his Bishoppes and Prelates haue consecrated and hallowed for money as Oratories worthie for their vertue and holinesse wherein our Praiers maie the soner bee hearde and the better accepted And yet in these places appointed of hym for Praier one is counted more holie then an other and more meritorious to praie in as the Churche is holier then the Chappell the Chancell holier then theim bothe and yet the Chauncell holier then them both and yet the Cathedrall Church otherwise called the mother Church more holy than them all three But to praie at the Shrynes of his canoniced Sainctes or in places of Pilgrimage where the Deuill worketh stiracles I would saie miracles but namely at Rome at Compostella at Ierusalem c. this passeth all Praiers made in those places with this confidence that they be the sooner hearde and the better accepted by the reason of the places flye to heauen as it were a polde henne 74 Christ appointed a certaine forme of praier after the whiche we should directe our Praiers vnto our Heauenly Father wherein also he declareth what thinges wee shoulde specially aske of GOD the Father Antichrist appointeth diuers and many formes of praiyng not to God but to this he Sainct and to that she Sainct yea and that for manie and sundry causes to euery sainct for a contrary thing And thus are men taught to worship the creature in steede of the creator robbing God of his glory and committyng moste wicked and damnable idolatrie 75 Christ saieth when thou praiest thou shalte not bee as the Hipocrites are For they vse to stande praiyng in the Sinagoges and in the corners of the stretes that they may be seene of men Antichrist saieth I will that my Chaplaines and my quire men shall pray sing and saie in none other places then in the Sinagoges that is to saie in Churches and Chappelles and suche other Oratories yea and specially when the people are moste of all gathered together although they vnderstande not one worde what is either song or said or on the Organs plaid And bicause they may be seen of men and haue the greater assembly of people at their praiers he commaundeth that now one Bell shal be rong now two now three now all the belles in the steple by the which diuersitie of ringing menne maye the better knowe not onely when Antichristes Chaplaines and their complices may be sene to praie but also when it is Festum simplex or Festum duplex or Festum principale that is to saie single feast or double feast or principall feast 76 Christ saith when ye praie bable not much as the heathen doe For thei thinke it will come to passe that they shall bee hearde for their much babling Be ye not therefore like vnto them Antichrist doth so lade and burden hys captiues with innumerable multitudes of praiers that they haue almost no tyme to breath They haue Mattens of the day and Mattens of oure Ladie with Prime and howres They haue long Nocturns They haue long Letanies long Seuen Psalmes long fiftene Psalmes with many and diuers Orisons They haue long Masses and long commemoration They haue long Diriges and long commendations They haue Euensong of the daie with Euensong of our Lady and Complin to them both And all these thinges must be saied or song vnder paine of deadly synne But how thei be mumbled and iumbled vp all the world may see Uerely without all godly affection of the minde The hearte goeth one waie and the voice an other way so that they agree together as Harpe and Harow and come one to an other as iuste as Iermyns lippes Of such kinde of beadmen speaketh our Sauiour Christ on this maner This people draweth nighe and honoureth mee with their lippes but their heart is farre from mee Uerely they worship mee in vaine teachyng doctrines euen the commaundementes of men 77 Christ would haue suche loue among vs that bee his Disciples that we should gladly willingly and freely without money pray one for an other Antichrist willeth his Chaplaines to praye for none excepte they haue money accordyng to the common prouerbe No peny no Pater noster If money come they will be ready at all times to sing and say If there bee no money then here is the doore and there is the waye Farewell gentle Geffray and as the Porters crye in Sturbridge Fayre a newe Maister a newe and hang vp the olde They will no longer sing or saye than ye haue Money for to paie Bring money and ye shal haue Masse of Scala celi Masse of Requiem Masse of Recordare Masse of Si iniquitates with an hundred kind of Masses besides for whatsoeuer purpose ye will. For our Massemongers haue Masses in store for all kynde of thinges good or badde Onely bryng Money and ye shall wante nothyng so desirous are Antichristes men of money O Mammonistes 78 Christ by his Apostles commaundeth that euery congregation should haue his pastour or preacher to feede the Christen flock with the most holsome fode of Gods worde so that euery spirituall Minister should attende vppon his owne cure and not bee distracte with the care of diuers congregations Antichrist can not away with this that one man should haue but one benefice and