maleficae snperstitionis qui rempublicam turbant quorum instinctu piacularis adolescens dirum facinus instituerat As much to say as Banished from all France that kind of men which with their new and pestilent supersticion disturbe the weale publique by whose instinct and perswasion that miserable young man committed so great abhomination It was also by the same Parliament of Paris which is the Chaūcery royall of France commanded that the Priests and students of the Colledge of Claremont aud all the rest of the same fellowship as corrupters of youth perturbers of the publique quiet enemies of the king and common-wealth should within three dayes after the publication of the present sentence depart from Paris and from the other Cities and people where they haue their Colledges and auoyd the whole Realme within 15 dayes after vpon paine wheresoeuer they were found the said time expired to be punished as offenders culpable of high treason their goodes aswell moueable as vnmoueable to them any wayes belonging to be imployed in Godly workes and the distribution thereof to be made according to the oder which the Parliament shall prescribe Moreouer it was commaunded to all the kings subiects that none of them send their students to any Colledge of the said company which were out of the kingdome to be in them instructed vpon the same paine Laesae Maiestratis All that which I haue said be the selfe words of the Sentence Thus then were the Iesuits for their treasons and villanies out of all France banished But they as vnquiet spirits and friends to blodshed haue not ceased to effect their busines And so haue printed a booke wherein wickedly they speake against the king and the Parliament that gaue such Sentence They iustifie sanctifie and Canonize the foresaid traitor Iohn Castell incite the people and euery one of them either by force or treason to kill their Princes and Lordes if in and by all things they agree not with that which the Iesuites teach This their shamelesse boldnesse caused the most prudent Parliament in the 1598. yeare eftsoones to confirme the Sentence which it had formerly giuen against the said Iesuites Don Sebastian king of Portugale for listening to these Iesuites and being gouerned by them destroyed himselfe and his kingdome They perswaded his going into Barbarie where he valiantly fighting with the whole Niobilitie of Portugale was destroyed These Iesuites are the cause of the vprores in the kingdome of Swethland They of the kingdome being protestants would not that the king at his returne from Polonia should place Iesuites about him The king who was gouerned by the Iesuites would place them So that of necessitie it came to blowes Then let other princes and Lordes beware of strange directions and in no wise suffer the Iesuites in their lands because they nought serue for but spies and disturbers of the peace publique setting Princes against Princes And that which worse is all this which they do they sanctifie with the title pretext and collour of religion Much puffed vp they are with the title which they haue taken of the fellowship of Iesus as though the rest of the Priests and Fryars and all other Christians were of the fellowship of the deuill Many of their owne Papists doe now begin to smell and vnderstand And so the Franciscans Dominicans others eate no good crommes as they say with them I wil here conclude this matter of the Iesuites with a terrible lie which to aduaunce the kingdome of their king Abaddon that is to say destroyer they haue forged All the world knoweth that in the land of Sauoy is a Cittie called Geneua This Citie in these last times hath God perticularly blessed with the true knowledge of his holy word With these weapons hath this Citie warred against the Ignorance supersticion and Idolatrie of the Popedome And that to the great aduauncemēt of the kingdome of Iesus Christ confusion of Antichrist The Antichristians for this cause and cheifly the Iesuits beare secret hatred towards the citie haue practised the totall ruine and destruction thereof And seeing they could not by violence destroy it because God did helpe defend it with notable lies haue they often practised to defame it And so inuented they that which their father the deuill who is the father of lies could not more inuent They wrote one to another with great reioycinges that Geneua was reduced as they call it to the lappe of the Church They sayd that Theodor de Beza the chiefe minister of Geneua who with his learned sermons and writinges in that citie hath aduaunced the kingdome of Christ for fortie yeares space and more beeing readie to die had repented and turned to the Church Catholique and that being in this holy purpose he sent to request the Lordes of Geneua and the ministers to come visit him which had some what to impart vnto them they came say they and that Beza exhorted them to be come Catholiques And that with such vehemencie he spake vnto them that he conuerted them and that hee also reduced al Geneua to the catholique Roman faith They proceede with their lie The Lantgraue of Hessen said they hearing this newes sent some of his Gentlemen to Geneua to vnderstand what had passed who returning from Geneua said that Geneua was reduced to the catholique Roman Religion They said also that their Iesuites had gone to dispute with the ministers of the elector of Brandenberg and that they had shamed confounded them To these most notable lies answered the most learned Beza the other ministers of Geneua did briefly also answere but very liuely in their proper coullours and shaddowes depainted the Iesuites To which answere I referre me The deuill as our redeemer painteth him out hath bene a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth for there is no truth in him When the deuill speaketh lies he speaketh of himselfe For he is a liar and the father of lies The sonnes of such a father cannot be but murderers and liars Perque de mal Cueruo conforme al Commum refran mal hueuo For of an euill crow after our Spanish Prouerbe an euill egge Such except by miracle cannot leaue their nature When the Blackmore shall change his skinne and the Leopard his spots then these sonnes of the deuill taught to worke wickednesse to murther and lie may doe good and speake the truth The gaine which these wretches haue gotten by their lie is that very many which before well conceited them seeing their lies so palpable knowne that God to aduaunce his holy catholique faith hath no neede of lies now nought account of them Amongst wise people and such as feare God by little and little will they loose their credit and so returne to the bottomlesse pit from whence they came For God abhorreth all those that worke iniquitie and those that speake lies will he destroy The bloodie and deceitfull man as are the Iesuites murderers
fire and Daniel from the Lyons In this haue they had neither Prophet nor miracle The third respect In the second they had great dignitie and riches as Ioachin the king Ieremie the last Daniel and his three companions Mardocheus Zerubbabel but in this they are much deiected True it is that this generall promise they haue made them by God That whensoeuer they shall repent them of their wickednesse committed and turne vnto God that he will pardon them and gather them from all partes of the world where they shall be scattered and afflicted And seeing that God doth not gather nor deliuer them from so long and painfull captiuitie as is that which they suffer it followeth that they are wholly obstinate in their sinnes and turne not truly vnto God For if they would turne God being true in his promises would gather them But we see the contrarie that they still be scattered and abide in captiuitie therefore they repent not And so it pleaseth God to chastise them as he sayd vnto Moses Deut. chap. 28. 63. 64. And it shall come to passe saith he speaking of the Iewes that as the Lord did reioyce ouer you to doe you good and to multiply you so shall the Lord reioyce ouer you to confound and destroy you and ye shall be plucked out of the land into the which ye now enter to possesse it And God will seatter thee through all nations from the one end of the earth to the other And there shalt thou serue strange Gods wood and stone c. whom thou nor thy fathers haue not knowne Their obstinacy and vnbeleefe not knowing the day of their visitation and contemning and killing their Messias is the cause of this so miserable captiuitie wherein they shall continue vntill they cease to be incredulous and acknowledge God and Christ or Messias whom he hath sent and so they shall be saued Moreouer concerning that which we haue sayd the booke of Iudges is full of Gods punishments vpon the Israelities for their idolatrie whom he deliuered ouer into the hands of their enemies But as a good God and mercifull father when they repented he restored or deliuered them And eftsones they returned to idolatrie and God eftsoones did punish them We read also that the Israelites turned away and corrupted themselues more then their fathers following strange gods seruing them and bowing downe before them and nothing diminished their workes and wicked wayes And the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel And Deborah in her song conceiuing them said In choosing new Gods warre was at the gates So greatly did God abhore Idolatrie that oftenne commaundementes which he gaue the two first be against Idolatrie First Thou shalt not haue saith he any straunge Cod before me Second Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any Image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath or in the water c. And then Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor worship them for I am the Lord thy God a iealous God c. In the first commaundement internall and mentall and in the second externall and visible Idolatrie are forbidden So horrible and enormious is the sinne of Idolatrie that God who is a iust Iudge doth punish it with most seuere punishment that can be in this world God giueth vp Idolaters into a reprobate sence so that forsaken of God and by his iust Iudgement deliuered ouer and made slaues to Sathan they may doe that which is not conuenient as saith Saint Paule Romans 1. 25. concerning Idolaters which turned the truth of God into a lie honoring and seruing the creature before or more then God And in the twentie eight verse mentioning the punishment he saith that God gaue them vp vnto a peruerse minde which we call a reprobate sence to doe that which is not conuenient namely the abohmination there mentioned The answere which the Romists make in defence of their Images is friuolous They adore not nor honour say they the Images but that which they represent Whereunto I answere that as little did the Pagans worship their Images but that which they represented For they beleeued not the Image of Iupiter to be Iupiter but to present Iupiter Much more doe the Romists not onely commaunde Images to be made but to be reuerenced and which is more worship them themselues And in the second Action also of the Neccen Councell not of that holy and good first Councell of Neece but of the second assembled by that ceuell Empresse Hirena it is said We doe worship the pictures of Images And in the third Action The inuisible diuine nature is not permitted to be pictured nor figured For no man euer sawe God at any time but we worship the Image of his humanitie pictured with colours So also doe we reuerence and adore the Image of our Lady the mother of God c. See here how the Romists doe contradict themselues on the one side they say they worship not Images And on the other parte in their generall Councels they commaund them to be worshipped Answerable to this Doctrine of the Councell doe they sing in their hymne O Crux aue spes vnica hoc passionis tempore auge pijs Iustitiam reisque dona veniam That is to say O Crosse onely hope in this time of passion increase righteousnesse in the Godly and graunt pardon to offenders Also in shewing the Crosse they say Ecce lignum Crucis venite adoremus That is Behold here the wood of the Crosse Come and let vs worship it Also Crucem tuam adoramus domine Thy Crosse doe we worship O Lord. Thomas Aquinus in his Brieffes or partes speaking of Adoration saith That the Crosse ought to be worshipped with the same Gods honour as God himselfe And so they doe and vppon good fryday chiefly prostrate on the ground doe they adore the Crosse and offer giftes vnto it which adoration say they Saint Gregorie ordeyned But how can this be truth which they say of Saint Gregorie when the sayd Gregorie writing to Seremus Bishop of Marsella who had caused Images to be pulled downe broken and burned vseth these wordes hadst thou forbidden to worship the Images we should haue praysed thee And a little lower Which were placed in the Temple not to be worshipped but for instruction onely of the simple See here how vntrue it is that they say Saint Gregorie instituted the adoration of the Crosse True it is he saith that Images were the bookes of the simple and ignorant people But let him pardon vs if in this we dissent from him to yeeld vnto that which the word of God doth teach vs. Habakuk saith what profiteth the Image for the maker thereof hath made it an Image and a teacher of lies though he that made it trust therein when he maketh dumbe Idolls woe vnto him that saith to the wood awake and to the dumbe stone arise it shall teach
woundes they drewe it tied by the heeles to the streete of Saint Iohn de lateran and there left it to the dogs c. Quien tal haze qÌ„ talpague Such deed saith the spanish prouerb such paiment Benedict 6. or 7. succeeded him and then reigned in Spaine Bermudo 3. Such were the deedes of Pope Iohn or 15. that he was abhorred of the Clergie and people of Rome He gaue without discretion all to his kindred which error say Platina and Estella we see vnto our time continueth He died in the 995 yeere at what time Don Bermudo 3. reigned in Spaine Iohn 17. succeeded Iohn 16. and the same yeere after he had bene pope only 4. monethes died Gregorie 5. being an Alman by authoritie of the Emperour Otho 3. was made Pope But when the Emperour was returned into Almaine the Clergie and people of Rome deposing Gregorie made Iohn 18. or 17. Pope Gregorie retired to the Emperour who offended with the Romans came against them and tooke Rome he tooke also Pope Iohn pulled out his eies so the Pope which with his store of mony had corrupted the Romans to make him pope died Mantuan 3. Calamitatum lib. thus speaketh Pernicies mercantur equos Venalia Romae Templa sacerdotes altaria sacra Coronae Ignes thura preces coelum est venale deusque As much to say as all things are sold at Rome be they holy or profane and euen God himself Platina calleth this Iohn a thiefe who dying as afore is said Gregorie returned to be Pope he appointed that thenceforth the Princes of Germanie namely the 3 Archbishops of Maguntia Treuir and Cullen the Countie Palatine of Rhine the duke of Saxonie the Marques of Brandenburg and the king of Boheme who then also was not king should choose the Emperour and so the Empire was translated into Germany In the 998 or after some 997 yeere Pope Gregory died And some count not Iohn 18. for Pope Syluester 2. euen froÌ„ his youth gaue himselfe to inchaÌ„tments witcherie who vnderstanding that in Seuill dwelled a Moore and great maister in that Arte with the great desire he had to be perfect also therin himselfe he left France his natiue countrie went to Seuil and there abode with the Moore And now seing himselfe skilfull he returned into Fraunce carrieng with him a booke wonderfull in that arte which by the meanes of the Moores daughter with whome Syluester had abused himselfe he stole from his Maister This Syluester the better to effect his Inchantments made a couenant with the deuill offering him his body and Soule conditionally that the diuell should helpe him to attaine to great dignities returned into Fraunce with greate applause taught he the liberal Artes notable disciples he had by whose meanes he was made bishop of Remes and afterwards by wicked artes Archbishop of Rauenna In the end by the aide of the deuill in the 999. yeere he came to be Pope who listeth to know his holy life let him read Platina Sabel En. 9 lib. 2. Volat. lib. 22. Berg. lib. 12. Fascic Temp. Pet. Premostrat and Benon And particularly Frier Iohn de Pineda par 3. lib. 19. cap. 15. ¶ 5. 6 a very late writer and he shal see if I speake truely or no. Whiles he was Pope he concealed his arte but in priuate he could not forget his old friendship which he had with the diuel A copper head had he in secret which alwayes gaue him answer of that he demanded of the diuell This Pope vpon a time lusting to know how long he should be Pope demaunded the same of the diuell who doubtfully answering as he wontedly doth told him he should not die vntill he had sayd Masse in Ierusalem This historie reporteth S. Antonino Frier Iohn de Pineda others At this answer the Pope much reioiced neuer purposed to go to the city of Ierusalem It was a custome in Rome that on a certaine day in Lent the Pope should say Masse in the church of the holy Crosse called Ierusalem where Syluester forgetfull of the diuels deceits did celebrate his Masse and was forth with taken with a great feuer The Pope then saith Petrus Premostratensis by the roring of the diuels knowing his end to be come being in these sorrowes he besought them saith Benon to cut off his hands tongue c. Behold here if the Pope can erre Note what maner of vicaredge is that of the Pope seeing many attained it by wicked deuillish arts Learne heere ô Spainards what a thing is the Masse seeing with it the deuill moâ—keth deceiueth as in this Syluester we haue seen Be wise now ye Spainards For long time vpon earth haue the Pope Masse bene your god Nowithstanding that such a one was Syluester 2. one Iulius Roceus Genebrardus Panuinus Illescas the Popes great parasites affirme that he was no Magitian but a most wise Mathematitian c. Speake the truth although it be bitter God to aduance his holy catholike faith hath no need of your lies Don Bermudo 3. at this time raigned in Spaine Iohn Siccus 19. or after some who count not of Iohn 8. being a womaÌ„ nor Iohn 18. being Antipope the 17. by the same means help of the diuel that had his predecessor succeeded Siluester in the Popedome as the disciple of such a maister coÌ„manded that the feast of the soules in Purgatorie the day following the feast of all Saints should be celebrated This Pope affirmed that he hard the grones which the deuils gaue wheÌ„ by vertue of the Masses praiers for the dead the soules snatched at theÌ„ At this time saith Baconthorpius began the name of Cardinal to be had in estimation This Iohn 19. took away the voyce of the Roman people in the election of the Pope saying that the people were to be taught not to be followed and that of greater dignitie is the law which by the holy spirit is gouerned then that of the secular law In the yeere 1003. not hauing fiue moneths bene Pope he died and Don Bermudo 3. then reigned in Spaine Iohn 20. or 18. by wicked Arts was made Pope And it is to be noted as also noteth Cardinal Benon that all the Popes being 18. successiuely from Syluester 2. vntill Gregorie 7. no lesse a villaine then an Inchanter were Inchanters The doctrine of Purgatorie in the time of this Iohn 20. by meanes of false apparitions of wicked spirits which cryed groned shriked complayned of the great torments they endured in Purgatorie saying they were the Soules of such and such and desiring so many Masses and so many trentals to be said for them did grely increase The simple poore people beleeued that which they said to bee truth and drewe the money from their purses wheate from their barnes the wine from their cellars and the waxe from their hiues and offered them for
the truth written and manifested vpon men in the olde and new Testament meete it is as saith Saint Paule that they should beleeue lies The report that the Duke of Ferrara against the will and consent of Sistus had made peace with the Venetians caused the death of Sistus For so highly was he offended thereat that within fiue dayes in the 1484. yeare he died In whose time reigned in Castile Aragon Don Fernando and Dona Isabella Innocent 8. a Genowey before called Iohannes Baptista Cibo when he was Pope conspired against Don Fernando king of Sicill taking part with the Nobles that rebelled against the king But his enterprise not succeeding as he supposed vnable to doe more he made peace with the king with this condition that he should haue his tribute the rebels their pardons but the king performed neither the one nor the other The Pope after this gaue himselfe to pleasure which accustomably bringeth draweth with it vanities delights pastimes pompes rioâ— glutony whoredoms other such vices sins He was of like beautiful fair body wherof he much esteemed as was Paul 2. he was also like vnto Paul 2. in hardnes of vnderstanding not giuen to learning Eight sons so many other daughters he had without mariage as by these verses of Marcellus appeareth Octorecens pueros genuit totidemque puellas Hunc meritò poterit dicere Roma patrem Spurcities gula auaritia atque ignauia deses Hoc octaue iacent quo tegeris tumulo To wit eight sonnes he begot and so many other daughters For this cause with reason might Rome call him father Filthinesse gluttony couetuousnesse and negligent slothfulnes lye ô Octaue in this sepulchre With riches and dignities he shamelesly aduaunced his children He was the first Pope that without any circumstance colour or titles of Nephewes or Neeces as others had accustomed to doe dared publikely to doe this Wicelius notwithstanding doth commend him for his holy life learning and eloquence He was much inclined to lucre and when neither his plenary Indulgences nor his Iubile nor was against the Turke could suffice to fill his hands a new inuention he found to draw out money And this it was hee had found in a wall said he the title of the crosse of Christ Iesus of Nazareth king of the Iewes written in three tongues Hebrewe Greeke and Latine and withall the iron of the speare which pearced the side of Christ Friar Iohn de Pineda lib. 26. cap 3 3. ¶ 1. saith that Baiazet sent him the Iron of the launce c. that he should not permit Zizimus his brother to moue wars in Turky This is he which now I will shewe to haue bene called Geme c. This Geme flying from his brother Baiazet retyred to Rhodes afterwardes was he brought to France then to Pope Innocent 8. and then to Naples in the time of Pope Alexander 6. c. Of this Geme will we make mention in the life of Alexander 6. Behold what great thinges can couetousnesse effect A great drinker he was and in his time all the offices in Rome men might haue and had for money In a certaine place called Polo he condemned for heretiques 8 men 6 women the Lord of that people because they said that none of Peters successors had bene Christs vicar but those only which had imitated the pouertie of Christ In the 1492. yeare died Innocent Don Fernando and Done Isabella then reigning in Spaine Alexander 6. a naturall Spaniard borne at Valencia was so abhominable and shamelesse that his papistes themselues doe openly speake it Panuinus an Augustine Friar vpon his life and not without cause saith filthie thinges of him and albeit he said much euill of him yet left he much vnsaid He saith then that Alexander aided by certaine Cardinals corrupted with blind ambition and auarice a good beginning attained to such great dignitie who afterwardes perceiuing the great vnfaithfulnesse of this vngratfull Pope receiued the Chastisement for selling of their suffrages that their seruice deserued the chiefe of these Cardinals was Ascanius Esforcia who sold it for great giftes and promises which Alexander made and principally that Alexander promised he should be his Chauncellor which office very few yeares he enioyed The rest suffered moreouer great misery and calamities some liued in banishment others were imprisoned others violently murthered And that moreouer which of him writeth the forenamed Panuinus among other things he saith Some fathers there were in that election which prophesied and were not false Prophets that a Spaniard was foolishly chosen who was a man that would smother wickednes a great dissembler and one that in the end would be a totall reine to all c. The olde Spanish prouerb in these miserable Cardinals is verified Plaze la traycion mas no eltraydor The treason pleaseth but not the Traytor Ieronymus Marius in his Eusebius speaking of this Pope saith who can reckon the foule neuer heard of deeds of Alexander 6. He made a couenant with the deuils He gaue deliuered himself wholly vnto them So that by their meanes and artes he might attaine to the Popedome which when the diuels had promised and performed so holily Alexander ordered his life that he neuer attempted to doe any thing but first he consulted thereof with the diuell In the 1500. yeare he graunted the Iubile not to such onely as should come to Rome but also to those that would not or could not come thither prouided that they gaue a certaine summe of money Pope Boniface 8. in the 1300. yeare graunted the Iubile from 100 yeares to 100 yeares Pope Clement 6. in the 1350 yeare graunted it from 50 yeares to 50. yeares Pope Sistus 4. in the 1475. yeare graunted the fame from 25 yeares to 25 yeares But it benefited him nothing if he came not personally to Rome Our Alexander moued with that spirit that made him Pope did grant it not to those onely which should come to Rome but to those also that abode at home conditionally to giue money as before we haue said And seeing we now intreat of the Iubile it shal be good to recite here the ceremony which is vsed in Rome Among many other Churches which are in Rome seuen principall there are where pardons are obteyned euery one of these seuen Churches hath one gate or wall at the least fast closed so that none can goe in nor out thereby but in the yeare of Iubâ—le The Pope set in a chaire borne on mens shoulders and clothed with red goeth to S. Peters the principall Church there And being brought to this shut gate saith the 9. verse of Psal 24. Atollite portas principes vestras ' c. Lift vp your heads ye gates c. this saying with a golden hammer which he holdeth in his hand he giueth a blow at the blow giuing in a moment the earth bricke morter which
that of the ruyne of the Romane Empire the Pope who is Antichrist by little and little hath erected his kingdome All this to one man cannot be applyed but to an estate and condition of men Antichrist is a Greeke word as much to say as contrary to Christ See wee then some thinges wherein the Pope doth oppose himselfe to Christ The people sought to make Christ a king but Christ would not For his kingdome he saiâ—h is not of this world The Pope without demaunding or seeking it of the people hath made himselfe vniuersall king ouer all the kings of this world and so at his fantasie doth place and displace them The second opposition Christ being God humbled himselfe and to saue vs became man reconcyling vs with the father The Pope being a man maketh himselfe God saying that in hell he hath authoritie and power casting into it whom soeuer he will and also drawing out from thence If he please as did Pope S. Gregorie say they drawe the soule of the Emperour Traian who was an Infidel persecutor of the Church Authoritie hee hath in purgatorie drawing soules from thence as say they hee doth dayly Hee hath authoritie in earth binding and loosing whomsoeuer hee will He hath authoritie also in heauen placing therein whom hee will commaunding the Angels to carrie the Soule of whomsoeuer he shall please without passing the paynes of purgatorie as by the bull which Pope Clement the sâ—xt graunted to such as comming to Rome to obteyne the Iubile should die by the way doth appeare All this saith the Pope that hee can doe And so also saith his Parasites Yet all is but lies to condemne and carry vs with him to the house of his Father the diuell The third opposition Christ doth commaund vs to search the scripture and giueth a reason for by them shall we know him The Pope vnder most greiuous payne commaundeth vs not to reade them nor looke vppon them least that wee knowing Christ by reading of the Scriptures may also know him to bee Antichrist And to busie vs with some thing hee commaundâ— vs to reade lying Legends he commaunds vs to pray the Rosarie which Alanus with so great falsehood and impietie as we haue said in the life of Sistus 4. renewed So many Paternosters and so many Aue Maries before a câ—â—â—â—fixe before the Image of the virgin Mary or of this or that other he or she Saints he commaunds vs to pray To a certaine great Lady called Isabell graunted Pope Leo pardon of all her sinnes if kneeling in her owne lodging before the Image of any he or she Saint she should say fiue Paternosters and fiue Aue Maries Behold what agreement is there betweene the Aue Marta and the Crucifixe or the Paternoster and the virgin Mary What maner of prayer is this when he that prayeth neither knoweth nor vnderstandeth what he prayeth Oh blindnesse Oh ignorance The fourth opposiâ—ion Christ calleth vnto him all those that trauell and be afflicted in conscience that he may refresh them The Pope commands vs to goe to the virgin Marie and to hee and she Saints What other thing is this but to leaue the fountaine of liuing water as saith Ieremias and to dig pooles that can hold no water Between Christ and the Pope are there many other opposicions yet will we set downe but the last of all that Christ with great triumph is ascended into heauen and there sitteth at the right hand of his father And shamefully the Pope descendeth into hell and to the depth of hell falleth in the company of Iudas whose successor hee is and there by his owne Father the diuell shal be euerlastingly tormented Yee see here that the Pope is an aduersarie and opposeth and lifteth vp himselfe against all that is God or that is worshipped and sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himselfe to bee God By that which the Apostle saith that Antichrist sitteth in the Temple of God hee giueth to vnderstand that Antichrist shall neither bee Turke Moore Iewe nor Pagan but a Christian and that professeth Christian religion The Pope sitteth in Rome a City very ancient in Christian Religion where were so many good Bishops for almost the space of 300 yeares which sealed with their bloud the Doctrine which preached and nowe also in Rome notwithstanding the tyranny of Antichrist hath God his Church as hee had in Sodome where was Lot and his familie That which Saint Paule saith that the comming of Antichrist shal be with great power signes and lying woonders is to be noted and all this shall hee doe by the working of Sathan Here also it appeareth that the diuell worketh his miracles Which confirmeth the Spanish prouerbe Sease milagro y hagalo eldiablo Be it a Miracle and the diuell doth it but all to decâ—iue The mightie power of the Pope who is ignorant of That which Christ of himselfe saith dareth the Pope to say of himselfe Data est mihi omnis potestas all power is giuen vnto mee O blasphemy intollerable As touching his signes and lying wonders the world is full The very papists themselues that haue any vnderstanding are ashamed of them But the simple the Idiots the vulgar sort beleeue and holde them for true miracles and for them rather will die then for the Doctrine of the Prophetes or Apostles or Christ Iesus himselfe whereof they are wholly ignorant Oh ignorant blindnesse and blinde ignorance How many Images haue spoken How many haue sweate and that droppes of bloud The ignorant people beleeueth that the beard haires and nayles of the crucifixe of Burgos doe grow How many miracles say they doe the Images of our Lady of Guadalupe and that of Monsarrate How many Captiâ—es deliuer they How many dead doe they rayse againe How many blind giue they sight vnto c. Either this which they say is vntruth and not therefore to bee beleeued or else verily doe they these miracles if they doe them by the operation of Sathan that the vnbeleeuers â—hich wil not beleeue the truth may beleeue lies as in this selfe same chapter Saint Paule doth aduise vs not to beleeue such miracles as are â—or founded vpon the word of God In the Treatise of the Masse more shal be said concerning miracles Not to make an Image nor any likenesse c. Not to worship or do them reuerence doth God commaund vs. To make Images to worship and doe reuerence vnto them doth the Pope commaund vs that purgatory should be better beleeued O how many mâ—râ—cles howe many dreames visions apparitions haue there bene only one I will recite which is read in the Enchiridion of times composed by Friar Alonso Venero Thus then saith hee fol. 118. In the yeare of our Lord 1164. a certaine holy Hermit before deceased appeared in visioÌ„ to the bishop of LigoniuÌ„ said vnto him there dyed in all parts
without any competency of Antichrist may reigne So be it Amen I haue long dwelled vpon this fourth answere for the matter so required considering that many simple people which not otherwise haue heard nor are able to vnderstand how God who loueth his Church would permit her so long time to be deceiued at the least with such a deceit of idolatrie are in this deceiued And so they and the rest shall see that not to be the truth which our aduersaries hold for for an oracle that the visible Church cannot erre God open their eyes that seeing they may see and hearing they may heare and so conuert and be saued Amen Only God is he which cannot erre but doth euer right But only his sonne Christ Iesus is he which sinned not which erred not neither was there any guile found in his mouth Onely the word of God abideth for euer And as often as the Church be she neuer so populous apparant shall depart from this word of God and shall not hold it for her squire rule and patterne she shall erre And the more she turneth away the more shall she erre But alwayes when she will be gouerned thereby she shall be established and shall neuer erre For the word of God saith Dauid is a lantern vnto our feet and a light vnto our paths The 5. reason wherewith they confirme their Masse is the great miracles which the Masse their consecrate hostes haue done Here will I recken some for to seeke to recken all should bee neuer to end Damascen among other great strange matters which he citeth in the sermon of the dead afterwards will wee speake of these wonders telleth for a great miracle a true fable and old womans tale One Macarius saith he desirous to know the state of the dead spake with the drie scull of one that was dead c. And that the same scull answered him that the soules of the dead are not so greatly tormented whilest the sacrifice of the Masse continueth Herehence our aduersaries conclude the Masse to be holy and good S. Cyprian an Author more ancient and autentike and a martyr of Iesus Christ reporteth a strange miracle which in his presence happened Thus then saith he I my self being present an eye witnes therof It chaÌ„ced that the pareÌ„ts of a yong girle flying making through great feare no reckening of their daughter they left her with the Nurse that brought her vp The Nurse hauing the abandoned childe caried her to the Magistrate gaue vnto this young girle before the idoll whereunto the people flocked a foppe wet in the wine that was left of the sacrifice of them which perished This sop gaue they vnto her for that by reason of her tendeâ— age she could not yet eate flesh the mother after this recouered her child but so much could the infant tell or declare the horrible fact it had committed as it could not before either vnderstand or auoyd it It happened that the mother brought her through ignorance when we were sacrificing as much to say as celebrating the supper of the Lord which in memorie of the sacrifice by the Lord once offered was celebrated but the infant mingled with the Saints vnable to abide our supplication and prayer nowe with shrikes tormented her selfe now with feruour of heart like a waue of the â—ea she cast her selfe to and fro as though a hangman had tormented her And with the tokens and shewes that the ignorant soule of her age and simplicitie might shee confessed the conscience of the deede But when the solemnities ended the Deacon began to present the cuppe to them that were present note the communion in both kindes and the others hauing taken it the turne came to her in the time of Saint Cyprian they also gaue the cup to young children the girle by very instinct of the diuine Maiestie turned away her face shut her mouth and forcing together her lippes refused the cuppe But all this notwithstanding albeit she refused the sacrament of the cuppe yet insisted the deacon and cast it into her mouth Then began she to sigh and vomite The Eucharist could not stay in a body and mouth which were filthy The drinke sanctified in the bloud of the Lord note that he calleth the wine in the supper drinke sanctified in the bloud of the Lord with furie departed from the polluted intralles so great is the power of the Lord so hreat is his maiestie c. Hitherto Saint Cyprian Of this miracle Saint Augustine also in the 23. Epistle maketh mention reciting it there so certaine authours and more Saint Cyprian saith that hee was an eye-witnesse I assuredly beleeue that so it happened But the same will I not say of that recounted by Damâ—scen noâ— of that which now I will declare Albeit reported by Pius the second In the description of Europe cap. 21. Pius the second speaking of Estiria a prouince of Almaine saith these words It is said and is a thing common among theÌ„ of Estiria that there was a certain Gentleman who manie times purposed to hang himselfe which much displeasing hm he went to a certaine learned person to demaund remedie against this temptation The counsell that hee gaue him was this that he should carie his owne priest euery day to say Masse in a solitary rocke where he dwelled The Gentleman obeyed and so continued for a yeere and neuer after came into his memorie this wicked thought Afterwards the Priest craueth of him licence to goe and ayde another Priest his neighbour which dwelled in another mountaintaine neare adioyning to celebrate the feast of the dedicatioÌ„ of the Church The Gentleman was contented that the Priest shuld go purposing in himself to follow speedily heare Masse The Caualleâ—o busied now with one thing then with another stayed long after In the end almost at the middle of the day he departed and in the way encountred a certaine villaine which said vnto him The Masse in the other mountaine is already ended and the people departed The Gentleman sorrowing at this newes and calling himselfe vnluckie for not seeing that day the body of Christ the villaine began to cheare him and said vnto him that he would sell him the merite which he had gotten by hearing of Masse if the other would buy it and demaunded for a price of the Gentleman his coat for know this that among the Papists one selleth his merits to another as if there were some that had done more thereof then hee ought wherewith he might do what he pleased The sale made and passed the knight notwithstanding went vp into the mountaine and made his prayers in the Church And as he returned he found the villaine hanged vpon a tree and neuer afterwards was troubled with wicked temptations Hitherto Pope Pius the second If this were truth who ought not to worship the Masse But either it was a lie or if it so happened it was one of
our cause which is his because it is the vndeceiueable truth which his maiesty in his holy Scripture hath reuealed Concerning the lies false doctrine of the authority of the Pope the holines of the Masse which our aduersaries maintaine persecuting with fire bloud all those that beleeue it not nor worship it therefore trouble they the world as at this day we see it troubled We assuredly know that it shall perish According to that which the Lord saith Euery plant which my heauenly father hath not planted shal be plucked vp by the roote And we haue the axe which is the word of God put to the root of the two trees the Pope the masse to cut them downe I beseech the Lord our God Christian reader which hath giuen thee a desire and will to be informed to know the causes why we subiect not our selues to the Pope nor wil heare his Masse but rather detest and abhor the one the other that he would please to lighten thine vnderstanding that thou maist comprehend what in these two Treatises haue bin said confirmed not with the sayings of men but of God himselfe of his holy Scripture giue thee such a mind and strength that thou maist wholly depart out from this wicked Babylon which is Rome deliuer thee from all the enormities abominations horrible superstitions and detestable idolatries which Rome hath inuented among which the principal is the Masse These idolatries without doubt be the chiefe cause original and fountaine of all miseries calamities and warres where with they that are called Christians be at this day afflicted For if God in the primitiue Church plagued with infirmities death the Corinthians for the abuses which they had brought into the holy supper the Apostle S. Paul yet liuing which he reporteth in his first epistle that he sent them what shal we say this selfe same Lord wil now do when the malice impiety superstition idolatry haue so greatly increased that the holy supper of the Lord which he instituted and commanded vs in remembrance of him to clebrate haue they wholy conuerted into the prophane Masse of the Pope Truly the abuses of the Corinthes as touching the Supper had no agreement by far with the erronious intollerable abuses which those that are called Christians commit at this day in their Masse And notwithstāding all this Saint Paul speaking to the Corinthians saith vnto thē For which cause many ef you are infirmed and weake many sleepe he wold haue sayd are dead We are not then to maruel if God strong iealous of his honour do chasten at this day such an idolatry as is that which in the Masse is committed with such great warres famine pestilence and which is worse and lesse perceiued a reprobate sense And no other mean there is Christian reader to obtaine pardon for these superstitions passed idolatries to get and keepe the grace of God of whom thou oughtest not only to expect all prosperity goodnesse but to endeuour by all possible meanes to serue him honour him applying thy selfe with all thine heart to all that which pleaseth him which is that which his Maiestie hath ordained and instituted in his holy word flying contrariwise all whatsoeuer may displease offend him and especially all kinds of idolatrie which he more detesteth abhorreth then all other sinnes abhominations and as such doth punish it as in the beginning of the first Treatise we haue declared Such is the Masse fly then from it follow the holy institution which Iesus Christ our king prophet and onely high Priest ordained This is the holy Supper as the Euangelists and S. Paul do shew Do this thē which Iesus Christ ordained commanded vs to doe in remembrance of him as by the mercy of God with all simplicity without all superstition or idolatrie is celebrated in our reformed Church and thou shalt walke aright All they that do otherwise erre God giue thee grace to walk aright that thou be not with this world coondemned And this do he for the vertue merit of the sacrifice with our high and only Priest Christ one onely time offered vnto him To whom who liueth and reigneth with the Father and the holy Spirit be euerlasting glorie and perpetuall power Amen A SWARME OF FALSE MIRAcles and Illusions of the diuell wherewith Maria de la visitacion Prioresse de la Anuntiada of Lisbon deceiued very manie and how she was discouered and condemned Anno. 1588. FOr confirmation of that which in these two Treatises so often I haue said that the Papists confirme their religion with false miracles inuēted by their ecclesiasticall persons or wrought by the Art of the diuell I will here set downe a most true historie deliuered in two popish bookes which by the prouidēce of God came to my hands Out of which with all faithfulnesse as he that must appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ giue an account not only of that hee hath done and said but of that also which he hath thought I haue taken that which I will deliuer Hee that will not beleeue me let him reade the two bookes from whence I haue taken that which I say I name the Authours of these bookes the Printers the yeare and place where they were imprinted as a litle after you shall see Our Aduersaries I wot well would haue buried all these thinges for they open a dore to men to seeke to vnderstand and the truth And that they may vnderstand it I haue put it in writing The Lord which knoweth my desire blesse my trauaile Our Aduersaries hauing no sound proofe to confirme their new articles of faith which they haue made as in very truth there is none haue confirmed them with dreames with fained apparitions and visions of Phantasmes of spirits and of soules come as they say from another world Now I hauing met with a new great and thicke swarme of such things which I found in a Portugal hiue me seemed I should do well by a new familiar and domesticall example which be they that most moue and that none can denie seeing it happened in our countrey of Spaine in the yeare 1588 truly to manifest the same that all the world and chiefly my countrimen the Spaniards for whom I haue taken this paine may hasten to know them and knowing them may abhorre them so may turne to the holy catholike faith true religion of Iesus Christ which is written in holy Scripture This hiue is Maria de la Visitacion Prioresse of the Monastery de la Anunciada in Lisbon who was held so certainly for holy whose hypocrisie false miracles were discouered publikely condemned as we shall after see I hearing much talke of the great holinesse admirable life and maruellous miracles of this womā whom for excellency they called The holy Nunne aduised my countrimen the Spaniards in a booke which I published in the
of our Saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. No other willeth God for all his benefites but that we be thankfull and call vpon his name Thus shall the number of those whom God hath elected to life eternall encrease and so the kingdome of sinne death the diuell which is the kingdome of lies of false new doctrine confirmed with dreames false miracles and illusions of the diuell shal be destroied and that of grace life and of Christ which is the kingdome of truth the true and old doctrin confirmed with the word of God shal abide for euer To whom which is one God Father Sonne and holy Spirit who liueth and raigneth be perpetuall honâ—â— and glory Amen An Addition I In the moneth of Aprill 1588. Philip the second of that name king of Spaine pretending to send his inuincible fleet for the Conquest of England made choise by the aduise of the Prioresse of the monastery of the Anunciada whose name was Mary of the Visitacion as most worthie for her holinesse to blesse his Standard royall the which she did with vsing diuers other câ—remonies in the deliuery thereof to the Duke of Medina Sedonia who was appointed chiefe Generall she did pronounce openlie good successe and victory to the Duke in saying he should return a victorious Prince This standard was carried in procession by Don Francisco de Cordoua who was a Spaniard the tallest Gentl. that could be found he being on horse backe to the end it might be the better seen at the solemnzing wherof there was such a number of people assembled that diuers of them perished with the throng There was present the Archduke Albertus which then was Cardinall and Gouernor of the kingdom of Portugal the Popes Nuncio the Archbishop who was head inquisitor with diuers other Nobles Prelates Gentlemen This solemnization dured so long that Albertus fainted with fasting and this holy Nunne to comfort him caused a messe of the broth which was for her owne diet to be brought presenting it to him which he accepted most willingly coÌ„ming from the handes of so holy a Nun as then she was holden to be but about the beginning of DeceÌ„ber next after all her holines false miracles and great dissimulations was then found out and she condemned punished for the same according as is râ—bersed in this booke About the end of this yeare 1588 that this holy Nun was discouered in Lisbon there was also discouered in Seuil one father â—yon who was counted to be a most deuour and religious man but by his owne fellowes of his profession he was discouered to be a great hypocrite and a most vicious 〈◊〉 giuen to carnall lustes and for this and diuers other causes he was committed to the prison which is in the Cardinals house of 〈◊〉 A Table wherein by certaine Antitheses is declared the difference and contrarietie which is betweene the ancient doctrine of God contained in the holy scripture and taught in the reformed Churches and the new doctrine of men â—aught and maintained in the Roman or Popish Church Ierem. 6. 16. Thus saith the Lord stand in the wayes and behold and aske for the old way which is the good way and walke therein ye shall find rest for your soules THe ancient doctrine of God doth teach that the holy Scripture being the word of God diuinely inspired hath most sufficient authority of it selfe containeth all necessary doctrin to pietie and our saluation as S. Paul clearly teacheth 2. Tim. 3. 15. 16. 17. The new doctrin of meâ— teacheth that the holy Scripture although it be the word of God should haue no authority were it not for the approbation of the Church and that it is an vnperfect and maimed doctrine which containeth not doctrine sufficient to pietie nor our saluation but that this defect must be supplied by vnwritteÌ„ traditions Belar de verb. Deâ— noÌ„ scrip l. 4. The ancient doctrin of God doth teach that ignorance of the holy scriptures is the cause and mother of errors as Iesus Christ our Lord doth witnesse Mat 22. 19. saying to the Sadduces Ye erre because yee know not the Scriptures nor the power of God and therefore the duty of euerie faithfull Christian is to reade meditate and search the holy scripture as God commandeth his people Deut. 6. 7. chap. 12. 32. chap. 17. 19. Iosua 18. Esa 8. 20. And Christ our Lord in the new Testament Ioh. 5. 39. And as did the faithfull in the time of the Apostles Act 17. 11. 2 Tim. 3. 15. The new doctrin of men doth teach that ignorance is the mother of deuotion and that to keepe religion safe it is needful to forbid the lay or secular men the reading of the holy scriptures seeing it is the cause of many heresies Bellarm. de verbo Dei lib. 2 cap. 15 16. cens col f. 19. The ancient doctrin of God doth teach that many deceiuers and false Prophets are gone out into the world and that the faithfull therfore are to proue the spirits whether they be of God 1. Io. 4. 1. And that the holy scripture is the touch whereby this proofe and examination ought to be made Ioh. 5. 39. Act 17. 11. So that all doctrine contrary and repugnant to holy Scripture be it of Councels Fathers Doctors old or new and that as saith the Apostle of himselfe or of an Angel from heauen ought not to be receiued nor taught in the Christian Church Gal. 1. 8. 1. Tim. 1. 3. chap. 6. 3. 1. Pet. 4. 11. 2. Ioh. 10. The new doctrin of men doth teach that whosoeuer coÌ„tradict the Pope his decrees human traditions be false teachers that the Pope hath authority to iudge of all controuersies and of the true sense of holy Scriptures and that from his iudgment it is not lawfull to appeale Bellar. de verbo Dâ—â— interp lib. 3. cap. 3. c. The ancient doctrine of God doth teach that we ought to serue God alone which is the Creator and gouernour of all the world following the doctrin of Christ which saith Matt. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God him only shalt thou serue The new doctrine of men doth teach that we ought not to serue God alone but also the Saints that they hold them for patrons of kingdoms people cities societies and infirmities Bellarm. de Sanct. beat lib. 1. cap 12. Cens Col. fol. 230. The ancient doctrine of God doth teach that the lawful worship of God is to be founded vpon the holy Scripture that God will be serued according to his will and word in spirit and truth Ioh. 4. 24. and not after the opinion nor by the traditions nor customes of men as God by his prophet Eze. 20. 18. doth very expresly teach vs saying Walk not in the ordinances of your fathers nor obserue their lawes nor defile your selues with their idols I am the Lord your God Walke in mine ordinances and
yeeres which Boniface 8. did institute from a hundred to a hundred yeares And Clement 6. from 50 to 50. and this by perswasion of his kindred which gaped for gaine by him He inuented many offices of Scribes Solicitors Breuiaries and Apostolike Notaries which he sold for good mony if that may be called good which is euilly gotten He cursed Laurencio de Medices a Florentine because he hanged Raphael the same Popes Nephew he grieuously afflicted the Florentines and was a great defender of the Roman seat The forenamed Volateranus lib. 5. Geograph reporteth a fearful impiety of this Sistus 4. committed by his command at the eleuation of the sacrament which when we speak of the Masse we will afterwards declare Leander Tritenius reporteth that in the 1470. yeare one Alanus de Rupa a Dominick moued with certaine visions renewed the Rosary as they cal it of our Ladie which the Gospel of Iesus Christ cast aside he preached And that this Rosarie should the more be esteemed and of the common people adored Iacobus Esprengerus Prouinciall in Germanie did extoll it to the heauens with false miracles and illusions of the diuell And finally Sistus 4. approued and confirmed it of which a book was made in the beginning whereof it is said that the blessed Virgin Marie on a time entered into the shut cell of the said Alanus who taking of her haire made a little ring where with she was married to Friar Alanus that she kissed him and caused him to handle her teates and dugges and lastly was so familiar with Alanus as the wife wontedly is with her husband At such blasphemous dishonesties and such dishonest blasphemies who can haue patience Surely I am ashamed to write them but it is needefull to discouer their villanies and shame that Spaine and all the world may hasten to knowe them And for asmuch as this foolish and superstitious deuotion of praying ouer the Rosarie is one of the most principall of the papacie I will here briefely set downe what the Papists themselues report of it The Dominican Breuiarie at Lyons in Fraunce printed in the 1578. yere saith that in the 1200. yeere Saint Dominicke did inuent and preach it and that when so holy a deuotion was put in obliuion the glorious Virgin did determine to renew it and so in the 1460. yere she appeared Tritenio saith 1470. to Frieâ— Alanus and commanded him that he in her name should publish to all Christians this so needfull maner of praying promising him to confirme this deuotion with signes and miracles c. It saith also that in the 1466. yeare the blessed Virgin the more to inflame the hearts of all men with this deuotion appeared to the Priot of the Couent of S. Dominicke at Colonia commanding him to preach it to the people and tell them that verie many and great mercies wold the Lord shew to all those that should offer this Psalter deuoutly vnto her c. It saith also that Sistus the fourth did confirme it granting many indulgences to them that should pray it the which many other chiefe Bishops did also confirme It saith that in the 1572. yeare Gregorie 13. commanded that the feast of the Rosarie should be celebrated the first Sunday in October There is a Spanish booke printed at Bilboe by Mathew Mares in the 1583. yeare which at large recounteth this historie of the Rosarie or Psalter or Crowne of our Ladie fol. 185. it saith that Pope Clement 4. Iohn 22. and Sistus the fourth graunted 78 yeeres of pardon for euery time that they prayed ouer this Psalter Innocent the eight graunted also plenarie indulgence c. Also Leo the tenth confirming all the pardons graunted by the other Popes to those that should pray it c. granted newly ten yeares and ten times fortie dayes pardon for euery entire Rosarie c. Also Pope Alexander 6. graunted to whomsoeuer should pray this Crowne full remission and on the Fridayes doubled and how oft soeuer on good Friday he should pray it so many soules out of Purgatorie Also fol. 187. it saith Pope Paule 3. at the instance of the most reuerend Cardinall Don Friar Iohn of Toledo Archbishop of Saint Iames granted to all them that should pray the Rosarie fifty and six thousand yeares and for euery time plenarie Indulgence Thus far this booke And in two words to speak all our aduersaries neuer cease to count the great vertues of the Rosarie with many miracles confirmed Behold how much hath the superstition of praying by count the Paternoster and Aue Maries crept in whose first Inuenter was Petrus Hermitanus without the word of God and without any example of Saint of the old or new Testament Behold whether the ignorant papists haue great occasion to esteeme their Rosarie inuented with false miracles and illusions of the diuell and renewed by the meanes of Friar Alanus and what Alanus The husband of the virgin Mary preached by Iames the prouincicall and confirmed by Sistus 4. the holy father of Rome All these strange wonders blasphemies and impieties haue I reckoned that our aduersaries may be ashamed seeing there be some that vnderstand them and so may turne to the Lord who onely is he that pardoneth sinnes and graciously this for his sonne Christs sake In the 1477. yeare Sistus 4. did institute the Inquisition of Spaine the first Inquisitors generall was Friar Thomas of Torquemada Pryor Dominican of Segouia who so list to know more concerning the Inquisition let him read the life of Alexander 6. which we wil afterwards recount Albeit such as we haue heard was this Sistus 4. yet doe our aduersaries much esteeme him And so Felix Pireto when he was Pope called himselfe Sistus 5. Onuphrius Panuinus an Augustine Friar and the Popes great parasite reporteth that the mother of this Sistus 4. being with child of him she sawe in a dreame that Saint Frauncis and Saint Anthony gaue to this her son the habite and cord of their order The mother for this dreame called him Frauncis at his Baptisme Proceeding in his fable he saith that on a certaine day as the nurse washt him in a bath the Infant swounded and that she carried him almost dead to his mother And that the mother seeing her sonne in that plight and remembring her dreame promised and vowed that her sonne for sixe moneths space should weare the habite of Saint Frauncis after which time they tooke from him the habite which taking away the child beeing now but one yeare old became estsoones infirmed and much more greuously then before But the mother renewed her vowe and then was he cured who at the age of nine yeares was made Friar in a monstearie of Saint Frauncis Thus farre Panuinus see here vpon what is the popish religion founded vppon dreames illusions of the diuell false miracles and lyes God by his iust iudgement doth blinde them and leaue them to fall into a reprobate minde And because they beleeue not