support and maintaine him A curse then was pronounced in this Councell not against Iohn of Constantinople but generally against whomsoeuer should take vpon him the title of vniuersall Bishop The Doctors which at this time liued and chiefly Saint Gregory do witnesse the same Let them read his epistles of the first booke the 76. 78. 80. 85. and of the second booke the 188. and 194. In none of these epistles saith S. Gregorie that the said Iohn wronged S. Peter nor withheld nor yet vsurped the right and title of the Bishops of Rome but protesteth that it is title profane sacrilegious and the forerunner of Antichrist And in the 4. booke and 48. chap. of the Register the same Saint Gregorie doubteth not to pronounce him that suffereth himselfe to be called vniuersal and chiefe Bishop to be the forerunner of Antichrist Reade for this purpose the same Saint Gregorie lib. 4. Epist 76. 78. 30. lib. 7. and 69. epist And in the 35. epist which he wrote to Iohn Bishop of Constantinople who vsurped this title he saith All that was prophesied is fulfilled the king of pride namely Antichrist is neere at hand and that which is abhomination to speake an host of Priests make preparatiō for him And in an epistle which he wrote to Mauricius the Emperour hee saith And I say boldly that whosoeuer is called vniuersall Priest either in his pride desireth so to be called or is the forerunner of Antichrist for that in waxing proud he preferreth himselfe to the rest and with incomparable pride walketh in the way of error For as that peruerse man wil aboue al men be holden for God so neither more nor lesse is he be he what he will that seeketh to be called Priest ouer the other priests c. About the 1240. yeare Edward Archibishop of Salisburg speaking in the Councell holden at Ratisbon to represse the insolencie and tyranny of the Popes said these words we might haue perceiued had we not bene blind vnder the title of chiefe Bishop a most cruell wolfe in shepheards clothing The Roman bishops daring deceiuing and sowing the warres of warres drawe weapons against all Christians And becomming great they kill the sheepe cast peace and concord out of the world draw from hel ciuil wars and domesticall seditions more more weaken the strengths of all men to triumph ouer all men to deliuer vp all men and to put all men in bondage and captiuitie It is now saith he 170 yeares since Hildebrand he was called Gregorie 7. vnder colour of religion laid the foundations of the Empire of Antichrist he was the first that began this abominable warres which his successors vntil this day haue cōtinued And then the chiefe Bishops of Babylon desire to reigne they cānnot endure an equal Beleeue me that haue made experiēce cease they will not vntil hauing suppressed the Emperor defaced the maiesty of the Roman Empire oppressed the true Pastors they destroy by the same way all whatsoeuer remaineth they put al vnder their feet they sit in the temple of God lift vp thēselues aboue all that is worshipped He which is seruant of seruāts desireth as if he were God to be Lord of Lords In his breast tosseth he new Coūcels to establish a proper empire lawes he chāgeth and establisheth his owne This man of perdition whom they wontedly call Antichrist in whose forehead is written the name of blasphemy I am God I cānot erre polluteth robbeth spoyleth and killeth He is set in the temple of God making himselfe Lord of all And that moreouer which ye may reade in the 7. booke of the Annales of Auentino fol. 685. If such were the Popes 357. yeares since when malice was not yet come to the height what maner of men shall the Popes of our times be Surelie much worse for in nothing do euill men profite but in doing more euill Arnulphus Bishop of Orleans openlie in the Councell at Remes holden more then 560. yeares since called the Pope Antichrist Saint Bernard who liued in the 1150. yeare in his second third and fourth books of Considerations called the Pope Antichrist The Abbot Ioachin Calabres who liued 350 yeeres since called the Pope Antichrist About the 1101. yeare liued Bishop Fluencius that called the Pope Antichrist About the 1245. yeare liued Nicholas Gallus who seeing the deformitie of the Church wrote a booke against the Popes intituled Ignea sagitta a fiery arrow Marsilius a learned man wrote more then 200. yeares since against the Pope and his lawes At the same time almost liued Michael Cesenas Generall of the Minoritts who openly called the Pope Antichrist Aboue 200. yeres past Iohn Wicliffe wrote and preached against the Pope and reformed many popish abuses in England The same did after wardes Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage in Bohemia Francisco Petrarca an Italyan borne in the 1304 yere and in the 1374. yere dyed very truly wrote against the Pope and his court Read this 20. Epistle wherein he calleth the court Papall Babylon Babilonish strūper which is set vpon many waters Mother of all Idolatries and whoredomes Read his 92. which beginneth Del ' Empia Babilonia c. which word for word thus soundeth in English From wicked Babylon whence all shame is fled where no goodnesse remaineth Harbour of sorrowe mother of errours to prolong life am I fled Item the 106. Sonet which beginneth Fiamma d'oal ciel c. The flame of heauen vpon thy hayres or curled lockes O caytife which from the fountaine and wallet to wit from drinking of water and poorely feeding by impouerishing others art become rich and great Sith so much thou reioycest in doing euill Neast of treasons wherein what mischiefes are now spread through the world be hatched Seruant of wine bed and belly cheere in whome whoredome hath made her last proofe For thy Chamberlaines young and olde goe playing the wantons and Baelzabub in the middest with bellowes fire and looking glasses In the fether at the shadowe wast thou not brought but naked to the winde vnshod among the bushes c. Such now is thy life that the stinke is gone vp vnto God Also in the 107. Sonet which beginneth L'auara Babylonia c. Couetous Babylon so full hath heaped the sacke of the wrath of God and of wicked and peruerse vices that it bursteht and not Iupiter nor Pallas but Bacchus and Venus hath made her gods Expecting reason doth torment and consume me c. And foure verses further Her Idolles shall be holden for earth c. Also the 108. Sonnet which beginneth Fontana di dolore c. Fountain of griefe harbor of wrath schoole of errors and Temple of heresie Rome in elder time now false and peruerse Babylon for whom I so much weepe sigh O shop of deceit ô prison of wrath where goodnesse dyeth and euill is maintained and nourished hell of the liuing great wonder
then lighting from his horse led the horse of the Pope and held his left stirrope for the Pope to alight The Pope derided the Emperour because he held not the right stirrop with this dirision was the Emperour somewhat angrie and smilingly answering him said That he neuer had bin horse boie The daie following came the Pope to the Campe of the Emperour who corrected with his former reproofe by holding the right stirrope better perfourmed his office This done the Emperour would be crowned but the Pope wold not crowne him till he had cast from Pulla Willam king of Sicilia and this at the proper charge of the Emperour The Popes resolution vnderstood the princes answered that a greater Campe was needefull that then he should crowne the Emperour who wold returne with a greater host and performe that which he commaunded and so was he crowned the daie following when the Emperour was departed the Pope seeing himselfe destitute of his assistance excomunicated the king of Sicilia and absolued all his vassals of their oath and allegeance but seing this nothing preuailed he incited against William Manuel Emperor of Grecia William seeing himselfe so greatly straighted demaunded peace promising to make full restitution but by the counsaile of some Cardinalls which gained by the warres the Pope would not grant it William seeing the cause to be desperat leuied a great armie wherwith he put to flight the Emperour he besieged Beneuente where was the Pope with his Cardinals and put them to such a straite that they craued peace which William graunted and so the Pope declared him king of both Sicils At this time commaunded the German Emperour that if the Pope sent his Legats into Almaine they should not be receiued but commanded to returne The Emperor also cōmanded that none shold appeale to Rome in letters placed his owne name before the name of the Pope wherwith the Pope was highly offended as by a letter which he sent cōplaining of these things which the Emperor had cōmanded appeareth Whereunto the Emperor very Christian-like among other things answered saying that Iesus Christ cōmāded to giue vnto Caesar that which was Caesars that the Pope being his vicar should do the like He shewed the cause why his Cardinals were not admitted for that they were saith he not preachers but robbers but when they performe their duty office then will we not let to ayd them D. Illescas in his hist Pontif. vpon the life of this Adrian 4. setteth downe the letter of the Pope but craftie as he was he set not downe the answer of the Emperor recited by Nauclerus In the end he excommunicated the Emperor but no further could the Pope shew his malice for that he swallowed a flie and in the 1159 yeare thereof died This Pope granted the Henrie 2. king of England the seignory of Ireland In this yere 1159. died Don Alonso 7. who reigned 51 yere in Castile Alexander 3. was made pope with great sedition for 9 Cardinals which tooke part with the Emperour made the Cardinal of S. Clement whō they called Victor 4. Pope Victor being dead in his place was chosen Pascal then Calistus and afterwards Innocentius All these one after another opposed themselues to Alexander This was a much greater Sisme then the 27 was The last which was Innocent vnwillingly renounced All the time that Alexāder was Pope which was 22 yeres indured this sisme Frederick the Emperor in the time of this Sisme held a Diet in Pauia where he cōmanded that Alexander the Pope his aduersary should appeare that the cause might be examined and he Pope alone which had most right to be Pope Alexander scorning the messēgers of the Emperor proudly answered The Bishop of Rome ought not to be iudged of any thē wrote his letters to the christian Princes excōmunicated the Emperor Victor the Pope To the Cardinal his vicegerent in Rome sent he great presents to gaine the good wils of the Romans that they might chuse such Consuls as shold take part with him To him Philip king of France gaue great assistance The Emperour seing the obstinacy of Alex. leuied a great host came into Italy whē the Emperor was come to Brixia Harmā Bish of that citie who had bin Secretary to the Emperour perswaded him that by the coūsel of Alex. whō he feared to passe with this gret host into the holy land there make war with the Turke The Emp. moued with this exhortatiō of Hermā supposing al waters were cleare and that there was no deceit departed to make warres with the Turkes of whom he had many victories and gained many cities and among them the citie of Ierusalem Aelexander hearing of such and so great victories beganne newly to feare lest the Emperour at his returne into Italie would newly assaile him To preuent so great a mischiefe by all possible meanes he practised to destroy and cause him to be killed Then sent he for a painter which should picture the liuely purtrait of the Emperour which picture or purtraite the Pope sent to the Souldan aduising him by his letters that if he coueted to liue in peace he should kill him by deceit whom that picture represented The Souldan taking the counsell of this diuellish Pope sought all wayes possible to kill him and vnable by force of armes by fraud and subtiltie The Emperour and his campe then marching in Armenia and the season being verie hot he resolued to go bathe in the riuer and none to accompanie him but one of his Chaplaines being thus alone he was taken by such as the Souldan sent to watch him and taken was through the woods and groues carried to the Souldan without the knowledge or suspition of anie of his followers His people on horseback all that day and the next sought him and not finding him it was bruited through the host that the Emperour was drowned And supposing that he was drowned they returned to their owne countries When the Emperour was presented to the Souldan he fained himselfe to be the porter of the Emperour but the Souldan well knowing him by the picture which the good Pope had sent him commanded the purtrait and letters sent by the Pope to be brought forth which in his presence he caused to bee read Then was the Emperour apalled and seeing that his deniall nothing auailed confessed whom he was and craued mercie The Souldan seeing the great goodnesse and wiseof the Emperour with great gentlenesse vsed him and so it happened that he gaue him libertie with this condition that an euerlasting peace should be betweene them and that he should pay an hundred thousand duckets for his ransome for the which his Chaplaine taken with him should remaine vntill it were paide The Couenantes thus beeing made the Soldan dismissed the Emperour and giuing him many presents and prouiding all things necessary for his iourney he caused 34 horsemen to
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
that they are certayne lost persons and without reformation they taught a grosse error which ought in no wise to be suffered That the holy virgin was conceiued without sin He told them also that they should highly houour an Image of the holy virgin which their Fryars had made by a certaine Arte that distilled teares by the eyes as though it had wept All this at first was beleeued that red bloud was adored As the verie bloud of Christ and was sent to great Lordes as an incomparable Treasure Great concourse there was to the weeping Image So well knew the Dominickes to draw water to their mill that they onely were holden for holie and so caried they all the Almes and deuotions of the people And the poore Franciscans were cast aside and no man made reckoning of them The Franciscans then seeing themselues so despised and perceiuing like people as well exercised in false miracles as were the Dominickes and the rest of the popish Clergie the craft and deceit of the Dominickes vsed great diligence to discouer the villany So much did they that at last it was discouered The foure principal Authors of this Tragedy in the one thousand fiue hundred ninth yeare were burned and the rest were pardoned Those deceauers that so shamelesly make a mockery of religion besides these aforesaid confessed in their torments great abhominations As the papists themselues that wrote this Historie doe witnesse wherein the Pope sending His Legate for this purpose put all to scilence For he feared to loose his ecclesiasticall persons which so great seruice with their false miracles haue done and doe vnto him For well vnderstandeth the Pope their superstitions and Idolatries whereof their religion is full to haue bene inuented or at the least confirmed with like deceipts of fayned apparitions reuelations and false miracles Into this reprobate sence God leaueth them to fall for not reading of the holie Scripture which is the onely rule of the well liuing and seruing of God As his maiestie will be serued But returne we now to our holy Nunne who with ful gale vntill now most happily sayled and set as say the Gentiles on the toppe of Fortunes wheele so much as was possible of small and great Aswell in Portugal as else where was esteemed and reuerenced O how often of her was it sayd Blessed is the wombe that bare thee and the pappes that gaue thee sucke Shee nothing wanted in this world to be wholy blessed but that then shee should die O how great a Saint shall hell possesse O how great a Saint hath the Roman Church lost Now that we haue hard the Pro Let vs heare the Contra. From this spouse of Iesus Christ so holie so charitable and so miraculous would the true Iesus Christ not her husband which was the diuell that the Maske of hypocrisie wherewith she was couered should be taken away her abhominations wickednes superstitions Idolatries discouered And so at the end of the admirable yeare 1588. was she condemned as a certaine booke which at the beginning of the yeare following being the 1589. was printed at Seuil doth witnes from whence word for word haue I drawne that I will say against other The title thereof is this A Relation of the holinesse and woundes of Mother Mary de la Visitation which was Prioresse de la Annuntiada of Lisbon and that which was declared in the Sentence which was giuen All the booke will I not set downe but the principall points thereof will I take for my purpose Thus then it beginneth Hauing committed the verification of the woundes and holinesse of Marie Prioresse de la Annunciada of the order of Saint Dominick to the most reuerend and illustrious Archbishoppes of Lisbon and Braga the Bishop de la Guardia the Prouincial of Saint Dominiks order the Inquisitors of this Citie of Lisbon and Doctor Paulo Alfonso of his maiesties Councell The sayd Lordes went to the Monastery vppon the said verification and examination by the testimony of many Nunnes of the sayd Monastery which consentingly declared that the holinesse of the Prioresse was fayned and the woundes painted The information ended the sayd Prioresse was brought before them whom they commaunded to sweare vppon the Masse booke and Christ crucified that shee should say the truth of that should be demaunded of her And if shee so sayd that God should helpe her And if not that the diuell should carry her away Frst how sayd she that she had oft times seene the mother of God And how had she the woundes By the oath she had made she answered That at nine or tenne yeares of age shee entred into the Monastery And after she had made profession being seuenteene yeares olde one day as she was praying to her was it reuealed that God would cherish her And that anonother like day when shee was at prayer came the Angels and put a Crowne of thornes vppon her head which wounded her And many dayes after being in prayer Christ crucrufied apeared vnto her and of the beams that issued from his woundes were those which she had imprinted And Christ whom she called husband oftentimes appeared to her and talked with her and holpe her to say ouer the praiers and that she confessed to this confessor that she said Gloria Patri tibi Spiritui sancto The Confessor told her she should no more say so but Gloria Patri Filio Spiritui sancto as saith the holy mother the Church And in a conference which shee had with her husband she told him that which her Confessor had sayd vnto her And the husband answered she should doe what her Confessor had commanded her The foresayd Fathers seeing she sought each way to make her selfe holy and yet all was fayned as the other Nunnes declared vnto them they perswaded her to say the truth of that which had passed seeing all was fictions and so to them it appeared by information which they had taken and that shee should craue mercie and so would they haue compassion vpon her But she persisting that no other truth there was but that which shee had sayd as her husband well knew they left her Another day in the Visitation which they had with her they tooke hard sope and hot water and well washed her hands and wounds And when they began to do it she fained to haue great paine And after a while that they had washed them the sayd wounds were taken from her And when she saw they were taken away she fell to the earth and began to weepe sigh and craue mercie and cast her selfe at the feete of the sayd Lords who willing her to confesse the truth shee was wearied and dead said she and that they should leaue her till another day and she would confesse the truth and so they left her in guard of the Nunnes charging them on paine of excommunication they should for no cause leaue her alone Another day the foresaid Lordes returned to
like fictions of wounds and other miracles to deceiue the simple poore common people But now that the Lord hath giuen so great light of his Gospell a verie hard thing shall it bee to be long time manitained with like opinion of holinesse by and by flyeth away hypocrisie by and by God raiseth vp some to speake and write against it Vnhappy therefore was this Nunne as touching the word that in our time and not in their dayes she liued Had those sayd to haue the wounds bene well examined and with hot water and hard sope washed their hypocrisie no no doubt had bene discouered as well as that of our Marie de la Visitacion Wherein as touching the soule were they more vnhappy then she seeing they died in their hypocrisie wherewith they deceiued many and vntill this day do deceiue with it But our Mary liuing of her hypocrisie conuinced in time it may be will she employ her great wit to better purpose and craue mercie at the hands of God whom so wickedly she hath offended And so his Maiestie giue her grace truly to conuert to the true Christian religion which not with dreams nor false miracles but with the word of God it selfe is confirmed His Maiestie shewe her this grace and mercie Had this miserable creature as did the others died before her hypocrisie had bin discouered cannonized had she bene as they were and for â—o holy had bene holden that hardly in all heauen should her Dominickes haue found place to haue set her Had she bene a Franciscan as she was a Dominicke her Franciscans would haue placed her next to Saint Francis in the most highest place of the Quire of the Seraphins ioyning to the seat of Lucifer where they themselues sayd that their Saint Frauncis is placed Much do I maruell at the Lords which examined the processe of this diuelish creature this truly possessed of the diuell another Magdâ—len de la Cruz. Another such as she whom they called in England The holy Mayd of Kent who in the time of Henry the eight king of England did wonderfull and most false miracles Against whom was made processe and all proued to be false and fained as was that of our Nunne For which she was senâ—enced to death and so was executed That which passeth in the Pontificall kingdom is a thing against all â—ustice that one for speaking as in his conscience hee thinketh and according to that which the word of God in the holy scriptures hath reuealed that he knoweth no other Purgatorie but the only bloud of Christ that he knoweth no other righteousnesse but that which is receiued by faith and that none is to be called vpon but God alone by the onely meane of Iesus Christ c. That he shall die without redemption and with greatest disgrace before the world and that Magdalen and Marie and other such like being cursed blasphemers periured in publike audience possessed of the diuell mockers of Christian religion of God and of Iesus Christ his sonne shall liue True it is that they were condemned yet not to bee burned but to certaine Fâ—iaâ— like peâ—anâ—es and restraints Arise Lord iudge thine owne cause Behold those die that confesse thee and they that blaspheme thee do liue Very much I say do I maruell aâ— these Lords which condemned this cursed Mâ—rie that they should vse these words in their sentence which they giue against her All that which this Nunne hath done is and hath bene fained of 〈◊〉 onely that they should hold her for holie and that she had not dealt with nor inâ—ocated the diuell Surely they speake in this let their Lordships pardoâ—â—e against their owne consciences which told them her miracles to haue bene done by the aâ—â—e of the diuell with whom doubtlesse was she verie familiar and he was her husband conductor and guide For how could she do the miracles she did without the helpe of the diuell and her inuocation vpon him That which she saith that Iesus Christ appeared vnto her now accompanied with hee and she saints and now alone that very familiar he was with her that he hoâ—p her to pray ouer the houres that he was her husband and imprinted the wounds vpon her Let all this be fained of her as all is fained that men should take her for holy and more foolish they that beleeued her and did not remember Magdalen de la Cruz. But what will they say vnto me of the diseased and franticke Nunne which was healed as the Prouinciall in his letter witnesseth That the Prouinciall lyed will they say and that the Nun was not healed I think not so Healed she was by the meane which the Prouinciall reporteth by miracle wrought by the diuell What will they say vnto me of the Lady of qualitie that had the â—anker and was healed as the same Prouinciall doth witnesse and saith that all this was taken by faith and testimonie before a Notarie publike by commandement of the Cardinall What will they say vnto mee of the diseased persoâ— who forâ—aken of the Physitions with drinking of the water wherein was the little 〈◊〉 of the wodden crosse which the Prioresse had giuen to Anna Rodriguez was healed What will they say vnto me of this little 〈◊〉 which set it selfe vpright and of the other also that being cast into the water claue vnto and was ioyned with the first so that of them twaine one faire little crosse was made which moued to great deuotion all those that saw it and this was that which the diuell with this false miracle of the crosse pretended to cause theÌ„ to commit Idolatrie of this also was information taken by commandement of the Legat. Of many other such like things that the Prouinciall faith he could declare what will they say vnto me How could these things and the rest bee done without the art of the diuell without his help and inuocation vpon him I demaund of theÌ„ what was that which the three Moores saw in the Prioresse which were things so great maruellous that the Moores were not able to speake To the Archbishop of Lisbon in the presence of the Prouinciall and many others they confessed that they saw neere to the Prioresse Iesus Christ in humane shape put vpon the crosse throughout all Portugall was this miracle published Will they say vnto mee that it was the true Iesus Christ or that it was the illusion of the diuell that it was Iesus Christ will they not say For in their Sentence they say All whatsoeuer this Nunne hath done to haue bene fained It followeth then that it was the diuell in humane shape that appeared vnto her Saint Paul doth aduise vs 2. Cor. chap. 14. that Satan is wont the better to deceiue to transforme himselfe into an Angell of light But here in the businesse of these three Moores much more bold was Sathaâ— transforming himselfe into Christ crucified and taking his forme vpon him O the great patience of God And the Prouinciall
the laÌ„d of Sauoy A qualified lie of the Iesuites Iohn 8. 44. Ier. 13. 23. Psal 5. 6. 7. Anno 1549. Iulius 3. a blasphemer The Pope giueth the bar to whom he list The Pope saith that fortune is it that maketh the Pope Pope Iulius 3. his blasphemy for swines flesh Terrible blasmy for a peacocke Anno 1555. Marcellus 2. A youth of 12 yeares old Cardinall The Popp permitteth not any to speake his mind freely in the Councell The blasphemy of the Trident Councell The Legends of S. Christopher end Saint George false after Paul 3. It is no Councell except it 〈◊〉 free Poyson Paul 4. an enymâ—e to the Spaards Anno 1555. The vices 〈◊〉 the Roman Church Anno 1557. The taking of S. Quintanes The death of Don Charles the Emperour and of Mary Queene of England Anno 1558. Elizabeth Queene of England England a refuge for strangers Persecution in Seuill Ephes 1. 3. Seuill the first Citie in Spaine where the Gospell in our time was almost clerely preached Rodrigo de Valer. 1. Cor. 1. 18. Actes 2. 13. Matth 21. 23. Iohn 7. 38. The Principall pomtes of Christian religion About the yeare 1545. D. Edigius Anno 1555. Anno 1557. Iulian brought many bookes to Seuill 800. prisoners for the teligion in Seuill The like was done of the house of Doctour Cacalla in Vallodalid D. Vargas D. Egidius D. CoÌ„stantine The persecutioÌ„ of Voll odalid c. D. Cacalla Cap. 7. â—8 Cap. 44. 17. c. The cause of the present calamities The Pope the Councell and Inquisition can not erre 1 Kings 18. 17. Fire in Valladolid A historie of Iohn Fox Imaginary fire in the Church A boy put himselfe in the cowle of a Monke Apoc. 6. 10. Anno 1559. Pius 4. Pope against Pope So did Benedict 3. Pius 2. Martine 5. and Paul 4. The hypocrisie of Pope Pius 4. The Popes esteeme not the Sacraments be case they be Antichrists Anno 1563. Confession was almost the cause of the ruine of the Popedome Confession serueth for a band Pius 5. Psal 97. 7. Pius 5. tooke out of the bookes that which the authors with great truth said against the Pope Anno 1572. Gregorie 13 The crueltie of a father Luke 21. 18. Ioh. 16. 2 Sistus 5 A notable acte of the seigniory of Veniâ— Ephes 1 21. The French K. causeth the Duke of Guise to be slaine A Dominican Friar killeth the French K. Iudith 13. 10. 1. Samuel â—6 4 2. Sam. 1 A Capuchan fryar practised to kill the French king God commandeth the king to read the holy scripture Prouerbes against the Ecclesiastical persons Euill life Whoredome Couetousnesse Hypocrisie â—â—monie Idlenesse the mother of many vices Ier. 51. 6. Psal 147. 9 Iob. 39. 3. Psal 37 25. 1. King 17. 6. Dan. 14. 32. Two Roman Empire The beginning of the Popedome which is the new Empire Boniface 3. The Popedom founded vpon murder Marke 13. 41. Luke 22. 25. The Pope taking occasioÌ„ of the question about Images denyeth obedience to the Emperour Charles the great made Emperour and why The oath which the Emperour maketh to the Pope The 1. oath of the Emperour The 2. oath The Emperour made a chanon and kinght of S. Peter Matth. 16. 16. The 1. Reason Clemens ad Iacobum The 2. Reason Actes 15. The 3. Reason The 4. Reason Gal. 2. 11. The 5. Reason 1. Thes 2. 3. Apoc. 17. 9. The 6. Reason Lib. 2 de concordia Cathol cap. 12. The Councell of Mileuant against the Primacie The deceit of the Pope discouered In those times euery Bishop was called Pope Cursed is the glose that corrupteth the text Anno 600. The Doctors against the primacie Saint Gregory against the primacie A notable discourse made by Edward bishop of Salisburg How the Popes employ themselues All this is fully accomplished The title of the Pope Arnulphus Bernard Ioachin Fluencius Nicholas Gallus Marsilius Cesenas Wickliffe Iohn Hus. Ierom of Prage Petrarcus Dante The Popes foure cardinall vertues auarice heresie sodomy and simonie Bocace Sanazaro The Church of Rome erreth in faith Thomas Rendonio Laurencius Valla. Sauanarola 3. Io. 9. Epistle 162 The Emperors called the general Councels Epistola ad Liberium Epise opum RomanuÌ„ De simplice Prelat In senâ—entiis Episcoprum libro 1. epist 1. Hieronymus in Epist ad Euagrium repetitur in Decreto Graciani Hieron ad Nepotianum Anno. 605. Dan. 11. 36. Three markes wherewith Antichrist shal be marked The Pope is an Apostata in religion Exod. 20. Psal 50. 51. Rom. 10. 14. The Pope abhorreth matrimony by God ordained Rom. 1. 1. Timothy 4. 2. The Councell of 〈◊〉 S. Gregorie permit mariage 1. Cor 7. 2. The Pope an Atheist Boniface 8. The 2. passage 2. Thes 2. 3. Verse 9. What thing is Antichrist Verse 7. Iohn 6. 15. Contrarieties between christ the Pope The first Contrarietic Phil. 2. 6. The 2. Contraritie To this purpose read Damascen in the sermon of the dead The 3 Contrarictie Iohn 5. 39. The 4. Contrarietie Matth. 11. 28. Ieremy 2 1â— The 5. Contrariette The diuell also worketh miracles Matth. 28. 18. Lying wonpers 2. Thes 2. 11. Purgatorie Of 30000. men one only went to heauen 3 to Purgatory and all the rest to hell Luke 16. 27. Matth. 24. 24. Verie subtill was the Pope in forbidding the reading of the holy Scripture The 3. pasâ—age of the holy Scripture The viâ—tory of the Lambe The waters be kindreds c. The 10 kings hauing altered their minds shall persecute the whore The whore is the Pope The Beast is the Romane Empire Gen. 4. 10. Tertullian The woman is he great citie 7. Mountanes Ten Hornes Apoc. 13. 18. Iohn 1. 29. 2. Thes 2. Ierome in prçfat lib. de spiritu sancto in vita Marci Apoc. â— 3. In prooemio Sexti in Glo. Matth. 16. 18. Iohn 10. 4. An answere to the 2 places wherewith the Pope confirmeth his primacie 1. Cor. â— 11. Ioh. 20. 21. Feede my sheepe Iohn 21. 16. Marke 16. 15. Iohn 20. 22. â—0 Sismes In Cronico pontifiâ—um 4 popes at once 3 Popes â—t once in Rome Sergius 2. and Benedict 9. were each of them thrise Pope Great vacatioÌ„s Matâ—h 28. 18. Extrauag de maiori obedient ca 2 â—an 2. 21. lib 7. Decretal dâ—senten re indicata Extrauag 〈◊〉 Cathol 〈◊〉 Clement in Clement pastoralie Item in rescripto This writing is kept in viena del Dolfinado Et in Extrauag eadem Decisiones Rote Baldu Franciâ—cus de Ripa Phillippus Decius Hostienâ—is Carolus de Ruino Iohannes de Anauias c. Dist 40. cap. â— Papa Ths Pope after the Romists is more mercrfull then Christ why Ca. Non nos Dist 41. 2. Thes 2. 4. Iohn 5. 39. Esay 31. 7. A briefe of the CoÌ„tents of this 2. Treatise Masse There is no thing necessary for our saluatioÌ„ which the scripture declareth not Actes 20. 20. It is not yet knowne where of the Masse is deriued what the Masse is 8 reasons wherwith they confirme
the most holy Sacrament stood for the great altar was occupied with the Sepulchre or monument that was made vpon it In the meane while he saw the litle casket open and a consecrate host to issue thereout which most deuoutly she receiued c. And Pag. 19. She told me that for 7. yeares euery Thursday at the Auc Marie houre she hath felt in her head all the paines of the crowne of thornes insomuch that the bloud issueth forth and she hath in her head some small prickes and holes of the sayd thornes the paines endure vntill Fryday at the same houre She had at a certaine time a great desire as very often she hath to communicate at which time shee saw in spirit S. Iohn Euangelist celebrate The Masse being ended a consecrate host came from the Altar She then returning to her selfe for she was rapt or rauished in spirit shee found that shee had the said host in her mouth c. All this which I haue written saith Friar Lewes de Granada she her selfe told me and I should write much more if I would recken all the maruellous thinges which our Lord worketh in this blessed soule c. The third Letter is from the same Prouinciall Friar Antonio de la Cerda sent to Friar Ferdiando de Castro Proctor in Rome for the prouince of Portugall The date is at Lisbon the 30. of March 1585. Thus it sayth Since your departure from this city it hath pleased our Lord from day to day more manifestly to declare how highly he esteemeth la Anunciada For infinit be the miracles as well corporall as spirituall which by her means he hath wrought in these parts which hath bene the cause that very many Gentlemen haue bene moued to become Fryars to whom with my hands I haue giuen the habite The fame of which miracles hath so far streched that it is come to the Mores dwelling in Alualady which is a castle three leagues from Lisbon Three wherof because the houre for them to turne Christians it should seeme drew neare maruellously desired to see the Prioresse for beleeue they could not so great miracles as were reported of her And from thenceforth the holy Spirit inwardly moued prouoked them more and more kindling in their hearts the desire to see the said seruant of God And so much dayly increased this desire in thē that one day very early not acquainting one another with th their purposes they departed all 3 frō Alualady for this city of Lisbon came to seek me in this couent saying that they knew not what it was which so inwardly had moued burned them with so feruēt a desire to see the Prioresse And whiles one of the told me these things behold there commeth the other afterwards the third And whē they met all three together they vnderstood that they all demanded one selfe same thing they seeing themselues inflamed with one selfe same desire were greatly astonished perceiuing that this proceeded of one selfe mouing of the holy Spirit and not of curiositie as some would presume I carried them to the monastery de la Anunciada and went into the parlor and thence sent word to the Prioresse that I would speake with her without letting her vnderstand why shee was called She presently came and the 3 Moores were fast by me when we spake together She lift vp her vayle to talke with me and scarcely had the three Moores seene her when they fell groueling to the earth And in such maner that needfull it was some which were present should helpe them vp When they arose beholding her eftsoons they kneeled on their knees with out a word speaking But that they lamented without ceassing hauing their eyes for a long time fixed vpon the Prioresse And when I asked them why they spake not to the Prioresse They answered that they saw in her so great and admirable things that they knew not what to speake Hauing thus sayd they besought the Prioresse that he which was by her might giue them baptisme She answered if they would be baptised that I was there present who would cause them to be baptised Adding moreouer that this to her Spouse should bee greatly pleasing This done I returned leading with me the Moores albeit to their great sorrow for they would not haue parted frō the Prioresse home to my Couent Of all this I aduertised the Archbishop who sent forthwith for the Moores and I accompanied with some Fathers brought them Brought as they were they confessed to the Archbishop in our presence that they had seen neere vnto the Prioresse Iesus Christ in humane shape put vppon the crosse Which miracle was so admirable that the same thereof stretched through all the kingdom great multitudes of people are come to this citie to see thē baptised The Archbishop sent for the Prioresse to giue them their names The which at my commaund she gaue vnto them Manuel she called the first Iohn the second and the third Thomas who were in this house baptised and with vs continue The second miracle which the Prouinciall telleth is this A Lady of qualitie there was which had a cancker in one of her Lippes This lady talking with Dona Vincencia told her that the day following they were to cut the canker The Lady Vincencia moued with compassion gaue vnto her a small peece of fine linnen cloth which the Prioresse was wont to drawe ouer her syde saying that she should put it vppon her canker for she trusted in God that when they should cut it she should feele no griefe at all c. The Ladie so did And with great deuotion promised that if she found so much good hereby that in cutting of her canker she should feele no paine she would publish to her power that God through the merits of the Prioresse his seruant had graunted her this so singular admirable mercie This simplicitie displeased not God But he graunted the rather what she had demanded for rising vp early the day following shee found her selfe whole and without any signe where the canker nor any euill had bene c. And a little lower Of all this were instruments made by arte of a notary publique at command of the Cardinals most illustrious worship The 3. Miracle which the prouincall telleth is Anna Rodrigues del Crucifixo of the third order of Frauncis brought with her two small peeces of a wodden Crosse which the prioresse had giuen her And going to visit one that was diseased demanded a little water to drinke Anna tooke a porcelan and pist water into it And after in the presence of them all tooke a peece of the Crosse which the Prioresse had giuen her and making a signe of the Crosse cast it into the Porcelan The peece went to the bottome And eftsoones like a candle on a candlesticke arose vp right on end Of this water gaue she the paciēt to drink Who then began to find himselfe better and demaunded what was that they
had giuen him which had done him much good After they had cold him what had passed he prayed them to giue him more water then before to drinke Then cast they more water into the Porcelane where in also was the peece of the Crosse Anna Rodrigues supposing that the diseased in drinking had swallowed the same peece cast in the other the which went also to the bottome And commning to the other which stood in end in the porcelane cleaued vnto and was ioyned togither with it So that of those two was made a farre little Crosse which moued all that sawe it to very great deuotion Scarcely the second time had the sickman tasted of the water but he became whole and sound the third day also arose from his bed and went to walke through the citie Of this also was information made by the cōmandement of the most illustrious Legat. I could saith the prouincial recount also many other like things Friar Stephen de Lusignan setteth this downe for conclusion The tenne particular and principall instructions which wee draw from these maruellous effects in these letters missiue declared 1. The true he and she religious are much pleasing to God 2. Holy obedience is meritorious and charity humanity and simplicity of life 3. Virginity is a very pleasing spouse of our Lord Iesus Christ 4. It is needfull to reuerence and honor the holy Images 5. The he and she Saints of Paradise are intercessors and aduocates for vs. 6. It is needefull to acknowledge the truth of the most holy sacrament of the Altar 7. He pleaseth God which oft times receiueth so great◠sacrament 8. The gifts and graces of Iesus Christ cannot be obtained without sorrow praiers and deuotions 9. The passion and death of Iesus Christ by meanes of our owne works are profittable for vs. 10. Miracles haue euer continued in the Catholique Apostolique and Romish Church At the end of this booke of the holy Nunne was this Our holy father Sistus 5. through the deuotion and request of the most Catholique king of Spaine hath ordayned to bee made the processe of the miracles of Friar Lewes de Beltrum in Aragon one of the order of the Friars of S. Dominick to put him in the number and Catalogue of the Saints and blessed which shal be another such as this of this holy Nunne All that I haue sayd is drawne out of the french booke which Friar Stephen wrote in praise of this holy Nunne So famous was the same of this Nunnes holinesse That Cardinall Albertus of Austria sent information to Pope Sistus 5. To whom the Pope wrote this letter following translated into Latine with great ioy haue we read that thou hast procured to be written the vertues of the Prioresse of the monasterie de la Anunciada of the most holie virgin And of the great benefits which God hath shewed her we pray the diuine goodnes to make her from day to day more worthy of his grace enrich her with his heauenly gift for the glory of his name and ioy of his faithful Giuen in S. Maries at Rome with the little Ring of the fisher The 10. of September 1584. and of our Bishopdome c. Subscribed Antonio Prucha Badulini Friar Iohn de Pineca in his booke intituled Monarchia ecclesiastica printed at Salamāca by Iohn Fernādez making mentiō of the Saints that had the wounds of Christ nameth this Mary And so saith he dyed the glorious Saint Katherine of Sena in the 1380. yeare whose maruelous life wrote S. Antonius and Raimond of Capua And albeit they both say that the wounds of our redeemer were printed vpon her S. Antonius affirmeth that at the request of the Saintes they were not shewed on her bodie yet suffered shee incredible paines And Iohn Brugmano writeth that the holie virgin Saint Lyduuina receiued the woundes of the redeemer But that the virgin besought God That to avoyd the applause of the world they should bee couered And then the skinne grew and couered the woundes Lorenço Surio saith that the holie virgin Gerturd of Esten vppon good Fryday in the 1340. yeare receiued the woundes and for many dayes ranne bloud from them seuen times a day At this time it is publiquely sayd and there are pictures of her that there is a religious in Portugal of the order of Saint Dominick Which hath the woundes of our redeemer Hitherto Friar Iohn de Pineda The same author part 3. lib. 22. cap. 23. ¶ 3. affirmeth for an approued thing that their Saint Frauncis had the woundes of Iesus Christ as a little lower yee shall perceiue Concerning those which had the fiue woundes I will recount to this purpose an admirable history whereof make mention many of our aduersaries who as wel in Dutch as in Latine both in verse and prose haue written that the Dominick Friars haue alwaies holden a certaine emulation enuie hatred toward the Franciscans for both being beggers they could not well agree togither It happened tin Berne one of the 3 Cantons of the Swizers in the a thousand 5 hundred ninth yeare that the Franciscans were much more esteemed and fauoured then the Dominicks which the Dominicks perceauing much stomacked and so they consulted to find remedy for such a mischiefe Foure of the chiefe of their order came to vnderstand the causes why the Franciscans were before them preferred These two besides others which I will declare they found to bee the principall causes first that Saint Frauncis had the woundes of Christ The other the brawling Question which was betweene them and the Franciscans whether the virgin Mary was conceiued in sinne or no. The Domincans did affirme it the Franciscans denyed it For this cause the common people moued with foolish deuotion and with a zeale without knowledge much loued the Franciscans made no reckoning of the Dominicks The Dominicks then vnderstanding the cause of their so great euill the remedy which they put was this A simple Friar they tooke which they had in their couent a young frantique or holy hypocrite so deceiued him with many perswasions gaue him certaine inchaunted drinks that the small vnderstanding which he had they tooke quite from him They marke as they could the fiue wounds vpon him They made him to beleeue and he foolish also beleeued it that hee had then truly as S. Frauncis had them And here stayed they not They made him beleeue that the most holy virgin Saint Barbara and Saint Catalina de Sena appeared and reuealed great things vnto him they made him beleeue that S. Mary gaue him the red consecrated host aud that she presented him with the bloud of Christ and that she commaunded him to go the Cabildo or Senate and say that which she had commaunded giuen him in And among other things this was one that the holy virgin was conceiued in sin that for this cause they ought in no wise to permit the Franciscans to dwell in their City for that besides