Easter euen Idem 57 Of halowynge newe fruites Idem 58 Of Fasting Idem 59 Of holy dayes and of the feastes of Sainctes 173 60 Of canonising or making of Sainctes 179 61 Of saints Reliques 183 62 Pylgrimages 184 63 Of Pardons Idem 64 A rehearsall of diuerse pardons graunted of diuers Popes for diuerse considerations 189 65 Of Purgatory 197 66 Remedies deuised by the Papistes agaynst the fyrye tormeÌ„tes of Purgatory 202 67 Of Trentalles for soules departed and howe they firste began 207 68 Of the vertues of the Masse 209 69 Of Councels 212 70 Of Heretiques 214 71 Of ExcoÌ„munication 219 72 The manner and forme of excommunication 219 73 The manner of the reconciliation of excommunicate persons 223 74 Of Penaunce 224 75 Of absolution 227 76 Certaine formes of absolution 228 77 A Speciall note of the Papistes concernyng absolucion 231 78 The forme or manner of bydding the beads on Sondayes in Popyshe paryshe Churches 231 79 The generall Sentence or curse 237 80 Certayne fragmentes of Papistrye 255 Finis The names of those Authors whose testimonies and witnesses are recited in this Booke A. ABbas vrspergensis Achiles pyrminius Aeneas siluius Albertus magnus Albertus crantzius Alcuinus Ambrosius Anselmus ryd Antoninus Alnoldus bostius Athanasius Augustinus Author sermonum discipuli B. Bartholomaeus picerius Bartholomaeus de chaimis Bartholomaeus charranza Bartholomaeus westmerus Barnardus abbas Blondus Bonifacius episcopus C. Catalogus sanctorum Chrisostomus Christianus massaeus Chronica anglica Chronica chronicarum Cronica flandrica Chronica gallica Chronica germanica Clemens pont rom Cornelius agrippa Cyprianus D. Damascenus Decreta iuris canonici Decreta extrauagant E. Edictum constantini Impe. Epyphanus Epitome chronicarum Erasmus roterodamus Eruditi cuiuspiaÌ„ chronicon Euagrius Eusebius coesariensis Eutropius F. Fasciculus temporum Festiuale anglicum Flores historiarum Franciscus petrarcha G. Gabriel biel Gaspar achilles Gaspar hedio Gratianus monachus Gregorius magnus Guilielmus Caxton Guilielmus Durandus H Hartmanus scedel Nurenbergensis Henrichus pantaleon Henrichus primaeus Henrichus de vrimaria Hermanus contractus Hesychius Hieronimus Hiero. paulus Cathalanus Honorius Huldricus episcop august Huldricus Huttenus I. Iacobus de visaco Iacobus de voragine Iacobus manlius Iacobus mayer Iaco. philippus bergomeÌ„sis Iacobus vuimpholibus Ioannes billet Ioannes charion Ioannes cuspinianus Ioannes clythoneus Ioannes de burgo Ioannes laziardus Ioannes monachus Ioanns nauclerus Ioannes stella Ioannes Tilio Isidorus Hispalensis Isuardus gallus Iustinianus imperator L. Lactantius firmianus Laurentius valla Lex pontificia Liber conciliorum Liber de miraculis R. mariae Liber germanicus de sectis monasticis M. Marcus anton sabellicus Martinus papae penitentiarius Martinus polonus Mathaeus parisius Mathaeus palmerius florentinus Mathias palmerius pisamus Michael bucchingerus N. Nauclerus Nicephorus panuinius Nicolas de cusa O. Onuprius panuinius Origenes Otho frisius P. Paulinus nolanus Paulus aemilius Paulus phrigio Paulus Vergerius Paulus warnefridus Panormitanus Paralipomena rerum memorabilium â–ª Patronius Petrus Crinitus Paulus diaconus Petrus blesensis Petrus cluniacensis Petrus de natalibus Petrus Lombardus Platina Polichronicon Polidorus vergilius R. Ranulphus cartrensis Raphael volateranus Rationale di officiorum Robertus barus anglus Robertus caguinus S. Sabellicus Sebastianus francke Serenus Episcopus Masciliae Sigebertus Sozomeus Speculum ecclesiasticum Stella clericorum T. Tertullianus Theodorus bibliander Thomas aquinas V. Valentinus vannius Vincentius Vitas pa trum Volateranus Z. Zonoras FINIS ¶ To the right reuerend Father in God and his very good Lorde Iohn Byshop of Norwiche Thomas Becon wisheth long life continuall health and prosperous felicitie COnsidering the happy state of thys our most happie age so diuerslye and manifold wayes blessed of the Lord our God with diuerse and manifold his bounteous benefites yea and those not bodily onely but ghostly also that no parte of vs may seme in any point destitute of his fatherly blessings so richely and plentifully poured vpoÌ„ vs according to his wonted mercies and accustomed kindnesses I can none otherwise than greatly maruell at the obstinate blindnesse and blinde obstinacie of certaine our countreymen yea and those not the rudest and most ignoraunt but the wisest and of greatest experience as they thinke themselues and so wishe to be reputed of all other whiche for the most parte being nothing moued with this so great kindnesse of our heauenly father go forth to shewe themselues altogether vnthankefull no consideration had of so free and vndeserued benefites whether we respecte the body or the minde so truly is it sayed of the Apostle Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many of hye degree are called but God hath chosen the foolishe thinges of the worlde to confounde the wise and God hath chosen the weake thynges of the worlde to confounde thinges whiche are mightie and vyle thinges of the worlde and thinges whiche are despised hath God chosen yea and thinges of no reputation for to bring to nought thynges of reputation that no fleshe should reioyce in his presence And as the Pharisees said to their ministers when they râ—â—urned froÌ„ Christs SermoÌ„ geuing him this report to their masters Neuer maÌ„ spake as this maÌ„ doth Are ye also deceaued saâ—e they Doth anye of the Rulers or of the Pharisees beleue on him But this coÌ„mon people whiche know not the lawe are cursed And as S. Iames writeth in his Epistle Hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde suche as are riche in faith and heyres of the kyngdome which he promised to them that loue him But ye haue despised the poore Do not rich men execute tyranny vpon you and drawe you before the iudgements cates Do not they speake euel of that good name whiche is called vpon ouer you For as concerning the corporall benefites it is so farre of they shewe themselues thaÌ„kful that in all their communicatioÌ„ almost both publique and priuate they do nothing els than find fault with the presente state of this world yelding and crying barckyng and gruntyng that neuer such and the like penury scarcenesse pouertie and beggarye reigned on earth as doth in these our dayes and specially since we gaue ouer the holy father of Rome his Catholike religion but specially the blessed masse praying for the soules departed beyng in thys behalfe not altogether vnlike the Idolatrous and backeslidyng Iewes whiche together with open mouth like bande dogges barcked against Ieremye and his Sermons saying As for the wordes that thou haste spoken to vs in the name of the Lorde we wyll in no wyse heare them but whatsoeuer goeth out of our owne mouth that we will do We will do sacrifice offer oblations vnto the Queene of heaueÌ„ like as we and our forefathers our kinges and our heades haue done in the cities â—f Iuda and in the stretes and fieldes of Ierusalem For then had we pleÌ„teousnesse of vitailes then were we in prosperitie and
manner Wo and euerlastyng damnation hangeth ouer the heades of those disobedient and shrincking children whiche will begyn a councell without me Wo â–ª be vnto theÌ„ that will take a secrete aduice and not out of my spirit and therfore adde they synne vnto sinne Againe Wo be vnto theÌ„ â–ª that make vnrighteous lawes and deuise thynges whiche he to harde for to kepe where thorowe the poore are oppressed on euery side and the innocentes of my people robbed of iudgemeÌ„t that widowes may be theyr praye that they may robbe the fatherlesse All such councellers with theyr councels are not to be receaued but to be reiected bicause they are against the Lord against his annointed Notable is the senteÌ„ce of S. Cyprian How dare they stablish any thing without Christe whose both whole hope and faith power and glory is in Christ. All councels whether they be priuate or publique nationall or generall ought to geue place to the word of God which is a lanterne to our feete and a light to our pathwayes We ought to beleue no maÌ„ saith Saint Hierome without the word of God GersoÌ„ feareth not to say that we ought more to beleue a maÌ„ that is well learned in the holy scripture bringeth forth the Catholike authoritie thaÌ„ a generall councell The councell hath no authoritie for to stablishe any thing coÌ„trary to the word of God For it is not truth but errour whatsoeuer is determined against the scripture And we ought not to take hede vnto the trifles fond imaginatioÌ„s of meÌ„ but to the doctrine of the holy ghost Abbot Panormiâ—anê° that great Lawyer saith also More faith is to be geuen euen to a lay man that allegeth bringeth forth the scripture than to an whole councell Agayne In matters coÌ„cerning faith the saying of one priuate person ought to be preferred before the Popes saying if he can bring forth better authoritie of the new olde TestameÌ„t than the pope can That is the doctrine of the holy ghost saith s. Hierome which is set forth in the Canonical scriptures against the whiche doctrine if the councels enacte any thing iudge it wicked vnlawfull All good meÌ„ eueÌ„ froÌ„ the begynning haue attributed such so great authoritie to the word of God that they haue preferred that before the writtings counsels of al men without exception although neuer so wise neuer so Godly The councels therefore of men ought to be vnto the aduersaries no cloke or shadow of their disobedient obstinacie obstinate disobedience to plucke theÌ„ awaye from the truth of Gods worde Furthermore there are an other sort whiche obiecte and bring against vs the multitude and great nuÌ„ber saying that fewe are they little is the nuÌ„ber that embrace y e doctrine of y e Gospellers ProtestaÌ„ts but innumerable are theiÌ„ infinite is the nuÌ„ber of theÌ„ that receaue and embrace their olde auncient Catholike mother holy Churches doctrine whereof it muste nedes follow that where the greatest nuÌ„ber is there is the most certain truth I aunswere w t our sauior Christ Enter in at the streight gate for the wide is the gate broad is y e way that leadeth to destructioÌ„ many they be which go in thereat But streight is the gate narow is the way which leadeth vnto life fewe they be that find it Again many are called few are choâ—eÌ„ The holy Apostle s. Paule saith Lord who hath beleued our preaching If we consider either y e seÌ„teÌ„ces or histories of the holy Bible we shal easly perceaue that the greatest nuÌ„ber is alway the worste the most wicked When the whole worlde was drowned eight persoÌ„s only except Did not the lesser nuÌ„ber excel the greater in goodnes Godlinesse God by his mightie hande outstretched arme deliuered out of Egipt aboue .600 thousaÌ„d meÌ„ of the which .ii. onely that is to say Iosua Caleb entred into the land of promise bicause they beleued the promise of God the other were vnfaythful and inconstante In the tyme of wicked King Achab and of hys most wicked wife Queene Iezabel there were aboue .400 false Prophetes besides the Nobilitie and Comunaltie whiche resisted the wayes of the Lord and in sight but one alone that stoutly defended the Lordes truth agaynst the wicked and Idolatrous multitude About the number of .400 false Prophetes told king Achab that he should prosper in his warres returne home safe agayne whiche deceaued him Micheas alone tolde him the coÌ„trary so came it to passe When Christ was borne fewe receaued hym and embraced hym knowledging him to be the promised Messias Sauiour of the world as Mary his Mother Ioseph her husbaÌ„d Zacharie the priest Elizabeth his wife the wise meÌ„ that came out of the East partes the shepeheardes Simeon Anna with fewe other but innumerable thousandes hated him set nought hy him persecuted hym and sought all meanes possible to murther hym When Christ toke vpon him the office of preaching at the commaundemeÌ„t of his father who embraced his doctrine but a fewe poore people vyle and of no estimation in the sight of the galant and wyse worldlyngs As it is written Not many wise men after the fleshe not many mighty not many of hye degree are called And as the Pharesees said to theyr ministers when they came home from Christs Sermon Are ye also deceaued Doth any of the Rulers or of the Pharesees beleue on him But this coÌ„mon people whiche know not the lawe are cursed Did not the sede as we reade in the Gospell that was sowen fall into .iiii. partes and one parte onely brought forth good frute Did not a certaine man make a supper and called many and yet there came none but a fewe poore people halte lame feble blynde c. Bishop Cayphas gathered a councell where were present a great rable of bloudy hypocrites to condemne Christ no maÌ„ at all taking Christes part Against the Apostles of Christ assembled and gathered theÌ„ selues together the priestes the Rulers of the temple the Saduces the Pharesees the Scribes the Lawyers and Annas the chief priest and Cayphas and Iohn and Alexander and as many as were of the kinred of y e high priests but who rose vp to take their partes and to defend y e innoceÌ„cie of their cause What a swarme of helhoundes flocked together to condeÌ„ne blessed Stephen and to stone hym vnto death no man once speakyng one worde for hym What multitudes from tyme to tyme came agaynste Paule as we may see in the Actes of Apostles to accuse him and to make hym out of the way and howe fewe or rather none toke his parte After the Apostles tyme what swarmes of tyrauntes and beastly hypocrites rose vp againste the poore little company of the faythfull Christians murthering theÌ„ without al pitie or mercy As it is written For thy sake are
will number them amonge suche as are borne onelye to consume the good frutes of the earth Partelye that other seyng thys my trauaile dedicate to youre Lordeshippe maye be the more allured and prouoked vnto the readyng of this treatise and so at the laste learne to discerne good from euill sweete from soure light from darkenesse truth from falshode Religion from superstition Christe from Antichrist God from Baal c. and from hence forth serue the Lorde oure GOD not as blynde reason fantasieth and filthy fleshe imagineth but as Goddes worde preâ—cribeth that is to saye in holynesse and ryghteousnesse all the dayes of oure lyfe that after the shorte pilgrimage of this oure frayle lyfe we maye attayne and come vnto that blessed immortall life where he reygneth whiche is the true and perfecte lyfe namelye Christe Iesus the Sonne of the lyuing GOD as concernyng hys Godhead and the Sonne of the blessed Uirgine Marye as touchyng hys manhoode our alone Sauioure and Redemer oure alone Mediatoure and Aduocate oure alone Lawful filleâ— and peace maker our alone health and eternall felicitye in whome and from whome I wishe vnto your honourable Lordeshippe all good thynges both of body and mynde Amen From Cauntorbury the sixte of Iune In the yeare of oure Lorde 1563. Septemb. 30. The Reliques of Rome Of the Pope and of his vsurped power and fayned authoritie POpe Boniface the third thorowe great and earnest sute although many good and Godly learned men resisted hym in thys behalfe vtterly condemning this his ambition and Luciferlike pride in exalting and lifting vp himselfe aboue his fellowe Byshops and chalenging vnto hym y t Supremacie and authoritie which the holy Scripture in no place geueth him neither had any of his predecessours y e Byshops of Rome tofore enioyed the same nor once desyred it but rather both written and spoken against such vsurped power as we may see in the writings of Pope Gregorye the fyrste against Iohn Patriarch of Constantinople whiche attempted the lyke wicked enterprise but was resisted to Phocas the Emperour at the last obtayned of hym that he and his successours for euer after should be taken for y e chiefe byshop and supreme head of the vniuersall Church of Christ throughoute the worlde and y t the Church of Rome from that daye foreward should be called and so admitted and receaued the chiefe and principall head Church of y e whole world Againe that the Church of Rome should be in subiectioÌ„ to none other Church but that al Churches vniuersall shuld be obedient and in subiection vnto it For vntil that time the Church of Constantinople was counted the highest and of greatest authoritie bicause of the imperial see in that city This thing was brought to passe about the yeare of our Lord .vi. C.vii. Flatina Christianus Massaeus Henricus Pantaleon Paulus Diaâ—onus Anselmus Rid. Polichronicon Albertus Krantz Abbas vrspergeÌ„sis Hermannus Contractus c This Phocas as histories make meÌ„tion was a great and cruell tyraunt by force violence obtayned the Empyre And that he myght the more quietlye enioye it he wrought not onely treason against his Lord and Maister that was Emperour before him called Mauritius a maÌ„ both noble vertuous but he also most shamefully and traytorously slewe hym not onely him but al his children also y t none of his flocke might lyue to make any clayme to the Emperiall Crowne after him A Tyraunt mete to set vp the tiranny of the Byshop of Rome contrary to y e worde of God and the determination of the auncient Cannons But thys trayterous murtherer receaued a iuste reward of thys his tirannye For as he vniustlye slewe so was he most iustly slayne As he deposed his Lord and Master so was he deposed put down As he against al right toke away the Empire froÌ„ his Lord so was it againe taken a way from him As he suffered none of his masters children to liue so dyed he without childreÌ„ one doughter only excepted Loke with what measure he mette vnto his lorde and master with the same was he paid home again sauing that his death was more vilanous and shameful than the death of his master For thys tyraunte after he had reygned certayne yeares had fyrst of all his handes and his feete cut of afterward bicause he had bene a famous and notable adulterer his priuy membres with his heade were cut of also As for the residue of his bodye was burnt to ashes An ende worthye such a tirant Zonaras Paulus Vuarnefridus Ioannes Monachus Paulus Diaconus Ioannes Cuspinianus Sebastianus Frank. Pope Benet the seconde obtayned of the Emperour Constantine that the Bishop of Rome for euer after should be taken of all men for Christes true vicar in earth and saint Peters lawful successor This Pope also broughte it to passe that the bishop of Rome only should be called Pope that is to say the father of fathers For before that time all Bishoppes generallye were called Popes it maye be gathered of diuerse writers In the yere of oure Lorde siâ—e hundred .lxvii. Anselmus Ryd Achilles Perminius Sebastianus Franck. c. Pope Vigilius as they fayne made a decree with the consente of his adherents that the Sea of Rome shoulde be taken for the head and maistresse of al churches thorowout the worlde In the yere c. v. C. xxxv according to the doctrine of these two verses Dogmate papali datur simul ac imperiali vt sim cunctarum mater caput ecclesiaruÌ„ That same decree also made Pope Simplicius as they write in the yere of our Lorde 471. Moreouer the papistes go forth and say that when Pope Siluester was Bishop of Rome Constantine the Emperour did exalte and aduance the Sea of Rome that he gaue vnto it not only an ecclesiasticall but also an Imperiall power appoynting the church of Rome to be the chief church through out y e world to haue autority rule preeminence no lesse ouer those foure principall Churches Antioch Alexandria CoÌ„stantinople and HierusaleÌ„ than ouer al other churches coÌ„tayned vnder the heauens Agayn y t the bishop of Rome should be higher of greter autority than al the bishops and priests of the whole worlde and y t whatsoeuer should be determined concerning matters of religion shuld depend only vpon the popes iugement eyther to be receiued or to be reiected He appointed also as the papistes go forth to lye that the pope should haue fre liberty to weare the apparel either of an emperoure or of a byshop at his pleasure and that he shoulde haue all manner of officers to attend vpon as the Emperours maiesty hath Moreouer the aforesaid Emperor Constantine gaue to Pope Siluester and to his such cessors the city of Rome and al Italye withe the prouinces places and cities of all the weast parts to be S. Peters patrimony for euer addeth furthermore these words
such as the pope fauoureth not but that he shuld rather eschew them as enemies turne away from them as heathen persons For seing sayeth he that the dead that is to say y e pope abhorreth theÌ„ much more y e fete that is all Princes Kyngs Rulers all other kinde of people ought so to do and vtterly deteste them Ioan. Laziardus Pope Clement the fyrst made a constitution that all Emperours kings princes shuld be subiecte to the church of Rome both in spirituall and temporall matters acknowledge the pope to be their head Chron. Ioan. Laziardus Celestinus Pope Sixtus made a decree that if any man wer euill entreated of his Metropolitane it shuld be lawfull for him to appeale vnto the Sea of Rome mother and head of the vniuersall churche of Christ throughout al y e worlde 2. Q 6. Cap. Si quis putauerit Pope Fabian the fyrst ordained that euery maÌ„ might lawfully appeale vnto the sea of Rome although sentence wer pronouÌ„ced against him In y e yere â–ª c. 242.2 Qu 6. ca. Licet Iac. Phili. BergoÌ„ Pope Leo the thyrde made a decree that the decrees of the bishop of Rome should be more regarded set by than al the iudgementes writings boâ—â—es of the best learned In the yere c. 817. Iacob Phil. Bergom Pope Eugenius the fourth gathered a councel at Florence in the which wer present many great learned men both Grekes and Latines In thys councell it was required of the Grekes and of the Indians that they shuld celebrate the Lordes Supper with vnleuended bread according to the decree of Pope Alexander the fyrst and y t they shoulde grauÌ„t y t there is a purgatorie to purge soules after this life agayne that they shuld confesse the bishop of Rome to be the true vicare of Christ the very successour of Peter and the supreme head of Christs church thorowout y e world But they woulde not obey the Popes request but boldly answered that they would continew in the fayth and doctrine whiche their Churches from the beginnyng had receaued of the Apostles In the yeare c. 1433. Ioan. Philip. Bergom Chron. Pope Boniface the eyght vpon a certayn great and solemne feast apparelled in hys Pontificalibus was caried about the citie of Rome on mens shoulders gaue the people large blessings with wagging his fyngers ouer them on euery syde The nexte daye after he put on an imperial robe decking himself like an Emperour and coÌ„maunded a naked sweard to be borne before him and he himself sitting vpon his moyle gloriously cryed out with a loud voice saying Ecce duo gladij hic Behold here are two sweardes calling himself Lord of the whole worlde concerning both temporal and spiritual matters This is that monsture of whom it is writteÌ„ Intrauit vt Vulpes vixit vt Leo moritur vt Canis That is to saye he entred in as a fore he liued as a lyoÌ„ he dyed as a dogge In the yeare of our Lord. 1290. Albertus Crantzius Fascic Temp. Pantal. Pope Leo the fourth so greatly estemed both himselfe and his authoritye that he offered hys feete vnto princes to be kyssed and honoured In the yere c. 858. Volat. Plat. Pantal. Pope Innocent the thyrd fyrste of all crowned Otho the Emperour and afterward depriued him agayne saying It lyeth in my power both to set vp to plucke down emperours kings and princes at my pleasure For all power is geuen vnto me both in heauen and in earth In the yere of our Lord 1195. Sebast. Frank. Chron. Temton Fasc Tempâ— Paulus Phrig c. Pope Alexander the thyrde did not only with martiall armours resiste the Godly and noble Emperour Frederike but at the laste thorow the might of other princes subduing him compelled y â— aforesayd Emperour before he wuld geue hym absolution be at one with him to lye flatte down vpoÌ„ the ground before hym in the syght of the people and the pope setting hys foote in the emperors necke cried out with a loude voyce and sayd ScriptuÌ„ est Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis conculcabis leonem draconem That is to saye It is written Upon the Adder the Cockatrice shalt thou walke and thou shalt treade downe the lion the dragon In the yeare c. 1161. Nauclerus â–ª Sabel Iaco. Phil. Ioan. Char. This pope made compelled Lewes King of Fraunce and Henrye King of Englande to be his lackies to runne on fote by him y e one holding his horses bridle on the right side the other on the left syde leading him with greate pompe thorow the citie Totiacum vnto Ligris Chroni Sigebertus Pope Hadriane the fourth was not a little angrye bicause the Emperoure helde with his hand the left stirrope and not the right when he came down of hys horse aboute the yeare c. 1158. Albertus Crantz Otho Frisius Pantaleon Pope Calixtus the second wheÌ„ he returned vnto Rome caused pope Benet whom the Emperor had before set vp to be apprehended and to be set vpon an horse so ryde before him vilanously al the way his face being turned vnto the horses arse holding the horse tayle being in his hande in steade of a bridle Afterwarde he threw him into prison where he most miserably dyed About the yere c. 1120. Chron. Fasciculus temporum c. Pope Celestine the third crowned the emperour Henry the fyfte holding the crowne betwene his fete And wheÌ„ he had put the crown vpoÌ„ the emperours heade he smote it of with his fote againe saying y t he had power to make Emperours and to put them down agayne In the yeare c. 1195. Crantz Pope Cornelius ordayned y t no othe shoulde be required of the pope excepte it were for the mayntaynaunce of holy church In the yeare c. 255. Ranulphus Cestrensis Chron. Pope Gregorye the seuenth for dyspleasure that he bare vnto Henrye the Emperoure wrote vnto the princes people that liued vnder y e Emperours dominion that they should by no meanes obey the Emperour but rather resiste hym and hys authoritie and take him no more for Emperour but rather for an vsurper of the empyre The emperour perceauing this malicious purpose of y e pope wrote againe vnto him on this manner When Christ coÌ„mitted the sheepe vnto Peter he excepted Kings The pope aunswered the Emperor in his letters on this wise WheÌ„ Christ gaue y e keyes vnto Peter he excepted no man by this meanes chaleÌ„ging power authoritie ouer al Emperours Kings Princes and Rulers vnto whom notw tstanding by y e worde of God both pope Bishop w t all the spiritualty as they terme them ought to shewe obedience euen from the very heart not only for conscience sake In the yeare c. 1073. Christianus Massaeus Sabast. Frank. Chron. Pope Boniface the eight wrote vnto
a woman of a very good report Our recluses are reported to be supersticious and idolatrous persons and such as al good men fly their companye Iudith feareth the Lorde greatly ▪ and liued accordyng to his holye word Our Recluses fear the pope and gladly do what his pleasure is to commaund them Iudith lyued of her owne substaunce and goods puttyng no man to charge Our Recluses as persons onelye borne to consume the frutes of the erth liue idlely of the labour of other mens handes Iudith when tyme required came oute of her closet to do good vnto other Our Recluses neuer come out of their lobbeis sincke or swimme the people Iudithe put her selfe in ieopardy for to do good to the commune countrey Our recluses are vnprofitable clods of the earth doing good to no man Who seeth not now how farre our Anckers and Anckresses differre from the manners and life of this vertuous and Godlye woman Iudith so that they can not iustly clayme her to be their patronesse Of some idle superstitious Heremite borowed they their idle and superstitious religion For who knoweth not that our recluses haue grates of yrō in their spelunckes and dennes out of the which they looke as Owles out of an yuye todde when they will vouchsafe to speake with any man at whose hād they hope for aduauntage So read we in vitis patrum that Iohn the Heremite so enclosed himselfe in his Heremitage that no man came in vnto him To thē that came to visit him he spake thorow a window onely Our Anckers Anckresses professe nothyng but a solitary life led in contemplation all the dayes of their life in their halowed house wherein they are enclosed wyth the vowe of obedience to the Pope and to their Ordinary Bishoppe Theyr apparell is indifferent soit bee dissonant from the Laitye No kynde of meates they are forbidden to eate At midnighte they are bound to saye certayne prayers Their profession is counted to bee amonge all other professions so harde and so streighte that they maye by no meanes bee suffered to come oute of their houses excepte it bee to take a streighter and an harder life vppon them whiche is to bee a bishop Of Monkes POpe Siricius beyng bishop of Rome the first Monkishe order began raised vp by Basilius Magnus bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia Their coat cloke coule and cappe were all white He prescribed them a rule mixte with many traditions and doctrines of men Wherfore he is called of them a father and beginner of religious people whose lyfe he also prayseth so that he obtayned of the aforesayde Siricius to confyrme the order He called them Monachi that is to saye solitarye or seperate from the worlde and founded in Greece the fyrste house or cloyster But howe vnaptly they be called Monachi and men vtterlye deuided from the world who seeth not For where do they dwell but in the middes of famous cities and great townes And in what thinges doe they more exercise thēselues thā in matters of the world In the yeare c. 389. Ibidem Ranulphus Cestrensis This monstruous Monckishe order is deuided into many mōstruous mockish sects wherof we wil reherse part Of the Benedictine Monkes POpe Iohn the fyrst being bishop of Rome Benet a father and a fauourer also of Monks gathered together al strowed and scattered religious persons and begā a peculiar order vpon the Mount Cassinus where he built a most renoumed cloister geuing them there a rule prescript and forme of liuing as though Christ had forgotten it Afterwarde the aforesaide Benet hauing muche people resortyng vnto him built .xii. other monasteries and sylled them also with religious men Of this order is reported to haue bene 24 Popes of Rome C.lxxxii Cardinals M. CCCC.lxiiii Archbishoppes and bishoppes .xv. M. lxx renowmed Abbotes and as saieth Pope Iohn the xxii there haue ben of this order .v. M.vi C.lv. Monks canonisate and made Saints In the yere c. 523. This Benet also inuēted an order for his sister Scholastica and made her Abbesse ouer many Nuns Her clothing was a blacke cote cloke coule vayle And least the Scripture should deceiue her and hers it was commaunded that none should reade the holye Scripture without the consente or permission of their superiour Here is to be sene how God is sought in al monastical orders whiche among them in hys woorde is expelled Of the Cluniacensis order of Monkes POpe Sergius the thirde bearyng rule y e order of Cluniacensis was set vp by a certaine Abbot called Ocion or Otho as som call him For whē the Monkes of S. Benets rule were nerehand decayed in Godlinesse this Oclon or Otho lyued so that they were quickened agayne by reason of his holynesse Their clothyng and rule was accordyng to the appointment of Mōk Benettes rule This Monkishe order was richely endowed with great substaunce and yearely rentes by a certayne Duke of Aquitania called Guillidinus In the yeare of oure Lorde 913 Plat. Sabell Libro Germ. Polidor Pantaleon Of the Camaldinensis order POpe Leo the fourth occupyeng the See of Rome the Monkishe religiō of the Camaldinensis was deuised by Romoaldus of Rauenna in the Mount Apenninus Their coule cloke with all that euer they weare from top to toe is white They kepe perpetuall silēce Euery wednisday Friday they fast bread and water Thei go barefote and lye on the grounde In the yere c. 850. Chron. Pol. Lib. Germ. Of the Hieronimians order POpe Innocentius the Seuenth beyng bishop of Rome the Monkish order of the Hieronimians began vnder the name of Saint Hierom whiche after Christes byrthe 490. leauing his natiue coūtrey wēt into Iury there not farre from Bethlehē builded him an house where he liued very deuoutly in the latter ende of his lyfe These Apes and counterfaitors of S. Hierome weare their clothes of white and a cope plaited aboue ouer theyr coate gyrde with a leather gyrdle In the yere c. 145. This order was endued with diuers priueleges fraunchises and liberties by certaine bishoppes of Rome as Gregory the twelfthe Eugenius the fourthe c. Chron. Polydor. Libro Germ. Of the Gregorians order POpe Gregory the fyrste borne of a noble stocke and verye plentuouslye endowed with goods of fortune forsoke al became a Monke After the decease of his father he builded Syxe religious houses in Sicilia geuyng them a forme and rule of liuing He builded an other within Rome in the name and honor of Saint Andrew wherein he dwelte with many Monkyshe brethren which from time to time keping his rule diligently are called Gregorians Their habite is of a copper coloured course cloth according to their rule In the yeare c 594. Chron. Lib. Germ. Of the Shadowed valley order POpe Gregory the Sixte bearyng rule Ioannes Gualbertus a knight began this order in a certayne mountayne called valla vmbrosa that is to say a shadowie
from place to place hauyng a banner vpon the crucifixe borne before them and neuer to tarye in one place but on the sondaye Euery day also they dyd penaunce both mornyng and euenyng by scourging themselues before y e people with a great whip of .iii. cordes ful of knots vpon their bare bodies sharp byg nedles being put into the cordes affyrmyng y t it was reueled vnto them by an Angell from heauen that they thus scourging themselues shoulde within .xxx. dayes and .xii. houres thorowe the suffryng of those paynes bee made so cleane and free from synne as they were when they fyrste receaued baptisme In the yeare c. 133. Ioannes Laziardus Mat. Palmer Christ. Mass. These martirs of the Diuell were afterward destroyed by Phlilip kyng of Fraunce Like vnto these aforesaid is there at Rome and in other places of Italye a sect which so are called Flagellatores or scourgers The true brethren of this order go barefoote and beat themselues vppon the bare skin till the bloud followeth They go in long white linnen shirtes hauing an hole on the backe and are open vppon the bare skinne Thereupon they doe beate themselues with scourges â–ª y t are made for the purpose yea and that so long til the bloud doth ruÌ„ out bothe ouer their shoulders and also downe to their feete These be admitted of the bishop of Rome as peniteÌ„tiaries They go barefoted in procession two and two together on good Friday when the passion is preached The white linnen garmeÌ„t which they vse hath an hood sowed vnto it which they drawe ouer their heades when they wil not be sene This commeth ouer their faces and it hath holes like a visar where thorow they both see and draw their breath Suche as force not whether they are sene or not or haue not breath inough they drawe downe the coule froÌ„ their heads and so scourge themselues openly Greate men also and diuers other citizens vse this fantasy with them also but specially vpoÌ„ good Friday which of great inwarde deuotion disguise themselues also as the aforesaide so that some time .iii. or iiii hundreth are seene of them in one procession But the noble men and citizens go for the most parte vpon slippers the shirtes put on aboue their hoses and haue a scourge in theyr handes wherwith some strike themselues â—ome weare it only betwene theyr armes This do they that they maye bee pertakers of their pardon do penauÌ„ce for their sinnes and come to Gods fauour Lib. Germ. Of the order of the starred Monkes POpe Clement the sixte bearing rule Iohn king of Fraunce son of Phillip the Frenche king inuented the secte order of those monks which in latin are called Stellati whose maner is alway to weare a star vpon their brest signifieÌ„g hereby that there is nothing in them but the light of perfection and the cleare shining of good workes yea that they themselues are the lighte of the world according to this sayeng of Christ vos estis lux mundi Ye are y e light of the world Item that they shall rise agayne at the laste day all shining and glisteryng as the most cleare and pleasaunt starres according as it is writteÌ„ by the Prophete They that haue instructed and taught other shal shine as the glisteryng of the firmament they that inform many vnto righteousnesse shall be as the starres worlde without ende In the yeare of our Lorde 1336. Christ. Mass. Lib. Germ. Of the order of the Gerardians POpe Boniface y e ninth reigning a certain maÌ„ called Gerardus being of greate learning of vertuous conuersation ordayned a certain fraternitie or brotherhode of learned godly meÌ„ to teach scholers and to bring vp youth onely in good letters but also in good maners that by this means there might be learned men alwaye in store apte to beare rule in the church of Christ also to gouerne the common weale according to the prescript and rule of gods doctrine Thys Gerardus beyng but a Deacon preached the word of God both purely and feruently And when he was moued by his frendes to be a priest he alwais answered that he was vnworthy to haue such an high office He was wont ofteÌ„times to say that he would not haue y e cure of soules not so muche as by the space of one nighte for all the golde of Arabie In the yeare c. 3379. Chron. Christ. Mass. Of the order of the Iesuites POpe Vrban the fifth greatly alowed the order of the Iesuites and gaue vnto it many great and singuler priueleges commaundyng the Monkes of that order to weare a white kyrtle a russet coule and that they should be called of all men Clerici Apostolici that is to saye the Apostels clearkes This order of the Iesuites was the inuention of Ioannes Columbinus in Sena a city of Hethruria they wer at the beginning no priestes nor consecrated persons but wer men of the lay sorte geuen and addicte willingly and freely to prayer and to labour getting their meat with the trauail of their haÌ„des and with y e sweat of their browes liuing as it were in common after the example of Christ and of his disciples They are called Iesuites bicause the name of Iesus should be often in theyr mouth In the yere c. 1368. Phil. Berg. Libro Germ. Of the order of white dawbed Monkes POpe Boniface bearyng rule the order which is called Ordo de albatorum was inuented by a certayne priest in Italy which preteÌ„ded such a modesty and grauity both in woordes and in countenaunce that euery man toke him for a Sainct The professors of this order were cladde all with long white lynnen clothes euen down to the ground hauyng coules vpon theyr heads lyke vnto other Monkes The chief point of their profession was to lament the state of mankind to bewaile the sinnes of the people and to pray for a redresse of y e same at gods hand They neuer wente abroade but they had a crosse with the image of the crucifyx borne before theÌ„ which crosse y e Lucenses kepe at this day with great reuerence as a moste precious relique and daily make vowes offer diuers giftes vnto it But Pope Boniface aforesayd conceauyng that they should do no good to hys honourable estate if they continued forasmuch as they all appeared before men righteous good and Godly and the Pope with hys coÌ„plices most wicked euel and vngodly caused the author of thys order as a seditious person to be beheaded at Viterbium Some say that he was brent as a superstitious hipocrite and attaynted of some heresye In the yeare of oure Lorde .1400 Lib. Germ. Philip. Bergom Polid. c. But why do I trauayle to set forthe the number of these Monkyshe orders seeing they be almoste innumerable and a man in a manner maye assone number the sandes of the sea and tell the starres of the firmament as to prescribe a certaine number
of the Aungels hath God geuen that whiche he hath geuen to the priest I meane Whatsoeuer ye bynde on earth shal be bounde also in heauen Note there are two keyes that is to say of knowledge and of power geuen of the Lord to blessed Peter and to other men not to al meÌ„ but to Priestes alone and to their successoures For althoughe God alone forgeue synne yet neuer or verye seldome dothe he forgeue synne withoute his ministers that is to say Priestes Whiche thyng may be proued by the Lepers to whome when the Lorde had healed them he sald Go shewe your selues to the priestes and humbly obey them And whyle they were goyng they were made cleane It maye also bee proued by Lazarus whom when the Lorde had raysed vp he sayd to hys Disciples Loose hym and let hym go But wherfore dyd not the Lorde hymselfe loosen hym from y t knots of the byndings which had losoned hym froÌ„ y e bondes of death And wherfore dyd he not commaunde Mary and Martha hys systers to loose him or hys kynnesfolke the Iewes whiche were nerer vnto hym by the course of nature than the Disciples of y e Lord Verelye to declare manifestlye and to proue playnly that the power to loose and to bynde is geuen of the Lorde to priestes alone Beholde how great the goodnesse of God and the worthinesse of priestes is For the Lorde himselfe worketh good somtime euen by them y e are euell and that to thys ende bycause the keyes of the Churche should not be despised or set at nought of the faythfull For although priestes sometime haue not thys power ex merito yet haue they it ex officio dignitatis And if any priest â—e vnworthye which god forbid y t hurteth hymselfe it hyndreth thee nothyng at all Beholde what greate power is geuen to you priestes For your tounges are made the keyes of heauen O how great dignitie saith Bernard hath god geuen to you How great and excellent is y e prerogatiue of y e priestes order He hath preferred you aboue the Kynges of y e earth He hath exalted thys order of priestes aboue all men Yea as I may speake more highly he hath preferred you before Aungells thrones and powers For as he toke not Aungels but Abrahams sede to bryng to passe redemption so lykewyse hath he committed y e consecration of his body and bloude not to Aungells but to men that is to saye to priestes only Seing then y t a priest is of so greate dignitie y t he is the maker of hys maker him to destroy or to condemne it is not conuenient c. This is a very heauenly priuilege this is an exceding great glory this is a grace excelling all grace a priest to holde God in hys hands We beleue are thorowly perswaded y t the celebration of so noble a mysterye is committed to none of the Aungels to none of the Archeaungels nor to any other heauenly spirites but to your order onely c. For on the altare thorowe the mouthe and the handes of y e priestes the bodye of Christ is made euen that very bodye whiche is on the right hand of God c. O ye priestes howe greate a thing is this that at the lifting vp of your handes Kynges bowe down their heades yea Kings and Queenes offer giftes to you All the Churche or congregation confesseth calleth you fathers and desireth you to praye for them c. O the worshipfull holynesse of priestes handes O blessed and happie exercise O the true ioye of the worlde where lowe things ar ioyned to y e most high thinges when Christ handleth Christ y e priest y e sonne of God Thou hast a delight to be with the sonnes of men Therefore sayth Peter speakyng of priests ye are a chosen generation a royall Priesthoode an holy Nation a wonne people c. O ye priests consider the excellencye of your moste noble dignitye For the lord hath enriched beautified you before al other his creatures Verely priestes ar worthy to be honoured seing y e the Lord hath geueÌ„ vnto theÌ„ passing al other so greate grace and honoure in the worlde Ex lib cui titulus est Stella Clericorum Of the ceremonies of the popyshe Churche Of holy water POpe Alexander the fyrst as y e papistes fayne ordayned water mingled with salte to bee halowed afterward sprinckled vpon the people to put away their sinnes and to make theÌ„ holy and pure He also commaunded y t it shoulde bee kept both in churches and in houses to chase and dryue away deuills and wicked spirites not onely oute of houses wher meÌ„dwel but also out of y e hearts of the faythfull as though fayth and y e deuel could dwel together in one heart In the yere c. 110. Grat. Plat. Sabel Lib. Concil D. Barns Pâ—antal The wordes of pope Alexanders canon ar these We blesse y e water mingled with salte for thys purpose that all that bee sprinckled therewith may bee made holy and pure whiche thyng we commaunde all Priestes lykewyse to doe For sayeth he if the ashes of an heyfer sprinckled made holy and clensed the people from veniall synnes Muche more water sprynckled wyth salte and halowed with holye prayers doth sanctifye make holye and clense the people from veniall synnes And if the salte being sprynckled by Helizeus the barennesse of theâ— water was healed Howe muche more salte being halowed with Godlye prayers taketh awaye the barennesse of such thynges as appertayne to man and sanctifyeth and pourgeth them y t are defiled and multiplyeth suche goodes as we haue nede of and turneth away y e disceates of the deuill and defendeth men from al naughty and wicked fansies c. De conse Dist. 3. Cap. Aquam sale conspersam Lib. Concil Is not this good stuffe is not this worthy to be called gods seruice Oughte not y e people to ryse vp make curtesy to the Popyshe shauelynge when he sprinckleth theÌ„ with water of so great vertue Are not the scriptures here wel applied Doth not this ceremony make Christ Iacke out of office with all hys workes and merites God haue mercy on vs and shortly confouÌ„d Antichrist Guilihelmus DuraÌ„dus sayth y t the holy water hath deserued to haue of God so great vertue that as outwardly it washeâ—h the body from filthynesse so inwardly cleÌ„seth the soules from sinnes O blasphemye intollerable This is y e goodly Godlye Catholyke doctrine wherwith the vngoodly vngodly Papistes infecte the mindes of such Christians as are simple and light of belief yea wherwith they caste the soules of all suche as put their confidence and trust in these pylde begarly and lousy ceremonyes into euerlastyng damnation And yet must they be called laudable ceremonies well worthy and God will to be frequented and vsed in the Churche of Christ. And the teachers of thys doctrine the ministers of these
no meanes admit For sayth he as there ought to be no feast of y e Vnitie no more oughte there to be any feast of the Trinitie In the yeare c. 590. Guilielmus Durandus Pope Vrban the fourth ordained the feast of the Sacramente of the Altare otherwyse called The feaste of Corpus Christi with pardons and indulgences greate plentye to allure the foolyshe and simple people to commit spiritual whoredome with that Sacrament by adoryng and worshipping it as theyre God Maker and Sauioure and willed it to bee kepte holy the Thursdaye after Trinitie Sonday In the yeare c. 1254. Christianus Massaeus Ioan. Stella Polyd. Pantal. The beginning of thys feaste was thys In the countrey of the Leodicenses there was a certayne Recluse or Anckresse called Eua whiche of a vayne foolyshe and superstitious deuotion and loue towarde the Sacramente of the altare as they terme it procured thorowe earneste sute of Pope Vrban the fourthe that the Sacramente of the Altare commonly called Corpus Christi might also haue a feast and holy day being as wel worthye as the Gallowe tree or crosse y t Christ was haÌ„ged on which was alredy celebrated in the Church and y t the same feaste of Corpus Christi myghte with all solemnitye bee kepte holy thorowoute the whole worlde Pope Vrban being an holy and deuoute Father doubte ye not consideryng the greate deuotion earneste zeale and Godlye mynde of thys holy and religious woman accomplyshed foâ—le graciouslye her tender requeste and dyd not onely ordayne that thys feast of Corpus Christi shuld be kept holy but he also graunted plenarye Indulgence and large pardon to so many as eyther do say or heare the seruice belonging to y t feast which Thomas Aquinas the Blacke fryer made Arnoldus Bostius Guili Durand Chron. Before that time there was no such feaste knowen in the church of Christ. But thys is moste certayne that thorowe thys feaste greate Idolatrye and muche spirituall whoredome is daylye coÌ„mitted with the Masse bredde in all those places where the true doctryne of the sacrament is not knowen Pope Innocent y e thyrde sayth Theodorus Bibliander in the Councell Lateranense placed y e fond fansye of Monke Lanfranke concernyng Transubstantiation amonge the articles of the faith of the most high Trinitie In the yeare c. 1215. And bicause nothing should want to the worshippynge of the newe founde God of bread and wine and that the bishop of Rome myght haue his God Mazin as Aaron with the idolatrous Israelites had the goldeÌ„ Calfe in the wildernesse Pope Vrban the fourthe ordayned the feast of Corpus Chrâ—sti with large pardons Concil saâ— dom Of this feast we read in the English festiuall on this maner Good frendes ye shall vnderstand that this day is an highe and solemne feast in holy church and is the feast of Corpus Christi It is the feast of our Lordes owne body the whiche is offered to the highe father in heauen at the altare for the remission of our sinnes for all Christen people y t liue here in perfect loue and charitie for the great succour and helpe in releuing them that bene in paines of Purgatorye there abidyng the mercye of God Ye shall vnderstaÌ„d that this feast was founde by a Pope that was called Vrban the whiche had great grace and deuotion in the holy Sacrament of the altar considering the great nede helpe and succour to mans soule and to the â—urdering of liuing to all Christen people here in this present worlde Therfore he did establishe and ordayne thys present feast to be halowed in the next thursday after the feast of the holy Trinitie For all christen people that will be saued must haue sad beliefe in the holy Sacrament whiche is Gods own body in fourme of breade made by the vertue of Christes wordes that the priest sayth and by working of the holy Ghoste Then for this holye Pope thought to drawe people to more deuotion and better wil to this holy Sacrament and to do the seruice this day he graunteth to all that be worhy that is to say that be very contrit coÌ„fessed of their sinnes and be in the Church at both eueÌ„songs at Mattens at masse for eche an hundred dayes of pardon for eche houre of the daye xl dayes of pardon euery day of the Vtas an hundred dayes of pardon in remission of al their sinnes for euermore enduring c In serm de corpore christi Pope Gregorye the ninth appoynted y e feast of y e Natiuity of S. Iohn Baptiste whiche we commonly call Mydsommerday to kept holy In the yeare c. 1225. Chron. Germ. Pope Siluester the firste at the desire of the Emperour CoÌ„staÌ„tine instituted y e feast of LaÌ„masse called Ad vincula Sancti Petri. In the yeare c. 315. Grat. Polid. Pope Eusebius ordayned the feast of the InueÌ„tion of the crosse In the yeare c. 309. Crat. Guil. Durandus Pope Honorius deuised the feaste of the ExaltatioÌ„ of the crosse In the yere of our Lord. 622. Plat. Pant. Some attribute these feastes to Pope Vrban the fourth â–ª Pol. Virgil. Pope Calixte the thirde inuented the feaste of the Transfiguration of oure Lord and commaunded that it should be celebrated and kepte holye with as large indulgences and pardons as the feaste of Corpus Christi In the yeare of oure Lorde 1455. Matth. Palmer Ioan. Stella Pantaleon This feast as the festiual reporteth is greatly priuileged in holy Churche in so much that orders be geueÌ„ this day thorow out all Christendome great pardons be graunted to this day in diuerses places as in Syon plenare remission and all is to the weale and coÌ„forte of man and for a purueaunce to sanctifie his soule that in the last resurrection the said soule ioyned to the body may together be glorified and transfigured in clerenesse more brighter thaÌ„ is the Sunne and so euer to endure Pope Leo the fourthe instituted the Feast of the Assumption of the blessed Uirgine Mary and commaunded that it shoulde in all places be kept hye and holy by the space of right dayes In the yeare â–ª c. 858. Lib. Concil Sigebert Ioan. Functius Pope Innocent the fourth ordayned y e Feast of the Natiuitie of Mary the Uirgine with the Octaues thereof In the yeare c. 1242. Volat. Sabel Pant. Pope Felix the thyrd appoynted the Feast of the Archaungel Michaell to be kept holy In the yere of our Lord. 486. Lib. Concil Chron. Pope Felix the thirde ordayned also the Feaste of the Dedicacion of the Temple commonly called Church holy day and coÌ„maunded y t euery Citie Town or village should yerely kepe for euer y â— day wheron y e Churche was halowed Volat. Plat. Polid. Albertus Krantzius Pope Boniface the fourth ordayned the Feast of all Saintes called All Halowes In the yeare of oure Lorde 606. Plat. Volat Polid. Pope Gregory the
Agayn in the treatise called in Latin Stella Clericorum we finde this written The fyre and other paynes that are in Purgatorye are more greuous and more bytter than all the paynes of the Martyrs and all kyndes of tormentes that coulde be imagyned and inuented of the Tyrauntes in thys worlde And the soules of them that are thus punished do farre excell the multitude of all them that lyue in this worlde And therefore sayth Austen He knoweth not what he asketh whiche desyreth Purgatorye O God howe swete a thing shall it be to make satisfaction in thys world I say y t it is more greuous to be in Purgatory one twyncklyng of an eye than all y e paine whiche blessed Laurence had vpon the Gredyron Therfore one teare issuing out of a pure hearte doth purge more thā ten yeares in Purgatory yet betwene two euils the lessest is to be chosen And therfore the soules that are in Purgatorye cry with Iob on this māner and say Miseremini mei Miseremini mei saltem vos amici mei Quia manus domini tetigit me That is to say Haue pitie on me haue pitie on me at the least ye that are my frendes for the hande of the Lord hath touched me After that the Papistes had thus fained Purgatory and the moste horrible dredeful paynes therof they thought it also good to deuise some thing to relieue these paynes and to ease the bitter tormentes whiche the sely soules suffer in that most greuous fyre of purgatorye by this their deuise nothyng doubting but that no small aduauntage shoulde ryse vnto them whiche in dede hath had hitherto fortunate successe Diuerse inuented diuerse remedies against these fyry tormēts Which thyng hath bene brought to passe by y e cōstitutions ordinaūces of men partly as we may see in y e Coūcels Florentine and Constantiense and partly by the bookes and writings of the Sophisticall Papistes Some of their deuyses here to recite I thinke it not vnfitting nor out of the way The author of the booke entitled Stella Clericorum sayeth that there are iii. Churches The first is in this world and that is called Ecclesia Militans that is y e Militant or warrefayring church The secōd is in heauen and it is called Ecclesia Triumphans that is to say The Triumphant Churche The third is in Purgatory and it is called Ecclesia Expectans that is The Churche Expectant and that loketh for and abydeth deliueraunce This latter Church is in great paines from the which they may be deliuered saith he foure manner of wayes Vnde Versus Missa preces dona ieiunia quatuor ista Absoluūt animas quas purgās detinet ignis That is to saye Masse Prayers Giftes Fastings These foure thinges set at libertie y e soules that are in Purgatorye And a little after he sayeth The deuice to praye for them that are dead is holy and wholesome It is holy by the compassion of the deare frendes It is wholesome thorowe geuyng of almosse and the prayer of the faithfull and specially of the Priestes to whom the soules are committed For almosse is the meate of soules and prayer is the drinke Fastings also of the faithfull is a great refection bāket for the soules and pilgrimage goynge of frendes is the dispatche and deliuerāce of paynes As for pardons they also profite the soules in purgatorye euen so farre as they deserued while they liued in thys world But before al remedies wherewith y e soule being in Purgatory may be holpen the masse farre excelleth Therfore saith Gregory Oh how great and liuely gifte of God is this For the diuine mysteries are neuer celebrated He meaneth that the masse is neuer songe or sayd but that two vertuous workes do concurre and are brought to passe that is to saye the conuersion of one sinner and the deliueraūce of one soule at the lest out of Purgatorye The like doctrine doth the author of the festiuall teache on thys manner Ye shall vnderstande that there bene foure thinges that greatly holpen soules that bene in Purgatorye and that bene these Fidelium amicorum oratio eleemosynarum largitio salutaris hostia ieiuniorum obseruatio That is prayers of frendes deuoutly sayd almosse deede doying and masses singing and abstinence in fasting That prayers helpe much a soule that is in Purgatory the authour proueth for lacke of the testimonies of holye scripture with thys narracion or tale that followeth We find written sayth he in Legenda aureae how there was a man y t had his house fast by a churchyarde side y t his doore opened to the Churche And he vsed by custome as oft as he wēt or came to say euery time De profūdis for al christē soules Thē it happened so on a time that he was pursued with ennemyes as he went homewards But when he came into the churchyarde he kneled downe and thought to saye De profundis But his ennemies came after Anone the dead bodyes rose euery chone with instruments as they wrought with by theyr liues and anone they droue away his enemies But when they saw that they cried God mercy and this man euer after prayde and did almosse dedes for them that were in payne Thus I may well proue sayth he that deuoute prayers helpen many a soule that bene in Purgatory Also almesse deedes helpen many a soule Sicut aqua extinguit ignem ita eleemosyna extinguit peccatum Right as water quencheth fire so almesse deede quencheth the fire y t brenneth them that bene in Purgatorye if they bene in good lyfe and in perfecte charity that done it c. Nowe to proue that almesse deedes done for soules in Purgatorye profite thē greatly he bringeth in this narratiō or tale We rede saith he y t in olde tyme good people woulde on all hollowen day bake bread deale it for all christē soules And yet there ben some but all to fewe We rede In Legenda aurea of a knight that should go to a battayle and had a cosen that he loued passing well and sayde to him thus If he were slayne in the battayle he shoulde sel his horse deale the value to poore people in almesse to pray for al christē soules So it hapned y t he was slayne and his cosin loued wel y e horse tooke him to his own vse Then soone after this Knight appeared to hys cosin and said thus to him These eyght daies for my horse thou hast made me to burn in purgatorye and therfore God wil take vengeaunce on thee Forsoth quod he this day thy soule shal be in hel with y e fende Ego purgatus vado in regnum dei And I am purged and go to the kingdome of heauen And anon an horrible noyse was heard in the ayre of fendes which caught this man and bare hym awaye The thyrd thyng y ◠helpeth soules in