Emperour Mauricius blood But what maner men they should become our Lordes wil was to shewe by thys tokē that they should be most diligent folowers of theyr founder and through conspiracie treason warres hyndre the godly and holy endeauours of Emperours Which thing we shall a litell after shewe by more euident profe Nowe then the litel horne which in Daniel is a figure of Antichrist was growen out and wyth an exceding proude gay glisteryng title was named the head of the churche Howbeit he florished not al this while with so great streynghtes nor atchieued so mightie highe power as the forcast of so weightie a mater did necessarily require For wher the bishops being chosen of the cleargie people of Rome must nedes be confirmed either of the Emperour him selfe or elles of his lieutenaunt the Exarche of Rauenna the bishoppes by them confirmed were not hable to obteyne any power against the emperours of Rome and therfore they durst not for their eares ymagine any thing that might be in any condicion derogatorious either against the power or honour of the emperours So that the bishoppes thought it not good for them to rest vntill about the year of our saueour Cōstātine the. 4. Benedicte the. 2. DClxx the mater was brought to that passe that Constantine the fourthe emperour of that name endued bishop Benedicte the seconde with this priuilege that whom so euer thensfurth the cleargie and people of Rome should haue made bishop the same should also be acknowlaged of al mē as the head of the churche and Christ our saueours vicare wythout any meane confirmaciō either of the Emperour him self or of his lieutenaunt the Exarche of Rauenna But anon as the prowde ambicious Bishoppes of Rome hade obteyned this their maters begāne to succede euen after their owne purpose by this meanes so great streynght might and autoritie happened to that litell horne which yet hitherto appeared in all mennes sight to be but vile weake and naught set by that afterwarde it became intolerable euen to the Emperours them selues by whose counsailes and helpe it was promoted so high that it made batail and preuailed euen against them their selues And ther wanted not at that tyme signes and wondres wherby the heauenly father admonished wretched mortal folkes of the periles which shoulde be brought in by Antichrist For as Platina who out of all paraduenture was bothe the Bishoppes owne secretarie and also their trusty Oratour beareth record a fearfull and an vnwont blasing starre appeared and so vehement a fyre brake out of Vesuuius a mount Vesuuius of Compaigne that the places roūde about were brent vp By these tokens it was vndoubtedly the father of heauens will to shewe vnto all men that Antichristes fire began allready to burne in Italie which wyth a sore burnyng flame should consume and disquiete the consciences of many men For euen at the furst whan the Bishop of Rome was aduaunced to so highe power ther past scarcely fourtie yeares but he beganne to set out all his streinghtes and autoritie against the very Emperours them selues not wythout their greuous sore damage and perile For in the yeare of our saueour Christes birthe DCCxij Philippicus the Emperour of the Monothelites was infecte wyth the heresie of them which holde opinion that ther is but one only wil in Christ Iesu By reasō wherof pope Constantine stryketh him wyth the Striuing about ymages thonderbolt of his curse and maketh this decree and statute wythall that the ymages of the holy fathers which were present at the sixe furst and general counsailes should be painted in S. Petres porche But this mater bredde newe stryfe and newe hurly burlies For vpō that the bishop hade also occasion geuen him wherby he might throwe downe and ouerwhelme the three hornes or kingdomes that Daniel maketh mencion of For the bishoppes of the greke churches set their fote with most eagre stomackes against the bishoppes decree For in asmuche as they sawe God hade by his owne mouthe forbidden the vse of ymages in tēples with so earnest and so perfite a commaundemēt they affirmed that no ymages at all ought either to be hade or suffred in christen mennes temples But wher as the most parte folowed the Monothelites heresie they were also ouercome and ouerthrowen from this godly and holy sentence of abolishing of ymages so that vse of ymages being confirmed by the bishop Emperour Leo the third banished ymages of Romes autoritie brought a newe parte of supersticiō in to the churche Than foure yeares after that in that year of our saueour Christes birthe DCCxvi the emperour Leo that thrid of that name begāne his reigne which being instructe in that knowlage of God des lawe caused al the ymages stāding in the tēples through out all the coastes of the empire to be abolished taken awaye and sent lettres to the bishop of Rome Gregorie the seconde commaunding Gregorie the. 2. him that he should also do the same But ther was kyndled a great greuous cōtenciō a sore fraie For the Pope that most holy father in the wanyaūt had wyth so great studie diligēce dronkē of the cōmaūdemētes wherw t the Lorde condēneth forbiddeth ymages that he was so sawcy as to call Leo thēperour by a most odious name wicked ymage quellour yea also set him in so deadly an hate with the people of Italie bringeth him in suche a contēpt with al men that som wold haue gone about to chose a new Emperour And albeit ther purpose toke none effect for euen Gregorie him self could not allowe it the cause why was that the bishops ambicion could not awaye with any Emperour in Italie seing they wolde be lordes of al thinges thē selues yet the people of Rauenna stered vp a great mightie sedicion wherin the emperours lieutenaunt Paule the Exarche and his sonne were bothe slayne of the sedicious multitude of the commōs But forasmuche as that vproare coulde not moue Leo his mynde but he wold most constauntly goo on forewarde wyth his purposed intent he was at leynght strikē wyth the curse of pope Gregorie the thrid of that name and depryued bothe of the communion of Gregorie the. 3. the churche and of his empire Besides this whā he hade purposed to haue sent an other Exarche to Rauenna to ordre the maters of Italie the Pope also resisted him and wythstode him that he coulde not by reason of the Lumbardes whom he hade drawne on his parte against the Emperour For they wyth a strong power besieged Rauenna bette it and at leynght toke it and therwythall depryued the Emperour of al his iurisdicciō in Italie Here now we see the furst horne throwen downe For al the Emperours power which he hade yet vnto The greke Emperours this tyme holden in Italie was opprest at the popes settyng on by force of armes of the Lumbardes and the dryuē out of Italie Emperour him selfe was all
together throwne out of Italie But assone as this was brought to passe anon newe mociones stered vp newe vproares and newe contencions by meanes wherof ther was occasion geuē to the Bishoppes of Rome to throwe downe also that other two hornes and to enlarge the limites of their owne Empire For Luithprande king of Lumbardie being a in ā ambicious and desirous to reigne alofte chalenged that parte of Italie which was before tyme in subiection to the Emperours of Constantinopole to him selfe and his kingdome in despight of the popes nose Wher vpon the mater at leynght cam to that passe that whan he hade taken the cities of the bordres rounde about he pressed euen the citie of Rome it selfe with layeng of siege to it and was wonderfully greuous to the pope and his But in this case pope Bregorie did as the Bishoppes of Rome hade Note the practise of these prelates not ben before that tyme wont to do he desired aide and defēce against his foes at the Emperour of Cōstantinopoles hādes euē the same emperour whom a litell before he hade excommunicated for casting ymages out of the temples And he sent also embassadours to Charles Martellus Maister Charles Martellus of the Frenche kinges householde desiring him to be good to the citie of Rome and to the churche now being that furst tyme in trouble Wel Charles cast not of the bishoppes desires but with louing exhortacion withdrewe king Luithprande his frēde and godfather from the siege of the citie and set the bishop and all the Romaynes at libertie from the daungerous sore perile that they were in And than in dede was the furst tyme that the defence of the churche was by the bishoppes newe and vnwōt entreprise translated from the greke emperours to the princes of Fraunce This good turne of Charles Martellus was so thankefully accepted of the bishop of Rome that very great profyte came therof to his posteritie by meanes of the bishoppes For wheras the Frenchemen were wont to haue kinges of the olde stocke of kinges it came to passe through lythernesse of the last sorte of kynges that they bare the name of king and the honour and state of the realme but the treasure and al the power of the realme should be in the gouernours handes whom they called Maiores Domus the rulers or grand officers of the house in somuche that they should administre what so euer were to be done either at home or from home And whā Charles Martellus was dead his sonne Pipine was aduaunced Pipine to so high dignitie and power that wher he walowed altogether in pride and ambicion he beganne treatourously to stere again his owne king named Chilperichus and to ymagine denises against him and griedyly to Chilperīchus couet the hole kingdome to him selfe And wheras he coūsailed sōdry waies vpon this mater now with the nobles of the courte and of the realme and anon with the bishoppes thē selues at leynght he thought it good that a mater of so weightie importaunce should worthyly be referred to the head of al churches Rome For that wylye subtyle witted mā cōceaued an hope that the bishoppes of Rome wolde remembre his fathers good turne that they wolde thankefully geue sentence on his syde against the kyng So embassadours were sent to Zacharie bishop of Rome Burcharde bishop of Herbipola and Folradus an abbot And the summe of their embassage was on this sorte Forasmuche as Zacharie is bishop of that church which is worthily called the head of al churches let him geue sentence according to his autoritie whether is to be compred more worthy the kynges crowne he that is King only in name is hable to do nothing either with his counsailes or paine taking or he that alone can susteyne the hole burthen of the realme Pope Zacharie smelled the subtile question and remēbring his fathers good turne pronounced with purposely deuised wordes that Pipine vpō whose shoulders all the trauailes and burthen of the realme did heng was more worthy the kinges rowme than Chilpericus mynding by this meanes not only to recompense his fathers good turne but also to purchace a trusty and a valeaunt Patrone and defendour bothe to him self and to the churche of Rome Pipine than by At the cōpassing of euery treason or myschief a Bishop or a preest i◠euer in the one ende reason of the bishoppes sentence aduaunced him selfe the more stowtly And whan he hade getten it allowed of the bishoppes and certain of the nobles of the court with all he was crowned in a citie of the Suessiones by the diligence of Boniface the bishop of Mens and so he toke the realme in to his owne handes And incontinētly he deposed Chilperichus his soueraigne liege lorde and king being a simple man in dede but of no euill disposition from his regall power and dignitie and hauing deposed him he thrust him in a monastery to lyue like a monke But whan the king hauing suffred so muche iniurious wrong desired the publike fidelitie and ther wanted not good mē and fauourours of equitie which were excedingly muche displeased at Pipines so wicked attemptate and wold not withall receaue Pipine being so notable a ranke traitour bicause you must vnderstande of their othe made before to king Chilperichus marke Pope Zacharie cometh again and wher he did before make wicked entreprises he dothe now an other as euil or elles a worse For least that man shoulde haue ben iustlye reiected of the Frenchemen whom he hade most vniustly made a king he assoiled bothe Pipine and all the realme from the othe and foyaltie that they hade made to king Chilperichus and commaunded al men to acknowlage Pipine to be their king so to obeye him And al this gaire as we reade was done about the yeare of our saueour DCCliij Nowe who is he that can not see here the secōde horne throwen downe also by the popes wickednesse For he that was borne of a kinges blood and lawfully chosen king reigned ouer the Frenchemen is depryued of his realme and one is put in his rowme that was nother borne of the kinges blood nor lawfully made king but a fitte man for the bishop of Rome in al pointes and his maters he applied studiously by whose trauaile and benefite we shall hereafter heare that the thrid Horne also was throwen downe For where the Lumbardes who as we haue sayde were gredily desirous a litel afore of the Empire of Italie wolde in no wise geue ouer their begonne entreprises but rather became the Popes enemies and vnder king Aistulphus disquieted the Romaynes groundes and coastes wyth continuall warres so that the Romaynes were not hable to resiste their enemy his power was so great Pope Stephane being at leynght enforced wyth extreme necessitie fied Pope Stephan to Pipine into Fraunce humbly beseching hym to ayde the churche of Rome than being in daungier and to deliuer it from the tyrannye of the
maye be playnly ynough perceaued of the othe that he was constrayned to bynde him self in to pope IohnÌ„ that monstre of hooredome For his successours enrolled the forme of it in their Canones and decrees on this wyse To thee Lorde Pope IohnÌ„ I Kyng Otthoes othe Ottho doo promyse and sweare by the father the GoÌ„ne and the holy Goost by this tree of the quickening crosse and by these reliques of sayntes that yf by the sufferaunce of God I shal come to Rome I shal exalte the holy churche of Rome and thee the gouernour of the same according to my power lyfe and membres and thou shalt nor lose the honour that thow haste by my will or by my couÌ„sail or by my coÌ„sent or by myne exhortacion and in Rome I shall make no pleaye nor ordinaunce in al the thinges that perteyne to thee or to the Romaynes And what so euer shall come to our possession of G. Petres lande I shall rendre it to thee againe And to whom so euer I shallcommytte the gouernaunce of Italie I shall make him sweare to be thy helper to defende G. Petres lande according to his power Lo welbeloued brethren in christ this is the soleÌ„ne excellent othemaking of the emperour Ottho which othe dothe well beare witnesse that Ottho hade non other rewarde geueÌ„ him for his most large good turnes shewed to the pope and for the deliueraunce of all Italie but that he was constrayned to bynde him selfe to the popes seruice and become a mayntenour a defeÌ„dour of that hoore of Babilon and of her wicked tyranny Besydes this assone as he came furst in Apo. 17. to the citie he was commaunded to subscribe with his owne hande to the donacion of king Lewis wherof we haue spoken a litell before to this ende you must vnderstande that he should by no clayme chalenge to the Empire either the citie of Rome or other places belonging to the Empire out of the popes handes and that the bishoppes of Rome might vse their wickedly goteÌ„ goodes with the more ease and securitie These maters as they are now set out the historie wrytours make meÌ„cioÌ„ were done about the yeare of Christes birthe DCCCC lxij Furthermore albeit the FreÌ„che men toke it very euil that the title and dignitie of the empire was taken from them and translated to the Germaynes yet the bishoppes of Rome considered that suche mightie emperours of the Germaynes which hade bounden them selues by a sore othe vnto their will as it is allready declared should not be reiected And for that cause they set their myndes with diligent studie to this ende the rather that by som haÌ„dsom meane they might confirme the Empire to the Germaynes and reserue the clayme and dignitie of it in their owne hande And in this case pope Gregorie the. 5. Gregorie the. 5. shewed his sleightye witte which helped and set forewarde this deuise very mightyly For he inasmuche as he was borne in Sarone and was kynsman also to Emperour Ottho the thrid of that name toke this establishement for chosing the emperour Ottho him self not denyeng but coÌ„senting to it rather that it should be lauful froÌ„ thensfurthe to the Germaines alone to chose the emperour And he ordayned sixe Electours which at the deceasse of euery Emperour should of duetie haue the charge of that mater that is to wete three Prelates of the bishoppes noÌ„bre as many princes The Emperour chosen by 6. Electours of Germany And vnto theÌ„ he added a seuenthe the king of Boheme to sattle the discorde of the ê‘tes But although he wold seme to haue coÌ„mitted al the power of chosing the emperour vnto them yet he hathe bouÌ„den both them al the Germaynes with this condicion that whom so euer they should haue chosen he should than be taken for emperour and Auguste in case the bishop of Rome hade comfirmed him These appeare euidentlie to be done in the year of our Lorde M. II. But in this place also it is to see the popes craftes and deceates to be in a maner vnauoideable wherby they confirmed their supremacie and power in more ample wise than afore with a newe addicion For furst of al he placed amoÌ„g the Princes Electrours three bishoppes who seing they are straitly bouÌ„deÌ„ to the sea of Rome by an othe they dare chose non other man to be Emperour but whoÌ„ they perceaue maye be allowed by the popes good will And moreouer although the election succede not all after the popes mynde yet hathe he reserued the confirmacion coronacion to himself which if he denye to him that is chosen he shall nother be called Emperour nor August Wherof it is manifestly apparent that the electours haue nothing geueÌ„ them but bare titles of honour and that the popes by this contrefaicte colour wolde cloke their ambicion and tyraÌ„nye which they are ashamed to practice more openly Hereof their owne Canons beare witnesse which saye that like as the secular sweorde wherby the armed Emperour reigneth ought to be in subiection to the spiritual that is to saye to the bishop of Rome him selfe so they clayme that power to the bishop also that he alone by his owne autoritie with out al consent either of the hole Counsail or any prelate maye depryue the Emperour of his dignitie yf he perceaue him to be in displeasure with him And verily they haue alwaies foughten with this their autoritie against euery of the most holy empeperours not wtout greuous losse of al Germanye like as the actes of HeÌ„ry ye. 4. Lewis ye. 4. Friderich Barbarosse others make meÌ„cioÌ„ of which maters it shal be treated more pleynteously and more clearely in the homilies folowyng Of these thinges now which hitherto haue ben reckoned vp I suppose it appeare sufficieÌ„tly opeÌ„ ynough with what beginninges they clymbed vp aloft vnto so highe estate of dignitie power wherof they vse euen at this daye so prowdely so shamelesly to boast that is to saye that they haue conueyed these maters to their owne haÌ„des through most wicked craftes treasoÌ„ robberies periuries falshead For furst of al they obteyned at Phocas that most cruel tyraÌ„nes haÌ„des the proude title of general vniuersal bishop not wtout stiffe striuing had with the bishoppes of ConstaÌ„tinopole And they vsed Phocas autoritie power furst of al against the emperours of the grekes which were their benefactours For wher they wolde not abide to haue ydolles nor maintenaunce of Idolatrie in their temples the popes layde at them with the cruell thoÌ„derbolt of cursyng expulsed them froÌ„ the coÌ„munioÌ„ of the church were so bolde as ê‘tly to kil their Exarches in Italie ê‘tly to driue theÌ„ out of Italie so as whaÌ„ they had draweÌ„ it al together to the Departing they plucked it cleane out of the emperours power FroÌ„ thece they ranne sawcely into FrauÌ„ce oppressed the kynges blood aduauÌ„ced such to the crowne of the realme as
And forasmuche as al men are not Antichrist fighteth wyth open force so ignoraunt blynde that all doo suffre them selues to be deceaued and blynded wyth this furst sweorde of Antichrist that is lies and false miracles Paule ascribeth vnto him that other sweorde of sathan also that is open violent force and power to doo wrong wherwyth he may openly laye vpon them that resiste him and oppresse and make them to couche that speake against him And this we may see as playnly in the Bishoppes of Rome as we doo their lies and falfe craftes For furst they are furnished well ynough wyth their owne streynght and their owne power They haue great cities obedient at their commaundement They haue great countreyes and great menne vnder their subiection and autoritie they haue great hostes of valeaūt and wel furnished warlike mē they haue also harnesse and weapones for the warres and al that can be required vnto marciall affaires and to make warres withal yea they not only haue them but also they occupie them openly against kynges princes cities and people that refuse to be vnder their subiection and dare be so hardy as to withstande their lawes Notwithstanding bicause they haue perceaued by experience the chaunce of warres to be vncertain and doubtfull the myschieuous subtil helhoundes haue made them newe kynde of armour and a newe sweorde so kene that they haue strikē downe euē most mightie kinges and emperours with the edge of it Excommunicacion I meane which a man may call rather a thonderbolt that they vse to strike and to curse suche princes withall as be not their frendes and to depryue them of their princely dignities and whan they haue put downe them to set other in their places And to thintent their tyrannye should want nothing they haue made their power so strōg wyth other mennes marcial force that they neuer myssed of som either princes or cōmō people which were content to put their iudgementes sentences in execuciō against suche as were enemies of the sea of Rome to hasarde them selues in most daungerous warres for the mayntenaunce of it Of this tirannie ioyned with wonderfull muche politike falshead the Greke Emperours felt their parte For the B. of Rome procured the Lumbardes in to Italie to make warres vpō thē till he hade wiped them besides the Empire of al Italie And yet the lumbardes them selues tasted of the like falshead and tirannie For whan they beganne to wexe to sore vpon the Bishoppes of Rome and to couet the empire of Italie and Rome wher the Bishop durst not meddle wyth them him self he calleth the Frenche kinges to helpe him by whose power he furst repressed the Lumbardes and at last he ouerlaide them so by Charles the great that he lefte them nothing of their realme which they hade kept in possession CC. yeares saue only the bare name And in our tyme we haue sene the B. of Rome doo to muche wronge to the Frenche men For he droue them also after his owne practiced maner by other mennes power namely by the armies of the Heluecianes at that tyme out of al Italie In dede these are the craftye trickes of this bawdye hoore of Babilon yea she is so connyng in these wilye knackes and can brewe madde loue cuppes so fynely that she can get her louers in euery countrey so trusty and so constraunt that they wil not sticke to put their owne lyues in hasarde so they may defende and mayntene her maistresship Yet least she should be constrayned to seke her newe louers and defendours or rather protectours euery daye afreshe she is crept so depe in to the bosomes of emperours that they suffre them selues to be bounden by their solēne othe to defēde this beast against all her foes who so euer they be as we maye vnderstande by the forme of the othe lately prescribed vnto the emperour Ottho and as it is somwhat more euidently recorded in other of the popes owne Canones For in the Extrauagauntes Com. li. 1. Tit. De Maioritate obedientia he writeth thus We are taught by the wordes of the Gospel that in this churche meanyng the churche of Christ which he vnderstādeth to be the churche of Rome and in the power of the same ther be twoo sweordes a spirituall sweorde and a temporall sweorde For whā the apostles saide Lo here are two sweordes that is to saye in the churche the Lorde answered them not that they were to many but ynowe Doubtles he that denyeth the tēporal sweorde to be in Petres power dothe marke euil the worde that the Lord speaketh Put vp thy sweord again in to the scaberde Therfore the churche hath power of both sweordes that is to saye the spirituall sweorde the material sweorde But the material sweord must be exercited for the churche the spiritual sweorde of the churche The spiritual sweorde is in the priestes owne hande and the material sweorde in the hande of kinges and knyghtes howbeit at the appointement and sufferaunce of the priest Marke here now brethren Antichristes external power and his bloody murthering sweorde which the B. of Rome chalengeth to him selfe by so playne wordes hauyng no grounded reason of the scriptures but wrasteth them so blasphemously so violently For he sayth ther be two sweordes in the churche that is the Ecclesiasticall power the Emperours power he maketh them bothe subiecte to the B. of R. And he sayeth that they misunderstande Christes wordes which denye the Emperours power to be subiecte to the B. of Romes pleasure And herein in dede the beast sayeth moste true For they that denye this do the greatest displeasure that can be to the sea of Rome while they wolde set the Emperours power at libertie wype the sea of Rome besyde so great autoritie to appoint and commaunde But let it suffice vs to haue learned thus muche hereout that it is out of question that the B. of Rome hathe snatched to him selfe that other kynde of Antichristes weapones And what nede we to beate any longer vpō this mater seyng experience telleth plainly that I saye the truthe For is not the Emperours sweord drawen now at the B. of Romes berke Doth it not rage and make hauocke alreadye of the Lordes saintes And I thinke ther is no man but he knoweth for what cause the B. of Ro. cōmaundeth this sweord to be drawne Ther be bulles that came frō Rome which testifye the same Mary that the Germanes muste be brought agayne to the obedience of the churche of Rome with fire and sweorde and be spoiled quyte of the ioyous cōfortable fodder of the Gospell Yet to bring vs the more out of doubte let vs heare what the beast him selfe sayeth The wordes of the Indulgence Idibus Iulii 1546 Therfore wher we vtterly despered of their amendement meanyng the Germanes and seyng that they were open enemies to the holy churche of God and at vtter dephyaunce with all godly men and that
the doctrine and example of Christ and depende holly of it And whan we see that he hathe ê“uided so for his church that he wolde not burthen it with an vnprofitable pompe of ceremonies but contenting him self with a fewe hath appointed only those that myght be sufficient vnto saluacioÌ„ as these almost are the preaching of the worde baptisme the token of regeneracion and the Lordes supper that acceptable remembraunce of the Lordes deathe and of our redempcion And so we contenting our selues also with those same wil thinke that nothing is to be added besydes these nother will we searche any deper yf we wil beleue in him acknowlage him to be our saueour kyng priest and the faythful scholemaister of maÌ„kinde As many therfore as diligently folowe this simple playne doctrine of Christ and the oracles of Goddes worde suffre not them selues to be drawen awaye with other meÌ„nes vaine ymaginacions vnto them this faythfull admonicion of Christ is both holsome and profitable But as many as will not haue their faythe and religion hedged within these bondes but leape ouer the hedge lyke a wylde beast and iudge otherwyse of Christ than is taught in the scriptures and seke saluacion and life elles wher thaÌ„ in Christ our only saueour and also lade the churche with newe ceremonies and with a newe forme of religion they forgette this faithfull admonicion and doo contrary to Christes commaundement goo out and suffre them selues to be seduced not without the present dauÌ„ger bothe of their owne soules and other folkes And therfore I thinke al men may plainly see what the causes are that let vs holde vs backe at this daye that we can not for sake either the knowne truthe and Christ our Lorde or becom papistes and submitte our selues to the B. of Romes doctrine and religion For the commaundement of Christ holdeth vs backe which it wer not only abominable for vs to transgresse but also it is tyed vnto vs with that extreme perile of our soules And I thinke ther is no man so blynde but he seeth that the B of Romes doctrine is such a one that he pulleth awaye suche as folowe his trace with it maketh them to goo out from Christ our only saueour For he speaketh not of Christ as the scriptures purporte For his woÌ„ted maner is to shewe those thiÌ„ges which ar frely geueÌ„ vnto maÌ„kind by Christ alone elles wher yea in other places iÌ„numerable besides christ The B. of Rome reasoneth of religion aswell inwarde as outwarde farre otherwise than Christ did in tymes past He sendeth men to sayntes and pulleth them awaye from the maker of all He hathe brought a coÌ„fused muckeheape and burthen of ceremonies in to the churche a great deale heauier than the leuitical priesthood was wherwith the vnlearned coÌ„mon peoples coÌ„sciences are miserably tormented Moreouer he teacheth meÌ„ to buy those thinges out with golde and siluer that are frely geueÌ„ vs by Christ and that ought to be hade by only faith What nede many wordes he sheweth Christ and the saluacion that Christ hathe wrought in such places as nother Christ nor saluacion is Wyth what heart than and with what conscience shal we be hable to folowe the B. of R. trade seing we heare Christ with plaine wordes an open lowde voice bidde Goo not out Shal we be so hardy than as to passe the bondes of the faithe and religion that Christ hathe prefixed vnto vs God defende vs from that wicked temeritie brethren Though the prince of the worlde rage though his vicare and minister the B. of Rome stampe and stare though princes that are stered vp by their driftes playe the deuil though Cardinalles patriarkes bishoppes prelates abbottes prouostes deanes suffraganes monkes chanones friers and all the hole rable of sacrificeing massemongers and religious persones of bothe sexes renne out of their wittes for angre and though men crye euery where CouÌ„sailes Counsailes yea though the couÌ„sailes blowe and blustre lighten and thondre neuer so thicke yet that one only sayeng ought to be of more autoritie with vs than that we should be afraide of al the mennes streinghtes power and policie in all the wide worlde and for drede of them to goo out from Christ contrary to Christes commaundement For Christ is that king of glorie the most victorious triumphaunt Emperour that holy sacred Maiestie that is mightie in dede in whose sight all knees ought to bowe For he shall beate his prowde scornefull stubburne enemies in pieces with his yron rodde make theÌ„ a fotestole for hym to treade vpoÌ„ vnder his fete Let vs now steppe ouer vnto the other The wil of God is our Sanctificacion chief point of Goddes will which Paule in his 1. Thessa 4. expoundeth on this wyse This is the will of God euen your sanctificacion or holynesse that you should absteine froÌ„ hooredome that euery one of you should knowe howe to possesse his vessell wyth holynesse and honour not wyth the luste of concupiscence as the heatheÌ„ do whiche knowe not God Here O you Romishe rufflers and moste shameles papistes lende me your eares a litel You I saye that go about to bring the faythe in Christ and the holy sacred doctrine of the gospelles truthe into slaunder hatred vnder pretense as though it neuer required good workes but reiected and forbade them as vnprofitable and superfluous For where we ascribe all the glorie of our redempcion and saluacion to Christ alone and attribute nothing vnto your workes and merites by and by ye burst out in a great rage and crye that we damne al good workes and open a wyndowe for meÌ„ to committe al wickednesse But how falsely how wickedly how vnaduisedly how shamelessi ye doo this learne it not of vs whom ye hate already before hande but of Paule the Apostle that chosen instrument of Christ our saueour For albeit he dothe euery where harpe and beate vpon this one thing that men shoulde knowe they are saued by Iesus Christ and confesseth also with playne wordes that he knoweth nothing elles saue Iesus Christ that he was crucified yet he saieth not that good worckes are eyther vnprofitable or suê‘fluous nor biddeth men folowe the lust the synful affections of their owne fleshe nother doth he appoynt suche a faythe as maye make men to synne carelesly as these wicked blasphemous antichristian Papistes coÌ„clude But this sayeth he is the wyl of God euen your holynesse For seyng Christ Iesus hathe washed vs wyth his owne blood and saÌ„ctified vs and made vs the temples of his spirite the apostle wold haue vs to be after such sorte that we contynue stil in this sanctificacion or holynesse and not defile our selues wyth the filthinesse of synnes And for that cause he maketh mencion of hooredome most chiefly in this place bicause the hooremonger vnhaloweth that holy sacred temple most specially in synnyng against his owne body yet vnder the name of hooredome he will
Antichrist That is to saye A true reporte that Antichriste is come / wher he was borne of his Persone miracles what tooles he worketh withall and what shal be his ende Translated out of Latine into Englishe By I. D. O Lorde why haste thou broken downe the hedge of thy vyne in Englande that al they which go by plucke of her grapes The wilde Boore out of the wood dothe roote it vp and the wilde beast of the field deuoureth it Tourne thee againe thou God of hostes loke downe from heauen beholde and visite this vyne It is brent with fire and cut downe c. Psal 80. Imprinted in Sothwarke by Christophor Trutheall Cum priuilegio Regali 1556. The translatour to the reader I Commende in to thy gentil handes good reader a most notable and godly learned worke of fyue Homelies / set furthe in Latin about .ix. yeares past by the reuerende and ryght famous clearke Rodulphe Gualter of zuirik / at suche tyme as the Bishop of Rome bestowed the treasures of his blessing wyth fyre and sweorde by Italianes and Spanyardes vpon certayne partes of Germanye whych neuertheles were by the mightye power and prouidence of God so preserued in the myddes of affliction / that the more trauaile Satan by his sonne and heire Antichrist toke to haue suppressed the Gospell of Christ / the more it florisheth the more he persecuted it / the strōglyer it is confirmed / and the depelier it hathe taken roote yea and as it is Goddes wonted practise / to tourne the malice and furie of his enemies to the furtheraunce of his glorie it neuer prospered in Germanye thākes be to the mercie of God for it as it dothe nowe And for asmuche as we Englishe mē did by solemne othe abiure his vsurped power and forged autoritie whom the said author of thys worke calleth the myghtie houge Antichrist in the dayes of Goddes lawfull appointed Ministers of famous memorie / Kyng Henry theight / and his sonne the blessed Kyng Edwarde the sixthe and seyng ther is no lesse tirannye and plage purposed / and hanging at thys present by the iuste iugemēt of God / for the peoples vnthankfulnesse / negligence / and aduised periurie ouer the noble realme of Englande / than at that tyme was attempted in Germanie I thought it good / to translate and set furthe this notable worke / into our vulgare Englishe tongue / for iij. causes Furst to stere the fauourers of the Gospell of Iesus Christ / and the weake brethren / to geue God most heartie thankes for his mercifull gifte of knowlage in this case / and with teares for the miserable condicion of our naturale countrey / now pressed with the tirannous yowke of antichrist to poure out feruent prayers to God almyghtie / that he wolde of his abundaūt mercie for Christes sake vouchsafe to wythdrawe once again this deserued and iustly sent miserie Secondarely / to desire those men / which esteme measure religion and Goddes worde / by the successe of worldly thinges to beholde with indifferent consciences what wealthe and pleyntie of meate and money / the Masse the daughter of Antichrist hathe brought wyth her again into Englande and therby though they compt litell vpon Goddes worde to beholde how horrible a thing it is / to fall into the handes of the lyuyng God / by committing of wilfull periurie and in what state they stande against the dredfull daye of the Lord whose eyes and iudgement no colourable pretense can deceaue \ for receauing againe of his most blasphemous enemye / whom they hade renounced by a necessary lawfull o the / made in his holy name Thirdly / to prouoke the bringers in again / and mayntenours of his pretenced power autoritie whom this autor calleth Antichrist either to repent and reuoke their popishe damnable errours / and confesse and embrace the truth of Christes Gospel with vs or els to cōfute this worke / not with mennes traditions nor vayne falsely vsurped titles of the churche / and catholike fayth but with the manifest worde of God wherupon the catholike churche of Christ / and the true christian iustifieng faithe is buylded yf they can as I knowe / they can not For their artillarie is to shorte and to weake / yea all the ordinaunce of the very gates of hell shall neuer be able to encountre it / muche lesse to preuaile against it In the meane tyme / we being established and quieted in the inuincible trueth of Goddes most holy sacred worde wherby the autor of this worke translated by my poore trauaile / dothe most learnedly muinciblye paint out vnto thee that great enemye of God / Antichrist shall by the assistence of Goddes holy spirite / patiently digeste their railyng and tirannye And considering oure former vnthankulnesse / carnalitie / and necligence in our vocacion / we shal most humbly submit our selues to our heauenly fathers rodde and correction and loke for deliueraunce at his owne mercyfull leasure / knowyng that in the myddes of his wrathe / he remembreth mercye Take paynes now to reade ouer diligently these fyue Homelies with the Autors preface / good reader And yf God lightē thyne heart with this candle / to consent vnto the truthe wyth vs / wherof thou wast either ignoraunt before / or in case thou be already persuaded / yet yf thou be the better instructed and more soundly satled hereby in this behalfe I haue my hole desire / and full recompence God geue thee vnderstandyng in all thinges / and in hym ryght hertely well to fare The Autors owne tytle of thys boke / is thus Antichrist That is to saye fyue Homilies wherin it is proued that the Bishoppe of Rome is the ryght and myghtye houge Antichrist whom the oracles of the Prophetes Christ the Apostles tolde before shoulde come and that we shoulde beware of him Set furthe by Rodulphe Gualter of Zuirik c. ¶ To his deare brethrē that preache the Gospell of Christ in the Countie of zuirike Rodulphe Gualter grace and peace from him which only and none but he is made vnto vs of his heauenly father peace righteousnesse wysedome redemption and sanctificacion THat chosen instrument of God and teacher of the gētiles the Apostle Paule whan he shoulde take his laste leaue of the Elders of the Ephesiās and had faithfully warned them of many maters yet amōg other thinges he thought good to geue them this lesson withall Take hede to your selues to the hole flocke of whome the holy Goost hathe set you to be ouerseers or Bishoppes to gouerne Act. 20. the churche of God whome he hath purchaced with his owne blood For I knowe this that ther shall after my departure greuous wolues entre in among you that shall not spare the flocke Which wordes ryght reuerende brethrē and felowe Ministres forasmuche as they were spoken to those men whome the self same office was at that tyme in the churche of Christe cōmitted vnto which is
at this daye committed vnto vs by lawful vocacion we shall thinke them also spoken vnto vs yea vnto vs most specially whome the last seasons of the worlde 1. Cor. 10. are come vpon whyche not only the prophetes but also Christ and the Apostles haue tolde before hande certainly shal be of al others the most perilous seasons by reason of rauenyng wolues false greasye anointed ones and false prophetes It standeth vs therfore necessarily in hande to pondre this gaire diligently that we may knowe what an office it is that the Lorde hath committed vnto our charge what care studie and diligence we ought to vse in the same For yf it be the maner of suche men as are geuen vnto the worlde to priuate pleasures to applie theyr diligece vnto those thynges that earthye princes coÌ„mitte vnto their charge it shal become vs with muche more studious endeauour to geue attendaunce vpoÌ„ that office which the most highe Kyng of Kinges and Lorde of Lordes Iesus Christ hath layde vpon our shoulders and shall one daye require a reconyng of it at our handes Math. 24 and. 25. whaÌ„ he shal come in his glorie wyth all his Angels vnto iudgement But now thapostle Paule sayeth that we are ordeyned Bishoppes or ouerseers not promisyng vs a certain Empire or realme as we se almost al the Bishoppes of our tyme chalenge to them selues by the autoritie of this title but admonishing vs of our office For asmuche as the Greke worde Episcopus which is englished a Bishop signifieth in latine Speculator that is in englishe a Watcheman And where Paule sayeth we are ordayned to be Episcopi Bishoppes that is to say watchmen he vseth the same maner of speache that God dyd whaÌ„ he ordeyned Ezechiel to be a watcheman ouer the Ezech. 33. house of Israel chargeyng him most diligently to warne the people before hande of the sweorde that shoulde come for their sinnes wickednesses with his faythful preaching to saue the wretched synful people from destruction And in dede me thinkes that Paule espied the proude abuse of this name Bishoppe before hande wher he sayeth Take hede to your selues and to the hole flocke For like as he coÌ„mitteth the Lordes flocke that is to saye the congregacion or churche to the ministers charge euen so biddeth he him also to beware and take hede to him selfe that he set not his mynde vpoÌ„ priuate honours and pastimes neclecting them that he hathe taken charge of and so worke his owne destruction Yea Paule thoÌ„dreth at him also with the Lordes owne sayeng vnto Ezechiel Except thou speake plainly and dissuade the wicked from his wicked Ezech. 33. waye that he maye lyue the wicked indede shall dye in his wickednesse but his blood I wil require at thy haÌ„des The Apostle byddeth vs also take hede vnto the hole florke allowyng here no respect of persones for vs either not to regarde any persone for basenesse pouertie or to beare with any for his estate or wealthes sake But he byddeth vs gouerne or rather fede not contrarieng Christes wordes whiche forbadde his disciples to rule and reigne as earthy princes do but chargeyng vs to ministre the worde faythfully whych prescribeth the waye and the vnfailyng rule of saluacion and ther withal carieth meÌ„ into the pleasauÌ„t pastures of the soule wherin they fynd that meate whiche Psal 23. Ioh. 6. only fedeth and filleth vnto eternall lyfe after suche sorte that it is not possible for them after the digesting of it to fele either hungre or thurste any more And least we should for any cause recken the office committed vnto vs a smal trifling mater he teacheth vs how chargeable a flocke it is that we are bounden to gouerne and fede euen the selfe same flocke that the sonne of God hathe vouchedsafe to deliuer froÌ„ destructioÌ„ with his owne blood And that one reason yf ther were non but it is of so highe autorite brethreÌ„ that it were hable alone to dryue all lustlesnesse sluggish drowsynes out of our myndes For who knoweth not that in safe keping of a worldlye thing that a maÌ„ is put in trust withall ther is speciall great fidelitie and diligence required Than how muche more faithful and diligent ought meÌ„ to be in Goddes maters and namely in safekeping of that flocke which the Lorde hath rauÌ„somed with his owne blood and layde vp in stoare in our custodye Nother maye we saye that oure office is out of daunger by reason of the presence and ayde of him that is the chiefe good shepehearde in dede and vnder that preteÌ„se we to take the lesse hede trauaile For Paule speaketh before haÌ„de of horrible and sore daungiers For I knowe this ê™ he that after my departure ther shall greuous wolues come in amoÌ„g you which shall not spare the flocke He saithe wolues shall com and that sore greuous ones whiche will not spare so worthie a flocke so dearely a bought flocke so noble a flocke And in an other place wher he painteth them out with more circuÌ„staunces of wordes he saithe The spirite speaketh euidently that in the later daies 1. Tim. 4. som shall departe froÌ„ the faithe and geue eare to deceaueable spirites and doctrines of Deuilles ThaÌ„ ther shall deceauours rise vp yea such ones as shall disquiete and make hauocke of this flocke not only with mennes lyeng commentaries but also with doctrines of very deuilles bothe false and pernicious The same mater also hathe Christ testified who like as he sendeth out his disciples as shepe among wolues so dothe he tell vs that false anoynted greasye ones and false prophetes shal starte vp to the vndoing of a great meanye their studie shal be to peruerte and corrupte the doctrine of the truthe He warneth vs also that warres Math. 24. Luc. 19. shal be stered vp by their procurement to assault and destroye faithfull mennes bodies withall Moreouer the heade and prince of 2. Thes 2. all this rable is in an other place declared euen the great Antichrist him selfe whiche shall geue the onsette vpon this sely flocke of Christ thicke and three folde bothe with false forged lyes and open tyraÌ„nye of cruel weapon All whych sayenges if we compare them with those thinges that haue happened in our tyme and doo daily happen still we shall confesse Christ to be true in his sayeng that Paule also spake out of the spirite of truthe yea it shall furthermore manifestly appeare who be those false anoynted ones and false prophetes and who that myghtie houge Antichrist is whome our flocke ought to beware of Now to thintent we maye set our myndes considerately vpoÌ„ our office and aswel take hede to our selues as to se to and asmuche as lyeth in our weake nature to prouide for the flock committed vnto our charge we must nedes haue a rype knowlage of the perilles that are woÌ„t to be most troublous most noysome to the churche Which albeit they
our saueour Christes birthe CCCC LXXI For Odoacer ordayned the seate of his reigne in the cytie of Rome and reigned in it fourtene yeares and that with so myghtye a power and great puyssaunce that he coulde not be gotten out for no deuise nor force of warre that Zeno the Emperour of Constantinopole could do Howbeit within a fewe yeares after that is to wete in the yeare of our Lorde Iesu Christ CCCCC LXX Iustinianus the Emperour ordayned Iustinianus a new Magistrate in Italie whoÌ„ men called the Exarche But he laye at Rauenna not at Rome bicause it was miserably throwen downe wasted spotled by the Barbarians breaking into it To conclude whilest the weste The contencion for the Supremacy of Churches Empire fadeth in the cytie of Rome is after this maner vtterly dispatched that litel prety horne which Daniel speaketh of that is the Bishop of Rome beganne out of hande to thrust furthe hym selfe to worke the mistery of Antichrist For in the tyme of Odoacers reigne in the citie of Rome the yeare of our Lorde CCCC lrxx Achatius the Bisshop of CoÌ„stantinopole Note wrote to Simplicius the bishop of Rome desyryng that he wolde also coÌ„demne Perre bishop of Alexandria of heresie for folowing Eutices this Achatius being bishop of the head churche whose autoritie was very muche regarded with all men But takyng occasion herby a sorte of ambicious persones began anone to reason of the dignitie of the church of Rome the autoritie of the Bishop of Rome and stil went on with disputacions so farre that they contended that the Sea of Rome was the heade of all churches and that the Bishop of Rome was the head of all Bishoppes and euen the catholike or vniuersall bishop ouer al. Howbeit those bishoppes of Constantinopole that succeded Achatius obiected them selues agaiÌ„st these mennes ambicion For they coÌ„tended that the supremacie belonged vnto their churche inasmuche as the Emperours of Rome hade made CoÌ„stantinopole the seate of their empire and for that cause this honour ought to be graunted to the bishop of ConstaÌ„tinopole that he maye be called the vniuersal of all prelates and the bishop of bishoppes And this same so vnworthye a contencion and so ambicious a strife continued a long season that is to saye an Cxij yeares vntill that horne of Antichrist yet litel weake burst out wyth bigger streinghtes growed out not a litel For in the yeare of Christ our saueours birthe DC ther was one Iohan bishop of Constantinopole a notable prowde arrogaunt man and excedingly ambicious The bishop of Constantinopole made the Supreme head This man whaÌ„ Mauricius was emperour called the Greke bishoppes together vnto ConstaÌ„tinopole to kepe a counsail wherin it was decreed and ordayned that the bishop of Constantinopole should be called the general or vniuersal bishop of al churches And whan Mauricius the Emperour Gregorius magnus sent ouer the decree of the counsail vnto the bishop of Rome Gregorie which afterwarde was called Gregorius magnus meaning to obteyne of Gregorie that he wolde also submitte him self his churche to Iohn the bishop of Constantinopole Gregorie wyth a great aduisednesse and a singular constauncie refused and contraried him not that he thought him self superiour and of more dignitie than Iohan but that he so vehementlye abhorred the insolent statelynesse and prowde ambicion of the cleargie which than begonne to growe vp by litell and litell Wherevpon among certain other thinges to Gregories answer to the supremacie the Emperour Maurice Be is the forrennyng messagier of Antichrist ê™ he who so euer he be that coueteth to be called the vniuersal Bishop And in an other place the same Gregorie writting to Anastasius Bishop of Antioche and Eulogius Bishop of Alexandria against the ambicion of the Bishop of Constantinopole saithe thus Your reuerende holynesse knoweth that this name vniuersal was offred by the sacred counsail of Chalcedon vnto the Bishop of the sea Apostolike whych by Goddes disposicion I serue howbeit none of my predecessours consented to vse that so lewde a worde to be called by For you must vnderstande if one Patriarke alone be called the vniuersal patriarke the name of patriarkes is taken away from the residue But farre be it from a christian mynde to scratche that thing from any man to him self wherby he might seme neuer so litell to minishe the honour of his brethren Verily these are Gregorie the bishoppes wordes wherwith he so earnestly taunteth those prowde and ambicious titles of bishoppes abhorring dephyeng those titles as cursed and abominable whom at this daye their endeauour is with force of armes and most cruell policies to chalenge to them selues Notwithstanding albeit Gregorie wrote thus vpoÌ„ a godly zele and syncere mynde and immediatly to the intent to brydle those ambicious spirites of the bishoppes he was the furst as some saye that named him selfe Seruum Seruorum the seruaunt of seruauÌ„tes Yet his successours by and by forgette all this gaire and folowed their owne sondry deuises For wher that most arrogaunt slaue of ambicion Iohn the bishop of Constantinopole after Gregories deceasse wolde not only not geue ouer his begonne purposes but rather with the greatest forcasting fatches that he might he entreprised to chaleÌ„ge to him self that title of vniuersal and the supremacie of all the hole churche anon Boniface of Rome Boniface the. 3. the thrid of that name steart vp Who being puised vp with like folie and ambicion set his fote against him and sought meanes to conueye the same title and honour of the highest autoritie vnto him selfe and to the churche of Rome And whan he hade once taken in hande that deuise of Phocas ordayned Rome to be the head of al churches stryfe and ambicion he stiffely set it forewarde stil and gaue not ouer till he hade obteyned of the emperour Phocas that Rome shoulde be called the head of all churches In this behalfe we must note welbeloued brethren in Christ what a man this Phocas was Euen he that kept the Empire by treason and robbery For he toke Mauricius the emperour being a good man and a godly and than his wife and his children by sedicion and in his wicked manfulnesse slewe furst his wife and than his children before Mauricius owne face and last of all he also slewe the Emperour him selfe being a man of good age as a man is that is aboue three score and three yeares This man was the furst I saye that ordayned the Bishop of Rome to be head of the churche and graunted to those ambicious and insolent Bishoppes of Rome the tyrannous power that they hade long wished for Those most holy fathers therfore haue to boast goodly of in the Deuilles name in that they are promoted to so highe dignitie and power by suche a mannes autoritie who lyke as he caryed an heart infected wyth treason and falsehead euen so he was not afrayde to defile his handes also in the
Lumbardes restoring it to her auncient peace and libertie Than Pipine not forgetting the good turne that he hade receaued of Bishop Zacharie before allowed Pope Stephanes peticion and promisyng him aide against his enemie gathered out of hande a myghtie valeaunt power of French-men He wente wyth Pope Stephan beyonde the Alpes and at the straite of the mountaynes geuing the onlette vpon the Lumbardes he wanne the victorie and ranne through the fielde and vehemently besieged their king Aistulphus lyeng in Papia for his sauegarde and at leynght he compelled Aistulphus perforce by marcial power to graunt these condiciones that he should graunt peace and obedience to the churche of Rome and also to sende ouer to Pipine fourtie men to be pledges in confirmacioÌ„ of the mater By reason wherof Pipine him selfe retiered in to Fraunce and sent Pope Stephan wyth Folradus the kinges chaplayne and a doughtie coÌ„panie of FrenchemeÌ„ to Rome These thinges were done in the year of our saueours birthe DCCLV Notwythstanding bicause Aistulphus king of the Lumbardes perfourmed nothing that he hade promised to Bishop Stephane and hade coÌ„firmed by an othe being constrayned therto by Pipines force of armes Pipine immediatly the next yeare folowing weÌ„t agayn in to Italie wyth a mightie rowte of Frenchemen to deliuer the Pope from the LuÌ„bardes armye And assone as he passed the alpes cam downe in to Italie Gregorie themperour CoÌ„stantine the fourthes chief secretorie with other of them perours embassadours mette him and admonished him in themperours name that he shoulde not meddle wyth the Exarcheship of Rauenna whom the Lumbardes hade possessioÌ„ of themperour being letted of the Saracenes either to chalenge it for him self or geue it to the pope or to the Romaynes but forasmuche as they were of the empire and not the popes he shoulde cause them to be restored to Constantine agayne Hereunto Pipine saide naye and affirmed that he wolde not serue either Constantine or any man elles sauing the churche of Rome protesting that he hade put on harnesse for that intent to deliuer the sea apostolike from the iniurie of all men on the earthe and therupon that he wolde doo the best for the commodities of it that shoulde lye in his vttermost possible power to doo And so assone as he hade wonne the victorie and ouerthrowne the power of the Lumbardes he gaue to the sea of Rome the Exarcheship of Rauenna and what so euer places elles hade before that tyme ben in subiection to the Emperour and Empire WhervpoÌ„ it came to passe that the Grelie Emperour beyng before dryuen out of Italie by the Lumbardes force of armes yet not cleane spoiled of his ryght and title of iuste possession hathe nowe lost them altogether and beyng dryuen out of al hole Italie hathe loste al the Empire that before he had in it Nother was he hable to resiste the Popes wicked endeauours ne reuenge the wronges done vnto him bicause he was letted by the Saracenes warres which disquieted the east Empire with coÌ„tinual inuasions of batailles And surely it is to see the Popes subtile wylynesse to be suche that they haue ê“uided for their owne maters at that tyme specially as they haue sene the inperours and other kinges that were against theÌ„ occupied with other warres so as they should be the lesse hable to wythstande their endeauours But Pipine for doyng these his so large good turnes for the bishoppes of Rome hade worthily for his labour the excellent highe title of Most Christian Kyng Most christian king bothe to him his successours which the Frenchekinges are prowde of eueÌ„ at this daye for this one cause you must vnderstande that they toke the places which belonged to the Emperour in Italie out of the Lumbardes handes restored not them to the emperours agayne as ryght was but gaue them to the churche of Rome Notwithstanding al this gaire the Popes ambicion couetousnesse was not satisfied as long as they sawe the Lumbardes whose powers were at that tyme exceading great in Italie not al together ouerthroweÌ„ extinct King Desiderius Pope Adriane And therfore whaÌ„ their last king Desiderius began to attempte some thing against Pope Adriane the furst of that name by by he also besought Charles that sonne of Pipine who afterward for his nobly done dedes receaued the name of Charles the great for the defense of the sea Apostolike And he easyly Charlemayne obteyned his desyre For Charles renneth through by by into Italie with an hoost of men whan he mette Desiderius wyth his armie of Lumbardes he cruelly bette them downe in the fielde he hade all their townes yelded vp vnto him and sent the king prisoner wyth his wife and children awaye in to Fraunce as banished folkes And in dede thus was the reigne of the Lumbardes which they hade possessed in Italie more than CC. yeares all together despeched And therfore the thrid horne was through Antichristes subtilties and violence smytten of also in the yeare of our Lorde DCClxxvi Than Charles the Frenche king which was Pipines sonne after this gaire was done came in to a perpetuall league wyth the Bishoppes of Rome and what his father Pipine hade geuen before to Stephane the seconde of the landes that he hade violently taken from the Emperour he coÌ„firmed the same also wyth more ample priuileges and with a solenne othe to make sure worke Hitherto now it hathe with cleare euideÌ„t exposicion ben declared welbeloued brethren in Christ that the olde notable saienges of the holy goost which are in Daniel be most truly fulfilled by the Bishoppes of Rome that the B. of Rome is that littell horne which figureth vnto vs the emperial autoritie of Antichrist which in dede at the furst begynnyng of his reigne was but vile naught set by but anon he ouerlaide three very mightie kingdomes with his wyly fatches and deceates and wyth their powers which he claymed to him selfe he was aduaunced to so great a height of reignyng Now it remayneth dearely beloued brethren that we consideratyuely weighe out of the Emperours histories wyth what craftes he made sure and augmented his streinght and power and how he became superiour and aboue euen the emperours them selues The bishoppes of Rome being not The translating of the empire to the Frenche men wythout cause afraide of the greke emperours powers for the many and sondry wroÌ„ges and most mysheuous losses that they hade occasioned vnto theÌ„ least padueÌ„ture the Saracenes other eastren enemies being wel tamed the emperours hauing leasure wolde set vpoÌ„ Italie goo about to clayme to them selues again the Exarcheship of Rauenna other places beloÌ„ging to the empire which Pipine and Charles hade violently takeÌ„ from theÌ„ and bestowed vpoÌ„ the churche of Rome by by they beganne as they are myschieuous wylie felowes to bende their for casting studies to this ende that they might plucke all the greke Emperours power force awaye from
Benedicte ye. 5. was created pope by making Benedicte the. 5. Iohn̄ the. 14. of a sedicion And shortly after Iohan the 14. toke the seat who being in an vproare by the Romaynes dryuen out of the cytie and returnyng the eleuēth moneth of his exile vsed such crueltie against his foes as hade ben mete to haue ben practiced rather by the most bloodthursty tirannes Phalaris Dionise and other like them than by the apostles of Christ After Iohan succeded Benedicte the Benedicte the. 6. 6. which was takē of Cinthius a citeze of Rome and shutte vp in to Adrianes pile and shortly after he was strangled in the same place Whom albeit Platina wold fayne excuse with worthy reasones yet being offeded wyth those bishops most mischieuous maners he is enforced to saye Vereor ne talia fuerint Benedicti merita quale praemium a Cinthio consequutus est That is to say I am afrayde least Benedictes desartes were suche as the rewarde was that he receaued of Cinthius Than next after Donus the seconde Boniface the. 7. whose sirname Bonisace the. 7. countrey by reasō of his basse astate is vncertain obteyned to be pope through noughtie sciences And by the power of the magistrates the setting on of good citezenes he was compelled to flee the citie stealing awaye al the preciousest Iewelles out of saynt Petres churche he fled to Constātinopole taried ther so long till he hade solde the wares that he had takē awaye by sacrilege so hade gotē together a great deale of mony which he vsed as an helpe to practice his tyrānie cam again to the citie going about to corrupte the citezenes of Rome with rewardes But the good men wtstode his purposes specially Iohā that diacon Cardinal whom whā the B. hade takē by the helpe of a sorte of myschieuous felowes he thrust out his eies out of hād Howbeit that autor of so great myschiefes the sedicion encreaceing more and more wtout fear as Platina hauing alwaies a better hope of those holy fathers saithe wythout repentaunce of the dede that he hade done died miserably and filthyly Iohan the 15. of the name in the thrid moneth of hys popeheadde was takē Iohn̄ the. 15. by the Romaynes bicause of his tirānye vsing being shutte vp in Adrtanes pile as in the cōmon warde was pyned ther so long wyth the stynke of the prison with hungre grief of mynde till he shamefully fynished his life After him succeded Iohn the 16. who was in wōderful hotte hatred against Iohn̄ the. 16. The charitie of the Pope and clergie the cleargie wherupō he was iustly hated of the cleargie again But specially bicause he gaue out al bothe diuine humane treasures to his kinsfolkes and alliaunce and so God wotteth he set aparte the honour of God and that dignitie of that sea of Rome leauing an example of this right naughtie vsage to his successours which the bishoppes wyth most diligēt endeauour folowe the like euen at this present daye Now therfore let euery hartie man iudge right louing brethrē in Christ whether all good men haue not iustly cōplayned of the bishoppe of Romes tyrannie and wickednesse seing that sea hathe hatched vp so many knaues tyrannes theues robbers murtherours sedicion sowers and open churche robbers as we haue rehearsed and all wythin these lxxxv yeares And I pray you who wold honour it as an holy see inasmuche as it could abyde so many pestilent myschiefes And for al these their regestres were neuer ful ynough of such mischeuous villanes popes as these were For scarcely a dousin yeares after that Iohn Iohn̄ the. 18. the 18. of that name stearte vp who pope Gregorie the 5. being yet a lyue occupied the papacie by meanes of diuision and rewardes And for that cause Platina calleth him a theefe and a robber and in the. 10. moneth of his vsurped popeship he made a shameful ende of his life His successour was Siluester the secōde who as we said a litel before was promoted to be pope by the deuilles diligent payne taking Anon after this folowed Benedicte the. 9. Benedicte the. 9. Siluester the. 3. Gregory the. 6. Siluester the. 3. and Gregorie the. 6. thre most vggly monstres which like as they sought gredily to haue that see by rewardes euē so playeng wickedly among them selues they were not afraide to sell this honour and dignitie and to redeme it again one of another for money Whervpō sence they were notoriously bruted to be wicked vsers of Symonie they did great iniuries and ther withall great shames vnto the see of Rome After these succeded Clement the seconde whom Damasus poisoned Clement the. 2. Damasus and toke the popes rowme vpon him self with shame ynough And these sixe most naughtie villane knaues as we reade were all bishoppes of Rome within 46. yeares space But what nede is it to reckē thē vp which without all doubt haue either vnlaufully occupied this see or elles more wickedly haue ordred it and all but a fewe yeares a goo inasmuche as three bishops of this see of Rome are yet freshe in memorie which by the autoritie of the coūsail of Constaunce were depryued of their dignitie for their most vngracious desartes Let them be marked also if it so please you that within our fathers remembraunce and ours haue bē bishoppes of Rome and we haue sene that by their deuises and crafty conueyaunces they haue passed ouer the toppe of the Alpes and com through euen to our countrey of Heluetia as Sixtus Sixtus the 4. Alexāder the. 6. Iulius the 2. Leo the 10. Clemēt the. 7. the. 4. Alexander the. 6. with his sonne duke Valentine the monstre of all mischief vngraciousnesse and vice Also Iulius the seconde a man that delited muche in blood sheading and burnyng Leo the tenthe Clemēt the 7. of whose false crafty artes and traiterous deceates Florentia an vnfortunate citie to hatche vp so vnthankeful a babe was a feling witnesse And who wil not saye that these marchaūtes were not only like vnto the other before but many waies much worse For let them com furthe as many as euer haue dwelt in the citie of Rome in their tymes and haue marked wel their life and maners or haue ben knowing of their counsailes and I knowe they will confesse if they will confesse the truthe that they were notable naughtie packes not in common trifling vices alone but also in all maner of most vngracious and notorious wickednesse that could be Finally marke the most holy father Paule the thrid that late was And Paule the 3. let his children and childres children be marked also And we shall fynde in them no lesse myschieuous cruel and abominable partes But this must nedes be cōfessed that if Rome should see two or three popes of his like condiciones that wold as he is vsed to doo bestowe the goodes of the churche cities townes castles villages and landes vpon
their children nephues alliaunce and kinsfolkes ther should not of S. Petres most ample and most riche patrimonie scarce so muche as a cotage returne to their successours Wherfore seing these great and most notorious wickednesses wherwith they defile them selues are most notably knowne euen to the coÌ„moÌ„ people we nede not to be oner loÌ„g in speakig of their daily vsed naughtynesse For inasmuche as though they are the most shameles of al men yet they can not by any mouthe saye naye to this gayre what nede we to talke of their intemperauÌ„ce ruffionyng glâ—â—â—nie horekeping of their most waÌ„ton sayeÌ„ges doinges And if you lust let theÌ„ be witnesses that be the louingest fauourours of the see of Rome which haue ben not the seers of this gayre only but also a great parte theÌ„ selues And yet they shall neuer be hable either to clooke or to excuse this stynking synke of mischieues and this horrible hell of wicked doinges by any reasones that euer they can make Therfore this furst title that Paule geueth them is expounded or elles I am begyled playnly ynough and largely ynough agayne and therof also it is most manifest that the same title agreeth wyth no man in the worlde better than with the bishop of Rome forsomuche as out of his doctrine and example of lyuing all these abominacions which we haue made rehearsal of flowe as out of a most plenteously springing fouÌ„taine all which are contrarily repugnaunt against the veritie of faythe against the lawe of charitie against the innocencie of lyfe The seconde title that the Apostle Paule decketh Antichrist wythall is The sonne of perdicion that he nameth him The sonne of perdicion But this title we must nedes take twoo maner of wayes that is to saye both actiuely and passiuely so as furst he is in dede lost and daÌ„ned him selfe than he also loseth destroyeth al those that be his complices and folowers and maketh them bonde slaues to euerlasting death and damnacion But after what sorte this title also is aptely fitte for the bishop of Rome it maye be declared in fewe wordes For furst it is manifest by the autoritie of the gospelles doctrine that all they are lost and subiecte to eternall damnacion that nother beleue in Iesus Christ nor cleaue to his faythe doctrine For Christ is the waye the light the truthe And he is the onely Io. 14 10. dore by the which al we must entre in to his shepe folde that is to wete into the congregacion of saintes and who so euer seketh any other dore or coueteth to entre in any other waye he bewrayeth him selfe to be a thefe and a robber And thervpon we heare IohnÌ„ Baptist saye The father loueth the sonne and hath geuen him all thinges Io. 3. into his hande He that beleueth his sonne hath euerlasting lyfe and he that beleueth not the sonne shall not se lyfe but the wrath of God abydeth on him Nowe it is not possible that ther shoulde be any saluacion wher it is sure that the wrathe of God abydeth But for asmuche as the bishop of Rome beleueth not in the sonne of God nor hath not al his faythe truste set in Christ alone the only saueour of the worlde it must nedes be that the wrath of God abideth vpon him and that he is the lost and bonde slaue of daÌ„nacioÌ„ And the byshop of Romes hole lyfe doctrine argueth that he is most farre of from the faythe in Iesus Christ which beyng made maÌ„ for our sakes redemed vs all with his precious blood vpon the altare of the crosse brake the power and lordship of deathe through his deathe and by his glorious ascension in to heauen set open the gates of euerlasting blessednesse vnto vs wretched synners and now before God the father of heauen he appeareth our only patron and mediatour and maketh sure entraunce for vs vnto the throne of grace For if aman note the B. of Romes doctrine Obiter but euen lightly by the waye as you wold saye he teacheth not Christ to be the only waye of saluacioÌ„ but besides him he setteth out innumerable other wayes as so often repeted sacrifices of masses the hipocriticall exercice of false penaunce auricular confession the most sitte bayte of all treason conspiracie sedicion lechery and all wickednesse markettes of pardones the colde scalding fyre of purgatorie pikepurce prayeng to sayntes departed and infinite other For although he confesse Christ Iesus the saueour of the hole worlde in wordes and in mouthe and so glorieth in his name yet he denyeth him so often as he attributeth to an other whether it be saynt or worke and merite the offices that perteyne to none but Christ alone For by what reason shall we saye that he beleueth that our Lorde Iesus Christ beyng sacrificed once for all vpon the altare of the crosse offred a perpetuall sufficient sacrifice vnto God the father for our synnes whan he goeth about to offre hym dayly afreshe at the celebracion of the Masse How shall he beleue that he was deliuered and fully redemed from the filthynesse of his sinnes by Christes merite which goeth aboute to redeme him selfe wyth his owne merites of his owne workes How shall he also knowe Christ Iesus to be his onlye Mediatour Patrone intercessour whych hathe infinite other whether they be he sayntes or she sayntes instede of mediatours intercessours And yet it is certain that men are brought to that point by the B. of Romes doctrine that they folow both these many other thinges that are cleane coÌ„trari to Christ and his doctrine Therfore this is euidently manifest also that the Bis of Rome is most farre of mater in dede from the faythe in Christ although he vse to professe him with his mouthe bragge much of his name As for this mater the example of his life is not behinde also in bearing what faithe is playne recorde of For faithe is a certain lyuing and a continuall working power energie that sitteth not idle in mennes consciences and is not as many false christianes thinke a certain naked and vayne opinioÌ„ that is desritute of certain reasones but it is a good tree and nourished with perpetuall iuyce which beareth no euil nor rotten frute but is alwaies abundauntly full of good and acceptable frutes to God of innocencie and charitie But it is now proued allready by sufficient demonstracion that the bishoppes of Rome haue no charitie they haue also no innocencie of life and maners but they are most farre of bothe from the true faithe and true religion Wherupon this plainly foloweth also that they beare in no condicion that good tree of a syncere faithe in their heart but rather that euil and vnprofitable one at whose roote the are is allready set that it maye be cut of and ouerthrowne and cast in to the vnquencheable fire of hell Therfore who will hensfurthe acknowlage the bishop of Rome to be the
head of the sayntes and faithfull people Who will cal him holy father yea rather holynesse it selfe Finally who can saye that he is the leader vnto saluacion and the portour of heauen gate whan by the example of his owne life and preceptes and decrees of his wicked doctrine he bewrayeth him self according to the apostle Paules sentence to be bothe Antichrist and the sonne of perdiciō Hereof also that other mater is gathered that like as he him self is lost euen so dothe he make all the disples of his religion and secte boūde slaues to perdicion and euerlasting deathe For how cā it possibly be that they shal be hable to com to the heauēly hal of blessednesse which folowe a guyde that gothe with straight and stedfast steppes the hye waye to hell How shall we also saye it maye be that they should be vnited to Iesu Christ the only redemour of vs all which haue chosen suche a one to be their guyde that is against Christ in al thinges and robbeth him of his honour and shamelesly attributeth the same to other In this case therfore it is necessary to vse most diligent circūspection In this behalfe it standeth vs in hande strongly to sharpen oure wittes Herein it behoueth vs to open the eyes of our minde most dearly beloued brethren in Christ For it is no flyrting mater as many men thinke to sticke stil in the B. of R. wayes so to holde harde the popishe religion to the naile The saluacion of soules is in hasarde dearly beloued For either we must be vnited to the heauēly father by the intercessiō and benefite of one only Christ so lyue for euer or elles be drawen awaye from him perishe with Antichrist for euer And ther is so much the more greuous presēt daūgier henging ouer our soules that the Lorde wold haue the knowlage of his worde to be opened vnto vs. For inasmuche as the lyght of Goddes worde hathe discussed and wyped away those greuous and horrible darkenesses of Antichristianitie so as the health geuing face of Christ and also the compasse of this cruell beastes mouthe and the seate of abominacions is shewed openly before our eyes we maye neuer from hensfurthe eyther pretende ignoraunce to clooke our vnbelefe or excuse it wyth the godlynesse and feruencie of our zele or good intent For God hathe prescribed the rule of his worde vnto vs for this ende that we shoulde honour hym according to his owne commaundement and that we shoulde not folowe that folishe carnall zele of ours which is wythout knowlage of all truthe The stubburnesse of suche men is muche lamentably therfore to be bewailed brethren which whā they heare Goddes worde wyth their eares and are conuicte with the truthe therof in their consciences so as they may see their errours and fele the intolerable burthen of suche exceding tyrānie yet had rather sticke stiffely to their knowen supersticion than to folowe Christ the only waye of saluacion But whā men most myserably become to that poīt that a mā may warne exhorte them all but lost labour we must permitte them to their owne appetite For they shal surely fele that their stubbernesse shal-be ones a great deale to their cost Now are we come to the thrid title An aduersary wherwyth Paule painteth out the persone of Antichrist which conteyneth the self same propretie and the disposiciō of so mightie abominablenesse the certain sure marke for the which he is called Antichrist For he calleth him an aduersary that is he myndeth to set him out to be-suche a one that shoulde be against cōtrary and in al thinges as it were vtterly sette foranempst Christ of whose name title he only braggeth The right vnderstanding of this worde Aduersary It is plaine that he glorieth in the name of Christ Wherupon euen the right vnderstanding of this worde teacheth this that he shal be an aduersary to Christ our Lorde and gayne-saye all those thinges that are set out by Christ either in doctrine or in example of life wyth the statutes of his doctrine and wyth the example of his life Than if we can geue the bishop of Rome this title also wyth sufficient demonstracion as his owne propre good as in dede we haue ouercome all that we toke in hande to proue yet hitherto it shall also manifestly appeare that the B. of Rome is necessarily that very right and great Antichrist altough the autoritie of all the worlde crye out against it which if it wolde contrary the worde of God were non autoritie at all And forasmuche as all thinges that are in Christ our saueour maye be comprehended in his life doctrine as in two most general chaptres it behoueth that we considre them bothe that it maye therby euidently appeare that the B. of Rome dothe contrarie to Christ both in life and in doctrine and therfore is his aduersarie and very Antichrist And furst of all we will speake of bothe their lyues that is to saye of Christ and Antichrist Christ Iesus ordred his life so as The difference betwene Christes life and Antichristes the B. of Rome most lowe humilitie proceding from the hearte might appeare most clearly in all his sayenges and doinges For we reade that he vsed so muche lowlynesse and modestie that he was cōuersaunt among his disciples not like a maistre or a Doctour but as a seruaunt and a waitour As it is proued in that he serued their cōmodities not in teaching them only in refreshing and defēding them and in other thinges innumerable but also in that solemne last supper whiche he hade with thē he washed al their fete But from this spirite of christian humilitie the B. of Rome is so farre of that lyke the most cruel tyrannes the mencion of whom euen the gentiles take for hainous and filthie he setteth out his fete to be kissed not of the cōmon rascal sorte of people only but also of very princes kinges and emperours yea is not ashamed to treade the Lordes anointed neckes vnder his abominable fete which insolent foile the right valeaunt Emperour Friderichus Barbarossa was compelled per force to susteyne Christ was the most studious seker of his fathers glorie wēt about Ioh. 5. and. 12. only to aduaunce it But the B. of Rome neclecting that in al thinges setteth his studie vpō his priuate glorie his owne propre honour after suche sorte that he thinketh he must not spare extreme force of armes yf any man offende him in any condicion Christ spent the better parte or tyme of his lyfe among the cōpanies of the poore nedy sicke afflicted he him selfe also was borne in extreme pouertie became poore for our sakes in so muche that he hade not wher he myght hyde his head susteined the greuous burthē of pouertie paciently to make vs ryche with the benefites treasures of euerlasting blessednes But the B. of Rome folowing farre wyde other
coÌ„trary purposes setteth his delyte to haue a do with them that be of the most wealthy the most myghty astates He playeth he baÌ„ketteth he kepeth all maner of voluptuous cheare with the most delicate companies of the most fyne meÌ„ Besydes this least his statelynesse rufflyng riote yea aboue the ryote of Siracuse should bring him into pouertie at any tyme his custome is either by false countrefaicte supersticion or elles by open force armes to get the rychesse of al nacions into his owne handes Christ whaÌ„ the people wolde haue geuen him the title crowne to haue Ioh. 19. ben a King fledde away mynding so to auoyd that honour said with plaine purposed wordes that his kingdom was not of this world But the b. of R. chaleÌ„geth to him selfe the title of a King wickedly coueteth the kingdome that is of this worlde and to that purpose he hathe alwaies applied him selfe with all his forcast and wyth al the powers bothe of his witte and of his bodie vntill he became not aboue kinges only but also aboue emperours and made them fayne perforce to fall downe like an houÌ„de kisse his fete Yea he boasteth him selfe to be heire of the empire if an emperour dye as ye shall fynde ClemeÌ„tines the 2. boke the 11. title and 2. chaptre Christ vsed a more diligent studie to excute his fathers will which he was seÌ„t for thaÌ„ to promote encreace such as were his kinsfolkes as coÌ„cerning the fleshe with worldly wealthe and honours But the B. of Rome studie forcaste for the most parte how they maye endue suche as be either their kinsfolkes or their alliauÌ„ce or elles their bastardes with greatest pleintie of richesse to aduauÌ„ce them to the most high honours And that they maye that more easily bring that to passe they vse many tymes to put awaye the treasures of the churche which they call with to muche shamelesnesse S. Petres patrimonie to bestowe them vpon their owne frendes Which thing like as many other haue in tymes past done eueÌ„ so is our Paule the thrid not afrayd also to do the like opeÌ„ly wtout blushing Christ was coÌ„tet to submitte hiÌ„ self to the autoritie lawes of the laufull magistrate payed with a good will the reuenues of the taxes tributes being asked of others he taught that those were due to theÌ„ Matth. 17. 22. But the B. of Rome thinking to ê“uide better for him al his hathe forged a certain immunitie for the churche which maketh al those that are marked with his marke free froÌ„ al lauful publike burtheÌ„s setteth theÌ„ in suche case that sence they owe naught to no maÌ„ they geue theÌ„selues to do what they lust serue their bely vicious carnalitie wherin the meane while al meÌ„ aswel magistrates as subiectes are occupied busy how they maye with their sweat substauÌ„ce vpholde mayntene those most holy fathers intentes Christ led a life al together geueÌ„ to the notable Matth. 11. studie of al peace softenesse coÌ„meÌ„ded the same vertues to vs also But the B. of Rome is fearre swelling rageing in malice desire of reueÌ„gemet He passeth not also to moue horrible batailes to set al folkes together by the eares amoÌ„g theÌ„ selues for light tryfling causes which thing they haue so shamelesly practiced these v. hundred yeares euen vnto our tymes that it nedeth no further declaracion Christ led an innoceÌ„t a blameles Io. 8. Matth 26 an vnreprouerable life so as his enemies could nother fynd nor ymagine any thing worthie of deathe in him for al the lies that the false witnesse made But the B. of Rome being most farre of froÌ„ this studie of innoceÌ„cie is the maÌ„ of synne drowned in synne geueÌ„ in al thiÌ„ges to al kynd of vicious liuing as I haue alredy declared Christ toke to be his disciples suche as were poore Matth. 4. 1. Cor. 1. vile of no reputacioÌ„ meÌ„ of simple witte But the childe of this world the B. of Rome mynding to seme wyser in his generacioÌ„ choseth men out of the most noble houses of Italie FrauÌ„ce Spayne other naciones to be Bishoppes Cardinalles to thinteÌ„t being afterwarde supported by their autoritie fauour he might not nede to passe vpoÌ„ his enemies threattes and mightie powers Christ seÌ„t out his disciples to preache the Gospell But the Matth. 10 28. B. of Rome suffreth none of his to go any whidre froÌ„ him but loueth to be waited vpoÌ„ with their preseÌ„ce rufling or if he send out any he biddeth them not preache the gospell nor teache faith to wynne some to Christ but with their false wyles fraudes lyes deceates to begyle princes the people to stere vp hurly burlies ciuile mocions of warres Christ was diligeÌ„t to care for his shepe vsed the office of a most Io. 10. faithfull shepeherde in that he fedde theÌ„ taught theÌ„ continually But the B. of Rome being geueÌ„ to the wealthe of richesse delicacies pilleth of the shepes wolle yea the skynnes the fleshe to as for fediÌ„g of theÌ„ he maketh litel mater Christ neuer enforced any man vnwillingly to cleaue either to him or to Luce. 9. Matth. 26 his doctrine nor coÌ„pelled euer any maÌ„ by violeÌ„ce to grauÌ„t on his syde but with freÌ„dely faithful teaching he studied to moue the heartes of meÌ„ But the B. of Rome as a right warlike emperour yea like a yong Salmoneus rather and as a newe countrefaicte Iupiter shaketh the thondre of excomunicacion the thonderbolt of cursing externe gonneshote also and weapones at all men as many as goo about to slyppe from his doctrine and supersticion as the horrible vproare of this present warring dothe most euidently proue it Christ sent out such Apostles to preache the gospel as were most readyly Act. 2. instructe in the ample large giftes of the holy goost in the vnderstanding of tongues in the knowlage of the scriptures But the B. of Rome not caring for the prouision of Christes shepe but mynding to gratifie his owne secte folowers committeth the cure of the congregacions almost to none but to his Curtisanes bawdes cokes huÌ„tors and mule dryuers which though they be cleane voide of all maner of learning bothe diuine prophane yet they are connyngly skilled in abominable sciences lecherous lustes corrupt filthye maners Christ hauing coÌ„flicte with sathan his enemie wonne not the victorie with the Matth. 4. weapones of this worlde but with the sweord of the spirite the worde of God But the Bishop of Rome mystrusting Christ setteth vpoÌ„ his enemies wyth worldly weapones conspiracies treasones robberies poysonynges also wyth sweorde and fire Christ our Lorde oftentymes seing Matth. 6. Luc. 19. the dispersed shepe of the house of Israel and pitieng them euen from the botome of his heart wepte ouer their
is he that wold not abhorre the force of this argument Christ saide to Petre Fede my shepe Ergo the B. of of Rome is the head of the church A ioyly conclusion But how shal it be ê“ued that to fede Christes shepe to be the head of the church signifieth al one thing Dyd Paule whaÌ„ he spake to that ministring elders of the Ephesians called theÌ„ bishoppes put in autoritie ouer the Lordes flocke make as many heades of the church as were elders ther Or what shal we saye to that whiche was enioyned to the other disciples whan the Lorde sayd Go into the hole vniuersal worlde and preache the gospel to al creatures And yet that shal you coÌ„fute to in case you proue the gospell to be nother that foode of the soule nor the pleasaunt pastures for coÌ„scieÌ„ces to fede on But admit we grauÌ„t you this what a doo hath Christ with Belial with Symon Magus or with the B. of R But they must nedes be shameles haÌ„dlers of the scriptures that in humane thinges are voide of al shame Wel in the same Canone Boniface gothe on claymeth also the secular power of the emperour to him self least in disputing of diuine power he lose that other And at leynght he cometh to the ful purposed ende of his disputacion concludeth after this sorte Therfore who so euer resisteth this power thus ordayned of God resisteth goddes ordinauÌ„ce except he feyne two beginniÌ„ges as Manicheus did which we iudge to be false heretical For as Moses recordeth God made heaueÌ„ earthe not in the beginninges but in the beginning And finally we declare saye define and pronouÌ„ce to be of playne necessitie of saluacioÌ„ that al humaine creatures be subiect to the B. of R. Doest thou now make vs a newe article of faithe saluacioÌ„ Boniface But the Lorde sayeth those shepe are saued that folowe him their shepehearde that knowe his voice that seke to entre into the shepefolde by him But these maters make but a very litel to thestablishmeÌ„t of the B. of R. tyraÌ„nie lustye ruffling Therfore say they the B. of R. must be obeyed of necessitie Do we not knowe nowe those presumptuous woÌ„derful thinges that Daniel tolde of before that Antichrist should speake But let vs passe ouer to other maters so as the more playnly we se this gaire the more lyghtly we may dephie theÌ„ For the 9. Quest 3. Pope Gelasius writeth to the bishops throughout Dardania Gelasius on this wise Al the church throughout the hole worlde knoweth that the seat of S. Petre the apostle hathe power to lose what so euer is boundeÌ„ by the senteÌ„ces of any bishoppes who so euer they be bicause you must vnderstaÌ„de it hath power to iudge of all churches And again Al the churche throughout the hole worlde knoweth that the holy sacred church of Rome hathe autoritie to haue the iudgemeÌ„t ouer al meÌ„ that no maÌ„ maye laufully iudge of her iudgemeÌ„t For vnto it must al the partes of that worlde appeale but froÌ„ it no maÌ„ is ê‘mitted to appeale Hereunto is applied the sayeng that is written Cap. Quanto de Translat Episc tit 7. the pope is reported to be the arbitre of heauenly thinges and therfore he chaungeth the nature of thinges in applieng the substaunces of one thing to an other And he of nothing can make somthing and can make a sentence of nothing to be somwhat For in those thinges that he will his wil standeth in stede of reasoÌ„ And yet ther is none that maye saye to him why doest thow so For he may dispense aboue the lawe make right of vnright in correcting and chaungeing of lawes For he hath the fulnesse of power in his owne haÌ„des Lo these be those presumptuous wonderfull wordes of Antichrist dearely beloued brethreÌ„ in Christ by the whiche he gothe about to seme not only to be like God but also to be greater and of more excellencie than God For he saithe not only that he can make somthing of nothing which is the office of non but of the only power and vertue of God but also according to Daniels prophecie he teacheth that all rightes and lawes are vnder his arbitrament so muche that euen in them he maye dispense as it pleaseth him self make wrong to be right yea and that vnright shal be taken for right if he so geue sentence And least any sawcie boldenesse shoulde be waÌ„ting in him he vsurpeth the olde propretie of tyrannes Sic volo Sic iubeo Sit pro ratione voluntas This I will thus I commaunde let will stande for reason For in those thiÌ„ges ê™ he that he wil he hath wil in stede of reasoÌ„ And ther is none that maye demauÌ„de of him a reason and causes of his doynges O slaunderous infamye o vnexcusable shame of a christiaÌ„ mans name Wherto doo we any more laughe the Iewes dreames to scorne or deteste the blasphemyes of Mahomete seing greater maters of more crueltie are spoken not without feare heard of among christian menne and that wtout correction as yet hitherto Let vs be ashamed of our neclegeÌ„t naughtinesse Let vs be weary of so great heartlesnesse Let vs also repent our wicked sufferauÌ„ce in hearing so abominable blasphemies O foles that se not this gaire O wicked ones that whaÌ„ they see them yet can heare theÌ„ and beare with them For albeit they be cruell and abominable maters that we haue talked of yet ther folowe more abominable more blasphemous more haynous maters that they are not afraide to speake of For in the. 40. Distinction Chap. Si Papa We reade that it is thus written Though the pope neclecte bothe his Note owne saluacion and his brethrens and be founde to be vnprofitable and slacke in his doinges Yea and moreouer though he speake neuer a wit of goodnesse at all which is more hurteful to him self and all men and leade innumerable people by heapes with himself to the chief deuil of hell ther with him to be whipped with many strypes for euer yet may no mortall man in this case rebuke his faultes for he shall iudge al be iuged of none him self except he be depre hended out of the waye from the fayth Hearke brethren the presumptuous horrible wordes of Antichrist yea heare them not but rather spitte them out of your eares out of your hartes that you be not polluted with them For what christiaÌ„ man can awaye with the hearing of theÌ„ Who is it that can paciently abyde theÌ„ We see brethren the readynesse of God towardes vs we see the softenesse and heartie purpose of Goddes righteousnesse towards vs to be such that he disdayneth not to declare vnto vs wretched persones which shall lyue here but a shorte space a plaine reckonyng almost of all his iudgemeÌ„tes But this maÌ„ of synne the sonne of perdicioÌ„ the brothel of al fleshely filthinesse of all wickednesse whaÌ„ he is waited
might be obteyned with al that the B. of R. is the head the vniuersall bishop of all the churche as he that being successour of Petre the prīce of the apostles Christes vicare hath his sea in the principall churche And bycause this so ambicious and lickepeny lieng glose shoulde not lacke his countrefait colour these arrogaunt sawcy helhoūdes haue brought furth places of scripture violentlye wretchedly wrasted for their purpose And where as we reade that Christe sayd to Petre whan he confessed him to be the sonne of God Thou art Petre and vpon this rocke will I buylde my churche They sayde Christes wordes are thus to be vnderstanden that Christ made Petre the foundacion of hys churche and that al churches are bounden therfore of duetie to be vnder the obedience of Petres successour the B. of Rome Againe wher the Lorde saithe Petre fede my shepe these men haue expounded this worde fede so that they wold nedes haue the autoritie and supremacie of all bishoppes and churches geuen to the B. of Rome as vnto Petres successour They haue also violently wrasted this vnto the same purpose the Christ speaking of the keyes sayth What so euer thow shalt bynde in earthe shal be boūden in heauen and what so euer thow shalt lose on earthe shal be losed in heauen For they saide whom so euer either the B. of Rome him self or any other sacrificeing priest being consecrated by the B. of Romes autoritie assoiled was losed and ridde from the bondes of synnes and contrary wise that vnto whom so euer that maner of absolucion was denyed he was bounden still in the cheynes of synne and in the state of damnacion These toyes I saye and infinite other haue the subtil sleighty marchauntes beaten in to the eares and heartes of the common simple sorte And as sone as these maters beganne once to growe in to credence men beganne also to taste of the B. of Romes power and tirannye For if any mā hade so good a stomacke that he durst set his fote either against the B. of Rome or his he was straightwaies knocked in the head with the thonderbolt of excommunicacion and reputed of all men for a damned and an vndone man and thus the mater growed so farre furthe that euen most mighty emperours began to be afraide of the B. of Romes power For they spared not emperours but shotte of their ordinaunce at them also and commaunded straitly vnder great paynes that no mā should obey those emperours that were excommunicate as it is to see in the chronicles of the greke emperours by the vnworthy falles of the emperours Hēry ye. 4 5. Lewis ye. 4. Friderike ye. 1. 2. And doubtles albeit they did with al diligēt forsight resiste the wicked tirānie of the bishoppes of Rome entred Italie sondry tymes with roiall strong armies droue their enemies the bishoppes of Rome out of the title set others in their rowmes yet all their trauailes were vayne to no purpose nother were they hable to twytche awaye so muche as one heare of the bishoppes cruel violēce nor to pul it vnder any whitte at all For as sone as their backs were once turned departed Italie the bishoppes of Rome came in to the citie again occupied their lost tirannye afreshe and with the thonderclappes of their curse they made the Emperours fayne to be obedient vnto them And the only cause of this mischief was that the B. of Rome was not yet dead in mennes consciences bicause they beleued that he was Christes vicare hade power to lose bynde yea power ouer heauē hel to Therfore the streinght power of emperours was neuer hable to preuaile or bring any thing to passe against the craftye doiges force of the bishoppes of Rome For although emperours thē selues other of their courtes householdes espied the romishe fraudes deceueable wiles wel ynough yet the vulgare people being ignoraūt of al that thought that the B. of Romes decrees ought to be honoured as the lawes of God and bicause they dradde the thonderclappes of his curse as though they hade ben the fearfull sentences of the iudgemēt of God they wold nother meddle nor be of counsail with suche as they sawe knocked downe with the laitbolte of excommunicacion And this the bishoppes of Rome could the easylier bring to passe bicause ther were bishoppes and doctours of churches scatred throughout al the coastes of christendom which set furthe the autoritie of the churche of Rome for apostolike and godly But now let vs speake also of such maters as haue chaūced in our tyme that we maye see how Paul the Apostles prophecie is fulfilled at this daye At such tyme as it pleased God our heauenly and mercifull boūteous father to set his people at libertie which had ben long holden in bondage and to brydle Antichristes tirānie he chosed the small vesselles and such as were of no reputaciō to cōfoūde by thē those thinges that semed most mightie inuincible For two or thre faithful doctours ministres of churches being enlumined with the spirit of God whan they were growne to more perfite knowlage of the scriptures vttred openly the breathe of the Lordes mouthe that is to saye the worde of God and weaponed many a one with the same sharpe strong sweord Thā whā men hade once goten that weapon in their handes to kepe their heades against the craftye wiles of the false prophetes they began to acknowlage Iesus Christ and to beleue that he is the only head of his churche the chief priest and king the sufficient sacrifice for the synnes of the worlde and the only mediatour and aduocate wyth the heauenly father yea and such a one that is neuer absent from his churche and nedeth not the seruice of any vicare in his rowme And in dede the knowlage of these maters dothe also reproue the lies and legier demayne of the B. of Rome to the intēt they might see on the other parte that he is nother the head of the churche nor the high priest and king muche lesse the vicare of Christ our saueour They haue moreouer learned that the Masse is no sacrifice for synnes nor the popishe absolucion is of any autoritie Furthermore those places of scripture which the bishoppes of Rome like most shameles helhoundes hade violētly wickedly and sawcely wrasted were plainly opened in their owne true meanyng whan the light of the truthe was laide to them And out of those places men learned that Petre is not the rocke it self but that he hade his denominacion of Petra that is the rocke whiche he confessed Christ is the Rocke and not Petre. and so they acknowlaged that Christ is the rocke which is the only foundacion of the churche wherupon the churche of faithfull people being surely buylt can not swarue 1. Cor. 3. Men haue learned also that the office of feding signifieth not an empire or a kingdome but
greater parte of this vision in the later Epistle to his Thessalonians in the secoÌ„de chaptre For where as the Thessalonians beyng disquieted through false doctrines of certain deceauours thought that the last daye of iudgement and the coÌ„myng of our Lorde Iesu Christ drewe nere and was than already at hande Paule a faythfull doctour of those that were his confuteth the falsely conceaued opinion touching that mater with these maner of wordes reasones Let no man deceaue you by any meanes For the Lorde shall not come except ther com a departiÌ„g furst and that the man of synne be opened the sonne of perdicion which is an aduersarie and is exalted aboue all that is called God or is wourshipped so that he dothe sytte in the temple of God as God boasting him selfe to be God Remembre ye not that whan I was yet wyth you I tolde you these thinges And now ye knowe what wythholdeth euen that he might be vttred at his tyme For the mysterie of the iniquitie dothe allready worke till he which now only letteth be taken out of the waye And thaÌ„ shall that wicked one be vttred whom the Lorde shall consume wyth the spirite of his mouthe and shall destroye wyth the appearaunce of his coÌ„myng euen him whose commyng is after the working of sathan wyth all lyeng power signes and wondres and wyth all deceaueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse among them that perishe bicause they receaued not the loue of the truthe that they might be saued And therfore God shall sende them strong delusion that they shoulde beleue lyes that all they might be demned which beleued not the truthe but hade pleasure in vnrighteousnesse Thus farre haue I rehearsed Paule thapostles wordes which coÌ„teyne the ful perfyt descripcioÌ„ of al this adoo and of the mysteries of Antichrist also the playne interpretacion of the vision that is recorded in Daniel the Prophete And after what sorte these two places agree betwene them selues and what is the true vnderstandyng of them boche it shal be declared in the Homilies folowyng by the fauour and helpe of God But out of these maters which are thus farre already sayde welbeloued brethreÌ„ in Christ this we must marke that accordyng to the oracles of goddes worde and of Iesu Christ Antichrist shall surely come which by his false prophetes shal seduce an infinite multitude of people We must therfore brethren endeauour our selues with most earnest studie and diligence that furst of all we maye be throughly perfyte in the certain true knowlage of our Lorde only saueour Iesu Christ wherin beyng instructed we must than also learne to knowe the false Christes and that great Anttchrist him selfe to thintent least we be made foles hereafter as we haue ben all ready heretofore by the most false wylye deuyses of Satan for than we shal be hable nother to knowe him ne yet to beware of him Therfore we hade nede diligently to consider the wordes of God and to call vpon him also diligently with continuall prayers that he wolde vouchesafe to open vnto vs the true vnderstaÌ„ding of his worde to leade vs in to the true knowlage of his sonne our redemour and that we be not deceaued with Antichristes lyes but continue stedfastly in Christ our saueour which is the euerlasting veritie To him be honour praise and glorie euerlastingly worlde without ende Amen Thus endeth the furst Homilie Antichrist The .ij. Homilie In this seconde Homilie we are taught what the original beginning of Antichrist is where it shal be and by what meanes and shyftes he shall attayne his so great streinghtes and so mighty power of his tyrannye OVr Lorde Iesus Christ the eternal sonne of God the only redemour and vndeniable Doctour of the world talking with his disciples concerning the later tymes and the periles of the same amoÌ„g other thinges telleth them before hande that false Christes and false Prophetes shal rise vp to the destruction and marring of many men And we are also taught by the hole mynde and consent of all the scriptures bothe of the olde testament newe that among them ther shal be a certayne peculiar head ryngleader and a most ranke aduersary of Christ our kyng and priest whom after the common custome of the faythfulles and by the apostles autoritie we doo vse to name Antichrist like as in the Homilie before it is sufficieÌ„tly declared Neuertheles these thinges are not spoken to th ende welbeloued brethreÌ„ in Christ that we should only heare knowe what shoulde be hereafter hauing in the meane tyme no larger consideracion of thinges that shall come but the Lorde dothe rather require by his faithful admonicion geuing that we should learne to knowe this chief and notable enemie of our saluacioÌ„ and to beware of his wiles least we be seduced therwith and so be made partakers with hym of eternall damnacion And therfore it is necessarily requisite for vs to marke to coÌ„ferre other places of the scriptures together also that caÌ„ with more certayntie euidence informe vs of al those maters which are as it were but in a fewe wordes set expressely furthe in this place In consideracion whereof I lately brought forth two places of scripture touching this mater the one of the olde testameÌ„t out of Daniel that ê“phetes vii chap. the other out of Paule the later to the Thessa Whiche albeit by and by at the furst syght they myght seme not to agree together in all thinges but somwhat to varie yet ther is no differeÌ„ce nor dissimilitude betwene them at al. Ther is also no contradiction nor any other varietie but that thapostle Paule wyth more playne light of wordes and sentences dothe expouÌ„de that which Daniel set furthe after the maner of a prophet vnder the mysterie of a vision like as the thinges that folowe shall more clearely beare euidence And to thintent this hole mater of Antichrist maye the more openly appeare vnto vs it shal be all throughly comprehended and assoiled in sixe questiones or proposiciones For furst inasmuche as it is euident that Antichrist is we shall inquire of his originall begynnyng that is to wete in what place he must spring out and where we must seke for him in case we intende throughly to come to the certain knowlage of him SecoÌ„darily by what meanes deuises craftes he shall atteyne suche mighty power and so highe autoritie Thirdly we shall make searche of his persone that is to saye which a one it shal be and by what markes and propreties it ought to be knowen Fourthly we must considre his workes that he shal set his studie vpoÌ„ Which consideracion euen it self dothe bring a certain and an vnfailing playne knowlage of him Fifthely it is conuenient to knowe his weapones wherwyth he shall wyth suche luckie successe fight to attayne enlarge defende and mayntene his kingdome and power wythall Sixthely how farre the limites of his wicked autoritie must be extended and vpoÌ„ what sortes of men our Lorde
most victorious king Iesus Christ shall suffre him to haue so great autorite who at leynght wyth his iust iudgement shall slea and despeche that fearce and prowde aduersarie wyth all his membres and wyth sentence past calling again shall iudge him to be punyshed in the torment of vnqueÌ„cheable fyre Hereunto ther shal be a faithful admonicioÌ„ takeÌ„ out of Christes wordes instede of a coÌ„clusioÌ„ how the godly ones faithfull folkes ought to behaue theÌ„ selues vnder his rageing tyrannye And in dede I shall by the grace of God purpose to treate of all these maters with suche for sight and diligence as shall lye in my best possible power to doo Now as perteynyng to the furst wher Antichrist was borne question of Antichristes original begynnyng and the place of his birthe the holy goost hathe sufficiently and perfitely instructed vs by Daniel the Prophet which saithe that the litell horne by the which we hearde in the Homilie before that Antichrist was figured sprong out of the fourthe beast that is to wete out of his head as of that parte wherof hornes commonly vse to growe out Now forsomuche as this fourthe beast is a figure of the fourthe monarchie that is to saye of the empire of Rome as it is before largely ynough declared it foloweth yea it is out of all paraduenture euen by the vnfailing demonstracion of the holy goost that Antichrist shall spring out of the empire of Rome yea and out of the heade of it that is to wete out of the principal citie Rome euen ther he must be sought for Here vnto that sayeng must partly be referred that How the temple of god is to be vnderstand here Paule thapostle speaketh of the departing and that he teacheth that his seate must be placed in the temple of God For that sayeng may not in any wise be expouÌ„ded of the temple of Ierusalem but it ought to be vnderstaÌ„den of the felowship and congregacion of the faithfull which is the true and lyuing temple of God NotwithstaÌ„ding least the dulnesse of our witte might doubte somthing in this behalfe our Lord Iesus Christ himselfe dothe shewe yet more euidently and more clearly poynteth as it were wyth his fyngre that Antichrist must be borne in the very citie of Rome For in that reuelacion which he shewed to his beloued disciple Iohn the Apo. 17. great aduersarie of Christ is ment by the Image of the hoore which sytteth vpon many waters is caried vpon a mightie beast an vnknowen that gothe rageing grymmely wyth seuen headdes armed wyth ten hornes And the angell willing to interprete the mysterie of the Image to Iohn thapostle saithe that the waters wher the woman sitteth are the people and folfe and naciones tongues whom she shall beare rule ouer And that woman quam he whome thow sawest is the great citie which hathe rule ouer the finges of the earthe and the seuen heades are the seuen mountaines wher vpon it is sette Now who is it that seeth not herin the openly manifest and euident descripcion of the citie of Rome For Rome if a man considre the olde circuite of the walles comprehendeth wythin it seuen mountaynes and that of famous reporte in the monumentes of olde writours of which mountaynes bothe the tokens and the names remayne euen yet to this daye And the same Rome whaÌ„ Domitianus was Emperour ther in whose tyme Iohan thapostle being banished for the faithe of Christ in to the I le of Pathmos receaued this reuelacion of the Lorde reigned hade empire ouer the kinges of the earthe For at that tyme the power of the Romaynes hade conquered and subdued wyth their marciall powers the greatest parte of al the hole world vnder their autoritie empire By reason wher of it is vndoubtedly playne by most certain reasones argumeÌ„tes that Antichrist must be borne of the empire of Rome place his seate in the head of it that is to wete in the very citie of Rome And this I saye more ouer The B. of Rome is the great Antichrist ê“fesse frely bothe wyth mouthe mynde that the chief mightie greatest Bishop which hauing his seate in the citie of Rome chalengeth to him self the dominion name of the same citie is the very right and great Antichrist the exceding enemie of Christ our saueour like as in these that folowe we shall wyth a thicker raÌ„ke of argumentes most euidently declare Therfore those men erre and be toto muche deceaued as mani as put their coÌ„fideÌ„ce in those fals feined popishe gloses mynde to seke for the right Antichrist either in the citie of BabiloÌ„ or Ierusalem They are deceaued also no lesse begyled than the other before as many as being entaÌ„gled with the blynd folishe loue of the empire which at this why Mahomet is not the right Antichrist present is coÌ„moÌ„ly called SanctuÌ„ RomanuÌ„ imperiuÌ„ the sacred empire of Rome crye out sayeng that Mahomet the autor of the Turkish faythe and religion is that great enemie of our saueour why Mahomet is not the right Anticrist Christ and Antichrist to thinteÌ„t they might by that meane expelle the slauÌ„derous marke of Antichristes name froÌ„ that empire of theirs which they haue in so great estimacion and obedience For albeit no true faithfull person dothe doubt that Mahomete is a most pestilent wicked man a singular enemye of Christ our Lorde a most cruell persecutour of Christes churche an abominacion to be abhorred wyth all the powers of our heartes and a most pernicious seducer of very many men yet for all that we shall neuer be hable to proue that he is the notable and great Antichrist inasmuche as he was nother borne in the head of the Romayne empire that is to saye in Rome but in Arabie farre distaunt from Rome ne yet placeth nor occupieth his seate in the temple of God that is to wete in the congregacion among them that reioyce to be compted christianes but maketh a manifest departing quyte from them teareth awaye the name of Christ wyth so vehement hate and wickednesse that he can in no wise abyde to vse it to the professing of his relygion Which not withstanding are al applied by the notable sayengs bothe of the prophetes and the apostles vnto that mightie houge Antichrist Therfore in this case we nede no white tongued wordes nor groping reasones of flaterers of suche as saye as other men saye but rather if we intende to com to the certain and vnfailing knowlage of Antichrist it is requisite for vs to seke him in that place wher he is most accustomed to hauÌ„t that is to wete at Rome wherof euen our elders in tymes past not without the mocion of Goddes prouidence commonly vsed this coÌ„mon prouerbe The nerer a man cometh to the citie of Rome the farther he is of from the faithe and religion of Christ The meanyng of whiche prouerbe
they sawe more diligent to serue their lust pryde Anone by their violence they inuaded the most noble most valeauÌ„t kingdome of the LuÌ„bardes in Italie gaue not ouer til they perceaued it also ouerthrowne the streynghtes of it al to clattred And thus they haue in dede atteyned their power by ouerthrowing of three kyngdomes so that at leynght whaÌ„ they had trodeÌ„ the empire vnder their fete to they might abuse the emperours to what purpose they wil euen at their owne pleasure Two of those thynges now which were ê“pounded we haue hitherto with euideÌ„t exposicion declared Furst that Rome is the seate of Antichrist thaÌ„ the the B. of Rome is figured by the litel horne that Daniel maketh mencioÌ„ of that he is very Antichrist And the residue shal be treated of in the homilies folowing Here now it shal staÌ„de vs in haÌ„de welbeloued brethreÌ„ in Christ to considre throughly the beginnynges of popes of their kyngdome For lyke as they haue atteyned their kingdome with wiles falsehead treasones oppressing of good Princes euen so shal they deuise with the same craftes to vpholde their kingdoÌ„ glorie power to their successours also An euident vnfailing token of this mater this present tragedie declareth vnto vs wherby through their forcastes and mocions they stere vp the most myghty princes and most valeauÌ„t people to take weapoÌ„ in hande against Christ the most highe king priest In this case therfore we had nede to vse singular diligeÌ„ce for cast brethreÌ„ that we haue respect only to the wordes of Christ folowe the rule of theÌ„ also to make the eares of God weary with coÌ„tinual praiers neuer ceassing to desire him that he wolde vouchesafe to defeÌ„de vs with his owne fatherly succour to deliuer vs froÌ„ the tyraÌ„ny of Antichrist to burst his horne power And on the coÌ„trary parte to set vp aduauÌ„ce the horne kingdoÌ„ of his soÌ„ne that we may serue him in faith charitie vprightenesse of life at leynght to liue to reigne with him for euer euer Amen The .iij. Homilie In this third Homilie is described Antichristes persone what his propretie is and by what markes he may be lightly knowne LIke as in maters of warre it is not only profitable but also necessarie for vs throughly and fully to knowe bothe our enemye his weapons his politike wiles also and embushementes his deuises and forcastes so as they maye the more easyly be auoided and repulsed wyth like power and discrete aduisement euen so is the same knowlage as muche necessarie in all the continue of our life In the discourse wherof we must abyde a certain perpetuall and alwaies contynuyng warfare by the helping mayntenaunce of our most high emperour our Lorde Iesu Christ which biddeth vs not set vpon any carnall mortall enemie but commaundeth those that are his appointed men of warre to be armed against the spirituall aduersaries of our saluacion Ephe. 6. as the apostle Paule saithe against the Lordes of this worlde the rulers of the darkenesse of this worlde yea rather against the Deuil him selfe that olde and mightie serpent whose subtiltie is infinite and his wyles innumerable which also hathe the cast to transforme him selfe in to euery facion and to counterfaicte euen the angel of light But althoughe that common enemie of our saluacion layeth embushes for vs wyth wonderfull sondry his politike wylie prankes but aboue all other specially wyth the iuggling deceates of false doctrine yet hathe he for all that som chief guyde and emperour of his armies whoÌ„ he hathe most throughly instructed in al his streynghtes in all his power wyles fraudes deceates and all the knackes that he hathe to destroye maÌ„kynde wythall This man the holy scriptures set furthe in many places by the name figure of Antichrist forsomuche as being in all thinges contrary and against our Lorde and saueour Iesus Christ who is become vnto vs of God 1. Cor. 1. the heauenly father wisedom righteousnesse sanctificacion and redempcion he maketh warre against him and draweth awaye vs whom Christ hathe redemed wyth his blood from his companye seruice and partaking of saluacion It is therfore necessary for vs to marke diligently to espie out this felowe and it is conuenient for vs also to geue the eies of our heartes attentyuely vnto this purpose especially the worlde that now is to thintent we maye be hable to knowe out of the scriptures bothe him and all his wyles and to beware of him that he begyle vs not And as for this knowlage it may fully and lightly be perceaued of the twoo places of scripture which I lately brought furthe of the most excellent Prophet Daniel and the Apostle Paule which paynt out Antichristes visnomye vnto vs wyth suche lyght and euidence that all the hole mater of him might be comprehended in six chaptres or proposicions And therfore I haue lately expounded two the furst by the which we are taught that he shall spring vp place his seate and reigne at Rome And ther wyth also it is shewed by what meanes deceates subtilties treasons and wicked deuises he shall come to and obteyne his kingdome All which thinges verily are set furthe wyth suche light as it is declared wyth sufficieÌ„t playnesse that they are fulfilled by the bishop of Rome which ought to be takeÌ„ for that very principal and mightie houge Antichrist after the same sorte as they were in tymes past spoken of before by the prophetes and Apostles Now the next is that we steppe ouer to the thrid place of the mater we are in hande wythall Wherin the The. 3. Antichristes persone persone of Antichrist his nature disposicion maners and all his propreties wherby he maye be knowne are described These are written by Paule the Apostle who in that place which we haue before rehearsed dothe workemanly paynt out all the hole face of Antichrist wyth foure names or titles as it were wyth certain lyuely colours And the furst title that he decketh him wythall is that he nameth him The man of Synne the man of Synne This forme of speaking smelleth the Hebrue phrase and wanteth not in this behalfe the expresse significatioÌ„ of the thing that is intended in that he calleth him not after a simple maner A synfull maÌ„ or a wicked or an vngracious man but the Man of synne or the man of wickednesse mynding this wise to speake of a certain greater thing that is to saye euen the same thing that the seruauÌ„t and slaue of synne is and as he that is addicte al together to the lawes of synne in al the hole discourse of his life To be shorte to thintent we maye fully vnderstande the meanyng of this title and that we maye see wythall whether this same title doo agree fittly wyth the bishop of Rome we must marke anon furst of all what the scripture purporteth in this worde Synne Holy writours call it synne
what so euer is committed what Synne is against the will of God the heaueÌ„ly father and the autoritie of his holy worde either concerning faithe and religion or concerning the office of charitie either yet concerning the innocencie and purenesse of life For in these three specialties the hole life of a faithfull christen man and what so euer be customly required therunto are comprehended And if we wold a litel more diligently more narowly marke the hole papacie wyth his head membres we shall fynde them to be suche as ought worthyly to be called most filthyly polluted men wyth synnes and euen the very right Men of synne For as touching the faithe and religion which is obserued and set furthe in the papacie it is euidently apparent to be cleane contrary vnto the true and right faithe and religioÌ„ seing it was not taken out of the regestre of the holy sacred scripture wherout the doctrine of all faithe and religion ought to be taken of which mater we shal more fully treate whaÌ„ we com to the exposicion of the thrid title To be brief albeit we wold graunt them in this behalfe that coÌ„cerning the doctrine of their faithe religion all thinges were pure and set furthe according to the sentence of Goddes worde yet it can in no wise be denyed that the popes and their complices doo greuously offende coÌ„cerning the same if we doo considre the abominable sinne of Symonie by Symony the which they do so many robberies one vpoÌ„ an other wyth suche shamelesnesse gredinesse in those maters of God For we se theÌ„ come at lenght to so highe wickednesse by the shameles practise of symonie that they bestowe not only benefices and the rentes of Colleges and Monasteries and other suche like goodes of the church to the possessioÌ„ of most vnworthy persones that is to wete of suche as be of counsail of theyr viciousnesse messagiers coll cariers bawdes horse kepers mule dryuers cokes infinite others beyng nother of honest coÌ„uersacion nor good learnyng and all for money or elles for priuate fauour or auauÌ„tage but also set a sale and offre to be bought for euery mannes money the holy sacred gyftes of the holy Goost remission of synnes the grace of God the heauenly father the communion of the sacramentes the lauer of Baptisme yea and their owne God made of bread wyth the kingdome of heauens and euerlasting blesse and that with suche shamelesnesse that their owne most gredy chapmen brokers are not ashamed with a loud a shoutig voice to praise their wares and to require for the same al maner of money whether it were goteÌ„ in warres or by thefte or by rauine or yet by bloodsheading For they haue called the pelfe goten wyth these craftes no lesse holy than other is if they be all shuffled together Yet all men knowe euen as many as are madded wyth their supersticion and haue thought good to buye their wares that I feyne not these maters either of enuye or malice but euen the truthe of the mater it selfe is more cleare than nedeth any further declaracion in this bebalfe What shall we thaÌ„ saye in this case welbeloued brethren in Christ Must we not nedes confesse that they which haue done suche thinges were in that chief and principal point of al the hole life touching faithe and religion very wretches in all thinges playnly blynded men of synne For furst wyth most arrogaunt temeritie they haue taken vpon them selues the thinges that they neuer hade nor were deliuered to them of Christ Iesu that is to saye remission of sinnes the grace of God the kingdome of heauens and euerlastyng lyfe and blessednesse All which thynges the hole scripture teacheth were redemed with nothing elles but with the precious blood of Iesu Christ alone ThaÌ„ making sale of the giftes of the holy goost they made of the temple of God not the house of prayer but a certayn marte yea euen a tauerne of cheopping and chaunging Thirdely they haue made all religion to be a cloke of naughtynesse and iniquitie vnder which cloke euery body might frely entreprise and doo what so euer he wolde For might not a man vnder this false shewe of religion not only wythout punyshement but also no maÌ„ sayeng wrong he did be an horemongre breake wedlocke be a rybaulde haunt naughty games sportes be dronkeÌ„ fight robbe steale oppresse Christes poore seruauntes sheade innoceÌ„t blood finally to doo all mychief with sweorde and fyre Might not a man that were burthened ouerlayde with all these vices be made free clensed out of hande assone as a sacrificeing hyred priest hade saide masse for him or hade goteÌ„ him assoiled for money The sayeng therfore of Christ our king and priest ought rightefully and according to their owne desertes to be thondred in their eares My house shal be called a house of prayer but you haue made it a denne of theues Among these we Math. 21. maye recken the pilling and rauine that they vse openlye wyth to muche shamelesnesse For the moste rauenyng marchauntes are not content to haue spoiled men of their goodes while they were alyue but they go about to robbe and pille mennes heires their wyues and children also whan they are deade and in another lyfe For to this ende they haue ymagined trentalles sacrifices of Massing for the dead anniuersaries and infinite suche like and vnto them men must nedes either bequeath perpetuall rentes and reuenues in their testament vpon their death bedde or elles their heires must prouide and geue them And what a thing is this elles but the same that Christ obiecteth to the Scribes and Pharisees of the Iewes where he sayeth that they deuoured and robbed poore folkes and wydowes houses vnder pretence of long prayer And who is it that shal in this case acquite them from synne and trespace seyng they bewray them selues by their owne dedes yea and euen by the testimonye of their owne mouthe to be theues and sacrileges For yf the pardon bulles which they offre to sell for large money to men whaÌ„ they were yet lyuyng were sufficient for remission of synnes as they make boast of what nede is it to buye it dayly afreshe wyth newe sacrifices for them whaÌ„ they be dead And forasmuche as they saye men haue nede of this ware that dead mennes soules can not be delyuered wythout them they doo verily shewe themselues to be deceauours in that they deceatfully fraudulently wyped their money from them whaÌ„ they were alyue promisyng perfite remission of synnes whych they them selues saye afterwarde is vnperfite and hath nede of moo and that newe wares To be shorte the B. of Rome is the autor and inuentour of al this gaire with his mysterie workers of his owne religion which haue plaÌ„ted the sedes of suê‘sticioÌ„ that he hath sowed after a woÌ„derful ymaginacion of feynyng and lyeng And therfore we will saye that this furst title that Paule decketh