How in the persons of Romulus and Numa Pompilius their were two kindes of gouernmentes prefigured among the Italians FIrst we will consider euen as in the murther of Abell committed by Cain God did prefigure vnto vs that the good should be persecuted by the wicked for his seruice sake till the end of the world so also in the person of Romulus first founder of Rome murtherer of his brother Romus and Tassius his companion as also in the person of Numa Pompilius a most subtill and ingenious inuentor of a forged religion to establish his owne gouernment God would manifest vnto vs that this nation should serue it selfe héereafter with murthers and apparance of a counterfet religion to laie hands on others kingdomes and to snatch away the substance of other peoples for we sée euen as their first domination began at the first by effusion of bloud and after by cloake of religion so also it is come to passe that the first glorie of the great Empire of the Italians to the which all Europe was brought in subiection and made tributarie was gotten by the great murthers so commonly committed in the time of Marius and Sylla contriued by Augustus Caesar and by Anthony which lustre being by long tract of time dimmed and extingnished is by a cleane contrarie maner restored and restablished vnder a faire shew and cloake of religion Cap. 3. How the subtill Italian borroweth the name of the Pope to come to his pretences with more facilitie NOw I pray thée Reader be not persuaded that I meane by this discourse contemptuously to blame the Popes of Rome in their owne persons or any holy constitution in the Church of Rome My desire is only to lay open the déep reach and subtiltie of the Romanes who by a great foresight and immutable order haue béen able so to handle their affaires and to dispose of Popes of Kings and Princes of the earth in such sort that they haue got the head and rule ouer them and fetch round summes of deniers out of their cofers and from their commons besides For proofe hereof I will maintaine the like preposition that was held to Augustus Caesar the greatest happiest subtillest and most pollitike Monarke of the worlde It was this That he commanded indéed all nations and all the world trembled at the excellencie of his nature but yet that his wife commanded him and his daughter her mother giuing thereby to vnderstand that it was they that ruled only borrowing his name to authorise and establish what they listed So I say that whatsoeuer is ratified published and receiued vnder the name and authoritie of the Popes it is but the counsell and inuention of the Italians of Rome who to authorise their doings couer them with the name of the Pope and therefore must be attributed to them as to the inuentors persuaders and contriuers of that which procéedeth from his holines Cap. 4. A liuely patterne of Italian subtiltie in the person of Katherine de Medicis and her Florentine Counsell FOr confirmation of that which goeth before and for demonstration of the matter let vs set before our eyes the estate of France in the time that Katherine de Medicis Quéene-Mother liued and we shall sée as in a cleare glasse that she and her Councell of Italians got betwéen them the whole gouernment disposing of all the affaires in France into their hands and like bloodsuckers sucked the bloud of the poore people so dry as if it had béene crushed out in a wine-presse so that by such crueltie men perished in France by famine nakednes hearts griefe by thousands and millions and neuer were there so many died by poyson of Serpents and other venimous beasts nor by the crueltie of Tygers Lybbards Crocodiles Lynres Beares and other deuouring beasts since the creation of the world as by their tyrannous crueltie shewed whilest they bore the sway This could not any one French man perceiue to come to passe for so smal a matter as to haue matched y e daughter of an Italian Duke with a younger brother of France But herehence procéedeth it that this nation is so ingenious and subtill that vpon the least occasion which may be it maketh way and meane to enterprise and effect the greatest matters in the world and moreouer to laie the blame and grudge that commeth by their stingings exactions vpon other mens shoulders fine workemen I warrant you that can so closely couer their dealings with the name authoritie of great Prelates Kings or Princes that the hatred and blame may lie vpon their neckes and the profite be put in their owne purses And sure this nation can make so sure way so far before hand and so contriue their plots that then at the length onely men can perceiue them when it is cleane past their power to finde out any remedie to preuent them Cap. 5. How of anie light occasion this Nation can deuise to effect great matters FOr euident proofe hereof this Italinesse had not remained lōg time in France but Monseur le Dauphin who was to rule ouer vs as lawfull heire to the Crowne vanished quickly by some perfume or by some other Italian deuise thereby to giue entrance and make a gap for the Italians to rush in to the managing of the greatest partes of the affaires of France And this occasion béeing redoubled by the death of King Henry they tooke fast hold of her haire which groweth before not letting her slip out their hands to runne after her iudging the two best means to procure the gouernment of this estate to this woman and themselues was first of all to bring vp those which should rule ouer vs in all lasciuiousnes and pleasure to make them more effeminate then their owne mother and likewise in the ignorance of good letters and in well gouerning an estate to the end that their Italinesse being more forward in knowledge of these things then they to the great aduantage of Italians might sease wholly on the gouernment of the kingdome and the entire disposing of all France and secondly to sow debates stir vp warres among the French least that their vnion and concord might disturbe or not permit the rule gouernment and aduancement of a straunge nation ouer them who could not suffer or permit any gouernment to the onely daughters of our Kings of France it selfe Cap. 6. The Romane soweth diuisions and putteth away the snbstance of a people to enrich himselfe and to do with it at his pleasure THese two breaches being made in the body of France the Italians persuading themselues that if then when they had yet no way to set in foote which was but in the time of K. Henry they were able to frame among them such disorder that Francis the first hauing left seuentéene hundred thousande crownes in his coffers albeit he had paide ransome in Spaine the said Henry hauing raigned but a while had left his heire behinde him indebted fortie thrée
Millions which was a most straunge and maruellous debt considering the great tributes which he had exacted of his subiects of the employing whereof there could be none account heard notwithstanding the best friendes and louers of the communaltie made a motion were verie instant They haue at this present farre more abilitie by the authoritie and subtilitie of their Italinesse to prosecute the ruine and vtter subuersion of this estate the which to bring to a low ebbe they must fill full of ciuill warres and so ouer loade with such heauie burthens of subsidies taxes and new rereages that they poore people remained quite ruined and troden downe so that it could neuer since recouer foote againe and the better to feare and torture them thereunto to locke them vp in prisons and there to make them rot miserably if they did not pay their intollerable ransomes excéeding in many partes of France more by the third part then the yéerely reuenue of the poore Pesant did amount vnto not disburdening him therby any thing at all of his charges in finding souldiers of whom he was daily sore gnawen deuoured beaten and oppressed besides the extremitie shewed vnto him in paying the fines of his wine without the which he could by no meanes be discharged Thus this subtill nation hauing gotten on their side some Italionate Frenchmen to take their partes and to fortifie them somewhat more as also to laie part of the blame of these pilleries on their backs do all things at their owne will and pleasure to the enriching of themselues and to the vtter ruine of the poore commons who abide the greatest smart of all And he which would desire to know what is become of all these excessiue heapes of mony leuied in this kingdome let him goe to Florence to behold the sumptuous buildings which there haue béen erected by our ruines and there let him sée the wondrous wealth wherein many Florentines swimme which came but like poore snakes into France and now how they haue altered their state But if the people of France had had as much witte and wisedome as they they should at the first haue laide their heads togither and concluded to haue chased them backe into their owne countrey and foreséeing the debates and quarrels that they began to sow euery where in France haue sent them backe to their owne home as they themselues once serued the French when they were in their country in like maner Cap. 7. How this Nation going about to ruine a countrie beginneth with some one estate and from thence commeth to all the rest by degrees and how the French can by no meanes take such opportunitie when it serueth them ALthough they haue béen alwaies voyd of all mercie and compassion towardes the poore people hauing drenched them drie and brought them to great miserie yet they haue shewed as little fauour as might be to Churchmen making them to be gnawen to the bare bone with tenthes and to be puld a hole lower by sale of their goods maintaining all inequalitie amongst them making floods of riches to run downe the héeles of some Italianate spirits their coherents and as for those who take paines daily in diuine seruice which the French Romans wil not meddle withal nor so much as with the tip of their finger to turne ouer one leafe of it they may haue a sore drowth but the diuell a whit of drinke will they giue them to coole their thirst Their Nobles they were saluted so oftentimes with summonings to assemble themselues who held any landes of the Crowne to bee seassed for the affaires of the warres and paiment of souldiers and withall put to such pinches and daungers to ruine one another with such extreame costs and charges raised by the vaine enhancings of their gold chaines of their Order for all paiments and wages employed onely for the payes of the Italians and other strange nations As for the Officers although that their offices were sold vnto them in the wane of the Italian power ten times dearer then in the raigne of any former Prince or King they were so fléeced and pulled away by substitution of others that did robbe them of all the profit and honour that might grow therby who in their turne also were pilled and brought to nothing by restoring the mony that was sucked from them that first bought them so that by that time all their landes were counted there was nothing to be laughed at on no side but only the Florentines and their partners who might wel laugh in their sléeues hauing so much the more to drinke filling their purses with the emptyings of others so that by such deuises they haue so well sucked out the substance of the French that since the comming of this Italianesse into France they haue picked more pence out of the coate of this people then during the raigne of twelue Kings before The tokens wherof most manifestly appeare especially vpon the poore pesants by their nakednes who go apparrelled but with old linnen cloth in the greatest coldes and are besides constrained to humble themselues so low as to liue vpon Oates and Pease like bruit beasts The cause and originall of all these miseries procéeding of the marriage of one Italinesse in France aspiring to make way for her adherents and to get the Crown into her own hands making our kings odious to the whole world and this sheweth well that they are so ingenious that of the least occasion that may serue to fauour them they know how to finde and fetch out greater aduantages farre beyond the reach of any nation in the world beside This thou shalt easily perceiue if with the consideration of that which goeth before thou cast but thine eye of vnderstanding vpon the French to sée how great a number of the Kings daughters haue béen married into Italy as Madame Renee daughter of King Lewes the twelfth to the Duke of Ferrara others to the King of England into Spaine to the Dukes of Sauoy and of Lorraine By meanes of whom although they were all descended of farre more noble houses then her yet the French could neuer by any such occasion tyrannise and impouerish these people neuer making the least commoditie thereby or get any other preferment but to the contrarie they still left behinde them verie much of their owne as in the marriages of the King of Spaine and of the Duke of Sauoy where they got to their shares the fairest fléeces and conquests of France And this may verie well shew how grosse witted we are in France and how ingenious and subtill the Italian is at euerie opportunitie that may happen Sée wherfore I wold faine be able to perswade the Popes quite to forsake this nation to come into Swicerland and into France verie curteous and good people to deliuer themselues from the yoake of that nation which is the most corrupt in the whole world for if one onely Italinesse were able to chaine our Kings at Paris
because it most consisteth in visible things to be beholded with these our bodily eyes as are sumptuous and goodly Temples glistering with costly glasse windowes triumphantinges liuely pictures images exquisitely carued forth most precious clothes of Arras Chalices Crosses of the finest Ducket gold height of Piramides Copes of crimsin veluet others of cloth of gold and siluer which are thinges most pleasant to the eies to behold And to delight the hearing with songs of Mnsicke noyse of Organs and sound of Belles al these things are delectable in déed and haue some shew of humane wisdom for all that haue they not God for any Authour neither did Iesus Christ nor his Apostles euer institute or occupie the like rather they taught vs to despise the world and all that is therein to aspire vp to heauen instructing vs to renounce our selues and all the lustes of the flesh to do the holie and perfect will of God to take vp our Crosse and wade thorow many tribulations into the glorie of God And this cannot we abide we must haue a religion which wil helpe to augment our dignities and earthly riches that we may liue here in all voluptuousnes and securitie And because the Gospell taken in his puritie is quite contrarie to that there is nothing in the earth that this nation hateth more then to heare speake thereof farre preferring a worldly felicitie present which by no meanes they will forgo vpon hope of any eternall absent and hidden ioyes which are to come Cap. 14. A comparison of the diuine seruice inuented by the Italians with the counsell of some subtill Phisition HE that would thorowly examine the forme of Religion planted by the Italians by the authoritie of their soueraigne high Priest shall finde all these things afore truely obserued amongst them So that flying therby with wings swifter and stronger then the wings of any Engle they are able to beate downe to the ground those that are so sawcie as to withstand in any thing or gainsay in any wise the formes of their seruices which they haue introduced to fetch vnder their subiection the greatest Potentates of the earth and to draw thereby deniers and reuenues from them imitating herein some craftie Phisition who preferring a good bootie of siluer before the health of the sicke patient will learne what meate and drinke pleaseth best his appetite and hauing found that he loueth claret wine aboue all things and sugar to make it haue a daintie taste which he taketh imagine that he goe visit the patient who will straight begin to tell him how he can get no recouerie of his sicknes albeit he hath vsed much blood letting taken many pilles and other phisicke which hath brought him verie low and put him to much paine this same impudent Phisition that tell him that all that serued but to weaken him to take away his stomacke and by mouing a question to the sicke patient shall aske him if he loue not well good claret wine He answering with all his heart this Phisition shall reply that he will warrant him to recouer his health againe if hée leaue taking these hard medicines and those pilles so bitter in swallowing and to get some daintie wine of most delicious taste if he should send his man ten miles for some to haue alwaies at the least thrée or foure good bottles in his Celler in store And bid him besides least the vapours should sume too much to intoxicate his head to take Coriander comfits at the end of his repast assure him that this wil make him more lustie againe then all the phisicke in the world I let you iudge with what audacitie the sicke shall dare to imbrace this counsell But if it chaunce after he hath béen verie ill and his sicknes begin to grow away he come to recouer straight here vpon how will he honour this Phisition he shall neuer be able sufficiently to set foorth his praise But in the seruice of God it is otherwise we must eate the bread of affliction and sorrow drinke the water of bitternes which are verie bitter and loathsome drugs to swallow as things much offending our taste whereas in the seruice inuented by the Italians there is nothing but y t which is verie pleasant to our humane senses and which doth verie well agrée with our carnall nature and therefore do ignorant men imbrace with a most ardent desire all that they inuent which when they haue once receiued is hard to be rooted out of them because their eye sight is not quicke inough to discouer the marke whereat they shoote which is only to beare rule and to share and make boote of the money which they get from them Cap. 15. That they care not at Rome for any diuersitie of Religions so they tend only to maintaine their Domination THis is most manifest for if any man inuent any new form of religion neuer knowne before in the world apparelling himselfe after a straunge fashion neuer séene before vsing iestures altogither rediculous and foolish liuing after a most austere to cruell and brutish maner as do the Capuchians Fucillians and such like foolish orders of Friars all shall be approued and receiued by the Italians with great plaudities so that such religions will serue them for a wall and defence for their kingdome and gaine but if any one appeare or come neare them that dare speake against such abuses and touch them to the quicke a litle leaning vpon the pillar of that doctrine which hath béen giuen from the terrestriall Paradice they will shake a heauen and earth and remoue all a world to stop his mouth and kill him with great exclamations that he went about to sow new doctrines and begin some new sect of religion whereby we may cléerely sée that vnder this cloake of religion they do but aspire to be rulers and to finger mony from other peoples and nations and that all the warres and ciuill broyles which haue so long troubled Germany Swicerland all Flanders and France haue byn broched and begun by them for such matters albeit those who had the conduct thereof enterprised them for the zeale they bore to their owne religion Cap. 16. That the Romanes are not contented to staie themselues with that which is spirituall but would also dispose the kingdomes of the earth at their pleasure THat the Italians shoote at this marke also I bring euident proofe that when they had set their matters in so good forwardnes that the Emperour and the other Christian kings had graunted this title of soueraigne high Priest and vniuersall Bishop to their Prelate of Rome for to be a greater staie and pillar of the Christian Church and to kéepe the other Bishops and Pastours in better order and within the compasse of their dutie they are not content to rest with that passe further and cause to preach and publish by word and writing that their Bishop is Christes onely Lieftenant on earth to whom all Scepters and
haue not onely for that it is leuied with such wonderfull celeritie and vnusuall spéed For when they purchase any collection of mony or any other Bull of an Abby or a Bishoppricke they spare no Horse flesh to gather vp the summes taxed hauing gotten them vp once they must go in post and chaunge Horse so often that it séemeth the Flie with a Swallowes wings no height of mountaines no rough narrow stéepe stony hellow crooked nor raggie waies no depth of snowes nor hardnes of yse or frostes no riuers that can staie or stop the passage of this mony it must to Rome it must flie it must not créepe on the face of the earth and sure it is of a wonderfull swiftnes in comparison of the heauines delaie and long time that the monies of Kings Princes and other great Estates are in getting into their coffers whē oftētimes before they can get it in they must force the good wil of their subiects be driuen to chuse out men that shall sit vpon their Subsidies other Imposts others to collect the same they which will not take such charges vpon them but by great constraint and being vrged by necessitie and then the poore people paie such summes sore against their will putting it of as long as they may Then must there be straining of moueables and much heauing shouing to haue them againe hatred despleasure anger ill will much adoo and great delaie on euery side so that it will aske commonly thrée or foure moneths at the least to collect and deliuer in these Deniers to the receipts although it might easily be carried thither in thrée or foure houres and in verie déede may be saide to march but with wodden legges in respect of the swift course and great celeritie of that which is transported to Rome This may verie well shew that the qualitie and nature thereof is farre more excellent and pretious then of that coine which the Kings and Princes of the earth possesse Yet some may peraduenture reply that that which commeth by the sale of offices approcheth verie néere the nature thereof I will confesse so but I will also answere that such trafficke is but an Italian tricke and inuention for that by all lawes and ordinances both of God and man all such sales are forbidden as most pernicious and greatly damageable to the common wealth and matters most vnworthie vnbeséeming all good Christians that haue the feare of God before their eyes Cap. 25. A description made by learned men which hath alwaies feared the Councell of Rome and the causes why I Thinke I haue said inough of the Domination and filching of mony wherewith the Italians haue a great while preuailed to fill their pockets to master the world Now must I speake of the meanes wherwith they serue their turn to maintaine thēselus in their estate to make it good against al other And albeit in inuention and deuising the yare so cunning and can passe and make séeme good to euerie one that which they haue inuented and deuised yet are they farre more expert in kéeping their estate and can remoue and preuent all lets that may endamage them to hold their owne Foreséeing then that they had intangled the people of Europe within their Domination vnder the pretence and cloake of religion there was no more likelihood that the people might euer pull their neckes out of their yoake being farre grosser and harder to receiue anie chaunge then the people of Affrike séeing also that all that they feared was lest that some addicting themselues to the contemplation of Gods workes to the studie of Philosophie and to the reading and perusing of the holie scriptures in the language wherein they were written might view all the religions that are vsed vnder the scope of the heauens and séeke out the first causes principles and inuentors thereof and hauing curiously examined all might make these conclusions viz. that all religion is either diuine or humane that the diuine is procéeded from God the other from men that by the diuine there is nothing required at our hands but to offer our selues soules and bodies to God to do that which is his will which is to follow vertue and to flie vice to call vpon him and adore his holie name and for our sinnes I haue recourse vnto the mercie that he offereth vs in Iesus Christ the which he offereth vs fréely without our mony or riches onely enioyning vs charitably to helpe and loue one another On the other side casting their eyes vpon humane religion they shall sée that all religions that men haue whether they be Pastors of the church or who soeuer they be for their authours tend onely but to get rule to draw away the substance of those that embrace them and are fitter to tye men by the féete to this earth then to carrie them vp to heauen where the seate of God is Concluding likewise this that that religion is best by the which God is best serued then it must néedes follow that following his will declared by his word he is better serued then by the traditions of men wherefore we must not go beyond that as being the onely obiect of faith and as being the onely thing which agreeth with his Doctours and Preachers in all the partes of the world to wit the Firmament with his admirable greatnes and beautie almost incomprehensible the Planets placed betwéene it and vs the ayre and that which is engendred therein the earth the water and the creatures which liue and moue in the same altogither setting forth from the one ende of the world to the other the greatnes maiestie wisdom prouidence power and bountie of God the Creator and preseruer of the same On the other side seruing to conuince vs of weakenes of spirit of ignorance of blindnes and vncapablenes to comprehend his essence his profound wisedome and the meane wherby he hath created all these things how he conserueth them in their being and how he worketh euery daye in the diuersitie of so many things which we sée before our eyes to learue vs thereby that it is an intollerable auragancie and presumption in men to thinke to be his councellers to make lawes like lictle Kings in his Church which he calleth the Kingdome of heanen and his Spowse to there great shame which name themselues seruants in the same by whome agreat ouersight and rashnes not to be borne with all goe about to establish in it certaine humaine Constitutons as though they weere to commād and not to obay For séeing that it is his Spowse seruantes must not be so saucie as to make Lawes for her to bee at their checke Séeing then that hée is the soueraigne King and him before whome all things are present no man may enterprise such things without encroching vpon his kingdom reputing himselfe of greater wisedome then hee who is his creatour which are greuous offences deseruing very great punishments and cleane
contrary to our dutie towards God which is to shew our selues humble lowly and glad to bee taught by him and to tremble at his words as this Dampish earth an insensible and deafe creature taught vs at the publication of the law when it reeled trembled and was readie to shake in sunder at the voyce of God Moreouer what fayre shew soeuer they can set on the Constitutions of Pastors the shall alwayes be humaine and whosoeuer obayeth them obayeth but men and there inuentions But he that woulde looke with a vigilant eye to the neere examination and déepe sownding therof shal easily discouer that their only purpose is to amplifie there authoritie more and more still and to drawe coyne from people secretly selling that at an hard and deare rate which God geueth vs fréely and offereth vs most gratis And this is the reason why the Italyans fearing lest the publications of such doctrine altogether heauenly and diuine would make there Domination shake from the top quickly turne it vp side downe and soone diminish all the profits that the reape out of the countries of all Christendome by meanes of their reaching inuentions they haue therefore by a most subtill péece of prouidence toke order in the matter that the Doctrine and lessons of these men come not to light by remedies which séeme to be the fittest in the world for their purpose Cap. 26. The first meanes that the Romanis vse to maintaine their Domination FIrst to preuent lest any should attaine to so great knowledge in the holy Scriptures that they should finde out of themselues the most perfect and onely wholsome meanes of saluation to consist therein and to despise all other humaine seruices the haue caused all that concerneth the Diuine seruice to be written and pronounced in a tongue out of vse with all nations the vnderstanding whereof cannot be attayned but in consuming many yeares great trauels and much cost to th ende to kéepe the people still in ignorance of the true way to serue God Taking good héede not to translate it into Italian lest by and by they should proue to lerned to suffer the councell of Rome to handle them as they haue done And beside all this to vse the matter so that the that vnderstand Latine should not learne to much by the lecture of the Epistles and Gospels the haue set downe an order that the shall sing thē with such a Note that those which vnderstand the tongue very well otherwise shall not vnderstand much more in that place then the ignorant people for to speake troth the councell of Rome vseth the word of God no further but so fare as it will serue for there Domination and enriching in other partes of Christendome and would be willing that whatsoeuer therin is contained importing any disaduantage to their dealinges had bine cut of fiue hundred yeares since for that they haue no néede of it obseruing therein verie well the saying of a certaine Philosopher vsed in these speaches Take heede leste in seeking to much the Heauen yee loose not the earth Which is as much to say that they must prefere earthly things before the kingdome of God As we sée the Italians doe interpreting or reading Gods commandements when the cutof the defences made in the law of God againste Images whereof one is not to make Images another not to bow downe to them and the third not to worship them Would they euer do this thinke you but that they foresée that the true vnderstanding of this commandement wold coole fréeze the zeale of those that bring offrings to the worshipping of their Images with the which they licke their lippes full swéetly But they will not I warrant you peruert or misconster this article Thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke will I build my Church All the world shall heare what these wordes signifie they will want no Trumpets for the matter that they may therby be Dominators and Kings and fetch in mony by Cart lodes to Rome such force and vertue haue those wordes so sure a staffe vnto them is the rocke of S. Peter Sée then this is one mean most ingeniously inuented to containe the people within the obedience of the Romane Councell Cap. 27. A second meane that they haue to keep men in their seruice still BVt iudging that to be a sufficient remedy to withhold learned men who by reading of the holie scriptures by true contemplation of thinges created by the handie worke of God and by the great harmony of both these ioyned togither should be brought to the knowledge of the Creator and to the true seruice conuenient for his holie name and so fall to be opinatiue reiecting the Italian Domination and by such meanes shake their so sure gouernment make it totter a litle Against whom being men well armed with sound arguments it were a most dangerous thing for the Italians and their suppostes to deale by way of disputations yet sée they haue defenses ramparies to let them for making any breach in their Domination First to make them hold their tongues no more but to giue them some fat benefice some Abbey or Priory and to schoole them a litle with this lesson that the veritie which they saie they know is but poore and bare god wot wearing but a thrid bare coate neuer able to make a man rich as it was apparant indéed in him who was the Veritie it self hauing no place to hide his head in that beside it had the world all Kings and Princes of the earth for enemy On the other side he that wold be employed for Rome she had to command all ouer y e world and had the bestowing of Bishoppricks Abbies Priories and Parsonages to aduance and make happie all those that imbraced their part Now of a great number few or none stand out with them but are ouercome with such temptations if there be any that will not yéeld to them we sée by and by that the Bishops and their Officials haue them in chace and do their vttermost to inflame the Magistrate against them to put them to death as did the Priests of the old law against Helias Ieremias and the rest of the Prophets their successors against Christ But if the Magistrates chance to wincke at them the Councell of Rome hath caused Ecclesiasticall Counsellers to bee admitted into all Courtes of Parlament to aduise stire vp and inflame all Presidents Proctors of the King and all other councellours to make open warre with fire and sword against such people not without sore charge to the Iudges to looke vnto them menacing their negligence herein with double punishment By reason whereof it shal be heard for them to escape their handes Whereby appeareth how great the carnall wisedome of this nation is to maintaine and hold fast their reuenues and Domination Cap. 28. The third meane whereby they fortifie thēselues with the Forces of three of the most mightiest in al Christēdome NOt to
and within a litle therabouts and with one winke of her eye make tremble Constables Marshals of France gouernours of prouinces and by the least word or letter alter the Parlaments of France what may ten 1000. Italians do enuironing a Pope It is certaine they may force his will by violence depriuing him of his libertie in his gouernment of y e church Or if he bow not that way which they wold haue him they wil not sticke to giue his holines some dramme of such perfume as they did to the deceassed Quéene of Nauarre This is the cause why commonly we sée foure or fiue Popes to die during the raigne of one Emperour Wherefore he should do well either for loue of his life or his libertie to retire and come away from amongst them Cap. 8. Vpon what occasion the Romanes changed their Monanarchie into a populer estate that is to wit vppon the rauishment of Lucretia committed by their king Tarquinius BVt to make a more liuely representation of the great wisedome of the Italian we must mount a litle higher to the beginnings progresse and aduancement of this admirable domination whether by degrées it hath eleuated it selfe in perceiuing the Tarquins their kings were verie vicious and nothing valerous they spied out matter inough quickly against them to be rid of them so iumpe at that time fell out for their purpose the rauishment of Lucretia perpetrated by Tarquinius their King wherupon they made a commotion against him by and by to thrust him out of his kingdome not that they meant to restablish any other in his place but to alter this forme of gouernment although it be absolutely the best when kings rule as they should do and behaue themselues well and to institute another which should exalt them as they thought most likely aboue all other peoples and make them all tributarie to them Now this was their order to haue a Senate wherein men of the greatest spirites verie well learned and experienced were only admitted by whom euery yéere should two Consuls be chosen who should alwaies haue the conduct of warres and besides if any important affaires chanced then was there elected one to be a Dictator and such a one as was most worthie of all Italy to command to resist whom soeuer came against the Romanes So that if one Consull lost a battaile the estate was not thereby ouerthrowne because his fellow had mustered in a readines another Army readie to fight and giue battell againe so that if he also were vanquished they had for all that good hope yet being the Dictator to come vpon whose valour and experience they most of all relied as on Marius and Fabius for he set in incontinent for the third man This is the reason that when the enimies of the Romanes had gotten two fieldes against them as diuers times did Pyrrhus and Hanniball they were not dismaied for all that and thought themselues thereby neuer a whit the more ouercome whereas contrariwise if any King Prince or common wealth had once had an ouerthrow by a battell in the field they could not so soone recouer their losse but would iudge themselues straightwaies ruined and ouerthrowen By this meane their domination séemed altogither inuincible till by their owne Armies by ciuill broyles and domesticall iarres they conspired their owne ruine and destruction Cap. 9. How the Romanes by pretence of their Faith founde meanes to augment their Domination ALbeit that this so goodly order and forme of gouernment might haue béene sufficient to make them surpasse all other people yet they perceiuing that the breaking of faith and promises did worke the ruine of all estates that made no conscience to violate them the Italians well aduised hereof as those that saw well inough that Faith was the most firme bande of humane societie and that where it raigned not euen did stand verie flipperie and were alwaies staggering tottering and shakyng with feare and mistrust to the end to binde themselues most strictly to the obseruation of the same and to make all the world belieue that they would inuiolably kéepe their promises they builded a Temple of FAITH to the which they gaue great honour and reuerence Whereupon euerie one assuring them selues in their fidelitie desired their league and friendship and to couer them selues with their protection and fauour sparing neither tribuite nor subiection to obtaine the same This was a most rare péece of pollicie and wisedom found out by them whereby they bore sway and drew profit from all other peoples albeit otherwise the Italians were farre surpassed by them in number forces Hereby may we then sée euidently that they haue a spirite more sublimate and ingenious then any other nation that liueth vnder the scope of the heauens Cap. 10. The ruine of the first Romaine Domination and the causes thereof BVt as all earthly thinges come in processe of time to faile in glorie and naturall force so this braue Signiorie which seemed to sway the whole earth fell at last to decay and ruine because at the first beginning they did but shaue and clip those which were subiugated and forced to take hold on the cordes of the empire to make them a little gentler and tamer afterwardes they fell roundly to fleying of them besides the horrible and detestable cruelties of Nero Caligula Commodas Heliagabalus and other such like monsters made this nation odious and spited of manie others who beginning a little to discouer that the Romaines had not brought them in subiection by any greater power or multitudes whereby they excelled them too that waies but rather had gotten the vpper hand by sowing quarrels amongst them by supprising them vnawares and establishing among them a better order of militarie discipline then was before they resolued with hazarde of their liues to ouerthrow their tirannie and to pull downe their intollerable Domination to the ground Amongst other the people of the North enuironing the left arme I mean the Gothes the Saxons and Hungarians who hauing experience of their strength to bee farre passing that of Italians obseruing a better order in their warfare then before set forwarde and prosecuted so lustilie the course of their hartie enterprises that they became in short time maisters of the citie of Rome and many other partes of Italie In like manner Arthure a most valiant king of England accompanied with sixe hundred thousand men victoriously ouerthrew Lucius the Romaine Senator marching with no lesse number of souldiours then he pretending to make the English tributarie as they were before time The Gaules likewise cast of their yoke and the Almaines got from them the dignitie imperiall into their owne handes whereupon ensued the totall subuersion of this their first earthly violent and forced Domination vnder the which they had yoaked in the neckes of all the rest of the people of Europe Cap. 11. Of the beginninges and first foundations of the second Domination of the Romanes in christiandome THey then perceiuing
they haue giuen the name of Cardinals to the priestes of Rome granting the sonnes and brethren of kinges and christian princes to be honoured with the same title and estate suffering them also to remaine with their traine amongst them To the end that by these their creatures they might handle and turne the other at their deuotion make them arme their people and march against their neighbours at their pleasure and disarme againe and retire their forces when they should serue God Considering also that by such persons the Councels wils and determinations of kinges and christian princes to the which they are called should thereby be reuealed and manifested to them The quicke spirited Venetians hauing long time since discouered this pollicie being a people of Italie verie subtill and well aduised would neuer permit that any ecclesiasticall person should be admitted into their Councell because they had all taken the oth of the Pope of Rome Sée then it appeareth that the Romanes are priuie to all the counsels and enterpriser of the princes of the earth and of their highest and soueraine courtes they discouer all their actions as well as if they were present where on the contrary not one of these can come within them to vnder féele their consultations and dealinges they are so close and secrete whereby we may iudge clearely how farre they surpasse all other people in inuention and subtiltie of wit Cap. 19. The great force of Excommunication to put the kinges of the arth in feare to make them their tributaries and the magnanimitie of our kinges in France NOw I come to another deuice of theires by the which they haue so cunningly triumphed ouer the kinges of the earth neuer striking stroke for the matter and without any daunger at al and yet they haue brought them vnder as much or more then euer the auncient Romanes did by their Trophées and great victories to wit by excommunication with the which they so frighted them that if they had neuer so little displeased them by and by they were threatned with rebellion of their subiectes to haue their scepters taken from them and others to be inuested therewith incontinent hauing no way in the world to resist or saue them selues but in humbling them selues vnder the greatnesse of their Bishops yéelding them selues to be the Popes vassals or in paying them otherwise some great and intollerable tributes By this meanes they exacted from Iohn king of England that all his subiectes should pay him a penny sterling for fire for the murther by him committed on the person of Arthure Duke of Britanie his owne Nephew and heire which tribute the Italians mined from them more then the terme of trhée hundred yeares albeit the fault of this murther was not in the people therefore they payed this tribute verie vniustly and against all reason Yet they found meanes to augment this tribute verie much by the death of the Archbishop of Cauterburie who was executed by command of the king Yet had the Italians nothing to doe in the matter hauing no interest at all therein being neither his heires nor children Another tribute was exacted of the Polonians for the murther committed on the person of Stauislaus their Arch-bishop to which is paide for S. Peters tongue The Pope hauing thundered by excommunication against the duke of Venis he was faine to make him quiet to créepe on all foure like a Dog hauing a rope about his necke to be absolued The kinges of Nauarre and Granade for disobeying him were dispossessed of their kingdomes which were bestowed on Ferdinand king of Spaine yet the Italians did not forget themselues in this match as in déed they must nener for it was vpon this condition that they should afterwarde be held of their Pope of Rome Pope Nicholas excommunicated the kinges of Naples and Sicilie and making them turne ouer a new leafe inuested the Duke of Aniow brother to Lewes the ninth yet not forgetting him selfe as we saide before vpon condition to pay him eight thousand ounces of gold yearely reuenue He excommunicated also Philippes le Bel king of France because hee would not hold his kingdom of him as his vassall but he being discended of the race of Hue le grand Countie of Paris quaked not a whit at the matter but with a magnanimious courage proper to the kinges of this race constantly resisted and neuer trembled at the hearing thereof as other christian kinges did whose great magnanimitie hath béene continued by his successours This was the cause that the Italian Councell laide their heades together to doe their vttermost to ruine this Monarchy by forraine forces making it to bee assailed on euerie side and hauing set the Armies of the Empire of Spaine and England to thrust this race out of their kingdom which séemed to them inuincible But perceiuing all that tooke not effect as they did wish they haue filled the State full of ciuill warres thereby to weaken and diminish the force of this kingdome and to make way to inuest some other with y e Crowne who should thinke him selfe borne vnder an happie planet and greatly beholding to them to come by it so easily yéelding him selfe therefore there vassall and homager hauing purloyned a kingdome by there meanes Who also would be easily entreated to let slip the accords confirmed betwéene our kings and the popes for the priuiledges and liberties of the French Churches and touching the presentations of Benefices reserned to the Nobilitie and other patrones of the Layty onely translating them ouer wholy to the Pope and so to enrich more and more the citie of Rome And by this meane we should sée this flourishing kingdom parted as a bootie pray betwéene the Italian kéeping for his part the spirituall and his confederates who shoulde haue the temporall for their shares Cap. 20. That it is a verie false pretext that they take to refuse the King for his religion sake seeing they haue a spite at all his race and wish them no more well although they were neuer so great catholikes THat this hath béene the drift of the Italians the proofe is most manifest in this that although Charles the ninth and Henrie the third of this name his brother were the most religious obseruers of the ceremonies of the church of Rome and more precise then any kinges that had béene before them sparing nothing to ruine and rout out the religion of the protestant Huguenots not so much as their owne persons life treasure nor liuings nor their faith and honour beside which is more Yet for all that could they neuer winne the fauour and good will of the Italians nothing neare other princes who had wrought little in comparison of them And what was the cause hereof but that the Italians foresaw that a race of auncient and so long time inuested with the Crowne of France would neuer abide that they should haue anie rule or prerogatiue ouer them nor in no waies permit that the liberties and
couenants made betwéee their predecessors the kinges and the Popes for the benefit of their kingdome should be infringed This is the reason why the Councell of Rome hath sought all meanes possible to enstall other princes in their roome and to bring it to passe haue emploied all their Preachers begging Friers and other Ecclesiastikes to vomit out all kinde of blame and shame most opprobriously against the said King Henry the third deceassed placing him in the rancke of the most abhominable tyrants murtherers of the world whome by their count hee should surpasse in the periode of all mischiefe extolling aboue the heauens with the highest titles of praise which they could deuise some other Princes thereby to adiure them and make euerie one honour them loue them and make much of them But to shew that the Italians and their partners meant no good not onely to the deceased Kings person but also to all his race in generall sée wée not plainly that when they had by treason caused him to bée murthered they continue their selfesame practises towardes those of the house of Bourbon issued of the last sonne of S. Lewes called Robert Countie of Clermont vpon whom seeing they can laie no blame for that they are the true and lawfull heires of this Crowne they thinke to disherite him who is the eldest son and heire whose place he holdeth and representeth vpon a coulour onely that he beléeueth not as much or more in the Constitutions of the Church of Rome as in the word of God and by this text they win the good will of the people and of other ignorant people But when they contemne those of this house making warre against them who haue béen most zealous and affectionate to their Constitutions who haue also for defence thereof exposed their liues and goods to all daungers as haue done the Dukes of Mont Pensier both father sonne do they not shew that they are thorowly resolued to destroy this race and to translate this Crowne vnto some other progeny Touching the Kinge who is at this present they should neuer be able to attaint or staine him with note of any crueltie tiranny nor any other insufficiencie to rule for to blame him for sticking to that religion wherein he hath béen brought vp it is not likely they will for the same reproch would fall vpon their pates if they should not perseuere in these But he offreth them faire and more then they will accord to that is to be heard in a place of frée assembly to eramine louingly all these thinges to stand to that which shal be awarded for both sides Wherin he sheweth how impudently and falsly they argue and condemne him to be an heretike And as for those who magnifie and exalt the ofspring and descent of other houses to make the world beléeue that this whence he is descended is base poore and of no name they are lesse able to speake of the great high and noble families of Christendome then are Bats and Moles to discourse of the greatnes height essence beautie and admirable operations of the Sunne for séeke among all the Empires of the Assirians Persians Grecians Romans Almans Iewes Tartarians Mahometans and ouer all the face of the whole world beside and you shall not finde a King of greater race nor of more auncient family then this hauing had xxviii Kings in his house before him and all lineally in race masculine and of his mothers side being the issue heire of a Quéen who with her mother the sister of Francis the Great excelled in wit learning and hautie courage all other Christian Princesses that euer haue béen before them And touching the great bountie and vertue both in time of warre peace of the house of Bourbon neither Kings nor Princes since the death of S. Lewes but this race hath farre gone beyond them as all the Cronicles of France shall witnes sufficient And touching his wealth he hath alway had twentie times as much as hath had any aduersarie he hath hauing at y e time of his succession more then a million of rent by his patrimony and yéerely reuenue which he might haue multiplied to as much more if hée would haue pinched sucked his subiects by taxings sales of Offices and rearing of tributes as some Italians haue caused to bee done in France Let them then laie away these false cloakes wherewith they disguise the truth of things and let vs beléeue for a troth as it is true indéed that the Italians séeke nothing els but to translate the Crowne into some other house which will bow their neckes vnder their commandements and suffer them to fish this Realme for siluer to plant amongst vs the Spanish Inquisition to admit the Councell of Trent and to take the right of presentations from the Nobles to finger them themselues and wipe their noses of the best and swéetest profits that belong to the Realme Cap. 21. The great subtilty of the counsell of Rome in getting into their hands the Souerantie of the newfound world conquered by the Spaniards BVt I cannot so often call to minde the conquest of the new world as I wounder at the great subtiltie of the counsell of Rome and againe at the more then great simplicitie in the Spanyards and Portingales behalfe for the Italians perceauing to their great griefe their Domination and tributes to bee cut of in the East and North partes as well by the conquests of the Turke as by the preaching of Luther as also Pope Alexander the sixt had set in his foote at the parting of stakes and made the diuision geuing on halfe to the one king and the other to the other reseruing for himselfe the séesimple principall Iurisdiction and Souerayntie making these two Kinges consent to bee his vassals and to holde their countries of him although he had neither right of seruice nor of possession and was not the discouerer neither Yet sée this parte was handled with such cuning and craft that the Italian became therby Souerayne Lord of twise so much soyle and country as all Christendom vnder the name of their Pope And by what meane you shall not finde it to bee by his great trauels perils and expences but by the laboures bloudshedings and armes of the Spanyardes who venture bodyes and goodes exposing themselues to infinte perils troubles and hazardes to shipwracks of the sea in danger of many Pyrates and Rouers before the can come thether and when the are once there and entred into the country fainte to fight many combats and battels and worse then all this to fall into many strange and incurable diseases which procéede of chaunge of ayer and habitation when men transporte themselues into farre countryes where the clymate is of farre more excessiue heate and colde then their owne was Now whileste these nations endure these trauels and sorrowes worse then twenty deathes the Italians are at whome in there sumptuas and braue pallaces out of all daunger
passing the time in al voleptuous pleasure neuerthelesse they haue the most pretious and fayrest fléece of their conquestes reserued for them euen as well as if they themselues had bine the onely attempters and atchiuers of theise so hawty and dangerous exploytes But let vs looke a little yf there were euer any Kinges or Emperours who griped so easily whole countries and kingdomes from others as these doe Cyrus one of the first after hee had sustayned infinit turmoyles and trauels lost his life and had his head put in a bole of bloud to quench it so insaciable desire of blood Alexander the great found himselfe in oftē Ieoperdies to lose his also and was many times ouer matched and put to the worst Iulius and Augustus Caesars the most politicke and wisest heads of the world neuer made any conquest but by bloody fightes and victories exposing themselues to a thousand dangers both by sea and land But now the counsell of Rome taking there ease at thir owne home neuer approching any dāger for the matter haue inuested themselus with the Seigniorie and Domination of the greatest countres that euer haue bine conquested by the sword O subtill heades more subtil and cawtelous then subtiltie it selfe O that the high reache of thine inuentions are eleuated many degrées abone all other nations of the earth O that thou forséest long before the euent of things and canst choose the gaynest wayes to attayne thy desires few or none there be that can discouer thy meanning thou winnest first the heart of the greatest part of those the third of whose ruine thon meanest to spin afterwardes to vnderprop thy selfe against those that refuse thy Domination and will not become thy tributary vassals Thon wilt knowe all things and yet thou wilt kéepe other people in such ignorance that they shall know nothing thus thou vsest them at thy pleasure lest they should bewray thée in thy subtill shifts and beware of them hereafter This is they reason why a long time thou hast layd a blocke in the way that all matters of great consequence either concerning Religion or otherwise of any other great importance could not be registered but in thine old mother toung the Latine and sore against thy will it hath bine if the haue bine written or Printed in any other language because that it maketh a breach and sheweth a readie way for many to come to discouer the fertilitie of thy spirit abounding with so many subtilities fetches drifts and deceites Sée this is the cause also why thou wilt not permit the nations of the new conquested countries to vnderstand any thing concerning religion or matters of State that thou maist lead them by the noses and handle them as if they were so many bruit Animals that had neither wit nor reason Cap. 22. The causes why the mony that is transported to Rome is called by the name of Quintessence NOw we haue sufficiently spoken of the Dominations of the Romanes we will passe to the next point touching the extraction of the Quintessence of purses where ye must note that I take purses for the gold and siluer that is put in them speaking by a figuratiue spéech for I borrow these termes by a similitude for euen as in all liquers be it of Wines Oyles Plants Sulpheres Allums Antymoines and other Mynerals they who are skilled to draw out the tinctures or proprieties and can seperate them from the terrestriall and elementall bodie as could that great Philosopher Paracelsas Gesnerus and he that wrote the booke intitled le Medecin Liebant these haue the swéete fruition of the finest and most precious part of the bodies and naturall substances whereof the more celestiall and spirituall part is called Quintessence In like maner the Romanes hauing learned by incomparable skil and artistry to draw vnto themselues the most noble portable the most desirable and fairest coyne of all Christendome leauing the grosser and more terrestriall sort of baser monies to the Kings Princes and people of Christendome for their vsage appropriating to themselues the more spirituall and celestiall part which they can tell how to seperate from the temporall and earthly are verie well said to draw the Quintessence out of their purses Cap. 23. Of the excellencie of the mony which is carried to Rome out of other countries and how the Italians onely can fetch it thither TO shewe this by a familiar example regarde but a man that is of base condition who hath onely but fiftie or sixtie crownes of yéerly rent for a péece of land that he holdeth by féefarme lying within the demaines of some Baron or Countie he will make more account of that péece then of thrée or foure times so much lying among Pesants or that he gathereth among country Farmers bragging of it euerie where Now sée we some Bishop or poore Monke comming to bée Pope to haue rentes and tributes out of the kingdomes of Spaine Portugall Naples Sicily and Polonia and as hée was woont also out of the kingdome of England where as all Christian Kings and Princes take no tribute but for the most part of poore base and miserable people their subiects readier to take then to giue and this must they do by Taxes Subsidies Fiftéenes and such like paiments Herein we may sée the marueilous excellencie of the Popes tributes aboue those of all our Kings And to shew how the swéetest mony and most desired of all goeth still to the partes of Rome marke but the common fashion of euerie one that falleth into want of mony hée wisheth straight but to haue a hundred or two of crownes out of the Abbots or Bishops purse who is next to the place where he dwelleth as being such fellowes which haue least néed and yet haue the greatest plentie of all albeit they may wish for it long inough before they haue it to fill their purses because they can deuise no shift proper for the obteining of their desire although they be his verie next neighbours But the Italians they can worke such a way and handle their matters so well that they can scrape hooke to them a thousand crownes from one place and twise as many from another the distance of an hundreth leagues or more and the difficultie of passing ouer the mountaines cannot hinder them a iote Cap. 24. How that this mony when it is transported to Rome doth flie with an incredible swiftnesse YEt to prooue better that the name of Quintessence is properly attributed to the gold that they share from other people of Christendome I pray thée gentle Reader consider that the substance of Quintessence is of so celestiall a nature that if it be not verie closely kept and enclosed within some vessell for that purpose it léeseth straight the vertue and flieth away by vapours into the ayre so this gold which they fetch so farre to Rome hath such an excellencie more then all other money hath and hath both value vertue none like it that we
be destitute of any one aide that might stand them in stéed they found meanes to arme themselues with the greatest Forces y e Christen men may yéeld when they perceiued that by such fellowes as are abouesaid Princes Cities and common weales might be puld from them which were no fish for Prouosts Controllers nor Sergeants mouthes they backed themselues better with the most strong redoubtable and puissant forces of all Christendome as with the K. of Spaine for the head with the King of France for the stomacke and the Emperour for the belly which are the principall parts of Europe So that if a man open his mouth to speake against their Domination you shall sée the Catholike straightway thunder downe all with his Inquisition euerie man haue a fling at him Is there any that will set vpon them by main strength for any other matter Be the Lombards Venetians Neapolitans or whatsoeuer they be they will but whistle at Rome and by and by ye shal sée marching to their succour the Armies of these mightie Princes aboue named But the Romans they will make themselues poore when they should paie them and recompence their trauels they can abide nothing worse then that For Childericke the King of France for sending them aide lost the Crowne of France And as for satisfaction for any other aide that other Kinges of France haue giuen them they neuer put their hand to their treasures yet to recompence them nor neuer adioyned any Duchy or kingdome to their Empire but haue alwaies béen pulling from them But in recompence of all their labours losses and expences they haue giuen this word THRISE which is vsed in forming a superlatiue to the King of France although hée had as much and more authoritie to take it to himselfe then the Romanes to giue it him And to the King of Spaine they haue giuen this word Catholike which he might haue taken himselfe if hée would haue challenged it no man to say nay These names haue continued from father to sonne as if they came by inheritance by which the Italians haue plaied and wrought vpon as well the one as the other as though the bare names had any vertue or operation in them to transforme the persons and to make them any other then they were which should bee a most manifest abuse But when that a man hath any qualitie of great vertue or vice he may verie fitly haue some name of honour or dishonour attributed vnto him As S. Lewes was so called for his holines of life Philip le Bel for his excéeding beautie and Philip le Hardi for his hardines valour But all this cannot be translated to their heires and successors because they are but qualities of speciall persons and are proper to them onely from whom they cannot passe For as it had bin a most absurd thing to haue termed Commodus an Emperour of Rome and a most cruell tyrant a Saint and a Philosopher because Marcus Aurelius his father for his rare vertues sagesse and eloquence was so named so also is there none apparent reason why the Councell of Rome should denominate for flatterie indifferently all the successors of this crowne Kinges most Christian No more then with the Epitheton that was giuen to Charles le grand 1. the great And as for the title of Catholike it was falsly attributed to the King of Spaine because it signifieth as much as vninersall King that is King euer all Whereas at that time he was King only but of the Spaines for as yet then raigned the King of Portugall and beside he is not so much yet neither as King ouer all Christendome Although that such Epithets haue béene verie vnfit falfly attributed indifferently to all yet we sée by such toyes and deuises they haue with a wet finger drawen more Forces to their succour out of these kingdomes then at this present twentie millions out of any other Princes purse would do out of all Germany By giuing them only these names and titles they make them march when they list vsing them like the great Canary Dogs which are tied fast with a long chaine and a coller As for the Emperour to kéep him vnder they haue bestowed on him some kingdome or Princedome to make him their owne creature and vassall yet vnder the name of their Pope to set him forward or pull him backe as they list and at their deuotion And all this to the end that if any went about to shake or endomage their Domination at the head hée should straight assaile and bee shaken off by the Catholicke King if he came against the breast the most Christian King should trownce him if he made at the bellie the Emperour should teare him so that he should be met withall what way so euer he came Turne ouer read the Histories of the memorable actes and déeds of all nations in the world and finde none that euer hath so iusteled Kings and Emperours by a voluntarie Domination to make them march without any pay at all as hath done the Councell of Rome I speake not only by these but by an infinit number of others so he haue bin glad to obey and follow them at all times whensoeuer they stood in néed Cap. 29. A Demonstration how the Councell of Rome winneth to their side Princes younger brothers and maketh them their voluntarie slaues BVt the sublimation of the Italian spirit is remarked to flie farre aboue all other nations of the world herein especially that perceiuing a few yéeres since there were found many men of great spirit in the Councelles of these Monarkes who discouering their drifts began to counterchecke them a litle not stirring a whit at the first sound of the Trumpet comming from Italy as they were wont to do in times past they haue made a cunning prouiso for this matter drawing into their confederacie and league certaine younger brethren of the best houses of the Princes in Christendome who being not surcharged with too much reuenues nor too great gouernments to imploy themselues runne like swift footed Greyhounds at the first call that is made for them To make them march with more then humane expedition they must be charmed with praises up to the heauens far higher then the praises of many of those which the Paynims held for Gods in this world Comparing them with the most worthy and valiant warriours which euer haue béen terming them the verie portraitures of Alexander in diligence and hautinesse of courage verie Images of Augustus Caesar in subtilitie and wisedome and in zeale for the enlarging and glorie of the Romane Church true imitators of Constantine the great resemblers of Charlemaine and as great warriours as euer was the Romane Fertorius to resist and stand out boldly against all humane powers And to set a better hue on these so high commendations if there be to be found any externall beautie or corporall force in these Princes that must not be forgotten in no wise
as high as heauen gates shutteth openeth them euen as they do the doores of the Consistorie at Rome In some this foundation stone is that Saint Peter had his Apostles seate at Rome and there was martired whereof followeth that the Romane Bishop is his successour and hath vniuersall charge ouer the whole world For the first I deny séeing that neither the Acts of the Apostles nor any other of the Epistles of S. Paul hath made mention therof that he himselfe witnesseth that he was the Apostle of the Iewes called to those that were of the circumcision For the second y t he was martired there I cōfesse for that those of Rome and their Emperours to make a triumph of Iesus Christ and of his doctrine to quench their insatiable crueltie against Christians had caused S. Peter to be transported to Rome from another place where he was detained first prisoner to put him to death ignonimiously and make him a publike spectacle to the world But for hauing by this crueltie and iniustice depriued the world of so famous excellent seruant of God that they should be reputed his successours there is no reason at all nay contrarie I will stand to it they ought therfore altogither to be disinherited for was there euer any man so impudent that for hauing murthered another would dare to challendge his succession And if he had béen borne at Rome and appointed Apostle to the same place which he was not neither they haue made themselues vnworthie of all successorie right and title For this were a prettie matter that for vsing all crueltie and committing bloodie murthers against the seruants of God men should get domination and principalitie as well in earth as in heauen it were farre wide to say so and the greatest absurditie in the world that men might imagine Nay contrarie Christ menaceth great punishment for the like matter when he cried out Ierusalem Ierusalem thou which killest the Prophets thereby denouncing her ruine and ouerthrow by the fire of Gods vengeance foretelling her destructiō to come and the miserable estate wherein she is at this present houre If then this were sufficient to depriue Rome of her succession yet furthermore were she worthie to be depriued for her rebellion against the Gospell and the doctrine of S. Peter wherein she hath perseuered since the death passion of Christ hauing brought foorth the most detestable monsters for Emperours as Tyberius Nero Calligula Commodus and Heliogabalus which haue euer béen remarked to liue vnder the vaute of the heauens who as cruell beasts estranged and degenerat from all Christian blood by reason of y e enormitie of their liues could not suffer any such cleare light to shine there néere them being also set on by their sacrificing Priests Pagans and Idolaters who only taught publikely at Rome soone to extinguish the same But if there were any good Bishops there they laie close and did not openly discouer themselues and were no part of the bodie of this people being indéed sent thither from diuers other partes personages of great learning and eloquence rather to make residence there then in any other part for that this citie was stil replenished with learned men cunning Philosophers and Pagan Oratours against whome it had not béen for Pastors meanely learned to haue disputed without ouerthrow and conuiction Yet all this hath nothing eleuated the Italians aboue any other people of Christentie for hauing Domination ouer them but rather it bringeth lower and abaseth them as a testimonie of their great resistance and rebellion to the truth and the teachers thereof Cap. 37. Constantine the Great King of England apposed himself against the tyrannous persecutours of Christians that Italy brought forth BVt if ye come to aske me what Nation hath more right to haue the Sea of an vniuersall Bishop erected in it then Italy I answere that as Italy hath made it selfe vnworthie by bringing forth the murtherers of S. Peter and of other tyrannous and persecuting Emperors hauing a long time made resistance to the Gospell so those haue best deserued it who being pushed forward with an holie zeale of Gods glorie and of the saluation of men hauing abandoned their liues kingdomes and treasures to make passage for the Gospel throughout the whole worlde in destroying the doctrines of Pagans and all idolatry which had raigned before more then two thousand yéeres all ouer the world except only among the Iewes Now what nation hath that béen of so hautie and magnanimous courage which hath done God so signall a péece of seruice Surely it was England which hauing brought forth that great and thrise sacred Constantine who of a Pagan that hée was making profession of the Christian faith and receiuing Baptisme straight began to warre vpon Maxentius the Romane Emperour a most cruell murtherer and a great persecutor of Christians whome he vanquished and planted the true Gospell and kingdome of Christ not onely in the I le his natiue countrie that bred him but also at Rome the receptacle of all Idolatrie and from thence made passage for it vnto Alexandria the capitall Citie of all Affrica to Constantinople and all that countrie bordering towards Asia enlarging the kingdome of the sonne of God farre and wide which séemed at that time to be banished out of this worlde by the continuall warres of the Romans destroying and ouerthrowing wheresoeuer he went that of Sathan shewing himselfe to be the Executour of that which Iesus Christ had foretold in the twelfth of S. Iohn saying Now is the iudgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world be cast out O that the wonder of thy holie and almost diuine enterprises do make thée go farre beyond all humane creatures for the light that thou madest to shine in the world surmounteth as much that of the holie Kings of the old Testament as doth the light of the Sunne the cléernes of the Moone And as for that which the Apostles and other faithfull Pastors which went before thée it was alwaies diuined and entermingled with the darknes of superstitious Idolaters which had full course among the Emperours and Kings of the earth but thou great Instrument of the Eternall thou hast chaced farre out of thy sight all the sacrifices seruices that men did dedicate vnto the diuil according to the witnes of S. Paul who saith that the Gentiles did sacrifice vnto him And more then this it is thou great Monarke that hast so firmely planted and established this light in the world that what assaults so euer haue béen made to extinguish it yet could it neuer altogither be put out and defaced If then one so great and diuine a benefite had procéeded from Rome as is from England who could imagine how great prerogatiues and honours almost diuine they would challenge from other people whereas neuertheles the Emperour sprung out of Italy haue euer béen the most signall persecuters of Iesus Christ and of his Martirs for all
that they haue cast such cloudes ouer the eyes iudgement of other peoples that they made themselues onely déemed worthie to haue the Sea of the vniuersall Bishop and by meanes of this prerogatiue haue made all the Kings Princes of the earth kisse the Pantofle of their Prelate and Bishop What would they haue done I pray you if they had fought as much for the aduancement of the Gospell as they haue done for the suppression and extinguishing thereof It is verie likely they would haue exacted honours and homages more then diuine of those which should liue vnder the obeisance of their Domination For this nation craueth neuer so litle subiect to worke vpon to make it selfe to be wondred at and to bring the Septentrionall Occidentall peoples vnder their coram and subiection for that they are people lesse ingenious and nothing to compare so subtil as they are which is a thing altogither straunge and wonderfull Cap. 38. An example of the Italians subtill dealing with the Admirall of Castillon FOr manifest proofe hereof I shall not néede to séeke out but one onely familiar example well knowne of all of the deceased Admirall of Castillon who was reputed a man of as great counsell experience as was any in France But the Quéenmother and her Councel of Italians hauing a quarrell at him aboue all other made it well knowne that the best French pollicie and craft could hardly auoyd the subtill snares and embuscadoes of the Italians For séeing that by force of armes they could neuer preuaile to vanquish or ouerthrow him they resolued to prouide for him baites of peace and truce by the first conclusion whereof they seised into their owne handes all the Cities Castles and all the munition that was in them which al the Forces of Italy had not bin able to take in twentie yéeres Perceiuing this they deuise to set againe vpon the Prince of Condie and him as persons destitute of refuge to retire themselues with any Forces but yet the Lord De la Noue by his great wisedome and accustomed valour stood in some good steed here hauing seised againe the towne of Orleans into his handes they perceiuing the Army of this Prince raunging almost in the hart of France againe straight iudged that they had halfe taken them napping alreadie by this hooke and that they might hereafter verie well ouertake them Hauing cast this hooke to them the second time they surprise them once more and so dispossesse them quite by this bait of a second peace of all their strong Forts and holdes once againe Wherby many began greatly to mistrust them but to take away all suspition they practise quickly a confirmation of their former peace by conclusion of a marriage by this vtterly to ruine and cut the Admirals throat He trusting to it was taken in the net that was laide for him So that this may well shew that all our subtilitie is but a sluggish slight in comparison of the quicke carriage of the Italians by reason that their clymate is more Meridionall and the region of France more Septentrionall True it is that this great workeman of the world hathenriched those that inhabite the more Northren countries with many other goodly gifts as to be more strong more faire and lustie witnes many great Philosophers learned men and this might serue vs for instruction that séeing we are endued with more strength and are the greater number we should chace them out of France and not suffer them to vsurpe any Domination ouer vs at all nor to accompany any of our Princes or great Lordes that might trouble or alter our state This is a verie good preseruatiue to saue and deliuer our selues from their wiles and subtill slightes Verie true it is that it is a great shame for them who name themselues Christians and haue béen baptized to vse so much treacherie in their dealings whereas their auncestours who were but Pagans and knew not God did kéepe their faith inuiolable to all to bee a greater credite vnto them in all their actions whatsoeuer Cap. 39. How the Bishop of Rome being created vniuersall other nations should not suffer the Italians to haue him only to themselues LEt vs come now to the point I spake of how that I did not purpose to blame y e Popes persons nor dispute against their title of vniuersall Bishop referring those that would take delight in such disputation to the Treatise of the Church made by the L. of Plessis Mormay But this is the pointe that I proue that séeing the Italians hold him for the vniuersall Bishop of Christendome it must néedes follow by the nature of contraries that he can be no more particularly tied to Rome but that he is also as well Bishop of France of Germany and Spaine who cannot be conuersant and particularly resident in all these places at once Therefore his Sea ought no more to be at Rome then in other places but he should wander ouer all Christendom as did the Apostles séeing that they hold that S. Peter Apostle of the Iewes came to Rome being six hundreth leagues distant and more from the place from whence he came So that if the Pope be resident any while in Italy hée ought to do the like also in other prouinces countries otherwise he should depriue them of the right which vnto them apperteineth Wherefore they should neuer abide that the Romanes onely should kéepe to themselues the Bishop common to all to preuent them least by that prerogatiue they should rule the world at their will and dispose and alter all things at their pleasure This shall verie well shew that whatsoeuer we cōceiue and persuade our selues of the subtilitie and pollicie that is in vs they shall stil for euer farre go beyond vs. Witnes the compositions made betwéene King Henry the second those that inhabite but the néerest borders of Italy who retain some sparkes and beames of their subtilitie hidden in them As the Duke of Sauoy to whome this King with the assistance of those whom he déemed the best aduised and most sage parsonages of France yéelded vp a great country which he and his ancestours had conquered with infinite charges combats victories And yet without any blow stroken by y e agréement of one marriage all was rendered all Lumbardie likewise by the same pollicie Must not then hereafter all Forthren peoples awake themselues out of their so fluggish dulnesse not suffer themselues to be ouercome with y e sugered words of this natiō although they be enterlaced with y e swéetnes of religion or profit of the common weal And aboue all things to take héed how they deale with them in any case for they will be sure to haue the surest ende of the staffe But if euerie nation had practised this in times past and taken resolution of that which concerneth either their affaires of Estate or of religion neuer making the Councell of Rome priuie thereunto out
of how great miseries troubles calamities warres quarrels diuisions and hatreds should Christians haue saued deliuered themselues But at the least we shal be preserued in time to come by experience of these oppressions that are past which cannot chuse but be to our great good and profit Cap. 40. That the Councell of Italy neuer made conscience to cut off the authoritie of the Pope when they smelt that there was any thing for them to be gained WHen we come then to remember how they make the people belieue that the Church cannot stand without an vniuersall Bishop who without euer looking to that which might follow thereupon allowed verie well of all that They incontinent hauing this aduantage made him proper to themselues by such deuise haue vsurped a domination ouer all the world prepared a way to fetch great summes of money out of all parts of Christendome vnder the name and authoritie of this their Bishop Whose authoritie notwithstanding they neuer make conscience to abridge when they smell any profit for themselues how did they practise in the great Pardons which were sent abroad in the time of Charles the eight and Lewes the twelfth by the which generall remission of all sinnes was giuen and Paradice opened to all those that would go in pilgrimage to Rome Wherein I say that they did limit and restraine the power of their Bishop for being vniuersal as they maintain so also is his power extended ouer all and not restrained or tied within Rome Wherefore did they this then but for a fine deuise to enrich their Citie by the concourse of diuers straunge peoples who flocked thither from all partes of the world to go into Paradice preferring by this meane the inuentions of men before the commandements and decrées of God and the way that he sheweth them to attaine to heauen This is an euident token that this nation being most subtill measureth all things as they sée they may turne her to profite and augment her authoritie Cap. 41. That other kingdomes may create and constitute Popes within themselues because the Italians refuse their Pope of Rome to be common to all NOw if there had béen in other nations any craft or sutiltie any thing néere like to that of Italy after they had perceiued how by this prerogatiue they were brought vnder the iurisdiction of the Italians and dreyned of their money by this country if they had straight pretended that the vniuersall Bishop ought as well to visit and be resident among other nations and principall parts of Christendome as at Rome and in case the Italians wold not consent to haue told them plaine that euerie nation should haue procéeded to the election of an other in euerie seuerall countrie as the Frenchmen for their part who held that the Gospell was first brought vnto them by S. Dennis and that therefore he is their Apostle to constitute the Sea of their Bishop at the Temple of S. Dennis for France and for Spaine at S. Iames Church in Gallitia so in like manner for other nations And in case hereupon they should enter into choller and storme at this they might be answered that S. Panl did admonish the Corinthes to follow him euen as he imitated Christ And in good faith it is honour inough for these Romish maisters in imitating them to establish the like order gouernment as they allow best of among themselues for truth it is that the true manner of honouring and worshipping of Saintes consisteth in doing our vttermost to imitate and follow their footesteps According to this euen as they wold neuer consent to be depriued of their Pope without whom they cannot beare sway in the world and purloyne money from other nations not so quick spirited as they so in like maner if the French would looke well into their affaires it were necessarie for them also to make a Pope among themselues to serue their own turne And by the example of the Romanes they should endeuour their vttermost to raunge vnder their iurisdiction not onely a whole kingdome but also other nations more Septentrionall who are lesse ingenious then they and principally this might be effected by the Prouensals or Gascons being a people more meridionall then the other Frenchmen As for y e English although by reason of the great trafficke they haue into all partes by sea they are not a people altogither so dull spirited and grosse yet they confesse that the French haue subtilly recouered that of them by conclusions of peace which they by great victories had conquered from them before So that it is verie like by this meane that if in imitating the Italians there were a Pope constituted but in France onely yet he should haue vnder his iurisdiction England Scotland Ireland Norway Friseland and all the Netherland By this shift they might fetch in coyne from these parts after the example of the Romanes and the people of Italy who haue had a hand of such people whereas if the French had practised such conter-pollicies whereas the Italians contemne them at this day as grosse and barberous they would haue made as much of them otherwise as a nation and people as pollitike craftie and subtill as themselues might bée All which is to shewe how farre they excell vs in inuention and subtiltie of spirit Cap. 42. Arguments in defence of a Pope if there were any in France against him of Rome BUt if any obiect that the Italians would neuer endure y e for because he were first in possessiō of one only Pope I agrée well to that so they were the stronger but when we sée that many of our Kings haue passed cleare through the countrie of Italy without any contradiction and gone as farre as Naples and that those that at any time went about to withstand them were by and by ouerthrowne wee must néedes thinke that it were great disaduantage for them to deale that way but if on the other side they would go to dispute and combat of wordes to discide whether the succession of S. Peter and the lieftenancy of Christ be tyed to Rome or no we shall néede but to sende them to combat in this dispute with the Lutherians who maintaine according to the saying of Virgil that the propertie and true description of Rome is to containe seuen mountaynes thereby geuing vs to vnderstand that it is the Citye remarked in the Apocalips to be the seate of Antichrist Now in y e towne of Saint Dennis in France there is no such matter therefore such qualitie cannot be attributed truely to the Pope as the haue giuen him But some may reply y e the people would neuer beléeue so much in any other Pope as in him of Rome to that I answere that if they had made one of as subtill a preist as him of Bellouet if no man had gone about to descrye his knauery as some did he might haue easily preuailed for that poynt for there was neuer any Pope of Rome
articles constitutions in the Chnrch euery one thinking himselfe wisest of all and farre to go beyond his predecessours will endeuour to inuent and bring in some new article so that they will procéed so farre at the last that the Church shall finde it selfe replenished with humane traditions againe in stéed of the Romish Ecclesiasticall constitutions before abolished And so it shall fall out as a thing most naturall and common to all Pastors that they will cause their owne inuentions to be obserued more strictly then the commandements of God and the preceptes of his most sacred wore as well by depriuing their shéepe of the Lords Supper at their pleasure as also by their publike exclamations in their Sermons So that also the violence that some vse in séeking out curiouslie those which had transgressed some articles of their discipline hath made men and women by thousandes to reuolt from their Churches and most true it is that he which too curiously séeketh out the doings of other often forgetteth to examine his owne which is quite contrarie to S. Paules instruction who treating of the Lords Supper commaundeth Euerie one to trie himselfe Whereupon the leagued Cautons of Swisserland one of the best peoples in the world haue abridged their Ministers of this power which they of France labour to establish amongst them euerie where But if there were Protectors of the Magistrates Nobles Commoners might not they verie well stop the course and progresse of these matters teaching them this lesson that séeing they attribute to themselues none other qualitie or condition but to be the seruants of the liuing God that there is nothing more repugnant to their profession then to presume to make lawes in y e church which is the kingdom of God And that there was neuer anie seruant to King nor Prince that durst attempt to vsurpe anie such prerogatiue how well soeuer he was fauoured of y e king And who was euer so sawcie a seruant that being left to serue and wait vpon the spouse of his Lord forgat himselfe so much that he would rule ouer her by his own lawes and ordinances And what greater blindnes can there be then to thinke to light by our counsels the fountaine of all light and wisedome which is eternally resident in God Who if he would be assisted with any other counsellers in the gouernment of his Church hath he not Angels and Archangels by legions Hath he not Noe that great Heralt of iustice Abraham the father of the faithfull Moses Enoch and Helias the Prophets and Martyrs and more then fiue hundreth of the faithfull beside which rose from the dead after the death of Iesus Christ as witnesseth S. Paul All which in knowledge holines and experience go a great way beyond the best and greatest spirits that may créepe on the face of the earth in the prison of their bodies And by such and such like reason to kéepe them within the boundes of their vocation which is that in shewing themselues faithfull Embassadours and messengers of God they may in nothing goe beyond the commission that they haue in charge Cap. 32. That it is the dutie of Pastours to plant the Faith and to roote out vice and sinne and not to make lawes FOr confirmation hereof and to proue that there is more doctrine and instruction in one onely Epistle of S. Peter and S. Paul nay to speake of lesse in one onely Chapter the fift to the Galathians then the most perfect and holiest men in the world could euer accomplish or fulfill And to the end that the Pastors should endeuour themselues to roote out the fruits of the flesh and to plant those of the spirit they are at large set downe First to wit for the fruits of y e flesh these Adultery fornication filthines dissolution idolatrie empoisonings enmities strifes enuies anger quarrelling seditions sects murthers gluttony drunkennes such like Secondly for the fruits of y e spirit these Charitie Ioy Peace Patience Clemencie Bountie Faith Mercy and Temperancie Sée then here is more worke cut out in this one Chapter then they and their disciples will euer be able to do and in doing this they shall but do their dutie beside consider all the instruction of the whole Bible and you shall sée a bottomles sea of doctrine wisedome and good lessons to teach vs to liue well séeing that this onely Chapter doth teach vs more then any man in the world hath béen able to performe and follow truly But he that would in good earnest come to the reformation of the life of men here is the soueraine meane to pull vp by the rootes out of their hearts all incredulitie the mother of all vices to plant therein faith the spring of all vertues as the Lord Du Plessis Mornay hath verie well aduised in his booke Of the veritie of Christian Religion wherein he hath wrote a most diuine péece of worke For who is he that regarding the shortnes and vncertainty of this life who firmly beléeuing that there is an euerlasting ioy and felicitie into the which all the faithfull and vertuous enter and that there are likewise eternall paines prouided for the vniust and vicious who wold venter to wallow in all vice to be depriued of so great a benefite This is the marke at the which all pastors ought to leâ—â—…ll and not to make traditions and lawes séeing there are so many in holie scripture that in examining our life by the perfection of them we are cléerly conuicted and attainted of our owne imbecilitie and insufficiencie to fulfill them For my part when I sée an assembly of pastors congregated to make lawes to bring and conduct men more easily to life euerlasting then the Prophets and sonne of God and his Apostles did although they are taken for Angels in respect of the rest of the people mée-thinkes I sée as an absurd a thing as if the fiftéene score blinde folkes of Paris should take vppon them to goe mend all the ill highwaies of Christendome to make them fairer and straighter then they are as cunninger and more skilfull to do it then those that haue béen emploied about it heretofore But if you will obiect that Ministers haue made good lawes by their discipline against dansing masking and dicing I yéeld that at the first fight it hath a faire shew and apparance but examining it néerer you shall finde that they take away therein the authoritie of the Magistrate and vsurpe that which appertaineth properly to the Kings and Princes of the earth to whom only it belongeth to make inholitions vpon such things to cause them to be obserued by penalties and by priuation of the Lords Supper for that is exprefly prohibited by Gods word and so by consequent out of their commission Moreouer the Ecclestastickes haue euer had this deuice subtilly to intrude themselues to the making of lawes to haue matters of small importance still referred to them thereby to haue a gap to matters
of greater consequence as the Tribunes may make ample relation hereof and proue it by many sundry examples Cap. 48. That the controuersies about the Lords Supper by which the Pastors trouble the whole world are easily to bee accorded and quieted if the Magistrate would but go about it in good earnest WHerefore if we do not take some order for the peace and tranquilitie of Christendome by some such meane as I haue set downe in vaine otherwise shall we looke for any firme and assured concord For those who aboue all other ought to séeke for reconciliation betwéene God and man afterwards betwéen themselues are nothing els but the verie instruments of trouble sedition kindling the fires of discord euery where to set all in flame and conclusion For to stay till of their owne motions there fall out some accord betwéene the Councell of Rome and the Lutherians and betwéene them againe and the Caluinists touching our Lords Supper that will neuer be no more then betwéen Caiphas and the Apostles of Iesus Christ wherefore if there be none other to step in amongst them moued thereunto by pittying the ruine of other Estates which I haue named who must craue aide of the greatest Kings and Christian Magistrates to make them hold their tongues they will trouble heauen earth about this disputation of the Supper a matter neuertheles verie easie to be accorded betwéene them For we all agrée to this that the faithfull taking the bread the wine from y e hand of their Pastors receiue by this meane the verie bodie and blood of Iesus Christ to be vnited with him and made flesh of his flesh bone of his bone What is it that is yet in controuersie but onely the maner and forme how that commeth to passe Now the Capernaits desiring to comprehend the maner of this eating Iesus answereth them that The words that I speake vnto you are spirit and life As if he should say vnto them there is none but those who vnderstand the operation of the diuine spirit and how he giueth life vnto all creatures who can comprehend how that is done But our soule which is detained prisoner in this bodie she cannot so much as conceiue how the spirite of God being infinite and incomprehensible hath it operation in all y t is in the world nay that which is farre lesse we cannot imagine how the Angels of heauen and the spirituall Damons employ their Forces to execute the iudgements of God nor the temptations of the wicked spirit against vs nor how a legion of diuels may be in one onely man nor after what maner they lodge in him And yet thinges farre lesse then all these cannot we comprehend as the essence of our soule and whether it be within vs or about vs. For how it can so quickly stirre and remoue all the members of the bodie nor also by what force the Adamant which is in the rocks of y e North can draw vnto it yron being in a ship more then ten or twentie leagues of And whereas he calleth his words Life it is to giue vs to vnderstand that as our humane vnderstanding cannot conceiue how God inspireth life to all creatures and giueth it to some liuing creatures in the belly of their dammes giueth it to an infinit number of litle Animals Locusts and little Flies and no man can comprehend the forme and maner how he doth it nor so mnch as this how many liuing creatures being pend in and depriued of all externall light for all that sée most cléerely so likewise must we conclude that God worketh in this Sacrament by a diuine operation and altogither incomprehensible which man cannot comprehend nor shall not comprehend whilest he is resident in this Elementall and corruptible bodie It should suffice vs to know what S. Paul teacheth vs that there is in vs an interior and an exterior man So that in this Sacrament euen as the exterior receiueth the signes of bread and wine so the interior receiueth the bodie and blood of Iesus Christ for the nourishment of euerlasting life without making any déeper search of the maner how it is done This point so concluded vpon it shal be méete for the peace and tranquilitie of Christendome that the Tribunes should humbly entreat Christian Kings and Potentates to imploy the power and authoritie that God hath bestowed vpon them to bury in perpetuall obliuion all these meanes deuised by the Ecclesiastickes be it of Transubstantiation Consubstantiation Infinitie of Christes bodie and many other quiddities the fountain of troubles and diuisions in Christendome by this meane to preuent the Italians least for things wherin they haue none interest they ruine also other Estates of this Continent And if any debate should fall out betwéene the Tribunes and the Ecclesiastickes and that they could not agrée that the King should assemble a good number of men of profound knowledge and great experience and especially those that are best affectionate to the benefit and quiet of their countrie and without any interest in this controuersie The which should not be moued by the outragious cries and violent passions of mutinous and seditious preachers And to séeke out such fellowes as Messieurs Budee de l'Hospital de Pibrac and Monsieur Groulard who is at this present first President of Normandy And looke what the King shall resolue by the counsell of these learned men to cause thorowly to be obserued And to go about these matters so secretly that the Italians heare no inkling thereof least they by their craftie conueiances hinder not the happie successe of this busines To foresée this well it shall néede but to make the world belieue that these assemblies were made for some other purpose and that some new occurrence had fallen out and giuen occasion to treat of religion all vnder one Cap. 49. That in vaine we looke for deliuerance out of the miseries of France by any Assemblies of Pastors IF we doe not vse these or the like remedies our hope shal bee in vayne to expect for any goodly effect of Synodes or Assembles of the Ecclesiastickes because there shal be alwayes but one or two of the most learnedst and eloquentest albeit the be all of one nation who shall dispose and carrie away all things at there lust all the rest seruing but to say Amen and to subscribe to there aduise For when any one amongst them hath got aname to be profoūdly learnd to bemore subtil indisputing then others no man dare gayne say him y e tremble al vnder his authoritie if he besome what styrring ambitious desirous to beare sway he wil make thē receaue what Articles lawes he list for y t hauing studied matter ynough to defend himselfe w t Arguments to reach vnto his purpose y t others shal litile think of and perfaming his matters with a litle apparant benefit for them they will let him carry them away so and subscribe to whatsoeuer hee would
in y e sacraments to content our selus simply with the ordinance that he hath giuen vs in instituting them and neuer to go further for the matter Cap. 54. That this light reproueth those who detaine men in worshipping images and the workes of their owne handes to seeke God by them THis same Preacher also reproueth the spirit of me of a most brutish errour when men being drawne by him to the knowledge of the most high God by an eleuation of their spirits towards the highest heauens they turne their backe to him séeking him here in earth in buildings made by the handy worke of men forgetting the lesson of S. Steuen the first Martyr which was that God did not inhabite in Temples made with the handes of men Which the Sunne can likewise proue vnto vs by an argument á Minore ad Maius Thus if it be so that all the forces of men are not able to build an house big inough to enclose and containe me how is it then that they are so foolish and presumptuous to thinke to lodge him that is infinite and hath his dwelling in the inaccessible light of the which I am but a sparke how dare they thinke that he may be contained nor comprised in houses made by men and that the temples built by them and that their tapers and candles are more agréeable to him then we his great lightes who without waxing old or consuming do distribute continually to the world so great and admirable a light For as for their temples they are but earth and grant that they be vawted with stone couered with bricke leade or state yea were it with gold and siluer all that is taken out of the bowels of the earth So that all your buildings stand you in no more stéed then earthes and holes do to the Foxes that is to preserue you from the iniuries of the vehement heate raine and cold but you are not in any wise by their meanes the néerer to God nay rather when you are in his temple of the world they let you that you cannot behold his wondrous workes putting as it were a barre betwéene heauen and you And as for the images that ye place within them in contempt of vs by your most detestable ingratitude séeing that God doth preserue you by me and the rest of the celestiall lightes and doth bestow on you all kinde of blessings is it not then a great ouersight in you that in forsaking vs who are the workemanship of the Creator ye will preferre before vs images made by the deuise of men albeit they approach in nothing neither in matter greatnes qualitie nor effects to those that are the handie worke of God For first they are made of an earthly and dead substance which commeth nothing néere our greatnes without any mouing or operation and without the heate and light which we haue Moreouer they are but lying Doctors as Ieremy the Prophet saith For they haue no power life wisedome light nor bountie neither can they sée any thing is it not then falsly done to go about to represent by them Almightie who is the welspring of life light and him who is all goodnes it selfe afterward to translate vnto them the honour that appertaineth vnto him Further one is pictured that he is thrust into the side and blood issuing out which was neuer so another sheweth a laughing countenance and neuer laugheth Other are pictured with eyes and they sée not some with eares and they heare not and others with a mouth and yet they speake not at all Whereby appeareth that there is no veritie in their witnesse and that all that they can do is but to transport the mony aut of our purses into the Italians handes or to some other of their supposes emploied in their seruices onely Nor we for our parts being the true celestiall images do not represent any lye to your eyes and the testimonie that we yéeld to the Almightie is most true wée haue not required any oblations of your gold or siluer nor any other seruice or adoration as the Italians haue done by their dead images and nothing els do we request at your hands but that you will yéeld to the Almightie the glorie and honour of all things as apperteineth to him not giuing away any part thereof to any creature that euer was or is at this present vnder the firmament Sée here briefly what is the instruction and lesson of him who marcheth as King among other Plannets Cap. 55. How that Italians are prooued to haue abused the world in making men go to Ierusalem by the forme of the firmament COme we now to this great gilden and azured Heauen whose spéech is all one as before publishing from one Pole to the other and ouer all the world that what account soeuer men make of their earthly Temples they come nothing néere it in beautie greatnes long continuance and lust For the greatest tempell that euer was built was but of halfe aleague in lenght and the Astronomers afferme that their is fiftie nine Millions of leagues from the earth vnto they starry Heauen and from they other side as much wherby it should follow that my roundnes should containe verie néere thrée hundred fiftie and fowre Millions of leagues and yet for all that cannot containe the infinite essence of God How then doe men suffer themselues to bee abused worse then brute beasts by the Romans and their Italian Councell who make them beléeue that they can shut him into there pipes in their Temples to behold him therein and to carrie him vnder their Canapes to th ende to rob you by this meane of your mony and altogether to begiule you They same heauen being round and equally distant in all partes from they earth doth manifest vnto men that their is no one place more nere to him or his heauenly glorie then another In this he conuinceth of a shamefastlie and falsehod the Roman Counsell and those that mainetaine it who to approch to God caused in times paste great toupes of men to trot so farre as Ierusalem and Rome to goe the soner into God almighties Paradice although indéede this was but a maske and shift found out and practised by the Italians to aduance and increase their Domination and so to fish mony out of Iudea Syria notwithstanding by this consinage they haue caused to perish in these voyages that they made them to vndertake both Christian Kings and Princes and more then two millions of men speaking not of their great trauels perils maladies and other sorrowes besides that they haue made them endure whose chaunce it was to returne from so long a vyage These are then they goodly and they Celestiall lessons which are giuen vs from aboue as most excellent preseruatiues against the craft and cautelous dealing of the Italians by the which if we be not al together out of our wites we shal be by them set at all libertie and winde our neckes out
preached we shall receiue it as most heauenly doctrine but if it tend to exalt men and their works only to please them withall we shall receiue it as procéeding from the presumption and ouer-sight of men who take themselues to be wiser then God and for such stuffe as may entangle the people in the nets of seruilitie and fill onely the purses of worldlie Pastors wherefore without any regard from whence it procéedeth whether from Coucels or Synods or frō any other sort of Ecclefiasticall persons whatsoener wee will reiect it thinke our selues no more hounden vnto the obseruation thereof then to the dreames and tales of olde women On the other side knowing that life euerlasting is giuen vs by the grace of God in our Lorde Iesus Christ and is offered gratis to all men what ginnes soeuer the Italians and such like can lay to drawe our money finely from vs we shall goe by them well enough making as though wée sawe them not and as though wee neuer heard talke of them These are then the most sure certaine remedies by the which all true Christians may easilie winde themselues out from the Italian Domination and make a prouiso that their money be no more transported to Rome but tary at home iu their owne purses Cap. 57. The eonclusion of this present discourse VVHerhfore thou Spaniard hauing they place of the Head which workest all that thou canst to reduce vnder thy Domination other nations which should be the eye of Christendome thou oughtest to haue as much wit as any other people It is not then agreat blindnes for thée to behold thy selfe in such slauerie to the Roman Counsell that thou art no more then the executour and drudge of their wills and that they make the tributarie to them in huge infinit sumes of mony wheras thou diddest neuer get one penny from them And thou French man which art the hart of Christendome from whom should flow all motions of vertues to encourage the other partes thou hast almost suffered thy selfe to bee ouercome vnder the spirituall Domination of this nation by their flatteries and cautelous shifts suffering them to put a knife into thine owne handes to destroye thy selfe to set all in combustion and ruine to th end that they may fish in thine ouerthrow and destruction As for Germany the seat and residence of the Empire to the which the Apostles and the first Byshops of Rome yeelded all obedience and subiection what greater cowardlines shame and dishonor can there bee on her syde then that in degenerating from their ancient Cesars and other Roman Emperours vnder the which all the world did tremble they are at this present becom the slaues and vassals of Rome and brought so low as to be glad to hold the Styrrop of some filthy Monke who hath been chosen Pope And if heretofore you haue had the eies of your wit and vnderstanding so much dimmed by the darknes of the time suffering your selues to be made so very fooles that they might vse you at their pleasure now in this great light which shineth at this present and is not yet gone from you amend your former faultes to recouer your honor and seeke to rule and sway ouer them another while in your turne and to get from them againe vnder some colour whatsoeuer all the money they haue in their fingers of yours and your people paying them now at the last home according to their deseruings and cursed intentions and that according to good rule that they haue a long time kept in Christendome they may haue their due desart at the last paid them to the vttermost Laus Deo Finis G. B. A. F. A Table of the Contents of this booke A Description of Itlie and the causes of the subtilty of that people cap. 1. How in the personnes of Romulus and Numa Pompilius there were two kinde of gouerments prefigured among the Romans cap. 2. How the subtil Italian borroweth the name of the Pope to come to his pretenses with more faulitie cap. 3. A liuely paterne of Italian subtiltie in the person of Caternie de Medicis and her Florentine councell cap. 4. How of any light occasion this nation can deuise to effect great matters cap. 5. The Roman soweth diuisions and pulleth away the snbstaunce of a people to enrich himselfe and to doe with it at his pleasure cap. 6. How this nation going about to ruine a country beginneth with some one estate and from thence commeth to all the rest by degrees and how the French can by no meanes take such oppertunitie when it serueth them caq. 7. Vpon what occasion the Romans changed there Monarchie into popular Estate that is to wit vpō the Rauishment of Lucretia committed by their King Terquni cap. 8. How the Romans by pretence of their faith found means to angment there Domination cap. 9. The ruine of the first Roman Domination and the causes thereof cap. 10. Of they begininges and first foundations of the second Domination of the Romans in Christendome cap. 11. How in creating an vniuersall Bishop at Rome the Romans entred into possession of a fare more excellent Domination then that the had lost before cap. 12. How they people follow none other Religion but that which their Pastors teacheth them and how they Romans giue vs one according to their owne nature cap. 13. A comparason of the Diuine seruice inuented by the Italians with the councell of some subtil Phisition cap. 14. That they erre not at Rome for any diuersitie of Religions so they tend only to maintaine their Domination cap. 15. That the Romans are not contented to stay themselues with that which is sperituall but would also dispose the kingdomes of the earth at their pleasure cap. 16. That to make the kings of y e earth vassals tributary to the Romans they sow wares amongst them and vse censurs cap. 17. The councell of Rome setteth Kings and Christian Princes together by the eares and the way how they discouer all their councels and enterprises cap. 18. The great forces of Excmmuniation to put the kings of the earth in feare to make them their tributaries and the magnanimitie of Kings of France cap. 19. That it is a verie false pretext that they take to refuse the King for his Religion sake seeing the haue a spight at all his race and with them no more well although they were neuer so great Catholikes cap. 20. The great subtiltie of the councell of Rome in getting into their handes the soueraignitie of the newfound world conquered by the Spaniards cap. 24. The causes why the mony that is transported to Rome is called by the name of quintessence cap. 22. Of the excellencie of the mony which is transported to Rome out of other countries and how the Italians only can fetch it thither cap. 23. How this mony which is transported to Rome doth flie with an incredible swiftnes cap. 24. A descripsion of certaine learned men which hath alwaie