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
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
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
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
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
but extolled to the ninth degrée likewise for the antiquitie of their houses the great Alliances with other Princes the noble and famous acts of all their predecessours all this must be curiously dilated not one little forgotten And besides to passe them vp with the winde of such vaine praises and to eleuate their courage aboue al that is vnder Luna they forget not to abase and disgrace as much as they can the spirit courage and valour of these thrée great ones of whome I spake but now as though they had not the wit to enterprise any great exploites of armes as though they had no magnanimitie diligence force nor wisedome at all to execute such matters notwithstanding the place and dignitie they kéepe and the great meanes they haue in their power but they if they had their roome it were inough to make them become Monarkes of the whole world The verie breath of these so high commendations doth so set on fire all the parts of their soule and bodie that it serueth them for winges to flie when they go about any affaires for the Councell of Rome who for their part to the ende to giue them féete to staie and stand surely vpon must not forget to aduertise them that if they haue any brethren or children they may promote them to the dignitie of Cardinals so that they shal be sure to haue as much Ecclesiasticall reuenue as their backe will beare so they may fill their houses full of coine which had but in meane quantitie before Now euerie one may thinke that whilest they go about these things Coursers of Naples Damasco swordes plumes of feathers and precious stones the rarest and dearest are also presented them as those only who are worthie to possesse them But aboue all when they vnderstand that all that shal be their owne that they can conquest which is temporall and that the Italians passe not but for the spirituall then they are set on fire with an inextinguible zeale Then appeares there such a sodein chaunge and straunge metamorphosis in these Princes that a man would thinke that some new soule had entered into their bodie and dispossessed and chased out that which ruled there before for then treading vnder foote the naturall affection that they bore to their countrie their swéete mother who hath brought them vp tenderly and nourished them more delitiously then all others then farewell the homage and loyaltie belonging to those whom God hath set in place for their superiours and the straight bond of amitie towards all their kindreds and auncient friends without any regard of those who haue béen their planke to preferre them to so high degrée and ranke of honour which they possesse such younger brethren neglecting the oath giuen to their Prince transported with a most vnquenchable heate and zeale without all gouernment of reason cast themselues headlong to embrase the affaires and practises of the Roman Councel with so violent affection y t all their thoughts discourses and imaginations are occupied in nothing els but still how to continue the same So that the feruent zeale to aduance the Roman Domination doth consume and gnaw them night and day falling into such disquietnesse for the furthering therof that they haue not so much as the patience to abide any good aduertisements But like as they were transformed into more naturall Romanes set their wits to deuise a thousande things for their good and conseruation refusing not to sustaine all perils and daungers of bodie and goods all watchings trauels for their sake Making no doubt of conscience to set kingdomes and prouinces any waies on fire either by working their ruine by their owne armes or by forraine Forces or to do worse to stirre vp théeues and murtherers who by treason and at vnawares do shed the blood of those who kéepe themselues fast locked within townes causing all lawes and bonds both diuine and humane of amitie and consanguinitie to bée violated persuading themselues that such butchery murther may any way aduance the Italians or els that such cruelties should be to them onely sacrificers of swéete sauour and seruices most agréeable Sée then y e arrows that be readie drawne made by this most ingenious nation to the ruine and confusion of those who dare once open their mouthes to speake against their profits or Domination Cap. 30. Begging Friars sent abroad and emploied by the Romans to set vpon those that dare open their mouthes against their Domination THe Councell of Rome hauing long time found that many Cardinals Bishops and Colledges did not stir at the first word that they hard from Rome to set vpon Princes and commonweales although they were their own creatures double bound vnto them first hauing ben aduanced by Kings and princes by their leaue next for feare to loose the fairest fethers that they weare They inuent or howsoeuer giue place to other kinde of fellowes which they receiue into the number of Cleargy men that will make no such delaie as the other I meane their begging Friars a most laborious kind of people supporting all trauel and paine and doing so much good abroad that they will swell out incontinent and haue at a baie those that do but thinke any euill against the kingdome of the Romish Constitutions Let them hide themselues neuer so well they are sure to be drawne out of their dennes by this kennell who can open and discouer so well that in the twinkeling of an eye they will set in an vprore all Christendome exclaime against Kings Princes and peoples yea against Bishops and all other Cleargy men that will not execute their resolutions and commandements Greatnes nor highnes cannot amaze these fellowes they will speake their pleasure and that which is in their heades what soeuer come of it Neither feare they that their Prebends be taken from them or that any other fine be set on their head for there is no more to be gotten of them then of the shauing of an Eg-shell Besides they néed neither gold nor siluer by the way to spend for their lodgings are prouided before where they shal be relieued without a penny cost neither feare they any confiscation of their goods nor that any infamy fall vpon their children for that they haue none at all Sée how they may be bold with all securitie to speake any contumelious reproches and ignonimious slanders on Princes outraging them in their persons caring not a point making a small matter to do it Cap. 31. Of the seruice of Iesuites to blinde the youth withall to the end to make them adore the Italian inuentions BVt because this great rabble had not taken vpon them the instruction of youth wherin certaine learned Schoolemaisters being emploied discouered many things to the great diminishing of the Romane authoritie to make vp this breach the Italians brought in Iesuites of farre profounder learning then the begging Friars and with the same haue peopled the most famous Vniuersities of Christendome who
of the other prophets who haue endured greuous persecutions and neuer moued any of ther dissiples to persecute againe or take any vengeance at all nor of all the sectes of philosophers as of Socrates Plato Pythagoras Aristotle and others who alwayes laboured all the could to wine men to peace quietnes goodnes gentilnes and mildnes whereas this fellow will imprinte in there hartes all rage crueltie outrage and madnes whereby appeareth that he is a very limme and instrument of this olde and subtile Dragon who made Cayne conceaue in his harte the murther of his owne brother Abell the same which moued the preists of Ierusalem vnnaturally to sawe in twayne in the middest this heauenly and diuine Prophet Esaye and to persecute the processe and condemnation of Ieremie He sheweth himselfe seton by a more blooddy spirit then euer were Marius and Silla who shed so much of there owne Citizens boodes but rather more like to Phalaris Catiline Nero Commodus and other such cruell and saluage beastes al together voyde of all humanitie towardes there owne countrymen His shamelesse impudencie and his so insatiable thirst after blood is so apparant that it is not to be hid for he representeth himselfe as a Standerbarer of Christs catholike church who ought to here his voyce and doe after his commandements who pronounceth in the fifth of S. Mathewes Gospell that The mercifull pittifull and peace makers are blessed and that we must forgiue if we wil be forgiuen And the Apostle S. Paule writing to the Romans teacheth vs To haue peace withall men without taking any vengeance which belong onely to God And that if our enimie hunger we shonld giue him to eate and if he thirst we should giue him drinke surmounting his malice by our mildnes and mercy And last of all S. Iohn in his first Catholike Epistle saith That he which hateth his brother is in Darkenes and cannot tell whether hee goeth because the Darknes hath put out his eyes Cap. 35. How this false Catholike Englishman voide of all humanitie transformeth himselfe into all crueltie and rage SOme were then to examine this bloodie booke wherewith he would infect all Christendome with the rage and rancor that possesseth his furious stomack wherby he goeth about to set the people of France togither by the eares to destroy one another like fierce Dragons and cruell Tygers it argueth his cowardly most dastard effeminate spirit for these are things that are neuer in a man that hath any magnanimitie or greatnes of courage in him Wherein he sheweth that he is the verie disciple and trumpet of the maligne spirit the diuell that in shape of a filthie and stinking hée-Goat vseth the like spéeches vnto sorcerers witches who hauing forsaken Iesus Christ go vnto his sabboths to do him homage where he giueth them none other lessons but to put in practise vengeance murthers and cruelties whose footesteps he followeth right pretending to ouerthrow in man all the cléere light of reason and vnderstanding vtterly to extinguish that which maketh him foresée in his actions whether they tende to his honour profit and securitie or no before he vndertake them to abse and make him stoupe to blinde beastlie and furious passions so to make men flie one at another like mad dogs cruel beasts when we sée any aduantage of the side that we take for his drift is to make the Catholikes roote out the Hugonots as a people not to be tollerated in religion yet there is no people vnder heauen that agreeth so well with them as they be the Iewes Turkes or Tartarians against whom thou shouldest rather scum of the froth of thy furie and heate to combat and employ the floud and force of thine eloquence then conspiring the total ruine of Christians against those who receiue and allow of all the bookes of the Bible the foure first Councels with whom hauing none other quarrell but for humane Constitutions thou oughtest rather to take part And furthermore I say that the truest and best Catholikes and Protestantes are for the most part the surest and best friends that any Citie or common wealth hath there is but the Cockle which groweth among this good wheate and other dogs and hogs who smelling out any commodious profite by the Italians and their supposes much like himselfe who for rewarde of his forged crimes and lies smelleth out some Crosiers staffe miter or Abby vnder a false maske and shew of religion passing not to be recognished for the true sonne of the father of lies and auncient slaunderer the diuell when maliciously and vntruly he bringeth the mightie Princesse Elizabeth for an example of wonderfull crueltie against Catholikes to make our French Nation conceiue a great hatred and feare of our King wherein I thinke that his father the diuel would haue béen ashamed himselfe to haue published such impudent lies for as much as this gracious Princesse the Quéene of England and our King of France whom he representeth as her imitator haue neuer béen accused of any blame and reproach but to haue béen too mercifull and pittifull towards such pestiferous mates and seditious spirits as is hée himselfe whom I should haue made knowne for the most pernicious and damnable enemy of all Christendome that euer was on any side whatsoeuer as him that hath fastened the authour of his hope vpon a particular and temporall commoditie caring nothing at all to be cause of the subuersion of the common weale and to depriue himselfe of life euerlasting But because I am preuented by others that haue answered the booke I will not enter further to confute any particularitie thereof I thinke now by a most manifest and briefe description I haue set before the face of the Readers as wel the meanes as instruments by the which the Italians know how brauely to conserue and maintaine their Domination to the great shame and dishonour of those that are subiected thereunto as slaues wherfore it is now conuenient to manifest and propound the remedies by the which all noble and gentle spirites louers of their owne libertie may easily deliuer themselues from their slauery and thraldome Cap. 36. The first remedy by ouerthrowing the foundation stone vpon the which the Romane Domination is builded AS it were a smal matter for a Phisition to be able brauely to discourse of the causes beginnings augmentation and nature of any disease if he should not giue remedies to cure the same so it shal be requisite to set downe the meane whereby men might as well in times past as also hereafter throw away this Italian yoke kéep their mony in their purses without enriching strangers with it for this matter I will begin at the foundation stone vpon the which they haue built augmented and eleuated there so great and loftie Dominatious that it hath no boundes here on the face of the earth as haue the kingdomes and empires of Emperours and Kings but being eleuated if we will belieue them
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
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
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