thou shalt se in the glasse folowing which I haue set before thine eyes not to resyst the hypocrites wyth vyolence which vengeaunce perteyneth vnto God but that thou myghtest se their wicked wayes and abhominable pathes to wythdrawe thy selfe from them and to come agayne to Chryste and walke in his lyght and to followe hys steppes and to commyt the kepyng both of thy body and soule also vnto him and vnto the father thorow him whose name be glorious for euer Amen â—xed who shulde be greatest in the kingâ—â—â— of heauen Chryst called a yong chyld vnto him and set him in the middes among theÌ„ â–ª sayeng Excepte ye turne backe and become as chyldreÌ„ ye shall not enter in the kingdome of heauen Nowe yong chyldren beare no rule one over an other but all is fellowshype among them And he sayd more ouer Who soever humbleth him selfe after the ensample of this Chylde he is greatest in the kingdome of heauen that is to be as concerning ambicion and worldely desyre so chyldish â–ª yâ— yâ— couldest not heyue thy selfe aboue thy brother is the very bearing of rule and to be greate in Chrysts kingdome And to describe the very â—aâ—ion of the greatenesse of his kingdome he sayde He that receyueth one such chylde in my name receaueth me What is that to receaue a chyld in Chrystes name Uerely to submâ—â— to meke and to humble thy selfe and to cast thy selfe vnder all men and to consider all mennes infirmities and weakenesses to helpe to heale their dyseases wyth the word of trueth and to lyue purely that they se no contrarye ensample in the to what soever thou teachest them in Christ that thou put no stumbling blocke before them to make them falle whyle they be yet Younge and weake in the fayth But that thou abstayne as Paule teacheth .i. Thessalo v. Ab omni specie mala from all that myght seme euyll or whereof a man might surmyse amysse that thou so loue them that whatsoeuer gifte of god in the is thou thynk the same theirs and their fode and for their sakes geueÌ„ vnto the as the Truthe is and that all the infyrmytyes be thyne and that thou feale them and that thyne hart mourne for them and that wyth all thy powre thou helpe to amende them and cease not to crye to God for them neither daye nor nyghte and that thou let nothyng be founde in the that any man maye rebuke but whatsoeuer thou teachest them thou that be And that thou be not a wolf in a Lambes skynne as our holye father the Pope is whych cometh vnto vs in Name of hypocrysye and in the tytle of cursed Cham or Ham callyng hym selfe Seruus seruorum the seruante of all seruantes and is yet founde tyrannus tyrannorum of all tyrauÌ„tes moste cruell Thys is to receaue yonge chyldern in chrystes name and to recaue yong chyldern in Chrystes name is to beare rule in the kyngdoÌ„ of christ Thus ye maye se that Chrystes kyngdome â—s alltogether spirituall and the bearynge of rule in it is cleane contrary vnto the bearing of rule temporallye Wherfore none that beareth rule in it maye haue any temporall iurisdiction or ministre any temporal office that requyreth Uyolence to compell with all ¶ Peter was not greater then the other Apostles by any aucthoritie geuen hym of Chryst. THey saye that Peter was chefe of the Apostles verely as Apelles was called chefe of painters for his excellent conning aboue other euen so Peter may be called thefe of the Apostles for his actiuitie aÌ„d boldnes aboue the other but that Peter had any aucthoritie or rule ouer his bretheren fellow apostles is fals coÌ„trary to the scriptur Christ forbad it the last euen before his passion aÌ„d in dyuerse times befor and taught always the contrary as I haue rehersed Thou wylt saye thou canst not see how there shuld be any good ordre in the kingdom where none weare Better then other and where the superiour had not a lawe aÌ„d authoritie to compell the inferyour with violeÌ„ce The world truly can se none other way to rule then with violence For there no maÌ„ absteyneth from euel but for feare because the loue of ryghtuousnes is not written in theyr hartes And therfore the Popes kingdome is of thys worlde For there one sorte are your Grace your Holynesse your fatherhod An other my lorde bisshop my Lorde Abbot my Lord Priour An other master doctour father bachelar master parson master vicar and at the last commeth in simple sir Iohan. And euery man reygneth ouer other wyth myght and haue euery ruler his pryson his iayler hys chayne 's hys tormentes euen so much as the fryers obseruauntes obserue that rule and coÌ„pell euery man eyther with violence aboue the cruelnes of the heatheÌ„ tirauÌ„ts so that what cometh ones in maye neuer out for feare of tellyng tales out of scole They rule ouer the bodye with violence and coÌ„pell it whether the harte wyll or not to obserue thinges of their owne making But in the kyngdom of God it is contrarye For the spirite that bringeth theÌ„ thether maketh theÌ„ wyllyng geueth theÌ„ luste vnto the lawe of God loue compelleth them to worke and loue maketh everye mans good and all that he can do commune vnto hys neyghbours neade And as every man is stroÌ„ge in that kingdome so loue compelleth him to take the weake by the hande and to helpe him and to take him that can not goo vppon his shulders and beare him And so to do seruice vnto the weaker is to beare rule in that kyngdome And because Peter did excede the other apostles in ferveÌ„t service towarde his brethern therfore is he called not in the scripture but in the vse of speaking the chefeste of the Apostles and not that he had any dominioÌ„ ouer theÌ„ Of which truth thou mayest se all thy practise in the Aâ—tes of the Apostles after the resurrectioÌ„ For when Peter had bene preached in the house of Cor +nelis an hetheÌ„ maÌ„ the other that were circuÌ„cysed chode hym because he had bene in an vncyrcumcised maÌ„s house and had eateÌ„ with hiÌ„ for it was forbyddeÌ„ in the lawe neyther wist they yet that yâ— hetheÌ„ shuld be called And Peter was fayne to gyue accountes vnto theÌ„ which is not tokeÌ„ of superiorite aÌ„d to shew theÌ„ how he was warned of the holy gost so to do Actes xi And Actes the .xv. wheÌ„ a counsell was gathered of the apostles aÌ„d dyscyples aboute the cyrcuÌ„cysioÌ„ of the hetheÌ„ Peter brought forth not hys coÌ„maundemeÌ„t and the auctoryte of hys vycarshyppe but the myracle that the holy gost had shewed for the heathen how at the preaching of the gospel the holy gost had lyghted vppon theÌ„ and purytyed theyr hartes thorow fayth and therfore ê“â—ed that they ought not to be circumcysed And Paule Barnabas brought forth the myracles also that God had shewed by theÌ„ amoÌ„g the heatheÌ„ thorow preachyng of fayth And theÌ„ Iames brought
forth a ê“phecy of the olde testameÌ„t for the sayde partie And ther with the aduersaries gaue ouer their hold and they coÌ„cluded wyth one assent by the auctorytie of the scripture of the holy gost thou the heathen shuld not be circuÌ„cised and not by the commaundement of Peter vnder payne of cursing excommunycatyon interdytyng and lyke bogges to make foles and chyldren afrayed wyth all And Actes viij Peter was sent of the other apostles vnto the samaritanes which is an evident token that he had in iurisdiccion ouer them for then they coulde not haue sent hym But rather as the truth is that the congregacion had auctorytie ouer hym and ouer all other pryuate Parsons to admitte them for ministres and send theÌ„ forth to preach whether so euer the sprite of god moued them and as they sawe occasyon And in the Epystle vnto the Gallathians thou seist also howe Paule corrected Peter when he walked not the ryght waye after the truth of the Gospell Galla. ij So now thou seyst that in the kingdome of Chryst and in his churche or congregation and in his couÌ„sels Scripture is the chefest of the apostles the ruler is the scripture approued thorowe the myracles of the holy gost and meÌ„ be seruaunts onely â–ª and Chryst is the heade and we all bretheren And when we call men oure heades that we do not because they be shorne or shauen or because of theyr names parson vicar bisshoppe pope But onely because of the worde which they preach If they erre froÌ„ the worde then may who soeuer God moueth his harte playe pauil â–ª and correct hiÌ„ If he wyl not obeye the scripture then haue hys brethern aucthoritie by the scripture to put hym downe to sende hiÌ„ out of Chrystes church amonge the heretikes which preferre their false doctryne aboue the true woorde of Chryst. ¶ How the gospell punissheth trespasers and how by the Gospell we ought to go to lawe with oure aduersaryes THough that they of Chrystes congregacion be all wylâ—ing yet because that the moost part is always weake because also that the occasions of the world be euer many and greate in so muche that Chryst which wysâ—e all thing beforehande sayth Mathew xviij Wo be vnto the world by reason of occasions of Euell and saythe also that it can not be auoyded but that occasyons shall come therfore it can not be chosen but that many shal ouerfaule when a weake Brother hath trespassed by what law shal he be punisshed verely by the law of loue whose properties thou readest in the xiii of the first to the Corinthians If the loue of God which is my professioÌ„ be written in myne hart it wyll not let me hate my weake brother when he hath offended me â–ª no more then naturall loue wyll let a Mother hate her chyld when it trespasseth against her My weak brother hath offeÌ„ded me he is falleÌ„ his weaknes hath ouertrowne hiÌ„ it is not ryght by the lawe of loue that I shuld now faule vpoÌ„ hiÌ„ treade hiÌ„ downe in the myre and destroy him vtterly but it is ryght by the law of loue that I runne to hym helpe him vp agayne ¶ By what ê“cesse we shuld go to law with our trespacers christ teacheth vs Math. xviij Tell hiÌ„ hys faute betwene hiÌ„ the with all mekenesse remeÌ„bryng yâ— thou arte a man mayst fall also Yf ye repet thou loue hiÌ„ ye shall sone agre theÌ„ forgeue hiÌ„ And wheÌ„ thou forgeuest thy neyghbour theÌ„ thou arte sure that god forgeueth the thy trespaces by his holy promysse Math. vi If he heare yâ— not theÌ„ take a neyghboure or two If he heare theÌ„ not theÌ„ tell the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ wher thou art let the preacher pronouÌ„ce gods law agaiÌ„st hiÌ„ let the sad discret meÌ„ rebuke hiÌ„ exhort hiÌ„ vnto repeÌ„tauÌ„ce if he repeÌ„t yâ— also loue him accordyng to the professyon ye shall sone agre If he heare not the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ then let him be taken as an hetheÌ„ Yf he that is offeÌ„ded be weake also theÌ„ let them that be strong â—o betwene helpe theÌ„ And in lyke maner if any sine agaiÌ„st the doctrine of Chryst the professioÌ„ of a christeÌ„ maÌ„ so that he be a dronkard aÌ„ horekeper or whatsoeuer opeÌ„ sinne he do or if he teach false learniÌ„g then let such be rebuked opeÌ„ly befor the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ by the auctoritie of the scripture And if they repeÌ„t not let theÌ„ be put out of the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ as he theÌ„ people if they theÌ„ be not a shamed â— we haue no remedye but paciently to abyde what god wil do to pray in the meane time the god wyll opeÌ„ their hartes giue them repentaunce Other law then this Chrystes gospell knoweth not nor the officers therof It is manifest therfore that the kingdom of christ is a spirituall kingdom which no man caÌ„ mynyster well a teÌ„porall kingdoÌ„ to as it is sufficiently proued because yâ— no maÌ„ whiche putteth his hand to the plow loketh backe is apt for the kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ as Chryst answered Luke ix vnto hiÌ„ yâ— wold haue folowed hiÌ„ but wolde first haue take leaue of his housholde If a man put hys haÌ„d to yâ— plow of gods word to preach it loke also vnto worldly busines his plow wyll surely go a wry And therfore sayth Christ vnto aÌ„ other yâ— wold likewise folow hiÌ„ but desyred first to go aÌ„d bury his father Let the dead bury the deade but come thou aÌ„d shewe or preach that kingdom of god As who shuld say he yâ— wyll preache the kingdom of God which is Chrystes gospell truly must haue his harte no where else ¶ What officers yâ— apostles ordeyned iÌ„ christes church what their offices wer to do Wherfore the apostles folowâ—g obeiÌ„g the rule doctrine coÌ„mauÌ„dmeÌ„t of our sauiour Iesus Christ their master ordeyned in hys kyngdome aÌ„d congregacioÌ„ two officers One called after the greke worde byshop in english an ouersear which same was called preast after the greke elder in eÌ„glysh because of his age discrecioÌ„ sadnes for he was as nygh as coulde be all waye aÌ„ elderly man as thou seist both in the new olde testament also how the officers of the Iewes be called the Elders of the People because as thou mayst wel thynke they were ouer old men â–ª as nygh as could be For vnto age do men naturally obeye and vnto age doth god commaunde to geue honoure sayenge Levi. xix Ryse vp before the horehead and reuerence the face of the old maÌ„ And also experience of thynges and couldnesse without which it is hard to rule wel is more in age then in youth And thys ouerseaâ— dyd put hys haÌ„des vnto the plow of goddes worde and fed Chrystes flocke and tended them only without lokyng vnto any other busynesse in the worlde An other officer they chose and called hym Deacon after the greke amynystre in
popes cleane contrary And the poÌ„pe of hys consecratyon was after his old worldly fation How be it yet he is made a saynte for his worshyppyng of the holy seate of sainct peter not that seate of peter which is Christs gospell but an other lyed to be peters is in dede cathedra pestilencie a chayr of false doctrine And because he could no skyll of oure lordes gospell he sayde of matens with oure lady saye they If any maÌ„ vnderstaÌ„d the laten let hym reade his lyfe compare it vnto the scriptur theÌ„ he shal se such holynes as were here to long to be rehersed And euery abbay euery cathedral church did shrine theÌ„ one God or other mingled the lyues of the very saintes wyth starke lyes to moue men to offre which thyng they call deuocion And though in all their doinges they oppresse the teÌ„poralty their comeÌ„ wealth be greuous vnto the rych and paynfull to yâ— poore yet they be so many so exercised in wyles so subtyl so knit sworne together that they coÌ„passe the teÌ„poralty make theÌ„ beare theÌ„ whether they wil or wyll not as the euye doth the oke partly with iugglinge besyde that with wordly polycy For euery abbot wyl make him that may do most in the shyre or wyth the kynge the stuarde of hys landes geue hym a fee yerely and wyl leÌ„d vnto some feast other that by such meanes they do what they wyll And lytle master parsoÌ„ after the same maner if he come into an house the wife be snoutefaire he wil rote him self there by one craft or other ether by vsiÌ„g such pastime as the good man doth or in beinge benefycyall by one waye or other or he wyll lend hym and so bryng hym into hys daunger that he can not thruste hym oute when he wolde but must be coÌ„pelled to beare him aÌ„d to let hym be homely whether he wyll or not ¶ An ensample of practyse out oâ— oure owne chronycles Take an ensaÌ„ple of their practise out of our owne stories Kyng Herolde Kyng Herold exiled or banished Robert Archbisshope of Canterburye For what cause the Inglysh polychronicon specifieth not Robert of caÌ„terbury But if the cause weare not sum what suspect I thynke they wolde not haue Passed it ouer with scylence Thys Robert gat hiÌ„ immediately vnto kynge Wylliam the conqueroure then duke of Normandye And the pope Alexander sente duke Wylliam a baner to go and conquere Ingland and cleane remission vnto whosoeuer wold folow the baner and goo wyth kynge Wyllyam here marke how streight the pope folowed-Christs steppes aÌ„d his apostles Remission of siÌ„nes to conquere englande they preached forgeuenes of synnes to all that repented throw Christes bloude shedyng the Pope preacheth forgeuenesse of synnes to all that will slea their bretheren bought with Chrystes bloud to subdue them vnto hys tyraÌ„nie What so euer othâ—r cause duke wyliaÌ„ had against kynge Herold thou maiest be sure that the pope wolde not haue medled yf Herold had not troubled hys kingdom â—â—e neyther shuld duke willyam haue bene able to conquer the land at that tyme except the spyritualtie had wroughte on hys syde What bloud did that conquest cost England thorowe whych almoost all the lordes of the Inglysh bloude were slayne â— the Normandes became rulers and all the laâ—es were chaunged into Frenche But what careth the holy father for sheading of laye mens bloude It were bâ—tter that .x. hundred thousand laye knaues loste theyr liues then that holy church shuld louse one ynch of her honour or sainct Peters seate one iote of her ryght Ancelmus And Ancelmus that was bysshoppe in shorte time after neuer left striuinge with that myghtie prince kynge Wyllyam the second vntyll he had compelled hym maugre hys teth to delyuer vp the inuestiture or election of bysshops vnto sainct Peters vycare whych inuestiture was of old tyme the kynges duetâ—e And 〈…〉 when the sayde kyng Wyllyam 〈…〉 the tribut that pryestes gaue 〈…〉 to their bysshops for theyr whores 〈…〉 dyd not Raffe bisshop of Chich◠〈…〉 goddes seruice as they call it 〈…〉 the church dores with thornes thorow out al hys diâ—cese vntyll the kynge had yelded hym vppâ— hys trybute agayne For when the holy father had forbidden pryestes theyr wyues the bysshop permitted theÌ„ whores of their owne for a yearely tribute do yet in all laÌ„des saue in Ingland where they maye not haue any other saue mennes wyues onely And agayne for the election of Steuen langton archbysshop of Canterbury what miserye and wretchednesse was in the royalme a longe ceason TheÌ„ was the land interdited many yeares And when that holpe not then Irelande rebelled agaynst kinge Iohn immedyatly Note and not wythout the secrete workinge of oure Prelates I dare well saye But fynally when neyther the interditing nether that secrete subtiltie holpe â–ª wheÌ„ Ihon wold in no meanes consent the saint peters vicar shuld raygne alone ouer the spiritualtye ouer all that perteyned vnto theÌ„ and that they shulde synne do all mischefe vnpunisshed the pope sent remissyoÌ„ of synnes to the kynge of FrauÌ„ce for to go and conquere hys land 〈◊〉 â–ª of synnes to coÌ„quere Wherof king IhoÌ„ was so sore afrayd that he yelded vp his croune vnto the pope sware to hold the laÌ„d of hiÌ„ aÌ„d that his successours shuld do so lykewise And agayn in Kyng Richardes dayes the second Thomas Arundell archbysshop of CaÌ„terbury chauÌ„celare was exyled with the Earle of Darbye Thomas AruÌ„dell The outwarde preteÌ„ce of the varyaunce betwene the Kynge aÌ„d his lordes was for the delyueraunce of the towne of Braste in Brytayne But our prelates had an other secret mystery a bruing They coulde not at they re owne luste slea the poore wretches which at that tyme were conuerted vnto repentaunce and to the true faith to put their trust in christs death bloudsheadyng for the remission of their sinnes by the preachinge of Iohan Wyclefe As sone as the archbysshop was out of the royaume Practyse the Irishmen began to rebell againste kynge Rychard as before against Kynge Ihon But not hardelye withoute the inuisyble inspyration of them that rule bothe in the courte and also in the consciences of al men They be one kingdom sworne together one to helpe an other scatered abroade in all royalmes And howe be it that they stryue amonge them selues who shal be greatest yet agaiÌ„st the temporall powr they be always at one though they disseÌ„ble it and fayne as thogh one helde againste the other to know theyr enemies secretes to betray them with all They caÌ„ inspyre priuelye into the brestes of the people what myschefe they lyst no maÌ„ shal know wheÌ„ce it coÌ„meth Their letters go secretly froÌ„ one to an other thorow out all kyngdoÌ„s SaiÌ„ct peters vicar shall haue worde in .xv. or .xvi. dayes froÌ„ the vttermost part of christendom The
because the prelates of the grekes wold not submitte them selues vnto his godheade as the prelates of these quarters of the world had â—one AFter Pipine raygned his soÌ„ne greate Charles whoÌ„ we cal Charlemayne which knew non other God but the Pope nor any other waye to heauen then to do the Pope pleasure Pipine Charlemayne For the Pope serâ—ed him for two purposses One to dispeÌ„â—â— wyth hym for what soeuer mischefe he did an other to be stablished in the Empyre by his helpe for without his fauour he wist it wold not be so greate a God was oure holye father become already in those dayes T is pope steuen in his latter daies fell at variaunce with Desiderius king of LoÌ„bardye aboute the archbisshoppe of Raâ—enna AFter Steuen succeded AdriaÌ„ the firste with whom Desiderius the kiÌ„g of Lombardy wold fayne haue made peace but Pope Adrian wolde not Steuen Desiderius king of lombardy And shortly vpon that the brother of this Charlmayn which raygned wyth hym in halfe the dominion of Fraunce dyed whose wife for feare of charles fled with hir .ij sonnes vnto Desiderius king of LoÌ„bardye for succoure Desiderius was gladdâ— of their comming trusting by the meanes of these two chylderen to obtaine fauour among many of the Frenchmen and so to be able to resyst charles if he wold medle â–ª and to brynge Italy vnto the ryght Emâ—perour againe and wold haue had that pope Adrian shuld haue annointed them kinges in their fathers roume But Adrian refused that to do for he sawe charles myghâ—e and mete for hys purpose and was as wilye as Desyderius and thought to kepe oute the right Emperour be Emperour of Rome him self though he gaue an other the name for a ceason tyll a more coÌ„uenient â—ime came Then Desiderius warred vpon the popes iurisdictioÌ„ And Adryan sent to Charles and Charles came with his armye and draâ—e out desyderius and his sonne which sonne fled vnto the ryght Emperoure to Constantinople And Charles and the Pope dyuided the kingdome of Lombardy betwene them And Charles came to Rome And the Pope and he were sworne together that who soeuer shulde be ennemy vnto the one shuld be ennemy also vnto the other This Adrian gathered a counsell immediatly of an C. liiâ— bisshoppes abbottes and relygious parsones gaue vnto Charles and his successours the empyre of Rome and ordeyned that the ryght and powr to chose the pope â–ª shuld be hys â–ª and that no bysshop shuld be consecrate tyll he had obtayned of hym both consent and the ornamentes of a bysshop also whych they now â—ye of the pope vnder payne of cursing to be delyuered vnto black Sathan the deuell and losse of goodes Dist. lxiij And Leo the thyrde which succeded Adrian confyrmed the same crouned Charles Emperour of Rome for like seruice done vnto hym And then there was apointment made betwene the Emperours of coÌ„stantinople and of Rome aÌ„d the places assigned how farre the borders of ether empyre shuld reach· And thus of one empyre was made twayne And therfore the empyre of coÌ„staÌ„tinople for lacke of help was shortly after subdued of the Turkes The sayd Leo also called Charles the moost chrysten Kynge because of his good seruice which tytle the kynges of FrauÌ„ce vse vnto thys daye though many of them be neuer so vnchristened â–ª As the laste Leo called oure kinge the defender of the faith And as this Pope Clemens calleth the duke of Geâ—der the eldest soÌ„ne of the holy 〈◊〉 of ROME for non other vertue nor propertye yâ— anye man can knowe saue that he hath bâ—ne all his lyfe a pickequarell and a cruell and vnryghtuous bloudesheddeâ—â— as his father that sitteth in that holy se is So now aboue seuen hondred yeres to be a Christen kyng â—s to fyght for the Pope and most chrâ—sten that most fyghteth slâ—â—eth most men for his pleasure â—he lyfe of Charles This Charles was a great coÌ„querour that is to saye a great tiraunte and ouercame many nacyons with the swerde and as the Turke compelleth vnto his Fayth so he compelled them with violence vnto the fayth of Christ sayth the stories But alas Christâ— fayth whervnto the holyghost only draweth mennes hartes thorowe preaching the worde of truth and holy lyuynge according therto he knew not but vnto the pope he subdued them aÌ„d vnto this supersticious ydolatry which we vse clene coÌ„trary vnto the scripture Practyse Moreouer at the request and great desyre of his mother he maryed the doughter of Desyderius kyng of Lombardy but after one yere vnto the great dyspleasure of his mother he put her a waye againe but not without the false subtiltye of the pope thou mayest be sure nether with out his dispensacion For how could Charles haue made warre for the Popes pleasure with Desiderius hir father and haue thruste him out of his kingdome and banysshed hys Sonne for euer deuydinge his kingdom betwene him and the pope as long as she had bene his wyfe And therfore the pope with his auctoritâ— of byndynge and lousinge lowsed the boÌ„des of that matrimony as he hath many other sens and dayly doth for lyke purposses to the intent that he wold with the swerde of the french kyng put the Kyngdome of Lombardye that was somwhat to nye him â— out of the way by the reasoÌ„ of whose kynges hys fatherhode coulde not raygne alone nor assygne or sel the Bysshoprykes of Italy to whome he lusted aÌ„d at his pleasure He kept also .iiij. concubines and laye with two of his owne doughters therto And though he wist howe that it was not vnknowne yet his lustes being greater theÌ„ great Charles he wold not wete nor yet refrayne And beyonde all that the sayinge 〈◊〉 yâ— in hys olde age a whore had so bewitched him with a ryng a pearle in it aÌ„d I wote not what ymagerye grauen therin that he went asaute after her as a Dogge after a bytch and the doâ—ehed was beside hymself and hole out of hys Mynde in somuche that wheÌ„ the whore was dead he could not departe from the Deade Corps but caused it to be Enbaulmed and to be Caryed wyth hym whether so euer he Wente so that all the worlde wondered at him tyll at the last hys lordes accombred wyth caryenge her from place to place and asshamed that so olde a Man so greate an Emperoure and such a most chrysten kynge on whoÌ„ whose dedes euery Mannes eyes were sette shuld dote on a dead hore toke couÌ„sel what shuld be the cause And it was concluded that it muste neades be by enchauntement Then they wente vnto the cophyne opened it and sought and founde thys rynge on her finger which one of the lordes toke of and put it on his owne fynger When the ringe was of he commaunded to burye her regarding her no longer Neuertheles he caste a phantasye vnto thys Lorde and beganne to dote as faste on hym so that he might
an other Archbysshop an other Bysshoppe an other Deane an other Archdeacon and so forth as we now see And as the Pope played with the Emperour so did his braunches and hys meÌ„bres the bisshops play in euery kingdome duckedom and lordshyp in so much that the very heyres of them Qualis pater talis filius Good naturall chylderen by whome they came vp hold nowe their londes of them and take them for their chefe lordes And as the Emperour is sworne to the pope euen so euery kyng is sworne to the bisshopes and prelates of the realme aÌ„d they are the chefest in all perliamentes yea they and their money and they that be sworn to them aÌ„d come vp by them rule all together And thus the pope the father of all hypocrites hathe wyth falshod and gyle peruerted the order of the worlde and turned the rootes of the trees vpwarde and hath put doune the kingdoÌ„ of christ the popysh order compared with Chrystes â–ª set vp the kiÌ„gdome of the deuell whose vycar he is and hath put downe the ministers of christ aÌ„d hath set vp the ministers of Sathan disgised yet in names and garments lyke vnto the auÌ„gels of lyght and ministres of rightuousnes For Chrstes kingdom is not of the world Ihon. xviij aÌ„d the Popes kingdom is all the world And Christ is nether iudge nor diuyder in this world Luke xij· But the pope iudgeth and deuideth all the worlde taketh the empyre al kingdoms and geueth theÌ„â—o whom he lusteth Christ sayth Math. v. Blessed are the pore in spyrite so that the fyrst steppe in the kingdom of Chryst is humblenes or humâ—â—ytie that thou canst fynde in thyne hart to do seruice vnto all meÌ„ and to suffer that al men treade the. The Pope saith Blessed be the proude and hyghminded that can clym and subdue all vnder them and mainteyne their ryght and such as wyll suffre of no man so that he which was yesterday taken from the donghyll and promoted this daye by his prince shall to morrow for the popes pleasure cuâ—se him excommunicate hym and interdyte hys royalme Chryst sayth Blessed be the meke or softe that be harmlesse as doues The pope blesseth them that can set all the world together by the eares and fyght and slea manfully for his sake that he may com hâ—te from bloudshâ—ading to a bysshopryâ—e as our Cardinal dyd and as Saynte Thomas of Canterbury dyd which was made bysshop in the feld in complete harnesse on his horsebacke and hys speare bloudy in hys hande Chryst hath nether holes for foxes nor 〈◊〉 for byrds nor yet wheron to lay his head nor promysed ought in thys woorlde vnto hys dyscyples nor toke any to hys dâ—sciple but him that had forsaken all The yuytre the Pope hath vnder hys rootes throughouâ— all chrystendome in euery viâ—lage holes for foxes and nestes for vncleane byrdes in all his braunches and promyseth vnâ—o his discyples all the promocyons of the worlde The nerer vnto Chryst a man cometh the lower he must dâ—scende and the Poorer he must waxe but the nerer vnto the pope ye come the hygher ye must clim and the more ryches ye must gather whence soeuer ye caÌ„ gett them to paye for your bulles and to purchase a glorious name lycence to weare a mytre and a crosse and a pale and goodlye ornamentes ¶ Howe the pope receaueth hys kyngdome of the deuell and howe he distributeth iâ— agayne SHortlye the kingdomes of the eaâ—th and the glorye of them whyche Chryst refused Mathew iiij did the deuell profer vnto the pope and he immediatlye fell froÌ„ Chryst and worshypped the deuell and receaued them For by falshed as he maynteyneth them cam he therto and by falshead do al hys disciples come therto Who of an hundred one is Pope bisâ—hope or any greate prelate but ether by necromaÌ„cye or symony or wayting on greate mens pleasures and with corruptynge of goddes worde and fasshyonyng it after theyr lustes And the Pope after he had receaued the kyngdome of the worlde of the deuell and was become the Deuels vicar The pope distributeth his fathers kingdome toke vp in lyke maner all chrystendom an hye brought them from the mekenes of Chryst vnto the hye hyll of the pryde of Lucifer and shewed them all the Kyngdome of the erthe sayinge fall downe and worshyppe me and I wyll geue you these Unto the spiritualtye he saieth fall from Chryst aÌ„d preache me and take thou that cardenalshippe thou the bysshoprycke thou yâ— Abbotshyppe and so fourth thou as many benefyces as thou wylt and a dispensacioÌ„ for what thou wylt And to moÌ„kes and fryers in like maner take thou that hole and thou that nest wyth what pryuylege ye wyll desyre aÌ„d dispensacyons of youre rules yf ye wyll preach me And vnto the temporaltie he saythe First to the Emperour yf thou wylt fall down kysse my feate and sweare to hold of me and to defend me I geuethe the empyre And to al kinâ—â—â— in lyke maner yf they wyl sweare to defend hys lyberties and to holde of him he crowneth them And euen so all temporall Lordes from the hyghest vnto the lowest and all officers and all maner subiectes if they wyll enioye laÌ„des rentes offices goodes and their verye lyues they must ronne the same way The very whores goddes honour vnregarded as long as they dispyte not him and his ordinaunces they shall haue nesâ—es in his rentes and amonge his Prelates And the theues and murtherers shall haue dennes in his sanctuaries whatsoeuer they do against God so longe as they haÌ„g on him The Apostles chose pryestes to preach Chryst onely all other thinges layde apart and chose none but Learned and Uertuouse The Pope shaueth who soeuer commeth The popes order compared with the order of the Apostles leuer â—uâ—e of the stuâ—s then from studye â— when they be Sworne he Sendeth them vnto all greate mennes houses to preache his godhed to be stuardes surueyers receaâ—ers counselâ—rs of all maner myscheue 〈◊〉 popysh priestes to corrupâ—e wife doughter and mayde to betray theyr owne master as oft as it neadeth to promote their falsehead with all For therto are they sworne to gether And when they haue done all mischefe there shall no man wyt whence it cometh The apostles chose deacons to ministre the almes of the rych vnto the poore And to helpe the deacons they chose widowes of .ix. yere old the popysh wiâ—dows holy dâ—stitute of frendes to â—end the sycke And the Pope in stead of such wedowes maketh who soeuer commeth whether she be yoÌ„g or olde but none saue them that be ryche able to pay xx.xxx or .xl. pounde for their profâ—ssioÌ„ to whom for as much more he wyll gyue a dispensacion on the morowe to mary agayne And in steade of suche deacons â—he popysh deacons he maketh bothe deacons and subdeacons which do nothinge at all but are vayne names
without office except it be that on some Holydaye in steade of ministringe the goodes of the church vnto the poore they syng a pistle or Gospell to begge more from the â—â—ore And as his 〈…〉 the â—oodes of the church 〈◊〉 the poore euen so doo hys pryesâ—es preacâ—â— Chrysts gospell vnto his flocke And the almesse that was geuen to the sustencacion of the poore which thou shalt reade in storieâ— that it was in some cities aboue xx.xxx.xl yea an hundred thousaÌ„d pounde How the pope diuydeth the poore people and all the landes geuen for the same purpose they haue sâ—olen from them haue diuyded it amonge them selues And ther with did they at the beginning corrupt the greate men of the woorlde and clam vp to this heigth were they now be And for that haue they strouen among them selues this viij hundred yeares And to mainteyne that which they haue falsely gotten hath the pope sturred vp aswerde of warre in all christendom this .viij. hundred yeares hath taken peace cleane out of the worlde When the bisshoppes preastes and deacons were fallen and had receaued of the pope the kingdom that parteyned vnto the poore people and had robbed them and parted their patrymony among them selues then sprange the orders of monkes Whose professyon was to abstayne froÌ„ flesh all theyr liues to were vyle raymeÌ„t to eate but once in the daye aÌ„d that but butter chese egges frutes rootes and suche thynges that weare not costly aÌ„d myght euery where be founde And they wrote bokes aÌ„d wrought diuerse thynges to get their lyuinge wyth all When the laye men sawe that the preastes were fallen in to suche couetuousnes that the Monkes were so holy they thought these be mete men to minister our almesse vnto the pore people For theyr profession is so holy that they can not deceauâ— vs as the preastes do aÌ„d made the moÌ„kes tutors and ministers vnto the pore aÌ„d gaue great Landes and rychesse in to theyr handes to deale it vnto the poore WheÌ„ the monkes sawe suche aboundaunce they fell after the ensample of the preastes and toke dispeÌ„sacyoÌ„s of the pope for their rules aÌ„d strait professioÌ„ whiche now is as wyde as their coules and deuided all amonge them â–ª and robbed the poore once moare And out of the abbayes toke he the most parte of his Bysshoprickes and cathedral churches and the moste parte of all the landes he hathe besydes that there Remayne yet so Many myghtye abbayes and nun ryes therâ—â— As sone as the monkes were fallen theÌ„ sprang these beggynge fryres out of Hell the last kind of kater pillars Beggyngâ— fryers in a more vile apparell and a more strate relygion that if ought of relefe were lefte amonge the laye men for the poore people these horseleches might sucke that also Which dranebees as sone as they had learned their crafte had bylt them goodly costly nâ—stes and their lymiters had diuided all contrees amonge them to begge in and had prepared lyuynges of a certayntie though which beggynge then they also toke dispeÌ„sacyons of the pope for to lyue as largely as lewdelye as the monkes And yet vnto the laye men whom they haue thus falselye robbed from whyche they haue deuyded them selues and made them a seuerall kyngdome amonge them selues The charge of the lay people they leaue the payenge of tolle custome and trybute for vnto all the Charges of the Royalmes they wyll not paye a myte and the finding of all the poore the fyndyng of scolars for the moste parte The fynding of these forsayde horseleches and carcepillers the beggynge fryers the reparyng of hye wayes and brydeges the buyldynge and recreacyons of they re abbayes and cathedrall churches chapelâ— coleges for which they send out theyr pardons dayly by heapes and gather a thousand pounde for euery hundred that they bestow truely If the laye people haue warre or what soeuer charge it be they wyll not beare a myte If the warre be theirs as the one parte almost of all warre is to defende them they wyl with falshed make theÌ„ beare the greatest parte besydes that they must leaue their wyues and children go fight for them and loose their liues And likewise iÌ„ al their charges they haue a cast to poll the laye people The Scottes cast downe a castell of the bysshop of dirams on the scottysh bancke called Noram castell And he gat a pardon from Rome for the buyldynge of it agayne wherwith I dout not buâ— he gat for euerye pennye that he bestowed thre Howe the spyritualtie bestowe theyr treasure And what do they with their store that they haue in so greate plenty every where so that the very beggyng fryers in short space to make a cardinal or a pope of their sect or to doo what feate it were for theyr proffytt wold not stycke to brynge aboue a Kyngs rauÌ„soÌ„ â–ª Uerely make goodly places and parkes of pleasure and gaye shrynes and paynte postes and purchese Pardons wherwyth they yet styll polle and plucke a waie that litle where wyth the pore which peryshe for neade and faulle in to greate in conâ—enyences myght be somwhat holpeÌ„ aÌ„d releued And laye vppe in stoare to haue alwaye to paye for the defeÌ„diÌ„g of their faith â—nd for to oppresse the truth ¶ How the pope made hym â— lawe and why AFter that the pope wythe tyrannye was clom vppe aboue hys brethren and had made all the Spyrytualtie hys subiectes and had made of them and hym a seuerall kyngdom among them selues and had seperated them from the laye in all thynges and had got pryuileges that what so euer they dyd no man shuld medle wyth them and after also he had receaued the kyngdoms of the earth of Sathan and was become hys vicare to dystrybut them and after that the Emperoure was fallen in lyke maner at hys fete and had worshypped hym as God to receaue hys empyre of him and all kings had done lyke wise to be anoynted of him and to be crouned of him and after that the worlde both greate and smale had submitted them selues to receaue the beastes bagge then because that christes doctryne was contrary vnto all such kingdomes and therfore had no law ther in howe to rule it he went and made him a seuerell lawe of hys owne makyng which passed in cruelty and tyranny the lawes of all hethen priestes And in his lawe he thrust in fayned gyftes of old emperours that were out of memory What subtiltâ— the pope vseth to stablysh hys kyngdome sayeng that the emperour Constantinus had geuen vp the empyre of Rome vnto S. Syluester which is proued a false lye for diuerse causes one that saiÌ„t siluester being so holy a man as he was wolde not haue receaued it contrarye to his masters coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes doctrine an other that the emperours raygned in Rome many yeares after and all bisshopes sued vnto the emperour and not to the pope which was but
bisshope of Rome only not called father of fathers Moreouer yâ— no autentyke storie maketh mencion that any emperoure gaue them their patrimonye but that Pipine which falsely with streÌ„gth inuaded the empire gaue it vnto him TheÌ„ put hem the graunt of Phocas then the gift of pipine confirmed by the great charles then a fayned relefe of the electioÌ„ of the pope geueÌ„ vp agayne vnto pope Paschale by the emperour Lewes For they theÌ„ selues had graunted vnto charlemayne his successours for euer the eleccion or denominacion of the pope bisshopes to flatter him with all to make him a faythfull defender and that in a generall Counsell which as they say can not erre Neuerthelesse pope Paschal though he beleued the counsell coude not erre yet he thought theÌ„ somwhat ouersene to make so long a graunt therfore he purchased a relefe of geÌ„tle â—ewes as they preteÌ„d But verely it is more lykely that they fayned that graunte to excuse their tyranny after they had takeÌ„ the electioÌ„ into their haÌ„des agayne wyth violeÌ„ce wheÌ„ the emperours were weake not able to resyst theÌ„ â–ª as they fayned the gift of CoÌ„staÌ„tine after they had inuaded the empire with subtylty and falshed And last of al they broughe in the Oth of Ottho with the ordre that now is vsed to chose the eÌ„perour ¶ Howe the pope corrupteth the scripture and why MOreouer lest these his lyes shuld be spyed least happly the emperours following myght saye our predecessours had no power to bynde vs nor to minish our might And least kinges following shuld say after the same maner that the swerd full power to punish euel doers indiffereÌ„tly is geueÌ„ of God to euery kynge for hys tyme and therfore that theyr â— decessour coulde not bynde them contrarye vnto the ordynaunce of God but rather the it was vnto theyr daÌ„pnation to make such grauÌ„tes that they dyd not execute theyr office And therfore the foule mysshapeÌ„ moÌ„stre gate hym to the scrypture corrupted it wyth false exposytions to proue yâ— such aucthoritie was geuen hym of God calenged it by the aucthoritie of Peter â–ª saying that peter was the head of Christs church and that Chryst had made hym lorde ouer the apostles hys fellowes in that he bad hiÌ„ feâ—de hys shepe laÌ„bes Iohn yâ— last as who shuld saye the paule which came longe after was not commaunded to feade as specyally as peter which yet wold take no aucthoritie ouer the bodyes or ouer the faythes of them whych he fed but was theyr seruauÌ„t for Chrystes sake Christ euer the lord and head And as though the other apostles were not lykewyse as specially commaunded as Peter And as though we now and all that here after shall loue chryst were not coÌ„maunded to â—eade chrysts flocke euery maÌ„ in his measure as well as Peter Are not we commaunded to loue our neyghbours as our selues as well as Peter Why then are we not coÌ„mauÌ„ded to care for his flocke as well as Peter Moreouer if to feade Chrystes shepe is to be greatest as no doubt to feade christs flocke is to be greate and moste to feade â–ª is to be greatest in which office thogh peter was greate yet paule was greater howe commeth that the pope by that aucthorytie chalengeth to be greatest and yet thys .viij. huÌ„dred yeres feadeth not at al but poysoneth their pasture with the venamous leuen of his tradicions wyth wrestynge the texte vnto a contrary sence Then came he to thys texte Mat. xvi Thou arte peter and vppon this rocke I wyll byld my congregation or church Loo sayth Antichryst the carnall beast peter is the rocke wheron the church of Chryst is bylt and I am his successoure and therfore the head of christes church When christ ment by the rocke the confession that Peter had confessed sayeng Thou art christ the sonne of the lyuing god which arte come into this worlde This fayth is the rocke Faith is the roote wheroÌ„ Chrysts churche is bylte wheron christs church is bilt For who is of christes church but he only that beleueth that Christ is Gods sonne come into to this world to saue siÌ„ners This fayth is it agaynst which hell gates can not prevayle This faith is it which saueth the coÌ„gregacion of christ and not Peter Then he goeth forth vnto that which foloweth Unto the I wyl geue the keyes of the kingdome of heauen and what soeuer thou bindest in earth it shal be bound in heaueÌ„ â–ª c. Loâ— sayth he in that he sayth what soeuer thou biodest in erth he excepteth nothiÌ„ge therfore I may make lawes biÌ„d both king and emperoure When christ as he had no worldly kiÌ„gdom eueÌ„ so he spake of no worldly binding but of binding of synners The keies Chryst gaue his disciples the keye of the knowlege of the law of God to bind all synners and the keye of the promyses to louse all that repent aÌ„d to let them into the mercy that is made vp for vs in christ Then coÌ„meth he vnto an other text whiche Christ rehearseth Mathe. laâ—â— sayeng Al power is geuen men in heauen earth â–ª go ye therfore and teach al nacions bâ— prysyng them in the name of the father and the sonnâ— and of the holy gost teachinge them to kepe all that I commaunded you And behold I am with you vnto the worldes ende Loo sayth the pope Chryst hath all power in heauen and earth without excepcyon and I am christes vicar wherfore all power is mine and I am aboue all kinges and Emperours in temporall iurisdictyoÌ„ aÌ„d they but my seruauntes to kisse onâ— my fete only but my N. also if I list not to haue theÌ„ stoupe so low WheÌ„ christ as I said because he had no temporal kingdom Christes powr is to saue siÌ„ners euen so he ment of no teÌ„porall power but of power to saue sinnes which they professe of the text declareth by that he sayth goo ye therfore and teach and baptyse thâ—t is preach this power to all nacions aÌ„d wash of their siÌ„nes thorow fayth in the promisses made in my bloude oâ— this manâ—r â—â—â—lech he with textes Then he coÌ„meth vnto an other text Hebre vij which is The presthode bâ—ing traÌ„slated the law must nedes be translated also Now sayth the pope the priesthode is traÌ„slated vnto me wherfore it perteyneth vnto me to make lawes and to bind euery man And the pistle meaneth no such thinge but proueth to euydently that the ceremoâ—iâ—s of Moises must cease For the pryeâ—â—es of the old testament must nedes haue bene of the tribe of Leui as Aaron was â–ª whose dutye for euer was the offeryng of sacrifices Wherfore when that priesthode ceased the sacrifices and ceremonies ceased also Now that priesthode ceased in Christ which was a priest of the ordre of Melchiscdeâ— aÌ„d not of the ordre of Aaron· for theÌ„ he must haue bene of the tribe of Iuda
entering into the toune of a mery felow which sayd salue rex regis tui atque regni sui salutaâ—ioâ— â–ª â— Hayle both kyng of the king and also of his realme And thogh there were neuer so great stryfe betwene the Emperoure and the French kynge yet my lorde Cardynall iugled hym fauour of them both and fynally brought the Emperour to Calays vnto the kinges grace where was great tryumphe and great loue amytie shewed on both parties in so much that certayne men maruelynge at it asked the olde bisshope of Deram How it might be that we were so great with the Emperour so shortlye vppon so stronge and euer lastinge a peace made betwene vs and the frenchmen the Empâ—rour and the kyng of Fraunce being so mortall ennemyes My lorde answered that it might be wel inough if he wist al. A certeine secret But there was a certayn secret sayd he wherof all men knew not Yea verely they haue had secretes this .viij hundred yeares which though all the laye meÌ„ haue felt theÌ„ yet fewe haue spyed them saue a few Iudases whiche for lucre haue bene coÌ„federate wyth them to betray their owne kinges and all other Then were we indifferent slode still And the Emperoure and the French kyng wrastled together And Ferdinandus the Emperours brother wanne Mylane of yâ— frenchmen and the Emperour turnay our greate conqueste whiche yet after so greate coste in Buyldynge a Castell Milane Turnay we delyuered vp agayne vnto the frenchmen in ernest aÌ„d hope of a mariage betwene the dolphine our princesse ¶ How the Emperour cam thorow Englond AFter that the Emperour wolde into Spayne and cam thorowe Englond where he was receaue with great honour with al that pertayneth to loue and amyte The kings grace lent hym money and promysed hym more And the Emperour shuld tarye a certayne yeares mary our princesse Not that the cardinall inteÌ„ded that thou mayest be suâ—e for it was not proffitable for theyr kingdom but his mind was to dallye wyth the Emperour and to kepe him without a wyfe that in so much as he was yong and lusty he might haue bene noselled and entangeled wyth hores which is their nurteriÌ„g NurteriÌ„g of kynges of kinges and made so effeminate and that he shuld neuer haue bene able to lift vp his harte to any goodnesse or vertue that cardinalles and bysshopes myght haue administred his dominions in the meane time vnto our holy fathers profyte The king of fraunce hearing the fauour that was shewed vnto the Empâ—roure sent immediatlye a diffiaunce vnto oure king not wtout our cardinalles bisshops counsell thou mayst well wyt For frenchmen are not so folish to haue done it so vnaduisedlye and so rashlye seynge they had to many in their toppes already Then oure king spake manye greate wordes that he wold dryue the frenchkyng out of his realme or els the frenchkyng shulde bryue him out of his â–ª But had he added as the legate Pandulph taught kinge IhonÌ„ with the popes lycence his wordes had sounded much better For there can no vow stande in effect except the holy father confirme it We sent out our sodiars two sommers agaiÌ„st the frenchmeÌ„ vnto whose chefe captaynes the Cardinall had appoynted how farre they shuld go aÌ„d what they shuld do â–ª And therfore the frenchkyng was nothiÌ„g afrayed but brought all hys Power agaynst the Emperour in other places And â—o was the Emperour euer betrayed And thus the cardinall was the emperours frend openly and the frenchkinges secretlie For at the mâ—â—â—ng wyth the frenchkinge besyd Calâ—s he vtterly betrayed the Emperour â–ª yet for no loue that he had to Fraunce but to helpe the Pope yea aÌ„d to haue bene Pope happely and to saue theyr kyngdome Whych treason though all the world smelled it yet it brake not out openlie to the eye tyll the sege of Pauye And the Cardynall sent the emperoure muche monye openlye and gaue the Frenchkyng more secretelye He played with both handes to serue their secret â–ª that all meÌ„ know not as the bisshop of Deram sayed But what soeuer the frenchmen did they had euer the worse noâ— withstondyng the secrete workyng of our holy prelates on their syde Fynallye vnto the sege of Pauye came the Frenchkyng parsonallye with .lx. thousand men of warre Pauye of whych .xij thousand were horsemen and wyth money ynough And the Emperours host was vnder .xx. thousand of whych were but .iij. thousand horsemen with no money at all For he trusted vnto the Pope for ayde of men and vnto oure Cardynall for money But the Pope kepte backe hys men tyll that the freÌ„chmeÌ„ had geuen them a felde and our Cardinall kepte backe hys money for the same purpose And thus was the selye Emperoure betrayed as all hys predecessours haue bene this .viiij. huÌ„dred yeres How be it there be that saâ—e how that the Emperours sodiars so thretened Pace Paceâ— the kynges graces embassadoure that he was fayne to make cheâ—esaunce wyth marchauntes for money in the kinges name to paye the soldyars with all Wherfore the cardinall toke from hym all his promocions and played tormeÌ„tours wyth him wheÌ„ he came home because that he presumed to do one Iore more theÌ„ was in his commissioÌ„ But how so euer it was the emperours meÌ„ in tarieng for helpe had spent out all their vitayles WhervpoÌ„ Burbon the chefe captayne of the Emperoure sayd vnto his vnder captaynes ye se Burboâ— helpe cometh not and that our vitales are spent Wherfore there is no remedy but to fight though we be vnequally matched If we wynne we shall fynd meate ynough if we loose we shall loose no more thâ—n we must lose with huÌ„gre thogh we fyght not And so they coÌ„cluded to set vpoÌ„ the FrenchmeÌ„ by night The king of fraunce and his lordeâ— purposing that the mone wolde soner haue faullen out of the skye then that the Emperoures host durst haue fought wyth them were som what negligent and weÌ„t the same night a mummynge that Burbon sett vppon them The Emperours host therfore with their sodayn comyng vppon theÌ„ amased the frenchmen and draue them vpon heapes to gether one on an other so that they neuer coulde com in aray agayne and toke the king and diuerse of his lords slew many and wanne the felde And there came out all the Cardinals preuye treason for in the frenchkinges tent say men were letters founde and besyde that in the Frenchkyngs treasure and in all the host among the sodiars were englysh shippes found innumerable whiche had come saylynge a thousande myles by land But what wonder shippes be made to sayle ouer the sea aÌ„d winges to fle into farre contrees to mount to the toppe of hye hylles When the frenchkyng was taken we sang Te deum But for all that singynge we made peace with frenchmen And the Pope Te deum the Uenecians Fraunce and England were knyt to gether lest the Emperours army shuld do any hurte in fraunce Wherby ye may coÌ„iecture of what mind the pope the cardinal were to ward the eÌ„perour â–ª and with what hart our spiritualty with theyr inuisible secretes sang Te deuÌ„ And froÌ„ the time hitherto the emperour aÌ„d our cardinall haue bene twayne After that when the king of fraunâ—â— was delyuered home agayne and hys sonnes left in pledge many wayes were sought to bryng home the sonnes also But in vayne except the frenchking wold make good the which he had promysed the Emperour For the bringing home of those Chylderne no Man more busyed his wittes then the Cardinall He wold in any wyse the emperour shuld haue seÌ„t theÌ„ home it had bene but for our kynges pleasure for the greate kindenesse that he shewed him iÌ„ times past He wold haue maryed the kinges doughter our princesse vnto the Dolphine agayne or as the voyce went among many vnto the seconde Brother and he shulde haue bene prince in Englonde and king in tyme to come so that he sought alwayes to plucke vs from the Emperour and to ioyne vs vnto Fraunce to make fraunce stronge ynough to matche the Emperour and to kepe him downe that the pope myght reygne a GOD alone the marte shuld haue bene at Caâ—â—â—ce and do what pleased him without countrollynge of anye ouerseer And for the same purpose he lefte nothing vnprouided to brynge the marte froÌ„ Andwerpâ— to Cales This be sufficient at this tyme though I coulde saye more and though other haue deserued that I more sayd ye and I could more depely haue eÌ„tred into the practise of our cardinall but I spare for diuerse consyderacions and namely for hys sake whiche neuer spared me nor any faythfull frende of his owne nor anye that tolde hym truth nor spareth to persecute the bloud of Christ in as cleare lyght as euer was aÌ„d vnder as subtyll colour of ypocrysy as euer was any persecution syns the creation of the world Neyther haue I sayde for hate of any parson or parsons God I take to record but of theyr wickednesse only and to calle them to repentaunce knowledginge that I am a synner also that a greuous How beit it is a deuelysh thyng and a mercylesse to defend wickednes against the open truth and not to haue power to repent And therfore I doubt not if men wyll not be warned hereby but that God wyll vtter more practise by whome he wyll not cease vntyll he haue broken the bande of the wytye hypocrytes which persecute so subtylly And fynally let them remembre that I to preuent all occasyons and all carnall beastes that seke fleshly lybertie sent forth the true obedience of a ChrysteÌ„ man with yet they condempned but after they had condeÌ„pned the newe testament as ryght was whence the obedieÌ„ce had hys aucthorytie Now theÌ„ if wheÌ„ the lyght is come abroad in which theyr wyckednesse can not be hyd they fynde no such obedience in the people vnto theyr old tyranny whose faute is it This is a sure conclusyon none obedience that is not of loue can longe endure and in your dedes can no man see any cause of loue and the knoledge of Chryst for whose sake onely a maÌ„ wold loue you though ye were neuer so euell yea persecute Now then if any disobedience ryse are ye not the cause therof youre selues Saye not but that ye be warned