And when as one key will not serue she may proue another In summe and for a finall conclusion so trauell in that behalfe that she get the locke open Foure of these keyes most chiefe and principall are called Imperatrices because they will open all the lockes in the house The first is called Expositio literalis that is An interpretation according to the letter which key our mother the holie Church hath least of all occupied but rather had left it lying a long time behinde the Chest insomuch that it was all rustie in a maner and cleane marred At last the Lutherans gat it into their handes and setting it before them as a paterne made other like it insomuch that they haue opened all the lockes and by that meanes haue brought all the secretes of the holy Church to light and so haue of their owne priuate motion and accorde taken vpon them to alledge the scripture to their furtherance and to the holy church of Rome her hinderance so that she hath now quite lost that key The other key is called Expositio moralis That is A legall or morall interpretation or An interpretation according to the Law with which key they haue locked vp fast all the Chestes and treasures of mercifull iustification through beliefe in Iesus Christ and in place thereof haue vnlocked set open the maledictions cursses and threatnings of the law of Moses The thirde is called Expositio Tropologica or Allegorica that is to say An hidde and allegoricall vnderstanding or interpretation with which key they lightly wreste all the Scriptures that the Heretikes can bring in against them for that therewith they finde out straight way some figure or allegorie wherewith they deck set out the matter finely so couer it with a course carpet And further likewise with this key she hath brought abrode the most part of the Scripture wherewith she hath fortified and made strong all her Catholike ceremonies beautifull prunkings pleasant ordinaunces as by proceeding from piece to piece we will declare The fourth key is verie like vnto this but it is of more strength and is called Expositio Anagogica that is to say An interpretation which drawes the Scripture by the necke euen whither a man will and it is the best and most beneficiall key that the Church doth occupie for her aduantage for with this key she makes of the Scripture a Weathercocke which turnes about with euerie winde and a nose of waxe which shee can bow euerie way as by the examples hereafter set forth you shal plainly perceiue Now hath she besides these two other keyes which are not right Imperatrices but do serue particularly either of them to his owne seuerall locke whereof the one is called Typica and the other Physica that is to say figuratiue and naturall For these two keyes shee doth vse most in the Scholes and Cloysters and therewith she fetcheth out of a corner wonderfull sharpe witted Ppilosophies deepe speculations wherewith she mountes aloft so hie into the aire that shee neither toucheth hâ—auen nor earth And with these she hath for the most part opened all the Almeries of the Caballa Thalmood of the Iewes and out of them fetched all sorts of delicate meates and daintie iunckets as without doubt there were wonderfull iestes and straunge mysteries shut vp in them All these same keyes except the first which lay behinde the Chest being now in the handes of Heretikes and in their custodie she hath tied fast together with a paire of Keybands which she calles Sophistica that is to say Sophistrie or babling wheron they are so fast bound that without that Keyband it were vnpossible to make them tarie together nor to do the church of Rome any seruice but would by and by fall a sunder and so bee vtterly lost for this Keybande is verie cunningly wrought and of strong Buffe leather knotted together with manie subtile snarles and buttons so that it is not possible to be vndone which snarles and buttons the chiefe workemen of that art call Syllogismes and Quotlibets and they stand so thicke and so strongly fastened together that manie cunning masters in braiding of snarles and buttons as well of Louen as of Paris haue gone about with all the wit they had to vndo them to the ende they might vse the keyes as they would but they could neuer bring it to passe For the holie Church of Rome doubting least the Heretikes might yet catche from her anie more keyes as they did once causeth more newe knottes and buttons daily to bee made to them yea and giueth the maisters of that science great wages For he that can best braide and make them vp hee gettes for his rewarde a Doctours hood or a fat Prebend and sometimes a Bishops miter or a Cardinals hatte so that it is a great ouersight of these Huguenotes and Lutherans that they thinke to make all thinges cleare with their one key and will with that onelie expounde the Scripture all care and regarde of the other keyes put by and neglected Yea they make no accounte at all of this Keybande but will vnderstande euerie thing as they are learned by the letter none otherwise than they are sette foorth in the Scripture rightly and agreeably to the sinceritie of the faith and according to the iudgement of Paule Where yet notwithstanding is plainly written by the said Paule That the letter doeth kill but the spirite quickeneth Neuerthelesse it is true that they bring in this testimonie of Paule against vs saying That Paule did there by the letter vnderstande nothing else but the Lawe and the curssings of the Lawe and by the Spirite nothing else but that by the mercie of God we are quickened and made aliue through faith in Iesus Christ which is in the Gospel by Paul and by all other faithfull ministers of the worde plainely and without anie obscure and darke meaning or hidde allegorie set forth and preached openly before all men as Paule him selfe doeth giue plainely to vnderstande saying That hee was made able to bee a Minister of the new Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirite and that the ministration of Moses was a ministration of death and of the Letter but his ministration was a speciall ministration of life and of the Spirite But wee care not for all this For the holie Churche will haue it to bee vnderstoode otherwise as to say That by the Letter is to bee vnderstoode the speciall bare and plaine text of the Scripture euen as it doeth sounde in the naturall ground and setting forth literally vnderstoode according to the sinceritie of our beliefe and as by the Lutherans and Huguenotes it is alledged against vs For this letter doeth kill as you may well see that those which will so vnderstand and sette forth the Scripture are killed But The spirit that is to say The ghostly hid and sharp witted interpretation
Sonne of God They woulde haue Bishops renouncing the name office of tyrannical Inquisitors to preache the gospell to leaue of their trapt Horses and Mules and goe on foote They did esteeme all manner of meates good and lawfull first saying grace in their mother tongues neither did they much regarde the eating of fleshe in Lent no not euen on Good Friday In Summe they went wholy about to bring in a new reformation of religion and discipline ecclesiasticall the like whereof was neuer seene of the holie Churche of Rome nor of our forefathers They tooke in hande to restore all againe to the olde and former state of the Apostles and Euangelistes what pitie what care what sorowe had this bene to our dearly beloued mother the holie Catholike Churche of Rome and to all her good subiectes But praised be our blessed Ladie of Antwerpe your honour did well foresee and in time diligently withstand that inconuenience in that you haue placed the inquisition in the lande driuen away the Gewses or Heretikes laide the Magistrates in prison banished and brought to the Butchers stall the Gentlemen and good subiectes made a way and open passage for the Spaniardes into the lande set vp fire and swoorde in token of victorie and in euerie corner reared vp gallowes and plentifully shed the blood of those newe Euangelistes In Summe your diligence your quicke expedition your great zeale your newe Bishoppes and your holie Inquisition haue so well aduised counselled perswaded or rather forced our Souereign Lord the king his Maiestie much rather to see the destruction of his Patrimoniall lande the ruine of his Subiectes yea the imprisonment and death of his owne onelie sonne then to permit the holie Catholike Church of Rome to suffer suche shame and that in place of the Popes decrees and decretals of the Masse booke Hortulus animae and suche other seruice bookes the Gospel holy Scripture onelie should succeed take possession Therefore your Honour is highly to be praised for such noble actes And euerie man is duely bound herein to assist further you in your enterprise to the vttermost of his knowledge abilitie This Right Honorable and blessed Bishop is the cause which hath moued me poore vnworthie brother of Saint Frauncis order to dedicate and sende this my simple present to your honour to the ende that I with this my small gifte of good will may somewhat though but a little helpe to strengthen repaire the decaied walles of the Romishe Church and establish againe the right perfect foundation of our most holie father the Pope Therefore hauing a while agoe seene marked that in the Citie of Antwerpe was a small booke sette foorth in French Flemish intituled named A Letter Missiue Or An Epistle directed vnto the Apostates Backsliders from the true Christian beleefe compiled and made by Maister Gentian Heruet c And for that the same booke was greatly desired and verie much esteemed of all good and Catholike hearts I haue with all diligence and circumspection perused and read ouer the same wherein I haue founde in effect that in the same is briefly declared and set foorth the whole grounde and foundation of the holie Romish religion which your Honour euen with fire and swoorde to the subuersion and vtter ruine of the whole land doth seke most zealously to mainteine And I am thereby persuaded that the same booke was most worthie to be read ouer of all men to the ende that all startbackes from the faith might returne into the right way and the good faithfull Catholikes thereby strengthened confirmed But nowe considering the saide booke to bee verie shorte and something darke for a matter of suche importaunce and likewise had either none or verie few proofes out of the Scriptures Councels holie Fathers and Decrees of the Popes therefore I haue thought good to set penne to Paper and to set foorth and declare the same at large that nothing needefull should be lacking Moreouer cōsidering that it is most necessarie to declare something more at large especially touching the woorthines and authoritie of the holie Churche of Rome and the true exposition of the holie Scripture wherevppon the summe of all our matters doe depende for that we haue alwayes beene forced to call vpon the Church especially now when there is none other shield or defence left vnto vs therefore haue I traueiled brieflie to shew of this matter where the sure grounde and foundation lies by what Scriptures by what holie fathers by what Councels by how many Decrees euerie point is defended and likewise howe and in what manner the Scripture and the holie Church of Rome are ioyned together and Catholikelie vnderstoode in suche order as the same shall in no wise serue the Heretikes anie thing at al to their purpose or aduantage And forsomuch as this woorke is sucked out of sundrie sortes of flowres gathered together therefore haue I named it The Bee hiue of the Romishe Churche thereby to geue to vnderstande ▪ that as the honie Bee doeth not gather her honie out of one flowre alone but out of manie and diuerse So doeth not the Churche of Rome stande vpon one Scripture Byble Councels or bokes of Decrees but doth catche and snatch out of eche of them that which best serueth her purpose as hereafter euerie man may plainelie perceiue and in the ende of this booke shall vnderstande more at large whereas the speciall causes are set foorth why and wherefore we haue christened this booke with such a name And now hauing vnderstoode that your Honour did a good while agoe set foorth a certaine booke against the confessiō of the faith of these newe Gospellers I did verie earnestly trauell to gette the same trusting that it might perhaps haue eased me of this my labour for that I thought your Honour shoulde haue set foorth these matters there at large But after that I had superficially and lightly reade ouer the saide booke not hauing the lucke to kepe the same lōg by me I was the more willing to set foorth this my Bee hiue for that I sawe it shoulde serue verie well to the opening and more plaine declaration of the foresaide booke which your Honour hath made and published considering that your honour is busie in euerie place with the aucthoritie and dignitie of the holie Churche of her ordinances or constitutions additions or traditions and of the spirituall exposition which shee hath made vppon the Scriptures perceiuing nothing to be clearly set foorth whereby one may finde out these constitutions and ordinances whether in the Scripture in the Fathers in the Decrees or in the Coūcels so that a simple man might alway stande in doubt what you will haue esteemed and holden for the commaundementes ordinances or traditions of the Churche and what men shall call the Churche and likewise what rule or inuiolable order this holie Churche doth commonly keepe and vse in the exposition of
right honourable Bishoppe Guilielmus Blindasinus in his booke called Panoplia wherein he concludeth with strong inuincible reasons That mē were not bound to beleeue the word of God nor to be subiect vnto it if it were not that the holy Church hath so commanded For what do we thinke that the word of God is so strōg of it selfe as to publishe such thinges thorough the power of the holy Ghost if the Church of Rome did not first giue her verdicte in the matter No marie I warant you for so the Heretikes do vnderstand it For these Heretikes will bring the church of God in subiection vnder the scripture therefore do they alledge out of Ieremie That the word of God is like a fire like a hāmer which breaketh stones in pieces that it is liuely mightie sharper than a two edged sword goeth through euen to the soule to the sinewes and ioyntes is a searcher of the thoughtes intentes of the heart and therefore saye they it hath no neede of any mans witnes as Christ him self hath said but that those which do the will of the father shal lightly know by inspiration of the holy Ghost whether the doctrine be of god They say likewise It doth giue light to al things for it is a lampe to lighten the feete of the beleeuers whereby they must walke through the darknesse of this world they say that mans wisdom vnderstanding how great howe wise howe holy soeuer the same can be is plain darkenesse in comparison thereof Well then if it be so that the darkenesse can not lighten the light but that the light it selfe must lighten all things then in very deede can not the worde of God receiue anie light of the opinion or authoritie of man but it selfe must be the light whereby men may knowe which is the Church of God and which is the Synagogue of dissemblers And therefore they conclude according to the worde of the Prophet Esaie That men must followe after the Lawe and the witnesse which is the writtē word of God and that whosoeuer doth not walke after that shall neuer see the daye spring But as I haue alredy said all that is plain heresie for our dearely beloued mother the holy Church of Rome will be chiefe Iudge her selfe ouer the holye Scripture So that the doctrine of the Prophetes Apostles is now no more the foūdation of the Church as it was in the time of Paul but contrariwise the Church with the authoritie the traditions of the same is the onely foundation of the Scripture For euen so might the Iewes before time aduance themselues likewise by the estimation authoritie of the Church alledging that the law and the witnes whereof the Prophet speakes could haue bene of no estimation but by reason the same was consented to thē by the Church and that men should neuer haue knowen neither the Lawe or the witnesse or Gods worde if it had not bene by them and their forefathers set forth declared what they should accept for Gods worde and that the Church with her light hadde lightened the Lawe and the witnesse And so the Church of Rome doeth nowe also saye That the worde of God hath no estimation but that which it hath borrowed of the Church for otherwise as shee sayeth and as all good Catholike writers do declare howe should we knowe that the scripture were the word of God if it were not that the holy Church had so allowed and iudged it Wherefore should we more beleeue the Gospel of Mathewe or Marke than the Gospell of Nichodemus or Thomas For there standes plainly written in the Decrees That neither the old nor the newe Testament were receiued of mē for this cause or that cause nor for that it must be esteemed for an vndoubted rule and perfect knot but only because that the holye Father Innocentius Pope of Rome had so iudged it and so would haue it Therefore yee maye well thinke that God could not plant and establishe his holy worde in mens heartes by the inspiration of his spirit as S. Iohn the Apostle would proue if it were not that the holy Church had therein holpen him So that in this case God is greatly beholden vnto our deare mother the holy Church for her good wil faithfull seruice For if shee had accepted the Fables of Aesope and of Howleglasse the gospel of the Distaffe and of Fortunatus purse the gospel of Nichodemus or the Alcaron of Mahomet or els the gospel which certein Monkes at Paris in the yere of our Lord 1220. had made set forth being ful of al filthinesse and blasphemie naming it Euangelium aeternum that is to say An euerlasting gospel requiring the Pope that it might be by him canonized and so set it forth for the eternall word of God but it ws denied thē as hap was but if it had bene so I say that the pope and the holy Church would as wel haue allowed it as they did the holy scripture with the Masse booke with the seuē Psalmes with the Rosarium beatae Mariae who could haue said No to them And that should then haue bene the worde of God yea and therewith must God haue beene content Wel go too then seeing that men did herein credit the writing and seale of the church wherfore should they not thē giue as great credit to them in al other matters For euen so doth the text of the foresaid decrees argue saying with plaine wordes In so much as men do receiue and accept the old and newe Testamentes because that Pope Innocentius hath ordeined iudged so it doth necessarily folow that the Decretalles of the Popes of Rome must likewise be receiued accepted the rather for that Pope Leo hath likewise ordeined That whosoeuer doth set him self against them his sinnes shal neuer be forgiuen him c. It is very true that by this argumēt it must likewise folow that all the Iewes Caballes Talmood and all their dreames must as wel be receiued as the fiue bookes of Moses the bookes of the Prophets For it is most true that as we haue receiued the new Testamēt of the christē church so hath the christen church receiued the bookes of the old Testamēt of the Iewes Synagogue And now euen as our Romish church hath receiued the writing of the Apostles iudged the same for true so likewise hath the Iewish church iudged the bokes of Moses of the prophets for true receiued thē for authētike Nowe then as men do herein beleeue and allowe the Iewes writings and seale so must wee also following the rule of our Doctours of Louen beleeue the said Iewes in all that they say and teache and thereby nowe shoulde our Romishe Church come short home But we do not esteeme such cōsequencies It is but Philosophie and the Popes of Rome are no
after this life is neither any more time nor place to make amendes for our sinnes or obteine any mercy or forgiuenes at Gods hands there she shrinks backe into her shel and lettes her hoode hearken to that And where as the said Cyprianus and Hieronymus do stoutly teach That al Ministers true Preachers of Gods worde haue like power in what place soeuer they be whether it be at Rome or at Naples or amoÌ„g the Indies or in Tartaria all that is pedlers French to our holy mother the church of Rome whereas Gregorius doth plainly write and in diuerse places sayeth That whatsoeuer he be that names himselfe a general Bishop or The chiefe head and principall of all Bishops he is the very messenger of Antichrist and the sonne of the diuell for that neither hee nor no man liuing can beare the name of a generall Bishop without the vtter defacing of the seruice of the Church But that must be vnderstood with a prouiso to wit The Pope of Rome alwayes excepted Nowe whereas k Tertulianus Augustinus Theodoretus and many other moe doe expounde these wordes of the Sacrament This is my bodie sacramentally and say that it is a figure a signe and a seale of the bodie of Christ that was offred vp and broken for vs then is there nothing to say but God helpe you There is no bodie at home Whereas they doe generallie with one consent teache and stoutely mainteine that the Supper of the Lorde ought to bee ministred vnto all men vnder both kindes that smelles of a Ratte the Cow is broken loose Whereas Irinaeus who wrote that about a hundred yeres after saint Iohn the Apostle the number of the beast whereof Saint Iohn speaketh in his Reuelation or vision doeth meane by this word Latinos the Romish or the Latine Church and regiment and the Tertul. Hieronymus do expound the beast with seuen hornes for the citie of Rome that is al bibble babble In summe whensoeuer they set forth or teach any thing that souÌ„ds not wel in the eares of our deare mother the holy Church she lettes them be packing without any mention making of them or else she correctes them throughly considering that they are but men and may erre And wherfore For that she is not subiect to the writings of the fathers neither can her authoritie be subiect to their iudgement but she as wee haue saide before is aboue the fathers and gouerneth them turnes and winds them as she will forceth them eueÌ„ as she thinkes good And whatsoeuer they haue written must bee sifted through her siâ—e to picke out thereof the finest flowre For otherwise seeing that the olde fathers do oftentimes differ amongst themselues and other whiles write contrarie to that which they haue set downe before and alwayes for the most part haue done directly agaynst the opinion and dealing of the holie Church of Rome howe should yea howe shoulde men make good cloth of such yarne if it were not that the holy Church of Rome did giue her iudgement and sentence on their dooings and did chewe the pappe before in her owne mouth to put the same with more facilitie and easinesse into ours her sucking babes as it were with a Spoone giuing vs that which she alloweth for good and casting the rest away which tastes not well in her mouth into a corner The summe of all is that we maye not make anie foundation of our faith vpon the writings of the olde fathers vnles they haue first bene vnder the hands of the holie Catholike Church of Rome and be by her ouerseene and set forth as shall seeme good to her holinesse The iiii Chapter VVherein is set foorth that the Church of Rome is not subiect to anie Councell but maye approue or disanull them according as shee shall thinke best for her ovvne benefite And this is confirmed by many examples and profounde reasons BVt nowe are there some such grosse fellowes which notwithstanding they do see that the Church is aboue the Scriptures and aboue all the doctrine and Writinges of the olde Fathers yet they thinke that her power and authoritie maye be as it were compassed in and paled about by the Councels So that there should be nothing receiued for a commaundement of the church but it must first be concluded by a Councell And what soeuer were once there coÌ„cluded and agreed vpon with that neither the church of Rome should medle nor the Pope haue anie thing to doe Yea mary these good felowes O they come in due season they might a great deale better haue tarried at home For consider seeing that all the Prophetes and Apostles and likewise the old Fathers altogether yea Iesus Christ the very Sonne and trueth of God himself could neuer so binde nor make subiect the holy church that she should yeeld and submit her selfe to their writing and doctrine onely howe doe these felowes thinke then that the Councels should haue greater power to bring her within their parke and pases considering that they are men which haue so often times erred yea and swarued cleane from the trueth Wee knowâ— well ynough that the Councel Ariminense Sirmiense and Seleucense did in the time of Constantine the great fortifie the heresie of the Arrians with their Decrees The seconde Councel of Ephesus did cleue vnto the Heretike Eutyches and did blasphemously and confusedly mingle the two natures of Christe together The councel of Carthago in the time of Cyprian which was holden before the first councel of Nicene did conclude That heretikes ought to be christened againe But what needeth al this Was not Christ him selfe iudged coÌ„demned in a generall councel at Hierusalem which was the chosen citie of God And that the councels haue often times erred may lightly erre it appereth plainly inough by the witnessing of Gregorie Nazianzene who was accustomed to say That he neuer saw couÌ„cell that teÌ„ded to a good end Yea do we not see how there haue bin many couÌ„cels whose proceedings haue bin flat against the doctrine institutions set forth by our holy mother the church and yet would defend their doings by the holy scripture But what a good yere Can the couÌ„cels preuaile against the church of Rome they hauing no power nor authoritie at all other thaÌ„ is giueÌ„ them by our holy father the pope How I pray you should that then hang together that they should be placed at the vpper end not only aboue the pope but aboue the whole church Is it not written in the booke of the decretals That no couÌ„cel can in any thing forbid the holy church nor set any commandment ouer her considering that all couÌ„cels haue bin at her appointment and receiued their power authoritie froÌ„ her holinesse And that in al statutes ordinances decrees of the couÌ„cels the authoritie of the Pope is excepted exempted See we not likewise that in the councel of Lateran it was coÌ„cluded likewise
the East But the holy Church as touching this matter was much wiser thaâ— God for shee wâ—ll hereby giue to vnderstande that Christ is risen or sprong from the highest and that afâ—er the doctrine of Aristotle other Philosophers the East is on the right side of heauen where as Christ at the day of iudgement will place his elect Is not this a deepe speculation Who would euer haue thought that such doltish Asses could haue founde out such a great and profound secret which God him selfe did neuer thinke on The x. Chapter VVhich concludeth that the Church of Rome hath gathered all these before named pieces together and taken out of them what shee haâ—h thought good which are called Traditiones Romanae Ecclesiae that is to saye The traditions of the church of Rome and the foundation of our beleefâ— BVt if I should now bring in all things particularly to proâ—e hâ—we that our deare mother hath verie finely and subtily brought in mingled the Philosophie and Poetrie of the Ethnikes with her Religion and Gods seruice I should haue worke inough for seuen yeeres Therefore this is sufficient for vs that by this it may well bee perceiued that she hath gathered her holines and ceremonies as well out of the Heathen authours as of the Iewes olde Heretikes and brewed the same all together so cunningly that it is a maruellous pleasant cup of drinke to swallow downe without anie chewing So that nowe wee may stoutly conclude vpon the former question what that is for a beast which men call Traditiones Ecclesiae The traditions of the Church of Rome Seeing we now well perceiue that her foundation ground stands not vpon the writings of the Prophetes and Apostles like as Paul would in his time haue mainteined much lesse then vpon the Councels Fathers and decrees but it is partly founded vpon the Scripture being first well glosed and sophistically handled partly out of the chiefest writings of the olde fathers partly out of the scomme of the Councels and decrees partly out of the fine flower of olde Heretikes partly out of the Caballa of the Iewes Rabbines and lastly out of the Theologie of Numa Pompilius the Philosophie of Aristotle and out of the examples of the Heathen Now all gathered together on a heape and baked in a cake are called Traditiones sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae The traditions or commandements of the holy Church of Rome Which vpon paine of damnation of the soule and the body to be burnt in fire must of necessitie be beleued of al men and holden in as great reputation as the worde of God it selfe which is written in the holie Scriptures Therefore it is that the bookes of the holy Catholike subiectes of the Church as Eckius Piggius Hosius Bunderius Asotus Ruardus Tapparde Iohannes Latomus Iohannes a Louanio Franciscus Sonnius Gulielmus Blindasinus Iodocus Rauestein a Tileto and other more are finely set forth and brauely decked with feathers of all colours after the Indian fashion and trimmed vp with all costly stuffe euen like Saint Iames wiâ—h his shelles and sometime they fetch a witnesse or authoritie out of the Scripture by the necke sometime out of the fathers then a Councel out of a corner a decree of some Pope or Bishop sometimes they bring out an example from the Iewes and an allegorie or some triâ—le out of the Thalmoode and nowe and then a syâ—logisme out of Aristotle or Porphyrius or else a verse out of Virgil or Ouid and such other like skipping and leaping like Monkies from one place to another so helpe themselues with handes and feete and with all the â—â—â—mes of their bodie Prouided alwayes that they hang still as fast on their principall foundation as a theefe on the gallowes to wit That the holy Church cannot erre nor by anie meanes go out of the right way For as long as they holde that end fast they can neuer loose the threede And it is but follie to talke the Heretikes must needes be taken in the trappe for if by chaunce they scape out at one hole they are by and by caught in another After this they brewe you a noble and pleasant drinke iumbling the olde fathers and the newe together the true with the false And if they can once catche an Augustine or an Ambrose by the necke then will they after that bring in a trimme toy of the fine letters of Clemens and Anacletus which a dronken Monke and vnlearned buffell did babble out somewhere on a Saint Martins euen and mingle therewithall the goodly fables of one Dionysius whom they call Areopagita which one of the seuen sleepers haue found I wote not where behinde a banke then also come they lustily foorth with a Thomas de Aquino or a Scotus ioyne with him a Bricot or a Holcot or a Peter de Broda to keepe him companie And lastly for a sawce they bring in vpon that their Legendum Aureum and then Dormi secure and so make thereof a Compost or as it is called at Louen a Brodium such as the Heretikes must needes burâ—â— if they taste but one spoonefull of it And this is the inuincible Panoplia or StratageÌ„ma that is The defensible furniture fighting weapons of warre which the right honourable Bishop Guilielmus Blindasinus vseth This is the Verbum noÌ„ scriptum the vnwritten worde or veritie which all Catholike writers doe alwayes stande vpon this is Consuetudo sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae that is to say The vsage and old custome of the holy church of Rome whereon they boast themselues a great deale more than anie towne doeth of their priuiledges This is Traditiones patrum The traditions of the fathers of which the children do boldly boast and bragge In summe this is the ground and foundation of the hellish Catholike Romish beliefe wherevpon our dearely beloued mother the holy Church doth stande so fast as it will be verie harde for all the diuels of hell to blowe her off with all their bellowes The xi Chapter VVhich teacheth how that vpon this foundation Heretikes must be examined And what questions are to be proponed vnto them in the inquisition THerefore the order and maner to dispute with Heretikes nowe adayes is no more to bring in many Scriptures or Councels against them for therein woulde they be too readie and ripe reasoners but we must onely lay before them the good intents ordinances and statutes of the holie Church And it is sufficient to prooue that by any one of the argumentes before specified for whensoeuer men can alledge only one whether it be out of the Fathers Councels Decrees or out of Aristotle or Virgil then it is cocke on our side and the battell is wonne But now contrariwise whensoeuer the Heretikes goe about to ouerthrow any article of the beliefe by the holy Church brought in and established it is not therefore sufficient that they proue it to be contrarie to the
which is written yea shee doeth plainly foâ—bid the common sorte and Laie people to reade the scriptures in their mother tongue For consider this they haue found in effect and by experience that the Heretikes and Huguenotes haue alwayes the Scripture in their mouth and take vppon them to defende and iustifie by plaine and euident textes all that they say or beleeue And they passe not a pinne for all the hidde and profound interpretations which the holy Church of Rome hath finely founde out and profoundly set downe concerning the same Nowe that spites them out of measure and to saye trueth howe can they tolerate or suffer such a thing yea when al is said what mischiefe do these Heretikes meane that they thinke them selues wiser than all the holy Fathers the Popes of Rome with so manie Cardinals of excellent renowme and honourable Bishops with such innumerable bandes of learned men of Louen and Paris Or if so be likewise that they doe not passe for all their Myters Staues Hattes Crownes Cowles Capes and Liripippes yet must they needes remember them selues that holie Pope Pius the fourth nowe lately dead did in the confession of the faith which he with the consent of the whole Councell of Trent published and set foorth euen as a watche woorde or speciall marke whereby men might discerne true Catholikes from false Heretikes as in plaine and expresse wordes is written And first I acknowledge the holie Catholicall Apostolicall Church of Rome to bee the true mother of all Churches and Congregations And after that I beleeue the holie Scripture according to such vnderstanding interpretation meaning signification as our mother the holie Church hath alway allowed for good at this present doth allow to whom only of right doth apperteine to giue vnto the Scripture a right vnderstanding sense interpretation And herevpon I do promise that I wil neuer vnderstand nor interprete the same otherwise than according to the interpretatioÌ„ of the Fathers This same haue the holie fathers at Trent irreuocably concluded coÌ„manding That no man shall otherwise vnderstande nor interpret the Scriptures than our mother the holy church hath in times past and doth at this present vnderstand them Now here you haue a full decision a setled determination an irreuocable sentence vppon our question by vertue whereof neither delay nor appeale can follow For you doe heare to beginne withal that the worde of God is not of such value or dignitie that it is of it self worthie to be beleeued vnlesse it be deckte and set forth with the glosses and interpretation of the holie Fathers of Rome So that hereof is to be gathered as all Catholike Doctours also haue written That the Scripture and word of God is obscure darke variable vncertein vneeuen rawe vnfurnished and vnhandsome but the glosses and interpretations of the holy father of Rome and of the great Clerkes of Louen are cleare lightsome stedfast sure true euen plain fullie furnished and in all pointes verie handsome and sufficient It is true that the pretence of Christ of his Disciples was to vtter declare to euerie man their doctrine or at least so much of it as doeth apperteine to the saluation of man in all plainesse simplicitie trueth without any dissimulation or darknesse For to that end purpose did Christ chuse simple fishers and other plaine dealing laie people for Apostles and Euangelistes and did therfore thanke his heauenly father that he had reuealed his heauenly wisdome knowledge to simple plain mening men not to the sharpwitted deeply learned philosophers of this world In like maner also did Paule set forth his doctrine before the simple people in al simplicitie plainesse yea he gloried of his simplenesse Wherevpon the chiefe of the old Fathers were prouoked diligently to put the laie people in mind that they should be diligent readie to pervse search the holy scriptures not to thinke that they did perteine onely to the learned And yet notwithstanding we must now either say that their intent and meaning was not well grounded or else that the chaunce is now changed For we see that nowe in these dayes the Scripture is hid froÌ„ the Laie people as a thing dark doutfull of no sufficient foundation in place wherof is intruded thrust in the peoples hands glosses interpretations decisions and determinations of the holie Church so that thereby it is good to consider that the scripture is not only darke but also rough vneeuen hard stonie in so much that the Catholike children of the church of Rome might lightly stumble vpon it and breake their shinnes or else perhaps be seduced drawne awry from their right Catholike beleefe But the foresaid decisions glosses are as eeuen smooth plaine as the rockes of S. Goddardes mountaine yea they are the very Planers wherwith the roughnes of the Bible scriptures is shauen off in such sorte that they may serue for all purposes of work to the building vp pulling downe of the Catholike faith Therefore aboue all things we must sticke fast to their glosings cleaue close to their interpretations haue litle regard what the plaine cleare textes of the scripture bring with them Now this is the first point that you haue to consider out of the rule before specified The second you may likewise gather out of this That no man in the world hath power to interprete the Scripture anie otherwise than as hitherto it hath bene interpreted by the holie Popes and Bishops and by the Theologians Bachelers of Louen for else to what purpose were it that men should bestow such cost on those same Magistri nostri in making them pleasant bankets to proceed Bachelers or Licentiats if it were not that thereby they had free graunt and licence to winde and writh the textes of the Scripture with so phisticall arguments euen as they themselues thinke good Then we may thereby well perceiue that suche as are neither Bacchelers Licentiates nor Doctours presuming of their owne wit and will to set out the Scripture according to the letter that is to say after the single and profound ground of the plaine text so applie them to the detrimeÌ„t of the holy Romish church are all ranke Heretikes seeing they goe about to rob the holie Church of Rome of her power authoritie which is a thing in no wise tollerable For it is most true and without doubt yea as true as the holie Gospell of the Distaffe as is plainely to be proued out of the bookes of all Catholike writers That when our Lorde Iesus Christ did deliuer into the handes of the holie Church of Rome the keyes of the kingdome of Heauen he did yet giue her beside those an other string of sixe keyes wherewith shee might open and shutte all the Cupbordes of the Scripture euen as it pleased her and as shee thought good for her owne aduauntage
yet in verie deed they will proue out of Paule that this new law of the Gospell whereof Ieremie doth speake is nothing else but the ministration of the Gospell which Paul did minister in his preaching and set forth aboundantly in his writing which remaines continues for euer And that did Paul openly witnes That he had neither forgotten nor kept secret anie thing of that which might serue to saluation but that he hath vttered truly set forth all the same before the Congregations ioyntly together Insomuch that he before the holy Pope which came afterwards should not haue left one iot behinde Wherevpon should follow that the law of the Gospel which the Pope doth carie in his bosome is altogether of an other Gospell much differing froÌ„ the law of that Gospel which Paul did preach or whereof Ieremie did speake then should the Pope be accurssed by the saying of Paule to the Galathians Whosoeuer doth preach any other Gospell than that which I haue preached vnto you â–ª let him be accurssed yea although hee were an Angel out of heauen But yet the Pope of Rome doeth not thinke that this doth touch him for that he is something greater than an Angel of heauen as we shall giue you to vnderstand in due time fit place Now that which he brings forth out of Iohn to wit that Christ said â–ª That the Apostles could not yet vnderstand all that the holy ghost should descend and instruct them further is somewhat more apparant But yet for all this he is neuer the neare For he cannot with this stop the mouthes of Heretikes by reason that they wil stil obiect say that this was spoken before the Apostles had receiued the holy ghost but after they had receiued him then did they put al the instructions which they had learned of the holie ghost in writing to the end that through that which is written all men might bee saued by faith in Iesus Christ as by the said Iohn is precisely written without this addition that they shoulde haue neede to watch anie longer after the Popes Buls or Masses of Requiem But it is euen as I haue told you our master Gentian hath bene so wildely prickt forwarde with that zealous spirite that hee did not see well what he said For he is a man that hath whole drifattes full of wit marie the bottoms are out And therfore will we helpe him againe out of his dreame omitting all such vnprofitable tittle tattle and purposing for the second part of this matter which we haue in hand to teach That whatsoeuer our mother the holy Church hath brought to light studied inuented or found out since the Apostles time is altogether so surely substantially grounded timbred bricked walled vpon the plaine text of the holy scripture so farre as they be spiritually vnderstood according to the interpretation of our mother the holy Church that it were not possible to erect any castle or tower more surely vpon the highest sandhill in all Hollande And this I assure you will bee a goodly peece of woorke whereby I shall deserue muche and bee partaker of a great manie goodly pardons and indulgencies and shal besides that become verie necessarie and seruiceable to the comforting of our sorrowfull mother the holie Church and to the extirpation and rooting out of all erronious opinions of newely vpstart Sectaries and Heretikes whiche doe yet thinke that they haue the Scripture on their side But they will haue but foolishe countenances when they shall see that the whole Scripture with the interpretations of the holie Fathers doeth at the least close vp as well with our doctrine as a ring in a Swines snowt The ii Chapter Declaring that the sonne offring of the Masse and the order and office of Priestes and Masse Priestes is gathered out of the Scripture if it be rightlie vnderstoode according to the interpretation of the Church of Rome THen to begin withall we will digge the holie sonne offering of the Masse out of the holie Scripture and proue that shee hath thereon a deepe and sure foundation Consider nowe it is plainly written That when Christ had broken the bread giuen it to his disciples he spake thus and saide Take Eate This is my bodie which shall be broken for you Do this in remembrance of me Do you wel perceiue nowe yee poore Heretikes that Christ doeth here commande to singe Masse for that same worde Doe this is iust as much as if he had saide Offer my bodie in the Masse to God my Father for the liuing and for the dead And that is first stronglie set forth by the Poet Virgil who saieth thus Cum faciam vitula that is to say When I shall doe it with a calfe Looke nowe by this worde Doe he vnderstandeth nothing else but onelie To do or offer a sacrifice and sonneoffring Ergo it must needes folowe That Christ did vnderstand it no otherwise than the worshipful Catholike Doctours of Louen Paris haue very well declared and irreuocablie concluded For our deare mother the holy church hath receiued approued strongly established their doctrine institution and prescript for an article of our faith So that it appeares that the Masse is verie ancient seeing it was vsed in Virgils time sauing onely that they did offer either Calues fleshe or Oxe flesh whereas nowe our Priestes doe celebrate their Masse with mans fleshe and bloud And herevpon you may note further that these short and sweete wordes Doe this is remembrance of me hath a wonderful emphasis or force For out of the grounde of the same hath the holie Catholike Church of Rome fished That the Apostles were Priests or Prelates with shorne crownes and did sing Masse and thereof it is that all our Priestes are created For Doe this is as much to say in their language as Become Priestes and see that your fingers bee annoynted with holie oyle that you may deuoutly say Masse And for this hath the holie Church of Rome commaunded That none of the Laâ—e people shall receiue the Chalice because our Lorde did not here speake to anie of the Laie or common people as the Apostle Saint Paule did in his time when hee willed the whole Congregation and Church of the Corinthians to doe as Christ Iesus had done But the Apostle Paule did meane simplie and onelie those which were able to sing the holie Masse as our Priestes and Prelates are who onelie ought and may drinke out of the Chalice as you may more perfectly and plainlie perceiue by the writers vpon the booke of Sentences and by all the before named Doctours of Louen of Paris and of Colen Moreouer and besides this wee can stronglie confirme the Masse offering out of the Prophete Malachie who in the 1. Chapter and 11. verse saith thus From the rising of the Sunne vnto the setting of the same is my name honoured amongest the Heathen and in all places
which is a God of such power that he causeth all them that will not honour him to be burnt In summe it is apparant that the name of the Masse is fetched out of the Scripture Nowe further whereas the Masse may not be long but vpon a foure cornered stone well foreseene with crosses and coniured with holie wordes all that is likewise fetched out of the scripture For Paule speaking to the Corinthians saieth That they ought not so to glorie in themselues for the sacrament coÌ„sidering that the people of Israel who notwithstanding were pitifully destroied by the hand of God had also euen the like sacrament in the beginning were also baptised and had likewise receiued the spirituall meat to wit Manna and dranke the spiritual drinke which did flow out of the Rocke and saith further there in most plaine wordes And the stone was Christ that is to say after the spirituall interpretation of the holie Church That the Masse must be soung vpon a stone Item Christ is also called A corner stone and which is more his graue was hewen out of a stone as Marke doeth wiâ—nesse Ergo it must needes follow that no Masâ—e may be soung without a stone And because he was wound in white linnen clothes therefore must white linnen be vsed in the Masse And so forth concerning all such Ceremonies as are vsed in the Masse you may touching these read the booke of Durandus or of Innocentius de officio Missae or the booke of Guido de monte Rocherii called Encheiridion Sacerdotum that is to say â–ª the manuel of Priests For there you you shall finde plainly set forth that all the partes of the Masse are finely founded and established vpon the scripture And to begin withall you shall find the times appointed for the Masse that it must be done at three of the clocke because it is written that the Iewes did at three of the clock crie Crucifie him crucifie him or at sixe of the clock for that at sixe of the clocke they did crucifie him or at nine because that then he gaue vp the ghost For although it be so that the Iewes at that time did reckon their houres otherwise than we do now so that three of the clocke was with them as viii or ix of the clock before noone is with vs and their sixe as our xii at noone and their ix as our three at after noone yet notwithstanding our deare mother the holie Church doth not gâ—e so narrowly to worke with her reckonings It is sufficient that simplie the names do agree and then she lettes the rest go where it will. After this now as touching the apparel and other consecrated or hallowed stuffe you shall finde her Albe or long white garment in the Scripture specially where it is written But he that continueth to the end shall bee saued For that long garment doth signifie long lasting or long continuance Concerning the girdle where it is written He that feareth God shall prepare his heart c. By the girdle which doth tucke vp the clothes is ment the feare of god Item the Maniples are fetched out of that saying in the Psalme Those that sowe with tears shall reape with ioy and bring home their sheaues with gladnesse c. For the sheaues are called in the Latine tongue Manipuli so that Dauid did there speake of the Priests maniples And the stole which they haue about their neckes commes out of the saying of Paule Beare in your bodies the dying of our Lord Iesus Christ And last of all the head is founded out of the saying of Peter But aboue all things haue perfite loue among you Let vs liue a perfite life Which is as much to say according to the exposition of the holy church Let vs put on a Cassuffle when wee sing Masse And yet besides all this you shall perceiue that the most part of all that which is read in the Masse is fetched out of the Psalmes and other places of holie Scripture here and there by patches and peeces swept together and trimly tied on a heape as if a man of a great manie peeces of golde as of Ducates Crownes Rosenobles and Portagues glued together with dirt woulde make a goodly doore for a Swinestie yet it is most true that euerie particular peece hath a particular Pope whiche did ioyne it to the rest and so were sewed together insomuche that it is a right beggers cloake as is well knowne to all men and as may easily be proued by the Decrees and Catholike Histories And to be plaine there is not anie thing great or small but they are able to bring in Scripture for it as wee can lightly proue by the foresaid Authours if neede were But wee had rather that those that long for such meate shoulde goe to the Market themselues and buy that they like best and let it bee dressed at the Tauerne or Tippling house according to their owne diâ—t It is ynough for vs that wee haue giuen them to vnderstand who can serue them of such vitaile and then further as the case shall require to proue plainely that the Masse is founded wholie on high euen vpon the flat Scripture The .iiii. Chapter Teaching that the transubstantiation of chaunging of the bread into the verie bodie of Christ and the wine into his bloud is grounded vpon the Scripture after the interpretation of the Church of Rome NOw as touching transubstantiation that is to say the plaine chaunging of the bread into the verie bodie of Christ notwithstanding the same was by the holie father Pope Innocentius 3. first set forth for an article of our beliefe about the yere of our Lord 1198. as by the Decretals is apparant yet haue we plaine proofes therof in the Scripture For first Christ in the sixt Chap. of Iohn saieth thus My flesh is verie meat and my bloud is verie drinke that is to say after the interpretation of our deare mother the holie Church My flesh is truely sensibly and bodily taken and eaten vnder the accident of the bread and my bloud is certeinly receiued and dronken vnder the accident of the wine For although Christ indeede doe otherwise interpret it teaching that this eating and drinking is to be vnderstoode of comming to him and of beleuing in him I am saieth he the liuely bread Whosoeuer coÌ„meth to me shall not hunger and whosoeuer doth beleeue in me shall neuer be athirst Againe It is the spirite that quickeneth the fleshe profiteth nothing The wordes which I speake vnto you are spirite and life Yet all this notwithstanding so long as the holie Church of Rome will haue it to be vnderstoode of her transubstantiation as Syluester Prierias high Steward of the palace of Rome hath specially noted in his golden Rosarie wherein hee hath gathered all the pleasant Roses and floures of the Catholike interpreters together vpon one heape and considering that the
though shee be something troubled with a laske although in deede shee is nowe waxen so olde and vnweldie as glisters can not helpe her greatlie especiallie so long as these Hâ—retikes are still gaping after Scriptures and will beleeue nothing vnlesse iâ— be set downe or confirmed by the Bible Nowe therefore I wil send them the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians where they shall find that Paul saith thus Now ioy I in my sufferings which I suffer for you and fulfill that which is behinde of the passions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the congregation Alway prouided that they shal not vnderstand nor interpret this text after their mindes nor after the letter to wit as though Paul did meane nothing els but that he as a member of Christes body doeth followe Christ his head in suffring for the loue of the congregation and strengthening of the same for this interpretation is hereticall doth not wel agree with the interpretation and beleefe of our deare mother the church of Rome But they must know confesse that Paules meaning in that place is that the passion of Christ is not sufficient to satisfie for all our sins which we haue coÌ„mitted since for those must euery man make satisfaction for by good workes pardons with bulles indulgencies for to that end serue the merites of such Saints as haue bin canonized by Popes and the bloud of their martyrs which suffered in defence of the holy church of Rome furthermore all the meritorious works which S. Francis S. Benedict S. Dominick other holie fathers haue laid vp for a help which were superfluous more than they were bounde to do For all these merites good workes laid together vpon a heape with our merits superfluous good works which we haue in store ouer besides those which must first answere for our sinnes All these I say are shut vp in a chest together wherof our holy father the Pope hath the keies to keepe doth distribute them to euery person according to his discretion which is commonly according as euerie man doth annoynt his hand with golden oyle For this same golden oyle is of such strength vertue that there is no offence knauerie sinne nor abhomination so great but it will be heled made cleane with the same as is plainly to be sene in the Taxa poenitentiaria apostolica that is In the booke of reckoning or taxe register where the pardon and price of al sinnes is set vpon certein summes of monie which are set taxed in the popish or apostolike penance chaÌ„ber but now among the rest the Pope dealeth most liberallie with such as come to Rome in the yeere of Iubilie and doe there deuoutlie visite the graues or tumbes of Peter and Paul for those haue full remission of all their sinnes à poena culpa therewith are the two Apostles maruellouslie recreated for out of that may S. Peter note that the prayer of Christ for him when he said I haue praied for thee that thy faith should not fayle doeth there receiue ful effect when he seeth the people so deuoutlie disposed to go visit his tumbe and graue And by this nowe is that likewise which we alledged out of S. Paul fulfilled in so much doubtles that they haue great pleasure when they see such deuotion vsed and surelie do laugh wiâ—hall as though they had the tooth ache The holie Church of Rome doth yet bring forth other textes of importance for the establishing of indulgencies as speciallie where Christ said vnto Peter I shall giue vnto thee the keies of the kingdome of heauen which are to bee vnderstood the keies of the chest before mentioned wherin that rich tresure is shut vp which can neuer be emptied nor diminished for if it were possible that all the people of the worlde did go to Rome in one yeare of Iubilie that euerie man might receiue full indulgence and pardon yet should the same chest be no more emptied thereby than the Ocean sea should be with taking out of it one spoonefull of water or Saint Goddards mountaine be diminished by taking from it one handfull of sand as is plainly sette forth by a verie trimme and fine verse as followeth Mille licèt sumant deperit inde nihil That is to say Thogh thousands take none said nay Yet nothing wastes or weares away And now how necessarie and profitable this is to our holie mother the Church of Rome it doth appeare plainly out of this That onely the indulgencies with the letters of pardon and the Reseruationes pectorales mentales regressus generales speciales accessus with such other like trifles mo are worth to the Pope of Rome in France onelie aboue two hundred thousand Crownes a yeare so that through all Christendome it doth amount to aboue ten millions of Crownes which is a prettie summe But what shoulde I talke much of the Pope It is not long agoe that a simple gray frier called Samson of Millan being by Pope Leo 10. appointed amongst other for one of the gatherers or receiuers of the monie for Bulles and Indulgencies had within a little space gotten so much monie for himselfe that he did offer to giue a hundred and twentie thousand Ducats in redie monie to be chosen Pope In summe all indulgencies pardons iubilies buls with the rest of the Popes authoritie are lightly to be proued and declared by scripture if men will vnderstand them rightly and according to the exposition of our deare mother the holy Church The x. Chapter VVhich doth treat of the Supremasie of the Pope and proueth establisheth the same by scriptures examples NOw as touching that which is to be said for the supremasie and authoritie of the Pope that is to bee proued by so many clere strong testimonies witnesses of scripture that I can scarse tell where it is best to begin But I may take first the best knowne and plainest text where Christ said I say vnto thee that thou art Peter and vpon this Petra which is to say a stone or a rocke will I build my congregation and the gates of hell shal not preuaile against them c. For by these fewe wordes to begin withall it is witnessed after the spiritual expositioÌ„ of the holy church that Peter is the firme and seedfast foundation of the Church for she hath nothing to do with Christ in this matter as Clemens hath verie worthily set forth in his Epistle written to Iames the brother of our Lorde And againe here is not to be vnderstood by Peter the person of Peter the Apostle but in the name of Peter are our holy Fathers the Popes pointed vnto as with a wette finger For whereas the heretikes will say that Peter was neuer at Rome it is a stark lie See I pray you their follie well his head bones lie there
stet pro ratione voluntas Our pleasure is as we command Our lust for lawe perforce shall stand Or according to that which the Poet Horace saith in a verse Pictoribus atqué Poetis Quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas Painters and Poets haue licence to measure Their colours and verses euen at ther owne pleasure Secondarily whereas angels are couÌ„terfeited with wings that is taken out of Esaie Ezekiel who say That the Cherubims were shewed vnto them in a vision with wings And whereas S. Michael is made with a paire of balance in his hand that is because hee must wey the soules to see whether their good workes deserts be not heuier in weight than their sinnes of fences For as before we haue written the holy church hath appointed him that office because she esteemeth it a sure article that none can be saued by the merits bloud and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ onelie yet Paule doeth so teach but euerie man must by his owne good works deserts bee weyed out and saued making full satisfaction thereby of his sinnes and offences After this now where Moses is painted with hornes is vpon this occasion For that it is written to witte that the face of Moses did shine as Paule himselfe doeth set it forth that hath the common translation of the holie Church expounded thus That Moses had hornes for that he should be as it were a figure of our Bishoppes which now likewise we are two hornes And whereas they make of the three wise men that came out of the East three Kings and one of those as blacke as pitch like a Morian that is fetched out of the wordes of Dauid or Solomon saying Kings shall come out of the Moores lande to worship Christ. For this hath the holy Church interpreted to be spoken by the three wise men And although the Morians land lay much more to the West of Iurie than to the East from whence the wise men came that is of no importance for the holie Church can alter the lying and situation of the landes and make of the West the East Againe whereas they haue likewise set an Oxe and an Asse by the cribbe of their litle Iesus whiche doe warme him with their breath that is grounded vpon the plaine Text of Esaie who saith The Oxe doth know his maisters will and an Asse the cribbe of his maister but the people of Israel will vnderstande nothing at all c. Yea and it may be a verie good allusion that by the Oxe the Bishoppes Abbattes and Prelates are vnderstood because they weare hornes also like an Oxe and can roare out excellentlie well against these heretikes better than they can preache the worde of god And by the Asse may verie well be vnderstoode the graie Friers which are likewise as graie as asses and therewithall all the residue of Monkes Friers and poore Priestes who are not much better learned than Asses and doe esteeme Christ still as a young childe that lies yet in the cribbe and therefore go about to please him make him contented with goodlie images and puppets with belles rattelles with piping and daunsing and with such other like fonde toyes and ceremonies Againe where they paint S. Lungies who pricking Christ in the side with a speare receiued his sight by vertue of the bloud which sprinckled in his eyes that is likewise proued by good scriptures For Saint Iohn saith That a souldier with a speare did pearce Christes side And this speare in the Greeke was called Longi whereof the holy Church hath made a Saint and named the same S. Longinus And because the saide Iohn said That it came so to passe because the Scripture should bee fulfilled saying They shall looke vpon him whom they haue pearced Out of that haue they fetched the lies or Legend of S. Lungies as to say that he was blind and thinking to haue thrust his speare into a Crowe did thrust it into the side of Iesus Christ and so the bloud did spring out into his eyes wherby he receiued his sight and was long afterwards canonized by the Pope and put into the Kalendar for a Saint In summe all their paintings and all those dumbe images which are set vp in Churches as the Apostles with rounde trenchers behinde their heades and euerie one of them with his weapon in his hande our Ladie with her frisâ—ed haire and goodlie golden garmentes with her perukes fine kerchiefs and goodly set forth with all her conceites like a Princesse of this world and Saint Katharine and S. Barbara bare breasted with their embrodered and stitched workes as trimly deckâ— and painted as the Courtesans of Rome and Venice And all this can our deare mother fetch finely out of the scriptures yea and shee can finde you a threede for euerie needle So that these Heretikes haue nothing to say to this for whatsoeuer is done of a good intent and purpose and to the profite of our deare mother the holie Church of Rome that must bee by God accepted without anie doubt and hee must of necessitie passe it in his reckoning booke or else muscels were no fishe neither should you haue anie oysters at Billingsgate For a flaâ— conclusion wee must haue goodly images and braue painted tables in the Church yea and though it did not serue for anie other purpose but that young men and maidens will therefore the rather come to Church for thereby it happens often that when they come onelie to see the images and goodlie paintinges and fisnomies yet in the meane space some deuotion commes in their mindes to haue a snatch at a Masse or to heare a Salue Regina whereby they often obteine pardon of their sinnes euen halfe against their willes And therefore we care not a beane for all that these Heretikes can say to this but will manteine and vpholde our olde deuotion without anie iotte lacking The xv Chapter VVhich is touching the difference of meates NOwe as touching the forbidding to eate some kinde of meates in some certeine times that is likewise founded vpoÌ„ plain textes of the scripturs And first whereas God said to Adam Thou shalt not eate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge c. Out of that hath holie Church concluded That men may eate no fleshe vpon the fasting dayes Item after that Adam had sinned then did God curse the earth And now we doe knowe verie well that all fleshe which is to be eaten commeth of the earth Therefore hath our deare mother the holie Church streightlie defended and forbidden all men which on the moste principall and holie-fasting dayes must doe penance for their sinnes that in no wise they doe eate anie flesh on those dayes least they shoulde be partakers of the cursing of the earth like as the holie Bishop Durandus hath verie well set it forth Whereby it is apparant that the Corâ—e
scape scotfree with foure poundes one Ducate and six Carlines and so of all other Vnderstoode alwayes that this valuation is ment and taketh hold so long as the Romish Court is resident on this side the mountaines namely in France For if she haue her habitation on the other side the hilles as in Italie then for poundes and pence Turnois shal be reckoned pounds and pence stearling like as the Iurist or Lawier Ludouicus Gornesius hath written and mencioned In summe they can not commit anie so great a faulte but they may at Rome for a peece of monie haue dispensation for it so scape free without blame or punishmeÌ„t insomuch as they shall neuer come in Purgatorie if they can keepe themselues from hell mouth Whereas maister Gentian shal be more welcome a great deale than at Geneua or elsewhere amongst the Huguenote Preachers And this worthie Booke or Epistle which hee hath made may serue him verie well at Rome for a speciall recommendation to the holie Father the Pope for to obteine him a Bisshops Myter or a Cardinals hat The vii Chapter VVherein is giuen to Maister Gentian and all other holie Catholikes good and wholesome counsell And thus the booke concluded BVt aboue all things in the worlde I would wish master Gentian to be perswaded to remaine stedfastlie and sticke close to the olde customes and traditions of his predecessors like durte to a carte wheele and he can not speede amisse For although he bee then a good fellow with the rest or an Aleknight or one which loues the companie of pretie wenches yet so long as he is not an heretique it makes no matter hee needes but once in a yeare to go to shrifte and obserue a highe feast daye and then shall he be taken for a good faithfull subiect of the holie Catholike Church And admitte that after his deathe he should passe to Purgatorie yet shall so many Masses which nowe are fallen in price and become good cheape be said for his soule that he with hose and shooes shal flie to heauen as straight as a sickle Therefore must I greatlie maruell and reioyce at his wise deliberate and wellpremised conclusion which hereto hee hath annexed to witte That hee will remaine permanent in the lappe of his dearlie beloued mother the holie Churche of Rome without medling or hauing ought to doe with the Heretikes For seeing they cannot as he saith he faithfull forsomuch as they will not beleeue all whatsoeuer the holie Church doth beleeue and in especiall will not beleeue the holie Sacrament of the Altar Seeing also it is a lie that we ought not to beleeue anie thing but whatsoeuer God comprehendeth in the Scriptures and that we may not adde or diminishe anie parte thereof and that in like case the Scripture doeth holde on our side beeing rightlie taken and vnderstoode after the exposition of the holie Church Seeing they doe also call vs worshippers of idols like as also the Iewes do seeing their liues be no better then good christians liues and that they detest and deride al prayers fastings and mortification Seeing their Preachers and Ministers may worthilie be reputed for ignorant and vnlearned yea also reproched for lewde wicked liuers and that they canne bring vs no better demonstracions nor alledge other reasons than is in the Scripture and that master Gentian euen vntill this verie time hath heard say that there is no saluation without the Church so will hee then liue and die with his deare holie mother the Church and wil not at anie time forsake her but vnmoueable remaine with her for euer For although he with great hast did offer an answeare and makes a shewe as though he woulde runne in poâ—t haste to the Huguenotes sermons yet he is not in earnest I esteeme him to be so stedfast and obstinat that he will not easily alter his hide nor his spottes like as Ieremie doeth say of the blacke Moore and the Libarde In the meane while notwithstanding when I consider the merueilous burning zeale wherwith he is driuen then am I of meere necessitie forced in the name of the holie Church to beseech God that the Huguenotes do not answeare him but may find so much to doe with other hardie and waightie matters that they doe not thinke on Maister Gentian for feare least it might so fal out which I hope not that he might be chaunged forsomuch as it seemes that he is driuen with such seale to his saluation that hee regardes neither Hedge nor ditch but runnes so directly thitherwards as a yong headelesse Ducke Therefore had I rather request the Pope to cast a morsell in his mouth and giue him a good fatte benefice to the ende he departe not from vs in such haste for it were to great a losse if the holie Church shoulde misse such a strong pillar They might go nigh to fall both in the ashes which Gods good mother and all the Saintes which are at Bruxelles on the high altar of S. Goele deliuer vs from Per omnia secula seculorum that is to say For euer Amen Further I am friendlie to request the good man which did translate the Epistle of Gentian into the Dutch tongue that he will take thus much paines more for the commoditie of our deare mother the holie church and to the reioycing of the foresaid good man maister Gentian to translate this our exposition of his Epistle into the French tongue to the end that the Wallons may in like manner vse this our Bee hiue and gather the honie honiecombe thereout to the renoume glorie and honour of our mother the holie Church against all her foes The conclusion of this booke to the Christian Reader HEre hast thou welbeloued Reader a short exposition and declaration vpon the Epistle or letter of the most learned Doctour maister Gentian Haruet which serueth not onelie thereto but to all other bookes and writings of the Catholike writers and defenders of the Romishe Seate For we haue herein as brieflie and expresselie as may be rehearsed the two chiefest foundations wheron all their Scriptures reasons conclusions and Syllogismes are founded and built namelie The first The holie Catholike Church what shee is whereon shee dependeth and howe farre her authoritie and power doth streatche And the second namelie The expositions of the Scripture wherein eache may see with eyes that howbeit the Huguenotes and Lutheranes do alwayes referre them to the text of the holy Scripture yet our deare louing mother the holy church can so aptlie handle the said text that shee maketh it so fitte and pliable as it doeth wholie bende and stretche to her aduantage Then reade the same and accept our paines in good worth and considering the grounded reasons of all commotions and insurrections which from fourtie yeeres hitherwarde haue bene in Christendome for causes of Religion and Gods seruice pray vnto God that he for his Sonne Iesus Christ his sake will shortlie appeare
Colledge of Cardinals Monasteries of Monkes Fraternities of Friers Nestes of Nonnes and the rest of the Pharisaical Frie as whole handfuls of Helleborus or pounds of Colloquintida can neuer auoide wote you what that will pull downe their mother the holie Churche vppon her knees with thought and sorowe Well I leaue the benefite of this booke to thy diligence in reading And thus farewell Thine in Christ Iohn Stell This is a cleare and perfect interpretation of the Epistle of Maister Gentian Haruet nowe latelie set foorth in French and in Dutch and directed to those that are fallen from the true Christian beliefe WHerein the full foundation and profounde establishing of the holie Romishe beliefe is declared all newe heresies confounded the might authoritie and worthines of the Church of Rome expounded and by Scriptures confirmed all dissentious articles put to silence and a plaine demonstration where the right Church is to bee founde In summe all the articles of the holie Catholike Romishe beliefe are here drawne out of all sortes of flowres in the holie Scripture olde Fathers Councelles Decrees and Canons gathered together and as in a sweete Bee hiue brought all in one and in the last is set forth the manners conditions nature and essence of Bees the honie and honie-combe of this Bee hiue collected out of the best olde writers as well Grecians as Latinistes Made and brought togither by Isaac Rabbotenu of Louen Licentiate in the Popishe lawes To the right worshipful holie profounde and learned Doctor and Magister noster Maister Franciscus Sonnius nowe most woorthie Bishop of Shertoghenbosch health and blessing from God and the Pope our most holie father RIght worshipfull louing and holie father and bishop when I do well consider thinke vppon the noble commendable woorthie deedes which your honor with the good helpe of the moste famous and deuoute Cardinall Grandvelle and other good subiectes of the most holie Apostolicall Catholike Popish church of Rome haue within these niene or ten yeares taken in hande and almost brought to passe touching our ancient and wellnigh ouerthrowen Romish Religion to proppe and vnderset the same with newe pillars strong styles â–ª binding it with well twisted ropes and cordes of the Spanish Inquisition I must needes and of right in the name behalfe of all my countriemen and inhabitants of the base countries of Germanie geue you worthie thankes for the great alterations and changes whiche within these fewe yeares haue happened and chaunced to the proofe within the said lowe countries For had not your Honor about the yeare 1558. in the time of the most holie Pope Iulie the fourth stoutlie and diligentlie trauelled and obteined that these our base couÌ„tries might be prouided for with newe Bishops to serue for Inquisitours and accusers of heretikes and Huguenotes Surelie the case was such that the Popes holines with all his boothes and shoppes must out of hande haue bene trudging out of these countries and all by reason of this newe Gospell which men woulde needes set forth whereof your Bishops Myter crosier staffe and your laudable Inquisition haue not read much considering that your Honor can content your self with your Portesse a canne of good rennish wine whereof if it had so come to passe a most pitifull case must needes haue followed As especiallie that a man shoulde scarse afterwardes haue founde anie one that would haue saide Masse for monie yea the Priestes themselues began to be so ashamed of their shauen crownes that in some places they woulde haue beene glad to couer them with cowe doung as in an olde prophesie is declared The Bishops the Prelates the holie Monkes and Chanons the Inquisitoures and all idle officers of the spirituall courtes shoulde not haue had anie more worke I omit howe that the famous doctoures of Louen the Licentiates and Bachelers of Diuinitie shoulde drinke no more Vinum Theologicum or Vinum Cos that is to say of the persons fatte but must haue taken patience with small ale and single beare whereof they might sooâ—e haue gotten the Collica passio And where I pray you shoulde the foure holie begging orders haue become And especially the deuout Franciscanes should they not all in generall haue gone and hanged their cowles vpon the hedge And then what should haue become of all the godlie ornamentes of the Churche as braue altars gylte christes holie reliques braue images Copes of gold siluer and silke and other moe suche like iewels wherewith all the Churches and holie Saints as well Feminine as Masculine are decked vp and trimmed which all the Byshops haue promised by solemne othe to mainteine and defend to the vttermost of their powers But what is all this to the purpose The Masse the Masse I saie yea the holie blessed masse laie so extreemely sicke that men began alreadie to sing a Requiem ouer her the holie Saintes did not get anie more liberall offrings more sensinges nor more pilgrimages Yea the people began alreadie to pul downe images from the alters No man would geue any thing for pardons nor for the Popes bulles Yea the hole staple of pardons especially purgatorie beganne to waxe coulde The Pope himselfe was esteemed for an howlieglasse The Decrees and Decretals the Sophisticall gloses the sentences the Quotlibets and suche like toyes of the schollers and doctours of Louen were cast behinde the benche Satisfaction and ful recompence were no more made anie accounte of Auriculer confession was almost murdered Shroue tuesday and Iacke a lent had almost broken their neckes all the holie and goodlie Processions with the stately stations Perambulations going about the streetes were esteemed for boyes plaie the holie Sacrament was no more deuoutlie caried vp and downe with fiffes and drummes In conclusion all the holinesse of the Catholike Church of Rome beganne to fall in the ashes and in place thereof you should heare nothing else neither in the townes nor without yea nothing was read but the Byble or Saint Paule The people would pray to none other but to GOD alone neither woulde haue anie other mediatour but Christe Iesus noâ— put their trust and confidence in anie other thinges but in his merites No reioycinges but in his Crosse death and passion They did onely esteeme for Sacramentes Baptisme the Lords Supper yea and did vse the same very simply without anie stately station or ceremoniall brauerie without coniuringes of the diuell without spittle without salt without greasinges also without albes surpleses or coapes without singing of Per omnia saecula saeculorum or Dominus vobiscum They would go no more to shrifte vndeâ— their ghostlie Father but to God aboue or else before the whole congregation They did not passe anie more for absolution they woulde not praie anie more for the sillie soules whiche lie in Purgatorie but euerie one would grouÌ„d his praier vpon the holie scripture They woulde acknowledge but one supreme heade of the Churche namely Iesus Christe the
the scriptures but I thinke your Honour did leaue this vndone as our saide Maister Gentian Haruet did especially because it was to small and slight a matter for you to trouble your mytered head with all And therefore haue I gladlie taken vppon me this paine and trauell and haue clearely sette forth in this my booke vpoÌ„ what ground and foundation all these thinges are builded So that the necessarie vse of this booke is vnspeakeable as euerie good Catholike shall well perceiue of him self And forsomuch as herein is not written anie thing but it doeth agree aswell yea better with the said booke made by you theÌ„ with Gentians booke I would gladly haue it set forth as an Exposition Glose or CoÌ„mentarie vpon your foresaid prettie booke but considering that I had not anie copie of your said booke in my custodie and fearing also least your Honor might haue bene offended that any man should take vppon him to expounde or comment vpon your writings which are as cleare as hellishe sunne euen as your owne name Sonnius doth signifie so that I haue proceeded with my first determination thinking it sufficient for me if I might hide this my trauell vnder the winges of your Honor like as vnder the same all our newe Bishops haue beene hatched Most humblie beseeching your Honor to accept this my simple gifte in good parte and as becommeth such a worthie Bishop to do trusting yet within short time to set foorth more such woorkes and thereby so preciselie to expounde all the bookes that are set out by your Honour and other doctoures of Louen your companions that a blinde man may feele them with his handes yea and without spectacles or candle conceiue what greate holines lies hid in such coafers You may if it please you in the meane space accept this my woorke as an explanation and commentarie vpon your booke which to doe resteth at your pleasure and good will. And herein I commende your Byshopps Myter and crosyers staffe vnto the tuition of our holie Father the Pope who preserue and keepe your Honour with all your brethren our new Byshoppes in prosperous estate and proceedinges against all Heretikes Datum in our Musaeo the v. of Ianuarie being the euen of the three Kings of Collen at which time all good Catholikes make merie and crie The King drinkes in anno 1569. Your Honours welwilling seruant in all that lies in my simple power Isaac Rabbotenu of Louen The argumeÌ„t of this booke Wherein the Epistle or Letter missiue of Maister Gentian Heruet is deuided into sixe partes and the meaning of the same brieslie declared THis deepe grounded and most learned Epistle of the right worshipfull Doctour Maister Gentian Heruet directed to those that are declined fallen from the holie Romishe Catholike Church is deuided into sixe speciall and principall partes whereof the first is 1 That the Heretikes and Huguenotes cannot repute them selues for faithfull people so farre forth as they do not beleeue all things which our louing mother the holie Church beleeueth without whom no saluation can be obteined especiallie for that they will not beleeue the Transubstantiation of the breade into the verie bodie of Christ. 2 The second is knitte to the first namelie They mainteine iniuriouslie that wee ought to allowe nothing but what is mainteined by Scripture 3 Thirdlie They doe not beleeue nor allowe of seuen Sacramentes especiallie â–ª Auricular confession the sacrament of Matrimonie and the holie ointment of Vnction 4 Fourthlie They doe the Catholikes great iniurie insomuch as they repute them for idolaters and worshippers of idols 5 Fifthlie They seeke nothing else but fleshlie libertie and their owne appetites 6 Sixthlie lastlie Their Preachers are vnlearned Doultes and leade a lewde loathsome and wicked life In these sixe pointes is brieflie rehearsed the whole grounde and foundation of the holie Catholike doctrine taught by the Romishe Church â–ª and is so gallantlie established yea and all the Heretikes so finelie fetche ouer the coales that there remaineth not a iotte to be spoken of anie further Yet seeing the ground and meaning of this Epistles Authour did stretch chieflie to challenge the Heretikes foorth into the fielde and then Championlike to combate with them like as hee sheweth that not long since the noble Knight Maister Nicholas Villegaignon who by his writing thought to egge foorth Maister Iohn Caluine and by that meane to haue wonne a perpetuall fame and euerlasting memorie It is euen in like sorte fallen out with this good fellowe as it did with the saide Villegaignon For his happe was the better to fitte his purpose to set downe as hee before mencioned manie doubtfull partes verie darke and obscure reasons yea and some somewhat grose supposing herewithall as with a baight to drawe the fishe into his net Whereby alas it came to passe that his good and godlie meaning was spelde and construed a wrong waie and the Heretikes did seeme to make a mocke of it as though he were vnworthie to haue an answere to the same considering that hee did shewe verie litle scripture or authoritie to affirme his matter Euen in like manner as they had in times past iested with the foresaid Villegaignon Therefore it hath seemed both good and necessarie vnto vs and for the preferrement of the holie Romishe Church most auaylable that this present Epistle shoulde be at large declared and verie strong and apte authorities to be brought in for euerie part and parcell of the same collected aswell out of the Scripture as out of the besâ— and fittest bookes of the auncient Fathers Councels and Decrees wherewithall our louing mother the holie Churche is most supported to the ende wee should the better conceiue the costlie hidden treasures which are comprehended in this short Epistle and that eache might vse the same to his most aduantage and for a publike instruction hoping thorough this holie and meritorious worke to purchase heauen and withall to redeeme and set free two or three soules out of Purgatorie ¶ Here followeth the declaration of the first parte of the Epistle of Gentian Haruet wherein is treated what the holy Church of Rome is wherein her power and authoritie doeth consist and how farrâ— the same extendeth then is coÌ„cluded That the Lutherans Huguenotes can not be esteemed or taken for true beleeuers but must be banished and burnt for Heretikes The first Chapter VVherein is plainly declared that the Lutheraâ—â— and Huguenotes are Heretikes and ought to be burnt notvvithstanding that as vvell by Scripture as by many examples they shevve themselues to be the very Church of God. AND to the intent that wee maye orderly deale beginning first with one piece and after proceeding with an other our Maister Gentianus doeth here in his 〈◊〉 charge set forth such a noble grounded and sharpe wittie reason to founde and builde his argumentes vpon that the Heretikes and Huguenotes stand alreadie so amazed and ashamed as a horse that hath ouerthrowen his carre
You poore Heretikes saieth he howe can you be of a true beleefe if you do not first accept the twelfe articles of the faith And how should you accept them seeing you will not beleeue the holy Catholike Church For consider this he doeth take to serue his turne a most certeine and vndoubted point That no man can beleeue the holie Church but hee must ioyntly withall receiue and accept all whatsoeuer the saide Church doth set forth and beleeue And this is greatly to be coÌ„sidered seeing herevpon doth rest the most speâ—ial ground and strongest bulwarke of the holy Church of Rome For these Heretikes can very stedfastly say that they theÌ„selues are the church of god And to 〈◊〉 that they introduce and bring in many goodly textes out of the Scripture but they alledge them only according to the letter euen as though the Church were nothing els but an assemblie or congregation of holy men that is to say of such as through faith or beleefe are by the bloud of Iesus Christ blessed and chosen to be the sheepefolde of Iesus Christe the true and only sheepheard of our soules into which fold none are receiued but such alone as will hearken to the onely voyce of that onely shepheard and followe and goe after him onely forsaking and not knowing the voyce of any straunger Whereby they will nowe conclude that our great Maister the Pope with all the right honourable Bishops and Prelates which haue of them selues set forth manie goodly ordinances whereof Christ neuer knewe word should be those very straungers and hirelings which seeke onely the wooll of the sheepe and haue serued God feignedly setting forth and teaching the commandements and doctrine of men yea that they shuld be the theeues and murtherers that haue not entred in at the right doore which is Iesus Christ but are crept in a wrong way to steale kill and destroye And therfore do they cut vs cleane off notwithstanding what soeuer wee alleadge of the Church of God and of her authoritie power and woorthines But they alledge out of the Prophet Ieremie That al is but lyes and deceyt whervpon we establish our selues crying with the Iewes The Church of God The Church of God The Church of God. And herevpon doe they bring vs forth and alledge their Paul saying That the only true ground and foundation of the Church of God is established onely vppon the doctrine of the Prophetes Apostles so that who soeuer he be that falleth from the same can not be accompted for a true member of Christs Church And then they bring forth an Esaie out of a corner and an Ezechiel an Oseas with diuers other out of the olde Testament which they set al together on a heape and will defend themselues therewith that the stedfast successioÌ„ and that long continued race of the Popes Cardinals Bishoppes and Archbishops are in no wise that right token and that vncounterfeyt marke of the Church but the onely the sincere worde of God when as that is in our mouthes and in our heartes and in the mouthes and heartes of our children accompanied with the right vse of the Sacraments according to the perfit ordeining of Christ Iesus who is the only head of the Church and congregation in whom all people are ioyntly vnited euery one according to the measure of the gift which he hath receiued of the head to the ful growth of the whole body in loue Well well when they haue done all their prating yet must this needes be true That they are but Heretikes and smel after the fagot the good yere and all the cause why For that they doe not beleeue all that the holy Church doth beleeue and without the Church is no saluation but all such as fall from her must be burnt like fagottes for to that end haue we a plaine text of Scripture which saith thus Who soeuer doeth not abyde in me shall be cast out of the vineyarde as a branche and there wither and men gather those branches and cast them in the fire and burne them And this same is apparent out of the second point of this Epistle nowe folowing Whereas Gentianus doeth openly coÌ„fesse that at al times and for euer there haue bin some men which haue helde the same opinions set forth the like learning that these Lutheranes and Huguenotes do nowe followe But he answereth the matter thus That such haue alway bene banished and cursed for heretikes and all this is verie true For euer since that Iohn the Archfather Patriarch of Constantinople began to take vpon him to be the vniuersall Bishop of all Bishops within Christendome which attempt the Pope of Rome dyd in the beginning stoutly withstande and that then afterwardes Boniface the thirde did obteyne that tytle for him selfe and was by the Emperour Phocas declared Cheefe or superiour Bishop ouer all Christendome and ordeined the head of the Church which thing was brought to passe in the yeere of our Lord 680. From that time forward I saye there haue alwayes bene many factious and busie fellowes stirring abroade which as well by writing as preaching haue withstoode the Pope and condemned his doctrine decrees and ordinances euen by the Scripture yea and blazed and set him selfe forth for an Antichrist alledging euen as our Heretikes nowe do that men ought to repose themselues and buyld vpon the sincere word of God onely and further to holde and esteeme all ordinances of the Popes not agreeing with the Scripture for deuilishe doctrine But as before is declared such haue alwayes bin reputed and condemned for Heretikes Therefore to the ende that no man shall thinke this to be nowe a new dealing of the holy Church to condemne these Lutheranes and Huguenotes for Heretikes and likewise that no man shall suppose that this their doctrine and Articles which they set forth are first growen in their gardens I will therefâ—â—e make here a brief discourse of such as haue here before set forth these matters as well by mouth as by writing to make it plainely appeare to the worlde that there is not one Article which they bring forth but iâ— hath bene long before â—et a bâ—â—che openly â–ª that the holy Church of Rome hath both punished and condemned it for heresie Then to begin withall it is plaine that the Grekes haue alwayes daâ—peâ—ly withstoode the holy Pope of Rome and would neuer acknowledge him neither for Pope nor for the head of the Church like as yet euen in these dayes they do not in so much as in the yere of our Lorde 1328. at which tyme Pope Iohn the 23. had written very wisely and sharpely to the Grekes and by many wordes defended the cause That first there was but one only Church whereof he ought to be the head vnder whom all Christendome ought to submit them selues they dyd againe sende him this answere which followeth We beleeue verely
that thine authoritie is great ouer thine owne subiectes yet we can not well beare with thy loftines and vnmeasurable pride neither allowe thy vnsatiable couetousnesse Therefore the deuill be with thee for God is with vs. NotwithstaÌ„ding that some of their Embassadours did in the Councell of Ferrara in the tyme of Pope Eugenius 4. agree therevnto but without consent or commission of their Church which did afterwards call backe and adnihilate the same But long before that time not onely the coÌ„mon people of the Greekes but the Emperours them selues likewise were aduersaries to the Pope of Rome about the setting vp and praying to Images For about the yere of our Lord 730. the Emperors Constantine 5. and 6. and Leo Isaurus did with full aduise and consent of the Councell as well out of the Scripture as of the ancient Fathers conclude That men should in no wise for the seruice of God neither set vp nor pray to anie Images but did likewise vtterly break down destroy al Images before made and set vp For which cause the Popes of Rome did conceiue such malice and hatred against them that from thence forth they sought al maner of meanes and wayes to diuide and ouerthrowe the Emperial state like as in continuance of time they brought it so to passe And likewise not only the Greekes but the Germanes also did long time withstand the forbidding of Priestes to marrie till at length the Popes and that specially Bonifacius 8. did by maine force bring it to passe and establishe the same In the yere 840. one Berthrame a stout and a learned man rose vp who did manfully withstande the Romishe doctrine as touching their Transubstantiation dedicating to Charles the French King brother of Lothorius a notorious booke made for that purpose and did likewise in an other booke confirmed by the Scriptures and strongly defended by the holy Fathers set forth the doctrine of Predestination which these Heretikes do nowe so earnestly stand vpon And about the yere 869. did Iohannes Scotus followe him writing against Transubstantiation euen as Beringarius about the yere 839. had done the like And in the yere of our Lord 964. Huldrike Bishop of Auxburge by his writing reuoked again the saide commaundement of forbidding Priestes to marrie After whom about the yere 1240. Bernard started vp who wrote very much of Predestination and against Freewill nothing vnlike the doctrine of the Lutheranes and Huguenotes yea and did very stoutly striue against the Priestes and Prelates calling them The seruantes of Antichrist and making of the Prelates Pilates Whom in the yere 1157. Iohannes of Sarisburie did folowe and wrote a booke called Obiurgium Clericorum and another named Polycraticus wherein hee doeth pull the whole Clergie vengeably ouer the coles and setteth them out for Phariseis and false teachers calling the Pope Antichrist and Rome The hoore of Babylon And likewise a litle before that had Arnolde the Bishop of Brixen set vp earnestly against the Priestes denying flatly that the sworde of gouernement should anie whit apperteyne vnto them yea euen at the same time was there one Peter Bloix which wrote openly thus That Rome was the right BabyloÌ„ wherof S. Iohn did prophesie and that the Officialles of the Romish Court were deuilish Griphines and the Priestes verie Calues of Bethel Baals Priests Aegyptiacal idols and that euery thing was to be solde at Rome for money About the same time in the yere 1160. started vp in France a quicke fellowe and a worshipfull Burgesse of the Towne of Lyons named Petrus Valdo who hauing studied the Scriptures very diligently began to set vp a newe doctrine which did hit as iust vpon the doctrine of these Huguenotes as might be He left manye Disciples after him in so much that a remnant is remayning yet to this day After that came Petrus de Vinea Chauncelour to the Emperour Frederike 2. and was in the yere 1240. who went about likewise to robbe our holy father the Pope of his intituled authoritie and iurisdiction rayâ—ing vpon him out of measure And after came Guilielmus de sancto Amore in the yeere 1260. who layde loade exceedingly vpon the Prelates Monkes and Friers and did reckon them for subiectes of Antichrist Whose opinions were after in the yeere 1275. by one Laurence an Englishe Doctor at Paris stoutly defended and coÌ„firmed Againe in the yere 1306. came abroad one Petrus Cassiodorus a Gentleman and very well learned who did altogether spil the potage For his writing and doctrine was euen as though he had studied all the dayes of his life in the bookes of Luther and Caluin and he made of the Pope a Nabuchodonosor After that in the yere 1314. did followe one Dulsimus of Nauarra And in the yeere 1315. Arnoldus de villa Noua who caried water all ouer one bridge And at last in the yere 1383. came forth the great Archeheretike Iohn Wiclef who threw all the spindles of the holy Church of Rome in the ashes for he was a naturall Zwinglian or Caluinist and of him sproong vp Iohn Hus in the yeere 1405. which was the father of all Lutheranes Hee it was which came with Hieronymus of Prage to the CouÌ„cell of Constance there to defende his doctrine by scripture but there he was taught a newe lesson for in place of disputation they were both burnt at a stake And yet that notwithstanding their doctrine euer since that time hath bene accepted in many places and by many stout fellowes confirmed Like as there was one Nicholaus Clemangis a Doctor of Paris and Bishop of Bayone in France Oldecastell Lorde Cobham and Knight of the order of the Garter and within a litle while after one William Wight in Englande and Paule Crawe with many other in the countrie of Rome Hieronymus Sauanerola in Italie and a number of other more all which yet were by the Church of Rome banished and condemned for heretikes yea where they could be gotten put to death In summe all such as at any time haue taken vpon them to set forth any like matter against the Church of Rome haue alway bene of the most holy Popes banished and accursed together with all them which would by any meanes mainteyne or defend them In so much that Emperours and Kings yea whole countries haue for withstanding the Pope bene excommunicated and condemned for heretikes yea which is of greater importance one Okam and Dante good Catholike men were by Pope Benedict 3. condemned for Heretikes only because they did mainteine That Emperours holde their Empires of God and not of the Pope and yet notwithstanding that in all other matters they did throughly professe the Popes doctrine I say nothing what is meete to be done to these new Heretikes who go about to roote out and destroy the whole foundation of the
Romish schole and take vpon them to face vs out with their Paul with their Esaie their Ieremie What a mischiefe Do they not know that those fellowes whome they alledge and bring vs forth were likewise esteemed for Heretikes as well as they are themselues Yea â–ª in so much that one of them was hanged another was burnt the third clouen thorough the middest with a saw the fourth set vpon a wheele c. And therefore are we no more moued for them than for a bladder full of beanes For the holy Church of Rome would neuer accept their doctrine but vpon this bargaine and condition to wit that shee might alway applie the same as she should thinke good and as might best come to passe for her selfe and that no reuoking nor reuolting nor appellatioÌ„ should be made against her doings no nor that the name of Iesus Christ should in that case serue like as shall by vs shortly in the part next folowing be declared at large For this verely is most true that if our blessed Lorde him selfe would haue followed the exposition and coÌ„mentarie which the Priestes Phariseis Doctours had at that time made vpon the holy Scriptures in the name of the holye Church he had neuer bene crucified or hanged vpon the crosse But because that hee would full wisely go and bring in newe matters and so set vp a newe reformation according to the text and doctrine of the Gospell like as these Heretikes go about nowe to do therfore did they deale so hardly with him Notwithstanding that nowe since the holy Church of Rome hath so finely handled and set forth this newe religion of Christ and brought it vnto such a trim frame that nowe it is very gladly receyued of euery one in a maner yea and if it were so that these Huguenotes would accept the same setting it forth likewise surely men would no more be so readie to bring them to a stake as heretofore they haue done yea and pretend hereafter to do But nowe to come to our matter againe it is necessarie that we well consider and substantially declare wherein the worthines and authoritie of the holy Church doth specially consist what commandements traditions and ordinances of the same men must receyue and accept without all contradiction or gainsaying And this for so much as our Doctors of Louen are troubled with so manye other profounde and deepe questions that they haue not the leasure to set out this point effectually is notwithstanding the right ground and fouÌ„dation of all their building yea and is most needefull to our saluation and to the extirpation and rooting out of all heresies For it may be demanded Whether men shall holde for commandementes and traditions of the Church only alone that which is plainely set forth in the scriptures of the olde and newe Testamentes Or els that which the olde holy Fathers Doctours as Augustine Chrysostome Hierome and such like haue left behinde them in their bookes and writings or a great deale rather that which hath ben concluded in the holy Councels either els that which the holy Popes of Rome haue ordeined and enioyned or last of all that which is scraped together out of the one and the other all layd in one Pastie and baked in one Cake and which is nowe in our dayes obserued in the holy Catholike Church of Rome The 2. Chapter VVhereby is declared that the Church vvith her povver and authoritie can not be inclosed vvith in the pales of the holy Scripture but that the Church may adde to the Scripture or take from it vvhat she thinkes good and therevpon are many examples and profouÌ„d reasons alledged VPon this demande profound proposition very much might be saide but we will make short of the matter And to begin withal we conclude with our Master Gentianus and with the holy CouÌ„cell of Trent That all they which woulde inclose the power and the authoritie of the Church within the limites bounds of the holy Scripture as though the holy Catholike church of Rome could reade no further than is spelled before to her in the Bible are euill and naughty heretikes yea they are euen of those Apostataes or backsliders to whom our Master Gentianus hath written this his Epistle For as touching that for the defence of their opinions they bring forth howe it is written That none shall either put to it or take from it one iote that is simply spoken to the Iewes Rabbines onely so that they should not take any such thing vpon them as to change any words of the texte and to correct Magnificat like as they haue presumed to do as meÌ„ may see clearly without a candle by the honourable Bishop Guilielmus Blindasinus in his booke intituled De optimo genere interpretandi wâ—â—ch is to say Of the best and surest maner of expounding or interpreting For therein he doeth shew very plainly that al Hebrew textes of the Bible are falsified and embaced by the Iewes yea and the like is done to all the textes in Greeke of the new Testament by some Heretikes enemies of the trueth So that neither Christ nor his Apostles nor anie of the olde Doctours should haue had the right Bible but onelie our most holy Catholike Church of Rome which only was borne vnder the right Planet and shee alone hath shot downe the Popingaie Therefore must the texte before specified be vnderstoode and meant of the Iewes alone and of such like Heretikes which haue so falsified the textes of the Bible But you may not gather by this that the holy Church of Rome is not licenced to ad vnto the Scripture whatsoeuer shee doeth marke to be yet lacking and to innouate change and remoue al that tendeth not perfectly to her purpose For you see daily that she doeth freely take vpon her so to do and furthermore she doth punish for ranke Heretikes all such as will not allowe and accept her adding and changing for the perfite worde of God. Men do knowe very well that shee hath finely conueyed out of the Register of the ten commandements the seconde commandement which was That no Images should be made nor fashioned because shee did perceiue the Heretiks would alledge the same to the hinderance both of he she Saintes which stand vpon the altars in the Church Furthermore because men shuld not lacke the number of ten shee hath taken the last commandement speaking of desire and diuided the same in two so made the tailes agree iust And likewise notwithstanding that our Lord Iesus Christ had openly coÌ„manded That the Communion should bee ministred as wel with wine as with bread yet the holy Catholike Church of Rome considering the great daunger which was therein for that the wine might be spilt or being in the winter freeze or be turned into sowre vineger if it should be long kept in a Pixe or litle Sacrament Boxe And especiallye considering that when
necessitie must followe that the Church hath a full and resolute power ouer the expresse worde of God aboue the cōmandement ordenāce of Iesus Christ and aboue all the scriptures of the Prophets Apostles But what neede is it I pray you to bring so many and diuerse ensamples one by one for the deference of this matter Sithence we see euidently that shee in all her deuotions Gods seruices and ceremonies doth alter the expresse wordes of the Scripture yea doeth openly and wilfully ouertread it euen as though it were done in spite and anger of the holy Scripture in the Bible For by the holy Scripture it is openly and vpon great paynes earnestly forbidden That in the seruing of God first no commandements traditions nor deuises of men shall bee vsed nor take anie place but to rest wholy and onely vpon the special commandements of God and to do thereafter Finally to turne neither to the right hand or to the left Secondarily not to make or haue anie Image or similitude ▪ carued or molten nor shall vse the shape or likenesse of anie such thereby to shewe or set forth the spirituall forme and incorporable maiestie of God by earthly things and dumbe and dead creatures Thirdely that no man shall vse anie witchcraft sorcerie or inchantment of anie creature to the intent to giue to the creatures that be senselesse and voyde of life anie might or worthinesse other then by nature is prescribed vnto them Which thing is likewise by all Councels and Synodes as well Iudiciall as Canonicall openly and straytelie forbidden Here agaynst notwithstanding hath it pleased our dearely beloued mother the holy Church of Rome to vse her full and inestimable authoritie and power and so without hauing anie respect at all to that which is aboue written hath to beginne withall sette vp a certaine kinde of seruing of God which is altogether contrarie to the good opinions traditions and ordinances of all men For besides that the blessed Masse is by diuerse Popes Cardinals and Bishops at sundrie times and in sundrie places raked vp in a huge heape with many peeces patches of mens deuises like to a beggers cloke sowed together besides so many traditions of idle heades which the holy Church of Rome hath receyued for a perfite seruing of God as fasting dayes yeares of grace differences and diuersities of dayes of meates of clothing consecrating of Churches of altars of candles pilgrimages Letanies Kyrieelesons Images Processions holy ashes holy Paceegges and flanes palmes and palme boughes Albes Copes Maniples Vestmēts Miters Staues fooles hoods Shelles and Belles Paxes licking of rotten bones carying of the Pixe about and praying to a lumpe of doaw fasting vpon certaine speciall dayes creeping vpon knees before a Crosse of wood buying of Bulles and pardons mumbling of Pater nosters and Aue Maries by tale vpon a paire of Beades before a dumbe image shauing of crowne and beard to giue blessing with two fingers and ten thousande more such prankes Yet aboue al this is by the holy Church as it were in spite of God and his word ordeyned That euery man being a good Catholike maye appoint and choose for himselfe a Saint and patrone erect a new image and specially build a new chappel and an altar set vp a newe and particular religion weare a peculiar or special kinde of garment assume and take a seuerall vse of meates and ceremonies finally and to conclude doe what soeuer his good meaning and intent persuadeth him vnto Secondarily it is so that our deare mother will not set vp any seruing of God but shee must of necessitie haue therevnto all sortes of ymages as well carued as painted and worship the same by kneeling and praying with burning of candles with kissing and licking with pilgrimages and other such like deuotions And in setting vp the sayde images in all high wayes in all streetes and in all corners euen as for an euident token and protestation that they neither do once thinke vpon Gods commandement set forth in the holy Scripture neither wil be subiect or bounde to the same Thirdly all her diuine seruice all her ceremonies and deuotions and all her holinesse is grounded in cōiuring of creatures and worshipping the same and in flat sorcerie and witchcraft in working whereof they speake vnto the dumbe creatures as though they had as much vnderstanding as the Priests themselues and so do abuse the blessed name of God and the textes of the holy Scripture openlye and without respect The water is by them exorcised or coniured by these wordes I coniure thee thou creature of water In the name of the father the sonne and the holy ghost to the ende thou become a chosen water to take away all the power of the diuell and that thou mayest driue awaye and confounde the diuell him selfe with all his wicked Angels c. The oyle and the balme are coniured and bewitched with much mumbling blowen vpon with many breathings with three times crying All haile holy oyle three times All haile holy annoyntment and three times All haile holy baulme And then it is kept for a most holy thing in a fine vessell therefore made and so caried along the streets by the Priests with great deuotion and prayer The salt is coniured in this maner I do coniure thee thou creature of salt by the liuing God by the true God by the holy God and by the same God which commanded Helias to cast thee into the water to take away the vnwholesomnesse of the water that thou mayest become an exorcised or coniured salt to the saluation of the faythfull and to worke the preseruation both of bodie and soule to all them which shall enioy thee and that all the subtiltie wilinesse and filthie intents of the Diuell and that all wicked spirites maye flee from that place where thou art scattered and cast abrode And then is this salt mingled with the foresayde water to be the right purger and sanctifier of the people wherethrough all the power and might of the diuell is withstood our daily sinnes therewith finely cleansed Nowe besides all this shee doeth exorcise and coniure certeine hearbes vpon certeine dayes to the health both of bodie and soule and to driue away all daungerous hurt all diuelish bewitching all pestilence vnwholsomnesse and corruption of the ayre Shee doeth coniure and exorcise the candles the waxe and the tallow to the qualifying and extinguishment of thunder and lightening Also she doth exorcise and coniure beads of wood of stone of corrall and of all other stuffe whereby they receyue great power against sinne the diuell and hel And which is more shee doeth not let these thinges be thus coniured by the Pope and Priests onely but the Pope may whensoeuer it shall please him giue the like power and authoritie to whom soeuer he will be it man or woman This may well appeare and be perceyued of all men by the example of
a worthie matrone of Spaine called Senora Maria Osorio who did obteyne of Pope Paule 3. licence and power for her selfe and twelue of her bloud to coniure and holowe such beades and these beades were of this might that whensoeuer any person did saye a Pater noster thervpon although it were done without deuotion or once thinking of the matter yet did they thereby obteyne forgiuenesse of the thirde part of their sinnes And for this cause were the balles of these beades made of Copper and set in the Church where was set out by them in print their full might with all their properties and nature as is before declared so as at this day men may openly see by the common people which come and say their Pater nosters vpon their beades there holding their handes vpon those balles that thereby they may obteyne the forgiuenesse of their sinnes Nowe ouer and aboue all this the Belles are not onely coniured and hallowed but are also baptized and haue appoynted for them Godfathers which holde the rope wherewith they are tyed in their handes and do answere and say Amen to that which the Suffragane or Bishop doth speake or demaund of the Bell. And then they put a newe cote or garment vpon the Bell and so coniure it to the driuing away of all the power craft and subtiltie of the diuell and to the benefite and profite of the soules of them that bee deade specially if they bee riche and can pay the Sexton well and for many other like things In so much that the Belles are so holy that so long as the Church or the people are vpon anie occasion excommunicate they may not be rong Like as by Pope Bonifacius 8. and Gregorie 9. is manifestly ordeined although yet it is of speciall grace permitted to toll the Aue Maria as Iohannes Caldarinus hathe trimlie written And this I assure you is no small matter For Doctour Albericus de Rosato doth declare that the religious had amōgst themselues at Rome a long and weightie dissention wherevpon great processes were mainteyned and all about this namely which of all the Orders shoulde first knolle the Aue Maria in the morning ▪ which processes did long endure till at the last it was concluded and adiudged that they which were first vp should first knoll Euen after the maner of kine who alway let the formost go before and the last followe after Why I praye you hath it not bene seene that the Spaniardes which are the first sweete and most deare children of the holy Church of Rome comming nowe of late to Groninghen in Friseland did there christen coniure hallow theyr Ensignes naming one Barbara another Katharine c. I saye nothing howe they coniure the diuell out of yong children which are brought to be christened euen as though the yong children to whome Christ doeth witnesse the kingdome of heauen to belong and be those which with their fathers are conteyned vnder Gods promises and made cleane by the bloud of Iesus Christ were possessed with the Diuell The Masse I pray you what is it but a plaine coniuring sorcerie or witchcraft ▪ Wherein the breade and the wine which are but dumbe creatures are by the breathing of the Priest and the power of fiue woordes conuerted into fleshe and bloud So that it is most apparaunt that all her Religion all her diuine Seruice and ceremonies are full of witchcraft sorcerie and coniuring full of ydolatrie setting vppe of Images and giuing them worshippe full of mennes traditions institutions and deuises and in conclusion full of all that which by the holy scripture is openly reproued and plainely forbidden So that verelie these Heretikes must needes bee verie blinde if they doe not well perceyue that the power the ordinaunce and authoritie of the holy Church of Rome neyther can nor will bee shutte in nor hedged about with the pales and walles of the holy Scripture For see here this is that which the steadfast pillar of the Theologie of Louen Iodocus Tiletanus himselfe hath openly written We are not satisfied sayeth he with that which the Apostles or the Gospell doe declare but wee saye that as well before as after there are diuers matters of importance and weight accepted and receiued out of a doctrine which is no where set forth in writing For we do blesse the water wherewith we baptize and the oyle wherewith we anoynt yea and besides that him that is christened And I praye you out of what scripture haue we learned the same Haue we it out of a secret and vnwritten ordinance And further What Scripture hath taught vs to grease with oyle Yea I pray you from whence commeth it that wee doe dippe the childe three times in the water Doeth it not come out of this hidden and vndisclosed doctrine which our forefathers haue receyued closely without any curiositie and do obserue it still c But what neede haue I to trauell much for the establishing hereof seeing there is a generall rule in the holy Church of Rome That the Pope maye franklye ordeyne and commaunde contrarie to the writing doctrine and ordinaunce of the Apostle Paule Considering likewise in especiall that as Eckius hath set downe Christ did neuer commaunde his Apostles to write but to preach True it is that Paule doeth defende saying That the blessed woorde of God is set foorth and is sufficient to instruct to teache to punishe to amende yea and wholie apte and sufficient to make men wise ynoughe for their saluation and to instruct them sufficientlye to all good workes And that who soeuer shall teach any other Gospell than that which hee hath taught though hee were an Angel from heauen is accursed But all that must bee vnderstoode of the tyme wherein hee was whilest the Church was yet in her infancie or childehoode and laye in the cradle For it was yet necessarie for her then to drinke such milke being yet vnable to digest the strong and grosse meates of holy Prelates and Doctours of the holie Church of Rome For that her stomache was yet too weake and quasie And in effect men doe clearely see that notwithstanding the saying of Paule That in Christ Iesus and in the knoweledge of him all the treasure of wisedome and knowledge lyeth hidde so as the faythfull ought not to receyue any institutions or doctrine of men Yet a long time after the Apostles yea aboue seuen or eight hundred yeeres after theyr decease our mother the holye Catholike Churche hath founde out a wonderful and vnspeakeable newe hoorde of wisedome and knowlege through which a mā may come to perfite iustification and to an angelical life and aboue that get in store a heape of deseruings and good woorkes to helpe a good friende withall at a pinche and yet to release a dozen or twaine of sillie soules out of Purgatorie And these be they especially The holie order and full
strength and worthinesse of this new religion of Champions Trueth it is that she was at the last when the matter was knowen banished out of Venice but that was not done for her holinesse but specially because there were a great manie of amorous letters founde about her which were of great importance For else alas what could haue bene said to her heauie and pitiful penance whereof the like is daily done You maye see them sometimes in Italie go alongst the streetes with a great rope about their neckes as if they were dropped downe froÌ„ the gallowes and sometimes they weare a sawsige or a swines pudding in place of a siluer or golden chayne Is not that sufficient to deserue heauen by But if I should go about to expresse euerie particular religion alone which our mother the holye Church hath founde out beside the Scriptures I should haue work for this seuen yeres Wherefore it is not needefull For all good Catholike men do knowe well ynough that our holye fathers the Popes haue sufficient authoritie to bring in and establish newe religions and rules of perfection as manie as it shall please them although it be plaine that the whole Scriptures neuer make mention of anie such as it is most euident by so many diuers orders and religions which haue bene by their holinesse set vp brought in established As there are the orders of the Basilians Augustinians Benedictines Dominicanes or Iacobines Carthusians Carmelites or Ladie brothers Seruitours or Seruants Graie Friers Obseruantes Conuentuales Penitentiaries Minimers Capucines Mendicantes Cluinares Camaldulenses Valembrosences Cisterienses Barnardines Coelestines Gibertenenses Milicenses Castellenses Burfaldenses Mountoliuetes Castinenses Armeâ—tes Regulars PremoÌ„stratenses Whilliamites Lateranes Georgians Iohannians Trinitaries Indians AmbrosiaÌ„s Magdalines or Lazarines red Augustins Helenians Sophians Visitensers Wincesbaterers Gregorians Constantinopolitanes Columbins Crossed brethreÌ„ Starred brethreÌ„ Fratres ClauoruÌ„ Blackfriers Smocked friers BtethreÌ„ of the holy Sepulchre Brethren of the vale of Iosaphat BrethreÌ„ of S. Ioseph of S. Rusius seuen thousande like Of which number the most part haue their mates and companions in the women Cloisters of which some be Bagghines other close Nonnes other called Sisters the fourth are called Chanonesses who haue likewise their Patronesses as S. Clare S. Bridgit S. Lucia S. Agnes S. Marie Magdalene S. Valdrud c. All which haue bene receiued established by our holy fathers the Popes for good and holy Ouer and aboue these they haue ordeined many sundrie Heremitages orders of Heremits as of S. Anthonie of S. Hilarie of S. Makarius S. Theon S. Frontinian S. Horus S. Helenus S. Appellomius S. Paul the Hermit S. Martarius S. PiamoÌ„tius S. Castomianus many more of the like rabie Now are there more added to these the holy Giides or Confraternities as The fraternities of S. Roche of S. Hubright of S. Sebastian of S. Coronne which go cladde in blew of S. Anthonie in blacke of S. Martin in white of S. Dominick in black c. And to the ende that the heritage should not be without Rutters or Pensionars they haue appointed certeine newe religious orders of holy Knights likewise such as are the knights of the Rodes or of Malta Dutch Knights the Templers the Knights of S. Iames our Ladie Knights Saint Georges knights knights of Hierusalem Calitrauenses Montenienses Gartarienses c. But truly I had need of vi huÌ„dred tongues two huÌ„dred pennes a mouth of steele with an iron voice if I should declare all the diuersities of orders religions which our holy fathers the Popes haue set vp not only without but directly against the holy Scripture and yet without naming of the Popes themselues or their Cardinals Prelats Archbishops Bishops Metropolitanes Suffraganes Archdeacons Deacons and such like strange beastes whereof neither Prophet nor Apostle euer heard Nay I dare saye that if the Apostles had but once seene or hearde the hundred part of these new religious orders and professions named they would haue bene afraide of them For seeing that S. Paule could not suffer that amongst the Congregation of the Corinthians some should call them selues the Disciples of Peter other of Paule the thirde of Apollo howe would he then haue bene afraide and out of quiet when he should haue seene or hearde of such an innumerable companie of newe and diuers names professions religions Gods seruices and rules of perfection whereof some were clad and apparelled in blacke some in white some in gray some in green some in blewe some in red some in furres and in all maner of diuers colours and euerie one of them did esteeme his owne order and rules for the best and most worthie to be regarded He would surely haue thought him selfe to haue bene come into a newe world Therefore it is a great follie that men will founde them selues onely vpon that which the Apostles haue taught or written considering that the world is now chaunged and that the holy Church hath found out and established newe religions newe commandements and newe articles of our faith whereof the Apostles neuer knewe For otherwise beleeue me if nothing els were estemed but the bare Scriptures and writings of the Prophets and Apostles then should all the Decrees Decretalles all good holy Ordinances of the Church of Rome all the goodly Councelles which haue bene kept and holden by the order and commandement of the Popes yea all the before specified orders and religion of Friers NoÌ„nes the Heremites Gildes and Knighthoods be vtterly ouerthrowen yea all their merites and supererogations would not be worth an Oaten cake if men should begin to esteeme and accept the holy Scripture alone for a true and sufficient rule and direction and then should Luther haue done well when he caused the decrees and deâ—retals to be burnt O no truely We must aboue all mainteine those in reputation yea euen in greater estimation than the woorde of God it selfe for who soeuer doth sinne against the word of God his sinnes maye be forgiuen him but he that doth sinne against the Decrees of the Pope doeth sinne against the holy Ghost and therefore his offence shall neuer be forgiuen him Therefore it is vndoubtedly a great ouersight of them that would compasse and pale in the holy Church with the bounds of the holy Scripture seeing she may steppe or leape ouer it with a staffe or without anie feare and as often as euer she wil. Yet it is true that sometimes shee doeth helpe her self with the scripture for if there were no scripture howe should one knowe whether there must be a Church or no or wherby should a maÌ„ discerne the true church of God from the church of Antichrist Yet doth she alway rule the Scripture makes therevpon such a glosse as best serueth her turne yea that is more she is the very occasion that any beleefe or credit is giuen to the scripture as is pleasantly set foorth by the holy and
Iewes Therfore that which they do and ordeine hath an other maner of couÌ„tenance than that which the Iewes haue ordeined Therefore must our former argument remaine fast vnmoueable especially considering that the Church of Rome is fullye credited in the one therefore must shee of necessitie be as wel beleeued in the other For truely this argument is the trimmest and finest stuffe whereof Iohn Blindasinus hath made his Panoplie which is as muh to say as his Ful furniture of weapons harnesse For by this is proued that S. FraÌ„cis Vineyarde The goldeÌ„ Legend The booke called Conform S. Franc. And the Masse booke must be as much esteemed in all respects as the very scripture of the Bible yea in the boke called Confo S. Fran. which was made by Barthol of Pisa is alowed for good in the chap. of Assis. In the yere 1389. is written That the same booke is better thaÌ„ the Gospell for that Saint Francis is placed in Lucifers seat aboue all the companies of Angels at the vpper ende of all Also there followeth out of the same that the common sort of people may be as well instructed in the knoweledge of God by dumbe Images and mumming representations as by the preaching of the Gospel and that men must as well christen the Belles at the Font as the children whiche are shapen after the likenesse of God and bought by the precious bloud of Iesus Christ that in baptising shall be vsed spittle and oyntment as well as water that the holy Sacrament shall bee caried about the streetes in the Procession with Baners and Pipes as well as it shall be taken and eaten in the Congregation of the faythfull in remembrance of the death of the Lorde In summe men are as deepely bound to do that which the holy Church and the Popes of Rome haue dreamed set vp and commaunded as that which by the expresse worde of God and by the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles is specially commaunded Yea and I praye you why should it not be so Seeing out of the same argument it must of necessitie be concluded that the word of God cannot be Gods word but it must first by the church be therto shapen fashioned For note well this word is with special wordes of our learned master Iodocus Tiletanus in writing thus That the worde of God alone conteyned in the holy Scriptures of the old and the newe Testamentes together with the three Symbols or Creedes as of the Apostles the Councel of Nice of the father Athanasius yea and thereto ioyne the three first Councels are not the rule perfite knot of the truth whereby it is apparant that in no wise men can perfitely know whether these be the word of God or no without the traditions or setting forth of the Church which doth assure vs of al this without any Scripture c. In summe the truth can be no truth nor the light light yea God can be no God except that the holy Church of Rome that is to say the holy Pope of Rome with his bishops prelates do consent thervnto So that it is no maruel that they can of a peece of bread make a God creator of heauen and earth For if it were so that they should say that at noone day it were darke night wee must streight wayes beleue the same as an article of the faith by and by without delay get vs to bed For we say by a certaine coÌ„mon prouerbe That when all the world doeth affirme that a man as by example SoÌ„nius or Blindasinus is a swine he must out of doubt trudge vnto the swinestie and there eat only draffe How much rather theÌ„ when the holy Church with that worthie coÌ„panie of Bishops Abbats Prelates and Cardinals gathered together at Trent or elswhere do coÌ„mand any thing are not we bounde to receiue beleue obey the same without any denial by and by to say Amen therevnto And herein may men perceiue a great miracle which I do assure you is greater by the head thaÌ„ any miracle that euer was don by the Apostles to wit that the child was borne before the mother yea that the mother commes of the child For it is most certein and wel knowen that the worde of God is the seede whereof the Church of God doth spring is ingendred as the Apostle Peter witnesseth coÌ„sidering that the Church is nothing else but a Congregation of such as doe faithfully beleeue Gods woorde and firmely sticke vnto the same where thorough they are also called The Congregation of the liuing God The pillar and staye of the truth So that the woorde is the right mother of the Church Well nowe see here goeth the holy Catholike Church of Rome before the worde of God and his truth which is as much to say the childe goeth before the mother yea the worde can haue no might no credite no estimation nor no being in the worlde vnlesse it bee by speciall grace borrowed of her daughter the holy Church As the foresayd Blindasinus Hosius Sonnius Piggius Eckius with all other Catholike Doctours haue forceably coÌ„cluded and irreuocably determined taking this for a most true vndoubted article of the faith yea for the most speciall ground whervpon they and all their writing is founded which is That men may not beleeue the worde and truth of God otherwise than by the appoyntment of the holy Church of Rome which of duetie must alwayes goe before and lead the daunse which is as muche to say that you can not ride to Louen but you must set the Wagon before the horses And therefore whensoeuer the Churche doth ordeine any thing that is contrarie to the Scripture as is before saide we will giue the Scripture an honest passeport or safe conduct and a great many of farewels and clâ—ue to the holy Church like a Burre For the srcipture cannot defend this cause but the holy Church of Rome can bring a man to the stake And it helpes not to alledge and bring in Augustine here who hath written in diuerse places That wee ought to beleeue the holy Scripture only without any contradiction and to trie proue all other writinges and doctrines howe substantiall soeuer they be yea all Councels decrees and ordinances by the holy Scripture as by the onely true vncounterfeyted touchstone and abolish and put away vtterly all whatsoeuer doth not therewithall agree for that all smelleth altogether of heresie And where as he sayeth further That when soeuer the Church doeth giue eare to any other voyce beside the onely voyce of her bridegrome she is then become whorish and a wedlocke breaker yea and that they are all accursed which go about to seduce the Bride of Christ from her Bridegrome to the doctrine and institutions of men that is the plaine doctrine of Heretikes For if that were so all the before specified rules ordinaunces and decrees of the holy
in the last coūcel at Trent cōfirmed That the Pope is aboue al coūcels the statute ordināce of the coūcel of Basil afore time made to the cōtrary was cleane taken away abolished Notwithstanding Pope Nicholas consented was willing to the making of the same In this behalfe it was verie wisely considered of the holy Fathers assembled in the said Councel of Trent whereas before they would fully conclude vpon any article they did send all that they had determined vpon in a sacke or small packe to Rome to haue of the Pope a Bull of comfirmation therevnto For out of that proceded a wonderful braue and pleasant melodie because that therein our holy father the Pope did coūterfeit the personage of God the Father And the holy councel of spiritual fathers there assembled together were likened to the holy Ghost so that the commō people were wont to say that whē they sent their stuffe towards Rome The holye ghost was shut vp in a male as the Poet Homer writes that in elder dayes Aeolus the king of winds did giue vnto his good friend Vlysses a male wherein al the winds were shut packt vp together the Westerne wind only excepted which he must needes occupie him selfe to bring him home And euen so went the matter betwene the holye ghost the wind of the holy fathers of Trent And nowe when the father and the holy Ghost were agreed in one and that the bulles were sealed they sent them with expedition and hast to their dearely beloued sonnes the Kings of Fraunce and Spaine and required of them by a Spanishe Inquisition to procure the saide Bulles and Decrees to be thoroughly obserued kept in their Countries So that the father the sonne the holy Ghost were all one heart and one soule And haue iointly receiued established all the Decrees of the said coūcel And how I pray you could it come to passe otherwise considering that the Bishops and Cardinals are created by their holy father the Pope and haue promised are bounde by a strong and speciall othe not to take vpon them nor to conclude anie thing without hauing first the counsell and consent of their Creator As it is well and precisely set forth and concluded of our holy father Calixtus writing That it is not in any wise permitted to the Bishoppes to withstand the Church of Rome in anie point or to do or attempt anie thing against the same Yea saith he as the sonne did come to fulfill the will of his Father euen so are all Christian people bounde to followe and fulfill the will of their deare mother the Churche of Rome whereof the Pope without all doubte is the heade And this was the reason occasion which moued the right honourable Cardinal Reignold Poole one of the three Lieutenāts of the Pope in the said councel to write with great discretion and authoritie That the whole conuocation of the people or comon sorte gathered together haue no authoritie in the world to conclude determine or decide vpō any matter or matters presented before the councel but that the same belōgs properly to the Pope who onely is Gods Lieutenant or Deputie shepheard of the lost and straying sheepe Vpon this intent alone saith he is a councell called free cōmon or general and not that therefore euerie one in general is free and licensed there to set forth his or their owne opinion or to determine or conclude any thing for that is specially forbiden by the Councell of Constance in special and plaine wordes That no man of what state condition soeuer he be yea although hee were an Emperour a King Bishop or Cardinall shall presume or take vpon him to speake or dispute against anie matter which the holy Fathers by the inspiration of the holy Ghost are purposed and intēded to establishe vpon paine to be excommunicated and banished yea to bee cast into a dongeon Vpon these considerations was Iohn Hus and Hieronymus of Prage also burnt because they would dispute by the Scriptures vpon those matters which the holie Fathers had in hand to reason and cōclude vpon It is a common saying Hee doeth wisely that is warned by another mannes harme And yet notwithstanding this example of Iohn Hus there was in the last councell of Trent a Bishop so stout that he presumed boldly to say That we ought not to call the Pope The most holie Father but simplie The holy Father considering that Christ did not name his heauenly Father any otherwise thā holy Father for that the Pope can not be greater than God whose vicar in earth he nameth him selfe to be But if the same Bishop had not quickly stopped his mouth that word would haue bin a deere word to him For they were about to haue put him straight way in a hole where he should haue learned to know the popes authority better And likewise had not Petrus Paul. Verge bishop with other brablers packed away betimes they would haue played the like parte with euerie one of them as they did with Iohn Hus at Constance For although hee was a Bishop yea and had before bene a Legate and the Popes Deputie yet he must haue lerned to know that the Bishops Prelates and Cardinals were not called thither to control and take vp with taunts their holy Father and creatour the Pope of Rome much lesse to correct Magnificat out of Paules writing but rather simplie Inclinato capite to say Placet vnto that which in the name of the holy fathers might be proponed to them and then further to helpe to keepe the breade from moulding like as a great while agoe by a Poet was prophesied vppon them saying Nos numeri sumus fruges consumere nati c. That is so say We are a great number And bellie gods borne Deuourers of victuals Consumers of corne Nowe seeing that the Bishops Prelates haue no other voyces in the Councel but bare woordes accounted for syphers to increase the heape how much lesse shall anie thing be permitted or graunted to the Laie men which are not there receiued nor seene neither in the Brew house nor Bake house In summe the Councell is not called Oicomenicum or General as though euerie man might come thrust in his nose there Wherefore then Because it is as an image or pageant vnto vs and as a demonstratiō or shew of a play or enterlude which doeth represent set out before our eyes the common generall Church of God which hearken fully and wholy vnto the voyce of their shepheard namely the Pope of Rome as was well noted and marked by the foresaid Cardinal Reignold Poole And it was likewise openly set foorth in the Bull of the said Councell of Trent that it is and ought to be of right named a General or common Councel for this occasion because all christendome generally are bounde to holde
and to celebrate the same with deuoute prayers And to that ende they are by the Pope earnestlie put in remembrance that they goe to shrift and fast vppon the Wednesday Frydaye and Saturdaye And then on the Sunday be howseled and go prunking in the Procession and deale their almes or at the least say fiue Pater nosters fiue Aue Maries by the vertue whereof they shall receiue a sufficient pardon of all their sinnes c. What can they desire more For as touching the sitting in the Chapter house and there Sententiam subverbo placet proferre that is To saye Amen and to nodde at that which is pronounced vnto them that is permitted only to such as of right ought to doe it or to whom it is graunted by special priuiledge as chiefly to the right honourable the brethren of the Pope to witte the Bishops Archbishops and his deare sonnes the Abbats and other such like as hee him selfe doeth set it foorth in the Bull Indictionis Therefore truely were the Dukes of Germanie the Protestantes in a wrong boxe when they said That it was no Free and Generall or Common Councell For a sheepe with one eye would haue marked that that it was neither forbidden them nor no man else in the worlde to come to Trent there to spende their money to holde the Councell and celebrate it with hearing of Masses with Fasting and with the saying of fiue Pater nosters and fiue Aue Maries yea the whole pardon was as well graunted vnto them as to anie Bishoppe or Prelate or other that was there But that was not the place where the muscles laye They would gladlie haue had manie voyces in the Chapter house and not to haue declared their meaning with that woorde Placet onelie but that they might likewise haue disputed freelie and brought in and alledged the Scriptures of God yea they would haue had it flatlie graunted that the Pope of Rome should not haue bene head and President of the Councell but that euerie thing should bee concluded out of the woorde of God. But beleeue me the holy fathers and the Pope were not so foolishe they did see more deepely into the matter For if they hadde once taken and put that horsse heame or collar about their neckes then were all the fatte in the fire and so the whole Church of Rome would not afterwardes haue bene worth the paring of a rotten apple No no I warraunt you They will take heede of that For there is one point whiche you shall neuer wrest nor wring out of their handes which is That all Councelles are lame maymed creeple and blinde yea vtterly voyde of anie power vnles the holy Pope of Rome be their President directing and gouerning the same as he thinketh good For he is the verie eye and the fiue wittes of the Councelles Therefore was it in the sayde Councel of Laterane verie circumspectly concluded That though all Cardinalles Bishoppes and Prelates were assembled although they were barrelled vp together like herring yet can they not holde anie Councell without the authoritie will consent and commaundement of the Pope if they should otherwise doe they should bee playne heretikes and vngodly men yea they should be esteemed thought and taken as Chore Dathan and Abiram The same was also before that forespoken and cōcluded by the holy Father Pelagius 2. who did openly set forth That all Councels which were holden without the Popes consent and commandement are not to be reputed or accompted for Councels but for Conciliables that is to say for Riots and vnlawfull assemblies And that is the same which the Popes Marcellus Iulius Damasus Gregorius other mo did likewise iointly ordeyne and determine as is plainly to be seene in the book of Decrees in the 17. distinctiō where it is in like maner by the Scriptures ▪ confirmed As for exāple out of the 81. psalme where it is written I haue saide you are Goddes Againe What soeuer you binde in earth that is bound in heauen c. And it is also established made sure with strōg reasons For that worshipful brother Thomas Vio did openly declare in the said coūcel of Laterane That those which goe about to make the Pope subiect to the coūcels do euen like vnto them that woulde make the father obedient to the childe the head inferior to the foote the captein seruant to his soldiers the shepeheard vnderling to his sheepe So that now Christ is no more made any accōpt of in the coūcels nor his word any whit estemed but the pope hath al the charge authoritie alone he only is enseigne bearer he doth set al in order And vpon that occasion it was determined That the coūsel of Pisa being assembled without the Popes cōsent was no assemblie of Hierusalem but of the towre of Babylō that is to say A curse confusion In sūme it is apparant that al coūcels ordinances in the worlde and do nothing against the Popes might nor against the authoritie of the Church for she hath ouergrowen the rod She cares neither for scriptures nor Coūcelles shee hath the holy Ghost pinned on her sleeue and may doe euen what so euer shee will. And therefore it is that when soeuer the Pope doeth set forth anie Bulles then doth he commonly adde this clause or conclusion to the same Non obstantibus constitutionibus ordinationibus Apostolicis coeterisue contrarijs quibuscunque that is to saye Notwithstanding all constitutions ordinances or commandements Apostolicall nor any other thing what soeuer contrarie herevnto Like as doeth specially appeare by the Bull of Pope Paule 3. set forth at the Coūcell of Trent in the yeere 1544. the 23. of Februarie So that he will not giue to all the Apostles to all the holy fathers nor all the Councelles scarse one good worde yea rather he mockes playes bo peepe with them all and so goes on forwards with his busines For otherwise if the matter were not thus handled I would not giue a pudding for all the power and authoritie of the holy Church of Rome For to beginne withall these Heretikes would giue her a rappe vpon the pate with the Councel of Mantua which was holden vnder Pope Alexander the seconde in the tyme of the Emperour Henrie the fourth where was concluded That all those which by Simonie that is to say by briberie or giftes had obteyned anie spirituall promotion or office should be depriued Aha the mother of God where can you finde nowe a dayes any Chaplein or beneficed man Bishop or Cardinall that climbeth to that preferment without moneie or rewardes Secondarily they would come plague vs with the Councel of Rome which was holdē in the time of the Emperour Phocas where was ordeined irreuocably neuer to be called backe againe That all such as with anie giftes or rewardes or other like promises were mounted vp to weare miters should be banished and
excommunicated Yea marie syr it were better that the Councels were al at the gallowes thaÌ„ the holy church should be subiect to that order Then after this might they come in and dashe vs in the teeth with the Councell of Triburine which did forbid any money to be takeÌ„ for buryings what a gods name who could digest that morsel And to this they would adde the Councel of Basil where was plainely and sharpely ordeined That â—he Court of Rome shall not take any money for any Dispensations Elections Postulations PresentatioÌ„s nor any other Ecclesiastical offices authorities benefices hallowings blessings no not for the very Pallium or Bishops mantle neither to be paid vnder the colour of bulles seales nor aÌ„nuales by what colour or pretence soeuer they might be done Aha friend What an Eclipse would that breede in the Popes purse They would also come forth with the Councel of Mentz which was holden in the time of Carolus Magnus where was ordeyned That there should bee giuen againe and restitution made of al the goods lands which by bequest last will or testament had bene left to anie of the Spiritualtie tending to anie losse or hinderance of the right heires Goddes populorum That were too bitter a Pill to swallowe and digest Then would they assaulte vs with the Councell of Laterane whereat by Pope Nicholas 2. and fourteene Bishops was verie solemnly and irreuocably concluded That the Pope of Rome should be chosen by nomination the whole common people assembled together the spiritualtie with the Colledge of Cardinalles present And if it shoulde bee prooued that any man should by rewardes giftes bribes or any other indirect meanes attaine to the same roome the same should not onely be banished but should likewise be taken for a shamelesse heretike a backslider from Christ and an Apostata So that it should be lawfull to pull him out of his seat c. Aha my masters what a piece of worke were that By that meanes they might ouerthrowe and cleane roote out the holy Church of Rome Moreouer besides they would proue the pope Eugenius was by the councel of Basil iudicially condemned for an horrible Heretike and a shamelesse knaue and was deposed from his seate as a wicked vile villeyne who yet notwithstanding was after by fine handling and prettie practises of simonie and also with force holpen againe into his seate and of him euer since vntill this our time are al Bishops Cardinals Popes yea and all priests in general bred and sprung vp like a litter of pigges farrowed of a fruitful sow Al which one with an other head taile should be banished and esteemed for heretikes vngodly knaues if it were so that the Councels might beare any swinge against the authoritie and estimation of the sea of Rome and our mother the holy Church but that I assure you woulde be to feareful a matter And therefore must we of necessitie conclude That the CouÌ„cels can in no wise ouerrule the Church nor by their coÌ„mandments or ordinances coÌ„pel her to any thing no more than a Spiders web can hold or kepe fast a Pie or a Crow But al Councels must be subiect to the holy Church euen as an obedient child is subiect to his mother yea and they must alwayes daunse after her Pype Therefore when as these Heretikes and Huguenotes do bring in a great heape of these Councels to streÌ„gthen their doctrine withal agaynst the Romish Church they do but breake their braines in vaine They may well 〈◊〉 auace that the Councell Eliberinum in Spaine which was holden about the yeere 300. in the time of Constantine the great did plainely ordeine That there should bee no Images in the Churches nor in no wise to paint or carue any thing to be prayed vnto And they may alledge that in the twelfe Councell of Toledo in two Councels of Constantinople the one vnder Constantius the fift the other vnder Constantinus the sixt and likewise in a Councell in Fraunce vnder Carolus Magnus did all with one voyce consent in the same But we can not heare on that side They may likewise bring in apace and alledge That the Concilium Auristanum did clearly ouerthrow mans free will and iustification by workes teaching that all our righteousnes all the good works that we can do and al that is in vs must be imputed to the only goodnes vndeserued mercye of God that it is not in our natural power to prepare our selues to mercie but that we must receiue al eueÌ„ as beggers by mere gift through meeknes of the spirit But in all this they do but loose their labour and it is euen as much as if they would cut the aire in twaine for we do not esteeme al they can say worth a rushe That being done they may bring in apace for witnesses the Councels Affricanum and Mileteranum wherin saint Augustine did set forth such stuffe as were ynough to shame them all praying to saints vtterly ouerthrowen for that there was by perfect proofe and expresse Scriptures proued and concluded That neither is nor euer hathe beene on the earth so holie a man Christ onely excepted which hath not bene spotted with sinne himselfe and had neede continually to pray for remission and forgiuenesse of his owne sinnes So farre doth it differ from that then that the Saintes should haue any sparkle of deseruings remaining ouerplus But al these authorities are not worth a nut shell neither will we receiue their witnesses Moreouer whereas they make much a doe with vs that the first councel of Nicen did consent That it was lawfull for priests to marie and that the Councel of Gangren did curse and banish all such as vnder the colour of any cloyster religion or spirituall state should forsake their wiues or deface the state of matrimonie Whervnto the Councell called sexta Synodus coÌ„senting did further and aboue that ordeine That no man should require of any priest to make the vowe of chastitie vnles they of themselues were willing so to do But all this is euen as much as to knocke at a deafe mans doore And if that they also out of the sayde Councell of Gangrensis and out of the Councell of Ancerano kept about the same time of the Councell of Nicene will go about to perswade vs that they that eat flesh vpoÌ„ the Fryday or in the Lent should not be punished nor condemned yea and that in matters of mariage and eating of meates we may not charge mens consciences by the vertue of any newe lawe or bond al that is of Dauie Duttons dreame and wee 〈…〉 wise giue anye eare vnto it Furthermore they will bragge muche vpon the first Councels of Nicene and of Constantinople for that they did ordeine That the Bishop of Rome shall not haue any authoritie or iâ—risdiction out of his owne borders to witte the landes nigh adioyning to Rome
And againe vpon the Councel of Affrica whereas the craft and falshoode of the Popes of Rome Sosimus Bonefacius Coelestinus were knowen and declared who had sought by falsifying of the Councell of Nicene to mainteine their authorities Wherevpon it was ordeyned That no man shoulde for any matter of difference appeale to Rome or ouer the Sea. Which was also established in the Councell Mileâ—etano Wee haue runne to long before the dogges to be afrayde of these matters Therefore they may go shooe the goose and make children afrayde with that which they bring forth out of the third Councel of Carthago and of the Councell of Affrica As that no man might take vpon him to be called The chiefest of the Bishops or The chiefe Bishop or High Priest yea by the Roode well sayde wee haue our aunswere readie ynough for that matter which is That men maye in no wise take vpon them to keepe or holde anie Councell at all yea though they were neuer so well defended both by the â–ª Scriptures in the Bible and by the holie fathers vnlesse they doe well and fully agree with the holy Church of Rome for she hath full power and authoritie to alter all Councels and to make them voyde of no value nor effect euen as shee shall thinke good and to explane them as shall serue best for her purpose yea to tumble and tosse them topsie turuie euen as shall best serue her turne And therefore where as menne presume so muche to alledge and bring in the ordinaunces of the Popes Gelasius and Hilarius whiche saye that the Sea of Rome is more subiect and obedient to the Councels than anie other man eyther the Councell of Basile wherein was determined and concluded That the Councell is aboue the Pope yea and that the Councell maye depose the Pope All that is not woorth a strawe For all the Balles that are serued on that syde the Tenise Court are easilye smitten backe and turned at the rebounde with halfe a woorde speaking to witte Saluo in omnibus iure Romanae Ecclesiae Which is too saye The right and authoritie of the Churche of Rome in all pointes reserued For this is the verie taiâ—e of euerie Councell wherewith they are turned about as with a rudder eeuen whither the Pope will haue them The v. Chapter VVherein is taught that the canons and decrees of Popes can not binde the Romish Churche but that she is sâ—ill aboue all decrees and maye breake and adnihilate the same so as shee shall thinke good THis same must be vnderstoode of all the former decrees and canons of all the Popes deceased For although it be cleare that they are inspirattons of the holy ghost against which it is not lawful for any man to speake so as whosoeuer doeth despise them is voide of the Catholike and Apostolike beliefe yet that notwithstanding they cannot therefore by any meanes close or shut vp the authoritie of the Church And wherfore For that there is one common rule of the holy Church set foorth for an vndoubted article of our fayth which is That the Romish church is she which doth giue to all Popes decrees their full power and might prouided alwayes that she her selfe is not in any wise subiect to the same by reason that she hath a ful power always to make such decrees and ordinances when soeuer it shall please her as hauing power and being heade ouer all Churches from which poynt no man maye dissent So after this manner doeth shee giue and graunt to the decrees full power and authoritie with this exception That she her selfe will in no wise incline or yeelde to the same but that she may do any thing agaynst the same whensoeuer it shall please her Euen like as Christ did teach the people as hauing might authoritie and power of himselfe and not like vnto the Theologians or Phariseis whiche durst neither put to nor diminishe or take from the same And euen after this maner it followeth with the Popes They giue the decrees their authoritie and yet notwithstanding this may they do as masters and Doctours of the lawe euen when they list agaynst their owne lawes and decrees â–ª and therefore the decrees and Canons doe not conclude anie thing at all without this exception That the Churche of Rome may alway vnderstande interprete and expound the same as she shal think good And herevpon it commes to passe that in all decrees one of these tales is ioyned to wit Reseruing alway the right and title of the Church of Rome or So farre forth as the Church of Rome doeth thereof allowe â–ª And so hath the high and renowmed Iurist or Lawyer Philippus Decius written namely That all decrees and Canons are by Gods appointment subiect vnto the Pope of Rome It is verie true that the holy Fathers and Popes Gelasius Felix Sosimus Vrbanus and Leo 4. haue concluded That all the decrees and ordinaunces of the Pope beeing contrarie to the olde and former decrees and Canons shoulde bee voyde and of none effecte And whereas Gregorie hath likewise ordeyned That whensoeuer any Pope wil haue his Decrees obserued then must he è contrà obserue the decrees of the Popes his predecessours But vpon that the glose saith Hoc non credo which is I doe not beleeue that And is not that answere grounded vpon good reason So that wee may boldely conclude That the holie Church will not be bounde nor pend in by any Decrees Shee is like vnto a Catte shee can not bee forced or compelled For else might these Heretikes and Huguenotes choke the holie Church with her owne decrees For they woulde bring foorth this Canon Vt quid Canon prima quidem Canon Non hoc corpus and such other like Thereby to teache that there is but one ghostly or spiritual food set forth in the Sacrament which is receyued onelie by fayth and not eaten nor swallowed vp with the teeth Further they would come out with the decree in the chapter Leginâ—us ff Quid enim dist 93. thereby to prooue That all Bishops haue like authoritie in what place soeuer they bee whether at Rome or at Canterburie and by that meanes shoulde all the authoritie of the Pope become creeple and lame whiche were a pitifull case They woulde goe about to teache out of the Chapter Vbinam distinct 96. that they ought likewise to come into the Councelles and to haue their voyces in the Consistorie euen as well as the annoynted Priestes whiche might bring in a great coÌ„fusion disorder They would mainteine by the decree of pope Gelasius That the cup in the Sacrament ought likewise to be ministred to the Lay people according to the institution ordinance of Christ for the Gela. doth esteme theÌ„ for terrible blasphemers of God robbers of the church which in that case do not folow the speciall commaundement of christ They woulde with the
decree in the chapter Placuit de consecra dist 4. bring free-will to the gallowes They woulde rid Auricular confession out of the way and vtterly confounde the defending of Priestes to marrie and quite abolish the forbearing of flesh yea they would throw downe fastens euen and Iacke a Lent and breake both their neckes Besides all this they woulde plucke downe all Bishops and Prelates all Abbaâ—s Monkes and Chanons from their riches welthinesse and merie dayes And would make of them poore beggers with Pokes because it is ordeyned by speciall woordes in the Decrees That spirituall persons shall not enjoy any landes or possessions And euen so woulde they dispossesse the holy father the Pope of all his patrimoniall goodes and heretage whereof Saint Peter by his testament hath put him in plentifull and peaceable possession and would leaue him nothing but this bare deuise or prouerbe Aurum argentum non est mecum That is to say I haue neither golde nor siluer by mee And so where he is nowe a riche God they woulde in steade thereof make of him a poore deuill and then they would driue all Priests and Parsonnes Monkes Friers and Nonnes into their Churches and Cloysters euen as men woulde driue a heard of swine into their Styes â–ª and that by force of the decree Cap. Clerici causa 14. quaest 4. and cap. peruenit dist 86. and more such like which are written in the 86. distinction And nowe note another thing which is worst of all they would mainteyne that all Priestes Monkes and Chanons with all the hellish shorne and greasie swarme are exâ—â—â—able and shameles heretikes yea accursed and false theeues â–ª and that al Cardinals Bishops and Popes haue effectually and Ipso facto forfeyted all their offices authorities benefices prebendes according to the decree Si quis dist 69. cap. Nullâ—â— cap. Baptisando 1. cap. Quicquid cap. Placuit and an innumerable companie and too long to rehearse So that herewithall shoulde our deare mother the holie Church of Rome be cleane rooted out and spoyled of all her goodly treasures riches possessions and gouernments and in the ende should vtterly loose her credite countenance and being forced to play the bankrupt should be driueÌ„ into an hospital there to ende her sorowfull and miserable dayes Therefore let euery man which will pretende to be a good and faythfull member of the holy Church looke well about him that he in no maner of wise for any thing that may be do extoll the decrees so high that the holy Church of Rome should be subiect vnto them but let our holy mother alwayes remaine vnhindered at libertie and free that shee may freely as touching all Decrees Canons writings and ordinances dispense ordeine iudge dispose order and reserue and in summe bind the diuel vpon a cushen for she neither may nor will be constreyned in any matter considering that shee is like vnto these olde Foxes which can not bee taken in anie trappe She can leape ouer all gates and hedges ouer all ditches quagmires ouer al parkes pales and she hath no other order nor rule but what she thinkes good euen her owne deuotion her good intent c. And to conclude that which shee perceyueth to tende most vnto her pleasure and profite The vi Chapter VVherin is concluded out of that vvhich is aforesayd that the benefite and profite of the Church of Rome is the onely rule and direction of all scriptures decrees and Councels HErevpon may wee boldly conclude and out of that which is sayde before make a most true and infallible generall rule That neither the holy Scripture of the olde and newe Testaments nor the writings and doctrine of the olde fathers nor Councels nor Decrees nor any other institution or ordinance in the world can be specially holden for the certein rule of fayth wherevnto the Church is bounde nor yet for the traditions and institutions of the holy Church which all Catholike men are bound to beleeue vpon paine of damnation But the estimation and benefite of the holy Church of Rome is the only principal most sure rule directioÌ„ whereby all Scriptures councels ordinances and decrees must bee guided and gouerned Yea it is the verie pricke the white and the but whâ—reat all good Catholike christeÌ„ people must shoot al their arrowes and lay their iust leuel Therfore whensoeuer the holy Scripture will serue the turne of our deare mother the Churche of Rome shee may accordingly vse it and wherein so euer the Councels can doe her any seruice she may commaunde them and when the olde Fathers say any thing that can further her cause shee may allowe it and let the rest goe Also wherein soeuer the decrees may further her purpose she may haue them in reputation and make them equall with Gods worde But whensoeuer the Scripture doth make against her she may finde a glose or an Allegorie vpon it and so couer the matter with a blewe mantle And when the olde Fathers write any thing which soundes against her holines she may thrust them out of the doores and send them packing And wherein soeuer she doeth mislike of the Councels she may admit approue other councels against them and so driue one thunder away with another And when soeuer the decrees tend any thing against the maintenaÌ„ce of her honorable state she may boldly deface theÌ„ set an earmarke on theÌ„ which shee calles Palea that is to say Chaffe or Strawe or else she may sauâ—e them with something adde vnto them a glose of Accursius â–ª or Panormitanus or of Iohn Andraeas which will bring the matter in frame As for example Whereas almightie God doth by his holy worde commaunde That no man shall make anie image or likenesse that is spoken onely for the Iewes And as the Councel of Africa only because of the ambition of the Popes of Rome who would haue questions suites to come before them and there be determined did ordeine That no man shoulde transport anie matter ouer Sea by appellation and such like Therevpon shall her Gratianus gratiouslie glosse excepting onely such as shall appeale to Rome And whereas Pope Gelasius doth command that euerie one which will not shamefullie separate the Sacrament of Christe shall minister the supper of the Lord vnder both kindes to witte of breade and wine That must be vnderstoode onely vpon al priests and so like vpon all other And when as they can finde no good glose to couer the matter withall then it is sufficient to say Non credo I do not beleue it or Hoc antiquum est This is ancient happened In illo teÌ„pore In that time c. In summe she will vse the matter so handsomely as shal make most for her own aduantage Then you may perceiue well ynough that she is like the honie Bee which wil sit vpon euery flowre and fetch out of euerie one of them that
which serues her turne to fill her hiue with pleasant and sweete honie and what soeuer is not appliable or agreeing to her purpose that she leaues vntouched Therefore the foundation of the holy Church of Rome may very wel be called A Bee hiue hauing the propertie of a tubbe wherein al maner of pleasant things are put The vii Chapter VVherin is declared that the Church of Rome can likevvise helpe her selfe vvith the opinions and doctrine of the olde Heretikes in follovving the same vvhen it serues for her purpose NOwe so farre it is from our deare mother the holy Church to be afraid to spring ouer the pales of the holie Scripture auncient Fathers Councelles and Decrees that often times she will go and solace her self in the pleasant medowes and greene fieldes of the olde heretikes which haue alwayes bin extreeme enemies and directly contrarie to the holy scripture and the Fathers and of them doeth she borrowe very many goodly iewelles too furnishe beautiefie her Gabanet or bee Hiue withall For it is wel knowen and euident that she hath learned of the Heretike Pelagius That we notwithstanding the fall of Adam do still possesse a free will and haue power to Iustifie our selues and to fulfil al the commaundementes of God if we our selues will and That it is not the onelye grace of God whereby we are iustified as Paule doth teache but an helper only after that we of our selues haue prepared our selues therevnto Also That Christ did by his death merit for original sinne onely and that for all other our daily sinnes we our selues must answere and make sufficient amendes Of the Messalians or Euchites likewise of the Pelagians she hath gathered that baptisme alone doth not make vs perfect Christians but is onely necessarie to washe away our originall sin to helpe vs out of our first shipwracke But if we fal againe so run in danger of a second shipwracke theÌ„ we must seke for another plaÌ„ke to helpe vs out of hazard Shee hath likewise sucked out of the breasts of the MessaliaÌ„s to mumble out her Mattines The seuen Psalmes and the Pater noster by â–ª number vpon a paire of beades and with a burning candle pretending thereby to obteine great pardones and to doe vnto God great seruice Also whereas she doeth vse spittle in baptizing after that the diuell is coniured that shee tooke of the Messalians who did teache That men might driue away the diuel with spitting Of the Saturnialles Ebeonites Tatians and Encratites shee hath learned That the state of Mariage is vncleane and spotted and that such as wil please God and be cleane purified must wholy refraine them selues from it Also That there is great holinesse in absteining from eating of fleshe and vsing of certeine other meates although she hath set the things out vnder another colour to the ende men might not knowe froÌ„ whence they come Besides this she hath borrowed of the Montanistes manie newe fasting dayes which she hath commaunded and coÌ„firmed to be obserued vpon paâ—ne of great punishment and beside that on or cemeÌ„ts In the schoole of the Coloredlanes shee hath learned to praye to the holye Virgine Marie and to immolate or offer vp her oblations Of Marcus the sorcerer and Heretike she hath learned to vse in her seruice sacrifices certeine strange wordes in Hebrewe and other languages Of the Anthropomorphites to painte God the Father in the forme of a man with a gray beard Of the Gnostikes and Carpocratians to set vp images of Christ and other Saints and to worship the same with censing and other maner of deuotions vnlesse men will say as Eusebius in the 7. booke of histories in the 18. chap. doth declare that this erecting of images did first spring from the Heathen And last of all she hath learned of Simon the sorcerer father of al Heretikes to giue Bishoprikes Benefices Masse Mattius and Sacraments for money and yet not to sell them For it is but a simple bargaine or contract which the Lawyers call Do vt des I giue that thou mayest giue againe Euen like to Simon who would giue money to receiue the holy ghost So that it is very plaine apparaunt that shee can helpe her selfe well ynough with the doctrines and opinions of Heretikes and sucke out of them what shee thinkes good to carie into her Bee hiue Yea shee doeth in manie things agree with the Alcaron of Mahomet and with the Turkes religion as specially in many pilgrimages in praying vnto dead Saints in the obseruing of fasting dayes in diuers sortes orders of Monkes and particularly in the doctrine of Freewill and iustification by workes Now whether they haue borrowed that of Mahomet or he receiued it from them by reason he had a holy Monke one Sergius for an assistent companion I referre that to the iudgement of the Doctors of Louen Thus much once by the waye that it is easie to be noted that it is all one per dominum and all diet in one fatte and that she is like to a cunning spinner which can make good thred of all sortes of flaxe The viii Chapter Declaring that the Church of Rome hath likevvise borrovved manye things of the levves vvhich shee doeth set forth and holde as articles of the faith NOwe as touching the Iewes shee hath not forgotten to followe them sundrie wayes and that is apparant ynough in that which our master Gentianus hath declared in this worke For hee will mainteine that the Transubstantiation of the bread into the very body of Christ and the changing or turning of the substaÌ„ce of the wine into his verie blood maye bee proued by the testimonies of the Iewishe Rabbines And that is without doubt for one of their Rabbines named Rabbi Moses Hazardan writing vppon the 136. Psalme where the Prophet saith O Lord thou giuest all fleshe their foode saieth thus This texte doth fully and wholy agree with that which is saide in the 34. Psalme Taste and see howe pleasant the Lord is For the bread or meate which he giues to euery man is his fleshe and with the tasting or with the eating it is turned into flesh Out of this hath a good Monke a Catholike writer concluded That this Iewish Rabbin did well vnderstand Transubstantiation which he doth yet againe coÌ„firme by another named Rabbie Cahana who vttereth maruelous woÌ„derful speculations vpoÌ„ that texte of Moses where Iacob did promise to his sonne Iuda an vnspeakable vnmesurable quantitie of wine milke by these wordes He shal binde his foales to the vinetree and his asses to the noble vine branches he shal wash his clothing in wine his mantle in the bloud of grapes his teeth are whiter than milk For out of these woordes of Iacob doeth the foresaid Rabbi conclude That the asse doeth here signifie Messias into whose bodie and bloud the wine shal
would likewise follow all a flant to help vs for they will neuer suffer their cunning whereby they caused their Hecate their Iupiter Elicius with certeine woordes in their sacrifice to come out of heauen in spite of their teeth to be plucked froÌ„ them And beside that they would likewise ioyne with vs to defend their Metamorphosis that is their Transubstantiation And they would bring at their tailes a band and noble supplie of 113. Bishops who altogether in a Councelâ— at Rome haue concluded That it must be so And that it is the verie flesh of Christ not onely sacramentally but the verie bodie in deede and as they terme it Sensualiter that it to say That men may feele and taste it It is broken with handes and with teeth torne eaten and digested Herevpon they haue accursed all those that doe not so beleeue And with them should be coupled all the great wise and profound Doctours and sententious writers to wit Paschasius LaÌ„cfrancus Thomas de Aquino Scotus Innocentius Comestor Amarcanus Gerson Gabriel Biel Durandus Alexander de Ales Occan Petrus Hispanus Albertus Magnus Raimundus Lullius Petrus LoÌ„bardus Petrus de Aliaco Petrus de Bella pertica Rabanus Panormitanus Bricot and Halcot And these would drawe forth with them al the good Catholike men that haue bene in our time And these noble Cardinals specially would make a great stirre in the field as Thomas Caritanus Reginaldus Polus Stanislaus Hosius and these deepe Doctours Master Syluester Prierias Thomas Radinus Ambrosius Catharinus Iacobus Hoochstratanus Iohannes Cochleus Iohannes Eckius Iacobus Latomus Magister noster de Quercu IohaÌ„nes a Louanio â–ª Iodocus Tiletanus Ruardus Tappard ab Enchusia In summe all the Doctours of Paris of Louen of Collen yea all the Licentiates and Bacchelers all these would set so stoutly on euerie side vpon these Heretikes that they may thanke God if they get froÌ„ them without leauing a limme behinde them For they would vndoubtedly teare them in pieces with their teeth and swallowe them vp whole haire and hide euen as they do with their god Or if it were so that they could not well bring that to passe by reason that the Heretikes are more heauie to digest than their god in the Masse is then there would come to helpe them Maister Deane Romist the Procurour Generall with a great companie of Catchpolles hangmen with staues and stakes with fire and sworde with strawe and fagottes and would set them on fire and so burne them vp by clusters and then their disputing were at an end Then also were S. Paule packt vp in a male with all his Prophets Apostles Would not the matter go well then with these Heretikes Lutheranes No no it is much better for them to tarie at home with their Paule than to deliuer him againe a freshe into the handes of the Iewes In summe our Maister Gentianus hath great reson that he like a strong and inuincible Goliah doeth so stoutly ouerbragge and outface all the whole heape of these Caluinistes Zwinglians and Huguenotes yea so couragiously that they dare neuer be so bolde as to come againe in their sights to dispute against the fagots So that nowe his conclusion knitting vp of the matter ramaines fâ—â—st and vnremoueable as specially That they are misbeleeuing Heretikes seeing they do not beleeue all what soeuer the holie Church beleeues and so consequently do denie the xii Articles of the faith The second parte Now doeth followe the exposition vpon the second parte of the Epistle of Gentian Haâ—uet wherein is discoâ—â—sed the â—ight and sufficiencie of the Scriptures and specially of the exposition of the same And fuâ—â—her al the points of the Romish beleefe are approued by the Scripture The Preface wherein this treatie is diuided in two partes NOw followeth in order the second part of this epistle which Master Gentianus doth 〈◊〉 be a fastidious sâ—rupâ—se that is to say A morseâ— which he can not wel swallowe without chewing as specially that the Heretikes will mainteine That we ought not to receiue any doctrine besides the worde of God set foorth in the holie Scriptures But nowe there resteth no more difficultie in this matter for wee haue prepared for him in the former article such a pill that he will lightly slappe it vp considering what a wide throte he hath For wee haue substantially and stedfastly herevpon concluded and also pronounced sentence irreuocable That the Scripture cannot ouerrule our deare mother the holie Church nor bring her vnder subiection And therefore we wil not breake our heads about this matter but will referre leaue it to the iudgement of our Maisters of Louen intending now to intreate of the vnderstanding and meaning of the scripture wherein we haue two principall pointes to set forth and determine vpon The first that we declare what is the power authoritie of the holie church in setting forth the Scripture and to applie it to her aduantage The seconde That we by plaine examples declare and proue that she hath finely set foorth this power and authoritie in the establishing of all the commaundements of her doctrine ceremonies and all manner of deuotions so that she doeth not enioy in her seruice anie one thing great or small but she knoweth finely to fetch the foundation of them out of the plaine texte of the holy scripture out of that to make the matter so cleare manifest that you may see it euen as well in the darke as with a candle These two pointes wee will set forth plainly before the eyes of all men with the helpe and assistance of the sweet deare Ladie of Halle al the sweete hee Saints shee Saintes at Antwerpe being there placed vpon the hie altar and thereto we will call for the helpe of the holie Ghost deuoutly saying an Aue Maria. Oremus Aue Maria c. The first Chapter That the holy Church of Rome onely hath power to expound and set forth the Scripture after her will and as shee doth vnderstand it And of the keyes and keybands which shee hath receiued to that end and that euerie man ought to be content with her exposition NOwe as concerning the first part our famous Doctours and Licentiates of Louen Paris do ioyntly teach That the holy scripture is a duÌ„mbe teacher a boke of dissentioÌ„ a dark vncertein doutful dead letter a nose of wax a leaden rule Which is as much to say that a man may pull it bow it winde it and turne it which way it shall please him And therefore they conclude thus Ergo the ground and letter of the Scripture is no direction or guide but that office belongeth only to the right vnderstaÌ„ding meaning therof Now the interpretations of them appertein to our deare mother the holy church of Rome onely And because she hath it in deede euery man shall be contented with her interpretation wiâ—hout anie further canuâ—sing â—iâ—ting or examining of that
which our louing mother the holy Church hath made vpon it let it bee allegoricall or anagogicall or what it will this is onelie that which makes mightie and liuing because this alone both agree with the iudgement of the holy Church of Rome And all they which doe truely follow her those are permitted to liue in all libertie and wealth yea although they do not beleue that there is a god Therefore whosoeuer will not accept this interpretation of the holie church and vnderstand the scripture ghostly or spiritually as the Catholikes doe vnderstande and interprete the same he is a damned Heretike and his processe is at an ende although he had all the textes of the scripture verie plaine the whole volume of the Bible on his side for the textes can not helpe him without the glasses hee is but a dead man yea though he had an hundred liues lying in a Chest especially if he come once in the handes of the holie Inquisition hee must abie for it it is but lost labour to talke further thereof And for this cause I doe maruell that our good master Gentian will breake his head about this matter namely to proue That the Scripture alone is not sufficient for our mother the holie Church as though that matter were not plaine and euident inough sithence we may daily both see and feele it And yet notwithstanding commes he out here with his profounde speculation in such sort as he hath almost therein forgotten himselfe I cannot iudge otherwise but that the vnmeasurable zeale which hee beares to the welfare of his deare mother the holy Church must haue perforce tumbled him topsie â—uruie ouerthwart the field that he did not well see what he said he is like to kine which are stâ—ung and chaced with a waspe or horseflie they runne on following their noses like mad beasts shun neither stock nor stone For here it seemes that his wittes be rauished For where hee doth say That the doctrine of the holy Trinitie cannot be proued by the Scripture that is farre too grosse Otherwise wee must condemne the foure first Councels of falshoode who did by approbation conclude vpon the same out of the holie Scriptures verie strongly and with vndoubted testimonies of truth yea and if we could as well defend the Masse with plaine textes of the Scripture as the blessed Trinitie may thereby be confirmeâ— a great manie priests no doubt shoulde not eate so leane brewes as now they do It is true that this worde Trinitie neither this worde Consubstantiall that is to say Euangelicall in being substance is not so printed in the scripture But the Huguenots say plainly that they will not make anie brabbling about these wordes but will simply followe the true ground meaning substance of the Scripture Now it is plainly wriâ—ten That there are three in heauen which giue witnes to wit the father the worde and the holie ghost that these three are al one There is likewise written That there is but one Baptisme and one God and yet notwithstanding we are coÌ„manded that we shall be baptised In the name of the father of the sonne and of the holie ghost So that it is apparant that the doctrine or approbation of the Trinitie was not sowed out of the Popes thumbe as purgatorie the holie Masse were but are plainly alledged in the scripture after the letter The like is to be said touching the two sacrameÌ„ts of Baptisme of the Supper of the lord For although this worde Sacrament is not found in the scripture yet the substance the being and the ground of the doctrine is without exception coÌ„cluded out of the scripture according to the letter plaine wordes of the text For the Circumcision and the Pascall lambe are openly called The promises of God and doe signifie the promises of God left in liuely remembrance of his mercie to the coÌ„firming of our iustificatioÌ„ by faith And now doth Paul teach that Circumcision is signified in Baptisme and that the sacrament of the Lords supper is likewise appointed by Christ in remembrance of his death passion Whervpon it is called The new promise in the bloud of Christ and ministred in place of the Pascall lamb Insomuch that heretikes out of that do teach That baptisme the supper of our Lord are onely sacraments that is holy tokens of Gods promises made in the bloud and passion of Iesus Christ. Which we cannot say of that holy oyle nor of their holy confirmation and other Sacraments which our deare mother the holie Church hath instituted of great deuotion and ioyned them to the two first for an help or assistance yea and the same likewise established and defended That Confirmation by her instituted is much more worthie than baptisme which Christ himselfe coÌ„manded And why Forsooth because it cannot be ministred or executed by any simple or common Priest as baptisme may but only by a Suffragane or Bishop and that it makes one ful christned and doth giue the holy ghost more plentifully effectually than baptism doth which was instituted by Christ. As in her decrees and booke of Sentences is in plaine wordes written Now besides all this the heretikes doe also say That wee are not able to alledge or bring out of the holie Scripture so much as one worde which speakes of the Masse nor of annoynting of priests nor of their sinne offrings of their priests office of their pardons Popes bulles no nor of the Pope himselfe nor of the praying to Saints images of our Ladie nor al those saints which do so many goodly miracles nor of their purgatorie nor of their auricular confession nor of their whorish chastitie of Priests Monks Nonnes In summe they will say it is nothing else but mens inuentions and deuises of diuels which the priests haue called to remeÌ„brance to bring in monie by heapes and to pamper their panches with daintie dishes but is not this a spiteful matter And yet our master Gentian letteth that slippe vntouched where he should haue proued That all these pointes are aswell concluded out of the scripture as the twelue articles of the faith He saith in deed that Ieremie had said before That the new lawe of the Gospell should bee written in mens hearts whereby we will conclude that men ought not to seeke them in the scripture but in the head and heart of the Pope of Rome of his holy Prelates for that the Pope hath all lawes both of God man shut vp in his bosome breast as hereafter shal be declared more at large But this serues to no purpose against the Heretikes for they are so lustie that they would make M. Gentian ashamed hereof if he had anie shame in his bodie Which I do not iudge of anie such great doctor who hath long ago put off his shamefast shooes and laid them aside nay â—ast them cleane away But
brother did establish the masse theÌ„ it appereth that it is come from the Apostles therefore neede we not anie more testimonies of scripture or other authorities For whereas the Heretikes wiâ—l seeme to ouerthrowe this saying That it is an euident and detestable lie considering that Basilius was Bishop of Caesarea wel nigh three hundred yeares or there about after the death of S. Iames so that by reason thereof he cannot haue established the Masse with S. Iames Vnto that we answere That they are too much nosewise for vs our deare mother the holy church goeth not so preciselie to work An inch breakes no square It skilles not for three or foure hundred yeeres more or lesse when otherwise it serueth her turne Notwithstanding that she hath two diuers wayes to answere their demaund For shee may â—ay that there fortuned a great miracle to wit that S. Iames the Lords brother did rise againe froÌ„ death about 300. yeres after he was buried to come helpe Basilius to sing Masse or she may likewise say That Iames did in his time establishe the Masse but because there were no altars to be found by reson there was not yet as then any reliques of Saints which had wroght miracles and that men might not without being furnished with certein reliques erect anie altars to serue Masse vpon it may be that the Masse knittâ— vp in an Atturnies bagge hanged vp vpon a pinne in some corner till the coÌ„ming of Basilius which was about 300. yeres after like as otherwhiles they hang vp some processes at Machelin vpon a naile a hundred yeares or two In summe let it be as it wil it is all one Once we coÌ„clude hereby that the Masse was ordeined by Iames the apostle And it is to be thought that Iames had learned it of Clement pope of Rome who had written two pleasant letters vnto him wherein he doth specially treat of the seat of the B. of Rome and that Peter through his desertes or merites was become the foundation of the Church and so forth declares at large how the Masse shall be deuoutly done what apparell what hallowing and what other necessaries shall be vsed in the doing of it in what clothes the Sacrament shall be laid that it may bee kept cleane from Mouse dongue and that no wormes nor mothes come at it as in the first part of the councels in the second letter of Clement is by expresse wordes specified Whereby may be noted what great and heauie troubles this good Clement had and what maner of Prophet he was considering that hee set out in writing all the ceremonies of the holie Church which were not founde yet in 700. or 800. yeares after Clements time And therefore it is that our deare mother the holy Church doth make so high an holiday of these decretall letters of Clement and of other his companions that she hâ—th out of the same established a great manie of her ordinances and holy ceremonies In summe it is plaine and euident that the holie Masse hath her ground and foundation without the Scripture The .iii. Chapter That the name and Ceremonies of the Masse are fished out of the holie Scripture NOwe as touching the name of the Masse that hath likewise her beginning vndoubtedly out of the holy scripture notwithstanding that there are manie and diuerse opinions of the same For it is not verie long ago that certeine great doctours of the Sorâ—onish schole at Paris did out of that that is alway written at the end of all the Epistles which Saint Paule hath written from whence they were sent sounding in the Latine tongue Missa est c. conclude saying That Paule did thereby giue to vnderstande whither men should goe to heare high Masse on the Sunday And nowe besides this there was a Magister noster which said that the Apostle Andrew had a Masse booke and had spoken of the Masse for Iohn reherseth that Andrew said to Peter his brother That he had found the Messias or the annointed Christ of whom Moses doth beare witnesse And this soundes in the coÌ„mon translation in Latin thus Inuenimus Messiam quod dicitur Christus which wordes this wise doctour did expounde thus We haue founde out the Masse which Christ hath done Is not that well hit God helpe vs Who dare now from henceforth be so stout as to say That the Masse standeth not in the scripture But now bycause that these Heretikes will needes be so nosewise wil vnderstand all languages insomuch that they do mocke hereat saying that Messias doth not signifie a Masse â–ª but The Messias that is to say The annointed Now Peter Lombard the writer of the sentences doth set downe another opinion and iudgement saying That this name Missa is as much to say as Sending is so named for that at all times there is an Angel sent out of heauen to consecrate the Corpus domini that is The Lordes bodie by whom the Priest doth send his consecrated God forwardes towardes heauen at such time as he hath vsed these wordes following in the Masse Omnipotens Deus iube haec perferri per manus sancti Angeli tui in sublime altare tuum c. that is to say O almightie God commande that this may by the handes of thy holie Angel be caried vp to thy high holy altar c. And out of this he doth further conclude that whersoeuer that Angel doth not come it cannot be said that there is a Masse But truely this must be but meere dalliance for if that were true that they must tarie for the Angel there woulde not be one Masse to be founde in the whole world where notwithstanding there are Masses soung daily by heapes And therfore hath our deare mother the holy church driuen in another naile here and concluded in the Councell of Senona that Missa is an Hebrewe worde now what it doth signifie is vncertein For notwithstanding that the same Councell saith that it betokeneth a cleane offering yet doth not that well agree with the Hebrewe tongue vnlesse it were so that it were named Nisset But it appeares much rather to haue come of Massah which in the Hebrewe doeth signifie Heauinesse or Curssing or else of an other Massah which is interpreted Seeking bycause the Priestes doe with fiue wordes seeke God to see if hee will come into the bread Euen as the children of Israel did seeke God in the wildernesse Raphidim to know also whether he were with them or no by reason whereof the place was called Massah that is say Seeking notwithstanding that it may be much more strongly founded out of Daniel who speaking of the Romish Empire saith That they shall haue a newe God Maosim to whom they shall pray and do worship with golde siluer and precious stones that is to say A God of strength and of force Wherein without doubt he doth speake of the Masse-God
commande that these stones bee made bread Consider now is not that a plain declaration wherto no answer is to be made And by this it is wel to be thought that the diuell woulde gladly haue had a Masse in the wildernesse but onely that it could not be for lacke of bread And this may possibly be the cause wherefore our mother the holie Church doth vpon all the altars and in all thee bookes where this storie is in hand and dealt withall clothe the diuell in a friers cowle to the end men may knowe that he was an holie Heremit or an Anker which did verie deuoutly say Masse in the wildernesse and therefore doth looke out so Masselike But when he saw he did lacke bread then he sought and made meanes to our Lorde to see if he would erect a newe transubstantiation And now because this temptation of the diuell is in the Hebrewe tongue called Massah as is before rehearsed therefore it is not to be thought vnlike that our Masse hath thereof borrowed her name For as Satan said Commaunde that these stones be made bread so say the priests in their Masse Command that this bread be made a bodie or flesh Wherein the Priestes are something more likerish than their maister was for that they will not bee contented with drie bread â–ª but that hath his vnderstanding and meaning Howbeit thus much it is in effect That our dere mother the holy church hath out of this Massah or temptatioÌ„ of the diuell verie strongly established her Transubstantiation The vi Chapter Establishing the sufficiencie of the Sacrament vnder the substance of bread alone WE haue heretofore set forth that the holie Church of Rome hath directly against the coÌ„mandment of Christ against the vse of the Apostles and against the long continued custome maner of the primatiue Church commanded That the Lay people should not receiue the Sacrament of the Lordes Supper but vnder one kind only to wit of the bread as it is plainly set foorth in the decree at the Councel of Constance here before declared But now because it shal not seeme that she hath much a do to wrest a text or twaine of the Scripture to bring them in to serue her turne she doth therfore allege here manifest texts wherewith she doth set all things net fine and in perfect frame To begin withall it is written in the 6. of Iohn This is that bread which commeth from heauen that he which eateth thereof should not die I am that liuing bread which came downe from heauen if anie man eate of this bread he shal liue for euer And the bread that I will giue is my flesh which I will giue for the life of the world c. Note here now doth he meddle but with the bread saith Eckius Ergo the Lay people neede not the wine That soundes as well as if a man shoulde make this argument Christ saith in the 15. of Iohn I am the true vine you are the braunches c. Here he speakes onely of the vine and not of the bread Ergo the Lay people need not receiue the Sacrament vnder the substance of bread but only vnder the substance of a vine Is not that verie well reasoned to catch the Heretikes in a trap After that we read that Christ was known in Emaus vnto two of his disciples by breaking of bread there is not one word of drinking Ergo the Lay people may not drink out of the Chalice And if anie man thinke that Christ should not there haue ministred a sacrament as the Heretikes will say that is a lie for our deare mother the holie church hath determined otherwise declaring that he did minister the Sacrament two times once at Hierusalem for the Priests at his last supper another time at Emaus for the Lay people after his resurrection And although it is certeine that these two disciples were Cardinals not Lay men as Eckius in deede doth finely mainteine in a certein place yet what is that to the purpose Did you neuer see Cardinals that were no Priests That is no newes There are now a dayes that are but young children newly crept out of the shelles And when all this is saide there is no where written that these two disciples had shauen crownes or the priestly character or cognisance Ergo then must they needes be Lay people Now thirdly we pray thus in the Pater noster Giue vs this day our daily bread and we do not speake of anie wine wherfore then should the Lay people desire to drinke wine in the Communion And although the priests theÌ„selues sing the same wordes in their Masse yet notwithstanding are not content with drie bread that cannot serue the turne For the prrests must needes haue some prerogatiue because they are the beloued children of our mother the holy Church Fourthly â—uke in the Acts of the Apostles writeth That those which beleeued continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayer which streight-way after he setteth out more amplie saying And sold their possessions goods and parted them to al men as euery man had neede And they continued daily with one accord in the Temple brake bread in euerie house and did eate their meate together with gladnes and singlenes of heart praysing God. Out of this doth our deare mother the holie Church coÌ„clude That the cup ought not to be ministred vnto the Lay people in the Supper of the Lorde because that here is no mention made of wine but onely of bread For although in manie other places of holy scripture all kindes of meates and drinkes are vnderstoode vnder the name of bread and eating yet that can not take place here considering that our deare mother the holy Church hath otherwise interpreted the same And Paul hath directly written That all men should esteeme the Apostles and Preachers as Ministers of Christ and disposers of the secretes of God. For out of this doth our dere mother the holie Church teach That the Priests are to be resembled to God and are mediators betweene God and the people and so by this meanes may freely chaunge or alter the Sacraments as they shall thinke good Is not this a subtile and double dealing with the Scripture Wherefore then doe these Heretikes say That we haue no scriptures wherewith to defend this our doing whereas we bring in sacks ful of Scripture as all men may see And then touching that they will beate vs with our owne rodde saying That the Church her selfe hath alwayes done otherwise as may appeare out of the ancient fathers Councels and Canons we care not a point for that we hang that on the hatch For all that is past and gone the worlde is now in another state than it was then For in those dayes they were for the most part all readie to shedde their bloud for the
christian beliefe And for that cause did they drinke the bloud of Christ as the Catholike Doctours haue written according to the doctrine of Cyprianus saying how can they shed their owne bloud for Christes sake if they doe not drinke of Christs bloud But now there is no more tidings of those matters for the holy church of Rome wil not lose one drop of her bloud considering that she hath ynough to do for the defence of the holy Catholike faith to shed the bloud of the Lutherans and Caluinists like water in the streetes And therefore it is not any more needful that the Lay people should drinke the bloud of Christ out of the Chalice vnder the substance of wine They can digest it well inough rawe as it was shed out of the bodie of Christ Iesus yet for all that the priests haue this aduantage that they may drinke the bloud of Christ both waies And yet is not the bloud of Christ in the Sacrament taken quite away from the Lay people For when they do eate the whole body with flesh bones it is certeine that they gette in the bloud wall For the before named Bonauentura doth make mention of a certein miracle of one which would not beleue that there was any bloud in the holy Ost or singing bread vsed in the holie Masse and sodeinly there came bloud ruÌ„ning out And likewise Alexander de Ales doth declare that vpoÌ„ a time when the people would haue receiued the Sacrament vnder both kindes there was sodenlie before them a platter full of bloud whereof the good deuoute people being meruellously abashed were glad to content them selues with the one And that the bloud vndoubtedlie is with the bodie we haue here before by manie other miracles declared sufficientlie proued Therefore haue the Laie people no occasion to complaine as though the bloud of Christ were denied them for euen the Priestes them selues are contented with one kinde on the good Fridaie next after the shire Thursday when they haue had their sops in good Bastard or Romnay For then the next day being good Friday they sing a drie Masse and keepe a Mouses banket as well as the Laie people doe at Easter Before time likewise in the Iewish church the Laie people had no parte of the drinke offerings but the Priestes onelie For although that Chrysostome saith touching this matter that this is now changed and that in this Sacrament the Laie people must enioye the like meate and drinke as the Priestes doe so as nowe the one hath no more aduantage than the other as they had in the olde Lawe yet can not the saying of Chrysostome anie thing serue in this place For against Chrysostome wil we set Brother Barnard of Luxenburgh professour in Theologie and Iohn Eckius with all other good Catholike writers of our time who haue otherwise written and determined of this matter And as touching that which the Huguenotes do alledge out of Paule yea out of Iesus Christ him selfe saying That Paule did command all christen people to do according as Christ had ordeined and as Christ had saide Drinke all of this We do answere to that That this was onelie a simple permission and not a speciall commandement as he saith in another place Destroie this temple and I will builde it vp againe within three dayes for that is no commaundement but onely a permission as if he said If it be so in deede that you will destroie this temple of my bodie I will not forbidde you but I will builde him vp againe c. In like manner doeth our mother the hâ—lie Church saie that these woordes Drinke you all of this And As often as you drinke this you shall declare the death of the Lord Those wordes are thus to be vnderstoode as though he had said I doe not will you Laie people to doe so but the Priestes onelie notwithstanding if you will doe it and that the Priestes are contented withall I will not then bee against it Thus you see the game is won Nowe let vs to an other matter tending to the like ende The vii Chapter VVhich doeth treate of full satisfaction for sinnes of the desertes of good workes also of the merites of Christes passion and of Iustification of the difference betweene mortall sinnes and veniall sinnes and of the assured hope of saluation NOwe seeing that wee haue sufficientlie spoken of the holie Masse and the Sacrament of the altar and that our mother the holie Church of Rome doeth moreouer teache and set foorth for an article of the faith That wee by desert hearing a Masse and receiuing the Sacrament may make full amendes for our offences and sufficientlie satisfie for our sinnes therefore it is now verie necessarie that we something treate of satisfaction for sinnes and of deseruing by good works the rather because the Heretikes do with their scriptures so trouble vs touching this point as they turne both the spit and the rost meat into the ashes in so much that wee shall loose both the sheepe and the fleece if wee suffer this to be so plucked from vs And therefore it is necessarie to put all good Catholike children in remembrance that in no wise they doe giue anie eare to the Heretikes touching this point for feare lest therby they should be brought out of the right way and so by receiuing their goodlie reasons multitude of scriptures be persuaded from their due obedience to the holie Church of Rome And to the ende that euerie man should be warned and not by negligence sodenlie taken in a trappe therefore shall I set out something more at large their meaning touching this point to the ende that euery one may see whether our deare mother the holie Church haue not iust occasion so bitterlie to curse and banish their doctrine Then to beginne withall they do take vpon them to defende and mainteine by Scripture That all sinnes are deadlie mortall because that sinne is the breaking of Gods commaundements as S. Iohn saith And That who soeuer doeth not obserue all whatsoeuer God hath commaunded in his Lawe is accursed For S. Iames doeth witnesse That who soeuer transgresseth in one point of the Lawe is guiltie in the whole considering that the same God which câ—mmaunded the one did also commaunde the other In so much that all those which commit sinne are through sinne alienated and estranged from the life which is onelie to bee had at the hand of God and so must fall into the hand of heath seeing that The recoÌ„pense of sinne is death according to the saying of S. Paule whereby all men without anie exception which are vnder sinne are likewise vnder the bondage of eternall malediction death and damnation considering that all haue sinned are fallen away from that life which is of God into his wrath and do thereby become if the speciall mercie of God were not
mother How can it be that she should be so ouerseene should then all good catholikes haue hitherto reckoned and still do reckon without their host should our forefathers haue deserued none otherwise by building Cloisters Abbies Trentals Masses and such like deuotions should all that be lost O no I defie that We will rather forsake the whole Scripture Peter and Paule with the whole rable of them than that such a slaunder should rise and take place in the holy Catholike Apostolike Popish church of Rome For if that were so then should all our Decrees decretals all our Sentences and Seâ—tentiaries al orders ordinances old customes vsages priuiledges and old proceedings of the holie church all masses with the appurtenances al priests and priestly doings and so one diuell with another be cleane ouerthrowen And then it must needes followe that the Lutherans Zwinglians Caluinistes shal yet againe beare the swing all the shorne swarme of holie shauelings with all the Sophisters Theologians of Louen with all the newe Bishops Abbats Monks Prelats giue place To what purpose then I pray you should the Duke of Alba with his Spaniards serue hauing taken so troublesome a iournie vpon him to stand the Bishops instead of Sargeants hangmen and to set vp the ruined Romish church in her authoritie againe O no no we will neuer be giuen to vnderstand beleeue that the scripture doth teach this for otherwise the scriptures must be heretical directly against the holie church then shuld the scriptures haue deserued to be burnt aswel as the Huguenotes Wel surely our Doctors of Louen haue likewise perused the scriptures our newe Bishops do daily reade their seruice Masse booke at lest when they haue leasure but they find not this written there therfore it is to be thought that either the heretikes haue other Epistles Gospels than is written in our Masse booke read in the church or there is more malt in the mill than the miller will be acknowen of For although our mother the holy church is content to graunt the heretiks that Christ is our right redeemer hath sufficiently satisfied for our sins because it shal not seeme they haue vtterlie forsaken Christ thrust him out of his seat yet is not that so to bee vnderstood that he onely must be taken for our ful raunsome and satisfaction or that he should haue fullie made our peace with God the Father through the offering vp of his bodie bloud so as we should now through his merites be esteemed for righteous and the children of God and haue an assured belefe that God hath for his sake forgiuen vs all our sinnes is to vs a good louing Father as these heretikes will needes proue by their Bible No no it wil not go so easilie to worke we must go otherwise to worke we our selues must paie our debtes with our owne monie satisfie God sufficiently for our sinnes or otherwise all would be naught For it doth not beecome the mercie of God saith the councel of Trent that he should forgiue vs our debtes for nothing without anie former satisfactioÌ„ And although it be so that Paul doeth take on him to defend that Abraham hath no iust occasion to presume of him selfe before God of any desert or former works yea saith That he that works not but doth stedfastly beleeue in him that doth iustifie the vngodly to him is his beleefe for righteousnesse as Dauid also saieth touching the iustification of those to whom God doth impute righteousnes without any works by these words Blessed are they whose vnrighteousnes is forgiuen and whose sins are couered Blessed is that man to whoÌ„ God imputeth not sin yet that holie ghost of the couÌ„cell of Trent hath concluded the contrarie saying thus Whosoeuer will defend mainteine that the vngodly are iustified by faith only that for the obteyning of Gods mercie his works are not needful let him be accursed And our Doctors of Louen haue once for all acknowledged iudged That God may not impute righteousnes to any maÌ„ through faith vnlesse he be righteous of him selfe For consider this is the conclusion of the worshipfull profound learned Magistri nostri Ioice RaueÌ„stein of Thielt in his booke which he now a while agoe did write against the Lutherans of Antwerpe This pretended righteousnes saith he doeth tend first against naturall reason for it cannot stand with any natural reason â–ª that one which had no wisedome in his head should yet notwithstanding be called wise either else righteous who hath no inwarde righteousnesse in him selfe Secondarilie it is slaunderous against the holie Ghost who hath testified and witnessed of manie men in the scripture that they were righteous before God so should the holy Ghost be attached for a false witnesse Thirdlie it doeth differ from the doctrine of the Catholike Fathers Consider now here we haue a clere iudgement irreuocable sentence wherevpon it must rest That Paule hath spoken amisse in saying that God doeth ascribe righteousnes to the vngodlie without any works For what is the meaning of this ascâ—ibing our alowing Our sharpwitted Magistri nostri of Louen can not by their naturall reasons nor with al then Syllogismes Quotlibets nor other speculacions conceiue the same no nor will permit that God should impute righteousnes or yet couer sinnes through the merites of Christ to one that were not righteous of him selfe by deeds that had sufficiently satisfied for his sinnes by his deeds so that God is not licenced to name things that are not as though they were as Paule ascribes vnto him or to deck vs with a righteousnes and obedience which we haue not deserued our selues our deare mother the holie Church of Rome doeth esteeme it for a foolishnes vntowardnesse and blasphemie against God that Christ onelie should be our wisedome our righteousnes our holines and our only redemption Shee will haue it that we shall euen of our selues and by our selues haue our owne wisedome righteousnesse holinesse and redemption before God at least if we will be esteemed for righteous She doth esteeme it for a foolish and faithlesse trust that one should trust to the righteousnesse of anie other than him selfe She will haue it that euerie one shall be iustified by his owne righteousnesse and by his owne merites and therewithall satisâ—â—e and pay all the sinnes and offences wherewith hee may bee by anie meanes iustly burthened It is true That originall sinne hath some preeminence and that it may not be tried to the vttermost point For notwithstanding that originall sinne is that which makes vs the children of wrath and brings vs to death yet will our mother the holie Church stay a little and pale in Gods determination and persuade the best betwixt both saying That it doth not well become the righteousnesse of God that he should deale with those which before baptisme haue
recourse to him with perfect and steadfast hope through their beliefe in him and That God who abounds in mercie hath through his inestimable loue wherewith he hath loued vs when we were dead in sin made vs aliue againe in Christ through whose mercie wee are beecome holie yea and hath raised vs vp againe and placed vs in the heauens by Christ Iesus iustifying vs of his meere mercie through faith not through our selues but through the gift of God not by workes least anie man should boast himselfe so that from henceforth none can charge or blame the elect of God for it is he only which doth iustifie them who therefore can condemne them seeing that Christ hath suffered for them So that they are assured that neither death nor life nor Angel nor rule neither might nor power neither anie thing present nor to come neither hight nor depth nor any other creature can separate them from the loue of God shewed in Christ Iesus our Lord With manie such other like thinges which Paule speaketh of But all that cannot helpe For our mother the holie Church will haue that vnderstood onely of such as haue and are assured of the same by some speciall reuelation and of such as trust simplie vpon Gods worde and promise For she hath resolutely concluded that such a manner of beliefe should be nothing else but a flat and vaine-glorious presumption But when a man doth trust to his owne merits good works and satisfactions then he is assured to come out with his iust reckoning or at the least if there haue not bene ynough done here in this worlde that shall bee after in another worlde accomplished and paied to the vttermost farthing insomuch that he shall not remaine one mite in Gods debt For to that ende and purpose hath our deare mother the holie Churche of Rome ordeined the blessed Purgatorie whereof wee will nowe make further declaration and proue it to bee as well grounded on the Scripture as the merits and satisfactions whereof we haue now alreadie spoken The viii Chapter VVherein Purgatorie is established as well bp Scripture as by inheritance And herein are likewise intreated the remedies and helpes whereby the sillie soules are released out of Purgatorie HEre is to be considered that Purgatorie is founded and hath his ground out of the holie Scripture For if Masses are founded vpon the Scripture as wee haue alreadie certiâ—ied then surely we may not make a bastard of the Masse of Requiem And now if it be so that the Masse of Requiem is founded vpon the Scripture then no doubt there must needes be a Purgatorie But nowe let vs bring forth for the proofe hereof speciall textes of scripture First note howe there is written by Paule to the Corinthians That no man may lay anie other foundation but onely vpon Iesus Christ. And so whosoeuer doth build on this foundation gold siluer precious stones timber hay or stubble euerie mannes woorke shall appeare for the day shall declare it and it shall be shewed in fire the fire shall declare euerie mans woorke what it is c. This hath our dere mother the holy Church vnderstood meant and set forth of Purgatorie And although out of this it should follow That all manner of persons without exception as wel he Saints as she Saints which our holy father the Pope hath canonized yea and the verie Popes themselues shoulde daunse in Purgatorie as well as Iacke and Tom with the rest But considering how that doth not agree in one with the beliefe of the holie Church of Rome in respect of the superfluous good woorkes which those Saintes haue done for themselues and for their good friendes more than they were of duetie bound to do therefore she properly wisely concludeth therevpon That those soules onely which depart out of this world without any deadly sinne and before they haue sufficiently satisfied by penance for their veniall and quotidian sinnes shall remaine a certeine space in Purgatorie be there broiled and sodden til such time as they shall with soule Masses pardons or indulgencies be hailed out of the pan or chaldron as with a flesh hooke The which is worthie to bee noted considering that which is thereout concluded as first that as heretofore is declared al sinnes are not deadly neither deserue euerlasting damnation and then againe by this you may perceiue that which of late we did speake of namely That the death and passion of Iesus Christ hath purged but onely our originall sinne and not our daily sinnes for which wee must make full satisfaction our selues And whereas the Heretikes say that Paule doeth not in the foresaide text meane any thing at all of Purgatorie but meanes onely to speake according as the text importeth as many ancient fathers haue expounded vnderstoode the same of the fire of the holy ghost which doth in time trie cause to appere plaine all doctrines namely those which take their foundation of Iesus christ And they say that good doctrine and godly learning shal in this proofe remaine stedfast but babblers and false teachers shall consume like hay or stubble before the fire With all this we haue nothing to do for that is but an exposition after the letter and not after the spirit or allegorie It is sufficient for vs that our holie mother the Church of Rome hath vnderstood Paul otherwise and applied his text vnto Purgatorie like as she hath applied the wordes of the Euangelist where hee saith That it was a custome amongst the Iewes to weepe ouer the dead For therby she hath concluded That the Iewes did beleue that there is a Purgatorie because as she thinkes it had bene a great follie of them to weepe for the dead vnlesse they did beleeue there was a Purgatorie so that it is a thing verie credible that those which wept so sore ouer Steeuen as in the Acts of the Apostles is declared did thinke none other but that he was gone into Purgatorie notwithstanding that he had seene Iesus Christ sitting on the right hand of God the father and sealed the testimonie and witnesse of him with his bloud Thirdely Purgatorie is clearely proued â—ut of the plaine textes of Paule who saith That in the name of Iesus al knees do bow those that are in heauen those vpon the earth and those vnder the earth Surely we wil not haue this vnderstoode of diuels Ergo then it must needs folow that it is spokeÌ„ of the souls which lay burning in Purgatorie For thus saith S. Iohn in the Apocalypse touching the same matter And all creatures which are in heaueÌ„ in the earth vnder the earth in the sea all that are in them heard I saying Blessing honor power be to him that sitteth vpon the seat vnto the lambe for euermore Where vndoubtedly he doth vnderstand meane Purgatorie according to the exposition of our
deare mother the holie Church of Rome And by this you may perceiue that Pythagoras was not farre different or disagreing in beliefe from the holy Church of Romes beliefe when as he saide That mens souls departing from their bodies did enter into beastes Considering nowe that Iohn here and Dauid in other places do witnes that the creatures vnder the water yea the fishes themselues do laude and praise God and that the same is vnderstood by our holie mother the Church of Rome of the soules that be in Purgatorie she hath not without great appearaunce of trueth concluded That there is likewise a Purgatorie in the bottome of the Sea by which reasons it appeareth that the soules of drowned men place themselues in the bowels of fishes And it is possible that this was the occasion which moued Pythagoras to forbid his scholers the eating of fish considering specially withall That S. Patriks purgatorie in Ireland lies fast by the sea side neare vnto a mountaine called Hecla where our mother the holie Church of Rome doeth beleeue that the sillie soules are as ill punished in yse as in fire So that by good reason there might haue bene added vnto the same sentence of Paule That the trying and shewing openly of the workes of such as build vpon the foundation of Iesus Christ is not onely by fire but likewise by water and by yse For so the holie Church vnderstands that place where it is written We haue passed thorough fire and water And Virgil the wise Poet which had so good vnderstanding of the sacrifice of the Masse as is declared before hath likewise placed Purgatorie by a Sea or by a great water called Lacus Auernus which lies not verie farre from Rome in the Kingdome of Naples where hee describes to bee the entrie and forefront of Hell and then setteth forth Purgatorie with all the paines and torments which the soules doe suffer so perfectly and well that a man would thinke that our deare mother the holie Church of Rome hath kindeled her Purgatorie with his fire tongs and bellowes Insomuch that our Catholike Doctors did not amisse when they proued their Purgatorie by the authoritie and testimonie of Virgil. Now if it were so that there were no Scripture to proue Purgatorie by yet would the inheritance and possession of it teache vs sufficiently that there is a Purgatorie And therefore we neede not to trouble our selues much with bringing out the booke of the Machabies for a witnesse and thereby cause the Heretikes to mocke and ieast at vs For they say that that booke is so farre off from being allowed for an authentike booke of holie Scripture that the writer and Authour of the same did desire to bee pardoned and borne withall if hee had not written so sufficiently as he ought And men may further consider what account is to bee made of his writings seeing hee did so greatly praise one Razis who ripped out his owne vowelles and liue him selfe because he woulde not fall into the handes of his enimies which vnvndoubtedly was a detestable deede and directly against Gods commaundement They declare likewise that neither by Christ his Apostles nor by the whole cōgregation in three or foure hundred yeares space that was neuer esteemed nor taken but for Apocrypha to witte for the writing and setting sorth of a man and not for the vndoubted worde of god And yet they say beeside this that if they shoulde accept that Booke yet is there nothing written therein touching Purgatorie but onely a praying for the deade in respect of the resurrection and not in anie respect of satisfaction by Purgatorie And therefore wee will not breake our heades greatly about this matter but will establishe our Purgatorie strongly by inheritaunce and possession Besides that I leaue the Priestes purses vnspoken of which is a souereigne soking and a drawing Purgatorie as euerie man may both say and feele And yet besides this we finde by certeine vndoubted testimonies of our auncesters that many soules haue appeared haue plainly said that they were extremely punished in Purgatorie and therefore haue heartily desired that men would helpe them out of it with Masses almes pardon letters and bulles as it is written of Pope Benedict 8. himselfe and as the Legend and other Catholike bookes testifie which are full of such worthie matters and notable examples so that there is no occasion to put any maner of doubt concerning Purgatorie And further we do finde diuerse euident and very true histories of Odilions Purgatorie in the kingdome of Sicilia in the mount Aetna which flames continually where the sillie soules are burnt and broyled like dried herring or like Westphaling hammes or gammons of Bakon whiche haue houng seuen yeares long in the smoke And this was the occasion that moued Pope Iohn 8. through the great pittie that hee had vpon the sillie soules and by the good and ripe aduise and counsell of the foresaide Odilion which was a holie Father and Monke of an Abbie called Clunie to commande and ordeine that alwayes the next day after Al-hallowes day a solemne day of deuotion should be kept for all christen soules which order is very precisely followed obserued by our dere mother the holy Church of Rome and many yeares of pardon giuen graunted to all those which vpon that day doe deuoutly visite the Chantrie priests Masses of Scala Coeli vsing their purses liberally for that purpose and to haue a trentall of Masses a sackfull of seuen Psalmes and three or foure pokes packt with Pater nosters and Ane Maries all well measured filled whereof to make a present to the sillie soules in Purgatorie for that is euen fitte meat for their mouthes and they are as wel refreshed with those dainties as though they were wrapped about the head with a wet clout in a cold morning And yet beside all this the holie Churche of Rome hath sought all maner of meanes wayes to refresh coole ease the pain of the silly poore soules which lie in the great heat of Purgatorie gaping for aire as a Carpe doeth for water all which meanes she hath digged out of the holy Scriptures For to beginne she hath appointed burning Candles which must bee set vppe to light the poore soules in the darke places of Purgatorie because it is written Christ is the true light and whosoeuer doeth followe him walketh not in darkenesse And therefore hath our holie mother practised that at euerie corner of the hearse a candle shal be set burning for that the dead should be forgiuen and pardoned of foure sundrie manner of sinnes which hee hath committed to witte in thinking in speaking in doing and in suffering Secondarilie she doeth succour the poore sillie soules with censing for thereby they are released of the horrible stinke which is in Purgatorie Thirdlie shee doeth relieue them with holy water which must be
yet at this present in a golden chest And yet besides that not only his Legend but likewise that holy man Lippomanus the booke called SpeculuÌ„ historiale that is The Mirror of histories made by Vincentius Lirinensis do perfectly set forth That Iesu Christ met him with out the town gates of Rome And being demanded by Peter whether he was going He answered I am going to Rome to be there crucified againe and a while after was Peter crucified and that vpon the same day place vnder the same tyrant that Paule iust a yeare before was put to death yea after that he himselfe had bene Pope and gouerned that sea 25. yeares by the same token that his seate which was hewed out of a Purphyre stone and the Albe wherein hee song his first Masse do both remaine yet for a memoriall And although Saint Luke doe testifie that hee continued verie long at Hierusalem yea and that in the verie same time that hee shoulde haue bene in Rome by the reckoning and calculation of our deare mother the holie Church of Rome and that Paul doth seeme to agree with the same where he writeth that the time that he lay in prison in Rome there was not one of the faithfull that did visite or assist him I leaue to say that Peter shoulde then haue beene Pope but all this cannot persuade vs For that is to bee answered that Saint Luke might be ouerseene in his writing and I thinke he was no good Arithmetician or else we may say as diuers Lutherans them selues confesse that one bodie may bee in two or three or mo sundrie places at one time And touching that he had perhappes forgotten that Peter was Pope of Rome as is apparant by that he writeth to the Galathians where he saieth That Peter was appointed for an apostle to the Iewes and he himselfe to the Gentiles Or else it may well be answered that it was not decent for Peter beeing a Prince and Duke ouer all the Apostles to go seeke or visite such a simple fellow as Paule was lying in prison Considering how that Pope Gregorie the 7. successour about the yeare one thousand and seuentie did suffer the noble Emperour Henrie 4. who came in the colde winter simply clad bare headed and barefoote most humblie desiring to haue accesse to his holinesse beeing then in the towne of Camisen his holinesse did as is before said suffer him to tarie before the gates of the towne three daies without once looking vpon him or sending to him I let alone that he would once step a foote to go meete him being in the meane space passing his time dallying with his Curtesans and with the Dutchesse Matildis who yet at last did make intercession for the Emperour Wherefore is it not to bee thought then that Peter did likewise stand vpon his grauitie and reputation without much going to the prison to seeke Paule or visite him Especially considering howe busie he was to appoint and set new Prelates in euerie place For it might perhaps be that Peter was not verie well at ease or diuerse other occasions might cause it But this is alway to be beleeued and holden for a verie truth That Peter was fiue twentie yeres complete resident at Rome and distributed the landes to euerie one according as he thought good likewise ordeined and instituted Prelats Bishops and Archbishops ouer all the world and deposed the heatheÌ„ gouernors which at that time bare rule out of their places placed other in their roomes which hee did name Primates for that euerie man came to receâ—ue iudgment at their hands as is very finely and at large set out in the epistle of Anacletus and in the booke of decrees And that this is wel founded vpon scripture it is apparant by the wordes of the saide Anacletus who doth bring in for verefying of his saying plaine textes out of the Psalmes to witte Moses and Aaron with their Priestes For out of that is forceablie concluded as hee saieth that the Pope of Rome is the head of the Church Is not that well shot God saue the marke Also the holie Apostles saieth hee did debate and determine amongest themselues as I thinke at that time when they did striue who should be chiefe amongst them that the Bishop of euerie Countrie shoulde knowe who should bee next vnder him for notwithstanding that they were all Apostles alike yet did Christ giue that vauntage to Peter that he shoulde bee chiefe of the Apostles and so named him Cephas that is to say The chiefe head or Prince of the Apostles See now this is the exposition of our deare mother the holie Church of Rome vpon these woordes of Christ Thou art Cephas And yet it is true that Cephas is a worde of the Chaldee tongue and doth not signifie A heade but A stone as Petra doth in the Greeke or Latin for so S. Iohn the Euangelist him selfe doeth expounde it But notwithstanding that seeing it hath pleased our deare mother the holie Church of Rome to vnderstand it so considering that this worde Cephas or Cepha doeth signifie in the Chaldee tongue A stone the like worde in maner in the Greeke and in the French tongue doth signifie A head as to wit Cephali or Cheff therfore it is good reson that we take the exposition of Iohn as literall repose our selues vpon the exposition of our deare mother the holie Church who onely in deede hath the power and authoritie to interprete the Scripture spiritually and allegorically So that this worde Cephas must needes signifie A head and not A stone as is plaine to be seene in the glosse of the Decretals And out of this we haue to note two principall pointes The first is that the holie Church hath such power and authoritie that she can not onely chaunge the bread into flesh but is able to make of a stone a head as well transubstantiate the wordes as the bread The second is that a man may make a good similitude or parable vpon the neerenesse of names in speache which in pronuntiation doe sound one like another as the holie Church hath concluded herevpon That Saint Clare can make dimme eyes looke clere S. Quintine can heale the quensie in the head and S. Valentine the falling sicknesse and S. Etropius the dropsie because these names in pronuntiation do sound one like another And yet this can not alway fall out so for then might the Heretikes conclude out of the same that Curats are curres the Spiritualtie spite faultie Bishops verie bitesheepes Cardinals carnals and that maister Gentianus after the French is vn genti asne that is a proper asse and Blindasinus a blinde asse Which thing nowe can not bee so considering that asses are not accustomed to write bookes as these men haue done Therefore wee must remitte the iudgement of these matters in like cases and nerenesse of
names to the holie Church when they shall be so vnderstoode and when they shall â—ot be so taken Now doeth our deare mother the holie Church inioy dâ—uerse other goodly and plaine Scriptures wherewith â—o prop vp and make fast the seate of our holâ—e father the Pope as specially where it is written That Christ came to fulfill the will of his father For of that must needes follow That all good Christen men are bound to fulfil the will of their holie mother the Church of Rome of which church the Pope without all doubt is the supreme heade And againe God speaketh by the mouth of his Prophete Esaias But doth the axe boast it selfe against him that heweth therewith Or doeth the sawe make anie bragging against him that ruleth it Signifying thereby that the king of the Assyrians had no power against the almightie God who woulde vse him as an axe or a sawe to punish and correct his people by him Out of this hath our mother the holy Church of Rome concluded and as she saith made it appeare clearer than the Sunne that there is no power nor authoritie in this worlde but in the power of the holy sea pope of Rome to correct or punish the same And this shee doeth establish yet more strongly by the wordes of Paule who saith That the naturall man cannot conceiue nor vnderstand Gods doings but the spirituall man doth vnderstand rule all things but may not be ruled of any man. For this doth the holie Church vnderstand by the pope of Rome that he is of himselfe so spiritual and ghostly that no man may nor can iudge nor punish him Now further his power is established in the first booke of Moses called Genesis where it is written That God in the beginning did shape both heauen and earth For now that is as much to say after the exposition of the holie Church of Rome that the Pope is the beginning of all things Considering there is no mention made but of one beginning It is not said In the beginning as of mo or manie beginnings and therefore whosoeuer should compare the Emperour to be as good as the Pope he is a rank heretike of the sect of the Manichees who saide There was mo beginnings of all things than one What thinke you now of this Is not this a good bagpipe to play a galiard vpon But now tarie yet a little it is likewise writen That God did shape two great lightes a greater and a lesser which do signifie after the interpretation of the holy Church that the pope of Rome is aboue all other Potentates aboue the Emperour for he is the Sunne the Emperour is the Moone Whereby nowe is clearely to be seene that Moses had a foreknowlege of the pope his authoritie And Iob must needes haue had some feeling of his coÌ„ming For thus God said vnto Iob Knowest thou I pray thee how the heauens are gouerned Or canst thou rule him vpon earth That is after the interpretation of the holy Church That euen as in the heauen one eternall God doth gouerne all things and as the holy Trinitie is brought to one onelie vnitie The like consequence must fall out here vpon earth So that here the Pope onely must haue dominion ouer all estates dukedomes kingdomes other whatsoeuer in consideration that hee is the onely line leuell and compasse whereby all other people are and ought to be directed And in consideration hereof is the prophesie of Paul thus vnderstood saying Vntil the fulnes of the Gentils be come and then shall all Israel be saued ioining this with that which Christ said So that there shal be but one flock one sheepheard as to vnderstand When all the nations vpon earth shall be subiect to the Pope Like as now in our daies we haue seene a good beginning do daily see with our eyes very great apperaÌ„ce of more And that the Pope ought not only to haue a spirituall gouernment as a Bishop but must likewise maintein a worldly gouernment as a king is by clere testimonie of Scripture of our deare mother the holy Church approued For there is without doubt a plaine text that the Apostles did say Behold here are two swordes Wherevnto Christ answered not saying That it was too manie but that that was inough Now out of this doth our deare mother coÌ„clude That the Pope of Rome must vse two swordes to wit a spirituall a temporall sword Ho ball ho how will this sound in the eares of the Heretikes But now must they vnderstand for a speciall matter that a good while ago there was in Spaine an honest man who coulde not vnderstand it so saying that this scripture did serue nothing at al to that purpose And by and by the holy inquisition which is the dearest and chiefest nourse fosterfather of the Church of Rome did take him and burne him at a stake as one which had highly blasphemed because that vpon his opinion should follow that the holy church hath not full power to interprete the scripture as she will which I assure you is a terrible slaunder Therefore haue these heretikes need to looke well to the matter kepe their tongues giue eare to other testimonies and witnesses For yet besides this Christ said to Peter Put vp thy sword into the sheth Out of those words doth plainly appeare as our holy father Bonifacius the 8. saith That both the swordes as well the temporall as the spirituall are vnder the power and iurisdiction of the Church Yea and it is verie necessarie that the one sword be subiect to the other which is to be vnderstood That the temporal iurisdiction and authoritie must be subiect to the spirituall ecclesiasticall power and authoritie For according to the saying of S. Paule There is no power or authoritie but that which is appointed by god Truely saith he there would be no good regiment if the one sword were not subiect to the other and that the lower and inferiour were by some good meanes brought in subiection and obedience to the higher and superior Consider this is the onely naturall and grounded interpretation of the before alledged text of the holie Scripture as our deare mother the holy Church hath interpreted the same word by word Is not this Popingaie then trimly shot downe Lee these Huguenots and Lutherans come out now who crie alway that we cannot establish the power authoritie of the Pope by anie scriptures now they may see that we haue scriptures â—now to hit the marke withall But now will we teach out of the scriptures That the Pope only hath power to consecrate and halow Churches to blesse altars Marke well the wordes plainly set out in the Psalms where it is written Except the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it For this is the verie text that the holy
of a sheep skin surely sealed And if they be not therewithall content they may go seeke further at their owne coâ—t and perill And yet will our holie father haue homage and rewarde for it although it haue cost him neuer a penie Of the like to this we see daily examples as the kings of Sicilia and Naples must euerie yeare vpon S. Peters day do homage vnto him and acknowledge him for their chiefe Lord and for testimonie of the same they present him with a white hackney well trapped with riche furniture with thousands of ducates besides yea the kingdome of Englande was a great while in subiection and at the disposition of the Pope For the before written Pope Alexander 3. did bring one king to that point about the yeare of our Lord 1181. And that vnder pretence that Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canturburie was by the kinges consent slaine And further long before that in the yeare 740. a certein king of England called Inas did make the whole Island tributarie to the Pope of Rome insomuch that the Popes had alwayes their Collectors and Receiuers in Englanâ— to gather vp and receiue the Peter peace till such time as it was forbidden by king Henrie 8. But to what purpose should I so particularly name the kings of England Naples and Sicilia seeing that all Kings and Emperours throughout the whole worlde are bounde to kisse with great reuerence the Popes holie feete Is not that a sufficient proofe that he hath full power and iurisdiction ouer them all And good reason it should so be For by him Kings do reigne and by him Iudges execute the lawe as it is written by Solomon in his Prouerbes Chap. 8. For that which he writes there of the eternall wisedome of God that is by our mother the holie Catholike Churche vnderstoode and sette foorth concerning the Pope of Rome As plainely doeth appeare by the glosse vpon the Clementines and by Panormitanus likewise And therefore whensoeuer the Popes holinesse is disposed to ride on horsebacke then must the Emperour or King which is present holde his stirrop and after for a while lead the horse by the bridle in his hand And alwayes when the Pope will be caried in a chaire then is the Emperor or King whosoeuer it be bound of duetie to bow downe his necke and to take the chaire vp vpon his shoulders And likewise when the Pope goeth to dinner the duetie of the Emperour or King is to serue him with water wherwith to wash his holy hands he must be sure to attend at the table till the first course be serued For a finall end hee must serue the Pope euen as a seruant doeth serue his maister yea and I pray you wherefore should he not seeâ—ng he hath taken made his othe solemnly of obedience and fidelitie to the Pope as is plainly sette forth in the Popes lawes And yet is not the Pope bound in anie point or iot to him nor to anie other earthly creature vnlesse he will sometime of speciall grace rise out of his seat to let the Emperour kisse him kindly Otherwise all men liuing are bounde of duetie as soone as they come within his presence to fall three times downe vpon their knees and then to kisse his feete And wheresoeuer he passeth by there they must all fall downe vpon their knees and worship him otherwise they are like to eate stockâ—ish which his Garde will giue them largely yea and that without Butter And therfore do they crie Abasso Abasso which is as much to say as Downe vpon your knees Which thing I assure you is most duetifull and established by plaine Scripture for that it is written Psalme 8. Thou hast put all things vnder his feete sheepe and oxen yea and the beastes of the field which is to be vnderstood Christen men Iewes Turks Moores And the foules of the aire that is The Saints departed And the fishes in the sea that is The soules which lie in Purgatorie Insomuch that there is nothing but it is made subiect vnto him For he onely is Lorde ouer all the world and the worlde is properly his so proued by the plaine text Psal. 23. The earth with all her plentiousnesse is the Lordes as our mother the holie Church hath interpreted it and so concluded For which cause he may as Antonius de Rosellis doth testifie take from one whatsoeuer he will and giue to another what he list And this is that which Cardinali Poole being the Popes lieftenant at the councell of Trent did likewise defend and establish by Scriptures euen by the verie wordes of Christ saying That he would make of Peter a fisher of men Which is in this sense to be vnderstood according to the interpretation of the holie Church of Rome That he would driue al Emperours and Kings yea all people of the world into the Popes net so that he might seeth them broyle them or frie them in a panne euen as his holinesse should thinke best to vse and order them And although Paule did speake of an other which shoulde bee the God of this worlde and that Christ doeth likeâ—ise name the same The Duke or Lorde of this worlde meaning the Tempter which shewed him all the kingdomes of the world and the glory of the same saying vnto him All these will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship mee for they are mine and I may bestowe them vpon whom soeuer I will. Yet doeth not all that make anie thing against our purpose for they twaine to witte the Pope and he are both as one and agree like two heades in one hoode so that there can no gealousie growe thereby For as the Scripture sayth and beareth witnesse The dragon hath rendered vp and giuen to the beast with seuen heades all his power his seate and authoritie Now what conditions are made bet 〈…〉 ene them I wote not but let them alone with that matter they will agree well ynough Thus much then in effect touching all that which Daniel and Paule did say and prophesie in the Scriptures before specified is throughly fulfilled in the Pope of Rome and therewithall likewise that thing whereoâ— Iohn speaketh in the Apocalypse that The citie which is builded vpon seuen mountains or hilles which out of doubt is the Citie of Rome as Tertullianus Lactantius Hieronymus and all the old fathers haue testified and as the situation and state of the citie it selfe doth make apparant shall receiue a maruellous power and authoritie specially of the same whome Paule calleth The God of this world and whom Christ calleth The duke or Prince of this world whom Iohn calleth The dragoÌ„ insomuch that all kings and princes of the earth shall pray vnto him he shal be trimmed and decked with golde siluer pearles and all rich precious iewels as you may plainly see in our holy father the Pope
which is to bee vnderstoode because hee hath not the marke and token And it is plainelie written That no man may buie or sell vnlesse hee haue the character or the marke or else the name of the beast Now as touching the fourth cause you must vnderstand that all Priestes are fellow partners in some case with our holie Father the Pope who is not onely a man but a God on earth Which considered they must needes by kinred bee partakers of his Godhead as it is written That commonly a man growes like him with whom he is conuersant And againe Hee that medleth with pitch some part of it wil cleaue to him And therefore such as bee conuâ—rsant with God on earth must needs be godlie Fifthly it is great reason they shoulde bee called Gods seeing that they themselues can make God and are as wee haue taught before creatours of the Creator And nowe there is a perpetuall and infallible rule amongest the Doctours of Louen which can not faile for that it is fetched out of their maister Aristotle it is this Propter quod vnumquodque talâ— est illud ipsum magis est tale â–ª that is to say Whensoeuer anie thing doeth get anie vertue or estimation out of the power or by the gift of an other the same by whome hee doeth receiue that worthinesse or vertue must needes haue verie much more like vertue in himselfe Seeing then that by the power and knowledge of the Priest a piece of breade may be made God how much rather then are the Priests themselues Gods For it is written in the holie scripture That no man in this world can make anie Gods Ergo then must the Priests of necessitie be more than men seeing they do daily make God himselfe Now sixtly the common Latine text which is receiued in the holie Church of Rome and by the Councell of Trent allowed for good credible doeth say thus That God did stand in the Synagogue of the Gods. Which may verie well bee applied to the Priestes considering that they also haue their Synagogues like as the Iewes haue had heretofore And furthermore it is most certeine that Christ stoode in the middest of the Priestes and Prelates at such time as Annas and Caiphas diâ— accuse him and sought witnesses against him to put him to death Which manner of doing our Priestes of the holie Church of Rome doe verie liuely counterfeite Whereby it is plaine to bee vnderstoode that they are the Gods in the Synagogue amongest whome the Lorde stoode and doeth yet by his elect daily stand to bee condemned to death So that our deare mother the holie Church of Rome hath verie aptly applied this Text vnto them and so concluded That they being Gods can in no wise bee subiect vnto the iudgement or correction of any earthly man. Besides this she doth bring forth manie witnesses euen by heapes all which are fetched out of holy Scripture as specially where Saint Luke saieth That God shall aduenge his elect It is likewise written in the Psalmes Lorde God to whom vengeance belongeth God to whom vengeance belongeth shewe thy selfe c. Also the Apostle Paule saieth What art thou that iudgest an other mannes seruant And in the same place Let vs not therefore iudge one an other anie more but iudge this rather that no man put a stumbling blocke or an occasion to fall in his brothers way And the Lord saith by his Prophet Zacharie For who so toucheth you shall touche the apple of his owne eye Are not these honest goodlie and verie strong witnesses such as can not bee disproued And doe they not plainlie set forth that the Priestes can not be vnder subiection to anie temporall iurisdiction At least so farre as men will allow and sticke vnto the exposition of the holy Church of Rome without hauing anie respect to that which these Heretikes bring in for they would alledge all these witnesses directlie against the Priestes and Spiritualtie and to their reproch and detriment But nowe is there one speciall text to bee brought in and alledged against the which ariseth no obiection to wit where Christ saith Foxes haue their dennes and the Foules of the aire haue their nestes but the Sonne of man hath not whereon to laie his head These Heretikes may well inough sloppe their eares at thâ—s for out of this doeth our deare mother conclude verie strongly That those which will blame or finde anie faulte with the Priestes are they whom Christ here calleth Foxes And to the corroboration and strengthening of the same shee bringeth forth the text of Solomon where he saith Hee that hath digged the pitte shall fall into it him selfe Againe The stone is heauie and the sande is weightie but the wrath of a foole doeth passe both Consider doe not these agree in one maruellous well It seemeth they are both painted with one pencill In summe all her decrees and ordinances are full of such apte textes and sentences of scripture which shee can wrest and wring maruellous finelie for her purpose so that there is not one stitche amisse For when as the Scripture speaketh of Bruggesse shee applieth that to Ghent and if the Scripture speake of a Catte shee will bring in a Ducke For a finall end and conclusion shee can make of a Cowe a Windmill and of a Windmill a Cowe And therefore she can not lacke but doeth alway finde witnesses enow out of holie Scripture to proue all her matters substantiall and good The xii Chapter VVhich proueth by Scripture that Priestes and all Spirituall men ought to be rich NOwe that the Priestes and all Spiritualtie together with our holie father the Pope ought to be rich and wealthie that is to be found set foorth by the Scripture likewise For the noble and excellent Cardinal Poole of late the Popes Liefetenant in the Councell of Trent did cause the text of Luke before alleadged to serue for that purpose where Christ saith You doe nowe catche fishe but you shall from hence foorth catch men For that said hee was a prophesie which was not yet accomplished in the time of the Apostles when as Paule said That there were but a fewe rich men in the Congregation of Christ but the same said he was first fulfilled accomplished about three hundred yeeres after to wit at such time men say as the Emperour Constantine did courteouslie giue vnto Pope Syluester a great portion of the Empire of Rome or rather as hee tearmeth it did giue againe and restore as is apparant by the copie of the writing which standeth entred in the booke of Decrees verbatim True it is that Laurentius Valla and manie other learned men did mocke and ieast at this writing likewise do plainlie proue as well by diuerse histories as by the same writing it selfe that it is but a counterfeited writing and that so grosselie done that a Calfe with one eye may perceiue it
But I will leaue that to the Doctours of Louen to dispute vpon when they are set vnder the roofe with a Gallon of good Rennish wine for they can not away with Pittaw as for vs whether it be a lie or a true tale it is all one but thus much there is of the matter that our holie father the Pope is in possession and doth enioy the landes which S. Peter left vnto him by testament by the same token it is called Patrimonium S. Petri that is Saint Peters patrimonie â–ª He is likewise in possession of the rich iewels and bagges of the holie Sea of Rome and of the precious triple crowne and other rich and costlie peeces for all the Bishops must sweare that they shall to the vttermost of their power helpe to keepe and augment the said iewelles and that Patrimonie But what needeth all this Paule him selfe saith That Bishops must keepe hospitalitie and bee harborous And then is it great reason â–ª that their purses should bee well filled for to enterteine Kings and Princes and to make them great cheere For how should they els bake good cakes if they haue neither fire nor fatte I assure you if they had not that preeminence and aduantage they would not buy Bishoprikes so deare neither would they pay thirtie thousand Ducates for a Pallium if they must afterwardes say with Peter Aurum argentum non est mihi I haue neither siluer nor golde But that is nowe all cleane turned and the chaunce is chaunged therefore must the Priestes and Prelates nowe a dayes bee riche and possesse the goods of the worlde considering that their father and master the Pope is Lord of the whole worlde as we haue sufficientlie proued in the 11. and 12. Chapters before The xiii Chapter VVherein is set forth by the Scripture the praying to images NOwe will wee treate a while of the praying to images and see with what Scriptures it is defended For that second holie Councell of Nice is without doubt maruellous well furnished of excellent scriptures which serue as fitte for that purpose as Roses for a swine stie But we will onlie choose out and set forth the principall and most meete to serue our turne to the intent that euerie man may iudge by those what all the rest are Among other they haue fetched out of the olde testament That GOD did shape man to his owne likenesse and therevpon concluded That men may verie well haue images Item that God hath diuided the light from the darkenesse and therefore saith Agapius that most holie Bishop of Caesarea I accept images gladlie and cursed bee all they which are of other opinion Aha my friendes Howe like you this geare And after that is the writing of Adrian the Pope of Rome read wherin hee saith That Iames did pray to Iosephs staffe or else to Ioseph him selfe Then I pray you wherefore should not wee pray to images For although that Heretikes do herein so crie out with the Hebrewe texte which saith That he prayed to God leaning vpon his bedde or vppon a staffe for it may be taken both wayes yet notwithstanding it is sufficient for vs that our deare mother the holy Church hath vnderstood it otherwise and that all the forked Bishops which were assembled at Nice haue otherwise interpreted it For they you must vnderstande could not misse nor erre seeing they were assembled inspired and gouerned by the holie ghost of the Empresse Irene whose spirit was so zealouslie addicted vnto the worshipping of images that shee did put out her sonnes eyes who was the right and naturall Emperour and so kept him shut vp in prison to the ende that she might haue the rule and gouernement reigne as Queene all alone and set vp and extoll images according to her owne minde Wherfore should not we then beleue this holy Ghost Whereas he hath declared by the mouthes of the Bishops that there was a litle proper fellowe carued out vpon the end of Iosephs staffe as you see vpon the staues that children and fooles doe ride vpon yea and that the same pretie fellowe was by Iacob worshipped Then do they further alledge this â—ext The soules of the iust are in the handes of the Lord. Againe God is maruellous in his Saintes For by these Saintes doe they vnderstand nothing else but dumbe Saintes or images which stand in the church for that it is written in an other place The Saintes which are vpon the earth Item Noah did set vp one altar vnto God and Abraham likewise with manie other mo And it is good to be thought that they would not set vppe anie altars without goodlie images of our Ladie of Saint Christopher and of S. Anthonies swine and such like to stand vpon the altars For an altar without Saints is like a Cowe without a taile or a Turd without Sugar Againe Moses did make the Propitiatorium which is the round chest of pure golde and did by Gods commandement seâ— two Cherubims vpon it And wherfore then should we not set images vppon our altars according to the commaundement of the holie Church For whereas the Heretikes will say that these two Cherubims and the golden chest were couered and hidde so that no man could see them much lesse pray vnto them to that our deare mother the holie Church of Rome doeth answere that they can doe so likewise For the whole Lent through they do cause their images to looke through a blewe cloth and plaie bo peepe and so they continue till Easter then come the Priestes and play their paâ—tes and so bidde Coppin out of a corner and shewe his face like a man So then these Heretikes haue no cause to praâ—e and say That our images are neuer hidde or couered Againe our holie fathers say that notwithstanding the Cherubims were kept close so that no man might see them for that no man mighâ— enter into that holie place but onelie the hiâ— Priest and hee but once a yeere yet did not the Iewes forbeare to pray continuallie to the same For so haue the fathers at the same Councell concluded out of their owne heads Nowe thirdly the holie fathers say That seeing images may be had secretlie wherefore should wee not much rather haue them openlie to pray to them For notwithstanding that God hath forbidden it yet he must bee giuen otherwise to vnderstand the matter for he was not yet informed that images are the bookes of the Laie people till such time as Pope Gregorie came and â—aught it for a perfect doctrine But nowe euerie man doeth knowe that bookes must be laide vppon a deske that euerie man may reade on them and are not to bee cast behind a banke or in a corner For it is plainlie written that a candle is not to bee set vnder a bushell but in a candlesticke that euerie man may bee lighted thereby which the holie fathers doe likewise vnderstande by the
images to witte that they must stande on high pranking vppon the altars and so be deuoutlie prayed vnto by the common sort Besides all this they bring forth that Moses did set vppe a brasen Serpent in the wildernesse by Gods commaundement to the intent that all such as should looke therevpon might bee healed of the biting of the venomous serpentes For vppon that text of scripture they say thus What follie and madnesse should it then bee of vs that wee should yet doubte whether all such as looke vpon the image of Christ the image of our Ladie and of all other holie Saintes shall become holie and shall likewise bee healed of all diseases Which thing is likewise by the holie father Pope Adrian most faithfully assured with Bull and Seale so as there is no further doubte to bee made in that matter the rather for that this is to bee seene euidentlie at Halle a towne in Brabant where so manie â—rutches of lame men and so manie painted tables are hanging of such as haue bene so well and perfectlie healed of their diseases that the most part of those which hang there neuer feele anie paine or griefe neither in the head nor in the bladder I speake not of so manie wiues as haue bene conceiued with childe after that they had once had our holie and blessed Ladies girdle tied about their middles And nowe of late it chaunced in Holland That a poore woman with a verie great bellie came verie deuoutlie to seeke our blessed Ladie of Heukelem and when shee had giuen her offering shee returned home againe and left her great bellie behinde her Yea there was a blinde Gentleman came out of Fraunce to Saint Iob of Wesemale in pilgrimage to recouer his sight againe which he had lost by Saint Iobs disease and after hee had well ended his businesse hee cried to his seruaunt in French Ie voy which the Doctours of Louen did vnderstande not to bee that hee would be gone but that hee did see In so much that the same is written and hanged vp vppon a table in the Church for a great miracle And it is to bee crediblie beleeued that hee did see as well without spectacles as with a candle I forbeare to speake of the great miracles which the holie and mightie blessed Ladies at Laureto in Italie and Montferrato in Spaine doe and of Saint Iames of Compostella and Saint Catharina of Scena and such other like holie hee Saintes and shee Saintes for that is not meate for euerie mans mouth wee must content our selues with courser meates and keepe our mouthes close from such daintie dishes Yet notwithstanding if there were a plompe Hollander or a Malle Brabander or a Botte Flemming that had a stomache or appetite to such lordlie fare and would goe take vpon him a pilgrimage for a wager to come againe within a certeine time hee may doe so well inough and so goe and strawe his lust abroad amongest the holie and blessed Ladies of Spaine and Italie and see what great miracles they can doe more than our Ladies can doe here Hee might perhappes speede as well as a good honest man of Paris who could haue no children by his wife and in hope of helpe did vowe diuerse pilgrimages And first hee went to seeke Saint Iames at Compostella and from thence hee went to Rome to visite the holie Apostles Peter and Paul and then on forwarde to our holie and blessed Ladie of Laureto and from thence to Hierusalem and last of all to Saint Catharine of Scena in fine so as hee was about a three yeeres from home And then when hee came home againe hee found his wife merrie and had in the meane space gotten three prettie children with helpe of the good Saintes which hee so deuoutlie had sought Was not this nowe a great miracle Therefore who soeuer hath a desire to goe from home and seeke Saintes hee may set forwarde when soeuex hee will the wagon standeth readie And nowe will wee proceede to our matter againe and campe with these Heretikes who mocke and iest with these our holie fathers of the foresaid Councell because they bring in and alledge an example of the brasen serpent to establishe their images by saying That the same was a figure in the olde Testament pointing to Christ and was set vppe by GOD his speciall commaundement but vnto this wee will answere them That they haue eaten stockfish and knowe not what doeth belong to a pregnant and ripe wit for otherwise can they not perceiue that our images are figures likewise as wel of Christ as of his deare mother grandmother and other holie hee Saintes and she Saintes yea and that are by speciall commaundement of our holie father the Pope and the holie Church set foorth But yet for all this these dull Heretikes goe on forward with their follie saying That the good King Ezechias did breake downe and burne to powder the same brasen serpent as soone as euer hee sawe and did perceiue that the people beganne to cense and honour it in like manner as the holie Church of Rome doeth nowe honour and worship her Saintes And those mad brained fellowes doe therevpon conclude that wee ought likewise euen so to burne our images But wee denie that flatlie for that was an other matter considering that our images are no serpentes as that was It is verie true that wee doe as well cense to Saint Margaret Saint Georges dragon and Saint Anthonies hogs as to the Saints themselues pray to the one as well as to the other although those are not much better than serpents but that now is otherwise to be coÌ„sidered for it is not done in honor of the dragons but of the Sainte which they stand by as is well proued by a certeine Doctour of Louen who going out of the porche of the graie Friers at Louen did put off his bonnet before the image of Pilate which standeth there sodenly turning back again cried with a lowd voice Non tibi Pilate sed Christo as though hee would haue said As for thee Pilate thou art but a varlot what dost thou thinke I did not put off my bonnet to thee but to that Christ with whom thou art dealing Nowe consider euen so standeth the matter with our Dragons and with S. Anthonies hogs They gette many times offrings and waxe candles and are often times kissed for neighbourhood for the good Saint sake by whom they stand but they doe not take it vppon them selues no more then a dumbe stocke or blocke Therfore remaineth this determination of the holy fathers of the said Councell alwayes fast and ratified to witte That the holie Church must haue images seeing that the Iewes had a brasen serpent This is likewise mainteined with manie other goodlie testimonies as specially with that which the prophet Dauid saith in the 96. psalme There is praise honor before his face Item I loue the cituatioÌ„ of thine
house For by these followeth that the Churches must be trimmed vp with goodly images Item O Lord I seeke thy countenance Item O Lord the rich shall pray before thy face Item Let the light of thy countenance shine vpon vs. For out of these textes do they conclude that men ought to haue our Lords visage goodly painted and to pray to it And for that cause it is that euerie yeare at Rome vpon good Friday the holie Veronica which is an old ouer worne cloute whereon they say our Lords face is painted which they pray vnto with great deuotion And the common people crie alowde Misericordia misericordia that is Mercie mercie The like is done also at Besanson in Burgonia and in manie other places For this same holie fisnomie of the Veronica was sette vpon good grounde and is therefore so well spâ—â—ung vp and in such plentie that there are to bee found a number of them all which do worke great miracles And besides this they bring forth these testimonies to witte that the beliefe commeth not onely by hearing but likewise by sight for that Iohn saith Like as we haue heard so haue we likewise sene Item That the Iewes did weare broade borders vpon their clothes Ergo so must wee likewise haue images in the church with many such other like proofes which close vp together as fitte as a spindle vpon a flesh pot So now when anie man hath a desire to see these goodly testimonies let him read ouer the whole proceeding of the saide Councell of Nice as it is sette foorth in the seconde booke of Councels or else he may reade another little booke which was set foorth about the same time in the name of the Emperour Carolus magnus touching the same Councell hee shall therein reioyce his spirites with reading of all those goodly copious and fine allegations brought out and alledged by those holie fathers to that end and purpose and with the dreames of Constantine who to heale his leprosie had shedde the bloud of young innocent children and was for the same comforted by Peter and Paule in his dreames And there you shall finde also a great manie of goodlie and notable miracles done by images taken out of the booke of Cosmus and Damianus and out of the booke of Sophronius of the miracles of Saints and other such like bookes which those holie fathers caused there to bee read and heard and by their iudgementes established them and allowed them for good So as there is no more doubtes to be put in them than vpon the golden Legende which standes authentike in the Masse booke And to the end that men shall haue the more desire to read them I will bring forth here one example out of them seruing greatly for our purpose to the ende you may perceiue by the nest what birdes are within it There was a liuely holie Monke whiche was continually tempted and troubled with a diuell euen till his olde dayes and when in the end he beganne to waxe wearie of it hee then did pray the diuell verie friendly that hee woulde let him alone in quiet wherevpon the diuell did answere him that so farre as he would promise to do and sweare to keepe secrete a thing that hee woulde commaunde him then hee woulde leaue off to trouble him anie more The Monke did promise him and tooke therevpon a deepe othe Then said the diuell If thou wilt that I shall trouble thee no more then thou must not pray anie more to that image and it was an image of our Ladie holding her childe in her armes But the Monke was more craftie than the diuel for he went and confessed him of it the next day to the Abbot and the Abbot did dispense with him for his othe vpon condition that hee should continue his praying to the image Is not that a fine and worthie testimonie borowed of the diuell whereby the holie Fathers in the foresaide Councell haue wonderfull strongly established the praying vnto images Truely it is worthie to be written vpon balkes and beames because calues shall not licke it off And our Champion maister Gentianus is worthie to carie the standard to be crowned with a three footed stoole seeing hee dare so boldly aduenture to lay the worthinesse of that Councell in the ballance against the second commaundement of God which doth sharpely forbid all worshipping and praying to images and likewise bringeth in the said Councell against the Councell of Eliberum which was kept in Spaine in the yeare of our Lorde 1200 and was consonant and agreeable vnto the worde of God. The xiiii Chapter VVhich treateth of some particular images and painted tables which the Church of Rome doth vse and for the establishing of the same by the Scripture NOwe because these Heretikes are most busie with some speciall images which the holie Church of Rome doe vse with great deuotion and with them doe these Heretikes mocke and ieast most of all it is verie necessarie that wee proue and establish the same out of the holy scripture Then to begin withall it is not to be mocked nor wondered at that they in their Churches and Masse bookes doe paint the Trinitie with three faces for our mother the holie Church did learne that at Rome where they were wont to paint or carue Ianus with two faces And then further there is written in Iohn That there are three in heauen which beare witnesse the Father the Worde and the Holie ghost and these three are one c. Then of necessitie they must be painted or made with three heades or three faces vpon one necke For whereas these heretikes say that it is plaine forbidden to make the likenesse of God any maner of way seeing God himselfe saith Thou didst heare a voyce out of the bush but thou sawest no likenesse Therfore be well warie that thou make not anie image after my likenesse That was spoken to the Iewes onelie and is now altered through the worthie custome and vsage of our deare mother the holie Church of Rome And whereas the holy Church hath also chosen to make the similitude of the father an olde man with a long gray beard and for the sonne a man hanging on the crosse and for knowledge of the holie Ghost a doue that is done of her owne inuention and free will. For she might as well haue made a bushe or a flame of fire or a cloude to counterfeite the father for that he did shewe himselfe in all these likenesses as well as in the likenesse of a man or they might as well haue made for Christ a childe in a cradle or a man teaching and instructing the people And likewise for the holie Ghost a tongue or a flame of fire as well as they doe a man crucified or a doue But therein shee doeth vse her libertie for that hath alwayes his course by the common rule which is Sic volo sic iubeo
whereof bread is made and the grapes whereof the wine is made are no fruites of the earth but of the Sea as the fishe is for otherwise they were likewise accursed and so must â—e forbidden on the fasting dayes Or else it may be alledged that the holie Church hath dispensed with them because the fishe woulde not haue had any good last without bread and wine And for this cause hath our mother the holie Châ—râ—h forbidden the eating of fleshe as a thing vncleane and accursed in somuche that those whiche doe eate fleshe or â—gges vpon a fish day are to be banished and rooted out as shamelesse Heretikes and to be burntâ— at a stake because notwithstanding whatsoeuer may be alledged out of Paule or out of the holie scriptures that flesh and egges are vncleane vnholie yea and accursed and that is apparant by the great miracle that happened in Italie vpon the mountaine called Il monte de la virgine that is Our Ladies mountaine For whosoeuer doeth bring vnto that mountaine flesh or egges yea or milke by and by it will be full of wormes because our Ladie will not suffer that anie man shall eate vpon her mountaine flesh nor anie vncleane meates but only fish or hearbes and fruites But what needes all this And though the flesh were not cursed nor vncleane yet notwithstanding our deere mother the holy Church hath great reason to forbid the eating of it for that shee at the least may haue a difference in the eating of meates and in that point shewe her selfe something like vnto the figures and shadowes of the olde Testament wherein the children of Israel â–ª were forbidden certaine kindes of flesh as a thing vncleane Although that our deare mother is of such discretion and vnderstanding that she doth not esteeme flesh to be altogether vncleane in it selfe For otherwise our holie Father the Pope with his Bishops and Cardinals woulde not so well digest it that they woulde as well in the Lent as on good Friday it selfe licke their fingers after it But shee doth not meane to vse her Prelates straitely in that matter but to proue lightly the obedience of her subiectes like as GOD in the olde Testament did forbid his people certaine meates rather for the keeping of them in subiection than that the meates of them selues were vncleane for whatsoeuer GOD hath created is from the beginning of it selfe good and cleane but the holie Church of Rome hath had another respect in this matter as that shee did esteeme the fleshe for vncleane but not in it selfe but vnto suche as haue not bought Bulles of licence of the Pope to the ende they might digest the same with a cleare conscience For like as in the time of Paule all meates were made holie by prayer and by thankesgiuing so is the meate nowe made holie with the Popes Bulles for whosoeuer hath those may boldely eate of all meates without anie scruple and say with a good conscience Omnia munda mundis that is to say To a man that is cleane all things are cleane But he that hath no Bull although he had ten times prayed and giuen God thankes for his good giftes yet that can not helpe him at all hee must bee cursed excommunicated and cleane rooted out of the number of the good Catholikes and faithfull subiectes of our deare mother the holie Church of Rome yea and bee burnt at a stake like an arrant and gracelesse Heretike And therefore it is that the holie Prelates Cardinals Bishops and all other loyall subiects of the sea of Rome doe so often forget to say grace and prayers at their meate and when as sometime by ill hap they do say grace which happens verie seldome they say it commonly in a tongue or language which neither they themselues nor but a verie fewe of those which sit at the table with them do vnderstand not esâ—eming that that can much profit to the clensing of the meat nor much hinder nor further the matter so that they haue good daintie fare But they in place of this will eat flesh on a fasting day and for that purpose in stead of grace they must haue their Bulles well sealed hanging downe with silken tassels yea and such as they themselues can well both read and vnderstand otherwise it were all not worth a strawe So now then flesh on fish dayes is vncleane to them that haue no Bulles which you may conceiue by this That in Spaine where the holie inquisition doeth beare the swinge yet he whosoeuer that can get a Bull for a royall of plate may eate all the Lent through puddings tripes and all the entrails with head neck and purtenaunce without anie daunger or scruple of conscience And therefore it is that the worthie Doctour Eckius taking vpoÌ„ him to defend this forbidding of meats by scripture doth bring in this text out of the Acts of the Apostles Take heede that you refraine your selues from meates offred vnto idols For as Paule saith That which was offred vnto idols was offred to the diuel and therefore he did curse all such as should eate of it with such a conscience â–ª So likewise saith he it falleth out alwayes with flesh on fasting dayes when as the vncleannesse and malediction thereof is not taken away and made cleane by the Popes Buls but otherwise it is all well inough as here before is sufficientlie proued The xvi Chapter VVherein Lent is proued by the Scripture And further that the Romish church must counterfeite Christ in all pointes and lastlie touching festiuall dayes and the ordeining of the same ANd nowe as touching the time of Lent that is verie stronglie proued by our deare mother the holie Church out of the scripture For it is written That we are bound to offer vp vnto GOD the tenth part of our goods And now saith the holie Church Lent is the tenth part of the yeere and therefore must wee necessarilie obserue the whole Lent not presuming to eate anie fleshe at all Considering that as is before said flesh proceedeth of the earth which is accursed for nowe for the tenthes of three hundreth three score and fiue dayes wee must fast sixe and thirtie dayes and yet there remaines fiue dayes sixe houres and of these fiue dayes we do fast foure not for payment of tenthes but for an other occasion to wit That the talies of good workes and merites might be full So there remaineth yet one day and sixe houres which maketh iust thirtie houres whereof the tenth is not paid but for recompense of that we must go late to supper So nowe is not this past verie iust Now let God come and take a reckoning when soeuer hee will and hee shall finde that the holie Church of Rome is not one pennie in his debt nay shee hath rather paide him more than his duetie For this reckoning you shall finde passed and set downe in the reckoning booke of the Decrees if God
and that must needes be the holie ghost which commeth with thunder and lightening Likewise vpon Ascension day they pull Christ vp on hie with ropes aboue the clouds by a vice deuised in the roofe of the church they hale him vp as if they would pull him vp to the gallowes and there stande the poore Priests and looke so pitifully after their God as a dogge for his dinner In summe a man doeth often spende a pennie or two to see a play of Robin hood or a Morisse daunse which were a great deale better bestowed vppon these apishe toies of these good Priests which counterfeite all these matters so handsomlie that it will do a man asmuch good to see them as in frostie weather to goe naked I speake not of their perambulations processions going about the towne cariing their crucifixes alongst the streetes there play and counterfeite the whole passion so trimlie with all the seuen sorrowes of our Lady as though it had ben nothing else but a simple and plaine Enterlude to make boyes laugh at and a litle to recreat heauie or sorrowfull hearts for these matters fal out onlie vpon church holy dayes or solemnities when the Catholikes are determined to be merrie drink thēselues so droncke that they tumble frō their seat as you shal see our Maisters of Louen doo euery yere in their solemnitie especially at the seuenth yeres procession which is of the seuen sorrowes of our Ladie All what soeuer Christ hath done must bee set abroch to be counterfeite And after the same manner wee play by the Lent. For because Christ did fast fourtie daies lōg therfore shal our dere mother the holie church bee content to fill her belly all sortes of fish onlie not once touching one morsell of flesh according to the special wordes of Paule who saith Eate it not Taste it not Handle it not And so likewise Moses did fast fourtie dayes for the establishing of the lawes of God which he presented vnto the people And now seeing the Bishops Prelates do weare hornes as Moses did wherefore should they not as well faste fourtie dayes as he did And if the Bishops doo faste then are the Leye people much more bounde to faste which haue no such power nor meane to obteine dispensations bulles or tollerations of our holie father the Pope as these holie Prelates haue Therefore we do now conclude without exception or contradiction That the holie time of Lent is as firmelie founded vpon the scripture as all the rest of the articles of the faith inuented and founded by our deare mother the holie church of Rome and therfore it is good reason that our mother the holie church of Rome do maintein her Lent fish dayes in great reputation not onelie to hold it for a good and holie work in it self but for a meritorious work whereby we may merit deserue heauen the mercie of God appease his wrath and do make sufficient satisfaction recompense for all our sins In so much that our deare mother doth esteeme her fasting yea in a manner better than the merites of the blessed bloud passion of Iesus Christ whervpon these Heretikes doe altogether boast themselues For consider this the holie church saith in one of her secretes vpon the Wednesday in the Ember weeke in the Aduent and on Friday in the Ember dayes after Whitsunday and vppon the Tuesday in Easter weeke O Lord we beseech thee that thou wilt accept this our fasting and that by it we may be made cleane purified worthie of thy mercie that it may bring vs vnto euerlasting saluation c. What can a man wish or desire more S. Iohn the Apostle will seeme to set foorth a speciall matter when hee saith That the bloud of Christ Iesus doth cleanse vs of our sinnes maketh vs acceptable before God the father but this other nowe doth growe all vpon our owne ground for with our fasting we can obteine that well inough which he doth attribute onelie to the bloud of Iesus Christ. What shall I neede to make much a doe for the festiual daies obseruing of them Of which our dere mother the holy church maketh so great account that shee doeth yerelie pray vnto God that her festiuall dayes may obteine for her meanes sufficient to liue wealthily in this world and after assurance of eternall saluation that she may by the perfect obseruing of the said dayes merit to enioye perpetuall saluation and blisse And of the hallowing of Easter eeuen shee doeth say plainlie as followeth Huius igitur sanctificatio noctis fugat scelera culpas lauat reddit innocentiam lapsis moestis laetitiam fugat odia concordiam parit curuat imperia That is to say The halowing of this night doth driue away sinnes doth purge faults doth restore such as are fallen to their innocencie againe and to the sorowfull giueth gladnesse and expelleth all hatred procureth concord and doth bow Empires or Kingdomes c. Consider nowe what a power the obseruing of these festiual dayes hath What a mischiefe ayles these Heretikes that they so raile vpon vs because wee make a difference and diuersitie of dayes They make a doe with vs saying That Iesus Christ with his precious bloud hath clearlie adnichilated and taken away the instrument which was against vs which consisted wholie in such ceremonies and commaundements of the lawe and hath made fast the same vnto his crosse so that no man else can hereafter iudge vs for our meates or drinkes nor for the obseruing of anie holie dayes of new Moones or Sabbaoths and still they are troubling of vs with that which Paule writeth to the Galathians saying Seeing that you haue nowe knowen God or rather that you are knowen of GOD howe doeth it happen that you returne your selues againe to obseruing and worshipping of weake elementes which you beginne and goe about to serue againe You obserue dayes monthes times and yeeres I am afraied on your behalfes that all my trauell amongst you will be spent in vaine ▪ c. But what haue we to do with this ▪ seeing our mother the holie Church doeth attribute as much power to the obseruing of our festiuall dayes as to the bloud of Christ it selfe and therefore haue our Catholike Doctours reason in teaching That the obseruation of certeine dayes feastes heretofore vsed by the Iewes are not in anie point taken away by the death and bloud of Iesus Christ as Paule goeth about to perswade so alway as the dayes bee something altered as Eckius hath verie finelie set foorth For in place of their Passeouer of the lawe wee haue our Easter and in place of their Pentecost we haue a Whitsuntide of our owne deuising and in steade of the feast of the newe Moone wee haue our Ladies dayes and in place of their Trumpet feasts we haue the Apostles dayes and in place of their
feast of Tabernacles wee haue our Church holydayes or solemnities and so forth as is plainlie to be seene in the booke of the said Eckius â–ª So that there is no other difference but as though the diuell to disguise him selfe should put on a Friers cowle And wheresoeuer in the olde Testament anie mention is made of feast dayes our deare mother the holie Church of Rome applieth it to the establishing of her festiuall or holie daies and solemnities so that the Heretikes can not iustly complaine of vs in this case say that we can not bring in any Scriptures for proofe of the matter seeing that the olde Testament is full of such Scripture as they them selues knowe well inough The xvii Chapter VVhich treateth of the forbidding of Priestes to marrie and howe womâ—n ought to be common by speciall commaundement of the church of Rome which is diligentlie by them obserued NOwe as touching the forbidding of Priestes Monkes Friers and all other Spirituall persons to marrie that matter we can not defende by the olde Testament seeing that in the old Testament all Priestes were married Therefore in this matter we will haue nothing to doe with the olde Testament because it doeth make against vs but wee say that it is chaunged by the newe as heretofore wee haue proued by speciall textes as to write where it is written None of those that liue after the fleshe can please God. Againe Be you holie like as I am holie more such like which hertofore we haue alledged and by the booke of decrees established for euer Yea and it was specially prophesied by Paule That in the latter dayes there shoulde come such as should forbid marriage and the eating of meates which God hath created and ordeined to bee eaten with thankesgiuing So that it is no maruell that it was not forbidden in the olde Testament nor yet in the beginning of the new testament for these last dayes whereof Paule speaketh were not yet come and as a good wise Doctour holie Priest of Groining saide The Pope did not then gouerne But nowe that those last dayes are past and the Pope hath taken the whole regiment of the Church into his handes the Church hath now declared openly set forth and established without retractation That no man being married can bee holie nor please God for that is plaine vncleanenesse and fleshly defiling as we haue heretofore declared by plaine and special texts of the decrees And therefore hath our deare mother the holie Church of Rome concluded and set forth That it is much better and lesse offence for a Priest to vse another mans wife than to marrie one of his owne after that he hath once accepted and married our deare mother the holy Church for his wife during his life as Phigius Eckius Ioachimus Perionius and other like pillars of the holy church of Rome haue verie finelie set out in their writing Yea we do finde by daily experience that the holie Catholike church of Rome will a great deale rather suffer that these holie sheete Nonnes of Cloisters and such like should being with child destroy it in their bodies with drinkes and other medicines yea or kil it after it is borne than that they should according to the counsell of Saint Paule marrie a husband Which thing was apparant at the visitation of the Cloisters in England which King Henrie .8 caused to be done throughout all England where manie priuies in Cloisters were found full of the bones of yong children with manie other abhominable matters which are not meete to bee rehearsed And Iouianus Pontanus a good Catholike and a well learned man doth likewise witnesse that it is a common practise of these holie Religious women to doe such thinges It is likewise found in ancient credible histories That Saint Gregorie Bishop of Rome after he had first set foorth a verie straite commaundement against the marriage of Priestes did afterwarde repeale and call backe againe the same verie earnestlie lamenting and repenting verie sore his former doing because that sending vpon a time to his pondes to haue some fishe taken there was drawen out of the same with the nettes and brought to him aboue sixe thousande heades of yong children which he straight wayes did with sighes and lamentations acknowledge to haue bene so murthered by reason of his said commaundement But our deare mother the holie Church who hath not lightly anie respect to such small matters as that although she heares of inough such yea and doth daily see them before her eies and is often times put in remembrance of them yet shee had much rather ouersee and suffer such thinges to bee done then to consent that those holie Nonnes which haue professed chastitie should marrie I doe not speake of it that shee will rather looke thorowe the fingers or winke at the abominable filthie Sodomitrie of Monkes and Friers than she will reuoke and call backe againe her holy commaundement for chastitie notwithstanding that Pope Pius the seconde himselfe hath oftentimes acknowledged that although the forbidding of Priests to marrie was done vpon great consideration yet it must now vpon other consideration of greater importance be set at libertie againe But this is their first rule and ABC that they learne as soone as euer they are admitted Priestes or professed Monkes or Friers and that they continually harpe vpon this string Si non castè tamen cautè which is thus ment That if they cannot liue chastly yet they shall vse it so secretly as that it be not much talked of nor knowne And now after this to prouide so for the matter that these holie Fathers should not go to grossely to worke therefore hath our deare mother the holie Church laid an ordinance before her spouses the Priests and Spiritualtie that they might freely vse other mens wiues that all women ought to be common for them Whereby men may well consider that she is none of these gealous wiues which cannot be content that their husbandes shoulde once make a good countenance to another woman for she is well contented that her sweete husbandes to witte Priestes and Monkes shoulde vse all women at their pleasure Yea moreouer she will mainteine that it ought to be so and so goeth about to establishe it with plaine textes of the holie Scripture besides the worthie witnesse which shee doth borrow out of the heathen Philosophers For consider these bee the proper wordes of the holy father Pope Clement whom the Church doth esteeme to haue bene a successour of Peter and therefore hath she caused these his wordes which are worthie of perpetual memorie to be written vpon the doores of all Cloysters and Spirituall houses to bee set in her booke of decrees as a woodden diamond might be set in a laten ring where he saith Deare brethren to liue in common is verie necessarie for all men but most specially for those which will
stoutely and warily fight vnder Gods banner and counterfeit or follow the example of the Apostles their disciples For the same by nature ought so to bee and all things in the world ought to bee common but the wickednesse of man hath bene the occasion that the one hath begonne to say This is mine the other said And this belongeth to me And by that meanes dealing or participating of all things crept in To bee briefe a verie wise man amongst the Grekes hath spoken maruellous well saying All things are common amongst good friendes Nowe it is then without doubt that vnder the name of all things the wiues are likewise conteined For like as the light and the shining of the Sunne can not be separated nor parted euen so there cannot likewise anie separation or dealing be made of that which is to bee vsed in common but it ought to be generallie at the commauÌ„dement of euerie one of the companie And for that cause it is that God saith gentle Reader note wel here speciall textes of the Scriptvre by his Prophet saying O what a goodlie and pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together And this custome being obserued by the Apostles so must they haue all together liued with one an other in coÌ„mon like as it is written The multitude of the beleeuing was one heart and one soule c. Note here the determination conclusion of our deare mother the holy church worde by word whereby shee doeth absolutelie conclude out of the holie Scriptures that these Heretikes which are alway in hand with the scriptures haue now no more cause to complaine though the Priests Friers will sometime euen for loue borrow some of their wiues for the mainteining knitting together of this holy Clements commontie And although the glosse thervpon say That this hauing of women in coÌ„mon is not to be vnderstood after the vse of the flesh but simplie for the good willingnesse charitable loue towards the congregation yet notwithstanding the text is plain inough which saieth That men must be conuersant with them as the light is with the sunne shine which do continually enioy one another And the same is established by the doctrine of Plato and Pythagoras who speciallie were of opinion that all women should bee common And that is apparant inough by the daylie exercise thereof for you see that the Priestes may haue no wiues of their owne but doe vse all women in generall when or wheresoeuer they can get them But yet they wil not looke so narrowlie to haue things common as touching their goods because euerie one of them will looke to enioy his own goodes but not his owne wife so that it is rather done for the wiues than for anie thing else And this may likewise verie well bee the occasion wherefore the Romishe Church which in deede can be but one particular Church because that Rome is but one particular towne is yet called The Catholike church that is The common generall Church ouer all which specially proceedeth by reason of that goodly common sort of women and boyes which she mainteines and doeth increase and multiplie her generation ouer all the world yea and filles the whole face of the earth with her young Priests and Monkes whereof shee hath made such a number as there are flies in the Summer in so much that shee may iustly bee called Ecclesia oeccomenica that is to say The Church that doeth flowe ouer the whole earth like a spring tide The xviii Chapter VVherein the seuen orders of Priesthoode are set foorth as well by Scriptures as by the examples of Christ. SEeing that we are nowe in hande with the holinesse of Priests wee will proceede directlie to the establishing of all the seuen orders of Priesthoode by the Scripture And first you shall vnderstande that our deare mother the holie Church doeth teach verie plainlie That our Lord Iesus Christ him selfe was forced to passe thorough all those seuen orders before hee could be admitted to bee a Masseprieste Marke nowe what a matter must this be and yet for all this these Heretikes make no accompt of the blessed Masse whereas Christ had inough to do for to come to the vse of it For first he must exercise the office of a Porter like as hee did when he droue the changers of monie and the sellers and buâ—ers out of the Temple and snake out of the mouth of Dauid You Princes lift vp your gates and be you lift vp you euerlasting doores Item when hee said I am the doore of the sheepfolde After that he was Reader when he did reade the Prophet Esaias in the Temple Then after he became an exorcist or Coniurer when he droue seuen diuels out of Marie Magdalene when he did rub the mouth eares of the dumbe and deafe man with clay and spitle saying Epphatah Be open And after that he came to be Acoluthus that is a Page and Ceroferarius that is a Candlebearer when he said I am the light of the world hee that followeth me shall not walke in darknesse And then was he a Subdeacon when he did washe his disciples feete After that a Deacon when hee did minister the Sacrament of his body to his Apostles and being in the mount Oliuet willed persuaded them to watch and pray And lastlie he became a Priest when he did consecrate the bread and the wine and so said Masse at the table This done straightway he became a Bishop when hee laid his handes vppon his disciples heads saying Go abroade and preache the ghospell in all places All this you may see set out at large in the foresaid booke of Durandus and in the booke of Sentences in the fourth councels of Tolledo and Carthago likewise in the Decrees So that it is apparant that all these holie orders are fished out of the bottome and ground of the scriptures and are founded vppon the examples of Christ notwithstanding nowe that the Priestes haue somewhat the more prerogatiue then Christ had so that they can pushe through all these seuen orders at one time or else skippe ouer foure or fiue of theÌ„ at once For they that can once get the shauen crowne on their heades which is the character marke token of the worthie order of Priesthoode may not then onelie proceede to be Priestes but also to be Bishops and Cardinals and to gette sackes full of benefices for our most holie father the Pope may freelie dispence with all such matters as it pleaseth him But that carieth his authoritie in the Popes foundation which wee haue here before set forth and declared to be so strong as the diuels of hell are not able to withstand it For this time wee doe onelie teache that when soeuer it shall please the holy church to vse the seuen orders orderlie shee is able to establish the whole heape of them trimlie
and finelie out of the scripture The xix Chapter VVherein is concluded that all the ceremonies of the holie Church of Rome are founded vppon the Scripture if they be well vnderstoode and according to their interpretation which onelie is to bee esteemed so good and what aduantage they haue that stande fast to this interpretation And herein is likewise mention made of the masse and of maister Durandus booke YEa shee doeth nothing in the world either of great or small importance but it is all so finelie founded vppon the Scripture as can bee deuised And that may appeare by this That shee hath fetched the golden slippers and the precious breeches of our most holie Father the Pope out of the Scriptures For it is written O howe faire and pleasaunt are the feete of those which bring tidinges of peace which bring good tidings which after their interpretation is as much to say as That the feete and legges of the Pope of Rome must be decked with goodlie golden slippers and with maruellous rich and costlie breeches as it is well set forth by the holie Doctour Bishop Durandus And therevpon it proceedeth likewise that the Pope doeth suffer Kings Emperours to kisse his feete yea to treade vppon the Emperour Frederiks necke as is before declared And the rather his feete are to be kissed because they are so faire pleasant and smell so sweete especiallie two or three dayes after he is dead for then come all the deuoute catholike people and kisse them bare whereby they obteine a verie great indulgence and pardon But nowe if anie man be desierâ—us to vnderstand howe finelie all this is grounded vpon Scripture and further to know particularlie the reasons and causes of all the other ceremonies of the holie Church of Rome and to see howe they are fished euen out of the verie deepest ground bottome of the holie Scriptures let him read the booke of Durandus which vpon this occasion he hath named Rationale diuinorum officiorum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae that is to say The reckoning and reason or cause of the ceremonies and diuine seruices of the Church of Rome He shall therein finde maruellous secrets and verie trimme iewels yea if the whole Bible were cleane lost there might quicklie a newe Bible be deuised and made out of this booke which would agree a great deale better with the ordinances of the holie Church then the Epistles of Paul doe which these Heretikes and Huguenotes haue in such great reputation He hath the textes of the Bible as fast as a handfull of flies and there is not one iotte conteined or vsed in the blessed Masse but hee hath a good reason and a trimme text to bring in for it There is not one hole but he hath a pegge to stoppe it hee doeth there set you forth maruelous trimlie all the reasons why the Priest doeth so trimme him selfe in such mumming garments when he goeth about to play his parte why hee doeth first put a biggin vpon his head and then a long garment like a womans smocke aloft vppon his gowne and then aboue that a Cassocke without sleeues looking out at a litle holâ— aboue euen like as a Snaile lookes out of her shell or like as a magget a pie out of her cayge Why he is bound with a corde about the middle like a theefe that were going to hanging why hee doeth turne sometime his tayle to the people and sometime his face why hee trippes sometime to the one ende of the Altar and sometime to the other side of the Altar as though hee were daunsing the Maides Morice Why hee heaues or liftes vppe his voyce sometime like a chimnie sweeper and by and by hee is as still and quiet againe as it were a mouse in a trappe why sometime hee foldeth his handes together like sorrowfull Marie Magdalene and sometime hee stretches them out on euerie side as though hee would shoote in Robin Hoodes bowe and then sodenlie hee pluckes them in againe and tosseth them from the one side to the other as though hee were catching of flies or would fraye and scarre awaye crowes After this hee doeth set foorth verie perfectlie and in particular all the occasions and reasons wherefore Sir Iohns Table is so earlie couered and the Cup the little Cannes and the sauser so mannerlie set therevppon and wherefore Sir Iohn doeth sometime sleepe at his table and sometime starteth vppe sodenlie out of his dreame Item what it meaneth that hee doeth runne and whisper his secretes to the breade and wine in their eares with a lowe soft voyce and that his companions sometime crie out so yealling with open throates like wolues in a caue or like swine when the butcher killeth them and wherfore some goe to work with Organes other with ringing of bels as though there were an vplandish bellie-feast towards or some such triumphe And wherefore men do in the meane space light torches as though they were bringing the Bride to bedde and wherefore they lift vp the Priests taile behind him as though they would looke into his arse to minister a glister to him And if you peruse that booke well you shall likewise finde there wherefore Sir Domine with his long smocke doth so lustelie lift vp on hie a wafer and a cup of wine and that then euerie bodie falleth downe vpon their knees and knocketh vpon their breastes with their fistes and wherefore the Priest beginneth then to looke so â—â—â—â—fully â–ª like a caâ—â—e laide on the butchers stall and then beginneth â—o lament the wafer or sâ—nging bread pitifullie â–ª to weepe with sâ—â—nes teares â–ª and then at the last when hee hath tossed it too and fro long inough away it goeth with a 〈◊〉 into his throate and so swalloweth it downe without chewing and then hee hath his cuppe filled againe and so he sendeth that after the rest And yet you shall vnderstand further wherfore he doth licke the chalice so sweetely as an Ape licketh her yong ones And you shall besides all this beare wonders of all the rest of the holie ceremonies of the Romish Church which they do vse at their MatteÌ„s at noone at euensong at complen and manie other times with great deuotion with all the gestures and fashions which they doe therein vse and who haue deuised them all and what euerie one of them doeth signifie Hee can tell you more all the feast dayes and double feastes all Vigils Ember dayes and fasting dayes all dayes of fish and egges all processions goings about with the crosse gange dayes and all the whole brabling vsed through the yeere all this hath hee euen at his fingers endes and can bring in for euerie one of them textes verie finelie founded out of the Scripture So that I assure you it is a pleasure for those that can heare it Besides all this you haue there set forth all the estate pompe and pranckings of our holy Bishops and Prelates especiallie
of our most holie father the Pope of Rome whereof there is not one iotte forgotten nor left vnconsidered yea surelie I beleeue that his holinesse sitting vpon his stoole of easement sir reuerence of his holinesse should not make one sowre or skornefull countenance but this wise profounde learned Doctour and Bishop can straightwayes bring in for it some mysterie and weightie matter And to bring a text of Scripture for it which shall serue as fit for that purpose as a sadle for a sowe What needeth manie wordes hee is a passing Apoticarie hee can make a good medicine of a Cabadge stalke And therefore it is that our deare mother the holy Church doeth so greatly esteeme this his booke so that shee would not forgo it for anie good and she hath reason for it because in deede it is her chiefe iewell or treasure wherein all her holinesse is locked vp Where will all these Heretikes now hide them selues these Lutheranes Huguenotes Zwinglians Caluinistes the one heape with the other which do bragge so much of the word of God Let thē but once take this booke of Durādus into their hands and they shall finde there that all the ceremonies of the holie church of Rome all their prankings and strange deuises are finely founded vpon the Scripture so that there is not one lacking yea and that the Scripture is wholie on our side if it be right vnderstood according to the meaning and interpretation of our deare mother the holie Church to witte that you passe ouer and let slippe the dead letter and the plaine text depend wholie vpon the spirit of speculation of our Doctours of Louen those of Paris which is only the spirit That quickeneth maketh aliue as is heretofore rehearsed Therefore let all such as wil be good and Catholike subiectes of the holie Church and Sea of Rome holde fast and sticke to this interpretation and in anie wise shrinke not from it but beleeue all whatsoeuer the holy church beleeues not once going about to knowe or to aske any questiō what it is because it is inough for them to know that the church of Rome cānot erre so long as she remaineth fast groūded vpon the foūdation of the Pope Let them keepe in mind the saying of Salomon You shall not remooue the pales markes which your fathers haue planted that is to say You shall not once moue touche or alter any thing of al that which our deare mother the holie Church of Rome hath established and ordeined And dooing thus they shal be her white sonnes haue the worlde at will they shall enioye the goods of this worlde some shall become Bishops and some Cardinalles riding brauelie to the Courtes of Popes and Kings vpon braue horses and Mules and shal haue the fairest Courtisanes of Rome at their commaundementes In summe they shall say to them selues What canst thou desire Where contrariwise these felowes will bee so nose-wise that they will knowe all things and will beleeue nothing but iust that which they finde in Scripture and in their Bible plainlie set out yea they doe mocke our deare mother the interpretations which shee bringeth forth vpon the Scriptures But those surelie are Heretikes to the fourth generation as Doctours and Physicions say Euen to the hiest steppe of the staires For like as Master Gentian hath here finely concluded They do not beleeue the holie Church They beleeue not the twelue articles of our faith yea they doe not beleeue the holie scripture seeing they will not accept the interpretation of the scripture which the holie Church hath allowed for good And therefore they must be banished accursed and excommunicated yea they must be burnt to ashes and powder if they will not recante For that is the sure sentence and resolute determination of our holie mother the Church of Rome wherein doeth not fall anie stay or appellation for that nowe from henceforth they will not nor shall not beare with them anie longer And herewith we will make an ende of the second part hauing emptied this distaffe and nowe by master Gentianus leaue we will in hande and proceede with another part Here followeth the exposition vpon the third part of Gentianus Haruets Epistle wherin is treated of Auricular confession of the Sacraments of Matrimonie of Confirmation and of the holy Anointment The first Chapter Of Auricular confession and howe necessarie it is and of establishing the same by the Scriptures HEre now doth followe the third part of the Epistle of Gentianus wherein he doth declare himself greatlie to wonder that these new Preachers of the gospell will go about to abolish auricular confession Cockes populorum But howe would they go to worke Where our holie mother hath so straightlie cōmanded vpon paine of damnation That al such as are of both kindes to wit male female shall assoone as he or she is come to yeeres of discretion confesse them selues to their owne Curate of all their sins at lest once a yere vnderstanding the same alway of deadlie sinnes only as is set forth by the glosse vpon the text because daily and perdonable sinnes are with a Pater noster or with a sprinckle full of holy water cleane washed away I maruell howe these Heretikes can speake against this For were it not euen as much as though they would put out both the eies of our mother the holie church For vndoubtedly this auricular confession is worthe two paire of eies to her For by the one she can see perceiue learne al the secret determinations counsels and pretences of all Kings Princes and Potentates of Christendome by reason whereof she is come to a peaceable possession enioying of her authoritie and gouernement ouer all Countries and Kingdomes And by the other she can see and creepe euen into the verie bottome of the bosomes of yong maides simple and sorrowful wiues and widdowes and so grope out and vnderstand all their secrets and then enioyne them such friendlie penaunce that their troubled consciences are thereby comforted and their sorrowfull heartes made ioyfull O good Lord How often haue these holy Priests and Friers giuen vnder confession good wholesome counsell to the sorrowfull barren wiues whereby they haue afterwardes become blyth mothers and haue euer after borne an inward loue towardes their holie ghostlie fathers euen as though it were to their owne husbands Yea there is at this present a good holie graie Frier at Brudgesse called Brother Cornelius the Whipper who by meanes of this holie auriculer confession did teach a great many of simple womē to tame and mortifie their fleshe in this manner That they for the fulfilling of penance to them inioyned and to receiue of him ful absolution of their sinnes haue verie willinglie gon creeping vppon handes and feete starke naked before that holie ghostlie father and when he did marke anie that the fleshe was not sufficientlie mortified them did he followe with a rodde
not onlie all crosses but all figures likenesses of the crosse are worshipped reuerenced kist and lickt in reuerence of that onelie crosse whereon his bodie did hang. But it hath thus pleased our louing mother the holie church and not without most great and waightie occasions for without doubt the likenes of the holie crosse is of of such great power singular vertue that the deuill doeth take it for a bulbegger and flies from it as a dogge doeth from a piece of bacon Like as euidentlie appeareth in the golden Legend of Saint Christopher and in a number of other legendes where almost for feare hee beraied his breech so soone as a crosse was made And it is also the cudgell wherewith he was once beaten like as wee may plainlie see on all altars in processions where our Sauiour is counterfeited knocking with a crosse vpon the gates of hell at which all the deuils runne awaye as though they were possessed Moreouer it is the token with the which God hath created heauen earth and that is it which Esai would say according to the expositiō of our holy mother the church saying thus Who hath holden the waters in his fist Who hath measured heauen with his spanne hath comprehended all the worlde in their measures Who hath wayed the mountaines hilles in a balance Which is to say that God did with three fingers make a crosse when hee created heauen and earth Item our holie mother the church saith besides That Moses did with the figure of the crosse change the bitternes of the waters in the wildernesse and caused the water to flowe out of the stonie rocke And although the scripture doth not make mention of anie crosse but onelie of a rod wherwithall Moses did strike yet our mother the holy church hath thus expounded the same supposing that Moses did the like to the Bishops now who with their staffe do make a crosse so blesse the people Shee hath also fained that those which do sprinkle their thresholdes with the bloud of the Paschal lambe theron set the figure of a crosse that the striking Angel by meanes of the crosse doeth passe by it like as wee haue out of their sequences which they vpon the crosse dayes named Inuentio S. crucis signe here aboue rehearsed Besides that the same which Ezechiel doeth mention of Tau that is to say of the token or seale which is set vpon the foreheads of the elect therof hath she also made a crosse albeit that the letter Tau doth resemble the figure of the crosse no more then an aple doth an oyster for the one is written thus ת the other thus ✚ notwithstanding she doth not take the matter so neere wee must for clownes sift meale through a lattice and set them packing after the homeliest sort then may they bake their bread as they list This once is the issue that all cursing and coniuring all hallowing and blessing al mysteries and cōsecrations must be made with crosses The holy Masse is likewise ful of crosses from one end to another sometimes with two at once to saue both bodie and soule or to change both breade and wine sometime with three together in worshippe of the Father Sonne and holie Ghost sometime with fiue at once in reuerence of the fiue woundes of Christ Iesus The blessed holie water is made with crosses the waxe candles the salt the holy oyle the palmes the Agnus Dei the holie ashes and all the implementes pertaining to the Priestes are created with crosses yea the Priestes themselues without crosses cānot be made Priestes In al processions the crosse must go before Vpon all bables toyes sacrament boxes must stand a crosse least the diuell should put in his nose yea vppon all wafers trinkets vpon churches vppon steeples also vpon coine vpon Māmona iniquitatis a crosse must simper To conclude the crosse hath an oare in euerie boate and hath a place in all the ceremonies perteining to the holie Church of Rome There can not a Pageant bee plaied but shee must haue a part yea a Nunne durst scarse let a fyste but shee must blesse her selfe with a crosse And the Priestes are neuer worse at ease than when they haue neuer a crosse in their purse Therfore it is not without great vrgent occasion that our holie mother doth holde the crosse in such honour in so much as she hath for her sake ordeined and instituted three or foure holy or festiual dayes as namelie Inuentio crucis Rogationum Exaltatio crucis and other such like She hath also a speciall Masse in honour of the holie crosse which shee names Missa de sancta cruce and a seruice called Officium de sancta cruce And besides she hath more ordeined and charged that we should vpon the good Friday after Maunday thursday deuoutlie and sadlie creeping along the ground vpon our bare knees worship the crosse and there bestow a good fat offering and liberall almes to the benefit and maintenance of the poore Priestes so that they with crosses in their purses might be preserued against the diuell Wherevnto she hath franklie giuen a great heape of pardons to those which with great deuotion do the same For shee doeth esteeme and beleeue that the crosse hath no lesse force than the bloud of Iesus Christ the sonne of god For behold these are the wordes with the which shee causeth the crosse to be consecrated or hallowed Oramus te Domine sancte pater c. vt digneris benedicere hoc lignū crucis tuae vt sit remedium salutare generi humano sit soliditas fidei bonorū operum profectus redemptio animarum sit solamen protectio ac tutela contra saeua iacula inimicorum c. That is We beseech thee O Lord heauenlie father that thou wilt so blesse this wood of the crosse that it may be a healthfull help to mankind a cōfirming or strengthening to faith a furtherance to good works and a redemption of soules that it may be our comfort our safegard defender against the noysome dartes of the enimies c. What can we ascribe more to Christ Iesus the sonne of God for the helpe consolation of man than our mother the holie church doeth ascribe here vnto the crosse yea all that Christ hath euer done all the good which can be thought that hath shee in like manner attributed to the figure of the crosse For these be her wordes Ista suos fortiores Semper facit victores Morbos sanat languores Reprimit daemonia Dat captiuis libertatem Vitae confert nouitatem Ad antiquam dignitatem Crux reduxit omnia O Crux lignum triumphale Mundi vera salus vale Inter ligna nullum tale Fronde ▪ flore germine Medicina Christiana Salua sanos aegros sana Quod non valet vis humana Fit in tuo nomine c. That is to say It makes her souldiers
hope their staie the gate of heauen the Queene and mother of mercies Mother of compassion their life their pleasure and their onely Mediatour Aduocate In summe there is no other refuge or present staie than she alone like as they with expresse wordes doe dayly sing in their prayers and thankesgeuing in their Christi virgo dilectissima their Aue Maria stella O intemerata Stabat mater and many other pretie pageantes whiche our holy fathers the Popes of Rome them selues haue made and with manie pardons haue trimly adorned and set out but in especiall in their Salue Regina Yea they beseeche her in one of her prayers which they call Prosas that she will by her motherly authoritie commaunde Christ Iesus the true and euerlasting God and shewe by the date that shee is the mother Moreouer they beseeche her also that shee will accept and receiue them in the last houre of death and to defende them from their foes in the prayer called Maria mater gratiae c. After that all whatsoeuer is spoken in the worthie song of Solomon named Cantica canticorum of Christ the sonne of God of his louing spouse namely the commonaltie of the faithfull Also all whatsoeuer Esaias hath prophesied of the sprigge which should spring out of the roote of Iesse of the same which should crush the old crooked snake that doe they all expound and declare of her Yea also the selfe same first promise which God made to our forefather Adam saying That the seede of the woman should grinde in peeces the head of the Serpent That hath our holy mother the Church of Rome aduisedly expounded of Marie And therefore in place where there stoode He shall grinde hath shee set Shee shall grinde as being spoken not of Christ Iesu the sonne of God but of Marie herselfe which should be the promised seede In summe all the worshippe which in the scripture is attributed to Christ Iesu the euerlasting sonne of God the same hath she bequeathed vnto our Ladie And therefore will shee besides so many holy dayes as are instituted and ordeined for worshipping of her that we shall notwithstanding celebrate and keepe holie the Saturdayes for her to the ende she may at least haue as much preferment as her sonne Iesus Christ to whoÌ„ the Sundayes are attributed Howbeit for all that vppon the Sundayes Officium beatae Mariae that is The seruice which is done for her worshippe must not be forgotten And hereof is it that once at Venice was great heuinesse towards For when the Graie friers had preached vppon S. Francis day the vnspeakable great pardons and merites which might be gotten euerie yeere if so be that the people woulde celebrate that day in their Church by hearing Masses and offering large giftes whereby they gathered great summes of monie The Blacke friers enuying the same did take vppon them to preache that it was not needefull to tarrie a whole yeere for S. Francis day to merite pardons seeing they might haue them euerie Saturday better cheape if they would resort to their Patronesse namely our Ladie euerie weeke and in honour of her bestowâ— their deuotion in their Cloyster whereby they preuailed so much that the people did wholy forsake Saint Francis and bequeathed themselues to our Ladie and the Blacke friers beganne by this meanes to bee verie riche and to make good fatte brues But when the Croutched friers enuying this would also preache that the generall pardon might not onely from weeke to weeke but also from day to day be merited in most abundant maner if so be it that the people would come to celebrate and reuerence the crosse of Christ daily in their Cloyster for as much as Christ by his crosse and passion had purchased such a large remission and pardon of all mens sinnes that they needed not to tarrie for the Saturday and much lesse for S. Francis day neither yet to runne after any other Saintes when as they might draw water out of the fountaine it selfe whereat all the friers together waxed so wrothe â–ª that they procured by the Signoâ—ie of Venice that these Croutched-friers should be musseled forbidden to preache so any more as beeing a matter most hurtfull to all Saintes and especially to our welbeloued mother of God which by the Catholikes is worshipped who was verie wofull to be so forsaken by meanes of following her sonne So as it is not without occasion that our welbeloued mother the holie Church hath foresene this matter so discretely ordeining that she should at least deserue as much deuotion and reuerence as Christ Iesus himselfe For this their Ladie is desirous of glorie and verie fonde of such deuotion which euidently appeareth by her closet wherein she was borne and bred For when the Iewes did first cleaue to the faith of Mahomet gesse when this was then did shee ordeine that the Angels should remoue her closet from the fouÌ„dation standing in Nazareth and beare it through the aire into the countrie of Slauonie But when shee perceiued that she was not sufficiently honoured there as she did looke for then did shee most speedily cause the Angels to remoue the same closet to a hill in the countrie of Recanati in a wood which apperteined to a good womaÌ„ named Loretta wherby she is yet called at this day Our Ladie of Loretta howbeit she could not abide to staie there long for that by reason of the great accesse of people many murders and robberies chanced for which cause she remoued againe caused her closet to be borne vnto an other mounteine or hill which apperteined vnto two brethren which for the lucre or gaine which they receiued by her fell at variance agreed like dogs and cattes together so that she would afreshe remoue againe and seemed in a manner to haue a flie in her taile being vnable to remaine in one place In sum the Angels did remoue this closet again from thence and did bring it vppon a common highway where it doth yet remain to this houre without any ground hold or foundations by reason that the foundations were left at Nazareth And now it is compast in and preserued with bulworkes strong walles which notwithstanding dare not touche the holie closet through feare reuerence which they beare to the same And for proofe that this is true doth first appeare hereby That our Ladie did appeare to a deuoute man in a dreame and hath manifested all these thinges vnto him and he hath declared all the same to the commons of Recanati the which therevpon did forthwith send .xvi. chosen men to Hierusalem to inquire for the certeintie hereof To be briefe they haue found the foundations yet standing there of the same closet so that there remaines no more doubt to be had in this matter Secondly a certeine holie Heremite about two houres before day did see a great light descending from heauen in likenesse to fire which
with good fat liberall offrings the same is the most acceptable and beloued of our mother the holie Church It is verelie great prouision with small cost that the poore people what neede or disease so euer they haue knowe presentlie where to finde a good Apothecarie or Cheirurgian to cure their diseases For touching the Heretikes which vpbraide vs herevpon that we imitate the vnbeleuing Heathen and worshippers of idols as hath bin said are none like as Iupiter Mars Mercurie Vulcan Iuno and Diana and other such like haue bene but are holie saints Gods friends And therefore ought we at least to shewe them as great reuerence as the Heathen did to their idols Wee ought in time of neede to call vpon them to put our trust in them obseruing their rules as a cōmandement of God to bequeath Cities Countries to their custodies to erect Temples and Altars in their names to builde Cloisters and Abbies for their sakes to consecrate and hallowe Priestes Monkes Cannons and Nonnes for their worship And like as the Heathen had their Flamines that is Priestes of Iupiter Mars Ceres Bacchus Venus and Diana and also their Nonnes of Vesta Flora Bona Dea Sibyl or Magna mater and other such like Euen so must nowe the Church of Rome also haue Cannons of S. Peter S. Bauen and S. Lambert And Nonnes of S. Clara and S. Brigit Also as they were accustomed to offer sacrifices in honour of Apollo Diana Ceres and Proserpina euen so shee obserueth to doe her Masses and Trentals in honour of S. Anthonie S. Hugh S. Sebastian S. Rochus S. Barbara and of all Saintes To conclude they did not anie worship or reuerence to their idols but the holie church doeth ten times more to her Saintes for shee doeth attribute such things as they durst not to do the like For as Homer maketh mention when Iuno Pallas or Apollo or anie other of that companie would assist anie of their friends they were faine to descende from heauen downe to them could not heare their praiers so far off because they knewe not their thoughts although they were mediatours and intercessors for them to the great idol Iupiter Yea Iuno her selfe which was his sister and spouse knewe not what Thetis had held him in hand with But our Saints remaining sitting in heauen canne erewhilest helpe the people here on earth with their images which can laugh and weepe and doe all manner of miracles and they heare from aboue euerie mans inuocation as well as God him selfe For admit that the Scripture witnesseth That none doeth see or can conceiue the thought or inward cogitation of man except God alone yet the holie Church hath found a trimme remedie for that by a preatie deuise of The looking glasse of the Trinitie saying That the holie Trinitie is a looking glasse wherin the Saints can see all things whatsoeuer happen here on earth yea can sound the depth of mens thoughts and perceiue the secretes of their heartes It is verie true ▪ that we doe not call our Saints by this name God like as the Heathen were wont to doe their canonized Saints But what skilles it for the name when wee vnderstande the matter aright Howebeit notwithstanding wee name them Diuos which is euen as much as Gods or Men created Gods like as they also were wont to call their men canonized Goddes as Hercules Dionysius Augustus Vespasianus c. And here besides we doe attribute to them this name Saintes or holie men after the same sense as GOD names him selfe the holie one of Israel that is The Defender and Safegarde which doeth sanctifie Israel So that our Saintes are at least so highlie honoured of vs as in times past anie idols haue beene by the Heathen and as God him selfe can bee by vs. The v. Chapter Of the interpretation of the wordes Latria Dulia and Hyperdulia and howe they are distributed to eche FOr seeing it is requisite aswel through the obiections which the Heretikes do here alledge as also that God hath commaunded that wee shall alone call to him in our neede and that he esteemes it more than all sacrifices and burnt offrings which we can make to him yea that it is hee alone which can helpe vs and that Abraham doth not knowe vs nor Israel can say nothing of vs but that God alone through his might can relieue vs that is to smal effect for that knot can our holie mother so netelie lose that it is a maruell which the distinction that Maister Gentian doeth here bring foorth and is by all Catholike Doctours and especiallie by the worshipfull Sir Sonnio reputed for a mightie bulworke namelie betwixt Latria Dulia and Hyperdulia For the holie church hath hereby made a diuision or cauill betwixt GOD and the Saintes wherewithall eche must bee content as namelie That God alone with his images and the holie crosse shal be honoured with Latria the Saintes their images with Dulia and our Ladie with all the images which apperteine to her and all the reliques of the right and holie crosse in deede with Hyperdulia In verie deede God hath the worst chaunce for if so be we do expound it naturallie and according to the literall sense of the word then is Latria nothing else but A hirelings payment For Latron is a Greke word which betokeneth A reward or pay which is made to a hired seruant and thereby are the hired men seruantes called Latres and the maid seruantes Latris And euen so is God serued of the holy Church of Rome onelie for reward like a maister of a hired seruant Againe this Dulia which is the Saints lot and portion signifieth A bound seruice for Dulos in Greeke is A slaue and proper to anie And touching our Ladie to her is alloted the best chaunce for Hyperdulia is to say More than proper bounde seruice So that the good Catholikes are but simplie hirelinges or Gods hired seruantes and slaues to the Saintes but bounde to our Ladie aboue all But be it as be may Quod scripsi scripsi said Pilate The holy Church will not reuoke her cauils the lot is east that which is written remaineth written Yet notwithstanding because God shall not be displeased she hath ordeined that the Saintes shal giue him a share of their Dulia but hee shall keepe Latria wholie to him selfe so that Latria shall simplie signifie nothing else then the seruice which perteineth to God alone In this respect hath Maister Gentian and all other Catholike writers great reason as they alledge that the holie Church doeth not worship the Saintes like God with Latria but simplie as Saintes with Dulia and Hyperdulia for that hath his plaine dispatche and ground on the cleare text of the Scripture where Christ saieth to the Saintes Thou shalt worshippe the Lord thy God and him onlie shalt thou serue For in these last wordes doeth hee vse the worde Latreum the which
doth agree with Latria and saith that to God alone we shall attribute the same But in the first wordes he doth not once mention that we must worship God alone with Proskynesi that is With falling feete or kneeling Therefore will the holy church that this shall also be attributed to the Saints like as it is apparantly manifest by the 2. Councell of Nice and by al Catholike writers And although it is true that Christ doeth declare these wordes by the witnes of Moses which doeth ascribe the first as well as the last to GOD alone yet the holie Church is not to reason with Moses in this point for so much as Moses wrote that to the Iewes which were inclined to the seruing of idols and not to the Church of Rome which doe not woorshippe idols but onelie Saintes Item there is an other plaine text in Paule which saieth to the Galathians That when they did not knowe GOD then did they serue them which were no Goddes euen where he doeth vse this word Dulium which is deriued of Dulia Whereby it doth manifestlie plainlie appeare that these Heathen haue also knowen this Catholike distinction and therefore woulde not worshippe their Saintes as Apollo Bacchus Hercules Castor and Pollux with more other such like with Latria but baselie with Dulia Euen like as nowe the holie Church of Rome doeth serue her Saintes Touching all other Prophetes which so often crye that in time of neede wee should onlie turne to GOD and that hee will bee honoured by our calling to him yea and say that all Patrones Defendours Baals which may be thought on to declare our grieues vnto them are plaine idols all that is to small purpose for they did not in those dayes knowe anie thing at al to say touching this our distinction and therefore haue they gone roundly to worke vsing plaine speech without fauouring the matter or lapping it about with softe ragges but haue serued all such as inuocate idols pray to Patrones seeke vnto Saintes or anie deceased dead men with one sawce and without excepting anie hath giuen them to drinke of one cuppe But if the Iewes and other idolaters had bene so wise to haue obiected to the Prophetes this worthie distinction in steade of a bucklar I trowe they would as easily haue stopped their mouthes as nowe ye newe gospellers and preachers are put to silence The vi Chapter VVherein the worshipping of Saintes is affirmed by Scripture NOtwithstanding our louing deare mother the holie Church of Rome can also fishe somewhat out of the Prophetes writinges wherewith shee doeth approue the seruice of her holie Saintes Prouided alwayes that shee hath the keie to vnfolde the same for her most aduantage For in the first booke of Moses called Genesis is plainlie and expreslie set downe That Iacob doth pray ouer Ephraim Manasses after this sort saying God before whoÌ„ my fathers Abraham Isaac did walk God which had fed mee all my life long vnto this day and the Angel whiche hath deliuered mee from all euill blesse the laddes and let my name bee named in them and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac This hath the holie Church of Rome construed after this sorte That Ephraim and Manasses must inuocate or call vppon the name of Abraham Isaac and Iacob for so much as the olde Romishe exposition which shee doeth accept as most firme and irreuocable hath in place of named or called set inuocated And although the Heretikes doe vnderstande this after the most vsuall manner of speeche accustomed amongst the Hebrewes that Iacobs name called vppon or named by Ephraim and Manasses is as much to saye As that they should bee accounted of Iacobs generation and accepted for children of Israel like as Iacob him selfe doeth expounde it saying Ephraim and Manasses shal be my children and shal be called after the names of their brethren in their inheritance And like as is saide in Esaie the fourth chapter That seuen women shall wishe by one mans name to be named or called vpon by them which is That they may be called the wiues of one man Notwithstanding for so much as this exposition is according to the plaine literall sence therefore hath the holie Church of Rome abiected the same and accepted the other former meaning thereby concluding that Abraham Isaac and Iacob are to bee inuocated or called vpon Howbeit the Prophetes Fathers in the old Testament haue neuer done the same but haue protested the contrarie saying O Lorde thou art our father for Abraham knoweth vs not neither is Israel acquainted with vs but thou Lorde art our Father Redeemer and thy name is euerlasting But that happened because the foresaid Abraham Isaac and Iacob were yet in the lodge of hell and must pray for them selues could not then see in the looking glasse of the Trinitie what was done here on earth Wherefore likewise the Romish Church hath not set downe their names in the Kalender according to the custome of Rome Besides thei are to old and were neuer canonized of anie Pope Neuertheles they serue our turne to shewe after what order wee must deale with our Saintes Moreouer we haue yet an euident text in Ieremie which is TheÌ„ said the Lord vnto me Though Moses Samuel stood before me yet haue I no heart to this people Wherevnto doth agree the text of Ezechiel saying thus When the land sinneth against me and goeth forth in wickednes I will stretch out my hand vpon it and destroy all the prouision of their bread and send dearth vppon them to destroy man and beast in the lande And though Noe Daniel Iob these three men were among them yet shall they in their righteousnesse deliuer but their owne soules saith the lord c. Nowe like as by these wordes of Ezechiel it is concluded that Noe Daniel and Iob were in the towne of Hierusalem when GOD destroyed the same so may wee also in the like manner conclude and affirme that Moses and the Prophete Samuel did pray for the children of Israel And notwithstanding that the Lorde saieth That he would not giue eare to their prayers yet the holie Church doeth not regarde it for so much as like as it hath beene saide they lye yet in the dungeon of hell and could not praye so earnestlie nor with such zeale as the Saintes doe which nowe are in heauen Yet neuertheles If they being yet in the dungeon of hell prayed so hartilie for the people What may wee suppose that the Saintes doe nowe which stande in the Kalendar and are Canonized by the Pope Verelie they praye so zealouslie that often times their images here on earth through anguishe doe sweate and weepe The holie church doâ—h bring forth manie moe places of scripture for confirmation of these articles namely that which Dauid saith O God I haue honored thy friends which is That we shuld call vpon Saints
fashion and when they come to be full growen Bees then must they the thirde time bee salued againe with oyle and therewithall they come to a full naturall and most perfect kinde The locke of this Booke HErein I thought good to instruct thee good reader to the end thou mightest discerne the nature and propertie of these Bees from the other common honnie Bees and not to thinke that in all respectes they agree but differ in many But whosoeuer hath any vnderstanding will perfectly perceiue it of him selfe Therefore will wee not trouble thee any longer but make an end of this our Bee hiue Each reade consider specially ponder all the witnesses and allegations which are alledged herein as well out of the Scripture as other Bookes I trust he shall reape commoditie by it God the Lorde lighten all our hearts with his holy spirit and keepe vs from all errours through his euerlasting trueth wisdome and Sonne Iesus Christ to whom belongeth all praise honor and glorie with the Father in the vnitie of the holy Ghost Amen FINIS Afterwarde Bishop of Antwerpe Vinum 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 do 〈…〉 lie Vinum Co◠〈…〉 is to 〈…〉 good coloâ—â— smell and 〈◊〉 As well shee Saintes as hee Saintes They were called Geâ—ses 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 against the Papistes Lutheranâ—â— Huguenotes are Heretikes â–ª Church of God and Heretikes Ioh. 10.3 4 â— 14 25. Iohn 10 1â— Mat. 15.9 Ioh. 10.9 Iere. 7.4 Ephes. 2.20 Esai 59.21 Ephe. 4.15 16. Colo. 1.18 and 2.19 Iohn 15.6 which witnes is to this purpose set foorth of Iohn Audre as Panormitanus Hostiensis Bernardus Lutzenburgen in the 4. boke of the Heretikes in the 5. part and by other moe Catholike wrâ—ters Iohn Patriarch of CoÌ„stantinople Bonifacâ—us â— the first head of holy Church Phocas Popes accoâ—â—â—â— for Antichrists The Grekes against the Pope of Rome Iohannes the 23. pope The Grekes do answere pope Iohn This doth Iohn Man-deuil write of in his 7. booke Eâ—genius 4 Constantiâ—us Leo. Images forbidden despised The cause wherefore the Popes did diuide the Empire The Grekes and the Germanes did withstande the forbidding of priestes to marie â—il Boniface 8. did set it vp by force Berthramus Nota. Io. Scotus BereÌ„garius Huldricus Bishop of Auxburge Bernardus Iohannes Sarisburien Petrus Bloix Deuilish Griphines Petrus Valdo Petrus de Vinea Guilielmus de sancto Amore. Petrus Cass. Dulsimus Iohn VViclef Iohn Hus. Hieronym de Praga Nicholaus Clemangis Oldecastell VVight Paul Cravv Hieronym Sauanerolâ— Okam and Dante The Phariseis gloses The church is aboue the Scripture Deut. 4.1 12 32. Pro. 30.6 Apo. 22.18 This is thus set forth by Ioh. Eckiâ—s in his book called Enchiridium loco com Guilielmus Blindasinus The ten coÌ„maÌ„demeÌ„ts falsified Look in the Catechisme or the suÌ„me of our beleeue printed at Antwerp by the commandement of the King of Spaine Item look in Thomas de Aquino vpoÌ„ the ten commandements and vpon al the catholike doctours euerie one of them All which haue cleane left out the seconde commandemeÌ„t â–ª in the lettting foorth of the ten commandements Mat. 26.27 Maâ— 14.23 Lu. 22.17 1. Cor. 11 2â— Marke touching this the Master of the Sentences in the 4. booke the 12. dist 4. ca. And vpon the Encherid of Eckius in the booke of Bernard of Luxen In the 12. part of the 4. booke of Heretikes and in al other Catholike writers who do specially treate of this matter This standeth in the third booke of the CouÌ„cels in the Councell of Constance in the 14. session 1. Cor. 7.9 and 2. 1. Timo. 3.4 A charge to the bishops Heb. 13.4 1. Tim. 3.4 This is set foorth in plain words in the Decrees of the Popes in the Chap. Proposuisti in the 82. dist and in the Chap. Decreminus the 22. dist and in the chap. Tene the 31. dist it is likewise in the book of the Sentences in the 17. dist â—n the 4 chap. In the 4. Epist. of Pope Cere in the first book of couÌ„cels fol. 422 col 2. and 423. This standeth euen thus word for word in the booke of Decrees in the chap. Sors noÌ„ est causa 26. quaest 2. Math. 5.32.19 7. Mar. 10.4 Luke 16.18 1. Cor. 7.10 Christning breakes matrimonie of the common laye people Deus dedit In the chap. Peruenit causa 31. quaest 1. Conc. Trib. the 6. chap. in the decrees in the cap. Impu in the ca. Si quis sacr caus 27. quaest 1. In the chap. Hac ratione cau 31. qu. â— Rom. 7.2.3 1. Cor. 7.9.28 1. Tim. 5.14 Strange languages in the Church 1. Cor. 14. the whole chapter thorough Eâ—lcius in his Encheiredion Figius in libro cont Hosius in a certeine boke which he set out of this matter onely a Deu. 4.2.5 32.12.4 8.13.32 Iere. 11.4.8 Esai 1 12.2â—.13 Mat. 15.9 Col. 2.20 21 22 23. Exod. 20.4 5.22 Deu. 12.8.9 Leuit. 26.1 Deut. 4. whole thorough Deut. 16â—22 Esai 40.41 42. whole through Iere. 10. Abacuk 2. Ps. 115. and in other innumerable places 1. Iohn 5.21 Leui. 19.26 Deâ—t 18.10 11. Con. Laodicen ca 30 Con. Cart. cap. 39. cap. Non oportet cap. Auguris caus 26 quaest 5. L. Vnica co de thesauris lib. 10 cap. illos 26. quaest 2. Coniuring This coniuratioÌ„ you shall find worde for word in the Masse booke More coniurations Nota. Senora Maria Osorio Christning and coniuring of Belles Bonifa 8. C. alma mater F. adijcimus de senten in sexto And Gregorie 9. Ea permittim in decreta 4 de Sententia excommunicat Peruse like wise Philippum Francum vpon the saide Cant. Alma mater F. adijcimus nu 4. other Canonists Caldar in tract de interdictis in par un â—7 Iohn Cald. Albert. de Rosat in dictionario supâ—r verbo Campane Processes for the knolling of Aue Maria. Christning of ensignes Iodocus Tiletanus not contented with the Gospel In his booke written agaynst the confessioÌ„ of the preachers of Antwerpe a This is also specified â–ª in â—ecisionibus rote in decisio 1. num 3. in nouis Anton. Maria in addit 1 decis rote nouas de Bigamis nuâ— â— is likewise defeÌ„ded by the Iurist Caâ—olo ruino in cons. 109. num 1 in the 5. booke and of SigismuÌ„dus Neapolitanus b Eckius in Encherid Locorum communiâ— in the chap. Ecclesia 2 Tim. 3.15.16.17 1. Gal. 8.9 Cap soâ—s non est 26. quâ—st 2. Col. 2.2.3.4 5.6.7.8.9.10 and 20.21.22 The rules or 〈…〉 Dominiâ—ke 〈◊〉 Barnarde 1. Pet. 2.2 Iohn 14.29 Iohn 15.15 This is specially written in the 5. booke 〈◊〉 deâ—re in the Bul of Pope Nicholas 4. beginning exiit qui senec his 1. de verborum signis This standeth plainly in their Legends â–ª and in the booke made of the might of our Ladie Rosa Crans which Alanus did make by the inspiration of Marie the Egyptian or of Egypt To die in a gray friers habite Conformitiâ—ies Iesuits Egnatius Leguiola Garaffa This is specially writeÌ„ in the 5.
Touching this loâ—ke vpon the scripture Iohn 12.12 Matth. 23.7 Mat. 27.6.29.31.32 Cap. consecrat Si qualiter ergo de consec dist 1. Baalim is as muâ—ch to say in Hebrew as a Capteine a defender a master or such like and therefore they did name dead persons and other creaturs which the people did choose to be theâ—r patrones or capteines and aduocates Baalim The holie Romish Church doth followe many examples of the heathen All Saints in place of all heathen gods This doeth P. Barnardo of Luxenburgh witnes in the booke called Catalogus Haeveticorum Durandus in the booke called Rationale diuinorum ofâ—icior â–ª in the first booke in the Rubrike De Dedicatione Eccle. You may reade this in the boke of Decrees cap. Clericos ff pont dist 21. In the 4. booke of the Senteâ— â—etri Lombardi in cap 10. Numa Pompilius In the 7 booke of the 〈…〉 at 〈◊〉 an 54 cap. 2. dist 21. Petras de natali lib. 7. â—ap 3. Dâ—ran 〈◊〉 diuino ofâ—â— b 7. Rubr. de festo S. Petri. Iohannes de Voragine in hâ—stor â—ombarâ—i cap. 105. Bapti manâ—uan fast 8. Durand rational diuino ofâ—i lib. 7 Rubr. de caâ—â—ed Petrus de catho lib. 3. ca. 140. Bap. Mant. fâ—â—t 414.2 Pythagoras in the first verse of his golden verses or aureorum carminum Plato in his boke called Timeus whom manie as well Greekes as Latines haue here in followed Ezech. 20.18.19 S. George Chrystopherus This doth Guido de monte Rocheriâ— write in his boke called Encheiâ—id sacerdot im that is to say The Manuel of priestes in titulo de Sacramentis Eucharist Traditions of the holy church Ephe. 2.10 This was euen thus concluded at the last councell of Trent in the 3. session where as the determination of the Church was made equall with the Scripture The Indians haue in one part of the countrie a maner of garment made of the feathers of Popingates of all colours the more fantastical changeable that their garment is the more it is esteemed The examination of Heretikes Howe men shall examine Heretikes Sortes currit is as much to say Argumentes wordes called also for that Petrus Hispanus other writers of the Louens Sophistrie doe for the most part vse those exaÌ„ples in their Dialectica and are alway busie therewith a This is an argument or prophesie of faggots Sortes currit in these are all feinid names which the diuines alway vse in their subtile disputations to the end no man shall vnderstaÌ„d them but their owne scholers Thom. de Aquin. in the 3. patte Summar Item in the 4. booke of the Senten and in the Extrauagaâ— â–ª in titulo de cons. missar all thorough And ca. Ego â—ereng through the coÌ„ dist 2. in the Clementines de reliq veneratione Sanctor and by all Catholike doctors Iâ—hannes Scotus in the 4. booke of sentences The sacrament of miracles at Bruxels At Padua This doeth Thomas de Aquino set forth and the Legend of Gregorie and Vincentius Lirinensis and all other Catholike writers A miracle of the fiue words This he writes in his booke called the description of Italie in the 184 leafe â–ª the copie whereof was printed Anno 1550. and the same booke is priuiledged by the Pope of Rome This did the Catholike doctours set forth openly at VVorms anno 1557. The holy scripture a booke of brabling and a nose of waxe The Diuines of Trent Mat. 11.25 2. Cor. 4.2.8 1. Cor. 1.17 and .2.1.2.3.4 Chrysostomus in the â–ª 4. homilie of Lasarus In the preface of the Gospell of Matthew and Augustine in his 2. and .3 Episto Volusian Gloses as plain as rockes Tâ—ssing and turning of holy Scripture The keyes of the kingdome of heauen Expositio literalis The Lutherans haue found one key Expositio moralis Expositio allegorica Expositio Anagogica The scripture made a weathercocke and a nose of waxe Typica Physica The fiue keyes are 〈…〉 with sophistrie 1. Cor. 3.6 2. Cor. 3.6 The letter 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 Gentian doth blaspheme the Trinitie The holy Trinitie approued by the scripture 1. Iohn 5.7 Mat. 28.19 Ephe. 4.5 Gen. 17.10.11.13 Exo. 12 13.27 Rom. 4.11 Col. 2.11.12 1. Cor. 21.25.26 1. Cor. 7.5 Confirming of more value than baptisme Cap. nouissimo de consecrat dist ca. de his vero de consecrati dist 5 in the fourth booke of sentences in the .7 dist in the 1. â— chap. Ierem. 31.33 Iere. 31.33 Heb. 10.17 2. Cor. 3.3.8.9 11. Act. 20.26.27 Ephe. 3. â— 4.8.9.10 Col. 1 2â— Gâ—l 1.9.10.11 12. 2. Tit. 2.2 3.14.15.16.17 Gal. 1.8.9 Iohn 16.12.13 Iâ—hn 14.16.17.26 Iohn 20.31 Offering vp the Sonne in the masse Math. 26.26 1. Cor. 11.2 This woorde is set fourth by all catholike writers to this purpose as you may see in the councell of Sen. holden against Luther in the .xi. decree in the Intâ—â—im of the Emperour Charles in titulo De sacâ—â—i Missae and generally by all the Doctours of â—â—uen of Colen and of Paris as Eâ—kius Pigâ—us Bunder Ruâ—rdus with other mo Masse vsed in Virgils time Mala. 1.11 Looke prouinciale Concâ—l Senonens in the 11. decree where this scripture is alledged vpoÌ„ that purpose Looke likewise vpon Ecki Bunder Pigium Latomum Râ—ardum and such other like 1. Pet. 2.5.19 Apoca. 1.6 Apoca. 8.4 Heb. 13.15 In the .4 booke of Sentences in the .24 dist cap. 1. Roma 10.12 In the foresaid Councell of Senon decree II and in the Emperours Interim and in summa fidei Châ—â—stâ—anae set forth by the coÌ„mandement of king Philip anâ— further by all Catholike Doctours who do all generally addict the two authorities offâ—ces of priesthoode to our Priestes These are in a maner the proper wordes vsâ—d in the masse after the consecration Ca. cleros pontifex dist 21. and in the .4 booke of Sentences dist 24. De vsu pallii ad honorem Rubâ—ic de ministerio ordine Ecclesiae Heb. 7.14.17 Hebr. 8.4 and 9.25.26.27 10.1.2.12.13.14.15.16.17 Looke on the foresaid Councell Sinonense in the 11. decree in the Emperours Inâ—erim In the councell of Trent and in all Catholike bookes All which do defende that the order or office of Priesthoode could not endure eternallie if it were not that the priests followâ— in the samâ— office â–ª and do daily offâ—r vp his bodie to the Father in the Masse Heb. 7 8.9.10 Chapters Peruse thoroughly the chap. 7.24 and 27. cap. 8.4 cap. 9 25.26.27.28 and ca. 10.1.2.12.13 14.15.16 c. Aarons Priesthoode dist 21. cap. 1. in lib. 7. dist 14 cap. 8. In the 2. chap. of Councell Councell of Aquisgraine â–ª The Priestes of Caiphas race Hebr 7.11 and 8.7 This appeares also in the boke of Sentences dist 24. cap. 1. Leuites are Deacons and pardoners Dist. 21. ca. 1. Heb. 5.1.8 Looke in the foresaid Councell Sinonen de 11. and the Emperours Interim and likewise vpon Eck. â—atâ—m and other Catholike writers Heb. 8.4 In Canon Iacoâ— frater dom de consecra dist 1. Iames Basilius knew not of