being put to death at Valerianus cōmaundement 255. 22. Stephen STephen a Romaine borne a man in al pointes iuste and good and one that was counted worthy to haue the ecclesiasticall function Whereupon as VVicelius saithe the churche gaue vs many worthy examples of Prelates so longe as they were called but bishops of the citie of Rome While Galienus a wicked Emperor raged Steuen Anno 257. after he had cōuerted many of the Gētiles to the faith of Christe loosing his head was with many other sacrificed to God receiuing the crowne of iustice 23. Sixtus the seconde SIxtus the seconde was a Grecian borne in Athens he being of a worldly Philosopher become Christe his disciple and of an earthly man made an heauenly stewarde did shine like an ornament of the churche as an example worthy to be folowed This man also enstructing the people in Gods holy woorde was slayne with many thousands of martyrs in the persecution of Decius and Valerius An. 267. S. Laurence claue vnto this holy byshop vnseperably euen to the last tormentes of his life of whiche twoo the one was slayne with swearde the other burnt to death Whereof Mantuan in the 8. of his Fast. saith These men whose vertues florished by Decius dire decree VVere bid with other lockt in chaynes and dungeon darke to bee In time of this bishop about the yeare of our lorde 260. one Paule being terrified with the vnmercifull persecutiō of tyrantes gat him into wyldernesse and solitary places and so became the firste Eremite For at that time as Eusebius saith many Christians for feare of death denied their faythe Upon this Monkery had his beginning as Hierome shewes in the life of the same Paule the Eremite 24. Dionysius DIonysius was a Grecian whome Pope Damasus calleth a Monke He was a worthy man in preaching the faithe and a notable encreacer of the Christian churche vnder Claudius the seconde Neither did he want other churches whiche with the doctrine of truthe did reforme heresies that sprange in those dayes As appeareth by the churche of Antioche which calling a counsell in the yeare of our Lorde 273. did conuince of errour Paulus Samosatenus notwithstanding he him selfe coulde not be there present because he was olde Dionysius conuerted to Christianitie the daughter of the Emperour Decius and Triphonia her mother with 46. thousand other And at the length was martyred with them many other at Salarie gate Anno. 277. 25. Foelix Foelix a Romain being a good man and of perfect conuersation florished in preaching the Gospell at suche time as Aurelianus did persecute his brethren While this accursed manslear exercised his tyranny Foelix among other martyrs departed moste happely vnto Christe that is to saye from death to life But to saye that this martyrdome working their glory caused temples to be made yearely sacrifices to be done therein in their names it is to open blasphemy Who will beleue that these holy fathers of the primatiue churche would so charely haue suche regarde to kepe stockes and stones or dead mens bones in time of so many persecutions and heresies as if they had nothing els to doe But such forgeries vse our Romanistes to maintayne their idolatry 26. Eutychianus Eutychianus borne in Thuscia being geuen wholy to Godlynes and commended to the churche for his learning and vertue saued many people by preaching the Gospell This man by report did bury with his own handes 342. martyrs and appointed an order for the burying of martyrs and in the ende he him selfe was made a martyr Anno. 283. It appeareth that this man did nothing to establishe the fantasticall toyes of our age but the Papistes foarge of him that he blessed vpon the altar grapes and beanes and that he buried the dead in purple vestimentes a deede mete for a Christian martyr 27. Gaius or Caius GAius borne in Dalmatia cosen to Dioclesian the Emperour succeded Eutychianus in preaching the comfortable Gospell and was a moste worthy president in the churche of God Carsulanus and Platina the Popes claw-backes reporte of this man that he encreased the dignitie of the Clergie marueilously by making difference of degrees among them so that from one degree to an other they should arise to the estate of a bishop Furthermore thei prattell that he commaunded that a man in holy orders should not be sewed of prophane men Pagans or Heretikes But who is so fonde to beleue that the bishops power was so great at Rome at that time when Pagans them selues bare all the sway executed the ciuill lawe Gaius was in the time of the raigne of the foresayde Dioclesian vnder whome cruell persecution continued so that for a great time he lurked in caues and hoales vnder the groūd and had no pontificall pallaice or stately temple And in the ende being plucked out with his brother Gabinius a maried priest he was slayne with a swoard 28. Marcellinus MArcellinus was a Romaine who in the tenth persecution after Nero was cruelly vexed of the tormentours vnder Dioclesian and Maximinian being terrified with feare of the paynes he offered vnto the Idols a graine of frankinsens In those dayes as Gildas writeth the scripture where soeuer it was founde was burnt in the streate and the chosen shepeheardes of Christes flocke were slaine with their innocent shepe But Marcellinus immediatly after his dede remembring him selfe reproued Dioclesian to his face and offred him selfe willingly to death for the truthe of Christe and striuing valiauntly he preuayled receiuing the crowne of martyrdome Anno 303. Hereunto agreeth Mantuan in the life of the sayde Basill 29. Marcellus MArcellus a Romaine was pastour of the churche feading it with wisedome and doctrine And as I maye saye with the Prophete a man according to Gods harte full of Christian woorkes This man admonished Maximianus the Emperour endeuoured to remoue him from persecuting the sainctes But the Emperoure being more hardened commaunded him to be beaten with cogiels and to be driuen out of the citie wherefore he entred into the house of one Lucina a widowe and there he kept the Congregation secretly whiche the tyrant hearing made a stable for cattell of the same house and cōmitted the kepinge of it to the byshop Marcellus After that he gouerned the churche by wryting Epistles without any other kynde of teaching ▪ being condemned to suche a vile seruice And being thus dayly tormented with stinke and noysomenesse at length gaue vp the ghost Anno 308. 30. Eusebius EVsebius a Grecian being a very Godly man a doctour and teacher among the Christiās gouerned the church in the great storme of persecution He trauayled stoutly in the worde of the Lorde as well at Rome as els wheare through his countrey in the time of Maxentius that horrible tyrant vntill he were destroyed by martyrdome as Massaeus writeth Anno 309. whereupō as Mantuan writeth an Aungell sayde to Basill Of thinges that are reueald to me I le make the vnderstād The ioyful dayes of
the Brytaines had receiued more sincerely of Ioseph the churches of Asia But to thrust vpon them the Romain religion patched vp with mans diuices and tradicions The Britaynes had always the preaching of the truthe syncere doctrine and the liuely faith and such seruice as was deliuered to the Apostles by Gods commaundement They had Christian churches whereof Godfrey of Munmuthe in the eight booke and fourth chapiter of the actes of the Britaines sayth thus In the contrey of the Britaines Christianitie florished hetherto which neuer failed among them since the Apostles time But when Augustine came hee founde in their prouince seuen bishoprikes and one Archebishoprike maintained by godly Prelates and many Abbots liuing by their handy labour among whome the Lordes stocke kept true waye It appeareth also that there were shepeherdes among theÌ„ that were diligent to preserue the puritie of doctrine as was Dionotus Anonius and his fellowes who in conteÌ„pt of the Romaines ceremonies stacke stoutly to it euen to the death Augustine entred the lande not with the Gospell of Christian peace but with the banner of his Aposticship with his syluer crosse his Letanie his procession images painted puppettes reliques canticles and bookes of ceremonies But when by the authoritie of the king in the west part of England he sommoned the byshops and doctours that they accepting and communicating the Romaine customes should submitte them selues to him Anno. 602. They going to the synode did firste demaunde of a certaine wise man that liued solitarely whether it was laweful to followe his commaundement and forsake those tradiâ—ions whiche they had receiued of their fathers to whome hee aunswered If he be a maÌ„ of God followe him They further asked howe they should proue that Ye knowe quoth he that the Lord commaunded saying Take my yoke vpoÌ„ you and learne of me because I am gentle and lowlye of harte Therefore if this Augustine be suche an one it is credible that he also beareth Christes burtheÌ„ and offereth it to you to beare but if he be proude and cruell it is euideÌ„t tha he is not of God and ye ought not to regarde his talke And howe shall we knowe that quoth they Let Augustine quoth he and his company goe firste to the Synode And if when ye come he ryse vp to salute you knowe ye that he is Christe his seruaunt and obey ye him But if he disdayne you or make smale accompt of you and shewe no token of curtesie in his countenaunce seing ye are the greater number doe ye likewyse contemne him Therfore when they came to Augustine sitting ambiciously on his stalle and sawe that he gaue them no token of frendship they by and by conceiuing displeasure noting him to be a proude persone did forthwith ouerthwart euery thing that he put forth For he charged them that they did many thinges coÌ„trary to the custome of the catholicke churche especially in keping their Easter in ministring of baptisme and in their preaching and that they regarded not mans tradicioÌ„s and he commaunded that in these and other thinges they should followe the vse of the church of Rome But they aunswered that they would do none of these neither take him for their Archebishop Whereupon he promised them warre should ensewe and threatned them fiercely to reuenge it by death whiche immediatly ensued Reade Beda in his ecclesiasticall history of Englande the seconde booke and the second chapter and likewyse the sayde Godfrey But I wonder muche of this crueltie of Augustine For Gregorie before had so discussed it and wrote vnto him that it was not nedefull in all churches to haue the same order of ceremonies but that euery churche might ordaine the beste for it selfe But suche was wonte to be the tyranny of hypocrites whereof Mantuan saythe The fathers of the Latin churche to taxe they enterprise And make them fondly force the Britains bend vnto the guise Of Romish church against al right with foolish hardines They rashly cause the auncient league of amitie to cease â–ª As touching peace they saye that Rome should rather make then marre To kepemans lawe so that Christes lawe therby do neuer larre And faith with doctrine whiche allowed by the firste Synode was As it from Christe the light of life to all mankinde did passe And to speake in fewe wordes the Romaine bishops were starres euen hetherto yet but falling from Christes right hande to the grounde from whome the heauen departed Apocal. 6. and they are prefigured by the redde horse vnto whose ryder power was geuen to take awaye peace from the earth and to murther to and fro whereupon as in the firste order the Romaine Prelates called bishops by their true ministring the worde of God and constant faith were starres abiding in Christe his right hande so in this second sort vnder the name of Archebishops and Patriarkes by the neglecting of the same woorde and their earthly affections they were starres falling to the earth Apocal. 6. But in the thirde ranke whiche shall followe vnder the name of Popes and Antichristes for their absolute reuolting from Christe and open idolatries they shal be the starres falling from heauen to the earthe Apoc. 9. THE THIRDE Booke ¶ Nowe ensueth the thirde sorte of Romaine bishops coming from euill to worse For as the former company in the seconde booke shewed declining from pure Christianitie and enclining to Antichriste so now appeareth in these that the seede sowed by the forainer is groweÌ„ vp Antichrist as it were appearing aboue the grounde who grewe still forwarde froÌ„ grenenesse to ripenesse as shall appeare by these that followe and so from ripenesse to rottennesse which is to be hoped for in that already he is wexed so mellowe that if he be not plucked from the tree if it please God to sende a smale blaste of winde he will fall of him selfe Note therfore diligently gentil Reader what fruite ensueth and springeth of the former grayne Reade conferre and then iudge whether these men shewe them selues to be the vicars of Christe or deceitful and mischeuous Antechristes for bye their fruites ye shall knowe them whether they are suche as they would be accompted Abadon or the Latin Antichriste IN the yeare of our Lorde sixe hundreth and foure Phocas the tyrant murthered his soueraigne lord Mauricius the Emperoure with his wife his brother his children and many nobles From this yere adding to it two yeres to the beginning of the Popedome established by Phocas are sixe hundred sixty sixe yeares from the coÌ„sulship of M. T. Cicero and Antonius as Bibliander Funccius and other do euidently recken it at whiche time the Iewes while their bishops iarred for supremacie lost their libertie For Christe as Bibliander gathers in his reuelation whiche by his dearely beloued Apostle Iohn he deliuered to the church foare tolde that a certaine tyrannicall Empier should afflicte the true church as Nero and Domician with others did And calleth the beaste hauing two hornes like a lambe
fault vvherof he vvas mistrusted De Clemente quod est coÌ„scriptum carmine crimen Id verum aut fallum protinus esse scio Si verum est verenam possum dicere mundi Vrna breuis vitium claudit omne scelus Si falsum est vere iam possum scribere mundi Dux pax lux paruo contegitur tumulo Et falsum esse reor Quis enim coÌ„mittere summum Pontificem Rome talia monstra putet Iohn Tillius sayth in his Chronicle that this Pope beinge taken prysoner by the Emperours armye as shal be at large declared was redeemed for fourtye Thousande FloreÌ„ces Also of this Clement it is reported in a certaine Commentarye vpon the articles of the maisters of Paris that he was one that practised poysoninges a murderer a baude an vncleane liuer and that in such sort as for offending of chast eares is not to be named Also he is charged there with simonye adulterye rauishing of women periurye coniuring and to be a Church robber fraught with al kinde of villâ—uye and therfore a certaine Poet wrote thus of him Clementi nomen dedit inclementia fati Bellorum hic fomes cunctorum Lerna malorum Valerius Anselmus wryting of this ClemeÌ„t sayth thus ClemeÌ„t being of a dissembling wit in the last yeare of his Papacye repayred to the French king at Massilia where they two agreed so together that the king toke Katherine nice vnto this Pope Clement at his motion with a great dowrye of Ecclesiasticall dignityes and maryed her vnto his second sonne Henry duke of Orleans This the Pope wrought to arme him selfe the stroÌ„ger against the Lutheranes whose bloud he hunted after But in SepteÌ„ber he and other of his Cardinals and familiaritye were preuented by the straunge poyson of a charmed Taper c. Clement in making this mariage would first haue had the saide Katherine bestowed on the Frenche kinges eldest sonne if it could haue bin But it came to the same effecte in the ende for soone after the eldest sonne dyed and then her husbande Henry duke of Orleans was nexte heire and kinge of Fraunce and by this meanes the Popes nyce according to the desire of her vncle became Queene of FrauÌ„ce being the same woman that yet lyueth in Fraunce in these bloudye dayes being mother to Charles that now is king For this her aduauncement she hath shewed herselfe verye thanckfull vnto Italye and vnto the Court of Rome both in plantinge Italians in diuers greate offices in the Realme of Fraunce and also fortifyinge the Popes auctoritye to the vttermost of her power with greater beneuolence to her owne countrye Italye then is thoughte profitable to the countrye of Fraunce Iohannes Baptista Folengius in his CoÌ„mentarye vpon the 105. Psalme hath these woords For it is reported that in our dayes Pope Clement the seuenth dyed of that most lothsome and filthye disease called morbus pedicularis that is to be eaten wyth lyce some say that he was poysoned He was a mortall creature and therefore subiect to infinite miseryes and diseases as other men are c. Clement being dead this Epitaphe was made on him whereby it appeareth how the world iudged of his life Clementem eripuit nobis clementia fati Humanum toto gaudeat orbe genus Hic est qui fuerat iam dedecus vrbis orbis Et fuit aetatis magna ruina suae Hic est si nescis qui iam tibi Roma parauit Excidium pestem funera bella famem Hic est per quem tot prostrant in vrbe puellae Per quem pulsus honos virgineumque decus Hic est qui molles euexit ad astra cinaedos Formosum à tergo munere iuuet Hylam Hic est qui fuerat viuens infamia mundi Imperij labes spurcitiesque sui Contemptor diuûm scelerum vir publicus hostis Perfidus ingratus raptor iniquus atrox Exosus vitam morbo tenuatus amaro Stabat Paeonia non reuocandus ope Mortem implorabat nec mortem fata sinebant Gaudebant longa sed cruciare mora Hic vidit mortis centum tormenta futurae Poena tamen mortis non fuit aequa suae Ex ista tandem migrauit luce tyrannus Quo nullus toto peior in orbe fuit ¶ Pasquil to Rome Roma vale vide satis est vidisse reuertar Quum leno aut meretrix scurra cinaedus ero Under this Clement Nicolas Machiauel Secretarye of Florence and a famous Historiographer did flourishe who in the first booke of his historye of Florence sayth that for the most part the mischiefes that happeÌ„ amonge the Christians proceede of the ambition of the Popes And that before the time of Theodoricus kinge of Lombardes that is till about the yeare of our Lorde 500 they were euer subiecte to kinges in ciuill matters But sayth he they encroached by little and little the ciuil iurisdiction and finallye do vsurpe Lordship euen aboue the verye Emperours They haue growen to this height as he sheweth by three meanes by excommunicating by geuing pardoÌ„s by the sword Furthermore in his discourses vpon the fift decade of Liue Cap. xii he sheweth the contempte of Religion is cause of the ouerthrow of al common wealthes namelye that the occasion both of discorde and euill successe in Christendome is because that Religion is contemned whereof there can be no greater coniecture saith he then that those people which are nearest to the Church of Rome the heade of our Religion haue least Religion And he that by experience would know the truth of this matter if he were of sufficient power and auctoritye to transport the Court of Rome into Zwitzerland where onelye at this daye the people do liue both according to Religion warlicke sort of antiquitye he should perceiue that the detestable demeanour of the Popes Courte would cause more disorder in the countrey then any chaunce els that mighte happen at anye time c. 166. Paule the thirde PAule the third borne in Rome was first called Alexander Farnesius He bâ—inge a Cardinall and bisshop of Hostia and a man almost spent in yeeres was chosen to succede Clement and yet he raigned fiftene yeeres Valerius writing of him saith This holy man did his endeuour accordinge to the custome of his auncestours to aduaunce his children and to suppresse Luther and his adherentes He was very conning in astrologie southsaying and coniuring by meanes wherof being a young man he did manye strange feates He caused his owne sister to yelde her selfe concubine vnto Pope Alexander the sixte that hee might therby obtaine the red hatte But in his Papacie beinge an aged man he deuised a newe profession of religious men He purposing to reforme the estate of the church of Rome sommoned a generall councell at Mantua but to no purpose and likewise in the later Tridentine councell he could not preuaile Valerius Anselmus Paulus Vergerius Iohn Sleidan and other late writers do report these thinges that follow of him It were to long to
pleased God otherwyse to prouide his owne brother Paulus Vergerius bishoppe of Iustinople had not escaped his rigour â—e sent out his marcials as cruel persecutours on all sides who tormeÌ„ted the Gospellers with fyre sword burning and drowning banishing and imprysoning confiscating their goods pyning their carkases euen to death The â—â—iefe of these tormentours were Alexander Farnesius Cardinall Octauius his brother duke of Parma who were the sonnes of the forsaid Peter Aloysius the sonne of this Pope These two wyth great blustring and threatnings came out of Italye entred into Germanye Anno 1546 vauntinge and boasting verye arrogantlye that they would shed so much bloude of the Dutche Lutherans that their horses should be able to swim in the streame thereof In the meane time the wicked Pope at home was more pleasaunt with his daughter Constantia then the vse is beside this like a sinnefull wretche he prouoked to incest and most detestable whoredome another beinge his nyce a yonge gentlewoman in time past commended as well for womanlye modestye as beautye He had a booke kept of 45. Thousande harlots who for the libâ—rtye of their stewes did paye vnto him a monthlye tribute These dames sayth Eusebius Captiuuâ— are had in great honour wyth the Pope these kisse his feetâ— these haue familiar communicatioÌ„ wyth him these are his companions both by daye and by night In the time of this Pope Anno 1534. the Franciscan monkes played a cruel and bloudye pageant at Orleans in Fraunce in despite of a dead woman beinge the Maiors wyfe of the Citye who in her life desired that she might be buryed without any funerall pompe The woman beinge dead the monkes in whose Church shee was buryed receyued of her husband vi crownes and because the gifte was not greater they grudged much at it And therefore they set a certaine nouice aloft on the roofe of the Church who shoulde in the nighte time counterfaite to be the womans spirite and should crye out and say that she was dampned perpetuallye for Luthers doctrine At the leÌ„gth the matter came before the kinges councel at Paris where in presence of the Chauncellour Antonius Pratensis these two Coleman Steuen Atrebatensis being found giltye conuicted of this villanye were condemned to be put to open shame One Vulteius Remensis wrote these Uerses against this illusion Cum clamat laruas furiosa caterua leonum Infestare suam nocte dieque domum Res vera est falsi laruati denique fratres Quos vestis sanctos prodigiosa facit Sunt lemures â–ª larue furiae vulpesque lupique Qui infestant vitijs seque suamque domum One Pontacus a Popeling in his Chronicle set out the last yeare being the yere of our Lord 1573 printed at Louany by an Englishe fugitiue called Iohn Fowler reporteth in the 153. leafe thereof that this Pope Paule the third did openlye excommunicate curse the most renowmed Prince R. Henry the eyghte donauit regnum primum occupaturo gaue his kingdome to him that woulde first inuade it Nowe followeth it to speake of Peter Aloysius duke of Parma Placentia and bastarde sonne to Pope Paule the thirde who because he was proud cruell and a most lasciuious tyraunte was murthered by his owne nobles Anno 1548. the tenth day of August When this wretched villaine as both Vergerius SleidaÌ„ report out of certaine Italian historyes beinge lieâ—etenaunte generall of the Romaine armye arriued at Fane and founde there Cosmus Cherius bishop of the same Citye being aboue thirtye yeares old a man of great wysedome learning and of godlye lyfe he committed vppon him such an horrible villanye that I thincke since Sodom Gomorra were by the hande of God for the same sinne destroyed wyth showers of fier and brimstone rayninge from heauen the like hath not beene hearde of For euen by force and violence hee caused his vassals and pezauntes to holde the bishoppe while he mauger his hart in the meane time without all shame committed that deede which shame wil suffer no ciuill pen to put in wryting This treacherye infamous filthines strake such a griefe in the harte of the good bishop and was such a corsey to the innocent man that for sorrowe shame together he dyed within three dayes after And as some thincke the same Aloysius perceyuing how greuouslye he toke it gaue him poyson to dispatche him out of the waye least he should haue made complaint thereof to the Emperour For so vnaduisedlye in greate anguishe of minde he had threatned Aloysius Beside this Aloysius beinge priuye to the incest of his father presumed to committe the same deede ofteÌ„ with his sister ConstaÌ„tia And thus while his father was Pope hauing power as he thought of heauen and hell he presumed that he might do any thing lawfullye without feare and thereupon bye licentious luste did oft defile him selfe with eyther kinde He committed manye robberyes and murthers spoylinge of Churches and thondring out his blasphemyes against the maiestye of God And notwithstanding all this the Pope made of his sonne as his deare darlinge and whollye endeuored himselfe to aduaunce him to honour and when any made complaint of his wicked conuersation the Pope would litle or nothing be moued therewith but would saye after a smyling maner that He learned not this of his father Other correction of his sonne he vsed none no not for that notorious crime vpon the bodye of Cosmus O what a miserable estate is this that he who couÌ„teth himselfe to be the vicar of God that is ielous ouer the least sinnes and a seuere reuenger of iniquitye vppon his owne elected people should thus against the maiestye of that God as it were in defiance of his iustice wincke at such an horrible treacherye and suffer it to be vnpunished which Paganes and heatheÌ„ led onely by the light of reason haue loathed Yea euen the brutishe beast taught of nature coÌ„mitteth not and as I maye plainlye say if the deuil himselfe hath any remorse to be touched wyth the hydiousnes of sinne I am sure he would detest abhorre such an acte most of all If anye man be so vaine to repose his Religion vpon man and to measure the truth of doctrine by the conuersation of the person As many misled by Popishe traditions refuse the sinceritye of the Gospell for the corruption of them y professe it If those kinde of parsons loke vppon this one Pope a mightye piller of their Religion I hope they would roote out that affiauÌ„ce in his doctrine which is plaÌ„ted in their breastes or els be taught to measure the power and truth of the Gospell not by the frailtye and weaknes of man But if this waywarde reason be so beaten into their braynes that it cannot be digged oute but that they will still affirme the doctrine is not true and saye I wyll not accept of it because the professours thereof are wicked men Then let them beholde this Pope Paule a mightye
lighte burden and most pleasant crosse of oure Sauiour Iesus Christe And I require this at your handes most godlye fathers that you will thincke this present calamity to be no small cause which stirred me vp to this matter and I desire for the great mercye of our Sauiour Christe that you go forwarde in that worke that you haue in hand and that you will make your prayers for England that cānot pray for it selfe that this Pope may be exempted out of the minds of all Christians Italians Spaniardes Frenchmen and Englishmen thruste out of all kingdomes and Churches broken in two and vtterlye destroyed Praye that the blind maye see the deafe heare and that those which be in darcknes and in the shadowe of death maye come to the light and knowledge of the truth For your prayers shal be of more effect with God than all the blessinges and cursinges of the detestable Pope By these thinges I trust that you vnderstande what I haue taken in hande and for what cause First the desire of my freindes compelled mee thereunto Secondly my conscience pricked mee forward hasting hereunto that I mighte communicate these thinges which I haue both heard and seene in the whole course of my life Last of all the lamentable state of Englande called mee hereunto that for the loue which I beare to my brethren I would ayde it and that the begīning of the Romaine tyrānye being read knowne and the ofspring of all the Popes they might seeke a newe way and amende their liues Also to restore the dignitye of the common wealth which was lost and to the reforminge of the Church and to the glorye of Iesus Christe the onely gouernour of the earth But not wtout great cause do I dedicate this my booke vnto you which are in this our age the greatest defendours of the Christian fayth which also do beare this greuous odious burden and for that cause do burne with the same fire of enuye which I do For truly I speake as I thincke as I beleiue because I beleiue it I cānot hold my peace If at VVitēberg Luther the vpholder of the Christian fayth at Tigur Zuinglius the inuincible defendour of the pure veritye and a professour therof vnto the death at Basil Occolampadius a lighte and lampe in the house of God had not opened the liuelye springes of the Scripture and being opened had not defēded them against the boldnes of the Philistines if others in those dayes in your places had not sustayned this oure Religion if you would not haue put to your ayde and helping hands if God had not left the seede of the truth in those Churches wherin you are Presidēts there had bin no place for Christe on the earth where hee might put his head ther should haue bin no refuge for exiles to flye vnto Christian pietye shoulde finde no place in which it might be confirmed safelye established And all those things that I haue shewed here were taught me of your pastours and writers Therefore it is meete that I should render some part thereof with gaine from whence I had it neyther do I honour worship onely your Churches as the springes of pure Religion the which with priuye passages doth flow vnto all the corners of the earth euen to vs beyonde the Ocean but all Englishe peregrins are bounde of dutye vnto you for your great benefites bestowed vppon them The which thing I would haue shewed at large in the name of all my freindes if I had not written vnto you to whom we are of dutye bound yet trulye to passe all thinges in silence and declare none of them I cannot Therefore I praye you pardō mee and let your modestye and gentlenes giue place and pardon mine affections while that of so many I declare a fewe to the intent that other men may vnderstand if I had not a iust cause to dedicate this my booke to you before al other The which thinge while I shewe briefelye as time and order doth require so I will name euery one of you not respecting your dignitye but doing after the imbecillitye of memorye and the perspicuitye of the matter Therefore that I maye declare from the beginninge ascende from the farthest vnto the nighest whereto much duty owe we to VVitenberg that most fayre marchandize of all artes they euidently declare which go thither either to behold the coūtrey or to giue themselues to studye with whose notable prayses many being styrred vppe would go thither in great companies if riches would aboūd as their good will doth to go so longe a iourneye For when they prayse other learned not withoute gratefull testifyinge of many benefites towardes them Than O Philip they do declare thy singuler curtesye maruelous facilitye and thy good wil alwayes ready to deserue wel of al men Neither without a cause For thou prosecutest al mē at home with all kinde of humanitye and at home with thy preaching louing letters doest ease the sorrowful wauering minds For it is not vnknowen what thou hast done at the councel of VVesalia in the Englishe mens behalfe who when thou sawest to take paynes for Religion sake and to be greatly moued wyth the vniust outcryes of men that helde opinion agaīst thē thou thoughtest good that the cause should be heard wythout debate or strife and not to be put oute with crye clapping of hands thou saydst that the men were to be retayned and relieued and not to be vexed and afflicted with any sharpe iudgement To this ende thou didst write to the maiestrates of Franckford so that by thy letters which I chaunced to see I am certified where thou didst thincke it meete that our men purelye thinkinge of the articles of our Christian fayth and in diuers cōtrouersyes defending their opinion with feruour of zeale accordinge to their nature to be taughte and not to be oppressed to be warned w t talke not troubled with force sith that doubtfull matters ought to be handled of the aduersaryes parte wyth obscure wordes Neither do I doubte but that the countryes bordring there about Strasburge Basil Arouia Tigurū Geneua Emdona being moued with such a notable testimonye will receiue vs more into their fauour But leuing VVittenberge I come to Basile where I will be more parciall not bicause I can not prayse him sufficiently inough but bicause I am one of them which haue felt and do daily feele the great beneuolence of the Senate ministers and the whole people least I should not seeme to be so gratefull a prayser as a deceitfull flatterer Therfore I will saye nothing of thee at this tyme moste wyse learned Sulcer nothinge of M. VVoulfangus VVisenburge that moste excellent diuine and worthy gouernour of the vniuersitie nothing of Martin Borrham the notable professor of diuinitie nothing of learned M. Iohn Iunius my faithfull companion nothing of Marcus Bersius Iames Turkenbrot Conradus Lycosthenes his deare friende Huldricus Coccius Thomas
a good pastour and painfull labourer in the Lordes haruest and at length was put to death cruelly Anno. 144. It is reported that he wrote out of a caue where he hid him selfe an Epistle touching God and the incarnation of the sonne of God 9. Pius of Aquilia PIus borne in Aquilia is reported to haue done many godly dedes in the church vnder Antonius Verus And in the end watered the churche of Christe with his bloud in martyrdome Anno. 159. 10. Anicetus ANicetus a Sirian was a diligent pastour of the churche of Rome till he was martyred Anno. 169. 11. Sother SOther borne in Campania as the valiaunt souldiour of Christe Iesus serued vnder his spirituall banner in the time of Antonius Cōmodus He employed him self moste diligently to bring the soules of the baptized to saluation in Christe both by doctrine and example of life And in the ende confirmed the Gospell whiche he had faithfully preached with his bloud in martyrdome Anno. 177. 12. Eleutherius ELeutherius a Grecian was also a carefull and vigilant pastour in his time the persecution of the tyrants did somewhat decreace many godly writers bestowed great paynes to wryte sondry learned bookes against diuerse heresies and heretikes whiche then enfected the churche And among other this Eleutherius did also defende against Titianus that no vsuall trade of life is to be reiected But not withstanding that the stormes of persecution were somewhat calmed in his time because many of the Romayne nobilitie beleued on Christe yet Masseus saythe he was beheaded Anno. 191. 13. Victor VIctor borne in Aphrica did succeade Eleutherius This man was the first that when the storme of persecution was calmed vsurping authoritie vpon straungers sought to haue an oar in an other mans boate In the former byshops saith Vincelius the spirite abounded but in these that folowe the temptacion of fleshe and bloud preuayled Policrates bishop of Ephesus and Iraeneus bishop of Lions did bouldly reproue this Victor for exempting his bretheren in Asia from the communiō because in keping Easter day they folowed not the vse of the churche of Rome So that the churche was then rent in twayne by meanes of his obstinacy He died Anno. 203. 14. Zepherinus ZEpherinus was a Romaine borne a man as writers do testifie more addicted with all endeuour to the seruice of God then to the cure of any worldly affayres Where as before his time the wine in the celebrating the cōmuniō was ministred in a cup of woode he first did alter that and in steade thereof brought in cuppes or chalices of glasse And yet he did not this vpon any supersticion as thinking woode to be vnlawefull or glasse to be more holy for that vse but because the one is more comly and semely as by experience it appeareth then the other And yet some wooden doultes do dreame that the wooden cuppes were chaunged by him because that part of the wine or as they thought the royall bloud of Christe did soake into the woode and so it can not be in glasse Surely soner may wine soake into any woode then any witte into those winie heads that thus both deceiue them selues and slaunder this Godly martyr Who in the yeare of our lorde 220. suffered martyrdome vnder Aurelius In the time of this Zepherinus the Artemonites were a secte of vaine Philosophicall diuines who as our late scholemen did corrupt the scripture with Aristotle and Theophrastus turning all into curious and subtile questions 15. Calixtus the first CAlixtus borne at Rauenna when persecution began to wexe hotte againe did like a constant Christian hide him selfe with many moe in a certaine place on the farther side of Tiber. In these daies saith Platina al thinges were kept close and hidden because the persecution was so great euery where yea their churches and places of assembly were in corners and caues for the moste parte But Anno 226. this Calixtus was apprehended by the commaundement of Alexander Seuerus and was beaten with coodgiels pent in prison afterwarde hurled headlong out of a wyndowe and then his bodie was drowned in a depe pitte 16. Vrbanus VRbanus a Romaine liued vnder that moste lasciuious wreatche Heliogabalus the Emperoure and with his sinceritie of life and excellencie in learning he drewe many men on all sides to the Gospell He was oftentimes banished the citie for the Christian faithe but being secretlye brought in againe by the faithfull he was martyred by cōmaundement of Seuerus Anno. 233. 17. Pontianus POntianus a Romaine in the time of the sayde Emperour Seuerus being one of Christes ministers and a distributer of Gods misteries suffered both banishement punishement for the Gospell and the churche sake For when they ran thicke to him to heare him preache the worde by the princes commaundement being set on by the Idolatrous priestes he is caried frō Rome to the Isle Sardinia where after many miseries and sore tormētes he was put to death Anno. 239. 18. Antheros ANtheros was borne in Grece a man of God if any wer He preached Christe stoutely euen vnder the tyranny of Maximinus the Emperour This byshop prouided first of all that the actes of martyrs should be diligently writtē by notaries least the remembraunce of Gods hardie souldiours should be lost with their liues This Antheros in the yeare 243. did with his bloude beutifie the churche whiche with his woorde he had fed before 19. Fabian AFter him came Fabius a Romain borne who as Eusebius witnesseth as he was returning home out of the fielde and with his contrimen present to electe a newe byshop there was a pygeon sene standing on his head and sodenly he was created pastour of the churche whiche he loked not for While he liued he him selfe sawe that the recordes of martyrs should be written and that burying places should be prepared for them who afterwarde vnder Decius that afterwarde dealt cruelly with his owne brethren ended his life with most glorious death Anno. 150. 20. Cornelius COrnelius a Romaine being in the time of Decius accounted the seuēth persecutour of Christe his church had a Godly care ouer the safetie of his neighbours He entertayned curteously and restored to the churche as many as hauing denied Christe in tormentes did yet repent thē of their deede afterward O the aboōdant spirite of Christ that was in this byshop O worthy minister of the Gospel for although this mā of God Cornelius was caried away into banishemēt yet he neuer fayled the churche of Christ. But as a valiant champiō in the maintenaūce of the truth did yelde his necke vnto the sworde of Decius 21. Lucius LVcius a Romain being a faithful seruant in the lordes house and driuen into banishment by Gallus Hostilianus the persecutour of Christianitie was comforted of S. Ciprian by his letters And at the lengthe after Gallus death euen by Gods wil retourned to Rome enriched the churche with healthful doctrine and afterward being purified in the lambes bloud he pearced the heauenly paradise
the saying in the 17. of thapocalips concerninge the x. kinges These haue one counsell and power and shal giue their power vnto the beast THE FOVRTH BOOKE coÌ„tayning the third order of Popes in whoÌ„ Antichrist appeareth to be come toward fulnesse of hys wickednes specifyed in the 17. Chapter of the Reuelation speakinge of Antechrist in the kingdome of the greate whore of Babilon vvhich sitteth vppon the beaste vvith seuen heades and that Prophecye seemeth to maister Baale to containe these 41. Popes following to Siluester the second HYtherto from Phocas the Emperours time for the space of 247. yeares Antichrist like the beast raigned in the Church of Christians without iudgemente or consideration of heauenly spirite Hytherto the Popes euen to the forteth Pope cast theyr eyes on earthly things forgetting Gods euerlasting testament as if they onely regarded but the fleshe and not the soule All theyr delight was in newe traditions ceremonyes buildings pleasures pompe warres treasons and translations of kingdomes as appeareth so that they seemed to liue in the glorye of this worlde and in contempte with Christ so that the Church vnder their gouernment is at length become the strompet of Babilon according to the whole discours of the Apocalips The truth whereof the Lord hath most euidently reueiled in this next Pope that followeth who was a woman and an harlot whereby al men may vnderstand the misterye reuealed by Christ. THE POPES OR ROMAINE ANTICHRISTES 40 Ioan the eight IOan the eight being a woman was made Pope and because of her bringing vp vnder a certeine Englishe maÌ„ a Monke of Fulda whome she loued tenderly her name was altered and she was called Iohn Englishe She sat as Pope in the pontificall seate at Rome two yeares and syxe monethes She was a Germain of kindred and borne in Mens called at the firste Gilberta who the more to enioye her louers company and the better to auoyde suspicioÌ„ dissembled her kinde and put her selfe into mans apparell so trauailed with the Monke her peramour to Athens where after she had profited in all the sciences her louer being dead she came to Rome disguising still her selfe and counterfaiting to be a man For through the promptnesse of her wit and ready tongue shee talked eloquently in publique lectours and disputations And many had her in admiratioÌ„ for her learning She grew into so great credit was so wel liked of al that Leo the Pope being dead they chose her Pope In whiche office as other Popes did shee gaue orders made priests and deacons promoted bishops made abbots sayde masses hallowed altars and churches ministred the Sacramentes and gaue men her feete to kisse and did all other thinges belonging to Popes her doinges stode in force But in the time of her Popeship â–ª Lotharius the Emperour being an olde man became a Monke And Lewis the seconde came to Rome and receiued of â—er the scepter and crowne of the Empier with Peters blessing whereby the whore of Babilon shewed her self so mighty that she made kinges stoupe vnto her Apo. 17. Also as Houedenus saith in her time Ethelwolphus king of Englande gaue the tenth part of his kingdome to the Priestes and Monkes to praye for his soule And his sonne Ethelwaldus maried Iudith a wydow and lately his owne fathers wyfe and his stepmother But as touching Pope Ioan she was gotten with childe by one of her familiar chaplaynes a Cardinall to whome her fleshly appetite caused her to discâ—ose her selfe As she was going on procession solemly to Lateran churche in the middest of the way and in the open streate betwene Colossus Clement church she was deliuered of childe in presence of all the people and died of her trauell in the same place And for this wickednesse she was stripped and spoyled of all pontificall honour and buried without any pompe or solemnitie Whereof Mantuan wryteth describing hell in the thirde booke of Alphonsus thus Here honge the dame that erst disguised would seme a maÌ„ to be VVhose head the Roman miter ware with crest of crownettes three VVho playde a shamelesse strumpettes parte in place of Popes degree Lo this is that seate that can not erre being endued with the holy Ghost by succession or rather an euident argument of the seate of Babilon But the Popes since that time in their procession do shonne that place where she was deliuered as odious for the hap thereof Funcius sayth boldely that this was suffered by Gods especiall prouidence that this woman should be made Pope being also an harlot euen then when she should bring kinges as she did Ethelwolphus and Alphredus in subiection vnto her whereby Antichrist might be knowen for then it was the Lordes pleasure to bewraye the whore of Babilon in a Pope being an whore Whereof the holy Ghost foretold Apoc. 17. that the elect might beware of her But to auoide the like incoÌ„uenience of a woman for the time folowing they deuised that who so euer should be chosen Pope should be serched very narrowely to be tryed a man shamefull to be reported but vsed without shame among suche shamelesse shauelinges But nowe commonly they nede not when they chuse them Popes mistrust them to be women for whyle they are Cardinals they playe suche Carnall partes that they are able to bring forth bastardes of their owne begetting to proue them selues men whereof one Iohn Pannonius wrote a mery Epigram in foure Latin verses testifying the truthe of this their doing of the whiche I omitte the two first verses for ciuilitie sake it may be gathered by these latter two what is ment Cur igitur nostro mos hic iam tempore cessat Ante probat sese quilibet esse marem How hapneth that this groaping them is vsed nowe no more Because eache one doth try him selfe to be a man before 41. Benedict the third BEnedict the thirde being first tried vpon the porphyry stoole to be a man was made Pope Massaeus saith he howled out and cried miserably that he should be promoted to so great dignitie whereof he was vnworthy a rare thing among them But some thinke he did it but of hypocrysie because As Platina saith he offred his feete to be kyssed and suffred him selfe to bee worshipped lyke an earthly Idoll Then came Embassadours from Lewis the Emperour to confirme the election of him done by the Clergie and people Among many supersticious and vaine ceremonies he appointed that Dirige should be sayde for the dead that the Clergy should go soberly honestly He died Anno 859. In this time as Sigebertus and Vincentius testifie in Mens as a certaine Priest was casting holy water a certayne Diuell lurking vnder his Cappe as if he had bene a familiar to him did accuse him that he laye with a Proctours doughter that nighte 42. Nicolas the first NIcolas the firste was made Pope in the presence of Lewis the seconde Emperour after his father Lotharius But as sone as Lewis was departed out of
misordred all And stately tables combred are with fishe of larger sort So Gregories laws â—r kept wher nede doth bear a siÌ„ple port That in the shallowe brookes and floodes to find his fare As for the great grown fulsom fishe in depth of seas they are But holy peers that do with Peters line and gredy hooke Down to the bottom angle can eche sort of fishes brooke Gregorie gaue tapers to the churche and furnished it with quier Psalmodis Canticles Oades Hymnus and other Heathen ceremonies He buylded sixe Monasteries of his owne coste in Sicilia and dedicated Agathas churche He forbad that women should resorte to abbeyes or that Monkes should resorte to Nonneries Also he woulde not haue MoÌ„kes baptize neither Nonnes to be Godmothers He forbad him that had bene twise married to bee made priests And that priestes should geue testimony of honest life by taking an oathe He was an vphoulder of pardons but not a seller of them He was the first that gaue pardons vpon certayne dayes to suche as frequented the churche He entertained straungers at his table He ayded the MoÌ„kes of Hierusalem with necessaries and gaue stipendes to three thousande maydes He allowed by decree the first fiue counsels He forbad that sainctes Images should be brokeÌ„ or that one of the Clergie should at the Emperours commaundement serue in the warres or that there should bee twoo Metropolitanes in one Prouince He would haue a bishop to be consecrate but ones and would haue the laste will and testament of euery man to be ratified He made foure bookes of Dialogues to boulster vp Purgatorie He allowed hallowing of ashes washing of feete worshipping of the crosse and massâ—s to be saide for the dead and wherin the Papistes horribly belie him he deliuered Traian the Emperours soule from hell He coÌ„temning the Britaines sent Augustine a Monke to reclaime the English Saxons to the churche of Rome He reft from London the right of the Archebishoprike and translated it by the same Augustines meanes to Caunterburie Al these thinges did Gregorie as Patriarke of Rome and died a confessour Anno. 604. But although he doted in many supersticions yet more is falsely fathered on him theÌ„ euer he did or thought 33. Sabinianus SAbinianus borne in Thusca was a Prelate of no value who for the hate he bare to his predecessour Gregorie after he had published certaine flaunders against him coÌ„maunded that his bookes should be burned This man being the last of the Romaine Patriarkes commauÌ„ded that the howers of the daye shoulde bee deuided by ringing of belles for the ecclesiasticall offices that they should haue continuall burning lampes in the churche At lengthe he died an infamous death through feare that he conceiued of a terrible vision which he sawe in the night time An. 606. The Christian deedes of Gregorie NOwe to say somewhat touching the ChristiaÌ„ sayinges and doinges of the foresaid Gregorie he fought stoutly against the supremacie of the Popishe kingdome in the very entraunce of the Popedome and hewde in pieces with sharpe tauntes the title of vniuersal Patriarkeship saying that suche an one was the foreronner of Antichriste an hipocrite a tyrauÌ„t and Lucifer the vsurper of Gods power He commaunded certaine Images that were of wonderfull excellent workemanship to be throwen into the Riuer Tiber least religion should be corrupted by them He commaunded prayer and fasting for the asswaging of the pestilence He reclaymed the Gothes from the Arrians to the vnitie of the church He wrote Homilies in a pleasaunt stile following S. Augustine Hee xpounded the moste part of the holy bookes of the Bible He by common consent defaced the name of vniuersall byshop And professed him selfe in his wrytinges Seruus seruorum Dei seruaunt to Gods seruauntes whereby he might shewe howe farre he was from all ambicion and desire of soueraintie This title his posteritie hath continued bearing the name but forbearing the humilitie that belongeth therunto At the length Gregorie did greatly lamente to se that howling and chauÌ„ting in the church had so taken place that preaching of the Gospell was neglected Beholde quoth he among other sayinges the worlde is full of priestes yet in the lordes haruest are founde fewe labourers We haue taken vpon vs the office but wce do not discharge the office Brethren I thinke that God suffereth dishonour of none more then of priestes for the moste parte If they se any liue in lowly estate or liue continently they scorne them Consider therfore what becoÌ„meth of the flocke when Wolues are made shepeheardes These take charge of the sheepe who are not afrayde to endaunger the liues of the Lordes foulde but they chaunge the office of their blessed function to the encrease of their ambicion We leaue Gods cause ronne to worldly affaires we enioye the place of holines and are entangled with earthly matters so that Baptist Mantuan saith of him in the thirde booke of his Fastor In speache he was ful eloquent his workes are yet in store He speaketh still and by his workes he shall do euermore He taught the quyristers to sing in soÌ„gs was his delight Huldricus bishop of Aâ—gusta sheweth a wonderful story of this bishop in his Epistle to Nicolas the first the effect whereof is that this Gregorie did firste coÌ„maunde priestes to liue single life but afterwarde when he perceiued that they were geuen secretly to fleshly pleasure and that hereupon many children were murthered hee disanulled that commaundement and sayde that it was better to mary theÌ„ geue occasion of murther For wheÌ„ on a time he sent a certaine woman vnto a fishepoole to take fishe there were founde in the same poole sixe thousande heades of infantes that had bene drowned therein whiche he perceauing to procede of forced single life with sighing and sorrowing he reuoked that Canon For as that Huldericus sheweth they accompanied not onely with virgins and wyues but also euen with their owne kindred with mankind yea and that whiche is horrible to be sayde with brute beastes After the tyme of this Gregorie ensued more blindnes theÌ„ was before The puritie of doctrine decayed the churche was darkened maruelously with mans tradicions For Monkery with his manifolde supersticions waxed great Herewithall sprang vp sale of masses and praying to the dead and the Lordes supper began to be an offering for the dead Bishops also being deluded with visions of spirites or rather of diuels began to reuolte from the doctrine of faithe to put affiance in good workes and mans satisfactioÌ„ as appeareth of Gregorie As it is euident of Gregorie who in his Dialogues to Theodolinda a very superstitious woman telleth of dead men that appeared and craued to haue prayers and suffrages This while Christianitie began to fall to ceremonies forthwith blinde supersticion by meanes of Monkery began to crepe in â–ª Gregorie as is mentioned before sent Augustine a Romaine Monke and other his compaignions to the Englishemen Anno. 596. not to preache Christe vnto them whose doctrine