The Pageant of Popes — John Bale

The Pageant of Popes · John Bale

THE SEVENTH Booke contayninge the fift parte of the third sort of Romaine Popes, in whom appeareth the wayninge of Antichrist and imparing of his vsurped estate, wexing still weaker and weaker till the ende of the worlde, accordinge to the Prophecye of S. Paule in the seconde Chapter of the seconde Epistle to the Thessalonians: that Antichriste must be reueled before that Christe come.

IT appeareth by these former Popes how y^e Prophecies (in the Reuelatiō of Iohn of Antichrist, that he should be an Abadon, which being an Hebrewe word signifyeth a Destroyer or Conquerour) hauehave bin aboū dantlye and in perfit measure fulfilled & verifyed in them. In the rest that followeth may appeare the diminishing of that seat, for so much as many people in their times hauehave & do from daye to daye renounce the Popes auctoritye. Many parsons first began in Germanye openlye to detect him as Luther, Zuinglius, Oecolampadius, Melancthon with diuers other till in the ende the whole countryes forsooke him, so that (God be thancked) at this daye a great parte of the worlde doth acknowledge him to be Antichriste, and defyeth his doctrine: as Englande, Scotland, Denmarke, Sweden, the dukes of Saxonie, the duke of Brunswick, the Palsgraue of Rhene, the duke of VVittingberges, y^e Lantgraue of Hessia, y^e Marquesse of Brandenburg, the Prince of Russia: and all other Earles and noble men with their dominions and great Cityes through the whole countrey of Germanye, beside the great commōwealthes of Heluetia, Rhetia, Vallis, Tellina, with many hūdred Thousands more of al estates in Flaūders, Italye, Spayne, & Fraūce, and in the kingdome of Polonia. Thus especiallye from the yeare of our Sauiours incarnation 1503. vnderunder Pope Iulye the seconde, the credite of the Romaine Sea began to cracke and dailye ryueth more and more, and shall by Gods grace so continue till it be cleane rente in peeces and torne awaye. Whereof God hath giuen certaine signes & tokens, plainlye prognosticatinge the greate fall of this proude Babilon, which with these reuoltinge of regions from him being compared, may comfort those that reioyce in the aduauncing of the Gospell and in the ruine of Antichriste: although it is not to be wished that any mā should ground any doctrine or point of religion barely vponupon these prognostications. The obseruations that the Papacye shall melt awaye, decresing more and more till the daye of Iudgement are these. First the forenamed Prophecye of S. Paule in the 2. Chapter of the seconde Epistle to the Thessalonians, that Antichriste must be reuealed before Christe come: with diuers other Prophecyes of the holye Scripture in the Reuelation and other places. Other proofes hereof maye be those straunge thinges that hauehave come to passe of latter times in the Church of Rome: as y^e Pope Iohn the 24. was wonderfullye vexed by an owle in open consistorye, as is before in his life declared: againe that going to Constance he fell oute of his chariot by the waye. Afterwarde he was in the same councell of Constance reprochfullye deposed, and it was there declared that a councell ought to be aboue the Pope, and the Pope to be subiect to the controlment of the coūcel, which thing gaue a great pushe to the ouerthrow of his supremacye: & surelye from his time and the time of Paule the second, the Popes maiestye began to shrincke more & more. Againe in the time of Alexander the sixt by a tempest of thonder & lightninge the Augell set on the toppe of Angell castell in Rome the Popes chiefe place was beaten downe into the riuer Tiber. Furthermore it appeareth that it was not so much the fonde furye of Iulye the second, as fatall prouidence, y^e Pope Iulye the second when he could not preuaile by Papal auctoritie, did hurle away into Tiber S. Peters keyes (as they tearme them) the counterfaite euidence of his supremacye: for as he cast the keyes away, so other reiected his supremacie euer since. Furthermore in y^e time of Pope Leo it came to passe that he created in one day 31. Cardinals, and the same daye while Leo and his Cardinals were in S. Peters Church, there fell such mightye stormes of windes, thōder & lightnings vponupon the Church, that it shooke downe a little idoll made for the picture of Christe in the lappe of the virgin Marye. Also it stroke y^e keyes oute of the hande of S. Peters Image in the same Church. These and manye other such matters as hauehave come to passe, are to be so construed as they may best serue to the glorye of God and signification of his will, which is that Antichriste shall be destroyed with the breath of his mouth, that is the power of his holye word, and not by the might and arme of man. Ioyning therefore the successe that Christe hath giuen to his Gospel, with the shaking of Antichriste his kingdome foreshewed by the spirit of God, it shall not be amisse to take these signes as witnesses that God sheweth hereby that he is mindefull of his promise made to his elect, that the dayes are at hand when Babilō must fall, and our Sauiour Iesus Christe come againe in glorye to the subuerting of him. The Lorde hasten it for his mercy sake, and make vsus readye to receiue it with ioye. Amen. Amen.

162. Iulius the second.

IVlius the secōd was a Genewaie borne (who as Erasmus wryting vponupon the prouerbe A remo ad Tribunal sayth) was in his youth a whirrye slaue, and yet at length preased vp to the Papacye. And yet (sayth he) not contenting himselfe with that estate as he founde it, did enlarge his dominion and would hauehave made it larger but that death preuented his purpose. Vicelius sayth that he was rather giuen to warres then to serue Christ. Iohn Functius in his Cō mentaryes wryteth thus of him: Pope Iulius being borne of a base stocke rysing by degrees throughe good lucke and craftye witte attayned to the hyest. He being a fellowe of a subtill and compassinge heade, and most giuen of nature to play the warriour, did like Nimrod enlarge his porcion by the dint of the sworde: so that by his procuremente within seuen yeares were slaine and destroyed to the nomber of two hundred thousand Christians. He besieged Rauenna cruellye, and in the ende preuayling made it subiecte to his Empire. And with the like violence he wrested Seruia, Imola, Fauentia, Foroliuium, Bononia and other Cityes from the Princes with great bloudshed. Sleidā sayth that whē this Iulius was Pope, he toke an oath that he would hauehave a councell within two yeares. But when he troubled and disquieted all Italye with warres beinge enemye one while to the Venetiās, another while to y^e king of Fraūce, nowe to the Duke of Ferraria, now to the Bononians: certaine Cardinals ix. in nomber steppinge a syde and assembling at Millen, do summon a coūcell to be held at Pisana. The chiefe of these were Bernardin Cruceius, VVilliam of Praenoste, & Fraūcis Cossetinus, w^t whom were the proctours of the Emperour Maximilian and of Lewis the xii. king of Fraunce about the same purpose. This councell was called the yeare 1511. the xix. day of Maye, to beginne in September next following. The cause hereof is sayde to be, because the Pope had broken his oath and for sworne himselfe: for notw^tstāding he had raigned so many yeares, yet contrarye to his oath they could get no hope of hauing a coūcell. And furthermore for y^t they had heynous crimes to charge him w^t all, they purposed to depriue him of his dignitye which he had gottē by bribery. But Iulius chargeth all men vponupon paine of great punishmēt, that no man should obey them, & summoned another coūcel to be held y^e yeare following in Aprill in Lateran at Rome, whereunto xxi. Cardinals subscribed. For this from time to time hath bin the practise of the Pope when any councel hath bin assembled against his doings, then to assemble another Synode against the other in some place meete for his purpose.

There was at this time a famous Lawyer at Papia called Philippus Decius, who published a booke defendinge the doinge of the Cardinals against the Pope. Diuers other wrote against him some in prose & some in verse, as Hulricus Huttenus in certaine Epigrams to this effect in Englishe translated verse for verse.

This Iulie, vvho by long discent did sit in Peters seate,

Through nevv cōceite doth vvo…ke these broyles, vvith many a monstrous feate.

He neither prayeth for his flocke, nor lyuing yet in peace,

He seeketh not as Peter did their knovvledge to encrease.

But kindleth vvarres, and iets in armes, and doth delight in goare,

Yea Peter backe he puts, and needes vvill set S. Paule before.

S. Paule yet smites not vvith his svvord: but therevvithall vvas slaine,

But Iulie doth his handes vvith bloud of many Christians staine.

¶ The description of Pope Iulie by the sayde Auctour.

VVhy goeth Iulius in steele, and in his coate of plate?

VVith griselye beard and ouglye lookes vponupon his bussshye pate.

VVhose frounced forhead hideth deepe his loathly steaming eyes,

Frō vvhence vvith helhoūdes threatning loke the sparkling fier flyes▪

This terrour vntounto VVesterne men by sea and eke by land,

VVith bitter bovves and bloudie billes and shaking svvord in hand.

That vntounto all the kings on earth hath vvrought such vvarlick harmes.

And is a scourge toth vvorld vvhichwhich he hath raysed vp in armes.

The author of such māglinges made such slaughter and such spoyle,

That did both Prince and people all in daunger put of foyle▪

VVho both vvith hand and head doth put all vilanye in vre,

A creature borne the ruine of mankinde for to procure,

VVhose vvorke is death: vvhose leasure is fulfilling filthye lust,

And plucking peace from euerye man hath broached vvarre vniust.

VVhat is there in him vvhye that anye man dare giuegive his dome,

VVhye such a caytiffe maye deserue the name of Pope of Rome.

The French kinge vnderstandinge that the Pope with the helpe of the Venetians, wente aboute to disturbe those whom he set in garrison, did summon a coūcell at Turney in September, where he propounded these questions to be discussed: Whether it were lawful for the Pope to warre vponupon anye Prince without any cause: Whether a Prince defen…inge his owne in that case may set vponupon the Pope, & withdraw himselfe from obeing him? And aūsweare was made that the Pope oughte not to do so, and that a Prince might do according to the questiō: & that vniust thondring boultes of excommunication are not to be feared. Herevpon the king sent his Embassadour to Pope Iulius to declare the determination of the councell, and to desire him eyther to be cōtent with peace, or els to call a general coū cell to bulte oute these matters the better. But the Pope would graunte to neither request, but did excommunicate Lewis, and gaue his kingdome for a praye to those y^t would make hauock of it. Of this Iulius it is written in a certaine Commentarye of the maisters of Paris againste the Lutherians, that he did most villanouslye commit y^t which is not to be spoken of, with two noble yonge gentlemē who were put to a certaine Cardinall called Roba…t Nauetensis to be broughte vp, by Ladye An Queene of Fraunce. The like thing is reported of him by another writer, wher vponupon Conradus Gabriel wrote these two Uerses.

Venit in Italiam spectabilis indole rara,

Germanus: redijt de puero mulier.

It were not tollerable to set out all the treachery wherwith this monstrous Pope defiled himselfe. In his time amonge the religious men began diuers grosse and vnreuerent opinions touching the incarnation of Christe, & the conceptiō of the blessed virgin mouing many vnnecessarye, vnprofitable, and vnhonest questions, and medling impudentlye with matters belonging to midwiues and not to scholedoctours, and therefore rather to be suppressed then heare reuealed: onelye this maye suffice to the wiser sort, to consider what sectes were amonge those holye siers and what diuinitye they studied. One of these busye brayned sophisters was called Ptolomeus Lucensis a monke, who preached his filthye fantasyes touchinge y^e maner of Christes conception, in a Church at Mantua.

This Pope Iulius being a lustye warriour, and goinge forth on a time with his armye out of the Cittye, did hurle Peters keyes into Tiber with these words: Because that Peters keye is able to do no more, let the sworde of Paule helpe to do it. By which deede sayth Bibliander) Pope Iulius hath resigned all his power vntounto the riuer Tiber, if y^t the Pope hauehave receiued any power of Peter in that Christ said vntounto him: Behould I wil giuegive to thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen. For he that casteth awaye the keyes being y^e testimonye of auctoritye, doth depriue & spoile himselfe and his successours of S. Peters inheritaunce. Of this madde prancke of Iulie hurling his keyes into Tiber, diuers men wrote verses, as Melācthon, Brusichius & one Ducherius, the Englishe whereof doth followe.

VVhile Iulius to mischiefe framde did bloudy vvarre prepare,

He marched foorth, in armed hand his vveapon thus he bare.

A svvord hong by his side vvhichwhich out couragiously he drevve,

And Peters keys into the deepe of Tiber floud he threvv.

VVith blustring thus: if Peters keys in vvarre cannot preuaile,

Then vvith the svvord of Paule vve vvyll our ennemies assaile

¶Huldericus Huttenus made this Epigram of Pope Iulius pardons.

By craft Pope Iuly all the vvorld thou merchant dost intvvine,

Thou sellest heauen and yet no part therof by right is thine.

Sell me the thing thou hast: great shame vvill els therof proceede,

VVhen thou dost sell the thinge vvhichwhich thou thy selfe dost vvant and nede.

O saluage soyle vvhy bidst thou not an hundred giants fel,

To helpe Iuly to beate out Ioue, that he the heauens may sell?

Fortill an other God get heauen, and thunder from the skies,

Friend Iuly Ile not bye of you such vveightie marchandise.

But after he had made many great slaughters, he died Anno. 1513.

163. Leo the tenth.

LEo the tenth was a Florentine borne, of the noble house of Medicea, and called ere he were Pope Iohn Medices. He being Deacon and Cardinal of saint Maries, contrarie to all hope was chosen to succede Iulius. He beinge diligētly from his youth trained vp in learning vnderunder learned schoolemaisters, and especially one Angelus Politianus, did afterward greatly fauour learned men.

When he was but .xiij. yeres olde he was made cardinall by Innocentius the .viii. and at the yeres of xxxviii. he obtained the papacie. This Leo was of his owne nature a gentil and quiet person: but often times ruled by those that were cruell and contencious men, whom he suffered to do in many matters according to their insolent will. He addicting him selfe to nicenesse, and takinge ease did pamper his fleshe in diuerse vanities and carnal pleasures: At banqueting he delighted greatly in wine and musike: but had no care of preaching the Gospell, nay was rather a cruell persecutour of those that began then, as Luther and other to reueale the light thereof: for on a time when cardinall Bembus did moue a question out of the Gospell, the Pope gaue him a very contemptuouse aunswere saiyng: All ages can testifie enough howe profitable that fable of Christe hath ben to vsus and our companie: Sleidan saith he sente letters and hulles of pardons into all nations for suche as woulde giuegive money for them, the effectes of his pardons were diuerse, some especially to sell licence to eate butter, chese, egges, milke, and fleshe vponupon forbidden daies, and for this purpose he sent diuers treasurers into al coūtreis, and namelye one Samson a monke of Millaine into Germany, who by these pardons gathered out of sundrie places such hewge sommes of money that the worlde wondered at it, for he offered in one day to geue for the Papacie aboue an hundred and twentie thousand duckates. Ma…in Luther being singulerly wel studied in the scriptures, and cōtinuing at Wittemberge in Germanye (where these pardons polled maynely) began to enforme and teache the people howe muche they were abbused, to giuegive suche greate sommes of money for suche trifles as were nothing profita…le, and wished thē to be better aduised in bestowing theyr money, wherevpon he purchased the Popes bitter curse against him and his adherents, to the no littell disturbance of the whole estate of Germanye: for because by the preaching of Luther, and his bookes painting out the treacherie of the court of Rome, the princes of Germanye, as the Duke of Saxony, the Lantgraue and other wold not yelde so muche as in time past the Pope had commaunded by vsurpation. The Emperour and they in the ende fell together by the eares, by the Popes procurement, as at large is set forth in Sleidan, and can not so aptly in this place be reported. Other enormities which in the Popes pardons moued Luther were these: The people were perswaded that if they bought these pardons they nede not to seke any further for saluation, and that no sinne coulde be so horryble, but that by these indulgences it shuld be forgeuen, and that the sowles that lye tormented in Purgatorie shoulde flie into heauen forthwith, as sone as the money receyued for these pardons at the charge of their friendes shoulde be put into the Popes cofers. But to returne to Pope Leo: he made xxxi. cardinals in one day, wherby he gat greate bribes and muche treasure, but the same day appeared manye horrible sightes and great tempestes arose, with vehement windes, thonders and lightninges, vehementlye rushinge vponupon the Churche where the Pope and his Cardinals were with such force, y^t it shooke downe an idol made for the picture of Christ like a child in the lappe of the virgin Marye: also it stroke S. Peters keyes out of his hand. These thinges were enterpreted to prognosticate the decay of the Popes kingdome, and thereupon many wrote bitter verses.

Anno 1521. the same yeare that in Christmas hollydayes Solyman the Turke wan the Rodes, as the Pope wente out of his closet to morrowe masse, a great roofe of Marble stone fell downe sodeinlye behinde his backe, and slewe manye of his guarde. This Leo did enriche aboue measure his bastardes and cosins, aduauncing them to dignityes both spirituall and temporall with robbing and vndoinge other. For he made Iulianus his sisters sonne duke of Mutinensis, and Laurētianus duke of Vrbin, maryinge the one to the sister of Charles duke of Sauoye, & the other to the duchesse of Polande: for he deposed the duke of Vrbin to the entente to aduaunce the one of these in his place: which also he attempted against the duke of Ferraria, but was disappointed. He made one of his nephewes called Iulius a Cardinal. In the yeare of our Lord 1571. and the first day of December, as sone as this Leo in deede a Lion heard it reported to him that the Frenchmen were by hi… meanes slaine, taken and driuen out of Italye, he reioysed and laughed at this newes so vehementlye, that therwithall he fell downe dead at his table, being a man that in his life time thought that there was neither heauen nor hell, & countinge the Scripture sa is aforesaid to be but a fable. One Actius Sannazarius wrote these verses of him.

Sacra sub extrema, si fortè requiritis, hora

Cur Leo non poterat sumere? Vendiderat.

¶Pasquil against Leo.

Pastor vt ambiguo Proteus dignoscitur ore,

Et dubius liquidis saepe vagatur aquis:

Sic Leo nulla fides tibi▪ nec constantia rebus,

Facta que promissis sunt odiosa tuis.

Nec bona, nec mala sunt dubio credenda Leoni,

Est etiam in verum vix adhibenda fides.

Quum ventrem imprudens auido natura Leoni

Fecisset, rimas praebuit huic geminas.

Non excrementis fuerat satis vna: sed harum

Altera nunc clausa est, nec minus illa vorat.

Gaude Roma, breui hac solueris peste: fatiscet

Aluus, tàm magni ponderis impatiens.

Differat à Decimo quàm Iulius ipse Leone,

Dis…ere ab amborum nomine Roma potest.

Iulius est hominis, bruti Leo. Iulius egit,

Quae suasit ratio: quod libet, iste facit.

In the time of this Leo doctour Benbrick an Englishman Archbishop of Yorke and Cardinall, lyeng Embassadour in the seruice of K. Henry y^e eighte, was poysoned by report at Rome and dyed there.

164. Hadrian the sixt.

HAdrian the sixt was borne in Holland of a base stocke: he was first scholemaister to Charles the Emperour, & afterwarde made a Cardinall & by this meanes obtayned the Papacye, and still kepte the name that he receiued in Baptisme being called Hadriā. He promised Princes by his letters that he would do his endeuour wherby the Citye of Rome (being the mother & welspringe of mischiefe) should be first refourmed with al seueritye: But this was but an hypocriticall dissemblinge. For he being once placed in his dignitye, did euen as the rest trouble and sharplye molest those that any way debased his pardōs or reproued his ambitiō as Luther, Ecolampadius and other did: but in the fourth yeare of his pontificalitye he dyed Anno 1523. the tenth daye of September.

165. Clement the eight.

CLement the viii. borne in Florence nephewe (at y^e least) to Pope Leo the tenth, and called before Iulius succeded this former Hadrian, And that by force of armes as Valerius sayth. But as he gat the place by violence, so had he it as troublesome as euer anye before him. For while this Pope putting himselfe valiantlye in armour did skirmishe amonge the Emperours souldiours and those that fought for the gouernmēt of Italye, his Citye Rome was taken, sacked and spoyled, and made a bootye to Germaines and Spaniardes: and the Pope himselfe also was apprehended, mocked and scoffed, and reprochfully vsed. And from thenceforth the greater Churches in Germanye detesting y^e Papacye as the bloudie kingdome of Antichrist, hauehave euer defyed and despised his souerainitye. But this subtile man bring afterward by his pollicye ayded with y^e helpe of diuers Princes and people, did purpose to persecute the Lutheraries wyth fier and sword. But in September Anno 1534. he was poysoned by such a straūge practise as was neuer heard of: for both he and certaine Cardinals with other his freinds, were poysoned with the smell and smoake of a Taper, which was poysoned for that purpose by a straunge confection.

¶ Of this Clement thus wryteth Vulteius touching a fault vvherof he vvas mistrusted.

De Clemente, quod est cōscriptum 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 cōmittere summum

Pontificem Rome talia monstra putet?

Iohn Tillius sayth in his Chronicle, that this Pope beinge taken prysoner by the Emperours armye, (as shalbe at large declared) was redeemed for fourtye Thousande Florēces. Also of this Clement it is reported in a certaine Commentarye vponupon 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 vill…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 Clemēt sayth thus: Clemēt 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 vntounto this Pope Clement at his motion, with a great dowrye of Ecclesiasticall dignityes, and maryed her vntounto his second sonne Henry duke of Orleans. This the Pope wrought to arme him selfe the strōger against the Lutheranes, whose bloud he hunted after. But in Septēber 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 hauehave had the saide Katherine bestowed on the Frenche kinges eldest sonne if it could hauehave 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 y^e desire of her vncle became Queene of Fraūce, 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 vntounto Italye and vntounto 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 Cōmentarye vponupon 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, y^t 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, virgineum que decus.

Hic est, qui molles euexit ad astra cinaedos,

Formosum à tergo munere iuuet Hylam.

Hic est, qui fuerat viuens infamia mundi,

Imperij labes spurcities que 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 happē 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 hauehave growen to this height (as he sheweth) by three meanes, by excommunicating, by geuing pardōs, & by the sword. Furthermore in his discourses vponupon the fift decade of Liue Cap. xii. he sheweth, y^e 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, y^e heade of our Religion, hauehave 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 y^e detestable demeanour of the Popes Courte, would cause more disorder in y^e 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 b…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 vntounto 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 speake all that might be saide of this miserable man touching his hainous faces, as manslaughter, theft, poysonings, treasons, tyrannies, incest, fornication, and such other. But yet it shall not be amisse to disclose a few of his practises. This Paule was an Astrologian, a Magician, a wyzard: He made one Dionysius Seruita a practiser of Geomancy, that is a kinde of coniuringe with earth clay and sande, or suche matter, also he alwaies vsed as his familiar companions …anricus a Portugall, Cecius, and Marcellus being coniurers, and raysers of euyl sprites in the bodies of dead men: He acquainted him selfe with these, because he wold hauehave them to cast the natiuities and destenies of him and his children, by constellations. By playing the bawde he first got to be made cardinal. He deliuered his sister Iulia Farnesia vntounto Rodoricus Borgia a Spaniard, otherwise Pope Alexander the sixt, wherby he might obtaine of him to be made cardinall and byshop of Hostia, and so gat money to pay his debtes. By such meanes hauehave many fished for the fattest benefyces in the court of Rome, by seruing the Popes fleshely appetite, and saith (Cornelius Agrippa) there is no way redyer to get preferment there then this is. Furthermore this vnnaturall and wicked Pope Paule coulde not with holde his mischeuous hande from his owne kinred, no not from the wombe that first gaue him breath and life: for he poysoned both his nephew and his owne natural mother, that he might therby enioye the whole inheritaunce of the Fernesians. Beside this he liued carnally wyth another sister that he had: and because he perceyued that she loued other better then him (which in the ende the harlot shewed openlye) his iealouslye was such, that to reuenge the despite as he counted it, he so watched his oportunitye, that in y^e ende he poysoned her for it.

He beinge Legate vnderunder Pope Iulius the seconde in the prouince of Ancona, did villanouslye beguile a noble yong gentlewoman of the same Citye. For he shifted his apparell & counterfayted himselfe to be a noble man of the Legates companye, resorting to her as a woer, and craftelye vnderunder colour of mariage laye with her. But in the ende when the poore gentlewoman had vnderstandinge of him what he was in deede, and saw how she was deluded, being made not a lawfull wyfe but a priestes cōcubine (according to the Popes lawe) she was so greuouslye wounded with griefe hereof, that she was almost mad and rauished of her wittes. But she conceyued by him and was deliuered of a sonne called Peter Aloysius, who afterward shewed himselfe to be the liuelye image of such an adulterous father. At another time this Paule hauing a nyce called Laura Fernesia, committed incest with her also: but her husband Nicolaus Quercaeus toke him in the deede doing, & in a greate rage so wounded him, that the skar thereof remayned till his death. Againe he had a daughter called Constantia, with whom he was so entāgled and bewitched, y^t (O most sinnefull man) to enioye her the more freelye as his concubine, he poysoned her husband Bosius Sfortia. Such is the double corruptiō of their single life: such villanye ensueth of their vowed chastitye. Thus doth God giuegive them ouer to their owne lustes that presume vponupon themselues, & thus doth he detect the man of sinne, suffering him to come to y^e fulnes of iniquitye: who neuerthelesse is so blinded in his owne fantasyes, that wallowing in this wickednes, he thinketh yet himselfe to be perfite holye, and the generall Uicar of Christe vponupon earth. Yea & for so much as he is able to forgiue vntounto other (as he thincks) greater sinnes, if greater maye be then these are, why maye he not dispense wyth himselfe in the like: Or rather why shoulde it be counted sinne in him. For so sayth one Ennodius, to speake but of one among many such sayinges: The Pope together with the power of teaching, hath receiued free libertye to do ill without controlment. And such is their affiaunce in the holines of their chaire, that the presumption thereof hath caused them thus to decree: Distict. 40. Non vos in Glossa Papa de homicidio vel adulterio accusari non potest: vnde sacrilegij instar esset disputare de facto fuo Nam facta Papae excusantur vt homicidia Samsonis, furta Hebraeorum, adulteria Iacob. The Pope cannot be accused of adulterye or manslaughter: Therefore it was as muche as Churchrobbing to dispute of his doing. For the Popes deedes are excused as the murthers of Samson, the theft of the Hebrewes, the adulterye of Iacob. And againe it followeth in the same place: In Papasi desint bona acquisita ꝑ meritum: sufficient quae a loci praedicessore praestantur. If y^e Pope lacke good deedes gotten by his owne merites: the good deedes which his predicessour (S. Peter) did, do serue his turne. This being cōsidered it is lesse to be marueyled at, that the Pope should thus embrewe his han…es with the bloud both of his freindes, kindred and parentes, and defyle his body most shamefullye with his owne sister, nyce and daughter. But to returne to the historye. After that this Paule gatte the Popedome he created two Cardinals, whereof the one was Alexander sonne to his bastard sonne Peter Aloysius, and the other was Ascanius sonne to his bastard daughter Constantia. By his tyrannye he oppressed the Perusians: and in a madnesse he draue Ascanius Columna out of his kingdome. He cloyned into his owne handes by vyle treacherye a towne called Camery, dryuinge out and dispossessing the Queene thereof being a godlye, wyse and vertuous Ladye. By his crafte he so inuegled y^e Colledge of Cardinals, that he brought to passe by their consente to chaunge Camery for Parma & Placentia two noble Cityes, and to make his sonne Peter Aloysius Lorde and Prince thereof. But the iust vengeance of God did afterward plague this their pollitick packing, for this aduaūcement of Aloysius fell oute to his destruction in the ende.

Oftentime this Paule consulted wyth his Cardinals how he might hinder the nationall councel holden in Germanye, and hee commaunded his Legates to enflame the mindes of other Princes against the king of England, and he purposed to giuegive his kingdome awaye from him, and to make it a praye and bootye to those that woulde make hauocke of it. Anno 1542. he summoned a generall councell to be holden at Trent, against the Gospel, the preachers & fautors thereof: But because he coulde not there hauehave all things according to his owne minde, he remoued it to Bononia, pretending that it was done onelyonly for choyse of better ayre, which was but a shifte, when as his purpose was by this meanes to defeate many of geuing theyr voyces in the sinode. He oppressed wyth all force the professours of the Gospell, some wyth sword, some wyth fyer, some wyth poyson were destroyed He spared not so much as his Cardinals if they did once but sauour of that sect, wherof Cardinall Fulgosius & Cantarenus felt the proofe: And but y^t it pleased God otherwyse to prouide, his owne brother Paulus Vergerius bishoppe of Iustinople had not escaped his rigour. …e sent out his marcials as cruel persecutours on all sides, who tormēted y^e Gospellers with fyre & sword, burning and drowning, banishing and imprysoning, confiscating their goods, & pyning their carkases euen to death. The …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 lib…rtye of their stewes did paye vntounto him a monthlye tribute: These dames (sayth Eusebius Captiuu… ) are had in great honour wyth the Pope, these kisse his feet…, these hauehave familiar communicatiō 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 lēgth 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 die que domum:

Res vera est, falsi, laruati deni que fratres,

Quos vestis sanctos prodigiosa facit,

Sunt lemures▪ larue, furiae, vulpes que lupi que ,

Qui infestant vitijs se que suam que domum.

One Pontacus a Popeling in his Chronicle set out y^e 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 y^t 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 & Sleidā report out of certaine Italian historyes) beinge lie…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 hauehave 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 oftē with his sister Constātia. 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 vponupon the bodye of Cosmus.

O what a miserable estate is this, that he who coūteth himselfe to be the vicar of God (that is ielous ouer y^e least sinnes, and a seuere reuenger of iniquitye vppon his owne elected people) should thus against y^e 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 heathē led onelyonly by the light of reason hauehave loathed. Yea euen y^e brutishe beast taught of nature cōmitteth 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 vponupon 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 affiaūce in his doctrine which is plā 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 patrone of their vndoubted Religion, and they shalbe compelled by their reason to say and speake with their tongue as the foole sayd in his hart: Surelye there is no God, no Iesus Christe, no holye Ghost, no Gospell, no heauen nor hell: I will not beleeue anye such thinge, because that euē the Pope himselfe the great professour hereof is become a sincke of sinne, and a puddle of all filthines, to commit in his owne parsō adulterye and incest, and to foster those euils in his sonne, and suffer him to be as it were Prince of Sodom. &c. Thus (I say) if a man wil iudge Religiō by men, he shall be so farre from attayning to the knowledge of God & from faythfull seruinge of him, y^t he shall rather defye vtterlye his glorious maiestye, & thincke that there is no God at all. But thus we see y^t as no people hauehave attayned so much to the true vnderstanding of God, as they to whom it hath pleased y^e mercye of the father to reueale him selfe by his sonne Iesus Christe: so againe no people hauehave at anye time swarued farther from his holye wil and pleasure, and bin more fowlye polluted & stayned with all kinde of abhominable wickednes. But to returne to the historye of Peter Aloysius.

This outragious villanye against the sayd bishop together with other matters of iniurye, extorciō & crueltye, but this chiefelye, emboldned diuers parsons of all estates to grudge his doings. And amonge other he being on a time at his owne Citye Placentia, sone after this former facte Anno 1547. he did cease into his owne hands al the goods of sondrye parsons, and amonge them one Ierome Palauicinus, and when as he to auoyde the daūger of displeasure fled to Crema a towne subiect to Venice, Peter Aloysius apprehended the wyfe and children of the sayd Ierom, and imprysoned them all. This being a matter wherof greater trouble might ensue, the Cardinall of Trent bearinge good will to the Fernesians, wrote his letters to Aloysius in y^e behalfe of Ierom, but Aloysius gaue him a lighte aunswere. Afterward Octauius sonne to y^e sayd Peter, came from y^e Emperours campe to Trent purposing to returne home: The Cardinall of Trent came vntounto him and coulde him the whole matter touchinge Ierom, and desired him to be a meanes to his father for him. Hee made him promise to do it: and afterwarde sente woorde to the Cardinall that Ierom shoulde be receiued into fauour if he himselfe woulde come and craue his owne pardon in humble manner. But because it was feared that promise beinge broken, he shoulde be put to some greuous punishmente, therfore the Cardinall with a trayne of men went to Crema, and called for Ierom. He mistrusting treason, would not appeare tyll he had good proofe that the Cardinal was come in deede. After they had longe talked in counsell together, and the Cardinal had at large promised his helpe, they toke their iourney together: The Cardinall sent one of his men before to geue knowledge to Aloysius that hee and Ierom were comminge, by whom Aloysius returned this message contrary to that whiche his sonne Octauius had shewed before, that if they came he coulde not restore Ierom. And although that bothe diuers Legates, besides other wise and graue men, did bothe intreate and vse perswasions to appease his wrath, yet he persisted obstinately in his purpose: And now certaine of the nobilitie that had hated him for his former pranckes, conspired to murther him. They hauing entertayned for their purpose certaine ruffians for their sauegarde, watched a conueniente tyme for theyr purpose, and being garded with this their traine, they diuidinge them selues into diuers companies, came now and then out into the streates, eueryevery man pretending that it was done for priuate quarrels towching him selfe: and therfore eueryevery man demaunded of those whom he had hyred to attende on him, whether they woulde faythfully take parte with him to reuenge his iniurie, whiche he had susteined at the hands of Duke Aloysius: the seruing men made aunswere againe that they would do their endeuour not onelyonly to reuenge an iniurie on hym, but further, if it were to kill him.

About this time, Pope Paule y^e third wrote to his sonne Peter Aloysius, willinge him to take heede to him selfe, and to beware of the tenth day of September, for he saide that the starres did thretten great mischiefe towarde him: for this Pope by constant reporte was skilful, not onelyonly in Astrologie, but also in Necromancie: vponupon the sighte of these letters Aloysius was very sad and pensiue for feare. And when the same tenth day came, he passed out of his castell, being borne in a horselitter, and accompanied with a great trayne, to viewe the fortifiyng of the citie, which he had appoynted to be doone: The conspiratours were also there in a redinesse, but because they coulde not then obteine their purpose, therfore they made no slurre at al, but when he shoulde returne home, they gaue attendaunce on him, and as it were for duetie towarde him, they went before him .xxxvi. in al, and when he with his horselitter was entred into the castell, forthwith they drewe vp the bridge after them (for it was a drawe bridge) so that none other coulde follow them in: where, euen presently they set vponupon hym with their swordes, and after they had rated him and vpbrayded him bitterly with his tyranny, they slew him in his litter, and a certaine prieste, beside the groome of his stable, and fiue Germaines. This beinge doone, they ran vp and downe in the castell, and made spoyle of al thinges, where among other things they founde an hewge masse of money, which he had laide in store to mainteine the charge of fortifiyng the citie. In the meane time the people of the citie ran thither, demaunding what the matter should be, because they harde such criynge, weeping, and howlinge, within the castell. The murderers spake out to them againe, saying. we hauehave slaine the tyrant and recouered the libertie of our citie. But because that matter could hardly be credited vponupon the warrant of the people, promisinge to saue them harmelesse, y^e murderers tyed the deade body of Peter Aloysius to an iron chaine, and so hong him out ouer the castel wall, in sight of all the people, and after they had there let him hang a while, they threwe him downe into a dike. As sone as he was downe, the people ranne thither, drew him out, stamped on him and spurned him with their feete, and thrust their daggars into his bodie, so desirous they were to woorke their mallice on his hatefull carkasse. This being done, the people forthwith submitted them selues to the obedience of the Emperour, to whom they vttered the shameful demeanour of Aloysius and causes of his death, as hath ben saide. Thus he whom the Pope his father fostred in his villanie was plagued, both with losse of life in his own person, and alienation of his dominion from his children. So alwaies the iustice of god awaketh when the iustice of man sleepeth.

167. Iulius the third.

IVlius the thirde an Aretinian borne, before his papacie was called Iohn Mary of the mounte. After the Cardinals had iarred many a day about the election, in the ende this man was chosen the seuenth daye of Februarie, in the yere of our lord 1550. This Iulius because he was a melancholy fellowe, and one that hated from his hart the doctrine of Luther, was admitted into the colledge of Cardinalles, by the former Pope Paule the third, and was president for the Pope in the counsell of Trent, againste the Lutheranes. As sone as he had the Popedome he renewed the Iubelye to make moneye for himselfe. And therefore there repayred apace to Rome minstrils, pipers, harpers, fidlers, players, ieasters, iuglers, ruffians, bawdes, harlots and Sodomites, with all kinde of rascall people. The Papistes conceyued a great hope that this Iulius woulde reforme Religion & clergye according to their desire. But his delight was to feede like a glotton. Peacocks, porke and bacon and all kinde of swines flesh were his ordinarye fare that he most desired. He promoted none so soone to ecclesiasticall dignityes as yonge and wanton Ganymedes, especiallye one of that sorte called Innocentius in whom was no good qualitye. Beside that with his detestable doinges did staine the Popes Pallaice, he was as wicked in his wordes: for in his talke he was so vnciuill and such a ruffianlye ribauld and blasphemer, as amonge all the varlets in Italye was not a worse.

Pantaleon, Vergerius, Sleidan and other late wryters do report this of him that followeth: Anno 1550. the seuenth daye of Februarye Iohn Marie of the mounte after great wrangling among the Cardinals was chosen Pope and called Iulius the third. And because this newe Pope might bestowe his Cardinals hat by custome one whom it pleased him: he made one Innocentius a boye whom hee fansied carnallye aboue measure while he was Legate at Bononia. Against which deede al the Cardinals much repined and cryed out on it, yet the Pope did it and furthermore made him his companion in his house. But to rifle this matter farther modestye will not suffer, it is better to ouerpasse both the rumours and talke of the people touching it: and those abhominable speaches where with the Pope himselfe was neither afraide nor ashamed to ieast of his owne villanye, & to displaye it openlye. Neyther could any honest eares endure to heare the contentes of certaine leud amorous letters fraught with all kinde of ribauldrye and wantonnes, which one Camillus Oliuus companiō to the Cardinal of Mantua, wrote to one Hāniball Cotiuus: there loathsome letters being in their vulgar tongue written in most dishonest and amarous verse, were intercepted the same day that the Pope was chosen, the Cardinals being together in the consistorye. These rimes were copied out and seene of diuers both in Italye & Germanye, who reported of them that they neuer saw such detestable, vilanous and abhominable wrytinges. By this the Reader maye iudge with what spirite this Romishe clergye is endued in whom lyeth the electiō of Christ his vicar (as they saye.) But so farre they are from beinge (as they boast) exempted from sinne, that these treacheryes are common amonge them, and by theyr owne shamelesse tongues and pennes detected to all the worlde, which gaue occasion to one Velteius to write this Epigram of Rome.

Roma quid est? Quod te docuit preposterus ordo,

Quid docuit? Iungas versa elementa, scies.

Roma amor est. Amor est? qualis? Praeposterus. Vnde hoc?

Roma mares. Noli dicere plura, scio.

Touching the making of that boy Innocentius Cardinal, Vergerius sayth thus: Pope Iulius purposed to make a certaine lad called Innocentius Cardinal. This boye was not onelye of very base parentage, & endued wyth no good qualitye, but also was one of vile life and euill behauiour. Therefore when the Pope propounded the matter to the Cardinals and eueryevery one stoode against it, one of the Cardinals more boulde then the rest saide to the Pope: Sir I praye you what do you see in this yonker, that you woulde thus honour him with the scarlet roabe? To whom the Pope said againe: And I pray you what did you se in me, y^t you should thus aduaunce mee to this pontifical dignitye? And therefore as this is the game of Fortune y^t she should aduaunce whom it pleaseth her, so ye hauehave promoted mee vnworthelye: and so let vsus I pray you promote this boye and create him Cardinall.

Because that Paulus Vergerius, Bernardus Ochinus, & Hieronimus Marius did inueigh against the monstrous blasphemyes & horrible treacheryes of this Pope Iulius: therefore he suborned Ierom Mu…ius to defende and maintaine these things in publicke bookes. And auctorised him by his bulles not onelye to apprehende these reprehenders of the Popes treacherye and Sodomitrye, but also that he should by his wrytinges defame & slaunder with all kinde of bitter and dispitefull reproch, the Cittyes and Princes of Germanye. Thus may euerye man see how the bishop of Rome doth not onelye fall into this filthie sinne, but also defende them and vpholde them as well and lawfullye done euen in open wrytinge.

Furthermore the said Vergerius in a certaine wrytinge amonge other thinges sayth this: Where as the name of Pope Iulye the third is foulye tainted with this former offence, and in such sort that he refrayned not from his Cardinals &c. I hauehave hyther to forborne to detecte his doinge touching this notorious enormitye. But seing eueryevery man doth cōstantlye report that he doth ordinarilye vtter those same kinde of blasphemyes that vile bauds and other such leude parsons are wonte to vse in contempte of God: men ought rather to condemne such an ouglye monster and not Christians &c.

In the time of this Pope Iohannes Casa a Florentine Archbishop of Beneuentum, Deane of the Chamber Apostolicall, and in all the Dominions of Venice the Popes Legate with full power and auctoritye did flourishe. This Iohannes Casa wrote in the commendatiō of that most vnnaturall and abhominable filthines of Peter Aloysius, setting forth with most loathsome wordes, flourishing Retoricke and wicked eloquence in Italian rime, that matter which is not to be named among men: yet he hath so praysed and commended it as no man withoute sinne maye reporte. This cursed worke and detestable booke was imprinted at Venice by Troianus Nauus. In his recordes of malefactours made in the time of his Legacye, he reckneth none but such as professed the Gospell. Whereupon Vergerius sayth vntounto him: Art thou not ashamed thou abhominable Archbishop? Darest thou shewe thy face abreade and burne holy bookes? Euen thou that hast written those …imes, euen thou that hast aduaunced the ouglye sinne of Sodom as an heauenlye deede. &c.

Such was the tyrannicall rigour of this Iohannes Casa against the professours of the Gospell, that one Franciscus Spiera a lawyer for feare of his crueltye did reuolt from y^e Gospell & subscribe to the Pope, but vponupon the same deede he fell into desperation and so continued a most myserable man to his death tormented in conscience.

Paulus Vergerius did also hardlye escape the rigorous hand of this Iohn Casa. But to be short it were a tedious thinge to declare at large all the demeanour of this Pope Iulye the thirde in the time of his Iubelie, and in the Tridentine councell in establishing the idoll of Lauret: and in his quarell & braule with the bishop of Armin comptrollour of his house for one peacocke, & other such like trifles. For he delighted much in the eating of peacocks and swynes fleshe: but when his Phisitian had giuen him warning that he should forbeare swines fleshe, because it was hurtfull for y^e goute his disease, yet Iulius would not forbeare. The Phisition therefore gaue councell to the Popes Steward to take order that y^e Pope should hauehave no such meate serued at the table. Whereuppon the Pope wantinge his dish asked, What is become of our bacon? The Steward aunswered that the Phisition willed him that hee shoulde not set it on. The Pope forthwith violently brast into these wordes sayinge: Fetche me my meate hether Al di spetto di Dio as he might say in English, In spite of Gods hart. This blasphemous outrage is a common phrase amonge ruffians and varlets of Italye in their rage, and as cōmon with Pope Iulius as to other, beside other lasciuious and vnciuill speach. On a time he had at his table a peacocke which was vntouched, and therefore he commaunded that it should be kept for him til Supper: for I wil (quoth he) hauehave certaine of my freindes with me at supper in my garden. When supper time came the Pope was serued with hot peacocks, but his cold peacocke came not in according to his commaundemēt: And therefore he began according to his custome to blaster out his blasphemyes raginge and raylinge. One of the Cardinals that sat at the table sayd: I beseeche your holines not to be so highlye offended for so small a matter: No? (quoth Iulius) If God were so offended for one apple that he threw our first parentes out of Paradise: why shoulde not I that am his Uicar be angrye for my peacocke, seing a peacocke is of greater valew then an apple.

This Iulius caused this sentence to be printed on his coyne: Gens & regnum peribit quod mihi non inseruit. That nacion and kingdome shall perishe which doth not serue me.

When he shoulde create one Peter Betauus Cardinall, certaine of the Cardinals stoode against it, vrginge especiallye that the sayd bishop was infected with Luthers heresye: What then quoth the Pope, were it not better for vsus by putting on him the Cardinals hat to purge him of that vncleanes, and by that bonde to knit him vntounto vsus, rather then to suffer him by escaping from vsus to ioyne wyth oure ennemyes in Germanye as Vergerius hath done. After sixe yeares raigne this Pope Iulius died Anno 1555. the xxiii. daye of May. Upon whom these verses were made.

Quò ventum est superi? quò vis progessa Diones?

Quò gula? quò luxus? quò genus omne mali?

Ambrosie foetent epulae, mareotica sordent

Vina, nisi Iliacus porrigat illa puer.

Caetera mens horret meminisse: ea discat ab vno

Crimine, me quisquis legerit, at que gemat.

Among diuers other Epitaphs this was written of him and sent from place to place as followeth.

Iohannes Maria … Monte. &c. Iohn Maria of the mount by haphazard obteining the papacie in the time that the Cardinalles were at a great braule, which he durst neuer presume to hope for? In 6. yeres he did shed more Christian bloud then any other Antechrist hath done at any tyme.

Fex sacrificulorum, grex Episcoporum, armentum

Cardinalium gratitudinis ergo monimentū aeternum posuit.

Ciuill eares perhap will be offended that a man shoulde …ere set down the sluttishe behauiour vsed in three pointes by this Pope Iuly, euen at open table, otherwise then any person of meane modestie would do in priuate chamber: As Beza sheweth in this Epigrā made of this Pope Iuly.

Ebrius ad mensam quum Iulius ille sederet,Theod. Beza in poem a… fol. 172.

Impia quem potuit Roma nec ipsa pati:

Tres pariter fertur pelues habuisse paratas

Vt triplici triplex vase leuaret onus

Vna alui pondus, vomitum altera peluis habebat

Tertia uesicae concipiebat onus,

I nunc, pontifices Germania dira negato

Omnia clausa suo iura tenere sinu.

And yet this Pope was he whose auctoritie and supremacie was with all humilitie and deuoute reuerence restored here in England in the yere of our Lorde 1554. by queene Mary. From this man Cardinal Poole, who before was outlawed and vanished for high treason against king Henry the viij. came into England, and brought with him this Popes blessinge, pardon, and absolution. For the whiche Cardinal Poole was made Primat of England and Archbyshop of Canterbury. Thus the Popes blessing and pardon was receiued by the estate of Englande. And Pontacus in his cronicle published Anno. 1572. printed in Louany by Iohn Fowler an Englishman, that blotteth much paper to publishe grosse vntruthes, for the defamynge of his countrey by him forsaken, is not ashamed Folio 179. to reporte, but boastingly writeth it, that kinge Phillip and Queene Mary, with the whole Parliament house did humbly kneele vponupon theyr knees to receiue the Cardinals blessinge and absolution from the Popes holynesse. But it is well known, and the knowledge therof dearely bought by Englande, how that noble Queene being otherwise of great wisedome, and godly minde, yet ouermuche deceyued by ignorance in scripture, and putting too great a confidence in the Popes autoritie, the antiquitie of her religion and the professours therof, did euen of simple zeale yeld the disposition and orderinge of her affayres ouermuch to the crafty clergie, who with fyre and faggot followed in England the rygorous example of Iuly practized in Italy, against those that dissented from the Popes doctrine. But this is both at large set forth in the actes and monuments of the Church, and further is not pertinent to this purpose, and therefore not here to be mentioned at large: OnelyOnly this is that whiche I note▪ to what kinde of person of lyfe and conuersation England in these later dayes submitted it selfe as to his generall Pastour, and the vicar of Christ. Of what maner of man we receyued blessinge and absolution so deuoutly, whom we did so highly commend, honour, and reuerence, aboue our natural prince with heauenly title of our moste holy father the Pope. To whom and to whose seruile yoke our prynce dyd yelde her selfe to be at his commaundement, whose curse we feared, whose louelove and fauour, we sought to purchase with infinite treasure, whose displeasure caused bothe prynce and people to quake as it were at hel fyer. If the person that thus bleared vsus be considered, I doubte not but we shall firste be ashamed of him, secondely ashamed of our selues, that we hauehave thus fallen downe and worshipped the beast, and fynally hereafter detest him and his successours.

The selfe same thinge is declared in Graftons Cronicle Folio. 1346. Where he at large sheweth howe Cardynall Poole was receiued by kinge Phillip, Queene Mary, and the Parleament, and how he perswaded them to be reconciled to this holy father the Pope, and how vponupon their submission he gaue them absolution in these wordes folowing. ¶Our Lorde Iesu Christ whiche with his moste precious bloudde hath redeemed and washed vsus from all our sinnes and iniquities, The Popes absolution set by the Cardinall.that he might purchase to him selfe a glorious spouse, without spot or wrinckle, and whom the father hath appointed head ouer all his Churche: he by his merciemercy absolue you, The Pope and the Cardinals fellovves in cōmissiō vvith Christ for remission of sinnes.and we by the Apostolike auctoritye gyuen vntounto vsus by the most holy Lorde Pope Iulius the thirde, his vicegerent on earthe, do absolue and delyuer you and eueryevery of you, with the whole Realme and dominions therof, from all heresie and schisme, and from all and eueryevery iudgements, censures, and peines for that cause incurred. And we also do restore you agayne to the vnitie of our mother the holye Churche, as in our letters of Commission shall more plainely appeare. &c.

This being done, the kynge and the Queene and all the rest went to the Chappell, and chaunted Te deum for ioye of this sweete blessyng of so holy a Pope. It maye be that those burgeses and the rest of the Parleamēt house, at the time of this absolution, thought better of his person when they receyued his blessing: but I wyshe those that are yet remayning of them, and reade this his lothsome life, now to consider what a stinking idoll they honoured ignorantly at that time, and what a villains blessing they receyued so deuoutly. Consider also what benefittes eueryevery way followed this blessynge: for sone after there fell so great extremitie of raine (as thoughe the heauen had bewept our iniquitie) that the aboundance therof raysed great and perylous fluddes, doinge muche harme in diuers places: The Thames swelled so high, that for the space of fower or fiue dayes boates and barges rowed all ouer saincte Georges fielde, and so at Westminster a boate mighte hauehave rowed from one ende of the Hall to the other. Also that yere and the yere following there raigned hot burning feuers, and diuers other straunge and newe disseases so contagiously, that many people perished in all partes of Englande, especially of the most auncient and graue men, for in London betwene the .xx. of October and the last of December ther dyed seuen Aldermen: Also the yere followinge there ensewed a great dearth and famin throughout all England: And agayne the yere after that, Newenam bridge, Ryce banke, Callice, Hammes, and Guynes were taken by the Frenchmen, and the Englishmen driuen cleane out of that parte of Fraunce, to their perpetual damage, which they had so long enioyed before: Ad vntounto this also, that where as Queene Mary prouided a sufficient power to be transported for the rescewe hereof, whiche mighte hauehave saued it, there arose such terrible tempestes of windes and weather continuing foure or fiue dayes, vntill such time as the Frenchmen had wrought their purpose, and the Englishmen in the meane time by meanes of the terrible tempest were kept of mauger their hartes: and such shippes as did aduenture the passage were so shaken and torne with violence of weather, as they were enforced to returne with great daunger, with losse of all their tackle and furniture. Finallye euerye thinge wente so to wracke, that (as it was thought) the noble Prince Queene Mary seing her Realme so to go to decaye, conceyued such an inwarde sorrowe of minde that by reason thereof aboute September she fell into an hot burninge feuer, which sicknes also was common that yeare throughe all the Realme, and consumed a marueylous nomber (as Grafton noteth) both noble men, bishops, Iudges, knightes, gentlemen and farmours, and in the ende the Queene dyed thereof and also y^e Cardinal in one day, the 17. day of Nouember Anno 1558. And this was the successe of the Popes blessing, therefore God send them plentye of the tree y^t like the fruite therof.

168. Marcellus the second.

MArcellus the seconde borne in Hetruria was first called Marcellus Ceruinus: he was Cardinall of the crosse of Hierusalem, when with y^e consent of all the Cardinals he was made Pope. He being created the ix. daye of Aprill, would not chaunge his Christian name but would be called Marcellus the seconde, and the next daye he receiued all the Papall ornamentes in Lateran Pallaice.

Charles the Emperour and his brother Ferdinand on a time thoughte it meete to prepare an armye against the the Turke, and wrote to the Pope to moue him therein: This Marcellus aunswered by his letter, that the armye should rather be addressed against the Lutherans, for these men he saide were worse then all Turkes, But this he did before he came to the Popedome. But in his Papacye he was an hotte defender of the Romishe superstition, and a stronge enemye to the Lutheranes: but he beinge one that was long troubled with the iaundies, his disease toke him so sore that he dyed thereof the xxiii. daye after his electiō, being the third daye of Maye.

¶Theodoricus Gresmundus of the royat of Rome wryteth these Uerses followinge.

Roma caput scelerum, niuei iactura pudoris,

Exitium fidei, luxuriae que parens.

Sola Venus dispensat opes, dispensat honores,

Sola facit serua quicquid in vrbe libet.

Extollit, magnos que facit sapientia turpes:

Sit procul, in tenero cui sedet ore decor.

Tartara sunt molli potius adeunda iuuentae:

Si non est alius, sit tibi barba comes.

Marcellus Ceruinus was borne at Mount Publican in the field of Florence, who when he had well studied humanitye, began to be a scholemaister. Afterward when Pope Paule the third had created Alexander Farnesius (his nephewe by his bastard sonne Peter Aloysius) Cardinall being but a boye, he made this Marcellus Ceruinꝰ his scholemaister. But sone after Alexander the Cardinal leauing his learninge and forsaking his booke, addicted himselfe wholly to other affayres, wherein both he and Pope Paule the third vsed the seruice of Marcellus as of their Secretarye. When the bishopricke of Nicaster fell voyde he was created bishop thereof, but yet he liued still in y^e court & as a retchlesse non residēt repayred not to his Church at all. Pope Paule the thirde appointed the foresaide Cardinall Farnesius to be Embassadour to the Emperour & to Ferdinād being both in Bulgarye: but because he was as then but a boye, he ioyned in commission with him this Ceruinꝰ to direct the whole order of the Embassage. At that time the Emperour and Ferdinand were moste busye to make warre against the Turke, which matter they moued earnestlye. But Ceruinus did then publishe a booke which is yet extant in print, wherein he shewed that they ought rather to set vponupon the Lutheranes: and that they were more detestable then any Turkes. Paule created him Cardinal when he was absent, & sone after sending for him to Rome againe, he ordered all thinges by his aduise. He gaue him the title of the holye Crosse in Hierusalem, also he made him generall Inquisitour of heresye and commissioner w^t Cardinal Burgensis, whereby much crueltye and vntollerable dealing was vsed. When an Embassage shoulde be sent to the Tridentine Councell, Pope Paule ioyned to Cardinall de Monte and to Cardinall Poole, this Ceruinus as third in Commission. The first of these was sent as a man cunning in the Law, Poole was sent as one that did desire to hauehave reformation in the Church, although it appeared afterward y^t he neuer wished it in his harte. Thirdlye Ceruinus was sente as one in whom the Pope reposed all his trust. Therfore he charged him especiallye that he should suffer nothing to be spoken in the Church, y^t should tend any waye against the maiestye of y^e Church of Rome. And therefore when one Iames Nachiantes bishop of Clodia Possa saide that he could not allow the decree, wherein it was written that Tradicions ought to be receiued and kept with as holy affection and reuerence as the Scripture and Gospell, Ceruinus procured that he was driuen from the Coūcell. Furthermore because one of S. Dominicks order called Don VVilliam of Venice said in the councel, that the councell of Constance was aboue the Pope: Ceruinus called him to him and taunted him verye bitterlye. But when the monke aunswered that the thinge it selfe woulde testifye it to be so, that the councell was aboue the Pope, because the coūcell deposed him, Ceruinus aunswered that it was not so, but that the Pope gaue ouer of his owne accord, for proofe wherof he could shewe a …eaden bull: and so he charged him to be packinge forthwith out of the councell. Aboute that time Paulus Vergerius bishop of Iustinople, who had serued y^e sea of Rome in sondrye Embassages in Germanye, came frō Mantua to this Tridentine councell. But because he was vehementlye suspected that he fauoured the Lutheranes in some pointes, yet the two other Cardinals Poole and de Monte, & with them Tridentinus & Paciecus were contente to allow him to sit with them least they should bewray that the councell was not free for eueryevery mā, if they should exempt this Vergerius being so wel knowen in Germanye. Yet Ceruinus would not be quiet vntill he sawe him put out. Manye of the bishops when they sawe how it was purposed to driue Vergerius out of the councell, did determine to write to y^e Pope thereof & to admonish him not to suffer it to be done, because manye would saye it was not a free councell from whence bishops were forced to depart. Hierom Vida bishop of Alba an eloquēt man had penned the letters in his owne name and the rest of the bishops, When Marcellus heard thereof he charged Vida with sore woordes, that he shoulde not in anye wise sende those letters to the Pope▪ Sayinge, it was an euill example that bishops summoned in councell should write such letters to y^e Pope, as though they woulde appointe him what he should do, which was a matter so haynous, that the suspicion therof were to be auoyded. Vida and the other bishops being terrifyed herewith, suppressed their letters and sent them not. Vergerius when he shoulde departe out of the sinode came to Ceruinus, and demaūded of him for what articles especiallye he would hauehave him cast out from the companye of y^e other bishops? Ceruinus aunsweared him saying: because I hauehave hard that thou deniest that the Legendes of S. Gregory and S. Christopher are true. So it is (quoth Vergerius) I hauehave denyed them & do still denye them to be true, emboldning my selfe herein by y^e auctoritye of Pope Paule the thirde: for when he commaunded both these Legendes to be taken out of the Breuiary, he sheweth in that preface that he commaunded that onelye such Legendes should be razed as were not true. Ceruinus being thus entangled, made aunswere that they were not to be counted good mē which would agree with y^e Lutheranes in any one point, & therefore auaunt out of our councell. Such was the rancour of this Ceruinus against the Gospell, and yet he was one voyde of all knowledge in diuinitye, but peuishe in retayning superstitiō. But otherwyse he was a man of good discretion, of verye honest life, and of great wysedome, and therfore he was had in great estimation and reuerence, so y^t if he might hauehave raigned Pope, it was to be hoped that he would hauehave reformed many thinges in y^e Court of Rome, & especially that he would hauehave eschewed all royotousnes. And so it came to passe for Pope Iulye y^e third being dead Ceruinus was chosen Pope. But wheras he was long before sicke of the yelowe iaundise, then the disease began to woorke so sore vponupon him that he died the twentye daye after the election. The report was that he was poysoned but there was no such thing. A litle before he would hauehave bin crowned but with moderate coste. Cardinall Farnesius wyth his freinds in election gaue his voyce to this man although he had long before had a brawle with him, because he hoped that no man would more diligently aduaūce him as Paule the thirde did determine. But especiallye he hoped that he would maintaine y^e house of Farnesia that they should not be depriued of the dukedome of Parma and Placentia: For Cardinal Farnesius debated it wyth Iulye the thirde, to make promise thereof before he would assist him to obtaine the Papacye. Some said that many Cardinals did therfore chose Ceruinus Pope, because they saw him so decayed by sicknes, that there was no hope of longe life in him: For that is their practise of old.

169. Paule the fourth.

PAule the fourth borne in Neaples, called first Iohn Peter Carapha, the same yeere Anno. 1555. was chosen Pope the xxiii. daye of Maye with one agremente of the Cardinalles, and exalted with all ceremonies. This man founded a new sect of Religious men in Venice, called by an holy name Iesuites, of the name of Iesus, but this he did before he was Pope: but after this deede he beinge made Cardinall, applied his minde to other matters, namely to scrapinge richesse together. Before his Papacie he publyshed a booke concerninge reformation of the Churche, but in his raigne he regarded it not. All his mynde was on warres, delightyng rather in battell then in peace, and so he played rather Saule the persecutour, then Paule the preacher of the Gospell.

Caelius Secundus and Vergerius do thus report of him: Paule the fourthe, a Neapolitan, called Iohn Peter Carapha, was chosen in May to succede Marcellus, by the consent of the Cardinalles, desirous therein to gratifie Henry kinge of Fraunce This Pope saith Caelius dyd found a sect of priestes at Venice called Iesuites, but afterwarde hauinge obteyned his purpose, which by this meanes he aymed at, he gaue them ouer. For he so cast his net, that forsaking a byshoprike he fisshed for a Caldinalship, & caught it: Therevpon when he shoulde departe from Venice, the Iesuites demaunded of him whither he went: to whom he aunswered sayinge. Whither I go ye cannot come, meaninge thereby that he wente to the Pompe and dignitie of Rome, as to an other heauen, and that he shoulde leaue them in wretchednes and beggerye: Thus it pleased hym to dally & sport him selfe with the phrase of the holy ghost. Many thinges are reported of him, as that he was a stoute Champion for Purgatory, and that he knewe the secretes of some mindes, and that he dyd many wonders. Vergerius sayth, he dedicated a booke of reforminge the Churche to Paule the thirde, and yet hee made no reformation in his owne time: But saith hee, who so euer readeth that …ooke shall see that he confirmeth al those poyntes almost, whiche we reproue in the papistes: that is to say, that the Churche is so decayed amonge them, as it is rather the Churche of Sathan then of Christ. For he saithe that the Popes do for their owne luste store them selues with maysters hauing itching eares, that the name of Christ is blasphemed amonge the Gentiles, throughe Cardinalles and Bishops, that the power of the keyes is wiped away with money, that lewde persons are made priestes, that Simonie is vsed as it were in open fayres, that the prelates doe swell with Ambicion and Couetousnes, that horrible villanies are practised in monasteries, y^t Rome swarmeth w^t shamelesse harlots and strūpets, beside many lyke matters onelyonly towching theyr detestable maners: but of their manifold superstitions, of theyr butcherly slaughters and cruell tyranny raging at that time in Italy, England, France, Spayne, and other countries, he speaketh not a woorde. And yet saith Vergerius (who made faithful searche therof) w^tin lesse then thirty yeares theyr inquisition of heresye, hath deuoured and destroyed by diuers kinde of torments an hundred and fiftie thousande Christians. This acompt Vergerius made aboue twenty yeares ago: And since that time (sauynge onelyonly (God be thanked for it) in England) in al the former countries this bloudy persecution for Religion hath not onelyonly continued, but mightely encreased. Italy dayly tasteth the bytter gall of it, as occasion serueth, Spaine findeth that the heate therof burneth more feruently in the middest of winter, then the scorching Sonne in the middest of sommer at noone daye, the flame of the one turneth and tanneth theyr skynnes to black: the coales of the other burneth theyr bodies to graye asshes. And as towching Fraunce, al Europe knoweth that as yet the worme in the grounde hath scant taynted the karkases of thousandes, whiche within these fewe dayes hauehave ben martyred. Thus we see howe that prowde Prynce of Babilon hath made all Christendome as it were his burning furnace, to destroye those that wyll not fal downe to worshyp his golden image: and yet howe that this littell Ilande walketh as it were in the myddest of this vniuersall flame, and not so muche as our garmentes are once cinged therewith. And yet it is well knowne howe carefull and busie the byshoppe of Rome with his accomplices hath bene to sturre coales amonge vsus, and to enkendle that fier in Englande, the smoke wherof were sufficient to destroy vsus: who knoweth not howe that if his hotte thunderboltes of excommunication could any thing harme vsus, we had therewith ben beaten to pouder longe since. If the rancke breath of his blacke curses might hauehave preuayled, we had bin blowne to hell, bequeathed aliue both bodye and soule to the deuil & dampnation longe since. If holye leagues (as they terme them) and conspyring vowes of sondrye estates by his procurement, could hauehave bin stronger against vsus then y^e hand of God with vsus: how many are we that should hauehave tasted miserye, but how fewe should hauehave bin left to be waile it at this day? When forren inuasions hauehave bin to weake, hath not that Romaine prelate …ought to procure treason amōg vsus heare at home, to delude the simple with bulles & pardons, entising them to renounce their alleageaunce, to reuolt from their naturall Prince, to rayse rebelliōs against their owne countrey? Hath not his bulls roared at Paules Church gate discharginge subiectes of their dutye? And howe they hauehave wroughte in huggur mugger to steale awaye the hartes of Englishe subiectes, manye poore widdowes and wretched orphanes at this daye in the North part of England with heauye harts ran testifye, who hauehave lost their parentes and husbandes throughe detestable rebellion and sedition, the roote whereof is the Romishe religion. But because that these tumultes, treasons and broyles wroughte since the raigne of oure most Gracious Queene against her maiestye and royall estate, hauehave bin practised not in y^e time of this Pope Paule the fourth, but by those that hauehave succeded him, as Pius the fourth & Pius the fift: the gentle Reader is to be desired not to looke for the perfite discourse hereof as yet, neyther the historye of their liues, treachery and hurlye burlyes sturred in Christendome, for so much as yet they are not to be sufficiently gathered by those Chronicles y^t hauehave bin latelye set forth or augmented. As for Onuphrius who hath writtē their liues added to the historye of Platina, because he is one hyred by the Pope to put his pen in vre for the cracked credit of their estate at this daye, there is iust cause to thincke his wryting to be parciall, as one that turneth the best side of his Popes face outward, and that which is blemished eyther he hideth it, or paynteth it with a fayre coloure to couer the foule blots thereof. And therefore seing maister Bales trauaile doth staye heare in Paule the fourth, this maye suffice till it shall please God to giuegive occasion of proceeding in y^e liues of those y^t hauehave succeeded during y^e raigne of the Queenes maiestye. In the meanetime good Christian Reader, cōsider those treacheryes which by thy owne experience thou maiest knowe since her highnes came to y^e Crowne, of the Popes dealinge against her Maiestye and her Realme, weigh whereunto they tende by the example of these former historyes set forth in this woorke, & then I doubt not but euerye one shall finde that he hath iust cause to saye: Blessed be Almightye God that hath thus preserued vsus from the mouth of the Lion, and from the wolfe in a Lambes skin.

I doubte not but they that hauehave ben false hart…d againste our most gracious Queene, wyll consider theyr own folly, theyr owne iniquitie & madnes, in enuyinge y^e good estate of so noble, merciful, godly, & most lawful a prince: whom it hath pleased Iehoua to make oure Debora & a most blessed and worthy instrument, to the aduaūcing of his glory, the comfort of his Churche, the preseruation of the happy and quiet estate of all trewe Englishe hartes, the whiche greate treasures of Gods mercye so plentifullye powred vponupon vsus the Lord geue vsus grace to vse them more thankfully then heretofore, to glorifie his name with greatter zeale, to louelove honour and serue, with all humilitie in Iesus Christ, our most noble soueraigne, to pray for the most blessed continuaunce of her maiesties raygne ouer vsus, to graunt vsus as trewe subiects to hate her enemies, as those that wyshe our confusion, especially the Pope of Rome, and all suche, euen to the deathe, as in his behalfe or for any iote of his accursed superstition would forbeare but to wysh well vntounto her maiestie. The Lord gyue vsus the harts to beware, renounce, and abhorre, the secrete societie and friendshippe of all those that seeke to trouble her quiet gouernement, as the ennemies of goddes glory. That neyther one affection nor other, cause vsus to winke at theyr sedicious wordes, nor to iudge fauourably of the corrupt doinges and sayinges of suche hollowe hartes, whiche twoo thynges hauehave muche emboldned leude attempts, but that hauinge suche proofe of their practyses we may henceforth become euen iealous in the behalfe of Religion and of our most gracious Prynce, and be ready eueryevery man lawefully in his vocation, to beate downe blasphemie againste God, and to suppresse the broode of sedition in the shell before it be hatched readye to flye. That England may neuer hereafter become a neast and filthye cage of those foule byrdes that are bred in the bosome of Rome. Amen. Amen.

FINIS.

Laus Deo.

The Pageant of Popes, Book 7