The Brutish Thunderbolt, Declaration 1 · Part 5
The inuention of the religion of Dominic.
BUt let theſe things hitherto be ſpoken of the feined religions in the perſon of Francis Bernardo: let vsus héereafter ſée ſomwhat of the inuentions of another frier called Dominic. Wherin we muſt giuegive the firſt place to that wicked compariſon, wherin Dominic (God the father of merciemercy pardon vsus, which are compelled to recite theſe blaſphemies) is matched with Chriſt being God. For in Antonie biſhop of Florence it is thus written, The Lord In hist. par. 3. tit. 23. & ti. 24.Christ, ſaith he, is Lord abſolutely, and auctoratiuely: Dominic poſſeſſiuely. He had manie diuine viſions: he ſaw Christ once purpoſed to iudge and make an end of the world: but the virgin Marie beſought him that he would ſtaie, and ſend Dominic and Francis to preach. And againe when he ſaw the heauen open, and friers of all ſorts in glorie: and he ſaw not his Dominicans, but it was told him by the ſonne of God, that they were vnderunder the garment of the virgin Marie, whom he ſaw there: and a certaine maſter of the order of the Minors, which made a very great masterly booke of S. Dominic, ſaith, that in the ſaid viſion it might be ſaid that Dominic did then ſee God in his eſſence, as Paul when he was caught vp. But it ſhall appeere that he was very like to Christ, by the diſcourſe of his life and works. Therfore he was most fitly named Dominic being most like to the Lord Chriſt. The Lord ſaith, I am the light of the world: the church ſingeth of Dominic, You are the light of the world. All the prophets beare witnes of the Lord: of Dominic and his Act. 10. Zach. 11.order, Zacharie ſaid in the perſon of God, I hauehave taken to my ſelfe two rods, I hauehave called the one Decorem or beautie, the other Funiculum or a little cord. Beautie or comlines is the order of predicants: the little cord is the order of the Minors, bicauſe they are girt with a plaine rope. Before Dominic was borne in the world, there appeered the images of two painted at Ʋenece, in the church of S. Mark: the one whereof was like a religious man, in the apparell of the order of the predicants, with a lilie in his hand. The other was like vntounto the Apoſtle Paul, as he was woont to be painted: ouer which was written Agios Paulus, S. Paul, and vnderunder the feete of the picture, Per iſtum itur ad Chriſtum, by him men go to Christ: vnderunder the other picture was written, Agios Dominicus, S. Dominic, and vnderunder him, Faciliùs itur per iſtum, men go more eaſily by him. And woonder not at this writing, bicauſe the doctrine of Paul as of the other Apostles, was a doctrine leading vntounto faith. The doctrine of Dominic, a doctrine leading to the obſeruations of Counſels, and therefore men go more eaſily by him vntounto Christ. 2. The Lord was borne vponupon the bare ground, but least the colde ſhould hurt him too much, he is placed in a manger by his mother the virgin. When Dominic was borne being but a little one, and committed to the keeping of his nurſe, he was often found gone out of his bed, and lieng naked vponupon the ground, as if he did alreadie abhor the pleaſures of the fleſh. 3. When the Lord was borne there appeered a bright ſtar, which guided the wiſe men vntounto him, inſinuating that the whole world ſhould be illuminate by him. Dominic aroſe, and vponupon him when he was to be baptiſed, his ſpirituall mother ſaw a ſtar in his forehead, foreſhewing a new ſunne beame of the world. 4. The Lord being twelue yeere old was brought by his parents into the temple, and there he remained alone being but a boy. Dominic was caried by the neighbors into the church in his tender yeeres to be put in a diuine office, there was he left. 5. From that time vntill the time of his youth we finde nothing authentically of the Lord, ſaue onelyonly that he increaſed in age, as being true man, in wiſedome and fauor with God and men: but this outwardly. But Dominic did not onelyonly increaſe in bodie, but alſo in mind effectually. 6. When the Lord was baptiſed by Iohn in Iordan, the holie Ghost came downe in a doue vponupon him, to betoken the fulnes of grace, and he went into the wildernes. When Dominic ſaw the famine increaſe in all parts of Spaine, and ſaw alſo that there were many that were in neceſſitie, and that they had no comforter: in feruencie of ſpirit he ſold his bookes and ſtuffe, and diſperſed and gaue the price thereof to the poore, and newly and apparently repleniſhed as it were with the holie Ghost, he did ſtreightway betake himſelfe to the rule vnderunder Didacus the biſhop, as another baptiſme and ſpiritual deſert, ſequeſtred from pleaſures and worldly vanities. 7. The Lord doth afterward gather togither a few diſciples; and in a ſhort ſpace multiplieth them, ſending them two and two to preach the kingdome of God. Dominic taking with him but a few to lead a religious life, had afterward a great number, whom he appointed to preach the Goſpell, and to heale the ſick. 8. The Lord choſe pouertie in himſelfe and in his Apostles: but he had bags to keepe thoſe things that the faithfull did giuegive, and theſe did Iudas carie: but Dominic was a true louer of pouertie, and exhorted his brethren to the ſame. 9. The Lord when he led his diſciples, they were ſo hungrie, that paſſing through the fields they plucked the eares of the corne, they rubbed them in their hands, to eate them: and when it was now noone, being wearie of his iournie, he ſent them into Sychar to buy meate, and they eate therof by chance ſometimes with vnwaſhen hands. Touching the qualitie of the meate, it is verily beleeued, that they did eate no fleſh, but the Paſchal lamb for the keeping of the law. The patriarke Dominic, who ſpent ſometimes the whole Lent, not onelie without meate, but alſo without bread and water, did moderate this ſharpnes in his diſciples, giuing them leaue to drink wine, and to eate white meates. 10. Peraduenture ſome man will ſaie that it agreeth not with the ſimilitude, that the Lord ſaid to his diſciples, Neither ſhall you hauehave ſhooes on your feete: whereas notwithstanding Dominic and his go ſhod when they go abroad. But we muſt know that that was a commandement during but for a time, for which he granted a diſpenſation at his last ſupper. For we may ſee that both the Lord did weare ſhooes, in that which the Baptiſt ſaith, whoſe ſhoo latchet I am not worthy to looſe; and alſo it was ſaid to Peter in the Acts, Take thine hoſe: vnleſſe ſome man ſay that he did weare hoſe, but no ſhooes: which was not commonly uſed. And Marke a good imitator of him, gaue a cobler his ſhoo to mende when it was broken. So that the Lorde and his diſciples went ſometimes ſhod, & ſometimes barefoote. And ſo Dominic was ſhod when he was in cities, but in his iourney he was oftentimes barefoote. 11. When the Lorde was borne, none other perſon but his owne mother Marie the virgin, did wrap him in ſwadling clouts: and when he was growne vp his mother hir-ſelfe with hir owne hands woue him his coate without ſeame, and his other garments: but of what colour it was we finde not, namely, least if it were knowne, falſe prophets ſhould weare the like, and ſo ſhould not be knowne to be rauening woolues. The moſt bleſſed virgine Marie ſhewed Dominic and his order what apparell they ſhould weare, and alſo the colour thereof. For ſhe appeered to S. Raynold when he was ſore ſicke, and healed him, ſhewing him the garment which S. Dominic and his ſonnes ſhould weare: namelie a great cope, and a coat with a cowle, al white. 12. The Lord and Dominic being both virgins in mind and bodie, and verie humble, as the ſcripture doth witnes: ſo Dominic was a most pure virgin and verie humble. 13. Dominic as alſo Christ did not poſſeſſe his owne bed, ſcarce reſting his bodie on the grounde after his flood of teares. 14. The Lords praier was alwaies heard, when he would, for which cauſe he ſaid to the father, I knewe that thou hearest me alwaies: for though he were not heard in the garden, when he praied that the cup might be taken from him: this came to paſſe therefore, bicauſe in aſmuch he asked according to ſenſualitie, he would not be heard, according to reaſon. But Dominic tolde a certaine religious man in the Lords words, who was verie familiar with him, that he did neuer ask any thing of God, but he did obtaine it according to his deſire. 15. The Lord by his owne example did dedicate his Apostles to a mixed life, that is a contemplatiue and actiue in preaching: the virgin his mother and Magdalene to a contemplatiue. For Marie ſtood at the feet of the Lord, and heard his word. Lu. 10. But Martha and the other women to an actiue. So the Patriark Dominic, like to another Noe, made the arke of his religion, which was made of wood glued togither with the morter of charitie, hauing three roofes or loftes. Placing his brethren togither with him in one, to beholde heauenly things, and to preach the mysteries of ſaluation; taking to him the nunnes that were ſhut vp to contemplation: in the ſecond applying both men and women to the actiue life; and in the thirde manſion bestowing the brethren and ſisters which were called of the repentance of Ieſus, or the warrefare of Ieſus Christ. 16. There departed 72. diſciples from Chriſt, being offended at the doctrine of Christ which they vnderstood not: who when they departed, Christ asked thoſe that remained with him, will you alſo depart? But Peter anſwered in the name of them all, Lord to whom ſhal we go? And S. Dominic, when he had with him ſome diſciples, being one day tempted they departed from him: onelyonly there ſtaied three behinde; to which Dominic alſo ſaid; will you alſo depart? To whom one made anſwere, God forbid father, that forſaking the head we follow the feet. At length as the diſciples of Chriſt which went away, returned to him againe, ſo alſo the diſciples of Dominic returned to him through his praier. 17. The Lord did valiantly beare euen vntill death, many mockes, ſlanders, and perſecutions, of thoſe that ſought to intrap him in his words, ſometimes to ſtone him, ſomtimes to breake his necke. Dominic did not regard ſcoffings, reproches, & ſpeakings against: ſo that one did bind ſtubble vponupon his back in mockerie: others did cast dirt and other vile things at him. 18. The Lord loued vsus, and waſhed vsus from our ſinnes in his blood. And Dominic being not void of the perfection of charitie, did bestow the night in Gods ſeruice, giuing himſelfe to meditation and praier: he did execute a threefold diſcipline as it were daily with his owne hand, not with a cord, but with an iron chaine, till the blood came: one for his owne offences, which were the least: another for thoſe that were in purgatorie: the third for thoſe that are conuerſant in the world. 19. When the Lord iournied toward Hieruſalem, when he ſaw the citie, he wept ouer it, and he foretold many ſecrets of harts, and euents of things to come, for which it was ſaid in his commendation, A great prophet is riſen vp amongst vsus. When Dominic drew neere to cities, beholding in mind, he wept bitterly for their ſinnes, and he reuealed manie hid and ſecret things as a true prophet: as the death of the king of the Aragons in battell: the conuerſion of the heretike Adiu that was to come, whom he therfore commanded to be ſaued from burning. Thus far goeth Antoninus: whereby the Councellers of the moſt mightie king of France may iudge, whether the moſt part of Chriſtendome hauehave iuſtly or vniuſtly reiected theſe inuentions of religion brought in by the popes: ſéeing they durſt ſo wickedly and heinouſly ſet Dominic the munke to be worſhipped in the church of God for an idoll, and to match him with Chriſt being God & our ſauior. For we muſt not giuegive eare to him that ſhall ſaie that theſe are onelie munkiſh toies, which graue and learned men do loath. For that which we ſaid before touching the Franciſcane bables of the ſame ſort, do we ſaie in this place of the Dominicans: ſéeing they are receiued for diuine oracles in the church of Rome, that all Chriſtians muſt either worſhip them, or elſe they muſt looke for ſuch puniſhments as are appointed for heretiks, by this gallowes, cowled, and cord bearing frier. But now let vsus heare ſomwhat elſe. It ſéemeth that nothing can be added to this impietie. But yet let vsus trie what can be done. For the ſame Antoninus in the chapter following where he compareth the miracles of Chriſt and Dominic togither, ſaith thus: Dominic raiſed Pag. 187.three from death in the citie of Rome, the ſonne of the widow, which being knowne to the pope he would hauehave publiſhed it: but Dominic for humilitie did vtterly refuſe it. The carpenter that was hired by his brethren, and cruſhed in peeces by a wall that fell vponupon him: and Neapoleon the cardinall of the new ditch his nephew, which fell from an horſe, and was all rent in peeces. I am fully perſwaded, that the Lord did alſo raiſe others, bicauſe he ſaith in the plurall number, The dead ſhall riſe againe, namely Mat. 11.by me: whereas yet he had onelyonly raiſed the ruler of the ſynagogues daughter, according to the Goſpels. So likewiſe we find that S. Dominic did raiſe other that were dead though not ſo notorious. For what ſhall we thinke of thoſe fortie ſtrāgers which were in a ſhip in the great riuer beſide Tholoſa, who after they had ſtood long time vnderunder the water after that the ſhip was drowned, by the holie praier of S. Dominic, they came out of the water ſafe and ſound: what ſhall we thinke but that either they were restored to life, or elſe they were preſerued in the water like fiſhes? 2. God did twiſe fil the hungrie with bread that he multiplied, and he turned water into wine. Dominic did twiſe procure bread for his brethren frō God, at Rome, and at Bononia: which the Angels brought from the heauenly bread: wherfore it was moſt ſweet. He made an emptie caske full of wine, and another time he turned water into ſweete wine. 3. Christ did perfectly heale Simons mother in law that was ſicke of a feuer, and alſo he healed many ſicke folks. Dominic did thoroughly cure a woman of a quartan ague. 4. Diuels came out of manie, crieng and ſaieng, Bicauſe thou art the ſone of God. Dominic freed many that were vexed of diuels in ſoule and bodie. 5. Christ being made immortall entred in twiſe to the diſciples when the gates were ſhut: but Dominic being as yet mortall (which is more miraculous) entred into the church by night the doores being ſhut, least he ſhould awake his brethren. 6. The Lord after he departed out of this world, drew infinite men to the way of truth: though Dominic had reclamed thouſands of heretiks from errors, yet many mo after his departure. O woonderfull hope which thou haſt giuen (ſingeth the church of S. Dominic) to thoſe that weepe to thee in the hower of death, whiles that thou hast promiſed that thou wilt profit the brethren after death. 7. And to come to an end, The Lord ſaith, Power is giuen me in heauen and earth. This power was not a little imparted to Dominic, of things in heauen, in earth, and in hel. For he had the holie Angels to wait vponupon him. Moreouer, the very Angels comming to the brethren in mans ſhape, gaue them bread to eate. If we ſpeake of the elements, the fire forgat his force: when as the booke of his doctrine being cast thriſe into the fire, came out thriſe vnhurt, when the bookes of the heretiks his aduerſaries were ſuddenly conſumed. The raine comming downe out of the aire in great abundance doth obey the ſigne of the croſſe, when as not ſo much as one drop did touch him as he iournied, though all that countrie were ouerflowen with that ſhower. The water of the riuer into which his bookes fell as he paſſed ouer it, could not wet them: but being drawen out in ſtead of fiſh by fiſhers vnhurt and dry as if they had been in a cofer: after a few daies they were restored to him againe. The earth alſo which containeth metals, did not denie him neceſſarie monie. For when as hauing paſſed ouer a certaine riuer in a boat, the ferrie man did earnestly aske his boat hire of S. Dominic, and he foraſmuch as he was poore did auouch that he had no monie, and the ferrie man held him fast by the cloke asking his monie, S. Dominic hauing praied, and looking toward the ground, ſaw the monie wherof he ſtood in need lieng there, which he gaue him, and ſo ſet himſelfe at libertie: but alſo (which is more) when a certaine clerke could not liue chaste, hauing kiſſed the hand of S. Dominic as he returned from maſſe with a ſweete ſauor, ſo great a habit of virginitie was diffuſed through his mind, that afterward he could eaſily containe himſelfe. What ſhall I ſpeake of the infernall ſpirits? Surely the diuels did tremble at his becke, neither were they able to refuſe his power. Which appeereth: when he led him with him as he appeered in the ſhape of a frier, through the aſſemblies of the conuent, namely, of the Dormitall, quire, fratry, locutorie, and afterward of the chapter-houſe, and he asked him of eueryevery place, what he gained there with the friers? All which he was enforced to declare. Thus writeth Antoninus. By which we leaue it to the kings Counſellers to be iudged, whether this be the true religion of Chriſt, deliuered to the Church by Chriſts Apoſtles, or a feigned fable of ſatan, brought purpoſely into the Church by the popes, that they might either vtterly extinguiſh the deſire to read the ſacred ſcriptures, or at leaſt that they might both be of like authoritie. Surely we hope that no man doubteth, but that the pope is already conuict moſt manifeſtly of falſe and forged religions: and therefore if he excommunicate the king of Nauarre and Prince of Condie out of the communion of his Church, which maintaineth theſe monſters, he doth not exclude them out of the Church of Chriſt, but out of the iakes of Dominicans, or rather out of the ſynagog of ſatan. Which thing that it may more plainly and firmely be confirmed, we will cite out of the ſame Antoninus a like inuention of the popiſh church. For in the chapter following he writeth thus: Dominic, ſaith he, being one night earnest Pag. 190.in praier, ſaw at the fathers right hand the ſonne riſe vp in his anger, that he might ſlea all the ſinners on the earth: and destroy all that wrought wickednes. And he ſtood in the aire being terrible to behold, and he ſhaked three lances or iauelings against the world that was ſet vponupon wickednes, the first whereof ſhoulde pearce through the out ſtretched necks of the prowd: another ſhould let out the bowels of the couetous: the third ſhould bore through thoſe that were giuen to the lusts of the fleſh. Whoſe wrath when no man could reſist, the mild virgin his mother met him, and imbracing his feet, beſought him that he would ſpare thoſe whom he had redeemed, and that he would temper his iustice with merciemercy. To whom hir ſonne made anſwer: Seest thou not, ſaith he, what iniuries are done to me? Then ſaid his mother: Thou knowest, ſaith ſhe, which knowest all things, that this is the way by the which thou ſhalt bring them backe vntounto thee. I hauehave a faithfull ſeruant whom thou ſhalt ſend into the world, that he may preach thy words to them, and they will turne to thee the ſauiour of all men. Alſo I hauehave another ſeruant whom I will adioine to him to be his helper, that he may worke likewiſe. The ſonne ſaid: Lo I am pacified, and hauehave accepted thy face, but ſhew mee whom thou wilt aſſigne vntounto ſo great an office. Then our Ladie his mother offered to Ieſus Christ S. Dominic: and the Lord ſaid to his mother: He will do that which thou hast ſaid well and carefully. Alſo ſhe offered him S. Francis, whom in like ſort the Lord praiſed. Then S. Dominic marking his fellow well in the viſion, whom before he knew not, on the morow he reknowledged him by thoſe things which he ſaw in the night, and kiſſing him with holie kiſſes, and imbracing him ſincerely, he ſaid: Thou art my fellow, thou ſhalt run with me. And a little after: Dominic praied by night in the church, and lo the hand of the Lord was ſuddenly vponupon him, and was rapt in ſpirit before God, and he ſaw God ſitting, and his mother who ſate at his right hand clothed in a cope, of a ſaphire color. And looking about him he ſaw reioicing in the ſight of the most highest infinite multitudes of ſpiritual fathers out of eueryevery nation, that had begotten both ſons and daughters to Christ, of holie religions. And when he ſaw none of his ſonnes there, bluſhing, and being pricked at the hart, he wept most bitterly. Therfore being abaſhed with the glorie of Gods maiestie, he ſtood a far off, and durst not draw neare to the countenance of glorie, and to the excellencie of the virgin. But our Ladie beckened to him with hir hand that he ſhould come to hir. But he trembling and fearing, preſumed not to draw neare, vntill in like ſort the Lord of maiestie called him. Then came the man being pricked and of an humble ſpirit, and contrite with his teares, and did most lowly and humbly throw downe himſelfe at the feet of the ſon and his mother. But the Lord of glorie, the comforter of thoſe that mourne, ſaid to him: Ariſe. Who when he was riſen, and ſtood before the Lord, he asked him ſaieng: Why weepest thou ſo bitterly? Who ſaid: Bicauſe I ſee in the preſence of thy glory men of al religions: but of the ſons of mine order (alas for wo) I ſee here none. To whom the Lord ſaid: Wilt thou ſee thine order? But he ſaid: That is my deſire Lord. Then the ſonne putting his hand vnderunder his mother the virgins cloke, he ſaid to him: I hauehave committed thine order to my mother. And when he continued in this godlie affection, deſiring to ſee his order, the Lord ſaid to him againe: Wouldest thou ſo gadly ſee them? He anſwered: This do I earnestly deſire. And lo the mother of the Lord pleaſed hir ſonne: and opening wide hir golden cope wherwith ſhe ſeemed to be couered: and holding it open before hir mourning ſeruant Dominic, and this was ſo large and huge a garment, that it did ſweetly contain the whole countrie of heauen by imbracing it. VnderUnder this couering of ſecuritie, in this boſom of godlines, that beholder of high things, & viewer of the ſecrets of the Lord, Dominic ſaw an innumerable multitude of the friers of his order. Then his mourning was turned into ioy, and his ſorrow into ſolace. Thus writeth Antoninus. Ridiculouſly, blockiſhly, and abſurdly: peraduenture ſome man will ſay: Who denieth it? But as we ſaid before of Bernardo his trifles, of what ſort ſoeuer theſe be, yet are they both approoued by the authoritie of the pope, and alſo receiued by the church of Rome: and therefore ſéeing religion is vndiuiſible (for as M. Tullius ſaith, either take away religion quite, or elſe preſerue it wholie) they muſt be counted in the place and number of oracles, of al thoſe which wil giuegive their name to the church of Rome: a heauie decrée being added, that he that ſhall thinke otherwiſe, be counted an heretike & ſchiſmatike: foraſmuch as by theſe inuentions allowed by the pope, as well Dominic as Francis is regiſtred in the number of the Saints of the church of Rome, as the ſame author Antoninus doth witnes. By which we Tit. 23. §. 17. fol. 197.vnderſtand, firſt for how manie & for how iuſt cauſes, moſt Chriſtian kings, princes, and magiſtrates, hauehave condemned the papacie for impietie and forged religion. Secondlie, what authoritie this execrable declaration ought to hauehave in the Parlement of France, which was publiſhed by Sixtus the fift, a frier lately vncowled: in which the moſt excellent princes aforeſaide were pronounced heretiks for none other cauſe, ſaue onelyonly bicauſe they thought that they ought not to make like account of ſuch inuentions, as of the holie Scripture. For as they did oftentimes profeſſe before, and at this day they do profeſſe, ſo much as in them lieth, before all ſortes and orders of men, yea they do openly denounce, ſéeing the church of Rome hath religion mixed and confuſed with ſuch inuentions and fables, thoſe things which are drawne out of the pure fountaines of Scripture, thoſe do they moſt carefullie embrace: thoſe things which are brought in into religion out of theſe munkiſh pits & filthy ſinks, doe they reiect and deteſt. And yet this is the onelyonly cauſe why pope Sixtus the fift hath ſo proudly & cruelly curſed thē both. Of which pope Sixtus it ſéemeth good to me to ſpeake ſomewhat in this place, that all men may perceiue both what manner of man he is, and alſo from what roots he ſprang to ſuch pride, and became ſo hawtie. Therfore his firſt name was Felix Peretus. He was borne in a baſe village nigh to Formana, called Montalto: in the yéere 1521. the thirtéenth day of December. Being a boy he was brought vp among munkes, that is (not to ſay any more) among goate buckes, at length being a yoong man, hée was choſen into the order of the Franciſcanes: vntounto whoſe holie rites after hée was admitted, & now growne vp, he was at laſt choſen by the inquiſitours of the Romiſh faith into their colledge. Which office when he did ſo execute a fewe yéeres ago, that few could abide his cruel nature, it fell out ſo by hap at that time, that he called a certaine noble man of Venece before him. When he did more cruelly handle the man vnacquainted with hearing reproches: not many daies after he met the ſame noble man by chance: whom ſo ſoone as the ſame noble man perceiued, he commanded one of his waiters to beate downe with a cudgell he had in his hand, the pride of vnfortunate Peretus. The vnfortunate man who of Felix was become Infelix, went ſtraightway to Rome, and tolde pope Pius the fourth, who was then high gouernour at Rome. The pope being highly diſpleaſed ſendeth him back againe to Venece with greater authoritie and power. So ſoone as he ſhewed the ſenate his bull, the wiſe men which knew ful wel the troubleſome nature of the man, and how that he was inflamed with deſire of reuenge, commanded foorth-with a torche to be lighted: and did ſtraightly command him, that before the torch was burnt, he ſhoulde get him with ſpéede out of their coaſtes if he were wiſe. Infelix going to Rome againe, made his complaint to the pope. When the pope perceiued that he was a man moſt fit for his purpoſe, he did firſt aduance him to this honor, that he made him maſter of his pallace: that done when Toledanus the archbiſhop, one of the ſpaniſh inquiſition which is fearefull to all nations, was ſuſpected of hereſie, the pope ſent him into Spaine, that he might be preſent at that queſtion & iudgement. It happened by chance at that time, that he that was then generall, that is, chiefe prelate of the Franciſcanes, (which is the higheſt office and dignitie of that ſorte of men) died. Which inheritance the pope gaue to Felix Peretus: who by this means was made the archcowled, chiefe cowled, and cloaked cowled frier of that order of Franciſcanes: and a few yéeres after he was alſo choſen cardinall by the ſame pope. At length when pope Gregorie the 13. was dead, our archcowling Felix was choſen into his roome, in troubling France by his commendation and fauour, who is chiefe at Rome in furthering theſe matters, and whom he doth plainely aide in holding the reſidue of the kingdome of Nauarre. By theſe degrées & procéedings, he which a fewe yéeres ago was a cowled, a roped, a moſt vile frier créeping in his ſlitted ſhooes, is now become a thunderer, a thunderbolt caſter, an excommunicator of kings and princes,
Most mightie now with double ſword
And high aduanced, to kiſſe whoſe toe
Both Caeſar comes and alſo kings,
In broydred purple which do go.
As Mantuan wrote of Iulius the ſecond.