Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Part 3 · Chapter 9
CHAP. 9. A concluſion of the whole Treatiſe.
1. I Had here caſt Anchor, and ſtroke ſaile, had not two ſhelues lyen in my way, which ſeemed to hinder my …anding: I meane two doubts or ſcruples which are to be remoued. The firſt whereof is, How it was poſſible, ſeeing theſe abuſes are ſo palpable, that the world ſhould be deluded by them. And the ſecond, Whether there were none in thoſe blinde times that ſmelt out their deluſions, but all in generall were carried away with the ſtreame thereof: which two things being reſolued, it cannot but be manifeſt, that the Pope is that man of ſinne, that ſonne of perdition, and that great Antichriſt fore prophecied in the Scripture, and that the Church of Rome is that Whore of Babylon which ſhould inebriate the world with her enchaunting cup of Fornications.
2. Touching therefore the firſt: I ſay, that it neede not ſeeme ſtrange, that the world ſhould bee thus deluded by them, if we conſider: firſt, the iuſt iudgement of God, who gaue them vp to the efficacy of deceite, becauſe they had reiected the louelove of the truth, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, 2. Theſ. 2.9. For where there is not the louelove of the truth, there muſt needes be a louelove of lyes, errour and ſuperſtition. Secondly, if we conſider the powerfull enchauntments of the Babyloniſh Whore, who like a helliſh Sorcereſſe ſo bewitched the world with the vaine name of the Catholike Church, and S. Peters Chaire, and a braue oſtentation of pompous Ceremonies, together with the whole frame of their religion, agreeable to mans corrupt nature, that few (moſt being beſotted with their braue ſhowes) could either conceiue in their heart, or diſcerne with their eyes in what ſtate they ſtood, but were carried in the crowd like ſheepe to the ſhambles to manifeſt deſtruction. Thirdly, if we conſider how the word of God, out of which they might drawe ſauing knowledge, and by light whereof might diſcouer their errors, was lockt vp from them in an vnknowne tongue, and not permitted to bee read of any, ſaue ſuch as had a ſpeciall priuiledge and licenſe thereunto: for when light is taken away, darkneſſe muſt of neceſſity follow in place thereof, and the onelyonly light of heauenly truth is to bee found in the holy Scripture as Dauid confeſſeth, Pſal. 119.105. Laſtly, if we conſider the reuerend opinion they had of their holy Mother the Church, and alſo of their Prelates and Prieſts, whoſe doctrines they were forbidden to examine or diſpute, vponupon paine of hereſie, but ſwallow al that came to hand, vnderunder the pretence of an implicite faith, which they were taught was of it ſelfe ſufficient to ſaluation, without any more adoe. From theſe fountaines ſprung all that ſtrange blindneſſe and ſtupidity of thoſe times. For in truth, could any man that was not ſtroken with the ſpirit of giddineſſe and ſlumber, euer frame his heart to beleeue theſe monſtrous doctrines, that Saints departed ought to be worſhipped and inuocated with truſt and confidence as God himſelfe? that the Pope can canonize them to this worſhip at his pleaſure? that Images are to be adored with the ſame degree of honor as is due vntounto their patternes, contrary to an expreſſe precept of the Law? that the Pope though neuer ſo wicked a wretch, is as a God vponupon earth, cannot ere in his definitions, but hath the keyes of Paradiſe at his girdle, to let in, or ſhut out, whom he liſt? that it is a leſſe ſinne to commit Fornication or Adultery, then for a Prieſt to marry, or for a Lay-man to eate fleſh on a Friday? that eueryevery Maſſe mumbled vp in a corner, and bought with money, can deliuer a ſoule out of Purgatory? that an ignorant Prieſt hauing pronounced certaine Sacramentall words ouer all the loaues in the market, with an intention to conſecrat, they ſhould be preſently turned into ſo many Gods? that a man can eate his God; and carry him vp and downe in a box to be adored? that a man can performe workes of ſupererogation, that is, doe more good workes then are needfull for his owne ſaluation and put the reſt into the treaſury of the Church to be beſtowed vponupon others that want? that Emperors and Kings are ſubiects vntounto Popes, not onelyonly in Spirituall things, but alſo in Temporall In ordine ad spiritualia? that it is an heroicall act to kill an hereticall King, namely, ſuch an one as in all things doth not accord with the Church of Rome? Laſtly, (to omit many more doctrines of the like nature) that pardon of ſinnes heere in this life, and deliuerance out of Purgatory in the life to come may bee bought for money, and where no money there no remiſſion? I ſay, can any man that is not extreamely ſtupified with ſottiſh ignorance beleeue theſe doctrines, which are ſo palpably falſe, and ſo contrary to naturall reaſon, as nothing can bee more? Yea, ſo groſſe was their ſtupidity, that when any thing happened, that might giuegive them occaſion to miſdoubt they were not right, they were ſo farre from the apprehenſion thereof, or of laying it to heart, that it reflected vponupon them to their further hardning. As when they ſaw the Sacramentall Bread and Wine to poyſon the receiuers, as the one did an Archbiſhop of Yorke in the time of Pope Anaſtaſius the fourth: and the other, the Emperor Henry the ſeuenth: or to be deuoured of Rats and Mice, and dogges, or to putrifie and corrupt in the veſſels wherein they were reſerued. Theſe occurrents might open their eyes in all wiſe iudgement, but in ſtead thereof it darkened them more, euen to this, to eſteeme thoſe baſe Creatures ſanctified by their greedy theft, and no leſſe then holy Saints in their account. And to ſhut vp the point, were they not vtterly blinded, and depriued of all light of reaſon and vnderſtanding, they would neuer aſcribe ſuch an holy vertue to the very habit of a Friar of the Order of Saint Francis, that they ſhould thinke if they were wrapped in it at the houre of their death, their ſoules muſt needs flye immediately to heauen: and that the onelyonly meanes for the deuill to be ſaued, was to take vponupon him the habit of Saint Francis. I will not ſpeake of their equalling or rather preferring the Virgin Maries milke to the blood of Chriſt: there is a whole Poeme of that ſubiect extant, written in Latine by Clarus Bonarſcius, alias Carolus Scribanius a Ieſuite: nor of their curing all diſeaſed horſes with holy water ſprinkled vponupon them by a Prieſt on Saint Loyes day, at a Church in France dedicated to his honor: nor of a thouſand more ſuch like fopperies which might bee produced. This little I thinke enough to cleare the firſt doubt, to wit, that this blindneſſe came vponupon the world by the iuſt iudgement of God, and that it is neither ſtrange nor incredible.
3. Touching the ſecond obiection, I ſay, that though this blindneſſe was great, yet it was not ſo generall, but there were ſome in the midſt of thoſe darke times which ſpyed out, and diſcouered their abuſes. Witneſſe Saint Bernard, Petrus Damianus, Guiliemus de ſancto Amore, Nicolau. Gallicus Narbonenſis, Sauanarela a Florentine, Arnolphus Biſhop of Orleance, Hildebert Archbiſhop of Tours, Mathew Paris, Marſilius of Padoua, Vrspergenſis, Clemangis, with a number more of later time: as Petrorch, Mantuan, Platina, not to mention Iohn Wickleffe, Iohn Huſſe, Ierome of Prage, &c. all which learned perſons did mightily inueigh againſt the abuſes and corruptions of the Church of Rome in thoſe dayes, and that with ſuch vehemency of ſpirit, that the ſound of their words could not but ring in all eares. Take two or three examples in ſtead of all the reſt. Baronius bringeth in Peter Damian thus crying out againſt the prauities of the Sea of Rome: O the Apoſtolike Sea, heeretofore the glory of the world, but now alas thou art become the ſhop of Simon, the hammers there beate vponupon the Anuile, and their money comes from hell: whereunto Baronius himſelfe addeth theſe words: for then all fleſh had corrupted their way. Baron. An. 1033. ſect. 8. et 1049 ſect. 10. 15.So that it ſeemed a deluge was not ſufficient to waſh away the filthy ordures, but they required the fire of Gomorrha to purge them: and therefore (ſaith hee) Peter Damian then an Heremite of Mount Auellan in Ʋmbria, wrote vntounto Pope Leo a booke entitled Gomorrhaeus, wherein he diſcouereth the hidden vices of the Cleargy, and deſireth reformation. Hildebert Archbiſhop of Tours, is as plaine and direct, as may appeare in the Eccleſiaſticall hiſtory of Nicolas Vignier, where his complaint is ſet downe at length. Mathew Paris reports,Mat. Paris in Hen. 3. pag. 792. that when Pope Innocent the fourth was to depart from the Councill of Lions, the Cardinall Hugues, who was appointed to giuegive the farewell Sermon to the City, after the elegant paſſages of complement which he vſed to them, at laſt added theſe words: My Friends, ſince our comming hither, we hauehave done much profit to this City; for when wee arriued, wee found three or foure Stewes in it, but now departing wee leaue but one: but it is true, that one ſtretcheth from the Eaſt gate of the City, and continueth all along to the Weſt. But it is moſt ſtrange, that in the liſt of the Orders and perſons that were at the Councill of Conſtance, is placed as a cheefe part of that ſacred aſſembly, the number of the profeſſed Whores that were there found:P …ralei…om. V…ſp rgenſis. and Vspergenſis ſaith, that there were of them at the leaſt 450: ſo that it is no maruaile if ſuch a holy Synode adiudged to the fire Iohn Huſſe and Ierome of Prage. Marſilius of Padoua, Marſil. Pata…. l…b. Deſenſ pacis p. chap. 24.compareth the Papall Church, and Court, to Nebuchadnezzars Statue, whoſe head was of Gold, armes and breſt of Siluer, belly and thighes of Braſſe, legges of Iron, and feet one part of iron, the other of earth: by all which is repreſented (ſaith he) the arrogancy, luxury, ſymony, carnallity, ſtupidity, and auaritious greedineſſe of the Popiſh Cleargy: adding in the end, a propheticall prediction of the ruine of this Babyloniſh Strumpet. It is worth the labour to read this whole diſcourſe at full, a breuiate whereof I onelyonly heere offer to your view.Nicel Clemangis. epiſt. ad Ioh. Gerſon. But aboue all, let vsus heare the fearefull complaint of Clemangis. This Age (ſaith he) is an Age of Gold, not in manners (as the Poets fained vnderunder Saturne) but in the enraged and vnſatiable deſire and extortion of that mettall: for Sacraments, Orders, Dignities, Relaxations, Diſpenſations, Offices, Benefices, yea ſinne it ſelfe, is now ſet to ſale for Gold: Idiots, and vnlearned perſons, that can ſcarce ſpell, much leſſe reade with vnderſtanding, & that vnderſtand Latine no better then Arabicke, and when they pray or ſing, know not whether they bleſſe or curſe their maker, are admitted into the Prieſthood. Heere you may ſee men without diſcipline, without reſt, without order: gluttons, drunkardes, idle praters, vbiquitaries, vnchaſt and laſciuious perſons, and to ſay all in one word, idle bellies without learning and common honeſty. Thus hee complaineth, and much more to this effect, which he that will may finde in the forequoted place. Petrarch alſo, though liuing vnderunder the Popes noſe, wrote as bitterly againſt the impieties of the Antichriſtian Synagogue: he called Rome Babylon, and ſaid, that Chriſt was thence baniſhed, and that Antichriſt ruled in his place: that Beelzebub was there Iudge, and that vnderunder the ſtandard of Chriſt they made warre againſt Chriſt: that greater iniury was there done vntounto Chriſt, then euer was by the Scribes and Phariſees when he liued amongſt them: that the hope of eternall life was held of them for a fable: that the more wicked a man was, the more he was prized & honoured. And in a word, that in this Church heauen gate was opened, and Chriſt bought and ſold for Gold, and if Iudas ſhould bring hither his thirty pence (the price of Chriſts blood) he ſhould be receiued: and that truth was held for folly, and error and lying for the cheefeſt wiſedome. Thus wrote hee, thus peremptorily, and thus piercingly, and yet (which is a wonder) eſcaped the fire, but then the ſacred inquiſition was not on foot, as it is at this day. A multitude of ſuch like ſayings of learned men I could heape together: but let theſe ſuffice for a fay of the whole, that I be not ouer-burdenſome to the Reader.
4. Beſides, the common Prouerbes and Verſes vſed in thoſe times, doe euidently proue, that their filthy abominations lay not vndeſcryed: for what elſe doe theſe Prouerbs import? As confident as a Pope, as proud as a Prelate, as fat as a Monke, and as crafty as a Friar, the Table of an Abbat, more vnlearned then a Monke, Vinum Theologale for the moſt excellent Wine?Heſpin. de orig. m…nachat. lib. 6. cap. 18. In Germany they hauehave this Prouerbe: In medio conſiſtit virtus, Spricht der Teuffel, dha er ſchwiſchem tzwo monichem ſa…, that is, Spake the deuill when hee ſate betweene two Friars? And in France this, A Friar is a Creature that loues to hauehave the fire at his backe, and the table at his belly. And this alſo: Three things are inſatiable, Prieſts, Monks, and the Sea, in reſpect of their auarice, as the former was in reſpect of their luxury. Theſe things were in eueryevery ordinary mouth, in ſomuch as the ignorant people ſtucke not to ſcoffe at many of their groſſe abſurdities, as he that being reproued for not vncouering his head when hee was ſprinkled with holy water, anſwered; that if that ſacred water could paſſe as farre as Purgatory, it might moſt eaſily paſſe through his Bonnet. Or he that affirmed, that croſſing and holy water might peraduenture ſcarre a way yong deuils that were but young nouices in their trade: but an old deuill would not bee affrighted with ſuch bug-beares. The like ſcoffes were ordinarily caſt out in that blinde Age againſt Purgatory, Inuocation of Saints, and Images, as hath beene ſhewed before. Nay, many of the very Popes themſelues hauehave made a mocke and ſcoffe of their owne Religon: as Leo the tenth called it a Fable, and ſaid; that he could not open the doore of Paradiſe to himſelfe, becauſe he had ſold the keyes thereof vntounto others. And Iulius the ſecond, that threw Saint Peters Keyes into Tyber, and tooke in his hand Saint Paules Sword; ſaying, that ſeeing Saint Peters Keyes could do him no good, he would now try what Paules Sword would doe. And Gregory the ſeuenth, alias Hildebrand, who when he ſaw the Hoaſt would not anſwere a demand that he made vntounto it, in a rage threw it into the fire, in the preſence of many Cardinals that thought to hinder the ſame. And if Popes Holineſſes were thus Atheiſtically prophane, why ſhould we wonder at inferiour Prieſts? As at him that meeting his Enemy in the ſtreet, who threatned to beat him but for reuerence to his God of Paſte, laid his God on the ground, ſaying; the deuill take him if hee take part with either of vsus. Or at him, that threatned to throw his God into the fire if he did not appeaſe the preſent tempeſt of thunder and lightning, and ſo ſhew himſelfe ſtronger then the deuill: or at him, who hauing receiued a box on the eare by a Captaine, bidding him alſo to turne the other eare to receiue another, according to Chriſts rule, as he alſo did, fell haſtily vponupon the Captaine, & buffetted him ſoundly, with this Memento, that Chriſt alſo commanded vsus to doe as we would be done vntounto; and withall, deſired the ſtanders by to let them alone, for they did nothing but expound Scripture: or at him that being about to go to Maſſe, and hauing a box ful of Wafers, ſhooke them together and ſaid, yee rogues, yee rogues, which of you ſhall be made a God to day? Or at him that ſaid, that they dealt with their God in the Maſſe, as a Cat doth with a Mouſe, which after they hauehave made ſport withall a while, they eare at laſt. But to leaue theſe Prouerbs and ſcoffs, and to come to the verſes that were written in thoſe daies of the impiety and impurity of the Romiſh Cleargy. In this ſubiect I might be infinit, but I will omit ſuch as are ordinary in eueryevery booke, and propound a few more rare, and which are not obuious to eueryevery view: Paſquin is famous in this kinde, as in this Epigramme of fiue Popes, with many more of the like ſtampe.
Sixtum Lenones, Iulium rexere cyuaedi,
Imperium vani ſcurra Leonis habes.
Clementem furiae vexant, & auara cupido,
Quae spes eſt regni Paule futura tui?
In Engliſh thus.
Bawdes ruled Sixtus, Iulius Ganimedes,
A ruffian ſwayd of Leos power the raynes;
Fury and auarice Clement poſſedes,
What hope then of thy rule, O Paul, remaynes?
Another Poet in thoſe times thus writeth of the Monkes of Saint Anthonies family.
Diceris Antoni porcos pauiſſe ſubulcus
Viuus, adhuc Monachos lumine caſſus alis:
Par ſtupor ingenij eſt, ventriſ que abdomen vtriſque:
Sorde pari gaudent, ingluuie que pari:
Nec minus hoc brutum genus eſt mutumue ſuillo,
Nec minus inſipidum, nec minus illepidum:
Caetera conuenient, ſed non leuis error in vno eſt,
Debuerat Monachie glans cibus eſſe tuis.
In Engliſh thus.
O Anthony, thou hogge art ſaid to feede
Aliue, now dead, Monkes are thy charge indeede:
Like doltiſh wit, like greedy paunch in both,
Alike they are in filthineſſe and ſloth:
Monkes no leſſe brutiſh, no leſſe dumb then ſwine,
As ſtinking as vnſauoury are thine:
The reſt agree, yet one thing is amiſſe,
That Monkes on Acornes doe not feede I wiſſe.
Gualter Mapes, an Engliſh Diuine that flouriſhed about the yeere 1197. deſcribeth this generation after another ſtraine, in a ſtyle conſonant to that Age.
Eſt nullum Monacho magis daemonium,
Nihil auarius, nihil magis is varium,
Cui ſiquid datur eſt poſſeſſor omnium,
Si quidquam petitur, nil habet proprium,
Si prandit, competit vt loquineſciat,
Ne lingua dentium opus impediat,
Si bibit, expedit vt ſedens hauriat,
Ne pes ſub pondere ventris deficiat,
Die deuotius adorat dolia,
Nocte cum bipede laborat beſtia
Tali diſcrimine, tali modeſtia,
Meretur vir Dei regna caeleſtia.
In Engliſh thus.
The deuill is not ſo wicked as a Friar,
Nothing ſo couetous, ſo various here:
If ought be giuen, he takes it as his owne,
If ought be askt, he nothing hath that's knowne:
When dine he doth, he muſt abſtaine from ſpeaking,
Leaſt that his tongue ſhould let his teeth from eating.
And when he drinkes he muſt not ſtand but ſit,
For feare his feet ſhould falter, and his wit:
All day deuout he Bacchus doth adore,
All night a beaſt two footed is his ſtore:
This danger great, and modeſt exerciſe,
Conducts this man of God to Paradiſe.
Of the ſame kinde of people another Poet writ this Diſticke.
Credibile eſt Circen mutaſſe potentibus herbis,
In Monachoſ que ſues, in que ſues Monachos.
In Engliſh thus.
I thinke ſome Witch hath chang'd of late by pells,
Monkes into Swine, Swine into Monkes in cells.
Another thus deſcribes them.
Maxima pars turbae raſo quae vertice oberrat
I am nunc conſueuit viuere more ſuo:
Gratior eſt lepus, exiguuſue cumiculus illis,
Quam ſunt Iohannis myſtica ſcripta libri,
Plu…is vel minimam partem ſalmonis habentes,
Quam Salomonis habent prouida dicta ſimul.
In Engliſh thus.
The greateſt part of crowne-ſhauen Prieſts are ſuch,
As vſe to liue as liſt themſelues each one:
A Hare or Cony is more pleaſing much
To them, then are the ſacred bookes of Iohn.
They more eſteeme a peece of dainty Salmon,
Then all the graueſt words of wiſe Salomon.
Another Poet thus.
Dorſum aſini, cor onis, roſtrum ſuis, oſ que columba,
Fulcra bouis monacho ſint, et honeſtus erit.
In Engliſh thus.
GiueGive to a Monke an Aſſes backe to bow,
A ſheepes round hart, the noſthrils of a Sow,
A Doues wide mouth, an Oxes legs in ſtore,
And then will he be honeſt, not before.
Another Poet thus.
Fercula, vina, venus, modo ſunt ſemper que fuere,
Verticibus raſi ſola ruina gregis.
In Engliſh thus.
Good cheare, good wine, and wanton Venus game,
HaueHave bene, and are, of fhauen-crownd Prieſts the bane.
I cannot paſſe ouer the elegant Epigramme written by Iohn Pannonia…, a Poet of their owne, touching the hollow Chaire, wherewith they vſed to examine the virilities of their Popes before they were inſtalled: page missing duplicate page duplicate page Lincolne: Bennet the ninth, was ſtrangled by the deuill in a wood,Baron. An. 1054. of whoſe damnation Baronius affirmeth, there was a manifeſt viſion preſented to one Ʋaclus. Iohn the 21. was cruſhed to death with the fall of an Hall, which he had built in the Caſtle of Viterb…m. Celeſtine the fift, dyed in priſon, wherein he was enloſed by Boniface the eight: neither did that wicked Boniface eſcape the vengeance of God; for being impriſoned in the Caſtle S. Angelo, by the procurement of Phillip the Faire King of France, he dyed ſtarke mad moſt lamentably, hauing firſt gnawne off and eaten the fleſh off his owne hands: and at the houre of his death, there was heard ſuch terrible thundering in the Caſtle, as if all the deuils in hell had bene preſent. Clement the firſt dyed with feare. Vrbane the ſixth poyſoned himſelfe. Paul the ſecond dyed drunke of an Apoplexy. Alexander the ſixth was poyſoned by a drinke, which hee himſelfe had prepared for certaine Cardinals, through the miſtake of his Cup-bearer. And Iulius the third, fayning himſelfe ſicke, and abſtaining from food, fell ſicke indeed, and dyed, and ſo his ieſt was turned into earneſt. I might relate the fearefull ends of a number more, but that I haſten to my concluſion. Neither do I ſpeake of thoſe that were purpoſely poyſoned, the Catalogue of which would be too great, it being an ordinary practiſe in that Sea, ſeeing in the ſpace of 13. yeeres, ſix Popes were thus brought to their ends by Brazutus the familiar friend of Bennet the ninth, whoſe names are recorded by Cardinall Benno, in the life of Hildebrand. Who now can doubt, but that that title, The Sonne of perdition, aſcribed firſt by our Sauiour Chriſt vntounto Iudas that betrayed his maſter, and hung himſelfe: and ſecondly, by S. Paul to Antichriſt, doth fitly appertaine to the Popes of Rome; who as they hauehave bene apparant hauockers and deſtroyers of millions of ſoules and bodies of other men, ſo they for the moſt part, hauehave bene deſtroyed themſelues, after a violent and horrible maner? And ſo we hauehave a plaine reall teſtimony of the villany and impiety of the Romiſh Cleargy in thoſe times; for the head being thus diſtempered, how could the body be but vnſound and depraued.
6. And now, Quid niſi vota ſuperſunt? That God in mercy would enlighten the vnderſtanding of all Popiſh ſeduced ſoules, that they may ſee their errours, and the dang…rous eſtate wherein they ſtand vnderunder the kingdome of Antichriſt: and giuegive vsus wiſedome more and more to diſcerne their abhominable deluſions, and conſtancy to ſtand againſt them to the end: we hauehave not yet reſiſted vntounto blood, and in all likelyhood the fiery tryall is not farre off. For neuer did that man of ſinne rage more then at this day, both by open warre, and ſecret policies. Friar Dominickes ſhoulders are now too weake to vpbeare the Laterane roofe, and therefore Loyola with his Ieſuiticall broode, hauehave put vnderunder theirs. This Macciauillian rowte, profeſſing pouerty, and yet poſſeſſing more goods and lands then many Princes, and intereſſing themſelues in all matters of State, are crept into all Kingdomes, and like the Cockatrice poyſon with their very breath and aſpect: theſe are the Popes enginers and ſtratagematizers, whereby he ſeekes to ſubuert the true Church of Chriſt, and to fortify the wals of his owne Babylon. But Chriſt Ieſus the great King of heauen and earth, ſtandeth armed with power, for the defence of his Children; and therefore maugre all their fury and malice, wee doubt not but that truth ſhall preuaile againſt errour, and true religion flouriſh more and more; and that in fulneſſe of time, that Prophecy ſhall be accompliſhed, Apoc. 18.2. Babylon that great City is fallen, is fallen, and become the habitation of deuil…, and the hold of eueryevery foule ſpirit, and a cage of eueryevery vncleane and hatefull bird. Euen ſo bee it, Amen,
Amen.
Finis. Laus Deo.
END
End of the text · Thomas Beard, Antichrist the Pope of Rome (1625)