The Bee Hive of the Romish Church, Part 4

The Bee Hive of the Romish Church · Part 4

Here doeth followe the declaration vponupon the fourth parte of Maister Gentianus Epistle, treating of the praying to images: Howe they are holden and ordeined in the Churche of Rome: And also of this worde or name Idololatria, of the idolatrie of the Heathen, of praying to Saintes, and of the Sacrament, with suche other like matters.

The first Chapter. Of the name Idololatria, and that men ought to pray to Images, w…th suche prayers as do appertaine vntounto those, after whom the images are made. And of the good felow…hippe and agreeing in one, which is betwixt the Iewes and the Churche of Rome, and of the hallowed Agnus Dei.

Of inuocating …mages looke the 4. leafe and 13. chap. of the 2. parte.THe fourth part is a weightie matter, and of greate importaunce, which doth make master Gentianus hauehave an vnquiet minde, as he himselfe doeth say: to wit, That these Heretikes hauehave no more respect vntounto these olde and deuoute Catholike men, but for to esteeme them for seruers of false Gods, & worshippers of images, and do call them Idololatras that is, Idolaters. Alas, is not that greate pitie? p. 229And are they not maruellous muche to blame?In the councell holden at Nicen in the 1. session in th… Anathematisme. whereas our deare mother the holie churche can in no wise beare with this name, nor heare of it: but hath finally concluded, commaunded, and ordeined, vponupon paine to be banished, accursed, excōmunicated, & anathematized: That no man shall name her Saintes, Idola.by that same Greeke worde Idola, which is asmuch to say, as an image, or likenesse, yea, and hath flatlie determined, that from hencefoorth this same worde shall no more be taken properly for images or likenesses made after any man, or other thing to their worship, like as it hath euermore from time to time bene taken and vsed, aswel by the Greekes as Latinistes: but shall now be taken for nothing else, but onelyonly for the false Gods of the Heathen or Iewes, and such images as they heretofore hauehave vsed in their Temples: Insomuch that the verie naturall and proper name and similitude of this worde, is wholy transubstantiated, and turned into an other substance and being.

And therefore these Heretikes, are verie much to blame that they will come and plague our most deare mother, yet agayne anewe, with this worde Idola, & say, that the good Catholike people, and Subiects of the holie church of Rome, are verie Idolaters, because they doe greatly esteeme, and woorshippe the images of our Ladie and of other holie Saintes, and doe kisse them and licke them, and trimme them vp, with goodlie garmentes and iewelles, (setting candles burning before them,) because they cannot see without candles, and cense them with sweete incense, and sing Hymnes and other songs of praises deuoutly before them: and because they carrie them about vppon their shoulders, for that they cannot goe themselues, and fall downe vponupon their knees before them, and say to them, Our father which art in heauen. They set them vponupon Altars, they go to them on Pilgrimage, to gette health and good lucke in their affaires, and doe euen as much worship to them, as the auncient Romanes, and Greekes, or as the Israelites did vntounto their false Gods.

Nowe vponupon this these Heretikes say, that it is verie ill done of them, and will proue them to be verie idolaters and woorshippers of false Gods: but the blinde heretikes doe not perceiue that our images p. 230are no idolles, but holie Saintes,Images are Saintes whiche doe manie and great miracles. Neither will they vnderstand, howe that our deare mother the holie churche of Rome hath commaunded vsus so to doe. For all the holy catholike teachers hauehave verie friendly and ioyntlie concluded, that all images ought to be worshipped with like worshippe,This historie is writen in the golden Legende. Also in the booke of Leander Albert of Boloigne, which he hath named the description of Italie in the 164. leafe of this booke printed in the yeare 1550. Item it is written by Vincent Lirinensis. And so forth by brother Bernarde of Lu…enburgh Doctor of follie in the 11. parte of the 4. booke called Catalogus Haereticorum. Thomas part .3. Quaest. 25. Article. 3. as doth apperteine vntounto such, after whome the said images are made, as the good and holie man Thomas de aquino hath plainely written. Yea, because that he did handle that matter so exactly, there was a crucifixe in the citie of Naples which spake to him, saying, Gentle Thomas thou hast written well and truely of me, what reward wouldest thou receiue? Wherevpō he did make answeare to the crucifixe, and saide: I will hauehave nothing else but euen thy selfe.

Now whether the same crucifixe was of Gold, or siluer, (bicause he was so farre in louelove with it aboue all other things) that I cannot tell, but I knowe very well, that hee hath written wonderfully for the aduauncement of prayer and woorship to be done to Images: and is for that cause likewise by Pope Iohn the .21. canonized for a Saint. For he hath concluded (wherein our deare mother the holy Church doth likewise follow him) that whyle Christ is praied vntounto with Latria, Latria.which is to say after their interpretation, with the spirit as God: men shall likewise pray with Latria vntounto his Image, which is with a cole, or with a Pencill painted vponupon a wall, and likewise woorship it as God himselfe: if it be so, that it be painted with lōg haire and with a round Trencher behinde his heade, and holding vp his two fingers, and hauing the world with a crosse vponupon it in his hand: for euen such a fellowe is the righte Saluator mundi.Bonauentura super senten. lib. 3. dist. 9. quaest. 2.

The worshipfull Maister Bonauentura doth likewise establish this matter: yea all the writers of the sentences hauehave generally so ordeined and concluded herevpon, insomuch that these Heretikes ought not now to doubt any more of the matter. Yet it is very true, that Durandus woulde not allowe of it, but did rather directly withstād it, saying plainly, that Images ought not to be prayed vntounto, with the like honour as those after whome they were made or painted. But all the rest were offended with him, for that he refused to follow the p. 231authorite of the holy church. And perhaps, if he had not written so as hee did, hee had been canonized, as well as Thomas de Aquino. Notwithstanding that a certeine Spaniard called Perezius, did followe him in that point, saying, That stones and blocks ought not to be praied vntounto & worshiped w^t Latria, as God, cōsidering they do alway remain stones & blockes, this is re…ersed by brother B…rnard of Luzenburge & Leander Albert and other besides.how muchsoeuer they be halowed or cōiured by any body. But he is far out of the way in this matter: For first wee knowe, that Saint Thomas de Aquino, was taught by Saint Peter and Saint Paule, so that he coulde not erre, and after that, hath our deare mother accepted his opiniō for the best. And wherfore shuld she not? For, seing that a simple priest can w^t fiue words, of a little round cake, make a God: wherefore I pray you, should not a Bishop or a Suffragane make of a goodly gilded Image a God also? That were to put little trust in our deare mother the holy church. Therfore we must remain stedfast vpō the common opinion and iudgement of our deare mother the holy church of Rome. For a final end, the Heretiks do vsus greate wrong to call vsus seruers of false Gods, worshippers of Images and Idolaters, euē as the Iewes do, who cānot find in their hartes, to bestow any honester name vppon vsus. And therefore saith Maister Gentianus, that some good people, which see deper into the matter, mistrust that these Heretiks should hauehave some secret intelligence w^t the Iewes: yea, should play bootie & be in pension with them, to maintein frendly conuersation with them, yet he addeth vntounto it, that he for his part doth not beleeue any such thing, whereby it seemeth, that he woulde herein a little flatter and annoynte their mouthes with Honie, to please them withall: but it is not so, for hee speaketh in this behalfe, as doth become a good and stoute Catholike subiecte of the holy church of Rome. And besides that, he should hauehave done these Heretikes a great deale to much worship, if he shoulde hauehave yoked them in a Waggon, with the nation of the Iewes, who (as wee hauehave heretofore plainly set foorth) are the very best founders and chiefest fountaines and welsprings of all the ceremonies, and institutions of the holy Church of Rome.

It is verie true, that our deare mother p. 232hath amended them, and brought them into a better order, for that her wisdome and vnderstanding doeth farre exceede the wisedome of Moses and Aaron: And therfore hath shee in place of one temple of Solomon, caused to be builded vppon mountaines and hilles, and other hie places, aboue a hundred thousand: and in place of three or foure altars, which they had, shee hath set vp so manie, that they are not all to be told ouer in seuentie yeres. Although in deede (as before is rehearsed) the example and paterne doeth proceede from the Iewes, and is borrowed of them: which shadowes and figures our deare mother hath followed verie diligentlie.Heb. 9. throughout. Col. 2.17.18. Gal. 4.9.10. and so foorth.Heb 9Col 2:17Col 2:18Gal 4:9Gal 4:10

Therefore, whereas these Heretikes will (with the Apostle to the Hebrewes) defende and say, that all the figures and shadowes of the olde Testament were ended, and cleane taken away by the comming of Christ, and ought not to be vsed anie more, is rancke heresie. And truelie, they do therby sufficiētlie declare, that they hauehave no vnderstanding with the Iewes, neither in white nor blacke.The faith of the Iewes out of Moses lawe. For the Iewes hold that for the principall article and foundation of their beliefe, to wit, that the lawe of Moses with all her ceremonies, & figures, shall neuer be taken away, nor altered, but shall continue in her Esse for euer, like as it doeth appeare by their teacher Rabbin Moses Henmaymon, who wrote a booke of the thirteene articles of their beleefe.

Ceremonies of the Lutherans.This tendeth likewise as right as a line, against the doctrine of the Lutherans and Zwinglians, who take vppon them to defende stoutlie, that men ought not to vse anie other ceremonies, than onlie such as Christ him selfe and his Apostles hauehave ordeined. And therefore will not they hauehave in their tēples anie altars, nor guilte images,1. Cor. 14.29.1 Cor 14:29 nor any other such like ceremoniall things: but will onlie, when as they are assēbled together, that nothing els shalbe done, than, like as Paule hath taught, after that euerie one hath soung a Psalme,1. Cor. 11.2.25.1 Cor 11:21 Cor 11:25 or declared some texte of Scripture, or some open declaration or exposition, and all tending to edifying:This is in the decrees chap. vasa. de consecra. dist. 1. And it was the Prouerb of Bonifac… of the marters & Bishops. or (as he sa…th in an other place:) That which we hauehave receiued of the Lorde, &c. And now they are so grosse, that they doe not note, that it was so, In illo tempore, that is to say: At that time, when there were wodden chalices p. 233and golden Priestes▪ but (as the good martyr Bonifacius, and after him Durandus hauehave …aide) the leafe is now turned: because now wee hauehave wodden Priestes, and golden Chalices. For now is the authoritie of the Church, and the seruing of God, waxen a great deale f…tter, than it was in the time of the Apostles. And therfore can the holie Churche now agree a great deale better with the Iewes. And so hauehave commaunded verie straightly,Looke the foresaid Chap. Vasa. In the Decrees and that which followeth. And the councell, Tribur. Can. 9. that there shall no more Masse bee ministred with wodden Chalices, for that God shall not bee moued to wrath in such a thing, wherwith he ought to be pleased, as if they be of golde and siluer, as it hath bene concluded in the Councelles of Triburensis, and Remensis, and so entered in the decretals. For she will (according to the maner of the Iewes) set foorthe her seruing of God brauely with gold and siluer: yea, the more that the religion, and the Gospell doe take …o them, the more will shee hauehave the Iewish maners and ceremonies vsed. So that Maister Gentianus shoulde erre verie fa…e,Looke y^e whole first dist. de consecrat in the decrees. if he should goe about to resemble the Huguenotes and Caluinistes to the Iewes, who doe agree so well in one with our deare mother the holie Churche of Rome, that they pisse both in one quill, and hauehave all studied in one schoole. But these Huguenotes will hauehave all thinges after their owne minde refourmed according to the Gospell, as it was in the time of the Apostles, and therefore wee will let them goe, with a good yeere, and holde vsus fast to the Iewes. For our holy father the Pope himselfe doeth beare the Iewes verie good will,A synagoge of Iewes at Rome. and doeth shewe them all the friendshippe he can, or may. He doeth keepe a great many of them, in his citie of Rome, and lettes them hauehave one or two of the best streetes that bee there.

This taske hath authoritie without Italie. But within Italie is a pounde Turnoys changed to a pound Sterling.Yea, he is fast in their pension: for of euerie Iew that will hauehave a synagoge in his house, the Pope hath thirtie pounde Turnoys, which is seuen Ducates, and sixe sterlinges: and if they will hauehave licence to set vppe one openly, then the price is set vppe in the Popes reckoning chamber, at sixtie pounde Turnoys, which is fifteene Ducates. Note what fearefull blasphemie shoulde it then bee, to say, that the Huguenotes were in pension with the Iewes likewise, for that therevppon p. 234it must needes followe, that they shoulde bee companions and brethren with our holy father the Pope: No,The Pope agreeth better with Iewes, Turkes, and Heathen, than with Huguenotes. no I warrant you, he can agree much better with the Iewes: yea, with the Turkes & Heathen, better than with the Huguenotes, which goe about to refourme his holy Sea, according to the Gospell: he can neither abide the sight nor smell of them▪ yea, and the matter is so farre gone, that he woulde allowe them an assemblie and meeting together, as he doeth the Iewes, for a small peece of monie, to the ende that he might sette a … vponupon them, and burne them all vppe, where he might catche them, or come handsomely by them.

It is most true, that the Iewes doe likewise call vsus Worshippers of false gods, and idolaters, that is, Prayers to images, and doe herein agree with these Heretikes: but they are therein to bee …orne withall. For they hauehave learned it of olde out of their Bible, and also out of their Prophetes, who knewe nothing at all yet, of the goodly and Hellishe (I forget my selfe, I should hauehave said holy) ordinances of the Popes of Rome: neither did they vnderstande, that the images must bee prayed vntounto and worshipped, euen as the thing, after which they are made and fashioned.

For Saint Thomas de Aquino, that heauenly English Doctor, was not yet in place for to teache such thinges, neither had▪ they yet hearde any tidinges of our Saintes, nor of all the miracles which they doe, nor that the milde Empresse Irene had not yet scratcht out her sonnes eyes, to bring to passe (by the good assistaunce of the seconde councell of Nice) the woorshipping of images againe. And therefore the Prophetes knewe not yet the difference that is betwixt Latria, Looke the .13. Chap. of the second part.Dusia, and Hyperdulia: and therefore did they condemne all such, as did pray to any images, for woorshippers of false goddes, without making any difference or exception betweene the Catholikes and the Heathen.

And now, when the Iewes doe reade the same, they thinke that the Prophetes did speake as well of our deare mother the holie Church, as of their forefathers. And then that which the Prophet Ieremie saith:Iere. 7.17.Jer 7:17 That they did offer Cakes p. 235to the Queene of Heauen, that doe they thinke to bee spoken of by suche as call our Ladie, The Queene of Heauen, Queene of Heauen.and doe offer to her Cakes, Flawnes, Tartes, and all kinde of proper thinges, without care. But these heretikes doe knowe better▪ yea, their olde shooes doe knowe, that the Prophetes speake to the Iewes, and not to vsus. For wee were yet vnborne, and therefore wee may not seeme to take it vppon vsus: for he that is not ytchie hath no neede to scratche, and he that is not scabbed, hath no neede to clawe. And yet they pretende so, as though they knewe no other, and doe not forbeare to blare vsus out for woorshippers of false goddes, and idolaters: therefore shall not they goe free w^t the Iewes. And it is not to be thought, that they shoulde hauehave any secrete conference with the Iewes, as Maister Gentianus hath verie learnedly considered and noted, yet hath he dealt verie grossely in one point, where he doth so spitefully blame the Iewes, for their golden Calfe, saying,Golden Calfe. that our deare mother the holie Church of Rome hath neuer beene brought vntounto so great a follie as that. Truely, if this had not proceeded from him euen of a pure and simple Catholike zeale, it might almost be taken for a blasphemie and an heresie.

For although it bee verie true, that the holie Churche hath no golden Calfe: yet hath shee not therefore forgotten to follow herein the trace and footesteppes of the Iewes, her good schoolemaisters. For in place of that that Aaron the high Priest once halowed the golden Calfe, our deare mother hath ordeined and set foorth, that the Pope of Rome (who vndoubtedly is established in Aarons place) shall yeerely hallow and blesse a certeine number of lambes of waxe, which he doeth call Agnus Dei, Agnus Dei.that is to say, The lambe of God: or, The sonne of God, which hath taken away the sinnes of the worlde: and being slaine as a lambe for vsus, hath released vsus from the bondage of the diuell, euen as Aaron and the Iewes did name their Calfe: The God which had deliuered them out of the slauerie of the land of Aegypt.

And now, although that a Calfe is better than a lambe, and golde of muche greater value than waxe: yet our holie father the Pope of Rome hath suche a p. 236notable deuise of Alcamistrie, that he will for these lambes bring good fatte Oxen into his kitchin, and lumpes of golde which will not bee muche lesse woorthe than the golden Calfe of the Iewes: for the power of these lambes is so great, that it is vnspeakable. And that may be perceiued out of the Latine verses whiche Pope Vrban did once send with fiue such Agnus Dei, to the Emperour of Graecia, In the booke called Ceremoniale Roman. Eccle.for a great and solemne present, whiche verses are these that followe:

Balsamus, & munda

cera, cum Chrismatis vnda,

Conficiunt Agnum,

quod munus do tibi magnum:

Fonte velut natum,

per mystica sanctificatum:

Fulgura de sursum

depellit, & omne malignum.

Peccatum frangit,

vt Christi sanguis, & angit.

Praegnans seruatur,

simul & partus liberatur.

Dona defert dignis,

virtutem destruit ignis.

Portatus munde,

de fluctibus eripit vndae▪

That is to say:

Balme, virgin waxe, and holie water,

an Agnus Dei make:

A gift than which none can be greater,

I send for thee to take.

From founteine cleare the same hath issue,

in secrete sanctifide:

All these vertues are ascribed to the Agnus Dei, or lamb of God.Aynst lightening it hath souereigne vertue,

and thunder crackes beside.

Each heinous sinne it weares and wasteth,

euen as Christes precious blood:

And women whiles their trauell lasteth,

it saues, it is so good.

It doeth bestowe great giftes and graces,

on such as well deserue:

And borne about in noysome places,

from perill doeth preserue.

The force of fire, whose heate destroyeth,

it breakes and bringeth downe:

And he or she that this enioyeth,

no water shall them drowne.

Now my maisters, how like you this sauce? Let vsus now see, if the golden calfe of the Iewes had such might and power. No, that was farre from home. Neither do the Iewes ascribe anie such thing to p. 237their calfe: but did euen simplie thinke▪ seeing Moses was away, that they wold hauehave some apparant thing before their eyes, which should put them in remembrance of their deliuerance by God: and therefore they did call it, The God which had deliuered them out of the land of Aegypt, as our mother the holie church doeth likewise cōmonlie say, by an old rotten blocke▪ Behold, there is your God, which was hanged vppon the crosse for you: or, There is our Ladie which hath done great miracles. So that their Calfe is not to be compared with our Agnus Dei. But nowe, seeing the Iewes do knowe nothing of all this, neither do vnderstande of what power this is: therefore may they iustlie thinke, that their golden Calfe and our Agnus Dei, are both children of one mother. So that Maister Gentianus had done much better (speaking vnderunder correction) that he had not so quicklie and spitefullie blamed them for that matter: least nowe they should say, that the potte doeth blame the kettell for being so blacke with smoke.

The ii. Chapter. That the sacrament of the Altar must be prayed vntounto, otherwise Christ were no God..

Looke also the 4.5. and 6 cap. of the 2. part.ANd nowe, proceeding to the conclusions which Maister Gentianus doeth adde herevnto, which (I assure you) are verie fine and spiteful wittie, & is a very learned piece, which the schoolemasters of Louen call Argumentum cornutum, that is to say, A cornet or horned Argument, because he doeth herewith thrust all the Huguenotes as farre backwards, as a lustie yong oxe would crushe Paules steeple in pieces with his hornes. Marke nowe, this is his argument: If the sacrament of the Altar were not prayed vntounto, then were Christ no God: and now Christ without all dout is God: Ergo these Huguenots must needes be damnable Samosatenes, which denie the Godhead of Christ.

That hitteth as iumpe as sixe fingers in a gloue: For the holie church hath once for all resolutelie concluded, That the breade of the sacramēt, is the verie body of Christ, as long and as broad as it did hang vppon the crosse. Then it must needes followe, that whosoeuer doth not beleeue that, doth therewith also not beleeue, that Christ is p. 238God: or else must men needes say, that the Church of Rome hath erred, which were so daungerous a matter, as would make the brisles of a wilde Bore to stand on end. It is verie true, that Christ did not commaund vsus to praye to it, but said simplie, Take, eate, &c. And neither Saint Paul▪ nor anie of the Apostles did euer knowe of anie praying to it. But what is that to the purpose? Seeing men are sufficientlie informed, that they had not yet that power to make goodlie pixes, or sacrament houses, to laie him in, and to carie him sometime about in procession vnderunder a Canopie of silke: The followers were then to many: they had not the leasure nor time: neither was the dearelie beloued and eldest daughter of our deare mother the holie church of Rome as yet borne, to wit,Peruse the 4. chap. of the 2. part. Transubstantiation. But as soone as that blessed babe was brought into the worlde, by the meane & faithfull helpe of that good middewife called, Theologia Sophistica, and was nourished vppe with the sweete milke of her deare mamme and nourse Concomitantiae, then came first in sight iointlie withall, The praying to the sacrament: and then they lodged their God in the halfe moone, and shut him in a goodlie golden cofer or pixe, till the time that hee should goe abroad with the Giant in the procession to quicken his spirites a little, and then they will daunse before the Bride with a fife & a drumbe. And thus doth this wittie conclusion and argument of Master Gentianus proponing remaine so fast and firme, as a reede, which is shaken to and fro with all windes.

The iii. Chapter. Of praying to images, and especiallie to the crosse, and of the great power and aduantage of the crosse.

Touching this turne also to the 1. chap. of the 4. part.NOwe, after the praying vntounto shapen goddes, hee doeth begin againe with praying to images, and to the crosse, which is from the Oxe to the Asse: and surelie, he hath conceiued that verie wiselie, where he saith, That we may not pray to the crosse, as to a creature, or to a similitude or likenesse: For there was neuer anie man so frantike or madde, which would pray to anie thing in steade of God, as a bare and simple creature: yea, the Iewes thēselues (as we hauehave seene) when they did pray vntounto their golden calfe, did it not in worship of the golden creature, as a creature: but p. 239in remembrance of him which had broght them out of the lande of Egypt: as they well witnessed them selues, in naming it by the name of him, after whom they had made it. The like hauehave the Heathen alwayes done: and in consideration thereof, they did call their images, idols, or simulachra, that is to say, Likenesses or images, because they did (in making them) attribute vntounto them the power of God. And therefore did the Egyptians pray vntounto those creatures, wherein they perceiued best Gods goodnesse to bee declared towardes vsus, as Oxen and Kine, the Sunne and the Moone, and other creatures, wherin they founde anie speciall helpe or comfort: as is to be seene by Iustinus, Athenagoras, Arnob. August. Lactan. Eusebius, Orosius, and other such like, which hauehave written against them: and verie notoriouslie out of Esaie, who speaking against the Iewes, said, That God by his eternall and vnspeakeable power did make heauen and earth. And then he doth demaūd of them: Like vntounto whom then will you make God? Or wherwith will you make his image? Giuing them thereby plainly to vnderstand, that they did not praye to their blockes and stockes onelie as simple creatures, but that they did (through such resemblances & likenesses) thinke to hauehave an image, and so a remembrance of God: euen as Maister Gentianus doeth here likewise alledge. And it was also thus concluded in the second Councell of Nice. For sure,Looke the 13. chap. of the 2. p…t. a calfe may conceiue and see, that our deare mother the holie church hath this discretion, as well as the idolatrous Iewes and Heathen. It may well happen, that some simple people, and olde deuoute wiues do esteeme that blocke or stocke it selfe (where it standeth) for a verie God: especiallie, when he beginneth to laugh vponupon them, or els to weepe bitter teares for great pitie. But what then? That is satisfied by their good intents and deuout meanings, which the holie church doth applie to the best. Yet notwithstanding, her owne ground and foundation is no other, but euen the same groūd of the Iewes and Heathen. Alwayes excepted and to bee considered,The Image of the crosse prayed vntounto. that the image of the Crosse hath a speciall prerogatiue before all other images & likenesses: for it is like to the Sextons Cowe, and therefore may grase in the churchyard: and she is by our deare mother p. 240prayed vntounto with a three folde deuotion more than other.

But now, that I do not forget the crosse of pardons, which is commonly set vp in the church, when anie bulles or letters of pardon are come down from Rome: which crosse hath euen such power (vnlesse men will make the Popes Legates ranke liers) as the offring vp of the body & bloud of Iesus Christ vponupon the crosse for our sinnes. And yet we must besides al this, pray vntounto and worship all small or ordinarie crosses with Latria, that is to say, with such worship, as doeth apperteine vntounto God onelie: acording to the order & cōmon rule of their schoole here before rehearsed & spoken of. After this now, the verie wood of the crosse which came from Hierusalem,Iohn Tekel the Popes Legate, and after that Bishop of Mentz, did preach this at Franckfort, anno 1517. Latria. Read the writers of Sent. which hauehave altogether concluded this after this maner. and which Christ was crucified vponupon, must bee by vsus worshipped as a creature for it owne proper worthines, & praied vntounto with Hyperdulia, that is, w^t such worship, as is ascribeth vntounto the virgin Marie▪ especiallie cō sidering the great miracle that is thervpon to be seene: which is, that it is so waxen & increased, that the pieces thereof would lade a good Hulke. And lastly, in reuerence of the most holie crosse, we must worship al other tokens & similitudes of the same▪ Wherein our louing mother doeth attribute great preheminence to the holy crosse in respect of that which shee doeth shewe towardes all the reliques and holy things. True it is, that (most deuoutlie) she doeth worshippe a heape of speares, wherwithal Christ his side was pearced, and twoo or three dosen of the verie same nailes, which our Sauiour was nailed with on the crosse: yea, shee hath also ordeined a holie day in …uerence of the same, and hath appointed a speciall Masse for it: namelie, In festo Lanceae & Clauorum Domini. And then greetes the same most friendlie with a Sonnet,The feast of the Speare & Nailes of Christes passion. wherein shee singeth thus:

Aue ferrum triumphale,

Intrans pectus tu vitale,

Coeli pandis ostia,

Fecundata in cruore,

Foelix Hasta nos amore,

Per te fixi saucia, &c. with the rest that followeth, which in our tongue might thus be englished:

All hayle, O Speare triumphant,

which pearcing Christ his side,

Commaundedst as thy seruant,

heauen gates to open wide:

p. 241O happie Speare and blessed,

dyde Crimson red in blood,

Of louelove saue vsus distressed,

vouchsafe to be so good, &c.

Thereafter hath she yet foure or fiue of the right sponges, wherewithall Christ was refreshed with vineger,Sponges. which she deuoutlie doeth licke and kisse, and reserues for a singular relique. Moreouer, shee hath the verie naturall tayle of the Asse whereon he rode,The Asse taile. The Manger. and the same Manger wherein hee laie, whereof she makes great store. But what is all this to be compared by the reuerence which she doeth shewe to the holie Crosse? For admit shee doeth worship fiue or sixe Speares, and some Nailes, yet will she not worship all the speares, which are vsed in the warres, nor all the nailes which are made in the smithes forges, nor all the sponges which growe in the sea, nor yet al the tailes wherewith the asses are couered behind, nor all the mangers wherein horses hauehave their prouender, (like as she doth permit to worship all the crosses which can be made) for then you should counterfeite the Ape to nigh: yet may it seeme strange to some, whether all other reliques or holy things hauehave pist against the moone because they cannot atteine to the like preferment. For all the roddes of right might challenge the same priuilege, in worship of the rod wherewith Christ was scourged, and al ropes in worship of that with which he was bound, & all haithornes in worship of the thornes wherewith he was crowned. But it behoues them to be content w^t their portion, for they are sufficientlie prouided for: & if sobeit the holy church doth please to attribute more to the crosse, it proceedes of her meere liberalitie, and of the special louelove which shee doeth beare to the same, which for the same cause shee reuerenceth more than the verie body of Christ, which did hang on the crosse, or than his bloud which he hath spilt on the crosse. For wee can not perceiue, that in reuerence of the bodie of Christ, all bodies, & much lesse, all similitudes or likenesses of the bodie are had in reuerence or worship: like as not onlie all crosses, but all figures & likenesses of the crosse are worshipped, reuerenced, kist, and lickt in reuerence of that onelie crosse whereon his bodie did hang. But it hath thus pleased our louing mother the holie church: and not without most great and waightie occasions: for without doubt, the likenes of the holie crosse is of p. 242of such great power & singular vertue, that the deuill doeth take it for a bulbegger, and flies from it, as a dogge doeth from a piece of bacon. Like as euidentlie appeareth in the golden Legend of Saint Christopher: and in a number of other legendes, where almost for feare hee beraied his breech, so soone as a crosse was made. And it is also the cudgell wherewith he was once beaten, like as wee may plainlie see on all altars, & in processions, where our Sauiour is counterfeited knocking with a crosse vponupon the gates of hell, at which all the deuils runne awaye as though they were possessed. Moreouer, it is the token with the which God hath created heauen & earth: and that is it which Esai would say (according to the expositiō of our holy mother the church) saying thus: Who hath holden the waters in his fist? Who hath measured heauen with his spanne, & hath comprehended all the worlde in their measures? Who hath wayed the mountaines & hilles in a balance? Which is to say, that God did (with three fingers) make a crosse, when hee created heauen and earth. Item, our holie mother the church saith besides, That Moses did with the figure of the crosse change the bitternes of the waters in the wildernesse, and caused the water to flowe out of the stonie rocke. And although the scripture doth not make mention of anie crosse, but onelie of a rod wherwithall Moses did strike: yet our mother the holy church hath thus expounded the same, supposing that Moses did the like to the Bishops now, who with their staffe do make a crosse & so blesse the people. Shee hath also fained, that those which do sprinkle their thresholdes with the bloud of the Paschal lambe, & theron set the figure of a crosse, that the striking Angel by meanes of the crosse doeth passe by it, like as wee hauehave out of their sequences, (which they vponupon the crosse dayes, named Inuentio S. crucis, signe) here aboue rehearsed. Besides that, the same which Ezechiel doeth mention of Tau, Ezech. 9.4. Tau is an Hebrew word, signifying with vsus a token. For that which Ezech. doeth call Tau, that doeth Iohn expounde for a seale, Apo. 7.3.Ezek 9:4that is to say, of the token or seale, which is set vponupon the foreheads of the elect, therof hath she also made a crosse: albeit that the letter Tau doth resemble the figure of the crosse no more then an aple doth an oyster: for the one is written thus, ת & the other thus, ✚: notwithstanding she doth not take the matter so neere: wee p. 243must (for clownes) sift meale through a lattice, and set them packing after the homeliest sort, then may they bake their bread as they list. This once is the issue, that all cursing and coniuring, all hallowing and blessing, al mysteries and cōsecrations must be made with crosses.

The holy Masse is likewise ful of crosses from one end to another: sometimes with two at once to saue both bodie and soule, or to change both breade and wine: sometime with three together, in worshippe of the Father, Sonne, and holie Ghost: sometime with fiue at once, in reuerence of the fiue woundes of Christ Iesus. The blessed holie water is made with crosses, the waxe candles, the salt, the holy oyle, the palmes,Thom. de Aquin. in the e…positiō of the Masse. Gu…do de monte Roch. in Encheir. sacerd or the Pamphlet of Priestes, in the title De Sac. Euc. Seeke al…o Durandus and Innocent, for they do expounde these crosses also in like manner. the Agnus Dei, the holie ashes, and all the implementes pertaining to the Priestes, are created with crosses: yea the Priestes themselues without crosses cānot be made Priestes. In al processions the crosse must go before. VponUpon all bables, toyes & sacrament boxes must stand a crosse, least the diuell should put in his nose: yea, vppon all wafers & trinkets, vponupon churches & vppon steeples, & also vponupon coine, & vponupon Māmona iniquitatis, a crosse must simper.

To conclude, the crosse hath an oare in euerie boate, and hath a place in all the ceremonies perteining to the holie Church of Rome. There can not a Pageant bee plaied, but shee must hauehave a part: yea, a Nunne durst scarse let a fyste, but shee must blesse her selfe with a crosse. And the Priestes are neuer worse at ease, than when they hauehave neuer a crosse in their purse. Therfore, it is not without great & vrgent occasion, that our holie mother doth holde the crosse in such honour: in so much as she hath for her sake, ordeined and instituted three or foure holy or festiual dayes, as namelie, Inuentio crucis, Rogationum, Exaltatio crucis, and other such like.Looke the 16. chap. of the 2. She hath also a speciall Masse in honour of the holie crosse, which shee names, Missa de sancta cruce: and a seruice called, Officium de sancta cruce. And besides she hath more ordeined and charged,Looke the 16.…2. that we should vponupon the good Friday after Maunday thursday, deuoutlie and sadlie creeping along the ground vponupon our bare knees, worship the crosse, and there bestow a good fat offering, and liberall almes to the benefit and maintenance of the poore Priestes, so that they with crosses in their p. 244purses, might be preserued against the diuell. Wherevnto she hath franklie giuen a great heape of pardons to those which with great deuotion do the same. For shee doeth esteeme and beleeue, that the crosse hath no lesse force than the bloud of Iesus Christ the sonne of God. For behold, these are the wordes with the which shee causeth the crosse to be consecrated or hallowed.

Oramus te Domine sancte pater, &c. vt digneris benedicere hoc lignū crucis tuae, vt sit remedium salutare generi humano, sit soliditas fidei, bonorū operum profectus, & redemptio animarum: sit solamen & protectio, ac tutela contra saeua iacula inimicorum, &c. That is: We beseech thee, O Lord heauenlie father, that thou wilt so blesse this wood of the crosse, that it may be a healthfull help to mankind, a cōfirming or strengthening to faith, a furtherance to good works, and a redemption of soules: that it may be our comfort, our safegard & defender against the noysome dartes of the enimies, &c.

What can we ascribe more to Christ Iesus the sonne of God for the helpe & consolation of man, than our mother the holie church doeth ascribe here vntounto the crosse? yea all that Christ hath euer done, & all the good which can be thought, that hath shee in like manner attributed to the figure of the crosse. For these be her wordes:

Ista suos fortiores

Semper facit, & victores,

Morbos sanat & languores,

Reprimit daemonia.

Dat captiuis libertatem,

Vitae confert nouitatem,

Ad antiquam dignitatem,

Crux reduxit omnia.

O Crux lignum triumphale,

Mundi vera salus vale,

Inter ligna nullum tale,

Fronde▪ flore, germine:

Medicina Christiana,

Salua sanos, aegros sana,

Quod non valet vis humana,

Fit in tuo nomine, &c.

That is to say:

It makes her souldiers excellent,

and crowneth them with victorie,

Restores the lame and impotent,

and healeth euerie maladie,

The diuels of hell it conquereth,

p. 245releaseth from imprisonment,

Newnesse of life it offereth,

it hath all at commaundement.

O Crosse of wodde incomparable,

to all the world most holesome:

No wodde is halfe so honourable,

in branche, in bud, or blossome,

O medicine which Christ did ordaine,

the sound saue euerie houre,

The sicke and sore make whole againe,

by vertue of thy poure.

And that which mans vnablenesse,

hath neuer comprehended,

Graunt by thy name of holinesse,

it may be fully ended, &c.

Beholde, here may you see that Christ Iesus is depriued of his right, & the same is giuen to a wodden Crosse, so that it is not without iust cause, that the Catholike children of our holie mother the Churche doe name themselues seruantes and slaues of the Crosse, singing thus:

Serui crucis crucem laudent,

qui per crucem sibi gaudent,

Vitae dari munera,

dicant omnes, dicant singli:

Aue salus totius soecli,

arbor salutifera:

That is to say:

The seruantes of the holie Crosse,

her praise to heauen let them tosse.

And they which in the Crosse reioyce,

and of the giftes of life hauehave choyce,

Let this of all, both old and young,

in solemne sort be said and soung,

O holie Crosse which canst preuaile,

O tree of life, All haile, All haile.

Therefore neither is it any maruell, that she doeth call vponupon it so deuoutly, and prayeth that it may defend vsus from all aduersitie, crying with a shrill voyce: Ecce lignum crucis, venite, adoremus, That is to say: Beholde, here is the wood of the crosse, come let vsus worshippe it. And also, O crux spes vnica, auge pijs iustitiam, dona reis veniam, That is to say: O holie Crosse our onelyonly hope, increase righteousnesse to the godly, and pardon the offences of the wicked. It is no wonder neither, that she doeth so friendly flatter and coll it euen like as the shee Ape doeth her young ones, with all manner of pleasure shee can deuise. For shee doeth speake vntounto it, and doeth commend it as though it had great vnderstanding. For this is it which they say:

p. 246Dulce lignum, dulces clauos, dulcia ferens pondera: quod solum fuisti dignum sustinere Regem coelorum & Dominum. That is to say:

O sweete wood, which diddest beare a sweete burthen, fastened vntounto thee with sweete nailes, which wast reputed worthie, thou alone aboue all other, to beare the King of Heauen the Lorde Iesus.

With other sonnets, sounding all vponupon the same tune, which shee singeth deuoutly in Gang weeke. And to the end that none should maruell hereat, Maister Gentianus doeth here shew, that all this is founded vponupon the Scripture, the which he doth confirme by these wordes of Paule, God forbid that I should reioyce, Gala. 6.14.Gal 6:14but in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ: for by this Crosse doth not he vnderstand the satisfaction and saluation which it brought vntounto vsus by the Passion and death of our Sauiour Iesus Christ (for that vnderstanding is hereticall) but onelyonly the figure and bare likenesse of the Crosse, like as our deere mother the holie Churche hath expounded it, ordeining and commaunding that these foresaide wordes of Paule, bee song vponupon the day called Inuentio sanctae Crucis, with open voyce ouer the figure & likenesse of the Crosse. And in deede it is to bee thought, that this is the iust meaning of Paule: for otherwise if he had taken it so, like as these Heretikes will interprete it, what else might ensue thereof, then all manner of anguish and sorrowe, persecution and trouble?Gala. 3.13. Deut. 21.23.Gal 3:13Deut 21:23 Which is all together vnderstoode by the Crosse of Iesu Christ, which was a kind of shamefull and detestable death, as the gallowes is with vsus. Verely Maister Gentianus nor the Prelates of the holie Church conceiue no great pride in such a manner of Crosse: but they gladly post it ouer to the Heretikes and Huguenotes, against whom commonly they crie, Crucifige, crucifige, Hang them vp, hang them vp. But the figure and holy token of the crosse formed of gold or siluer, is the onelyonly hope, trust, and staie of the holie Churche of Rome, & of all her subiectes. For it bringeth her in good rentes, and maketh continually a warme kitchen and a plentifull table. Therefore must we (doubtlesse) vnderstand Paule so, to the end his text may agree with the foresaid sonnet of the holie Church.

p. 247But touching Maister Gentianus, in that he is here angrie, and rores against the Heretikes, saying: It is a diuelishe mockerie, that the Heretikes regard not to aske, whether we will fraie away fli…s, when wee make a signe of the Crosse with three fingers. Therein hath he not (in my iudgement) any great reason, so to disturbe himselfe. For seeing that with a token of the crosse we fraie away diuels: what maruell is it then with the same to driue away flies, which in comparison are nothing so wicked as diuels? Howbeit they doe oftentimes shamefully beshite the Sacrament boxe, yea the God himselfe, which dwelles therein, and oftentimes do disturbe the deuotion of Priestes in their Memento, and when they stande dreaming in their secretes. Verily that is not to be compared by the diuelles. But Zele and feruent affection hath caused our Gentianus thus to speake. And from the flies doth he retire againe to the images, for those in no sauce can he forget, but will defende them by vertue of the second councell of Nicen. But because wee hauehave hereof spoken sufficiently before, wee will not trouble the reader therewith any further.

The .iiii. Chapter. Of the worshipping of Saintes, and how their charges and offices are bestowed to eache a part, and specially of our holie Ladie of Loretto, and further of the agreement and disagreement which is betweene the …atholikes and the Heathen.

FOrwardes he doth proceede from the images,Saintes. and falles to the worshipping of Sainctes, which are those holie ones which are departed this worlde into heauen, and saith, That they are not worshipped of our louing mother the holie Church as goddes, but they are prayed vntounto onelyonly that they will make intercession for vsus. For albeit that Saint Paule saith, There is but one God, 1. Tim. 2.5.1 Tim 2:5and one intercessour, betwixte God and man, namely Iesus Christ: yet that must bee vnderstoode of those days, when the holy father the Pope of Rome had not yet canonized any Saintes, neither commaunded, that wee should erect any altars or Churches for them,In the councell of Nice, in the councel of Tren… Peter Lombarde in the▪ 4 booke of Senten.. dist. 45. B…nauent. dist. eadem arti. 2. reade Masses, or offer giftes, and by their merites to craue pardon for our sinnes. For since that time hath the holy Church concluded in sundrie her Coū cels, that they should also be our Atturnies, Intercessours, or Mediatours: and that wee should crie to them at all times p. 248of our neede. Yea she hath prescribed to eache his charge, like as vppon Twelfe Eeue, euerie one is appointed his office by drawing of lottes: Our Ladie hath gotten the beane out of the Cake, and the Queene of Heauen is their hope, their staie, the gate of heauen, the Queene and mother of mercies, Mother of compassion, their life, their pleasure, and their onelyonly Mediatour & Aduocate.

In summe, there is no other refuge or present staie, than she alone, like as they with expresse wordes doe dayly sing in their prayers and thankesgeuing in their Christi virgo dilectissima, their Aue Maria stella: O intemerata: Stabat mater, and many other pretie pageantes, whiche our holy fathers the Popes of Rome them selues hauehave made, and with manie pardons hauehave trimly adorned and set out: but in especiall in their Salue Regina. Yea, they beseeche her in one of her prayers, which they call Prosas, that she will, by her motherly authoritie, commaunde Christ Iesus the true and euerlasting God, and shewe by the date, that shee is the mother. Moreouer they beseeche her also that shee will accept and receiue them in the last houre of death,Looke y^e church songue beginning Aue praeclara maris stella. Also looke the Masse bookes and the seruice of our Ladie Marie, her Rosarium, Hortulus animae: the .7. tydes, and other Popish bookes, which are replenished with such pranckes. and to defende them from their foes in the prayer called Maria mater gratiae, &c. After that, all whatsoeuer is spoken in the worthie song of Solomon, named Cantica canticorum, of Christ the sonne of God & of his louing spouse, namely, the commonaltie of the faithfull: Also, all whatsoeuer Esaias hath prophesied of the sprigge, which should spring out of the roote of Iesse: & of the same which should crush the old crooked snake, that doe they all expound and declare of her: Yea also the selfe same first promise, which God made to our forefather Adam, saying: That the seede of the woman, should grinde in peeces the head of the Serpent, That hath our holy mother the Church of Rome aduisedly expounded of Marie. And therefore in place where there stoode, He shall grinde, hath shee set, Shee shall grinde, as being spoken, not of Christ Iesu the sonne of God, but of Marie herselfe, which should be the promised seede. In summe, all the worshippe which in the scripture is attributed to Christ Iesu the euerlasting sonne of God, the same hath she bequeathed vntounto our Ladie. And therefore will shee (besides p. 249so many holy dayes as are instituted and ordeined for worshipping of her, that we shall notwithstanding celebrate and keepe holie the Saturdayes for her, to the ende she may at least hauehave as much preferment as her sonne Iesus Christ to whō the Sundayes are attributed. Howbeit, for all that vppon the Sundayes, Officium beatae Mariae, that is, The seruice which is done for her worshippe must not be forgotten.

And hereof is it, This doth B… nardinus Ochinus rehearse in his Apologio. Graie friers.that once at Venice was great heuinesse towards. For when the Graie friers had preached vppon S. Francis day, the vnspeakable great pardons and merites, which might be gotten euerie yeere, if so be that the people woulde celebrate that day in their Church by hearing Masses, and offering large giftes, whereby they gathered great summes of monie: The Blacke friers enuying the same did take vppon them to preache, Blacke friers.that it was not needefull to tarrie a whole yeere for S. Francis day, to merite pardons, seeing they might hauehave them euerie Saturday better cheape, if they would resort to their Patronesse: namely, our Ladie euerie weeke, and in honour of her, bestow… their deuotion in their Cloyster, whereby they preuailed so much, that the people did wholy forsake Saint Francis, and bequeathed themselues to our Ladie, and the Blacke friers beganne by this meanes to bee verie riche, and to make good fatte brues. Croutched Friers.But when the Croutched friers enuying this, would also preache, that the generall pardon might (not onelyonly from weeke to weeke, but also from day to day) be merited, in most abundant maner, if so be it that the people would come to celebrate and reuerence the crosse of Christ daily in their Cloyster, for as much as Christ by his crosse and passion had purchased such a large remission and pardon of all mens sinnes, that they needed not to tarrie for the Saturday, and much lesse for S. Francis day, neither yet to runne after any other Saintes, when as they might draw water out of the fountaine it selfe: whereat all the friers together waxed so wrothe▪ that they procured by the Signo…ie of Venice, that these Croutched-friers should be musseled, & forbidden to preache so any more, as beeing a p. 250matter most hurtfull to all Saintes, and especially to our welbeloued mother of God, which by the Catholikes is worshipped, & who was verie wofull to be so forsaken, by meanes of following her sonne. So as it is not without occasion, that our welbeloued mother the holie Church, hath foresene this matter so discretely, ordeining that she should at least deserue as much deuotion and reuerence, as Christ Iesus himselfe.

For this their Ladie is desirous of glorie, and verie fonde of such deuotion: This storie is set foorth in the Churche of Loreta, & affirmed in the historie of …eander Albert of Bullin, called The description of Ital…, where he is writing of Recanati.which euidently appeareth by her closet, wherein she was borne and bred. For when the Iewes did first cleaue to the faith of Mahomet (gesse when this was) then did shee ordeine, that the Angels should remoue her closet from the foū dation, standing in Nazareth, and beare it through the aire into the countrie of Slauonie: But when shee perceiued that she was not sufficiently honoured there, as she did looke for, then did shee most speedily cause the Angels to remoue the same closet to a hill in the countrie of Recanati, in a wood, which apperteined to a good womā named Loretta: wherby she is yet called at this day, Our Ladie of Loretta, howbeit, she could not abide to staie there long, for that (by reason of the great accesse of people) many murders and robberies chanced: for which cause she remoued againe, & caused her closet to be borne vntounto an other mounteine or hill, which apperteined vntounto two brethren, which for the lucre or gaine which they receiued by her, fell at variance, & agreed like dogs and cattes together, so that she would afreshe remoue againe: and seemed in a manner to hauehave a flie in her taile, being vnable to remaine in one place. In sum, the Angels did remoue this closet again from thence, and did bring it vppon a common highway, where it doth yet remain to this houre, without any ground hold or foundations, by reason that the foundations were left at Nazareth. And now it is compast in and preserued with bulworkes & strong walles, which notwithstanding dare not touche the holie closet, through feare & reuerence which they beare to the same.

And for proofe that this is true, doth first appeare hereby, That our Ladie p. 251did appeare to a deuoute man in a dreame, This demonstration is also written in the Church of Loret, and is repea…d by Leander Albert.and hath manifested all these thinges vntounto him, and he hath declared all the same to the commons of Recanati, the which (therevpon) did forthwith send .xvi. chosen men to Hierusalem, to inquire for the certeintie hereof. To be briefe, they hauehave found the foundations yet standing there of the same closet, so that there remaines no more doubt to be had in this matter.

Secondly, a certeine holie Heremite (about two houres before day) did see a great light descending from heauen, (in likenesse to fire) which lighted vponupon this Churche, and it was twelue foote high, and sixe foote broade: so that vndoubtedly it must needes be our Ladie, which came to take viewe of her feast, and solemnization: for this happened vponupon the day of her birth, the eight day in September, in those dayes, when dumbe beastes spake, and houses did …lie. And then did the cocke crowe, and it waxed day.

Lastly, wee may easily discerne this same, by so many, yea many godly miracles which shee euen there hath shewed vppon those whiche (in their neede) did call vntounto her, out of so many faire pictures and costly monumentes, whiche were lefte there in her holie Churche, by sundrie Emperours, Kinges, Dukes, and all other sortes of people to an euerlasting memorie. This is no mocking matter: For the Pope of Rome was wo…nt yeerely to receiue hereby about a hundreth thousande Ducates, (howbeit, that now the rent is greatly abated.) And therefore is it, that he doeth cause it to be so diligently kepte, and so strongly inuironed with walles, appointing alwayes a Cardinall for safe keeping of it, and aboute foure or fiue dozen Cannons and Chaplines, which vsually obserue to doe her diuine seruice, and keepes her from Theeues▪ and Robbers, from Spiders, from flies, Mothes, and other her enimies. The whiche is so true, that who so dare but once doubte of it, the same is reputed and presented for an Heretike: like as is manifested by the example of Petri Pauli Vergerij, which for the same cause, was once in the handes and examination of the Inquisitours. Whereby wee may sufficiently gather, p. 252that this Ladie is greatly desirous of glorie and honour, and coueteth to bee accepted and worshipped for the Queene of Heauen, and also to hauehave the preeminence before all the Saintes of Paradise: For shee is of an other disposition than the holy Virgin Marie (the mother of Iesus Christ) was,Luke. 1.48.Luke 1:48 who did acknowledge her selfe to bee a poore handmaide of God, and did direct those which needed any thing vntounto her sonne Iesus Christ. But this standes bedeckt and garnished with Golde and Siluer like a Queene,Iohn. 2.5.John 2:5 and willes that we should reuerence and adore her clothes and iewels, her Churches and Chappels, her gilded cofers and other her furniture, vtensiles, and implementes, like vntounto the euerlasting and liuing God. To conclude, the holie Church hath made her Queene.

After this,Offices of Saintes. hath shee also mustred all other Saintes, and hath assigned and appointed to each his sundrie charge and seuerall office a pa…t. Each hath his holy day, his sundrie Collect, holy Hymnes and deuout praiers: euerie one doth know ouer what handicraft or science, ouer which disease, ouer what towne or Church he is appointed to be patrone, defender, and Baal▪ The Dutche are vnderunder the defence of Saint George. The Burgonians holde Saint Andrewe for their Patrone. The Frenchmen Saint Michael. The Spaniardes Saint Iames. And further, Saint Peter and Saint Paule are troden in the place of Romulus and Remus, and defend the Citie of Rome with a key and a sworde. Saint Markes Lion is Patrone ouer the towne of Venice, Saint George on cockehorse ouer Genua, Saint Ambrose with his staffe and whippe in hand ouer Millain, the three Kings ouer Cullin, Saint Dionis keepes the towne of Paris, Saint Goele doeth keepe scoute watche at Brussels, Saint Baue and S. Louell doe louelove the towne of Gaunt, Saint Romboute doth keepe the garrison at Machelin, Saint Lambert at Luike, and so foorth. After this hath Saint Hugh and Saint Eustace, gotten the hunters in gard, Saint Martin and Saint Vrban the Aleknightes, Tauernhunters, and dronkardes, Saint Crispin and Crispinian are Patrones of the Shooemakers, Saint Arnold is Baal ouer the Millers, Saint Steeuen p. 253ouer the Weauers, S. Luke is alloted the Painters. And the Physicians (which might hauehave grudged and complained hereat) hauehave gotten Cosmus and Damian to their chosen. The Carpenters do vaunt of their Patrone S. Euloge. The Tailers (which louelove good fellowship) do cleaue to S. Goodman. The potmakers hauehave elected S. Goare, who carrieth a blacke diuell vppon his shoulders, with gloing eyes, and a pot in his hand. The whores and light women were not content with one Patronesse, but hauehave Saint Aphra (which may bee set in Venus place) which in times past was also called Aphrodite: and besides her S. Magdalin, and so forth, as appeareth in Processions and statelie shewes in Brabant and els where, where each companie doth beare his Patrone or Baal in stremers displayed with great state. Moreouer and aboue this, S. Anthonie must keepe the hogges, S. Loy the horsses and kine, S. Hugh the dogges, least they run madde, S. Gallus gardes the geese, Saint Wendelin the sheepe, S. Gertrude reigneth ouer rats and mice.

Yea, which is more, each disease hath his sundrie Apothecarie and speciall Doctour. S. Iohn and S. Valentin do heale the falling sicknes, howbeit that S. Iohn with S. Benedict is also appointed ouer all infections of poyson. S. Anthonie can heale the burning, S. Roche the pestilence. Notwithstanding Saint Sebastian hath some skil in it also. S. Roman doth restore the possessed and madde people againe to their former health, S. Marke doeth preserue the people from souden death. S. Cosmus and Damian are good for all byles and swelling diseases. S. Iob for the pockes, S. Appolin for the touth ache. S. Clare doth cleare and heale the firie and red eyes. S. Agatha hath skill howe to deale with swelling breastes. S. Margaret is middewife for those which are in trauell with childe. But because that she remained alwayes a chaste virgine, and therefore not throughlie expert in her facultie, S. Norpurg was ioyned with her, as a trustie mate in such a matche. S. Petronella can driue away all manner of agues. S. Vincent and Saint Vinden cause all thinges that are lost to bee restored againe. Saint Seruatius doeth cause all thinges to bee p. 254well kept. Saint Vitus doeth direct all daunsers, and such as will leape or vaute.

Hereafter yet hath eche his chosen ioynt or speciall place in gouernement of a mans bodie, like as in times past the twelue signes of the Sunne. Saint Otillia doeth gouerne the head, in place of the first signe named Aries: howebeit shee hath bequeathed the tongue to Saint Katharine, and to Saint Appolin the teeth. Saint Blasius is appointed ouer the necke, like as the signe Taurus. Saint Laurence keepes the backe, together with the shoulders, in steede of Gemini, Cancer, and Leo. Saint Erasmus rules the whole bellie with the entrals, in place of Libra and Scorpius: Notwithstanding that Saint Appollinar hath also taken charge ouer Scorpius: for hee is president of the secret members. And forwards, in steede of Sagittarius, Capricornus Aquarius, and Pisces, hath the holie Church of Rome elected Saint Burgard, Saint Rochus, S. Quirinus, S. Iohn, and other more, which gouerne the thighes, the knees, the shinnes, and the feete.

To conclude, eche hath his seruice, and who so is the deuoutest in honouring these Saintes, with burning tapers, with rose garlands, with gaie coates, and with good fat liberall offrings, the same is the most acceptable and beloued of our mother the holie Church. It is verelie great prouision with small cost, that the poore people (what neede or disease so euer they hauehave) knowe presentlie where to finde a good Apothecarie or Cheirurgian to cure their diseases. For touching the Heretikes which vpbraide vsus herevpon, that we imitate the vnbeleuing Heathen, and worshippers of idols (as hath bin said) & are none, like as Iupiter, Mars, Mercurie, Vulcan, Iuno, and Diana, and other such like hauehave bene: but are holie saints & Gods friends. And therefore ought we (at least) to shewe them as great reuerence, as the Heathen did to their idols. Wee ought in time of neede to call vponupon them: to put our trust in them: obseruing their rules as a cōmandement of God: to bequeath Cities & Countries to their custodies: to erect Temples and Altars in their names: to builde Cloisters and Abbies for their sakes: to consecrate and hallowe Priestes, Monkes, p. 255Cannons and Nonnes for their worship. And like as the Heathen had their Flamines, that is, Priestes of Iupiter, Mars, Ceres, Bacchus, Venus, and Diana: and also their Nonnes of Vesta, Flora, Bona Dea, Sibyl, or Magna mater, and other such like. Euen so must nowe the Church of Rome also hauehave Cannons of S. Peter, S. Bauen, and S. Lambert: And Nonnes of S. Clara, and S. Brigit. Also as they were accustomed to offer sacrifices in honour of Apollo, Diana, Ceres, and Proserpina: euen so shee obserueth to doe her Masses and Trentals, in honour of S. Anthonie, S. Hugh, S. Sebastian, S. Rochus, S. Barbara, and of all Saintes. To conclude, they did not anie worship or reuerence to their idols: but the holie church doeth ten times more to her Saintes: for shee doeth attribute such things as they durst not to do the like. For (as Homer maketh mention) when Iuno, Pallas, or Apollo, or anie other of that companie would assist anie of their friends, Homer in his 1. booke Iliad… ▪they were faine to descende from heauen downe to them, & could not heare their praiers so far off, because they knewe not their thoughts, although they were mediatours and intercessors for them to the great idol Iupiter. Yea, Iuno her selfe, which was his sister and spouse, knewe not what Thetis had held him in hand with. But our Saints remaining sitting in heauen, canne erewhilest helpe the people here on earth with their images, which can laugh and weepe, and doe all manner of miracles: and they heare from aboue euerie mans inuocation, as well as God him selfe. For, admit that the Scripture witnesseth,1. Reg. 8.39.1 Kgs 8:39 That none doeth see or can conceiue the thought or inward cogitation of man, except God alone: yet the holie Church hath found a trimme remedie for that, by a preatie deuise of The looking glasse of the Trinitie, saying, That the holie Trinitie is a looking glasse, wherin the Saints can see all things whatsoeuer happen here on earth: yea, can sound the depth of mens thoughts, and perceiue the secretes of their heartes. It is verie true▪ that we doe not call our Saints by this name God, like as the Heathen were wont to doe their canonized Saints: But what skilles it for the name, when wee vnderstande the matter aright? p. 256Howebeit notwithstanding, wee name them Diuos: which is euen as much as Gods, or, Men created Gods: like as they also were wont to call their men canonized Goddes, as Hercules, Dionysius, Augustus, Vespasianus, &c. And here besides we doe attribute to them this name Saintes, or holie men, after the same sense, as GOD names him selfe the holie one of Israel, that is,Esai. 43.3.14 and in manie places.Isa 43:3Isa 43:14 The Defender and Safegarde which doeth sanctifie Israel. So that our Saintes are (at least) so highlie honoured of vsus, as in times past anie idols hauehave beene by the Heathen, and as God him selfe can bee by vsus.

The v. Chapter. Of the interpretation of the wordes Latria, Dulia, and Hyperdulia, and howe they are distributed to eche.

FOr seeing it is requisite, aswel through the obiections which the Heretikes do here alledge, as also that God hath commaunded, Psal. 50.15.Ps 50:15that wee shall alone call to him in our neede, and that he esteemes it more than all sacrifices and burnt offrings which we can make to him: yea, that it is hee alone which can helpe vsus, Esa. 63.6.43.11. Esa. 63.16. and 64.10.Isa 63:6Isa 63:43Isa 63:11Isa 63:16Isa 64:10and that Abraham doth not knowe vsus, nor Israel can say nothing of vsus, but that God alone through his might can relieue vsus, that is to smal effect: for that knot can our holie mother so netelie lose, that it is a maruell which the distinction that Maister Gentian doeth here bring foorth: and is by all Catholike Doctours, and especiallie by the worshipfull Sir Sonnio, reputed for a mightie bulworke, namelie, betwixt Latria, Dulia, and Hyperdulia. For the holie church hath hereby made a diuision or cauill betwixt GOD and the Saintes, wherewithall eche must bee content, as namelie:

That God alone with his images and the holie crosse, shalbe honoured with Latria: the Saintes & their images with Dulia: and our Ladie with all the images which apperteine to her, and all the reliques of the right and holie crosse in deede, with Hyperdulia.

In verie deede, God hath the worst chaunce: for if so be we do expound it naturallie, and according to the literall sense of the word, then is Latria nothing else but p. 257A hirelings payment. For Latron is a Greke word,Latria, looke the 3. chap. of the 4 part. which betokeneth A reward or pay which is made to a hired seruant: and thereby are the hired men seruantes called Latres: and the maid seruantes Latris. And euen so is God serued of the holy Church of Rome onelie for reward, like a maister of a hired seruant. Againe this Dulia, which is the Saints lot and portion, signifieth A bound seruice:Dulia. for Dulos in Greeke is A slaue, and proper to anie. And touching our Ladie, to her is alloted the best chaunce: for Hyperdulia is to say,Hyperdulia, lok… the 1. chap. of the 4. part. More than proper bounde seruice. So that the good Catholikes are but simplie hirelinges, or Gods hired seruantes and slaues to the Saintes, but bounde to our Ladie aboue all. But, be it, as be may, Quod scripsi, scripsi, said Pilate: The holy Church will not reuoke her cauils, the lot is east: that which is written, remaineth written. Yet notwithstanding, because God shall not be displeased, she hath ordeined, that the Saintes shal giuegive him a share of their Dulia: but hee shall keepe Latria wholie to him selfe: so that Latria shall simplie signifie nothing else, then the seruice which perteineth to God alone.

In this respect hath Maister Gentian and all other Catholike writers great reason, (as they alledge) that the holie Church doeth not worship the Saintes like God with Latria, but simplie as Saintes with Dulia and Hyperdulia: for that hath his plaine dispatche and ground on the cleare text of the Scripture, where Christ saieth to the Saintes,Mat. 4.10.Matt 4:10 Thou shalt worshippe the Lord thy God, and him onlie shalt thou serue. For in these last wordes doeth hee vse the worde Latreum, the which doth agree with Latria: and saith, that to God alone we shall attribute the same. But in the first wordes he doth not once mention, that we must worship God alone with Proskynesi, that is, With falling feete, or kneeling: Therefore will the holy church, that this shall also be attributed to the Saints, like as it is apparantly manifest by the 2. Councell of Nice, and by al Catholike writers. And although it is true, that Christ doeth declare these wordes by the witnes of Moses,Deut. 6.13.10.20.Deut 6:13Deut 6:10Deut 6:20 which doeth ascribe the first as well as the last to GOD alone: yet the holie Church is not to reason with Moses in this point: for so much as Moses p. 258wrote that to the Iewes which were inclined to the seruing of idols, and not to the Church of Rome: which doe not woorshippe idols, but onelie Saintes.

Item, there is an other plaine text in Paule, which saieth to the Galathians, That when they did not knowe GOD, Galat. 4.… ▪Gal 4then did they serue them which were no Goddes: euen where he doeth vse this word Dulium, which is deriued of Dulia. Whereby it doth manifestlie & plainlie appeare, that these Heathen hauehave also knowen this Catholike distinction, and therefore woulde not worshippe their Saintes, as Apollo, Bacchus, Hercules, Castor and Pollux, with more other such like, with Latria, but baselie with Dulia: Euen like as nowe the holie Church of Rome doeth serue her Saintes. Touching all other Prophetes, which so often crye, that in time of neede, wee should onlie turne to GOD, and that hee will bee honoured by our calling to him: yea, and say, that all Patrones, Defendours,The Scripture is full of such. & Baals which may be thought on (to declare our grieues vntounto them) are plaine idols, all that is to small purpose, for they did not (in those dayes) knowe anie thing at al to say, touching this our distinction, and therefore hauehave they gone roundly to worke, vsing plaine speech, without fauouring the matter, or lapping it about w^t softe ragges: but hauehave serued all such as inuocate idols, pray to Patrones, seeke vntounto Saintes or anie deceased dead men, with one sawce, and without excepting anie, hath giuen them to drinke of one cuppe. But if the Iewes and other idolaters had bene so wise, to hauehave obiected to the Prophetes this worthie distinction in steade of a bucklar, I trowe they would as easily hauehave stopped their mouthes, as nowe ye newe gospellers and preachers are put to silence.

The vi. Chapter. VVherein the worshipping of Saintes is affirmed by Scripture.

NOtwithstanding our louing & deare mother the holie Church of Rome,Looke the 4. chap. of this part. can also fishe somewhat out of the Prophetes writinges, wherewith shee doeth approue the seruice of her holie Saintes: Prouided alwayes, that shee hath the keie to vnfolde the same for her most aduantage. For in the first booke of Moses p. 259(called Genesis) is plainlie and expreslie set downe, That Iacob doth pray ouer Ephraim & Manasses, after this sort, saying: Ge. 48.15.16. This witnes is brought forth by Eckius, …derius, and all other Catholike writers, treating vponupon the same.God before whō my fathers Abraham & Isaac did walk: God, which had fed mee all my life long vntounto this day, and the Angel, whiche hath deliuered mee from all euill, blesse the laddes, and let my name bee named in them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. This hath the holie Church of Rome construed after this sorte, That Ephraim and Manasses must inuocate or call vppon the name of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob: for so much as the olde Romishe exposition (which shee doeth accept as most firme and irreuocable) hath in place of, named, or called, set inuocated. And although the Heretikes doe vnderstande this after the most vsuall manner of speeche, (accustomed amongst the Hebrewes) that Iacobs name called vppon, or named by Ephraim and Manasses, is as much to saye, As that they should bee accounted of Iacobs generation, and accepted for children of Israel, like as Iacob him selfe doeth expounde it, saying: Ephraim and Manasses shalbe my children, and shalbe called after the names of their brethren, in their inheritance. And, like as is saide in Esaie, the fourth chapter, That seuen women shall wishe by one mans name to be named, Psal. 4.1.Ps 4:1or called vponupon by them, which is, That they may be called the wiues of one man: Notwithstanding, for so much as this exposition is according to the plaine literall sence: therefore hath the holie Church of Rome abiected the same, and accepted the other former meaning: thereby concluding, that Abraham, Isaac and Iacob are to bee inuocated or called vponupon: Howbeit, the Prophetes & Fathers in the old Testament hauehave neuer done the same, but hauehave protested the contrarie, saying, O Lorde, Esai. 63.16.Isa 63:16thou art our father: for Abraham knoweth vsus not, neither is Israel acquainted with vsus: but thou Lorde art our Father & Redeemer, and thy name is euerlasting. &. But that happened, because the foresaid Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, were yet in the lodge of hell, and must pray for them selues, & could not then see in the looking glasse of the Trinitie, what was done here on earth. Wherefore likewise the Romish Church hath not set p. 260downe their names in the Kalender, according to the custome of Rome. Besides, thei are to old, and were neuer canonized of anie Pope. Neuertheles, they serue our turne, to shewe after what order wee must deale with our Saintes.

Moreouer, we hauehave yet an euident text in Ieremie, which is, Thē said the Lord vntounto me: Iere. 15.1.Jer 15:1Though Moses & Samuel stood before me, yet hauehave I no heart to this people. Wherevnto doth agree the text of Ezechiel, saying thus: When the land sinneth against me, Ezech. 14.14.Ezek 14:14and goeth forth in wickednes, I will stretch out my hand vponupon it, and destroy all the prouision of their bread, and send dearth vppon them, to destroy man and beast in the lande. And though Noe, Daniel, & Iob, these three men were among them, yet shall they in their righteousnesse deliuer but their owne soules, saith the Lord. &c.

Nowe, like as (by these wordes of Ezechiel) it is concluded, that Noe, Daniel, and Iob, were in the towne of Hierusalem, when GOD destroyed the same: so may wee also (in the like manner) conclude and affirme, that Moses and the Prophete Samuel did pray for the children of Israel. And notwithstanding that the Lorde saieth, That he would not giuegive eare to their prayers, yet the holie Church doeth not regarde it, for so much as (like as it hath beene saide) they lye yet in the dungeon of hell, and could not praye so earnestlie nor with such zeale, as the Saintes doe which nowe are in heauen. Yet neuertheles, If they (being yet in the dungeon of hell) prayed so hartilie for the people: These are the arguments of Eckius in his En. or Pamphlet in the chap. De venerat. Sanctor.What may wee suppose that the Saintes doe nowe, which stande in the Kalendar, and are Canonized by the Pope? Verelie, they praye so zealouslie, that (often times) their images here on earth, through anguishe doe sweate and weepe. The holie church do…h bring forth manie moe places of scripture for confirmation of these articles:Psal. 139.17.Ps 139:17 namely, that which Dauid saith: O God, I hauehave honored thy friends, which is, That we shuld call vponupon Saints, which are Gods friends. Also that Iob saieth: Crie (I pray thee) if happilie there be anie that wil answere thee, Iob. 5.1.Job 5:1& looke thou vppon the holy men, &c. And albeit hee speaketh there of the holie men which are in this worlde, like as the verie p. 261text doeth plainely shewe it selfe, yet why may wee not vnderstand the same of our Saintes and holy men deceased? For so much as our mother the holy Church will so hauehave it to be vnderstoode.This argumēt is brought forth by Eckius, and other writers also. Ouer and aboue this, Christ will say at the last iudgement day, vntounto those which hauehave beene helpefull to the poore and needie: Whatsoeuer you hauehave done to the least of these, the same hauehave you done vntounto me. Ergo, Who soeuer doeth pray to the Saintes, and in place of God doth worshippe them, that doth God accept, as if it had beene done to himselfe. There are yet many more & sundrie of such like proofes of scripture, which woulde bee to tedious to rehearse: But because the Heretikes doe deride them, and will vnderstand them according to the literall sense, and after the Greeke and Hebrewe text: I knowe no better meane to dispute with them, then with a good fagot.

Yet will I adde thus much more, That when they hauehave a sute to a King or mightie Prince, they knowe verie well,This is an argument of Eckius and all other Catholike writers. that first they must speake and sue for helpe of some of the Lords, who may broach their cause, and by their intreatie, be a meane for them and so to further their sute, which considered, they ought not so rudely to encroche vponupon the king of all kinges, without first to hauehave spoken with one of his court. In verie deede it is most true, that a poore woman at Louen sometime did thwart the Doctours and set them non plus: by saying. That if so bee it that the King or Prince himselfe had called & charged her, that shee should come to him, like as Christ expresly charged vsus to come to him, saying: Matth. 11.28.Matt 11:28Come vntounto me all ye that labour and are laden, & I will ease you: Then would she not hauehave gone to seeke any other for her Mediatour. But this womā was a great Heretike, and therefore was also burnt. Wherfore this article doth remaine in force & vnsoluble: to wit, that we must hauehave & allowe these Saintes for our Mediators, Aduocates & Atturnies, being else vnable of our selues to obteine fauour of Christ Iesus: yea though he should once againe die the death for vsus, to prepare vsus the way to hauehave free accesse to the mercifull throne of his heauenly father. For all this cā not serue, but we must hauehave a great sort of Solicitors, Patrones, Mediators & Baals which must moue the matter for vsus p. 262to whom we must vse all the worship and reuerence which we are able to shewe vntounto God himselfe, sauing that they must bee content with Dulia, and must permit God to enioy Latria to himselfe, wherewith this matter is fixte. And so will we proceede to an other.