Sermon Preached 14 February 1607, Sermon · Part 2 (2 of 2)

Sermon Preached 14 February 1607 · Sermon · Part 2 (2 of 2)

p. 99But if we come to his Miracles, then ſurely Chriſt muſt come after him; for whereas Chriſt▪ wrought a miracle, he they ſay wrought ten, and thoſe that Chriſt did are nothing to his. Chriſt neuer ſhewed that humilitie and charitie & patience that S. Francis did. Chriſt p. 100neuer gaue awaie all his clothes till hee was ſtarke naked, as S. Francis did ſſFor al theſe being too lōg to write in the margēt I muſt refer y^e Reader to the book it ſelfe, if he will not beleeue me: or els let him ſuſpende his iudgemēt till I hauehave leiſure to exemplifie theſe at large by themſelues.: he neuer preached to beaſts and birds, as Saint Francis did: he neuer by his words and the ſigne of the Croſſe tamed and conuerted wild beaſtes as Saint Francis did. All this may eaſily bee ſhewed and much more; but I will inſiſt only in one, and on that the rather, leaſt they ſhould take it in ſnuffe that I ſay their father FRANCIS conuerted beaſts: harken therfore to the ſtorie, and then iudge and ſpare not.

S. Francis on a time comming to preach at the city of Eugubium ttVide librū conformitatū lib. 1. conformit. 10. pa…. 2. pag. 140. Francis preacheth to a wolfe. Francis calleth the wolfe brother: a couple of rauening Wolues well met. Francis offereth the wolfe his brother to make peace betwixt him & the rowne. The Wolfe is content.found that the ſaide Citie was much troubled with a great and cruell Wolfe, that killd not their cattell onelyonly▪ but their people if they were vnarmed. Francis▪ would needs goe to him, to turne him from his rauenouſneſſe: and ſeeing the wolfe come againſt him with open mouth, he made the ſigne of the Croſſe vponupon him, and commanded the wolfe to ſhut his mouth and hurt him not: the wolfe preſently obeied and fel downe, as tho he had beene a meeke Lamb: then ſpake Francis to him and ſayde; Brother Wolfe thou haſt ſhed much bloud and done much hurt, and therefore art worthie to die, and all this Citie iuſtly complaines of thee: but brother, if thou wilt be content I will make peace betwixt them & thee: the wolf by wagging his taile, and mouing his eares, ſhewed that he was verie glad. Then brother Wolfe▪ (ſayth S. FRANCIS) ſeeing thou art content to bee at peace with them I, will take order that they ſhall giuegive thee daily allowance of meate, if thou wilt promiſe mee heereafter to hurt no hodie: the wolfe bowing his heade aunſwered by ſignes that hee woulde. Yea, p. 101but then (ſayth Francis), Brother Wolfe, giuegive mee thyFrancis bids his brother wolf giuegive him his hand and faith that hee will performe his order. faith and credit that I may beleeue thee: and the wolfe preſently lifted vp his right fore-foote and layed it in Francis his hand, therby giuing his faith that he would performe it. Then Brother Wolfe (ſayth Francis) I command thee in the name of the Lord Ieſus that thou go with me into the Citie, and there feare not to make peace, in the name of the Lord: the wolfe forthwith followed him, as meeke as a Lambe. So comming into the Citie, all the people, togither with the Magiſtrates being aſſembled, S. Francis made vntounto them anBrother wolfe ſtandeth by, whilſt S. Francis preacheth to the people. excellēt ſermon, the wolfe being by: which being done he ſayd to them theſe words;

This brother of mine, this wolfe that ſtandeth here, hath promiſed me, & vponupon his promiſe hath giuen me his faith that hee will be friends with you, and doe no more hurt; prouided that you ſhall dayly giuegive him an allowance, and portion of meate: which if you doeFrancis is ſurety for his brother wolfe to the towne. for your partes, then I will bee ſuretie for my brother Wolfe that he ſhall perform the conditions on his part required. Then ſaid S. Francis; Brother Wolf, it is reaſon that as thou did before, ſo here before all this peopleBrother wolfe giueth his faith againe. thou giuegive me thy faith againe, that thou wilt keep the couenants on thy part: and the wolfe immediately lift vp his right fore-foot, and laid it in the hand of S. Francis, his ſuretie, in the ſight of all the people, and ſo gaue his faith againe: and then all the people ſhouted and wondred, and praiſed Chriſt for ſending S. Francis amongſt thē, by whoſe merits they were deliuered frō the cruel wolf. And from that day forward, the peopleBrother wolfe liueth in the towne, & takes his meate at the dores. to the wolf & wolf to the people, performed their couenants made by S. Francis: & the wolf liued 2. years after p. 102FRANCIS was gone, and went vp and downe the ſtreets, and tooke his meate, from door to door, hurting no man, and was well and daintily fed; and there was neuer ſo much as a dog that barked at him. And at laſt, after 2. yeares, Brother Wolfe beeing ſtricken inBrother wolfe dieth, & is lamented. yeares dyed, for whoſe death the Citizens did very much lament.

Heere is a miracle worth the marking. Now let all Huguenots, and Heretickes ſhewe ſuch a miracle in their religion; no, no, they neuer can doe it: And no maruell; for Ieſus Chriſt, who is the King and Captain of their religion, neuer did the like in his time to this which S. Francis the king and captaine of the Franciſcans uuFranciſce Ieſu typicè dux forma que Minorum.hath heere done.

If the time would giuegive leaue, I could bring 20. more as impious, as incredible, and as abſurd in their kinde as this: but leauing it to a further opportunitie, and referring the learned to the booke it ſelfe, I proceed.

What may bee ſaide to all this? are not theſe wide and wofull wounds? Oh! but they are healed; I may anſwere as the Prophet doth: Were they aſhamed when Ierem. 7. 12Jer 7:12they had committed abhomination? Nay, they were (18) The ninth wound not healed.not aſhamed. For whereas this booke was written aboue two hundred yeares agoe by Bartholomeus Piſanus, a Franciſcan Frier; it was not then only ſuffred to paſſe to publique viewe in thoſe daies of darkneſſe and ſuperſtition, but now of late within leſſe then 20. yeares when one would hauehave thought they woulde (if not repented of the impieties, yet) hauehave beene aſhamed of the abſurdities; they contrariwiſe hauehave reprinted the Booke xxThe newe edition is at Bononie in Italie. 1590. & is dedicated to a Cardinal: in this editiō is all that I hauehave alleaged., and hauehave not taken ou… p. 103nor reformed one worde of all theſe euilles, nor of many more, which do ſo directly diſgrace the merits of CHRIST IESVS: onelyonly ſome things hauehave they altered, which they thought might make againſt themſelues, but not one of theſe which doe ſo farre diſhonour God and Chriſt and all religion. Compare together the olde and newe bookes, who will; and he ſhall finde this to be true: wherefore the concluſion is, that this wound is farre from being healed. Let vsus then go forward, and ſee if wee can finde one wound healed(19) The tenth wound; The Pope may giuegive Indulgences for 20000. yeers & grant men power to redeeme ſoules out of Purgatory. in the Romane Church.

Two or three hundred yeares agoe, the Popes Indulgences did growe to that height of rotten ripeneſſe, that all men of vnderſtanding, euen of his owne broode were aſhamed of it, and manie a one of the wiſer ſort, euen in theſe myſtie times, did ſee and laugh at the nakedneſſe of Poperie in that poynt; the exceſſe whereof grewe ſo great, as they cannot denie but it gaue at laſt an occaſion of LVTHERS reuolte from them. There is a Manuſcript extant, written ſome two hundreth yeeres agoe, and another not much differing from it, ſome 130. yeares ago printed at Rome, containing a catalogue onelyonly of thoſe Indulgences belonging to the pariſh Churches of Rome, amongſt which (they ſay) are 7. principall: let vsus but conſider of ſome fewe yyHe that wāts this booke let him looke in Hoſpinian de Templis. lib. 2 c. 28. pag. 348. edition is Tigur. 603. where he ſhall finde both mention of the book & a particular recitall of a great part of it..

In the Laterane Church, it is graunted thus by Pope Boniface.

If any Pilgrime come for deuotion to this Church, hee ſhall be abſolued from all his ſinnes.

And in the Chappel there called ſanctum ſanctorum, there is full and true remiſsion of all ſinnes.

p. 104And one daie in the yeare, which is the daie of the dedication of the Church, there is full remiſsion of all ſinnes both à poena & culpa: and this Indulgence is ſo certaine (ſayth the booke) that when the Pope firſt pronounced it, the AngellsAngels ſay Amen, to the Popes Indulgences: but they ſhold firſt proue, y^• God ſaith Amen to them; for els the Angells will not, vnleſſe it bee the euill Angells. in the hearing of all the people ſayd Amen.

If theſe things bee true, then it is ſtrange that all Papiſts in the world are not ſaued: for hee that hath full remiſſion of all ſinnes, both à poena & culpa, dying in that ſtate cannot be damned. And certainly, he that for the obtaining therof, wil not take the pains to viſite that Church one daie in a yeer, is not worthy of ſaluation.

In Saint Peters Church, there bee euerie daie eight and fortie yeeres of pardon, which is in one yeere aboue fifteene thouſand yeeres: Euerie daie of the Annuntiation there bee one thouſand yeers; and hee that with deuotion goeth vp Saint Peters ſtayres, hath for eueryevery ſteppe ſeauen yeeres of pardon. Surely purgatorie paines are not ſo fearefull as they beare the world in hand; if going vp two and twentie ſteps may purchaſe releaſement of a hundred & fiftie yeers thereof. And if theſe ſeeme too little Alexander the Pope like a liberall Lord opens his treaſure, and giues to eueryevery ſteppe a thouſand yeares: So that now there is not a Papiſt in the world that needes to be in Purgatorie one daie except hee will: For, for going vpXXij. thouſand yeers of pardō grāted for going vp 22. ſteps If the Pope ſay true in this no Papiſt need to come in Purgatory. twentie two ſteppes with deuotion, hee may be releaſed out of Purgatorie, for two and twentie thouſand yeeres: and I hope they do not think the World will laſt ſo long, and Purgatorie (they ſaie) ends with the World.

p. 105Further, whoſoeuer will go through the 3. dooresThree doores of one Church in Rome of ſo great vertue that whoſoeuer goeth through them ſhall be as free from ſinne … when he was newly baptized. Oh what a great power the Pope hath, who can giuegive power to another ſo eaſily to deliuer ſoules out of purgatorie. How eaſie purgatorie might be emptied by Popiſh doctrine. of the Laterane Church▪ ſhall bee as free from all his ſinnes, as hee was the houre hee was baptized: Likewiſe at the Altar in Saint Peters Church, there be xiiii. thouſand years of pardon and deliuerance of one ſoule out of Purgatorie.

And in the Church of Saint Lawrence, whoſoeuer viſiteth that Church euerie Thurſday for a yeare, and …ittes vponupon the ſtone whereon Saint Lawrence was broyled, ſhall deliuer one ſoule out of Purgatorie.

And in the Church of Saint Iohn, at the gate called Porta Latina, a man by either ſaying a Maſſe, or cauſing it to bee ſayde, may deliuer one ſoule out of Purgatorie.

Are theſe true? then why is there one ſoule left in purgatorie? or elſe where is the charitie of the Papiſtes (which they ſo much bragge of) ſeeing ſo eaſilie they may deliuer ſo many thouſands ſoules out of purgatorie in one yeare? Certainely, if theſe bee true as they be written, then granting that there is a purgatotorie, it might ſoone be emptied.

But if it be falſe and fabulous and friuolous, and hath no other ende but to mocke poore people and to ſucke out their ſiluer: then what a religion is that which maintaines ſuch dealings? eſpecially ſeeing this is not the deede of any priuate men, but of the Popes themſelues: nor of a fewe, but euen all ſince Boniface the eight.

Thus wee hauehave ſearched deepe, into a foule and filthie wound. Now what remaines? but to ſee if it bee healed yet or no 2020The tenth wound not healed, but groweth more deſperate & deadly to this day.,

But alas, Babylon will not be healed: for as they p. 106feared not to put theſe trickes vponupon the people 100. and 200. yeares agoe, in the times of ſuperſtition; ſo hauehave they preſumed euen ſtill in theſe dayes of light to do the like. And as the whore is ſhameleſſe in her ſinne, ſo is this whore of Babylon in her impietie; for ſhee hath not at all amended this enormitie, nor in any ſort reformed it, but rather lets it growe from bad, to worſe. For euidence wherof, let any man read Onuphrius Pauvinius zzVide O…uphrium Pauuinium, de praecipuis vrbis Romae ſanctiorious baſilicis quas ſeptem Eccleſias vulgo v…cant. Colon. 1584. paſſim., who not paſt 24. yeares agoe, hath written (with publike authoritie) a booke to this verie purpoſe of the ſeauē principal Churches of Rome, and of the Indulgences belonging to them; wherein all that is deliuered before is auerred, and much more added: ſome part whereof I would put downe, ſaue for that it may bee reſerued to a further purpoſe and fitter opportunitie. And for better euidence, that as ſhe hath not, ſo ſhee purpoſeth neuer to heale vp this wound▪ within theſe two yeares they hauehave allowed & publiſhed with authoritie, the pilgrimage or voiages of Seigneur Villamont, aaLes voyages du S^t de Villamont diuiſez e… trois livres: der…iere edition, reueuce & augmentee &c. A. A…ra…. 16…5. vide (inter alia) librum 1. cap. 12. &c., one of the Gentlemen of the French Kings Chamber; wherein the poore deceiued Gentleman, out of his ſuperſtitious deuotion hauing viſited all thoſe Churches, and made himſelfe (as hee ſaith) bleſſed by being partaker of all the Indulgences thereto belonging; and hauing aſcended thoſe holy ſtaires to euerie ſteppe whereof belong ſo manie thouſand yeares of pardon: after all, returning home at laſt much poorer, but nothing wiſer then hee went, hee wrote a booke of his voiage and pilgrimage to Ieruſalem: and taking Rome in his way, hee deſcribes at large the Indulgences granted of olde, and at this day in force to the Churches in Rome. Which booke (being p. 107written in French) whoeuer liſt to reade, will ſoon confeſſe, that in this wound the Romiſh Babylon is not yet healed.2121The eleuēth wound; Granting of Indulgences & thouſands of yeares, & deliuerance of Soules out of purgatory, to Beades, Meddalls; Croſſes, Pictures and ſuch like toyes being bleſſed and hallowed by the Popes holy hands.

And herevnto I will adde another wound, becauſe it is ſo neere to this, in popiſh conſanguinitie.

The wiſer ſort of Popes, and the reſt of the craftier politicians in that hierarchie, perceiuing that all the Nations of the earth, (many of them being ſo farre diſtant) could not come to their market of Indulgences being kept in Rome, therefore leaſt they ſhould loſe their trafficke into thoſe parts, they deuiſed away, that ſeeing a greate part of the worlde could not come to Rome, Rome ſhould ſend to them: To which ende, out of his bountie and ſpirituall liberalitie, for the incredible good of mens ſoules, the Pope ordained that certaine Crucifixes, and Meddalls, and Agnus dei bbThe principall of all theſe toyes is the Agnus dei, which euerie one may not make, but onelyonly the Pope: nor hee alwayes, but onelyonly at Eaſter: nor at euerie Eaſter, but the firſt next his entrance, and euerie ſeauenth Eaſter after: nor of any matter, nor in any manner, but preciſelie of ſuch ſimples, and with ſuch ceremonies as are preſcribed for that purpoſe; which together with the prayers (or rather coniurations) then to bee vſed▪ are to bee ſeene in the booke called Caeremoniale pontil. lib. 1. And hee that hath not that booke, let him looke in the Cōmentaries of Peter Mathew vponupon the Conſtitutions of Gregorie the 13. Conſtit. the 1.& holy Graines, & beads & other ſuch Iewels, ſhould be firſt conſecrated and hallowed by the hands of his Holineſſe, and hauehave all the holineſſe powred vppon them that hee canne ſpare, and further ſhould hauehave annexed vntounto them all thoſe mightie Indulgences, or the like, that are graunted vntounto the Churches and ſtations at Rome: and by this meanes they could ſell an Agnus dei, that is, a little piece of white waxe, or a Crucifixe of a little metall, p. 108it may be braſſe or copper (ſuch as the Ieſuites of late ſent into England by thouſandes at once, as good inoughe to ſerue the Engliſh Catholickes), or a little meddall, or a little beade or bugle, or other matter of no more value: theſe toyes and trinkets, I ſay they can ſell by this meanes, and euerie day do vtter, at a higher rate then the Ieweller can his pearles or his diamonds.

Thus did not onelyonly the former Popes gull the people of elder ages in thoſe times of ignorance, making them beleeue that theſe toyes ſo hallowed and bleſſed by them, were of ſuch vertue as Chriſts bloud it ſelfe could be of no more; as one of them ſending an Agnis dei to an Emperour, ſhamed not to write to him, thatccVrbanus. 5. circa annum 1368. mific ad Imperatorem Graecorum tres agnos dei. cum his verſibus, Balſamus & munda Cera cū Chriſmatis vnda, Conficiunt agnum quod munus do tibi magnum, &c. Peccatum frahgit, vt Chriſti ſanguis & angit. Fulgura deſurſum depellit & omne malignū: Praegnans ſeruatur ſimul & partus liberatur: Dona confert dignis; virtutē deſtruit ignis: Portatus mundè, de fluctibus cripit vndae. vide Petrum Mathaeum, Conſtitut. Pont. Rom. in Conſtit. 1. Greg. 13. Pag. 685.

This Agnus dei breakes off ſinnes euen as the bloud of Chriſt:

But euen in theſe times of light and knowledge, theſe owles dare ſtill flie abroade: and euen of late, nay euerie yeare, the Pope ſhameth not to ſette his trumperies to ſale, annexing vntounto them ſuch large and liberall Indulgences, as Chriſtes owne bloud can hauehave no more 2222The eleuenth wound not healed.. I could inſiſt vponupon late and notorious examples, practiced euen at home and vponupon our owne Nation: but I ſpare them at this time, becauſe the proofes thereof, tho neuer ſo certaine to vsus, are not ſo authenticall as yet, as bee theſe two examples, I ſhall now produce; one of them touching Poland, the other France.

For Polande: Not many yeares agoe, Pope Clement the eight granted as followeth, as is to bee ſeene in printed coppies,

p. 109ddVide libr… inſcriptum Euangelium Romanum, edit. anno. 1600, Indulgentia conceſſa a ſanctitate noſtri S. patris Papae Clementis octaui, Inſtantia illuſtriſsimi & reuerendiſſimi Cardinalis Radzivillij, Epiſcopi Cracouienſis & legati in Polonia, Granis, Crucibus, Medallis & Imagimbus &c.Indulgences graunted by the Holineſſe of our moſt Holy Father, Pope Clement the eight,

At

The Inſtance of the moſt Illuſtrious and moſt reuerend Lord Cardinall Radz iuillius, Biſhop of Cracowe and Legate in Polande,

VntoUnto

Certaine Holy Beades, Croſſes, Medals and Images.

11Quicunque habens prope ſe vnum ex hi… granis, Crucibus, Medallis, aut Imaginibus benedictis, …otie ſcunque recitauerit Corollam, confeſſus, aut cum propoſito confitendi ſaltem ſemel in menſe, acquiret ſibi ſingulis vicibus 5. annos Indulgentiae.. Whoſoeuer hauing one of theſe holy beades &c. ſhall ſay ouer the Roſarie, being confeſſed, or hauing a purpoſe to confeſſe once a month, ſhall for euerie time hee doth ſo obtaine v. yeares of pardon.

22Is cui moris fuerit ſingulis diebus facere examen ſuae conſcientiae ad finem recitando 3. patres noſtros et tres aue Marias orando &c. acquiret ſibi 10. annos Indulg.. But if hee doe euerie day after examination of his Conſcience, ſay three Pater noſters and three Aue Maries &c. ſhal hauehave x. yeares.

33Is cui moris fuerit recitare ſingulis diebus officium noſtrae dominae, ſingulis diebus ſabbathi, acquiret ſibi Indulgentiam centum annorum.. But if hee vſe euerie day to ſaie ouer the Pſalter of our Ladie, ſhall for euerie Saturday weekely obtaine a hundred yeares.

p. 11044Is cui moris fuerit recitare ter in hebdomade: Corollā, & confeſſus fuerit et communicauerit & precatus fuerit vt ſupra, acquiret ſibi plenariam Indulgentiam.. Hee that ſhall thriſe in a weeke ſay ouer the Coronet of our Ladie, & confeſſe and communicate, and pray, ſhal obtaine a plenarie, that is, a full remiſsion of all ſinnes.

55Quicunque in articulo mortis, dicet in corde Ieſus cum non poſſit proferreore, acquiret ſibi plena…iam Indulgentiam: modo habuerit vnam ex Corollis, Granis, Crucibus, aut Medallis ſupradictis.. And whoſoeuer in the houre and point of death ſhall but ſay in his heart, when he cannot ſpeak with his tongue, the name Ieſus, ſhall hauehave a plenarie and full forgiueneſſe of all his ſinnes: prouided that hee hauehave one of theſe bleſſed and holy Graines, Meddalls, Crucifixes or Pictures.

**Hae omnes Indulgentiae acquirantur habendo prope aut ante ſe vnam Medallam, Crucem, Imagine… aut Gra…um huiu… benedictionis, obſeruando quae ſupra dicta ſunt, … …leant …ibus & … …mni loco. Impreſſum Romae a Paulo Blado Typographo Camerae. 1592.All theſe Indulgences may bee procured and obtained, by hauing either about a man, or lying before him one or more of theſe holy Medalles, Croſſes, Graines, or Images, and obſeruing what is afore appointed: and his Holineſſes wil is, that they ſhall bee of force to all kinde of men and in euerie place.

Printed at Rome by the printer of his Holineſſes priuie Chamber, Paulus Bladus, 1592.

Lo here how Babylon is healed: If a man at the point of death, canne in his minde but thinke of p. 111Ieſus, he ſhall hauehave full forgiueneſſe of all his ſinnes, if hee hauehave one of theſe holy Croſſes, or Graines about him. And is this the Diuinitie of the Romiſh Church? is this procured by a Cardinall and graunted by the Pope? then aunſwere mee but one worde: Shall the thinking or naming of Ieſus, without true faith and repentance ſaue him tho hee hauehave a hundreth of theſe holy Graines about him? or if hee doe truely repent and beleeue in CHRIST, tho hee hauehave not one of theſe, ſhall hee not bee ſaued?

If thoſe both bee true, (as who dare denie them?) then phie vponupon theſe Impoſtors and deceiuers, who by theſe their Atheiſticall mockeries expoſe religion to all contempt: and theſe thinges beeing ſo common and notorious, noe maruell tho Italie, where (theſe are rifeſt) hauehave, beſide ſome priuie proteſtantes, fewe but that are either Atheiſtes or fooles.

Concerning France: Of late yeares Peroun the French Cardinall, hauing made a coſtly Iorney to Rome, comming home, procured of the Pope (for the bearing of his charges) to bee the bearer of certaine hallowed & holy matters conſecrated and bleſſed by the Pope, in ſuch a faſhion, as if that were true the Pope ſaith, he were more then mad that would not (as the wiſe Merchant) ſell all hee hath to buie one of them.

p. 112eeIndulgentiae conceſſae a noſtro S. Patre Papa Clement 8 Corollis Granis Cruciculis, Roſorijs Crucibus Crucifixis Medallis & Imaginibus benedictis, Inſtante Reuerendo Patre in deo domino Iacobo Danie Epiſc. Ebrodunenſi, Conſiliario regio in ipſius Conſilijs ſumma et pietate & ipſius prim… Eleemoſynario. Grana benedicta ſunt tantùm in vſum regni Galliae.Indulgences granted by the Holineſſe of our moſt Holy Father Pope Clement the eight,

VntoUnto

Holy Beades, Graynes, Roſaries, Croſſes, Crucifixes, Medalls and Images, being hallowed and bleſſed by his owne holy hands,

At the Inſtance of the Reuerende Father and Lord, James Dauie, Biſhoppe of Eureux, Counſellor to the King in his Counſell of Eſtate, and alſo of his priuate Counſell and principall Almoner to his Maieſtie.

**Quicunque habuerit ex Corollis aut Roſarijs vnū aut etiam Corollam vnam in quam inſertum ſit vnum ex his granis &c. quotieſcunque fecerit aliquid opus miſericordiae, corporalis aut ſpiritualis, aut audierit Miſſam, aut ſermonem, aut veneratus fuerit ſacramentum aut Cruceia, aut aliam quandam ſanctam Imaginem, acquiret ſibi veniam centum annorum.Whoſoeuer hauing one of theſe beades &c. ſhall 1. A hundreth 1. yeares of pardon, at an eaſie rate.do any worke of merciemercy corporall or ſpirituall, or heare a Maſſe or a Sermon, or ſhall but doe reuerence to the Sacrament, or to a Croſſe, or to a holy Image, ſhall obtaine a hundreth yeares of pardon.

See what a bountiful father, the Pope is. Who would offer leſſe for a hundreth yeares? ſurely hee that will not do thus much, he is worthy to lye and fry in purgatorie.

p. 11322Quicun que confitebitur aut cōmunicabit, aut ſi Presbyter ſit dixerit miſſam recitās deuotè praeter confeſsionum cō munionē aut miſſam, vnum patrem noſtrū aut vnum aue Mariam, aut aliqua alia ratione orans Deum pro ſancta Eccleſia Catholica, aut pro noſtro ſancto Patre, aut pro Rege Galliae, aut pro pace huius Regni, aut pro conuerſione Haereticorum, aut pro conuerſione peccatorum, acquiret ſibi ſingulis vicibus Indulge… tiam plenariā & remiſsionem omnium peccatorum ſuorum, Modò ſuper ſe habeat ſupradictarum rerum aliquam.Whoſoeuer ſhall confeſſe and communicate, or being a Prieſt, ſhall beſides his maſſe, ſay deuoutely one Pater noſter, or one Aue Mary, for the Catholick Church, or for the holy Father, or for the King of France, or for the peace of France, or for the conuerſion of Heretickes, or other ſinners: ſhall hauehave for eueryevery time hee doth this a plenarie Indulgence, and remiſſion of all his ſinnes, ſo as hee hauehave about him one of theſe holy beades graines or Crucifixes.

And what if one want all theſe trumperies, ſhall he not hauehave forgiueneſſe, if he do truely beleeue and repent? Oh when will Babylon be aſhamed of ſuch abhomination?

33Quicun que exoſculatus fuerit, cum deuotione, &c aliquam eiuſmodi medallorum, &c. acquiret ſibi ſingulis vicibus 10. annos Indulgentiae.Whoſoeuer ſhall kiſſe one of theſe beades &c. with deuotion, ſhal hauehave for eueryevery time he doth ſo, tenne yeares of pardon.

44Habens ſuper ſe vnam ex ſupradictis rebus orans pro conſeruatione, &c. aut pro Rege Galliae, &c. particeps erit ſingulis diebus &c. omnium ſacrificiorum, Ieiuniorum, precum & aliorum operum quae fiunt in coenobijs, ac ſi eſſet membrum particulare eorum.Whoſoeuer hath one of them about him, and praieth for the ſucceſs of the Catholick Romiſh religion, or for the K. of France, ſhall be (ſo oft as he doth ſo) partaker of all the Sacrifices, Prayers, and Faſts and other good workes done in anie Abbie, as well as if hee were a particular member of the ſame ſocietie.

p. 11455Habens ſuper ſe vnam ex ſupradictis rebus in periculo mortis in bello aut alio in loco, vbi non fuerit illi commodum, recitans, cum contritione, Domine Ieſu ſuſcipe ſpiritum meum &c. aut proferens ſanctum nomē Ieſu, acquiret ſibi Indulgentiam plenariam, & remiſsionem omnium ſuorum peccatorum, tam culpae quam poenae, &c.Hee that hath one of theſe about him, if hee be in danger of death, or in the battell, or in any place where he cannot go to confeſsion, & ſhal with contrition but repeate theſe words, Lord Ieſus receiue my ſpirit, or name the holy name Ieſus, ſhal hauehave forgiueneſſe of all his ſinnes, and be diſcharged both a à poena & à cu…pa.

**Sua ſanctitas concedit vt valeant pro omnibus & in omni loco (exceptis granis) ea conditione, vt qui non ſint Galli precentur pro Rege & Regno Galliae &c. Impreſſum Romae cum permiſsione ſuperiorum, &c.His Holineſſe graunts that theſe Indulgences ſhall be good for all men, and in all places; but conditionally, that thoſe that be not French-men, ſhall praie for the King and Realme of France: Except alwaies the holy Graynes; for thoſe are limited to belong onelyonly to France, and to bee good to none but onelyonly French men.

Imprinted at Rome with licence, &c.

I hauehave named ſome, but not all; looke for the reſt in the book: but in them all let it be obſerued, that there is not the leaſt mention of faith in Chriſt, nor once ſo much as the name of it, nor anie relation to Chriſt, nor his holy merits: No, theſe are well if they may be vnderſtood; and yet theſe men (if they bee not Atheiſts) doe knowe that all theſe their large promiſes are but winde, and their Indulgences but fome and froth, if there be not liuely faith and true repentance: and if theſe be in a man, then let vsus ſee that Pope, Cardinall, or other Papiſt, who dare ſay that hee ſhall not hauehave ful remiſsion that neuer ſawe nor touched one of thei p. 115bleſſed beades nor hallowed Graines. Thus wee ſee how farre Babylon is from beeing healed in this point.

The twelfth and laſt wound, concerning the firſt Table, ſhal be cōcerning the Sacraments: both which are horribly peruerted and profaned by Romiſh doctrine and practice.2323The 12. wound; The Popiſh Church baptizeth Belles.

Firſt, Baptiſme is profanely applied, not to reaſonable creatures onlie, men and women, according to the Inſtitution eeMat. 28. 19Matt 28:19; but euen to vnreaſonable & dead creatures. I will inſiſt onelyonly vponupon one: they vſe to baptize bels, in moſt points ſo as Chriſtians do Children, & in ſom points with much more ceremony & ſolemnity.

Bellarm…n is aſhamed of it, and would willingly hide and couer it, tho he cannot cure it: but if hee were not a Cardinall and a Ieſuite, hee would bee aſhamed to cloake it with ſo loude a lie, as he doth: for (ſaith he) ffBellar. de Rō Pont. Tom. 1. lib. 4. cap. 12. Si rem reprehēdunt, apertè decipiuntur aut mētiūtur: non enim cā panae reuera baptizantur, ſed ſolum benedicūtur, &c. vt altaria, &c. Vt patet ex pō tificali, &c.it is a falſe ſlander of the Heretickes; wee do not baptize bels, neither in reſpect of the name, nor y^e matter of baptiſm: look ſaith he the book of the Pontificale there is no ſuch matter: only (ſaith he) we bleſſe them as we do Churches, Altars Croſſes, and other things, &c.

Is it true? then let vsus follow Bellarmines aduiſe, and looke into the Pontificale, and omitting the name or word, let vsus ſtand vponupon the matter of Baptiſm. Compare therefore their baptiſme of a child and a Bell together, and ſee then whether it may not be truly ſayde they baptize Bells.ggVide librum inſcriptū Pontificale Romanū autoritate pontificia impreſſum Venetijs 1520. …ib. 2 cap. de Benedictione ſigni vel campanae. Cāpana debet benedici antequā ponatur in campanili: parāda ſint ide o vas aquae b… nedicendae, aſperſoriū, vas cum ſale, lintea munda, oleum ſanctum, ſanctum Chriſma, thimyama, thus, myrrha, thuribulū cum igne: Pontifex & diaconus &c. ſint in tuis veſtimētis: precibus peractis Pontifex lauat campanam cum dicta aqua, & cum pollice dexterae manus facit crucē ſupra campanā ab extra, cum oleo infirmorū, & intus cum chriſmate, & profert interim haec verba; Sāctificetur & cōſecretur (Domine) ſignū iſtud in nomine Pa†tris & Fi†lij & ſpiritus † ſancti. In honorē ſancti talis Pax tibi &c.

For better euidence heereof, and becauſe the booke is not eaſie to come by, take heere a part of the prayers they vſe to that purpoſe.

hhPontifical. ibid. Benedic Domine hanc aquam benedictione coeleſti, & aſſiſtat ſuper eam virtus ſpiritus ſancti, vt cum hoc vaſculum &c. in ca fuerit tinctum, vbicun que ſonuerit hoc tintinnabulum procul recedat virtus inſidiantium, vmbra phantaſmatum, incurſio turbinum, percuſsio fulminum, laeſio tonitruorum, calamitas tempeſtatum &c. & cùm clangorem illius audierint filij Chriſtianorum, creſcat in eis deuotionis augmentum, &c. et poſtea Preſta quaeſumus vt hoc vaſculum ſanctificetur à ſpiritu ſancto &c. vt cùm melodia illius auribus inſonuerit populorum, creſcat in eis deuotio fidei, procul pellantur omnes infidiae Inimici, fragor grandinum, &c. aereae poteſtates hoc tintinnabulum audientes contremiſcant.Lord grant that whereſoeuer this holy Bell thus (baptized, or) waſhed and bleſſed ſhal ſound, al deceits of Sathan, all phantaſies, all danger of whirlwindes, thunders, lightnings, and tempeſts, may be driuen awaie, and that deuotion may increaſe in Chriſtiāmen when they heare it: O Lord ſanctifie it by thy holy Spirit, that when it ſounds in thy peoples eares, their faith and deuotion may increaſe, p. 118the diuell may bee affrayed, and tremble et poſtca, Omnipotens Deus, qui, &c. tu hoc tiatinabulū coe eſti benedictione perfunde, vt ante ſonitū eius longius effugentur ignita iacula diaboli, percuſſio fulminum, &c. & quicū que ad ſonitum eius conuenerint ab omnibus Inimici tentationibus liberi ſint, &c. & paulo poſt, Omnipotens Chriſte, qui &c. tu hoc tintinnabulum ſancti ſpiritus rore perfunde, vtante ſonitū eius ſemper fugiat bonorū inimicꝰ, &c.and flie awaie at the ſound of it. O Lord poure vponupon it thy heauenly bleſſing, that the fierie darts of the Diuell, may be made to flie backward at the ſound thereof, and that it may deliuer from danger of wind, thunder, &c. And grant Lord that all that come to the Church at the ſound of it, may be free from all temptations of the Diuell. O Lord infuſe into it the heauenly dewe of the holy Ghoſt that the diuel may alwaies flie awaie before the ſounde of it, &c.

Thus at Bellarmines requeſt we hauehave lookt into the Popes Pontificale, and let the Reader iudge what we hauehave found: he rebukes vsus for laying it to their charge that they baptize bells, and for proof that they do not, ſends vsus to the Pontificale; but ſurely he thought that we could not hauehave ſeene the book, els he would neuer hauehave referred vsus therunto: for vponupon ſight therof, it is apparant to be a more ſolemne baptiſme then that of the child is; for the ſolemnitie is longer, the Ceremonies more, the prayers to greater purpoſe, the miniſter of greater place, then be required to a childs baptiſm; & eueryevery thing doth ſo concur in it that is in baptiſm, that Bellarmin himſelf cōfeſſeth that tho the pope doth not, yet others generally do call it the baptizing of belles, becauſe they ſee them ſprinkled with water, and hauehave names giuen them iiBellar. tom. 1. de Rom. pōt. lib. 4. cap. 12. Nomen Baptiſmi non a Pontificibus ſed avulgo campanarum benedictioni accommodatur &c. quia vidēt eas aqua aſpergiet eis nomina imponi, &c..

But it is not the name we ſtand vponupon, but the matter: concerning which, whereas they pray that the ſound of that bel ſo waſhed and ſanctified as afore may driue p. 119awaie the diuell and all his fierie dartes, I would aske Bellarmine, or anie of his Chaplains, whether this be ſpoken in ieſt or in earneſt, in formalitie as words of courſe, or in faith as a holy prayer. If they knowe the prayer to be impoſsible, not to hauehave anie warrant, but meerelie to bee a ſtate Ceremonie, and done to amaze the poore people &c. then it appeares they bee Cozeners and Atheiſts that make Religion a pretence to all their purpoſes: But if it be in earneſt, and they knowe it to bee a prayer of faith, and hauehave warrant from Gods word for it, then it were poſſible to driue awaie the diuell and all his temptations out of a kingdome: for ſo manie Belles might bee hallowed and waſhed, as might hang, one within the reach of anothers ſound; and ſo if the wordes of this prayer be true, a Diuell might not ſtay in the realme: and that Realme were very worthie to hauehave the Diuells companie, that would not willinglie be at the coſt to hauehave ſo manie bels though they were of ſiluer, and to hauehave them baptized though it were in coſtly water.

To conclude, Bellarmine pleaſeth to ſport himſelfe a little with vsus and ſayth; The Heretickes obiect to vsus that wee baptize Belles; but its maruell (ſayth hee) that they doe not alſo ſay, wee catechize and instruct them, that ſo they may ſound out the Articles of Fayth kkObijciunt nobis haeretici quod baptizamus Campanas. Mirum vero eſt quod non etiam dicunt campanas a nobis antea catechizari et inſtrui, vt poſſint fidei ſymbolum reſonare. Bellar. ibid. 24. 4: But it is verie likelie the Ieſuite had not ſeene or not well peruſed the Pontificale: for if he had, hee might hauehave found that they pray to GOD to giuegive the HOLIE GHOST to the Bell, to bleſſe it, to ſanctifie it, to puri…e it, to poure heauenlie bleſſings vppon it, and the dewe of Gods grace. Certainelie if this bee a p. 120lawfull an apt and fit prayer for the bell, they may alſo catechiſe it: for it is doubtleſs as capable of inſtructiō from man, as of anie ſpirituall and heauenly bleſſing from God.

Thus it is proued, I hope, that the Romiſh Church (in ſome ſort for the name, but eſpecially for the matter) doth baptize Bells.

It remains but to ſee 2424The twelfth wound not healed; for the Romiſh Church ſtill baptizeth belles.if this wound be healed, or no.

But I anſwere, this was not the ſuperſtition of the olde and ignorant times onelyonly, but is euen the preſent impietie of that Church: for, of late, Clement the eight, pretending to hauehave the Pontificall reuiued and reformed, cauſed it to be printed at Rome before his face llVide Pontificale Romanum Clementis 8. Pont. Max. iuſſu reſti tutum at que editum Romae 1895. et legatur eiuſdem Clementis Conſtitutio. ibid. praefixa, pro eiuſdem libri autoritate & approbatione.by his authoritie, in a faire letter, and with moſt goodly pictures: and indeede many things are left that might make againſt the Pope, and many added that may make for him.

But as for this blaſphemie and abuſe of Gods holy Sacrament, it ſtands vntouched, vnaltered, and allowed for a good and Catholicke practice in euerie particular as I hauehave afore ſet it downe, and in manie more: Oh BABYLON, BABYLON, when wilt thou be healed?

The other ſore of this wounde is touching the Lords Supper 2525The other ſore of the 12. wound; That though Chriſt ordained the contrary; yet it is not neceſſary for Chriſtiās of the Laitie to hauehave the ſacrament in both kinds, but onelyonly the bread & not the Cup.which they maime and mangle, ſacrilegiouſly taking the Cuppe from the whole Laitie. This wound is not very deepe, for it is not olde: but it is wide, for it is generall: and it is a foule one; for it maymeth the Sacrament, and croſſeth Chriſt… owne Inſtitution. They were a hatching it ſometime before, but at laſt the monſter was brought foorth p. 121in the Councell of Conſtance when they decreed thus,mmConcil. Cō ſtant. ſeſſ. 13. Synodus declarat decernit & definit, quod licet Chriſtꝰ inſtituerit et ſuis diſcipulis adminiſtrauerit ſub vtra que ſpecie panis et vini; et ſimiliter quod licet in primitiua eccleſia hoc ſacramentum reciperetur a fidelibus ſub vtra que ſpecie: tamen haec conſuetudo eſt rationabiliter introducta, quod a conficientibus ſub vtra que , à laicis tantummodo ſub ſpecie panis ſuſcipiatur. Et habenda eſt pro lege haec conſuetudo, &c. et pertinaciter aſſerentes oppoſitum tanquā haeretici arcendi et puniendi ſunt: et quod nullus Presbiter ſub poena excomunicationis cōmunicet populum ſub vtra que ſpecie panis et vini, &c.

That notwithstāding Chriſt or dained the Sacramēt in both kinds, and tho the eldeſt Church did ſo receiue it, yet for al that, this cuſtom is lawfully and laudably brought into the Church, that the laitie ſhal receiue but in one kinde onelyonly; and that whoſoeuer ſhall holde the contrary, ſhall be proceeded against as heretickes: and all Prieſts are commanded vnderunder paine of excommunication, that they giuegive not the Cuppe to the laitie: and they that do and recant not ſhall be puniſhed as heretickes.

This wound hath Bellarmine, and other of the craftier ſort of them ſought to couer, but not to cure: and it would ſatisfie a man in this point tho he wauered before, to ſee how ſlily & ſuperficially he deals in this queſtiō nnBellar. de ſacram. Euchar. lib. 4. cap. 26. tom. 3.: This abuſe is ſo horrible, the iniury to the ſacrament, & the wrong to the laitie ſo notorious, the abſurdity & impiety of the practice ſo without all colour of defence, that if they were not without grace and paſt hope of recouery, & ſuch as hauehave reſolued to amend nothing, they would hauehave reformed this long agoe.

But heerby it is apparant they are plain States-men & Politicians, who hauehave nothing els in their head, but to maintaine the height of their hierarchie, and Maieſtie of their Monarchy. Euen this one particular is ſufficient to make demōſtration hereof; ſeeing they will p. 122not amend that which they ſee and know to be contrary to Chriſts Inſtitution; and wherof many of the better ſort of themſelues are vtterly aſhamed.

But it is ſo farre from being healed at all, that it is rather worſe and worſe 2626The latter ſore of the 12. wound not yet healed, but ſpreades further.. Look in their newe edition of the Councells this laſt yeare, and there is no reformation of this euill ooVide poſtre…am edit. Cō cil. per Bininum. Colon. 1606. Concil. Conſtant. ſeſſ. 13. in. 2. parte tomi tertij. p. 1589., no plaiſter laid vponupon this ſore, not ſo much as a marginall note to qualifie the Non-obstante to Chriſts Inſtitution; but rather all is made worſe then it was afore in the former and elder impreſſions.

Nay, it is ſo farre from being healed, that contrariwiſe, it is made daily a wider and deeper wound: For now it is made in that Church a ſinne againſt the firſt Commandement of the morall lawe, for a man to receiue the Sacrament in both kindes ppVide librū inſcriptū Excercitium pietatis, in gratiā ſtudioſorum, autoritate Cardinalis Radzivilij, ſcriptum & editum. Colon. 92. In cap. de methodo rectè confitendi, Circa primū praeceptum inquiratur an fecerit aliquē exteriorē actum infidelitatis vel haereſis &c. vt ſub vtraque ſpecie communicā do, &c.. So then ſeeing we knowe Chriſt appointed it in both kindes, and now the Romiſh Church prohibites it vnderunder paine of mortall ſin; alas what hope is there that this Church will euer be reformed, that condemnes the obedience to Chriſts inſtitution and commandement, as a deadly ſinne?

Let vsus now proceede to ſuch wounds, as may bee more properly referred to the ſecōd Table of the morall lawe.

Touching wilfull murder, it hath beene their doctrine and practice ſince the miſtie times of ignorance, that 2727The 13. wound; That it is lawefull to hauehave ſanctuaries forwillfull murder.Churches and Churchyards, and Biſhops houſes, and ſome ſuch other places bee ſanctuaries, that is, places for refuge for the offender; vntounto which if he do flie, and ſettle him…elfe, he cannot, nor may not bee proſecuted by courſe of lawe and iuſtice, but is there p. 123ſafe, as long as it pleaſeth the Cleargie to retayne him.

Thus writeth Pope Innocent the 3. in his Decretalles to the King of Scotland, who in thoſe euill daies (poore man) helde himſelfe not of power to puniſh malefactors of his owne kingdome that had taken ſanctuarie, vntill hee had ſent to the Pope for his aduiſe.

qqCorp. Iuri… Can…nici Decretal. li. 3. tit. 49. cap. 6. Si fugiens ad eccleſiā liber ſit quantumcunque grauia maleficia perpetrauerit, non eſt violenter ab eccleſia extrahendus, nec inde damnari debet ad mortē, vel ad poenā; ſed rectores eccleſiarū ſibi obtinere debent membra & vitam, &c.To your question, Sir (ſayth the Pope) I anſwer thus; If hee that hath taken ſanctuarie be a freeman, then is he not to be taken violently out of the Church, not tho he hauehave committed neuer ſo grieuous crimes, neither may he be condemned thereupon either to death or other puniſhment; but the Clergie, and gouernors of that Church are to obtain for him libertie and ſafetie of life and limme &c.

Some may here obiect that afterward in the decretall hee makes exception of ſome crimes: true, of night robbers, but not of murderers. Neither was this proper to Italie or to Scotland, but the generall ſore of all nations. In England wee had manie, but eſpecially 3. moſt famous ſanctuaries:

One at Beuerley, in Yorke-ſhire, erected by K. Athelſtane, where in the Church was ſet a chaire of ſtone, and this inſcription written ouer it;

This ſtone chaire is called Freedſtoole, that is the chaire rrVide Britā niā Camdeni in Com. Eborū. Haec ſedes lapidea dicitur Freedſtool id eſt p…cis cathedra, ad quam reus …ugiendo perueni…ns omnimodam habe… ſecuritatem.of peace, whereunto if one that is guiltie do fly and ſit in it, he ſhall hauehave all ſufficient ſecuritie.

Another at Battel Abbie in Suſſex, where the Conquerer wonne the victorie, and in memorie thereof, p. 124building that Abby hee endowed it (with the popes conſent) amongſt others, with this priuiledge ssVide eundem Camdenū, in com. Suſſex haec ſunt verba diplomatis; Si quis latro vel homicida, vel aliquo crimine reus, timore mortis fugiens ad hanc eccleſiam peruenerit, in nullo laedatur, ſed liber omnino dimittatur: Abbati vero ipſius Eccleſiae liceat vbi que latronem vel furem de ſuſpendio liberare …i forte ſuperuenerit.;

If any theefe or Murderer, or any other malefactour (what ſoeuer his fault bee) for feare of death doe flie and come to this Church, he ſhall not be hurt by any meanes; but ſhall bee diſmiſſed, and let goe againe with ſafetie and freedome. And further it ſhall be lawfull for the Abbot of the ſayd Church, in all places whereſoeuer hee ſhall hap to come, to ſaue one theefe from the gallowes.

Theſe bee the very words of the Charter it ſelfe. The third and not the leaſt was at Weſtminster: wherof there is often and famous mention in our Chronicles, as being a place of frequent and ordinarie refuge for great Malefactors, and the name remains there to this daie. And theſe were not ſo much the facts of ignorant and ſuperſtitious Kings, as the generall receiued doctrine of the Romiſh teachers, & the publick deed of their Popes themſelues ttVide decretal, Sext. & Clement: in tit. de eccleſiarum & coemeteriorū immunitatibus, &c..

This was ſo in the olde time (will ſome ſay) but now it is otherwiſe. I anſwere: Nay, this is not healed, but rather is much worſe. To this end, let vsus conſider a little of ſome of their lateſt and principall writers in this caſe 2828The 13. woūd not healed; for Poperie alloweth ſanctuaries for wilfull murder ſtill.. A great Clarke of Rome, a fauourite of Pope Gregories the xiiii. and one of his principall Secretaries, ſome 12. yeares agoe writes a great volume of this and other Immunities, which hee ſaith by their religion belongs to holy perſons and places; let vsus obſerue a fewe of his words uuVide Anaſtaſium Germoniū de ſacrorū immunitatibus. lib. 3: cap. 16. art. …. &c..

p. 125Not Clergie men onelyonly, but euen the very Churches Habent et eccleſiarū aedificia, ſuas immu nitates. Nā qui ad eas cōfugiunt, quodammodo ſacroſancti effecti, nequeūt inde extrahi, nec in vincula cō ijci vltimóue ſupplicio affici, aut aliqua membrorum detrūcatione plecti, ſed veluti in arce tutiſsima poſiti ab inquirentibus inuiolati remanent.themſelues hauehave their priuiledge: for Malefactours flying to them, are in a ſort made holy thereby, inſomuch as they may not bee taken awaie thence, nor bee caſt into priſon, nor be toucht in life, nor limme, but ſhall there be ſafe from all purſuers, as in a Caſtle or moſt ſtrong holde, &c.

And not onelyonly puts he downe this for Catholicke doctrine, but he will alſo needs hauehave it to bee ex iure diuino: and whereas Couarruvias (as learned as himſelf at leaſt) diſproues it verie ſufficiently wwDidac. Couarruvias. variarum reſolut. lib. 2. cap. 20. Num. 2. v. 2. & 3.Num 2:2Num 2:3and concludes it to bee but de iure poſitivo, this darling of the Popes will not ſuffer ſo much amendment as this, but condemnes Couarruvias, tho hee cannot confute his reaſons, and concludes it to bee de iure diuino. xxIdem Germoniꝰ ibid. art. 7..

And wheras one Iohannes Ferrarienſis, a famous and learned Lawyer, argueth foundly and truely that Churches ſhould not receiue murtherers not be ſanctuaries for theeues, ſeeing Chriſt caſt out euen buyers and ſellers which are not ſo ill yyIoh. Pet. de Ferrar. practica Papienſis, cap. de forma inquiſi. verſ. ex his poteſt.; The Popes Secretarie, ſcornfully caſteth away both his opinion and his reaſon zzGermoniꝰ ibid. art. 15.; yet is he neuer able to ouerthrowe either the truth of his opinion, or ſtrength of his reaſon: but ſo vnwilling are they to bee healed in anie thing, that if anie one of them doe but begin to ſee the truth, and doe but glaunce at it or incline to it, preſently hee is nipt in the head and condemned, as heere the olde Lawyer is reproued by the later; and whē as he would hauehave had this wound healed, this darling of the popes will not ſuffer him, but anſweres that his reaſon is naught and not worth a ruſh.

p. 126And yet not content, he goeth further, and ſaith; that not onelyonly Churches conſecrated, but tho they bee not as yet conſecrated aaIdē ibid. art. 23. 24., yet they be ſanctuaries: and not the Church onelyonly, but euen the Churchyard, yea tho it be diſioined from the Church bbIdē ibid. art. 30. & 34..

Nay further, that euen hoſpitalls ccIdē ibid. art. 27, yea priuate Chappells in mens houſes, if they were built by the Biſhops authority ddIdē ibid. art. 29., hauehave priuiledge of ſanctuarie to receiue a murderer flying vntounto them. And leaſt murder ſhould not finde ſufficient ſhelter in Romiſh religion, he telles vsus further, that euen the Biſhops Palace is a ſanctuarie, if a murderer fly vntounto it, if it bee within 40. paſes of the Church; or (tho it bee more then 40. paſes off) if it hauehave a Chappell in it eeIdē ibid. art. 43. &c.. And yet further, if a murtherer going to execution, after a iuſt ſentence, or afore triall, being purſued, doe meete a Prieſt carying his breaden God, and doe fly to him, he is priuiledged from the power of the lawe ffIdē ibid. art. 52..

And leaſt we ſhould thinke it ſtrange, to giuegive this honor to the church that is Gods houſe, or to the bread which they ſay is their God, he goeth yet one ſteppe further, and tells vsus that ggIdem Germonius ibid. lib. 3. cap. 6. art. 51. &c. Tāta eſt huius dignitatis Maieſtas, vt non Cardinalis ſolum velut ſacroſanctus abſ que ſacrilegij culpa tāgi non poſsit, verū nec ille quiad capitale ſupplicium ducitur, ſi Cardinali ob…iam factus ciuſ que pileum aut veſtem attigerit &c. occidi nequeat: ſic Baldus & reliqui; vnus tantum Cor…etus tenet i… contrarium: ſedeius argumentis excellenter ſatisfacit Cardinalis▪ Albanus.,

A Cardinall of Rome not onelyonly is ſo holy a perſon in himſelfe, that hee may not be touched without ſacriledge; but if a murderer or malefactor, that is carying to execution, if he hauehave the good happe to meete a Cardinall, and can touch either his hat or his robes, he is diſcharged from the ſentence of the lawe.

Loe, heere is a holy perſon indeede; a Cardinalls coate, or hat, ſhall hauehave more priuiledge then had eyther the coate or the fleſh it ſelfe of Chriſt Ieſus: hee p. 127would not deliuer anie murderers from death, onelie one he deliuered; namely, Barrabas, and he himſelfe died in his roome hhSee the ſtory of the paſsion.: and if my Lords the Cardinalls ſhould do ſo, ſurely they would meete no murderers in the ſtreete.

But to goe forward; the lawe ſayth, the Murderer ſhall die iiGen. 9. 6Gen 9:6; and Chriſt ſaith, he came not to diſſolue the lawe, but to fulfill it kkMatth. 5. 18Matt 5:18: but the Cardinalls wil not fulfil the lawe, but diſſolue it. The Murderer ſhall die, ſayth God: true, ſaith the Pope, vnleſſe hee happe to touch the hem of one of my Cardinalls coats, for then he is acquitted.

But is this healed and reformed? nay alas, one Antonius Corſetus, a learned Lawyer, miſliking this, becauſe as he ſaith truely llHoc ſtante, daretur materia delinquē di, propterea quod homines audaciores fierēt & delicta remanerent impunita: ſic Anto. Corſetꝰ in ſuis ſingular. in verbo Cardinalis.; this being ſo, there wil be an occaſion giuen of much euill, and bloudie men will heereby take libertie to offend: He is not ſuffred to make anie motion for reforming of anie thing, but is contrariwiſe turned awaie with this cenſure, that his reaſons are ſlender and nothing worth. And thus, when he is daſht out of countenance, who would hauehave healed this wound, then comes the Popes Secretary (a true childe of Babylon that will not be healed) and to make the wound wider and deeper, brings a reaſon for this power of Cardinalls, worthy of himſelf mmIdem Germonius ibid. cap. 6. art. 51. Non ſunt hodie Cardinales deterioris cōditionis quam olim fuerunt Virgines veſtales: quarum autoritas apud Romanos tanta fuit. vt ſi ad capitale aliquis ſupplicium duceretur, & fortè fortuna tranſiſſet Veſtalis, is necari non poſſet.; If (ſaith he) the Virgin-veſtalls in Rome healtheniſh had this power, that if a perſon condemned met one of them in his way to executiō, and could get to touch them, he was thereby deliuered from death; p. 128as he proueth out of Aul. Gellius nnAul. Gellius, noct. Att. lib. 10. cap. 15.: Then much more ought the Cardinalls to hauehave this honour in Rome being now Chriſtian.

Yea, but is there not danger to multiplie murders, and defeat the lawe by this means? for may not a Cardinall come for fauour, and on ſet purpoſe? may hee not be intreated, may he not be corrupt and bee hired to come? There be now alſo many Cardinalls, about 60. or 70. if anie of all theſe be in the ſtreetes, murderers may eſcape; and there be fewe daies, wherin ſome of theſe ſtirre not abroad: To all theſe materiall obiections, what doth he anſwer? ſurelie an eaſie anſwer hath he for all:

ooGermonius ibid. art. 52. Ne detur occaſio delinquendi, et vt omnis praua ſuſpicio tollatur, damnatus gaudet hac immunitate, ſi Cardinalis non data opera ſed caſu tranſeat.This priuiledge belongeth, without all queſtion, to the Cardinalls perſon, if he come by chance, and not on ſet purpoſe: for ſo it was alſo in the caſe of the Virgins Veſtall.

But how ſhall it appeare, that hee comes not purpoſely? In that caſe the veſtall Virgins, that neuer might ſwear, were put to their oath ppAul. Gellius ibid..

But for al that (ſaith this Popes dearling) my Lords the Cardinalls may not ſweare, they may not bee ſo diſgraced as to be put to their oathes: How ſhall it then appeare? hee muſt (ſaith hee qqLicet Veſtalis nunquam iuraſſet, hoc tamen caſu eas iuraſſe, certum eſt. At Cardinalem deuinci Iuſiurandi religione minime vel lem: ita que non iuranti ſed aſſerēti ſe forte fortuna in dā natū incidiſſe credendum eſt, cum ei in grauioribus negotijs fides adhiberi ſolet: vt ſi ſedis Apoſtolicae legatum ſe eſſe dixerit, fidem ei habendam volunt noſtri Ioh. Andr. Bal. Alb. &c. Idem Germonius ibid. art. 53. &c.bee beleeued vponupon his bare word. So then if a Cardinall hauehave but the conſcience to tell a lie (which, how ſmall a thing it is in poperie, and how manie excuſes it hath, who knoweth not?) then it is heere apparant that the vileſt theefe, and murderer in a countrie, may eaſily eſcape the halter at Rome.

p. 129Now to conclude, ſee how many helpes there be for a Murderer in Romiſh religion; firſt by places, then by perſons priuiledged. Places priuiledged be, 1. a Church, 2. a Churchyard, 3. an hoſpitall, 4. a Biſhops houſe, 5. a priuate Chappell; all theſe ſhall deliuer a man from tryall (were this ſo in London, how ſhould any murderer be brought to the Bar? no ſtreet could he paſſe through, but he ſhall finde one of theſe 5. places): then by perſons priuiledged; which be, firſt, a Cardinall riding by: which becauſe it is but in fewe places; therefore the ſecond is a Prieſt carying the Sacrament, and that is in eueryevery towne: To touch either of theſe, doth deliuer from death a murtherer cō demned by law.

Thus we ſee, a bloudy Church is a defender of bloud and murther; for let anie wiſe man conſider, how many thouſand murders in a yeere, may bee ſheltred and ſhuffled ouer by theſe meanes. And yet ſanctuaries are but one means to cloak murther, they hauehave many more (not ſo fit to be ſtood vponupon at this time): but the end and effect of them all is this, that poiſoning, ſtabbing, killing, and all kind of bloud-ſhedding is ſo riſe in popiſh States, that the better ſort of themſelues do bitterlie complaine of it. Oleaster a ſpaniſh Inquiſitor (and therefore not partiall on our ſide) hath theſe words; rrVide Hieronimum ab Oleaſtro, inquiſitorem vliſsiponenſ. in ſuis Cōment. in Pentat: In cap. 4. Geneſ. pag. 17. Video (in quit) homicidia fieri, netamen video homicidas puniri: ſunt enim hodie mille modi excuſandi homicidam; quorū vnuꝰ eſt ecclesiā appellare, Clericum ſe dicere, & ſtatim Iudices quos volunt a ſummo pōtifice impetrate, qui eos abſoluunt, parua aut nulla poena impoſita; & ſic homicidia multi plicantur.I ſee daily (ſayth he) murders are committed: but I doe not ſee the murderers are puniſhed: for we hauehave at this daie a thouſand waies to excuſe murderers; wherof one is to appeale to the Church, & to ſay he is a Cleargie man, and preſently to get frō the Pope ſuch Iudges or Commiſsioners, as themſelues p. 130will, who by and by diſcharge and abſolue them, vponupon a little puniſhment or none at all, and thus murders are multiplied euerie daie, &c.

Let theſe words be well obſerued, and what he was that ſpake them; and if this be ſo, ſo fa…re from Rome as Portingale is, thē we may eaſily iudge how the world goeth at Rome and neere vntounto it.

Againſt all this what can be ſaid? that this Anaſtaſius is an Author ſuborned by vsus? Nay, Poſſeuine the Ieſuite will for that anſwer for vsus, hauing canonized him in his catalogue of catholick Doctors ssPoſſev. Ieſ. appar. ſac. tom. 1. lit. A. Anaſtaſius Germoniꝰ Archidiaconꝰ Taurinenſis edidit libros de immunitatibus eccleſiaſticis, inter al. &c.: what then? that he is but a triuiall fellow, and of no credit nor authority? Nor ſo: for he was publicke profeſſor of the Popes lawe, at Turin, & in great office and authority both with Gregory the 14. and Clement the 8. ttIdem Poſſeu. ibid. Auguſtae Taurinorum publicè Canones interpretabatur & nuper orator ad Clement 8. pro ſereniſſ. vrbini duce & vtriuſ que Romanae ſignaturae referendarius.and his bookes be dedicated to the Popes and Cardinalls, printed at Rome with ſoueraigne authoritie, and ſpeciall commendation (u). Nay the Pope himſelfe withAnaſtaſij Germonij, Ciuit. Ro. Archidiaconi Taurinēſis & protonotarij Apoſtolici de ſacrorū immutatibus lib. 3. ad Gregorium 14. Romae. 1591. his own mouth commended the book, to the Cardinals, and ſaid that the whole Clergie, and the Councel of Cardinalls by name were greatly beholden to the Author for it wwVide eiuſdem Anaſtaſij Epiſtolam dedicat. ad Gregorium 14. Pont. Max.: So that it is more then impudencie for anie Papiſt, to make queſtion of the authoritie of his doctrine.

What then can be ſaid? that theſe ſanctuaries ſtand indeed allowed for ſome faultes, but not for murder? If it were ſo, the fault were leſſe: but the truth is otherwiſe.

For tho it be certaine and confeſſed by themſelues, that by the ciuile lawe, Murderers, and Rauiſhers, and Adulterers are excepted xxIn §. Quod ſi delinquentes Authent. de mand princip.: Yet Germonius ſhameth not to anſwere that the Ciuile lawe is corrected in this p. 131point by the Popes law, and that therfore we are to ſtand to it yyIure Ciuili, adulteri, homicidae, raptores ex eccl. abduci poſsunt: ſed Ius Ciuile per pontificiū hac in parte correctū eſt; & ideo ſtandū eſt huiꝰ diſpoſitioni &c. ſic Germoniꝰ de ſacrorum immunitatibus, lib. 3. cap. 16. art. 57, &c.and not to the Ciuile lawe: Now who are excepted by the popes lawe? only night-robbers, and ſetters of high waies zzGermonius ibid. art. 56. ex Iure Canonico & communi ſententia.: but as for murderers, adulterers, and rauiſhers, theſe finde fauor in the Popes lawe; for they be Amici Curiae: but theeues, and robbers are not ſo: and therfore this Germonius cōcludes that tho the Scripture be plain and many Doctors; yet, a murderer is not to bee taken out of ſanctuarie, vnleſſe there bee more then murder, as deceit, and treacherie. What then may be ſaid? that this Germonius is but one Doctor, and his opinion is not to be taken for a doctrine? I anſwere, his iudgement is allowed by the Pope himſelfe, and his opinions are fortified with conſent of other popiſh Doctors: But that we may ſee he walkes not alone in this waie; one Stephanus Durantus, writing alſo of late, of the rites of the Romiſh Church, deliuereth y^• ſame for a general doctrin of that church, tho he being a French-man, is therfore the bolder and ſaith that neither in France nor in England they hauehave beene permitted by the kings with ſuch abſolute allowance as elſwhere.aaStephanus Durantꝰ de ritibꝰ eccleſiae catholicae Romae 91. ad G… gor. 14. vid. 1. ca. 26. art. 10. Ea erat eccleſiae religio & immunitas, vt ad eam confugientes non liceret inde extrahere, vel eis aliquam vim inferre.

Such ſaith he is the honor and immunity of Churches, that malefactors flying to them may not bee taken out, nor hauehave any violence offered them.

This book alſo is of ſpeciall authoritie, dedicated to P. Gregorie the 14. and by him accepted with ſpeciall allowance: and in a Bull or conſtitution of his, hee affirmeth it is a worke, ſeruing greatly for Gods glorie and the edification of Chriſtian people, and that it is approued and allowed by the great M. of his palace bbVide bullam Gregorij 14, Duranti libro praefixā: hoc opꝰ &c. ad gloriā Dei & totius populi Chriſtiani aedificationé, &c. & à Magiſtro ſacri palatij noſtri viſum & approbatum., p. 132to whom belonges the ſoueraigne and higheſt authoritie to cenſure all ſort of bookes.

And laſt of all, Iacobus de Graffijs, the great Caſuiſt, and Grande Poenitentiarie, within theſe 7. yeares hath determined this queſtion; affirming that the murderer may not be taken out of the Church, no not tho hee broke priſon and fled thither, vnleſſe it were murder ioyned with trecherie and treaſon ccIacobus de Graffijs deciſ. aur. caſ. conſ. to. 1. cap. 48. libri ſecundi: art. 5. 6. 7. reus in cauſa ciuili & criminali gaudet immunitate eccleſiae etiamſi carcerem cōfregerit, & ad eccleſiam confugerit: Et non ex…pitur homi…idium niſi proditione cōmiſſum aut ab Aſſaſinis..

Thus we ſee how Babylon is healed in this wound. And heereby it is apparant to all that will ſee, that ſhe is a bloudie Babylon: and as in many other reſpects for her crueltie, ſo this waie alſo, for this doctrine and practice ſhe is a bloudy ſynagogue: and no maruell tho the holy Ghoſt ſay, that in her is found the bloud, not onelyonly of the Saints and Martyrs, but of all that was ſhed vponupon the earth ddReuel. 18. 24.Rev 18:24. For as ſhe hath made her ſelfe the principall agent in ſhedding the bloud of Saints and Martyrs: ſo hath ſhee made her ſelfe acceſſarie by this her doctrine and practice to al the murthers & bloudſhed vponupon the earth: for, to maintaine ſo many refuges and defences for a ſinne, is to maintaine the ſinne it ſelfe. Therefore leauing this bloudie Church weltring, and wallowing, and bathing her ſelfe in bloud, let vsus proceed to that remaines.

Touching the honorable eſtate of marriage, and the diſhonor of it, which is, adulterie, & fornicatiō; it is lamentable to ſee what is the doctrine and practice of the Romiſh Church. For firſt, they giuegive a publicke and open toleration of the ſtewes, wherein whoredome is practiced as dayly and commonly, as other ciuile and lawfull actions 2929The 14. wound; Romiſh Religion permits ſtewes publickelie.: nay their rent is taken, and duely paide, (a part of it) to the Pope, or as hee p. 133ſhall appoint it: Thus complaines and cries out Agrippa, a man of no meane place, nor ordinarie vnderſtanding;eeCornel. Agrippa de vanitate ſcient. cap. 64. Corinthij, Cyprij, Babylonij alij que Ethnici Graeci, nonnihil a meretricio quaeſtu aerario ſuo addiderut, quod quidem in Italia non rarū, vbi etiā Romana ſcorta, in ſingulis hebdomadis Iulium pendēt pontifici: qui cenſus annuus ſaepe excedit viginti millia ducatus.

The Corinthians (ſayth he) and Cyprians, and Babylonians, and other heathen Graecians did increaſe their reuenue, by the gaine of the ſtewes, which in Italy alſo is at this daie no rare nor vnuſuall matter. For the whores of Rome doe paie weekely to the pope a Iulio a piece (about ſix pence ſterling) the whole reuenue whereof in the yeare, doth often exceede the ſum of twentie thouſand Duckets, &c.

Alas! wil ſome ſay; the Pope cannot hinder this: therefore ſeeing he cannot helpe it, he hath vſed, (ſuch was the wiſdom of elder ages) to make the beſt vſe he can of an ill matter.

But I anſwere; firſt, the holy Ghoſt commands vsus to hauehave nothing to doe with an ill matter, but keepe vsus farre from it ffExod. 23. 7 Epheſ. 5. 11Exod 23:7Eph 5:11, though wee cannot hinder it: Againe, if the Pope cannot hinder it, yet hee can refuſe to hauehave anie gayne from it; and ſo hee woulde but that hee thinkes it ſweete: but if hee were of Dauids mind who would not drinke that drink, that coſt men the venture of their liues gg2. Sam. 23. 14.2 Sam 23:14, ſurely he would not take that gain that coſts men and women their ſoules.

But I anſwere further, he could and might hinder it, and will not. If he himſelfe and his fauorites ſpeak truth, hee wants no power for nothing that hee will doe: therefore for reforming the ſtewes, it is cleere he wants wil, but no power. Againſt Gods truth, and vsus the Profeſſors of it, whom he cals hereticks, he wants no will, and therefore he wants no power. Let him puniſh whoredome, as he doth that, that he calls hereſie p. 134(tho it be the truth): let it be as vnlawfull in Rome to keep a ſtewes, as to hauehave a Proteſtant Church, and then we ſhould ſoon ſee as fewe, and fewer whores in Rome, then there be good Proteſtants. But whoredom is none of the vnderminers of his State, nor enemies of his Crowne as our religion is: therefore our religion muſt down when ſtewes muſt ſtand. But ſom wil further obiect, If this hauehave bin ſo, it is the faulte or corruption of his officers, & not to be imputed to his Holineſſe. But I anſwere, the pope vſeth not to be ſo negligent of his eſtate, as not to looke at a reuenue of 20000. duckates a yeare. And to take away all cauſe of this cauill, and to make it more apparant that the Pope is the head of the whoreof Babylon; Pope Sixtus 4. ſcarce 120. yeares agoe, built a ſtewes in Rome, of his owne erection and foundation, ſo ſaith the ſame Agrippa.hhCornel. Agrip. de vanit. ſcient. cap. 64 Lycurgus & Solon lupanaria aedificauere, &c. ſed & recentioribus hiſce temporibus Sixtus pōtifex Max. quartꝰ, Romae nobile admodum lupanar exſtruxit.

Licurgus & Solon, heathē law-giuers, erected publick ſtewes: but that is no maruel; for of late yeeres, Pope Sixtus the fourth builded a goodly ſtewes in Rome.

Loe heer, the Popes Holineſſe, the founder of a Colledge of diuells, a ſtewes for whores: ſurely becauſe he ſcorned ordinarie company, he built that for himſelfe, and his Princes & peers, the Cardinalls. Thus we ſee it cōfeſſed & proued by a learned Papiſt, that a 100. yeers agoe ſtewes were maintained, nay erected by the Pope: and that he takes gain & rent of them. If any man obiect againſt Agrippa, as no competent witneſſe: I anſwere, the Pope indeed hath prohibited iiVide indicem lib. prohibit. Clementis 8. in litera H.his books to be read; but it had been more reaſon to hauehave diſproued and confuted his aſſertions: but let the Pope condemne him as he will, for his bold ſpeaking of truth; it is knowen to all that know him, or his bookes, hee was a Papiſt p. 135for the moſt part: and whatſoeuer he was, he had no reaſon to bely the Pope; we hired him not, we thanke him not for anie thing but truth: yet for more certaintie hereof, hearken to another, who being an Inquiſitor, is beyond all exception that waie.

Thus complains Oleaster (a Spaniſh Doctor), vponupon that Text of Deuteronomy kkDeut. 23. 18Deut 23:18thou ſhalt not bring into my houſe the hire of a whore, for it is abhominable.

llOleaſter in Commēt. ſuis in Pentateu. In Deut. cap. 23. fol. 270. Diſplicuerunt ſemper Deo turpia lucra, ideo que vetat ne merces meretricū ei offeratur: at nunc cùm eccleſia & miniſtri mūdiores eſſe deberent, omnia haec acceptantur, qualiacun que ſunt & vndecun que venerint.Deut 23Filthy gaines, ſaith he, were euer abhominable to God, & therfore he forbids to bring into his houſe the hire of a whore. But now in the new Teſtament, when the Church and Ministers thereof ſhould bee much more cleane and pure then afore, all manner of filthy gaines are accepted and taken, how vile ſoeuer they be, and whenceſoeuer they come.

Thus all gaine is ſweete, and all rent welcome to the Pope, tho it come frō whores: ſo true a friend to ſtewes and whores, is the whore of Babylon.

But wil ſome ſay, this might be ſo in the elder times, that were of more libertie, becauſe all was quiet: but now ſince Luther roſe, and the Church hath beene wakened by heretickes, this wound is healed.

No, this wound is not healed, as I wil proue by their late and moderne writers.3030The 14. wound not healed: for the Romiſh religion, doctrine & practice tolerate ſtewes ſtill.

Navarrus one of their greateſt Canoniſts of this laſt age, and one whom the Popes helde worthy to be cald to Rome, for his continuall aduiſe & direction mmMartinus Azpil. Nauar. Hiſp. Iuris cononici ſciētiſ. ide que theolog. inſignis &c. Haec Poſſeu. in apparatu ſac. tom. 2. lit. M., deals very plainly in this matter, and ſaith, thatnnNau. Manual. c. 17. nu 195. pa. 433. edit. Wirceb. in 8. 1593. Licet poteſtati publicae permittere meretrices in aliqua parte ciuitatis: et poſtea, alicubi conſtituuntur eis patroni, & domus eis locā tur carius quā honeſtis locarentur: et in hac vrbe Romana, ſciente & patiēte papa locantur et ſemper conſueuerunt locari domus meretricibꝰ: et confeſſarij abſoluūt et ſemper abſoluerunt locatores eorū ſine propoſito abſtinēdi à tali locatione, &c.

p. 136Kings, Princes, States, and Magiſtrates of Cities, appointing ſtewes, and ſetting out places for them in ſome conuenient place of their Cities, wherein whores may exerciſe their whoriſh trade, it ſeems (ſaith he) to be no ſinne in them.

See here a peece of ſpaniſh deuotion and modeſty. Surely, no maruell tho this man were ſent for, from Spaine to Rome: for it ſeemes by this doctrine he was for the Popes tooth, and much more for his Cardinalles.

Alphonſus Viualdus, another learned Spaniarde, wrote a booke of matters of conſcience not long agoe, of ſo great account amongſt them that they call it the golden Candleſticke. It hath beene often printed, and within theſe 7. yeares was by the Popes ſpeciall Commiſſion purged, and reprinted: hee writes thus ooMartinus Alphōſus Vivaldꝰ, theol. & Iuris canon. profeſſor & poenitentiariꝰ maior, &c. In Candelabro aureo. tit. de Confeſsione, numero 60 Vtrum hae meretices cenſeantur excommunicatae, per ſynodales cō ſtitutiones, quae nec conſitentur, nec cō municant? reſpondeo, &c. Meretrices nū quā publicantur nec denū tiantur pro excōmunicatis in eccleſia: nec viſum vnquam fuit, aliquem hac de cauſa ab earū participatione fugiſſe, &c. Pro reſolutione dico, quod ſi non cōfiteā tur nec communicent per 10. aut 20. annos, non ideo incurrūt poenas eccleſiae in deteſtationem ſui peſſimi ſtatꝰ, quia meretrices non ſunt dignae laqueis legum. pag. 81. editionis Brixienſis 1588..

Firſt, he makes a queſtion, whether in the yeerely excommunication pronounced by the Biſhop, againſt them that do not confeſs and communicate, whores in the ſtewes be comprehended, or no: and he reſolueth that they be not, tho they neither confeſſe nor do communicate; and giues his reaſons. 1. For that whores, in the Romiſh Church, be neuer publiſhed nor denounced excommunicate. 2. No man refuſeth their companie, notwithſtanding that yeerely excommunication: and concludeth further that though one continue a whore for twentie yeares long, yet doth ſhee not incurre the Cenſures of the Romiſh Church.

Oh excellent doctrine, and fit for the Romiſh p. 137Church: but all this will ſome ſay is ſalued by this that followeth. Nay, contrariwiſe ſay I, the wound is made worſe; and by the craft of that that followeth, obſerue the ſubtiltie and iniquity of Romiſh teachers: for this is done (ſaith he) in deteſtation of their ill life: the Church doth ſo deteſt their maner of life, that ſhe will not thinke them worthy of her cenſures: oh notable ſhift! are they too bad to bee puniſhed, & not too bad to bee ſuffered? doth the Romiſh Clergie thinke them ſo vile that way, and yet allow them? ſee the iniquitie and filthineſſe of this religion.

Thus its apparant by the great Confeſſor Vivaldus, that the Romiſh Church excōmunicats not common whores, nor them that go to them: & another as great a Clark as himſelf, ſaith it is the common opinion ppIac de Graffijs. tom. 1. lib. 1. cap. 9. art. 8. & 9..

But yet to ſhewe better that this wound is not healed, harke a little what the grand poenitentiarie, Iacobus de Graffijs, ſaith; qqIacobꝰ de Graffijs deciſ. aur. caſ. conſ. tom. 1. lib▪ 2 cap. 75. art. 3. et 4. pag. 348. Sed quare ipſa eccleſia lupanaria permittit & per conſequens fornicar. quod eſt mortale peccatum. Reſpondeo quod eccleſia quando que tollerat minus malum praeſens, vt euitet maius malum futurum, quod veriſimilibus coniecturis ſperatur: ſic ca… &c. vbi eccleſia tolerat meretrices ad euitandas promiſcuas luxurias et foediſsimas coiunctiones: & ſic non illud peccatum approbat, ſed diſsimulando tolerat, vt eo medio adulteria, Inceſt que at que alia luxuriae crimina compeſcat. Hinc &c. Et in tantum tolerat lex huiuſmodi fornicationes, vt etiam cogat publicas meretrices ad fornicandum cum quocun que iuxta tamen mercedem.But if fornication be a ſin, then why doth the church her ſelfe permit ſtewes, & conſequently fornication, which is a mortall ſinne? I anſwere (ſaith he) that the church ſomtime tolerateth a leſs euill preſent that ſhe may auoide a greater euill to come, that is probable to fal out: and this he proues out of the Canon law; & ſo concludes that the church doth tolerate ſtewes and whores, to auoide greater ſins not approuing the ſin of fornicatiō, but by cōniuence, or diſsimulatiō tolerats it, that ſo ſhe may reſtraine & keep yong men from adulteries, inceſts, and other crimes of that kinde: then he goeth further to proue his concluſiō; which he doth out p. 138of the practice of heathen lawegiuers, and by the ciuile lawe, & would proue it out of the Fathers: & then to make vp the meaſure of his iniquitie, he addeth that the law doth ſo far forth tolerate fornications in ſtews, that it takes order to compel the whores to refuſe no man, if hee offer her, her pay: the words are too bad to be repeated in engliſh.

And to ſhew that he is a true childe of that Babylon that wil neuer be healed, & that he is as graceleſs in this point as his mother, afterward in his 2. tome (which he put out in his more mature yeares) he hath againe the ſame doctrin in as ill or worſe words;rrIdem Graffiꝰ ibid. tom. 2. li. 3. c. 28. art. 3 6. Ad meretrices accedere, quā uis ſit peccatū mortale, tamē eccleſia illud peccatum tolerat, ad euitā dū maius malum, &c. et in hoc caſu eccleſia cenſurā reſtringit, ne forſan deteriores ſint, &c.

And to conclude, for the better encoragement for women to bee whores, and the better to pleaſe their carnall & wicked minds, Cardinall Tollet a Ieſuite, out of his Ieſuitical modeſtie, and his Cardinal like reſpect to the ſtewes, deliuers this doctrine;ssFran. Tolletꝰ Ieſ. Cardinal. Inſtructio ſacerdotū. lib. 5. cap. 17. art. 3. Mulieres accipientes pretiū pro vitio carnis, nō obligantur ad reſtitutionem, (quia iſta actio non eſt mala cōtra iuſtitiā) quamuis ſint Virgines et coniugatae, et cuiuſcun que cō ditionis: et quamuis accipiāt pecunias in exceſſu, vltra pretium actꝰ turpis, ſi liberè donetur illis.

That whores taking mony of men, for their ſinne, bee they maried or vnmaried, tho it be neuer ſo much aboue their due, are not bound to reſtore anie of it againe, if it bee once giuen them; and giues a reaſon for it, becauſe, ſaith he, this action is not againſt iuſtice, &c.

Certainly the ſtewes are much beholden to Cardinal Tollet for this doctrine: but, what Iuſtice and modeſtie, and the Church, and the truth and God himſelfe do owe him for it, hee feeles afore this time, except he repented.ttObijt Tolletꝰ. Romae. 1596

Thus it is the preſent doctrin of the Romiſh church that ſhe alloweth ſtewes by publicke toleration, to auoide greater euills, and cenſureth not the whores for it; nay, ties them by a lawe to refuſe no man, and p. 139tyes men by a lawe to pay the hire; and for this ende allowes them Courts, Iudges, and Officers, and takes part of the benefit ariſing. Now, that their practice is according to this doctrine, I appeale to all that hauehave trauelled in thoſe partes where poperie reigneth; as Spaine, Italie▪ &c. And further, to giuegive one euidence out of my owne reading for the practice, Iacobus de Graffijs telles vsus plainely in theſe words,uuIacobus de Graff. deciſ. aur caſ. conſ. tom. 1. lib. 1. c. 28. art. 20. Sic licitum eſt dominis domorū locare eas meretricibꝰ, non quidē ad meretricandum, ſed ad alios fines bonos, id eſt vt ipſae vitā ſuā ſeruent et domini domorū lucrentur iuſtas penſiones, cum diſplicentia peccati, &c. ita etiā praxis Romana videtur ſeruare. pag. 105.

It is lawfull for Lords and owners of houſes to let out their houſes to whores, euen whom they knowe ſo to bee, ſo it be with this minde, not purpoſely that they may ſinne, but with this that the women may get their liuing, & be able to pay them good rents. Now tho they know they wil get their owne liuing, and paie them their rent out of whoredome, yet if they hauehave a diſlike of the ſin, they may do it lawefully: and ſuch, ſayth he, is the common practice at Rome.

Thus both for Romiſh doctrine & practice, it is apparant that ſtewes are allowed to this daie, and common whores not cenſured.

Againſt all this but one thing can bee obiected; namely, that all theſe be priuate Doctors: I anſwere, thē let vsus ſee what the Pope doth. Doth he ſupply the negligence of other Biſhops? they do not excommunicate them: doth hee? No, no, he is as bad or worſe then the worſt. Princes tolerate them, ſo doth he wwNay, by the places alleaged afore, it is manifeſt y^• it is not princes, but the Pope & the Church that tolerates and permittes thē, & princes permit them, becauſe the Church doth.; they in their kingdoms, he in Rome: they build thē houſes, ſo did he: they take part of their gain, ſo doth hee: the Biſhops excommunicate them not, no more doth he to this daie. For this end we are to knowe, that beſides all particular and perſonall excommunications, p. 140he vſeth once a yeere, that he may meete with all his enemies at once, and pay them at one payment, to excommunicate together all ſuch ſorts and kinds of people, as he holdes his enemies: but are whores any of them? no ſuch matter: nay, theſe be they;**Vide Bullam Coenae in Cō ſtit. Rom. pōt. per Petrū Mathaeūed. inter Cōſtitut. Sixti quinti pa. 883. vbi Papa excō municat & anathematizat in propria ſua perſona,

11Hereticos, vt Lutheranos, Caluiniſtas. &c.. Caluiniſts, Lutherans, and ſuch heretickes.

22Appellantes à ſentētijs papalibꝰ ad futurum generale concilium.. All that appeal from the Pope to a generall Councell.

33Piratos in Mari ſuo & capientes bona naufragantiū.. Forgers and Falſifiers of the Popes hande, or ſeale.

44Imponentes …t exigentes nova pedagia.. All that hurt and hinder Pilgrimes that come to Rome.

55Falſificatores literarum, &c. Apoſtolicarū.. All lay men that draw Clergy men to their Courts, or would bring them vnderunder their iuriſdiction.

66Deferentes prohibita infidelibꝰ.. All that hinder the iuriſdiction of the Clergie.

77Impediētes eos qui victualia ad vrbem deferant. 8. Offendentes peregrinos ad vrbem venientes. 9. Offendentes venientes Romam, aut ibi commorantes. 10. Manusinijcientes in Cardinales, praelatos ſeu nuntios papae. 11. Cauſarum in Curia Ro. curſum impedientes, ſeu literarum Apoſtolicarum executionem. 12. Officiales et praelatos cauſas à curia Ro. auocantes. 13. Perſonas eccleſiaſticas ad ſuū tribunal trahentes, et ſtatuta contra libertatem eccleſiae facientes. 14. Impedientes Iudicum eccleſiaſticorum iuriſdictionem. 15. Eccleſiaſticos aliquo modo vexantes. 16. Laicos ſe intromittentes in cauſis contra Clericos. 17. Occupantes terras ſeu Iura, et rapientes bona palatij Apoſtolici, &c.. All that ſeize vponupon anie lands belonging to the Pope, &c.

Theſe and ſuch other like to the number of 17. or 18. be the enemies againſt whome the Pope hath cauſe to plant his ordinaunce; but as for whores, and ſtewes, and ſuch other hainous tranſgreſſors of the morall law, theſe neuer hurt the Romiſh Church, and therfore ſhe bends not her power againſt them.

So then, ſeeing poperie and the ſtewes are ſo linked, that (we perceiue) do what we can, man cannot ſeparate thoſe whom the diuell hath ioined togither: let vsus p. 141then leaue the ſtews in Rome, & the Pope in his ſtewes; and mourning for their miſerie, let vsus proceed.

The next wound is this: That whereas God hath euer allowed and honoured marriage, in the old, & new Teſtament; and Concubines were neuer allowed in the old, and abſolutely condemned in the newe: Now coms popery, & makes it as lawfull to hauehave a Concubine as a wife 3131The 15. wound; He that hath not a wife may hauehave a Concubine.& this is done by no priuat perſons, but the Popes lawe it ſelfe. Thus ſaith the Canon;yyDecret. diſt. 34. cap. 4. Is qui non habet vxorem, & pro vxore Concubinam habet, a Communione non repellatur; tamen vt vnius mulieris aut vxoris aut Cō cubinae ſit cō iunctione cō tentus.

He that hath not a wife, but for a wife or in ſtead of a wife, a Concubine, let him not for that be kept frō the Communion; yet ſo as that he be content with one woman, either a wife or a Concubine.

Is not heere a piece of good licentious poperie? I know they ſay they hauehave this from the firſt councell of Toledo, which is ancient: true, but what if Spaine, not long afore conuerted to the faith, was not purged as yet from theſe dregs of heatheniſme, and Iudaiſm; are they therfore fit to be taken vp by the Pope, & inſerted in his lawe, as a Canon to binde and direct for euer? If they think that poor prouincial Councel (but of 19. Biſhops) bee a ſufficient warrant for this decree, then why take they not all▪ and why put they it not downe a wife or a Concubine, as it pleaſeth him; for ſo it is in the words of the Councell zzConcil. General. per Binniū. Col. 1607 tom. 1. pa. 560. In Concil. 1. Tolet. cap. 17 Is qui non habet vxorem ſed, &c. tantum vt vnius Mulieris, aut vxoris, aut Cōcubinae (Vt …i placuerit) ſit coniunctione contentus..

I know alſo, that they hauehave coyned a diſtinction, whereby they would couer this wound, and ſaie that a Concubine heere is to bee taken for a woman whom a man hath, and keepeth with the affection of a Husband; onelyonly in outward faſhion and ſolemnity ſhee is not a wife, nor publickly maried: but I aunſwere, the beſt of it is nought if wee did grant them p. 142all they ſaie: but diſtinguiſh as they can, the words are ſo plaine, that the ſuttleſt diſtinction they can deuiſe, wil be too ſhort a cloak to couer the ſhame of it: nay the ſhame of this Canon is written in the fore-head of it: for the Rubrick or contents, written with red letters, is worſe then the text it ſelfe;aaVide Decretū cum gloſſa, editionis lugdun. in fol. 1510 diſt. 34. cap. 4. Is, qui non habet vxorē, loco illiꝰ debet habere concubinam.

Hee that hath not a wife, ought, or at leaſt may hauehave, a Concubine in her roome.

Theſe be the very words in the impreſſion at Lions, 1510. tho I confeſs the Diuines of Paris, hauing a little more care what paſt their hands, aſhamed of the word debet (that is, ought to hauehave), put it out, and put in liceat, that is, he may hauehave bbVide decretū edit. pariſienſ. in fol. anni 1507. ibid. Is qui non habet vxorem loco illius, concubinam habere liceat.: but take the beſt of all, and is it not bad inough? well let vsus go forward; this wound is olde and wide, and deepe.

But is it yet healed? No, not to this day 3232The 15. wound not yet healed; for ſtill by the Popes Canon lawe he that hath not a Wife may hauehave a concubine.; for the Popes Canon lawe was of late yeares commaunded by the Pope to be corrected and purged, as well the Text as the Gloſſe: and is this amended, or left out as being falſe and filthy doctrine? No: other places indeed are altered, for the greater vantage and honor of the Pope: but this diſhonorable Canon, ſo diſgracefull to Gods lawe, ſtands vntouched in this newe and laſt edition of all ccVide corpus iuris Canonici, autoritate Gregorij. 13. pont. max. emendatum et editum. 91. et 600.: onelyonly the Rubricke, or title, or Contens, whereof wee ſpake before is altered thus;

ddIbid diſt. 34. cap▪ 4. Is qui non habet vxorem ſed loco illius concubinam, a communione non repellitur.. He that hath not a wife, but for a wife a Concubine, is not repelled from the Communion.

Thus it is amended; but in a poore faſhion, as wee may ſee: But what may the Church of Rome meane to amend the Rubrick or title, & not the Text? Surely becauſe they knowe manie a one haſtily runnes ouer p. 143the Contents, and titles of books and Chapters, who neuer looke into the body of the books thēſelues. But take this wound healed as it is: Is this good diuinitie at Rome, that he who hath no wife, but in a wiues ſteede keepes a Concubine, ſhall not for that bee kept from the Communion? Is not this a holy table of the Romiſh Sacrament, from which he ſhall not bee forbidden, that openly keeps a whore in roome of a wife? Certainely this wound is notably healed: let vsus then goe forward to the next.

Wee hauehave heard that a Wife is made equall to a Concubine: but what if ſhee bee made worſe then a Whore, an Adultreſſe, or a common Strumpet? None dare ſay this, none dare vndertake this, but the Whore of Babylon: but ſhee dare. For this is her doctrine, that it is a leſſe ſinne for many men to lie with another mans wife, or a common whore, then it is to marrie a wife of their owne 3333The 16. wound; Some men had better lie with another mans wife, or keep a whore, then marie a wife of his owne.. Mariage, which God hath made ſo honorable, hath been of long time diſgraced in poperie; but not in this high meaſure (I ſpeak of) abuſed, that I know, till theſe later and more ſhameleſſe times that the whore hath got her a brazen face.

In Luthers time, not yet a 100. yeeres agoe, liued one Albertus Pighius, one of the Popes Chāpions eeAlbert. Pighiꝰ ſcripſit in Lutherum, Bucerum, &c. de eccleſia catholica bene meritꝰ. Poſſeu. appar. ſac. tom. 1. lit. A., who for the defence of that hierarchie and maintenance of that cauſe, amongſt other his bold and blaſphemous aſſertions, teacheth this hoggiſh and hatefull doctrine; ffPighiꝰ explicatio controuerſiarum: controu. 15. de Caelib. et coniug. Sacerd. p. 215. edit. Pariſi. 1549.Go to (ſayth he) ſuppoſe all that vowed continencie, do not keep it ſo wel as they ſhould: What then? had they better marrie? Nay, aſſuredly: for wee muſt p. 144reſiſt the temptation by all meanes we can: but if Sed eſto, non faciunt obligati voto omnes quod poſſunt & debēt, &c. et proinde tentantur, & fortaſſe vruntur eorū pleri que : quid igitur an nubere his minus malum erit, et minꝰ damnabile? tu vide, &c. tentationi proinde quibꝰ poſsimꝰ remedijs, reſiſtendum eſt: in quibus ſi quando remiſsiores ex infirmitate carnis ceciderimus, tolerabilius hoc peccatum eſt, quam ſi iugum in totum excutiamus, &c. non quòd hic probemus fornicationem, ſed caſum ex infirmitate ad deliberatum immo perpetuum abiecto omni pudore Inceſtum, comparamus.ſometime we be too remiſſe, and ſo by infirmity of the fleſh doe fall (into fornication, or &c.) Certainly this is a leſs ſin and more tolerable offence then it is to marie; for this is wholly to cast off Gods yoke: not that we allow fornicatiō (in it ſelf); but here we compare a ſlip or fall of infirmitie to mariage, which in this caſe wee account no better then a reſolued, or deliberate, or continual Inceſt, vtterly without all ſhame.

Heere is a piece of holy poperie indeede: but it is pope-holy, that is, beaſtly and profane; ſo filthy that I had rather the particulars were cōſidered of by a mans owne diſcretion, then deciphered by me. But let vsus ſee if this be healed or no: For the Ieſuits may ſay, this Pighius wrote ſo hoggiſhly in licentious times, and when we were in the egge and ſcarce hatched ggFor the Ieſuites order was eſtabliſhed by Paul the 3. and this booke of Pighius publiſhed within 3. yeares together, namely, about the yeare. 1540.; for had we then been in that power and place as now, we would hauehave reſtrained him.

But the truth is, that contrariwiſe this impious and filthy doctrine was but obſcurely and timorouſly broched by Pighius; but hath been ſince boldly and plainly bluſtered out by the Ieſuites 3434The 16. wound not healed; for this is ſtill the doctrine of the Romiſh Church.: he brought forth an imperfect heap, but they hauehave lickt it & brought it to form & perfection. Coſterus a Ieſuite of great name amongſt them hhVide Poſſeu. appar. ſac. tō. 1. lit. T.writing a book, fit to be (as he calls it, & they eſteem it) in eueryevery Catholicks hand, deliuereth this for ſound and dogmaticall doctrine.

p. 145iiCoſterus, Enchiridion controuerſiarū, &c. cap. de coelibatu propoſ. 9 p. 528. Sacerdos ſi fornicetur, aut domi concubinam fouear, tametſi graui ſacrilegio ſe obſtringat, grauiùs tamen peccat ſi contrahat matrimonium, &c.A Prieſt, if he commit fornication, or keepe a whore at home, though hee ſinne grieuouſly, yet ſinnes hee more grieuouſly if he marrie a wife.

This is one of his propoſitions or concluſions. But hee wrote this many yeeres agoe, is it not ſince healed? No, the booke hath indeed bin often printed, and with many alterations kkVide Poſſ…uinum ibid.. But this ſtands in his laſt impreſſion vntouched, as a doctrine for the Pope to glorie in: which I ſpeake not at randon, but vponupon too good ground. For this doctrine, and the writer of it, hauehave been often reprooued by our Diuines: but in ſtead of reformation, Coſterus hath been defended, and the doctrine iuſtified by other of his learned brethren. I will name but one example: Chamier a learned French Miniſter obiected it to the Ieſuites at Turrone; and it is at large defended by Ignatius Armandus, the principall of the Colledge there, for Catholike and good doctrine. llVide Epiſtolas Ieſuiticas, part. 2. in epiſtola 1. Ieſuitae Ignatii ad Chamierū. pag. 33 &c. Vides igitur Chamiere non eſſe contra doctrinam Chriſti, nec Apoſtolorum, nec Conciliorum, nec Patrum, quod aſſerit Coſterus, &c.The Epiſtles on both ſides are in print to bee ſeene. And if theſe be not of authoritie ſufficient, let Bellarmine come to helpe them. Thus he teacheth:

mmBellarm. tom. 2. lib. 2. de Monachis, cap. 30. pag 545. De ijs qui vouerunt non recte dicitur, Qui non ſe continent, nubant, melius eſt nubere quam vri, nam vtrumque eſt malum, & nubere & vri, imo peius eſt nubere, quicquid reclament aduerſarij, &c. Et poſtea. Quae nubit poſt votum ſimplex, vetum matrimoniū contrahit, tamen aliquo modo magis peccat quam quae fornicatur.That ſpeech of the Apoſtle (They that cannot containe let them marrie: for it is better to marrie then to burne) cannot bee rightly ſaid of them that hauehave vowed: for both are naught, both to burne and to marrie: yea it is worſe of the two to marrie, whatſoeuer the Proteſtants ſay to the contrarie.

And a little after in the ſame Chapter: She that marrieth after a ſingle vow, contracteth p. 146indeede a true Matrimonie, yet in ſome ſort ſhe ſinnes more then ſhe that playes the whore.

Thus this Popeholy doctrine is now brought to ripenes and perfection, by the diligence, deuotion and modeſtie of the Ieſuites. But they hauehave a reaſon for all this, ſo good and ſo ſtrong, as they think, that thereby all is well healed: for, ſay they, fornication or whoring wee doe not ſimply allow to be better then mariage; but in reſpect that a man hath afore made a vow not to marrie, nnBellar. …bid. Coſterus ibid. Ignatius ibid.therefore to marrie after the vow, is to breake promiſe with God. A notable reaſon, if it be well conſidered: for hereby it is apparent that Poperie teacheth her people to vow againſt mariage, but not againſt fornication; againſt wiues, but not againſt whores. Alas, alas, what doctrine is this, doth mariage breake their vow, and not fornication? God keepe all Chriſtians from ſuch vowes. But that this is true, I ſay, let Bellarmine iudge.

ooBellar. ibid. Quae nubit reddit ſe impotentem ad ſeruandum votum, quod non facit quae fornicatur. Ergo quae nubit magis peccat.She that marrieth after a ſimple vow, in ſome ſort ſinneth more grieuouſly then ſhe that commits fornication, becauſe (marke his reaſon) ſhe that marieth makes her ſelfe vnable to keep her vow, which ſhe doth not that commits fornication.

Thus it is plaine: Poperie voweth againſt mariage, not againſt whoredome, adulterie nor fornication. And thus three great Ieſuites hauehave made good what Pighius taught, and that more plainly and palpably then he did. And to make vp a meſſe of Ieſuites, Poſſeuinus their grand Cenſor, comming to giuegive his cenſure of Pighius, ppPoſſeuinus in Appar. ſac. tom. 1. lit. A. Vide quid dicat de Alberto Pighio.findes many faults and errors in his bookes: but as for this hee p. 147hath nothing to ſay againſt it, but paſſeth it ouer as good holy catholike Romiſh doctrine: therefore ſeeing (as Bellarmine ſaid afore, ſay we what we can) they will not forſake, nor amend this doctrine, let them keepe it, and let it be one of the ſweete flowers of the Popes garland.

The next wound is neere a kin to this, 3535The 17. wound; Priests in Poperie may not marrie, but are permitted to keepe their whores, vnderunder a yeereli… rent.namely, that their Church hauing alwaies forbidden mariage to their Clergie, hath notwithſtanding either tolerated and permitted them concubines, or at leaſt not puniſhed it to reformation.

Thus was it complained of almoſt an hundred yeeres agoe, by the Germane nation, then being Papiſts:

qqVide Cen tum grauami na Germanicae nationis: grauamen 75. & 91. In locis plaeriſque Epiſcopi & eorum Officiales ſacerdotū tollerant concubinatum, dūmodo certa perſoluatur pecunia & recepto ab eiſdē hoc annuo cē ſu publice cum ſuis concubinis, pellicibus & alijs id genus meretricibus, illegitime cohabitare, liberoſque procreare ſinunt, &c.In moſt places (ſay they) Biſhops and their Officials doe tolerate and ſuffer the Prieſts to hauehave concubines, vnderunder the paiment of a certaine annuall rent of money, and further doe euen permit them to keepe their whores openly, and hauehave them in their houſes, and to beget children of them, &c.

Of theſe and certaine other grieuances (one hundred in all) the Germane nation complained to their Biſhops and Clergie, in their owne Diets or Parliaments held at home. But hauing no redreſſe they went further, and about the yeere 1522. complained to the Popes Legats and Nuntios at Noremberge, who gaue them good words, and promiſed they would make report thereof to his Holineſſe, and procure them a gratious anſwere. But hauing long waited to no end, they publiſhed their grieuances and ſent them to the Pope, crauing with much humilitie, audience, redreſſe and reformation; p. 148promiſing vponupon that condition, they would ſtill and euer ſhew themſelues dutifull and obedient children to the Pope, and all whom hee ſet ouer them: but if they had no redreſſe, they aſſured him they could not, nor would endure them longer. Hereupon the Pope, not willing to venture the loſſe of ſo faire a childe as Germany, pacified them for a time with goodly promiſes. But what reformation followed in whole or in any part, the ſtories of thoſe ages make it apparant. But for the particular I hauehave in hand, 3636The 17. woūd not healed: for ſtil in Poperie to this day, their Clergie are forbiddē mariage, but whores and concubines are not taken from them.what notable reformatiō was wrought herein, let a Biſhop of their owne, Eſpencaeus, as wiſe and learned as that age did yeeld, let him, I ſay, deliuer for me; who fortie yeeres after, writing of this matter, ſaith:

rrEſpencaeus de Continentia, lib 2. cap. 7 pag. 176. Pro praetenſo puro mundo que caelibatu, ſucceſſit impurus immunduſque concubinatus, vt latere nec prae multitudine queat, nec p…ae impudentia quaerat: at haec tollerantia al…iùs radices egit permiſsis alicubi ſub annuo cenſu Clericis at que laicis cum ſuis concubinis cohabitare, quod vtinam & falſo & immerito extaret inter grauamina Germaniae, &c. Impreſſ. Pariſ. 1560.In ſtead of pure and honeſt ſingle life, ſucceeded impure fornication, and filthie keeping of concubines, in ſuch ſort as neither can they be concealed for multitude, nor ſeeke they to be, they are ſo ſhameleſſe. Nay of later times this tollerancie hath ſpread further, inſomuch as in ſome places, both Clergie and laitie hauehave their whores permitted them, vnderunder a yeerely rent: whereof (ſaith he) the Germane nation complained long agoe too truly and vponupon too great cauſe.

But was not this wound healed, and this abuſe reformed vponupon this complaint of Eſpencaeus? A man might hauehave thought it would, and the rather ſeeing he was a man of ſo great eſteeme in thoſe daies, not in France only, but euen in the Court of Rome. p. 149ſſEſpencaeus vvas in ſpecial fauour vvith Pope Paul the 4. inſomuch as after much cō ſultation had vvith him, he found bine ſo vviſe and learned a man, as he had made him Cardinall if he had liued: this is apparēt in his bookes de Continent, lib. 3. cap. 4. and in his Cō mentarie on Titus, cap. 1. pag 91.But what amendment inſued, let himſelfe tell vsus in his Commentarie vponupon Titus, which he wrote many yeeres after his former booke.

ttEpiſcopi, Archidiaconi, &c. plae: unque dum dioeceſes, & parociam obequitant, non tam facinoroſos, & criminum reos poenis & correctionibus à vitijs deterrēt quo ſine pere grina…iones huiuſmodi olim iam ſuerūt iure Canonico ordinata, quam pecunia praeſenti & numerata, titulo procurationis, ne dicam ficticiae iuriſdictionis …mungunt & exugunt tum Clericos tum laicos: turpiſsimum, quod & hos cum concubinis, pellicibus, & meretriculis cohabitare, liberoſque procreare ſinunt, accepto ab eis certo quotannis cenſu, &c.Our Biſhops and Archdeacons, &c. (in Poperie) when they ride their viſitations, do not ſo much puniſh the euill doers, (for which end the viſitations were firſt ordained) as rake vp ſiluer, and ſucke it both from laitie and Clergie, vnderunder falſe and fained pretences of iuriſdiction: but it is moſt filthie of all, that they ſuffer them to keepe their whores in their houſes, and hauehave children of them, at a certaine annuall and yeerely rent, &c.

This is the healing and reformation wrought in thoſe daies. Oh but (will ſome ſay) that is 40. yeers agoe, ſure it is better in theſe latter daies. Indeede this enormitie was ſo generall and ſo ſcandalous, that euen the Councell of Trent it ſelfe was aſhamed, and made great adoe for reformation of it. vvVide Concil. Trid. ſeſſ. 24. cap. 8.But what effect it tooke, how they executed it, and what is done in the matter, let another Biſhop of theirs tell vsus, who in theſe late daies, ſcarce ſeuen yeeres agoe, wwHenricus Cuickius: Rutemundenſis Epiſcopus ſcripſit ſpeculum concubinariorum, Sacerdotum, Monachorum & Clericorum: Colon. 1599.found it to bee ſo common and ſhameleſſe a ſinne all ouer all the Low Countries, (where Poperie raigned) not onelyonly in ſecular, but euen in Monkes, Friers, and regular Prieſts, that hee writes a booke againſt the ſinne, bitterly but iuſtly inueighing againſt it, and ſhewing how dangerous p. 150and damnable a ſinne it is: and ſo much the more (ſaith he) becauſe it is ſo common and ſo little regarded, and ſo farre are they from ſhaming with it, that (mark how it is healed) they will take their concubines and whores, and carrie them vp and downe the countrie (as men doe their wiues) to feaſts and meetings, and challenge place and precedence for them (as for honeſt Matrons). And further freelie confeſſeth (but with great griefe and ſhame) that there bee very few in their Clergie, free from this crime.xxIdem Cuickius, in praefatione eiuſdē libri. Ad vos qui caſti, &c. qui (dolenter dico) ra…i eſtis & vt Eſai 24. tanquam racemi, &c.Isa 24

3737The 18. wound: Such Prieſts as be continent & hauehave no whores, yet muſt pay a yeerly rent as they that hauehave, becauſe they may hauehave if they will.And no maruel though there be but few of their Clergie that hauehave not concubines, ſeeing they take that courſe they doe with them, which is ſuch as though they would inuite, nay hire, or rather preſſe and prouoke men to the ſinne. For was it not alſo complained on at the ſame time by the Germanes, that

yyGrauamina 100. Ger. grau. 91. Sed & ſacerdotes continentes & qui abſque concubinis degunt, concubinatus cenſum perſoluere cogunt, aſſerentes Epiſcopum pecuniae indigum eſſe, qua ſoluta, licere ſacerdotibus, vt vel coelibes permaneant, vel concubinas alant.Not only thoſe Prieſts that had their whores paid yeerely rent for it, but euen thoſe that were continent, and would hauehave no concubines, yet for all that muſt pay the rent? for, ſay they, my Lord the Biſhop hath need of it, and cauſe to imploy much money: therefore pay you muſt, and then be it at your owne choice, whether you will hauehave a concubine or no.

What is this but euen to trie mens ſtrengths, and as it were to preſſe them to the ſinne: for he that either by conſtitution is vnfit, or out of morall honeſtie will not, or out of conſcience dare not keepe a concubine, ſeeing he muſt pay his rent as well as he that doth, will not this make him ſay to himſelfe; I p. 151ſee this is done by my ſuperiours, they hauehave more learning and knowledge then I: I am to follow them, and may rather truſt them then my own conceit: and certainly if it were ſo great a ſinne as I hauehave imagined it to be, our Biſhops would not take a yeerely rent to ſuffer it; and if they would, yet his Holineſſe, it being ſo old and ſo notorious a practiſe, would hauehave reformed it long ere this. Therfore ſeeing the caſe ſtands thus, and that I muſt and do pay, doubtleſſe I will not pay for nothing, &c. Surely he muſt hauehave a great meaſure of grace, that liuing vnderunder popiſh ſubiection, can reſiſt this temptation and the like: and therefore no maruell though, as themſelues confeſſe, not one of their Clergie of a great number that hath not his whores in corners, or elſe publikely in their houſes. Eraſmus liuing about that time, or ſoone after, complaineth of it, and ſaith:

zzEraſmus annotat. in 1. Tim. 3. Si quis perpendat horū temporū ſtatum, quàm innumeri ſunt Monachi publico inceſti & impudici, fortaſſis iudicabit magis expedire vt ijs, qui prorſus non continent ius fiat publici matrimonij, &c.1 Tim 3He that conſidereth the ſtate of theſe times how in numerable the number is of ſuch Monks and Prieſts as liue in open whoredome and inceſt, would thinke it perhaps more conuenient to giuegive leaue to ſuch as cannot containe rather to marrie then, &c.

And not long after him floriſhed Caſſander, a man of great name and account in his time both for wiſdome and learning, and hee finding the world ſtill worſe in this point, confeſſethaaCaſſander lib. Conſult. art. 23. cap. 1. lam …ò res redijt vt vix centeſimum inuenias qui ab omni commercio foeminarū abſtineat, &c.

Now the world is come to this paſſe, that a man ſhall not finde ſcarce one of a hundred that keepes himſelfe free from this fault.

Thus we ſee the fruit of this their practiſe to take rent for concubines, and to make them pay that p. 152had none, that almoſt none of their Clergie, but are ſtained with this pollution.

But is this healed? 3838The 18. woūd not healed: for ſuch as hauehave no concubines muſt pay their rēt, becauſe they may hauehave, if they will.No, ſaith Eſpencaeus, it is too horrible to beleeue. But it is too true that

bbEſpencaeus de Conti. lib. 2 cap. 7. Adeo que etiam continentibus ſi credere dignū eſt ad omnem cenſum perſoluen dum coactis, quo ſoluto eis liceret vel continentibus vel incontinentibus eſſe: O rem execrandam, &c.Thoſe that be continent and will hauehave none, yet are compelled to pay the whole taxe or rent, and ſo hauehave it lawfull and in their choice, to hauehave a concubine or to hauehave none: Oh execrable abomination, &c.

Thus here was no amendement for fortie yeeres after the villanie was diſcouered, and the grieuance complained of: and that there was nothing done in the daies of Eſpencaeus, which was for ſome ten yeers more, we may ſee by his words in his other booke.

ccIdem in Titum, c. 1. p. 67. Accepto ab …is, atque adeo alicubi à continentibus certo quotannis cenſu, habeat (aiunt) ſi velit: & quoties quiſque talis, cum tamen tam multi ſunt, hodie a…ter punitur.They take the rent not only of thoſe that hauehave concubines, but in ſome places euen of them that hauehave none; for (ſay they) he may hauehave if he will, therefore let him pay for his libertie: and though there be ſo many of theſe Prieſts that liue thus, yet where is there any one of them puniſhed otherwiſe then thus by the purſe? &c.

Since the time of Eſpencaeus, whether this wound be healed or no, I cannot tell: and therefore if any of that ſide can ſhew me any good authoritie that now it is reformed, and that either no Prieſts pay yeerly rent for concubines at all, or at leaſt not thoſe that hauehave none; I ſhall be willing to heare it, and to ſee that any thing at all is amended ddBut whoſoeuer will but look into their lateſt Caſuiſts and Summiſts, as be Tollet the Cardinall, Iac de Graffijs, Loel. Zecchius, Baptiſta Corradus, Berarduccius, Raphael de Caeſare, Llamas & others, will finde it more then ſuſpitious (though now they couer it more cunningly then formerly they did) that this wound is farre from being healed.: Meane time I hauehave proued it apparently that till that time p. 153it was not amended: and whoſoeuer reades the Low Countrie Biſhop Cuickius his booke aforenamed, written but ſeuen yeeres agoe, will iudge it as ill in theſe daies ſtill, as it was in the time of Eſpencaeus the French Biſhop.

Theſe Authors I hauehave named, hauing ſome remorſe of conſcience and feare of God, ingenuouſly and honeſtly wiſhed that rather mariage might bee permitted then whoredom ſhould ſo preuaile ouer the world. But what hath bin done? They for their labour are ill ſpoken of when they are dead, their bookes partly prohibited to bee read at all, partly purged and altered as they liſt; eeOpera Era…m…, Eſpencaei, Caſſandri prohibentur donec expurgentur. Vide Indicem lib. prohibit. per Clem. 8. & Indices expurgatorios Hiſp. & Belg.and for the matter it ſelf, mariage is ſtill forbidden, whoredome ſtill practiſed and winkt at, if not permitted, ſtewes ſtill tolerated, and that vnderunder the Popes noſe, and no where ſo much as euen in Rome it ſelfe: and ſtill this doctrine is Catholike and currant,

They had better goe to whores, then marrie.

And why (alas) all this, but becauſe Mariage hath been an enemie to the Popes Crowne and dignitie; but ſtewes, adulterie and fornication neuer were? Let vsus haſten forward.

I muſt needes ſay (if I ſay truly) I could diſcouer many more of theſe particular old feſtring wounds, not as yet healed, but this time will not well permit it: therefore referring it to a further opportunitie, I will ſtand but vponupon one particular more, and ſo come to a generall, which ſhall conclude all.

It hath bin long ago laid to their charge 3939The 19. wound: Their Liturgie is full of blasphemie: their Legend full of lies, their Ceremonies of ſuperſtition.that their Liturgies are full of idolatrie and blaſphemies, their Legends full of lies, their Ceremonies of p. 154ſuperſtition: which I will not at this time (being almoſt paſt) ſtand particularly to prooue, ſeeing for their Liturgie and Ceremonies, the Pope himſelfe, **Vide Bullas Clem. 8. de Pontificali, anno 95. & de Ceremoniali anno 1600.or elſe his Conuentibleat Trent ffVide Concil. Trident. Seſſ. vult. Dec. 4.hauehave granted it, and pretended that they ſhould be reformed; and touching their liues of Saints and their Legends, a great Doctor of their owne long agoe found them ſo full of ridiculous abſurdities, impieties and vntruths, that he affirmed him to be a man ggLudouicus Viues. lib. 2. de Cauſ. corrupt. art. de Lumbardica hiſtoria.of a braſen face, and a leaden heart that wrote them. Now all theſe three ſort of bookes are in ſhew reformed of late, but the truth is there is neuer a materiall wound healed, but rather a number made worſe.

1. For their Liturgie and ſeruice either publike or priuate, it is contained in their books called, Miſſalia, Breuiaria, Officia, Manualia, Portiforia, and ſuch other: all theſe hauehave been reuiewed, and (as they ſay) corrected ſince the Councell of Trent. hhVide Bullas Pontif. praefixas. Miſſal. & Breuiar. editionis 70. & poſt.But let them be examined and compared together, and I dare ſay, that for one euill taken out there is another put in, and tenne ſtand vnremoued, and that both in diuers pictures, as alſo for points of doctrine, they are as ill as the former, iiCompare for this end the Miſſalles, Breuiaries, Manuals and Primeri, printed before the Coūcell of Trent, with thoſe printed ſince.at the leaſt.

2. Their Ceremonies of ſtate, or, as they ſay, of deuotion, are contained in the bookes called, Pontificale Romanum, and Ceremoniale Romanum, kkAdde hereunto alſo their Proceſſionale, Rationale, and Sacerdotale Romanum.wherein what apiſh toyes there be, what abſurdities, what ſuperſtitions, ſometimes ridiculous, ſometimes impious, is incredible to them that ſee it not: inſomuch as ſome Papiſts, llVide Epiſt…lam Alberti Caſtellani ad Leonem 10. praefixam Pontif. vlt. edit. Venet.yea the later Popes, mmVide Bullas praed. Clem. 8.hauehave not p. 155ſpared to confeſſe that they neede great reformation, and therefore vndertooke that worke themſelues. But if a man did ſee how they hauehave amended them, they would out of this one (if there were no more euidences) conclude that Rome is that Babylon that will neuer be healed: for looke into the Pontificale, and the Ceremoniale, which were reformed, and are indeede much altered by the authoritie of Clement the 8. and printed at Rome within theſe few yeeres, and you ſhall finde ſome ſmall deformities taken away, but many great enormities ſuffered to ſtand, & ſome put in that were not there before: nnCompare for this end the Pontificale and Ceremoniale, new and old.which I will not ſtand at this time to particulariſe, both becauſe the particulars are ſo many, and alſo for that ſeeing the bookes being ſo rare are not for each mans reading, it may hap hereafter that the exact compariſon of them together, the old with40 The 19. wound not healed: for all theſe are as bad ſtill, as afore. the new, may be a worke of it ſelfe not vnworthie of ſome mens labours.

3. Their ſtories, or tales, are compriſed in the bookes called, Speculum exemplorum, Vitae Sanctorum, Legenda, &c. Theſe alſo are lately reformed, as they pretend. But how? If any would know what is done herein, take but one example. The Ieſuites in the Low Coūtries pretending theſe Legends or ſtories, needed much reformation, tooke the matter vponupon themſelues, becauſe it was of great weight and conſequence, and appointed it to ſome of their ſocietie to be reformed, and now of late they hauehave publiſhed it at Doway, ſome two or three yeeres agoe, and would make vsus beleeue that it is amended in innumerable places. ooVide librū intitulatum: Magnum ſpeculum exemplorum ab innumeris mendis, &c. vindicatum per quendam Patrem è ſocietate Ieſu & pereundem locuple tatum: Duaci. annoBut if any man hauehave loſt any p. 156time in turning ouer their Legends, and peruſing the prodigious ſtories there laid downe, let him venture euen a little more, & compare this new reformed Speculum exemplorum, with the former, and if he find as impious and ridiculous Legends, as improbable, and as impoſſible tales in that, as in the other; then let him make report what good reformers the Ieſuites bee, and how well the Romiſh Church is healed in this wound. ppTo this end compare the old Speculum Exemplorum, or the Legend vvith the new Magnum ſpeculum exemploru…, ſet out by the Jeſuites this last yeare.The concluſion is, that the Miſſals and Breuiaries, though vndertaken by Trent: the Pontificale and Ceremoniale, though vndertaken by the Pope: the Legend and Speculum, though vndertaken by the Ieſuites, and all in ſhew reformed; yet ſtand all at this day as foule and deformed, and though ſome things bee taken out, yet (all laid together) as bad or worſe then they were afore.

Theſe ſtraits of time hinder mee from inlarging my ſelfe any further, therefore to conclude, and wrap vp all in one generall exception:

The laſt point wherewith I will charge the Romiſh Church and religion, is not ſo fitly to be called a wound, as a leproſie, or a generall conſumption; but all to one end: for as it is no difference vponupon the matter, whether a man bee deepe and deſperatelie wounded, or hauehave a leproſie ouer all the bodie, or a generall conſumption, for both are deadly, and both incurable: ſo is it in this caſe; wherein the exception I take againſt them, is, that their Church and State declined long agoe, into that generall corruption & vniuerſal pollution in al eſtates. 4141The 20. wound: A generall corruption of manners in all eſtates.That the prophaneneſſe, licentiouſneſſe, and ſinfulneſſe p. 157of all ſorts of people in that Church, both head and members, is like a ſpirituall leproſie without, or a generall conſumption within, threatning ruine to the whole bodie. This point is worthie to be enlarged, but I muſt deferre it, and referre the Reader to the records of antiquitie, I meane ſuch as be their owne men, but hauing ſome remorſe of conſcience, and feare of God, did confeſſe freely, and bitterly deplore the miſerie that the ſinfulneſſe of the popiſh Church and religion would bring vponupon all the world. Let them reade (that hauehave them,) theſe books named in the margent, qqVide Gerſonis opera paſſi…. Reuelationes Brigi…tae. Vincentij Ferrarienſ. prognoſtie. Perrū de Aliaco de reformatione eccl. Nicolai de Clemangi … opera: in Bibliotheca Patrum, editionis primae. Poemata Walteri Mapes. Maillardi & Menotti Sermones. Holcot in Sapient. lect. 182. & paſſim. & Onus Eccleſiae paſſim.and thoſe that hauehave them not, it may bee ſhortly they may hauehave ſome helpe therein, and then you will grant with me, that the former and better times, confeſſed that which I now lay to their charge.

I will inſiſt particularly but vponupon two, the one of ſo great antiquitie, the other of ſo great authoritie, as both are beyond exception. Some 400. yeares ago liued a Monke learned for thoſe times, called (as Poſſeuine confeſſeth rrVide Poſleu in Appar. ſac. In append. priori ad …om. 1. lit. B.Bernardus Morlanen…is: hee wrote three bookes of the contempt of the world, in an artificiall kind of Poetrie, but much more artificially deſcribing, and zealouſly deploring the ſinfulneſſe of the Romiſh Church, and ſtate in thoſe daies, from the head to the foote, deſcribing particularly their adulteries, ſſCaſta cubilia ſunt modò v…a, lata petun…ur &c.drunkenneſſe, ttCura ſtat vnica luctaque publica carnis in eſu: eb…ietas placet & tua vox …acet ô bone Ieſu.ambition, idleneſſe, diſſimulation, deceits, coſenages, p. 158murders, uuArcta relinquitur & via carpitur ampla quibuſque. Quae…imus in via, fluxa fluentia, con fluit anſque. Archit…icl…iu…, ſceptra, ſedilia rima petendo. Quiſ que tumultuat, inſtat & aeſtuat, haec ſatagendo. Stat ſimulatio, diſsimulatio, crimen vt ū que. Alea, crapula, fraus, facinus, gula flagitiumque. Ora bilinguia, lis, homicidia Mars, tuba, terror. Vis, probra Iergia: quid moror? omnia me docet error.whoredomes wwI am meretricia (pene) cubilia ni… reputātur. Et venialia, quod genialia vociferātur.of all eſtates: then particularly for their Clergie, their ignorance and negligence, xxGrex flet amarius, eſt operarius in grege ra…us. Pontificum …tatus excidia datus, extat auarus, &c.their Sodomie, yyParcite credere quae pudet edere, ſed tamen edam. Horrida nomine, plus mala crimine, crimina quaedam. Heu male publicus eſt Sodomiticus ignis & aeſtus. Nemo ſeelus tegit, aut premit, aut fugit eſſe ſceleſtus. Plangite ſaecula, plangite ſingula, crimine p…ena. Mas, maris immemor (ô furor, ô tremor) eſt vt hyaena.their Simonie and other corruptions in attaining places in the Church: zzNon ſine Simone, ſed ſine canone, dux animarum. Mox docet inſcius & ſibi n…ſcius ipſe praeeſſe. O mala ſaecula, vendi…u… infula Pontificalis, Infula venditur, nec reprehenditur empti… talis. Roma dat omnibus omnia dantibus, omnia Romae. Cum pretio, quia iuris ibi via ius perit omne. Roma nocens nocet, at que viam docet ipſa noc…ndi: lura relinquere, lu…ra requirere, pallia vendi.and then at laſt comming to Rome it ſelfe, ſo layes open the filthineſſe of the whore of Babylon, aaRoma ruens rora, foeda ſatis nota cante…iat te▪ Scilla vorax rapis, & cupis & capis, & trahis ad te: Gurges es al…ior, area, capacior alta lacuna. Inſatiabilis, inſociabilis omnibus vna. Si tibi det ſua, non repleat tua guttura, Croeſus: Merca, vel aureus à modo, non Deus eſt tibi Ieſus.as it is doubtfull whether her ſinfulnes be more hatefull, then his boldnes is admirable. Let him that would bee able to anſwere all their falſe ſlanders, which they lay to the charge and diſgrace of Proteſtant Churches; and to retort vponupon themſelues their obiection of the liues of our Profeſſors; and he that would ſee the Church and ſtate of Rome in her owne natural colours; let him, I ſay, reade but that one Author, who beſide that hee is Manuſcript in many Libraries, he was alſo publiſhed at Amſterdam, or ſomewhere neere therabouts, this preſent yeare 1607.

And after hee hath diſcouered her corruptions, and laid open her ſinnes from head to foote, then p. 159he vrgeth her vehemently to repentance and reformation, bbRoma reſurgito, te tibi reddito Romam. Cuius eras prius, ordinis illius exprime formam. Quo modo corpora tū …, ita pectora nune rege fracta. Fracta recollige deuia di…ige, …er lab…facta, &c. Sed facis haec ſecus, &c. Roma quid exequar, imò quid eloquar, aut tibi promam? Vncia te ro…at, vncia te notat haud fore Romā. Tu populos tibi, te rutilans ſibi marca ſubegit. Semper e…im lucra progenies tua, vult, agit, egit.which becauſe he ſeeth no hope of, but that ſtill ſhe falleth from euill to worſe; therefore he denounceth Gods iudgements againſt her, and aſſures her that vengeance, ruine and deſtruction ſhal fall vponupon her. ccFas mihi dicere, fas mihi ſcribere, Roma fuisti. Ecce relaberis, ecce reuoluer is ordine triſti. Fas mihi ſcribere, …as mihi dicere, Roma peristi. Obruta maenibus, obruta moribus occubuiſti. Vrbs ruis inclita, tam modo ſubdita, quam prius al…as Quo prius altior, hoc modo preſsior eſt labefacta. Fas mihi ſcribere, fas mihi dicere, Roma ruisti, Sunt tua maenia voci…erantia, Roma peristi. Haec omnia, & multa huiuſmodi, Bernardus Marlanenſis, Monacus Cloniacenſis in libris ſui… de contemptu mundi, ante 400. annos ſcriptis, & 1607. editis.Some part of his owne words I hauehave here put downe in Latine, but not in Engliſh, becauſe the ſinnes he laieth againſt her are ſuch, as ſome of them are better vnnamed then reprooued. What can they ſay to it? is he ſome fained and forged new found Author, deuiſed by ſome of vsus, or was he ſome late writer hired by Luther, or ſuborned by Caluine to raile on the Pope or Poperie? Nay Poſſeuine the Ieſuite confeſſeth in the place aforenamed (and if he did not, it is well enough knowne by other good and ancient records) he was a profeſſed Monke, and liued aboue foure hundred yeeres ago: therefore his teſtimonie in this caſe is beyond exception.

Now whether theſe wounds and corruptions in the Romiſh Church and State were healed, in the ſubſequent ages, or no, if any man doubt, let him looke vponupon the Authors named afore, who liued in the ages ſucceeding one after another. Gualterus Mapus, and their S. Brigid, not much more then a hundred yeares after him: about 100. yeeres after them, Bonauenture and Wiclieffe: about a hundred p. 160yeeres after them, Gerſon, Clemangius, Vincentius, and others: theſe if any man looke vponupon he ſhall ſee that thoſe wounds ſtood vnhealed, and thoſe corruptions vnreformed, vntill we come to the yeere 1500. namely to this laſt age of all: and though Poſſeuine malitiouſly conceale the name of Gual…er Mapes, becauſe hee is too plaine, yet hee cannot denie, but many, whereof ſome he nameth, ddPoſſeu. Appar. ſac. tom. 2. lit. I. Iacobus lunterbeck German. Carthuſ. anno 1460. ſcripfi… auiſamentum ad Papam pro reforma ione Eccleſiae, &c.did in all ages write to the Pope for reformation, and told him plainly what would follow if hee did not reforme the Church.

Now what good all theſe men could doe, and what reformation followed at laſt, let a Pope himſelfe ſpeake, one of the honeſteſt hearts that euer had the hindrance to be a Pope, Adrian the 6. the beſt that was theſe many yeeres, and of whom (if it bee poſſible of any) there was expectation of ſome reformation in the Church: for, as Peter Matthew in his life confeſſeth, hee was not ſo proud, nor couetous, as moſt of them are eePetr. Matthaeus in Cō ment. ſuis ad papales conſtitut. de Adriano 6. Pauperrima familia exortus, ſe dedit ſtudijs, doctrina & morum integritate conſpicuus: praeter omnem expectationem, Pont. Max. renū …iatus eſt: expectabatur Romae ſumma Cleri & totius populi laetitia, parabantur triumphi & theatra, ſed ceſſare fecit in medio opere artifices: Gentilium haec oſtentationes, non Chriſtianorum eſſe inſignia, & Eccleſiaſtici ordinis homines parum decere ratus.. How he found the Romiſh Church when he came to it, and how he left it at his ſudden taking from it, iudge by his owne pitifull and paſſionate ſpeech, which he commanded his Nuntio to deliuer from him, and in his name to the aſſembly of the States of Germanie, in their Imperiall Parliament, about the yeere 1522. Theſe bee his words, as Eſpencaeus a learned Biſhop of their owne reporteth.