¶How longe that the byshops haue bene in the churche, and when, with the begin­ninge lykewise of the pope.

[Page] THe christians hadde but bishoppes vntill the time of Constantine. Anno .ccc. xi. And these byshops did no­thing but study the holye scripture, and taught the holy gospell to the people, and exercised y^e same, & liued soberly. The bishop of rome had no dominion ouer rome as he hathe nowe, he was a curate vnto thē, & that was al. And bishops generallye (according to their vocation) taught y^e people y^e kingdom of god, & comforted and fedde the poore. The communes gaue thē mony with other necessary thinges whiche they dealed among the poore people, as y^e apostles dydde lyke wise. There was moche spite wroughte againste them by diuers great and mightye men. They were there to suffre. Fewe of the magistrates were of their syde, yf by chaunce one were with them tenne were against them: as both themperoures and popes Cronicles testifie,The perse­cutiō of the christē peple & how they came togy­ther. yet dyd they suffer al thin­ges for gods sake. Item the commune people labo­red truelye and holpe one another, and where as they might be sewrest, there did they gather togi­ther. So hathe lykewise the holy Anthony done in egipt, and brought many to christ, and they encrea­sed. Insomuche that there dwelt certaine thowsan­des of christians in the wildernesse of Egipt, and liued by the gospell, geuinge them selues to mortify the flesh, & daily labours, This witnesseth s. Ierom.Ierom. x [...]

BVt whē y^e foresaid Constātinus Magnus had ouercome & subdued cruell Maxētius whiche persecuted al christiās, he gaue licēce to y^e christiās being scattered abrode, to build chirches & openlye [Page] to preache the gospell, geuinge them also certaine greate giftes towards the same, but not the citie of rome, neither yet landes nor people, as the pope al­ledgeth in his lawes.Constanti­nus gaue not rome to the pope. Distinct .xcvi. Constantinus, but kept them to him self, his heyres and executors, & Constantius his sonne had the possession of rome euen as Constantinus his father had before him. After Constātius, Iulianus lykewise, Iouinianus Valentinianus, Gratianus, and so forth.

WE read no where that the byshop then inuaded the Romains, neither that he kept anye maner of warres,Suche em­perour such byshops. but lyued poorelye. And the byshop with the christians were many times inuaded by y^e emperoure.

BVt when Iustinianus (after the birth of christ. v^c .xix.) became emperour, he redemed the bys­shops oute of their miserye, and dydde muche good vnto them. After hym reigned Iustinianus his susters sonne, which was so righteous, that he compiled & set in order all the institucions of them­perours of rome, whiche nowe we name themperi­all lawes, he buylded diuers goodly churches at cō stantinople, and gaue them greate riches, yearelye fode and sustinaunce.The begynnyng of the popes ry­ches. And by this meane the bys­shops and preistes became somewhat more welthye then they were before.

ANno. v^c .lxxx. was Gregorius Magnus (the first of that name) made byshop of rome, and one named Mauricius de Cappadocia (y^e first that came out of grecia) emperour when (as before) the byshop of rome was become somewhat myghty and riche, they coulde not agree betwene them: In­somoche [Page] that Mauricius became ennemy vnto Gregorye: At the same tyme, were the byshoppes some­thinge yet persecuted, as yet being faithfull. And themperour continuyng in persecution of thē, god permitted a plage to come ouer hym, that he was takyn prisoner by Phoca, that was chosen emperour in hys rome, and causyd hym to be headyd.

When nowe Phocas. Anno. vi^c. & iii. kept hys seate at Constantinopell, And y^e occidental empire (that is, Rome, Italy, France, and Germanie) were withoute a heade,Practise to get londes and people the vice emperoure beinge slaine of the Gottishe kinge Theodorico. The byshop of Rome thoughte in his mynd, what & yf thou hadste the dominion of the vice Emperowre, that rowme neded not to stond open for a preye to euerye man? For that cause wente Bonifacius the thirde vnto themperour Phoca, to obteyne of hym, that as in worldly dominion euery mā toke themperoure for the chief heade of all the worlde, lykewyse y^e byshop of Rome might be the chief bishop within Christendome. Then muste nedes followe that he must haue landes and men.

WHyles themperowre of Rome, kepte his seate at Cōstantinople, the byshop of Cōstantinople wrote hym selfe the chiefe bishop, bicause of the empire. Thys shrodely troubled y^e byshop of Rome called Bonifacius,when and ī what bys­shops time this name papa begā. who went for the same cause to themperoure Phoca, praienge hym instantlye to graunte to the seat of Rome hys Imperialle priui­lege, frō henceforth to be a bishop aboue al bishops, [Page] that is Papa patrum. And the byshoprike of Rome to be named the chiefe of all bishoprikes.

ALthoughe this priuilege wolde not so lyghtly be graunted, yet he obteined it by continuall seute and begging. This will they not be a knowen of nowe, but saye that the pope is the supreme head and his romishe byshoprike to be aboue all byshoprikes by goddes ordenaunce .xxi. Quamuis. and Distinct .xxii. omnes. And themperour Constanti­nus (say they) sholde lykewise haue giuen this pri­uilege to be pope, and his bisshoprike to be aboue al other which likewise appereth by their own Decret. Distinc .xcvi. Constantinus. They make of the pri­uilege, whatsoeuer they wil the whiles it is to their profite. And thus haue they writen it in their owne Decrees. Thence commith the name of the most holiest father the pope. The same haue they afterward colored with Christ, his holy worde, and Peter. It sholde haue hadde no lykenesse to truth elles.

BVt how agre these thinges, Constantinus did graunte the priuilege, Gregorius the thirde broughte it to passe by Phoca. And afterward must Christ confirme the same. Haue the faithful olde bisshops before Constantynes tyme bene so ignorante that they vnderstode not the holy scriptures? then is it no maruail that they were persecuted. Yf they had set forth them selues by tymes, with christes wordes, they myghte haue bene in better case.

YF they hadde suche power of christe, what ne­ded they to entreate and flatter the vngodlye [Page] emperours for it? when christus chose Paule to be an apostle amonge the heithēs, he must nedes be it, went also, & did as he was commaunded, neding nether emperours nor kinges confirmacion to y^e same, And cōtinued vntil such time as thēperour did hed him. After that sorte was Paule made pope, and Petrus was crucified. Therfore hath it another menyng then the pope allegeth. And of y^e same wordes Tu es Petrus They haue made them a lawe contra­rie to the doctrine of christe and the Apostles, & the lyues of faithfull byshops.

THe same Bonifacius the third, when he hadde begged the chief byshoprike of Phoca, imme­diately after he wrote him selfe pope Bonifacius the thirde of that name. He gathered al his bishops & preistes togither, and kept a concile at Rome. And declared there openly that from that time forward a pope beinge chosen by the priesthode & the cōmon people, shuld be taken of asmuch authorite, as if he were created by themperour & admitted. Lo there may we se y^e first thankes or reward y^t the pope gaue to themperour for the priuilege graunted vnto him takyng away from him his old rightes which were & had ben themperours, since y^e first christen empe­rour was. That thēperour shuld make no more bys­shops, but y^e pope, & so shuld y^e bysshops lykewise be more obedient to the pope thē to themperour, & de­spetch al their matter at Constantinople w^tout thē ­perour. And thus began he priuily to rule & cōmād his maister themperour, of whom he hadde begged the priuilege. The same was not done immediatly [Page] by rigeur, but the pope suffred themperour to haue styl for a time his deputie at Rome, which admitted the pope.

NOwe was it come to suche a point, that the po­pes power wolde breake out, and take vppon hym to be aboue themperoure. And therfore, when after the birth of Christe .vii^c. & .xviii. yeares Leo the third of that name, beinge emperoure, dyd put downe Germanum a Patriarche at Cōstantinople, and in his place set Anastasium. The pope of Rome sent Gregory the third vnto themperoure, & wrote vnto him, that he shuld putte Germanum into his place againe, whiche themperoure wolde not do. There beganne all the mischeife at ones. The pope found the meanes that all Italy fel from thempe­rour and forsoke him (whiche none other pope hath done, but they paciently suffered persecution) he cursed also themperour. Thinking whē thempire were deuided within it selfe, he wold be emperour, for he had alredy gotten him a greate name, amonge the princes and gouernours. Reason wold also require that he were not only the cheifhead by name, but also in might and power, and so wolde he kepe Rome and graunt thempire to whom he wolde and listed.

WHen now Constantinus the fifte, the sonne of Leo the thirde was emperoure, and somwhat offended with the pope zacharia, by reason of his father, whome Gregorius suffered to dye vnder his curse in Messambria, and caused all Italye to fall awaye from him. He purposed to haue brought thē [Page] againe vnder his subiection. zacharius the pope fearing leaste Constantinus might shorten his winges againe, soughte another maner of meane, then super hanc petram, vpon this rocke, that is to saye,Howe the pope came by rome. him selfe. He sent for helpe vnto Pipinus thadministratour of fraunce, promisinge to make him kynge of Fraunce, with the fauoure and good will of the Magistrates and rulers. Was not this lykewise done in despite of themperoure? And thus was the romishe empire deuided, one toke here, and another there. The pope kept Rome as his owne.

HEre haue you the first kinge made by y^e popes power, and the fauour of the rulers and gouernours, accordinge to the tenoure of his spiri­tuall lawes .xi. q. i. Te quidem. Pipinus the firste kyng made by pope za­chariā But this pope dyed the nexte yeare after, and Stephanus the seconde came in his stede, The whiche hadde muche sorowe and trouble by kynge Astulphum, and likewise cal­led vnto Pipinus to assiste the churche of Rome, Insomuche that the kinge Pipinus toke his parte, and dyd driue kinge Astulphum awaye from rome, and gaue the pope Stephane Rauēnam, with dy­uers other cities.

ANd so is the pope successiuely become a ruler aboue emperours and kynges, and al christē ­dome vniuersallye. And hath forsaken y^e holy scrip­tures, the gospell, the footesteppes of the auncients pouertie, sorrowe, care, and all other kyndes of per­secutions and troubles &c. Howe can he then be the mooste holy vycare of christe, and successor of sainte [Page] Peter? we fynde writen, Deare brethern be my fol­lowers, as I am the folower of christ .i. cor. xi. yf the pope with his company do folowe Christ, then is it reason that we lykewise followe him. But for their deuylish and abominable rule and doctrine, is ther not one iote in scripture. There is neither Peter, nor Paule that wyl know them, muche lesse wil Chryst hym selfe knowe them. Thus shal they be answered nescio uos. I know you not. Quia operati estis ini­quitatē. you haue set forth your own noughtynes in summa ebrietate sicut fortes Ephraim. in all filthy­nes and diuers other kyndes of vngodlynes (which be not to be wrytten) with the myght of this world.

LO, hitherto haue you hadde in wryting the beginninge of the pope, thaugmētacion of his state, and thirdly his full power and myght. Nowe shall you lykewyse beholde and se the same in the olde painted figures folowynge.

HOw be it many olde and faithful fathers per­ceyued, and sawe it well, yet durste they not clearelye sette it forthe, excepte only by fygures. Trustyng alwais, that thorow the mercy of god a tyme shulde come when they myght be brought to lyghte. And so clearly sette forth, that it were impos­sible more sightlye to paint them. This wyll we now do for the plaisure, and to the pro­fit of suche as can not reade. To proue whether they be able to knowe a lyon by his clawes.

❧The pope in his pontificall robes on euerye syde a beare, castynge them money in their mouthes, and the holy ghost a syde of hym.

IN this estate began the byshop of Rome to sette hym selfe. Anno .ccc.xi. at the tyme of Constantinus Magnus, the which when he had ouercome, Maxentiū graunted the Christianes to buyld churches, and gaue excedynge greate giftes towarde it but nei­ther londes nor people, nor yet the cure of Rome, as they saye he dydde. When they smelled ryches, and daylye coueted more and more, then was [Page] goddes worde laide aside. And afterwarde ouer­came they all thinges (as they do yet) with monney Lordes, dukes, emperours, kinges, landes and people haue made subiect vnto them. They hadde well studied the wordes of Philip the king of Macedo­nia, where as he saithe, that there is no castell, no towne, ye no land, so stronge, which cannot be won, yf a moyle laden with money maye entre into it. And thus mony ouercommeth all thinges. And so haue they sette a syde the very true rocke, which is Christe, the fotesteppes of Peter, and finally al ma­ner of tribulations and persecutions. Their church haue they buylded vpon them selues, and therefore they may not endure or cōtinue. They haue sought also their helpe by the worldly powers, whiche the beares signifie and represent in this figure. Yf they had continued in their vocation, christe wold neuer haue forsaken them. But when they fell from it, and yet wolde (notwithstandinge) maintaine all their doinges with these wordes, vpon this rocke. &c. Christe went from them. And immediatly after thei soughte helpe, wherewith they yet continuallye (ye and againste Chryste hym selfe) wyll defende themselues.

And this fall of the byshoppes firste broke oute clearly, by pope zachariam, and Stephan the secōd against Constantine the fifth, when they persuaded Pipin the lieutenaunte of Fraunce to helpe y^e pope againste themperoure, and so doing, the pope wold make him kyng of Fraunce, Italy, and Germanye, with the fauoure and good wyll of the magistrates [Page] and rulers.

WHerwith defendeth the pope his church nowe with Christe or with beares? that is with worldlye powre and strengthe. It hath tyghte well bene perceaued hitherto, and is as clere as y^e sonne. That the beares sygnifie worldlye myght and cru­ell people: We fynde it in the seconde booke of Samuell, the seuententh chapter,ii. Sam. 17. where as Eusai reproued the counsell of Ahitophell, Sayeng vnto Ab­solon, thou knowest thy father and his men, howe they be stronge, and they be chased in their myndes, and are euen as a beare robbed of her whelpes in the felde. &c.

IT suffiseth not to saye, I am the chiefe bysshop I haue the roume of an apostle, I sytte in the Apostel stole, Petrus muste preache, Paulus muste also preache. Whyles the pope nowe followeth not Peter and Paule (the whiche he taketh for his au­thores) in preachinge, teachinge, and feadinge of Christes flocke, as the commaundement specifieth, so sytteth he besides the apostell stole, and the spirit of god shrinkethe frome hym, the whiche more strengthened hym then al the beares of the world. But the chylde of perdicion with also his great tirannye (euen as Iu­das) must nedes be set forth and be knowen.

¶ The pope in his robes thrusteth downe the Aigle with the floure deliis at the ende of his slaffe.

THe crowned aigle doutles signifi­eth themperour of Rome, whom the pope vnder the pretens of holines hath alwaies stopped with y^e floure deliis, whiche is the frensh kinge. And hathe robbed themperoure, of all maner of thinges, landes, and people, substance and riches, as aboue sufficiently is declared. The pope fearing lest in proces of time, the same thinges might be taken from him again, and that the righteouse heire and lorde might fortune to recouer them againe (as often times hath bene seene by certayne [Page] emperours). He wined him dailye more and more to other worldlye princes and rulers, & resisted them­perour, contrarie to all righte and reason. Neither was he so contented, but prouokinge likewise other to inuade themperoure. And by this meane he re­mained a ruler aboue them all. The same appeared by Constantine the syxthe. For when zachari­as the pope coulde not obtaine his purpose of him, he matched him selfe with Pipin, a lieutenaunte of fraunce, and made hym king therof. The same was a waye and meane to bring thempire vnto France. Is this any other thing, then with the assistence of the flowre deliis, to resiste themperoure? Ye, and vnto this present daie haue y^e popes alwaies more fauoured fraunce, then thempire. For what soeuer these two haue, hath bene in time past, vnder the oc­cidentalle empire. And to thentente it be not taken frome them againe, they styke harde togither Et uiuit ex rapto, non hospes ad hospi­te tutus. That is. And the pope ly­ueth by thinges robbed of them­pire. But he that saith so now, is named an he­retike, and no where free.

¶ Here kneleth the pope, and the hande of god threateneth and rebukethe hym, but a fox doth counsell the contrary? [Page]

IN the seconde boke of Moyses the thirde chapter, god shewed vnto Moyses oute of a fyrye busshe, what he shulde do. Euē so is here the hand of god painted in a busshe oueragainst the pope, sitting vpon his knees, threatning and rebuking the pope, bycause he doth vtterly applye him selfe to the riches & dominion of this worlde, which is contrary to the vocation and nature of the apostolicall function. Suche threate­ninges, admonitions, and warninges, haue manye yeres agone bene geuen to the pope, of manye and dyuers faithfull men. Ye, and thoughe certaine po­pes faine wolde haue amended it. It coulde not be. For it were agreat abuse to the church of rome: Ne­ther wolde the foxesse suffre it to be done, that is to say, the Cardinalles, Notaries, and other of that see [Page] the whiche euen at this present, pull backewardes, fearinge, that if the pope shulde followe Peter and Paule, their doctrine and lyfe, then must they like­wise become poore. And that the foxes signifie such as attaininge to the vnfaithfull princes and gouernours, the same shalte thou fynde. Luc. xiii. where as Christe calleth Herode themperours deputy at Ierusalem a foxe.Luc. xiii. Whiles nowe the pope hearethe not the voice of god, he imagineth and practisethe al waies and meanes, to haue y^e Aigle by the throte, that is to subdue, and bringe themperour vnder his power and dominion,

¶ The pope hath the Aigle by the throte, and foy­neth at the other byrdes lykewyse with hys threforked scepter, and the same affir­meth a monke to be agreable to scripture.

[Page] WHen a man is taken by the throte, then must he nedes do what soeuer his aduersary requirethe: Howe longe, and what maner of practise & sutteltie the pope hath vsed vntyll suche tyme as he had gotten them­pire vnder his subieccion, is not necessarie here to be written, seing it is mencioned before. But this is very necessarye to be knowen, after what sorte he han­dled themperoure, when he toke thaigle by the throte? In the time of Iohan the .xii. and Otto the firste there was stablyshed a greuouse intolle­rable, hurtefull and exitiable othe to all thempire, to be sworne of all emperours,The oth of themperor to the pope in this maner. I Otto the good, promyse and swere vnto the pope Iohn, my soueraine lorde, by the father, sonne, and holy goste. &c. That (if I come to the citye of rome) I shal exalt and promote the holy churche of rome, and the, as ruler of the same, to my power and abi­litie. And farthermore that thou shalt lose no parte of thy liuinge nor dignitie, whiche thou haste with my will, counsell or assente. And within the citie of rome nothing to command or institute (concerning thinges belonging vnto you, or the Romains) with out thy counsel. And all the londes longinge to s. Peter (so that they come vnder oure iurisdiction) to restore vnto you. And whome soeuer I permytte to the gouernaunce of Italye, hym will I lykewise bynde by his othe to be assistente vnto you, and a defender of the Landes and possessions of sainte Peter to his power.

[Page]THe pope had the power to stablyshe and sette forthe this othe, by the auctorite (and accor­dinge to the tenoure) of his spirituall lawe .xii. q.i. clericus. is this any better, then takinge the Ai­gle by the throte? Thus became Otto the first em­perour of Germany with al his successors very bōd­men. And the moste richest & also myghtyest empire and kyngedome of all the worlde, was in bondage, and remained vnder the popes power, & dominion.

THus is the temporall gouernaunce euen here ouerthrowen. The popes before were seruauntes, and themperoure a prince and gouernour ouer all thempire. Nowe is the pope become the gouer­noure ouer all, and themperoure a seruaunt, In so­muche that he must kysse the fete of his subiecte. A faithfull and true Germaine emperoure oughte ra­ther to graunt to be torne in peces. But doutles, if he dyd well beginne it, wel sholde come of it. Fye of soche shame before god and the worlde, for this knauery can w^t no maner of scripture be proued, except onely by their owne deuilysshe and vngodly lawes, whiche the mounke standinge here by the pope con­firmeth. Ye and to be euen as true as the holy scrip­tures.

WHen a right natural Germain hart remēbreth wel this stinking pride and presumptiō of the pope, it is for anger lyke to burst a sunder, that the valeante and myghtie Germaine emperours haue suffred them selues to be made such fooles & iesting stockes, as to kysse the feete of so vngodlye a crea­ture. I beleue that if it were not to vyle a thynge, [Page] they muste haue kyssed the popes hindermost part. And yet euery man may not come so nyghe to the holy father.

AT the firste was it not so, Constantinus y^e first and all his successors (as many as were Chri­stianes) made and chose byshops at rome and euery where. Nowe make the popes, emperours, kynges and byshops, and therefore foineth he lykewise with his scepter at the other byrdes,

WHyles nowe the pope takethe vpon hym the gouernaunce and rule of this world, so must he lykewise promise and swere to the hyghest prince of this worlde, whiche is the de­uyll. And the same declareth the figure nexte following.

¶Here commeth the Deuyll with the pope and giueth hym his commaūdements, accordinge to whiche he must behaue hym selfe in thys hys king­dome in earth. [Page]

WHyles (as aboue is mencioned) by the forsakinge of goddes worde, the persuasion and illusion of the deuyll, whiche onelye is a prynce of this worlde) the popes be be­come successours, and deputies vnto hym, as their cheife gouer­noure here in earthe. So haue they nothinge more to do with god, Christe nor his doctrine. For Christ saith. Ioh. xiiii. The prince of this world commeth and hath nothinge in me, and so shall nowe (whiles I am here) the prynce of the worlde be thruste oute. Iohan. xii. Thus can the pope haue no parte with Christe, concerninge the kyngedome of this worlde, whyles his chiefe minister the deuyll hathe nothinge in hym.Math. 8▪ Howe can they now defend the patrimonie and possession (as they name it) of [Page] Christe and Pieter?Math. 8. c. Luc. 9. f. Christus hadde not where to lay his head in. And Peter forsoke his poore fisher bote, with his patched fishernet also.

CHriste sought not in this worlde (as many co­uetous parsons do, the which gather and heap great substance togither, neither dare they spend it them selues, to the ende that they might leue muche behinde them for their executours) but was sente frome his father to teache and suffre persecution, which he fulfilled. Euen the very same left he to thē that be his seruauntes,Mat. 10. b. Luc. 10. [...] for a testament, sayenge, I sende you forth, as my father hath sent me, as shepe among y^e wolues, yf they persecuted me,Ioh. 13.15 they shall lykewise do the same vnto you, for y^e seruaunt is no greater then his lorde. Here fynde we very lyttle of the kyngdome of this worlde.

ANd thus is all the popes boaste and presumption nothing worthe. For he is none of the children of Abraham, (Howe be it, he wryteth and sayth hym selfe to be the folower of Christ) but a childe of the deuill, whiche fathers wordes and workes he foloweth diligently alwaies. And the same verifieth his owne doctrine and lyfe, forbidding meates, ty­mes, and wedlocke, to maintaine horedome, with more other abuses whiche be not to be spoken.

Io. 8. d. 10 a 13. e. 1. Ioa. 4.HE that hearethe goddes wordes, and dothe therafter, is of god. But whosoeuer hearethe them not, is not of god. Then must he nedes be of y^e [Page] deuyll, which is also a father, but of lyes,Gen. [...]. a. Ioh. 8. d. 1. Ioh. 3. b. And who so euer followeth hym, goethe about with lyes.

THe deuill is the prince of this worlde. And the pope writeth him selfe also a gouernoure of y^e worlde, as hauynge receaued the same of him that had power to delyuer it. The deuyll from the beginninge hathe bene a murderer and lyer, and the au­thore and father of all lyes. The same chargeth he like wise his officers and seruauntes withall, for he wolde gyue them nothinge, doinge not his will. Euen so is all that longeth to the pope, nothinge but murther, lies, and deceite, Ita patrem sequitur sua proles. No crowe becommeth white with was­shinge. There is nowe both Crisame and baptyme loste. And therfore will the lorde subuerte and ouerthrowe them, as it is (laudes and praise vnto god) begon alrea­dye, yet they thinke styll, euen as they gotte it, euen so to kepe it. As is to be seene in the fi­gures folo­winge.

¶The pope thrustethe the lambe thorowe with his sworde. And therefore gy­ueth him the deuyll the keyes that is, power and might.

HOwe be it the pope boasteth & day­lye cryeth, his keyes to be of Christ, though it be nothinge so. The olde fathers perceaued the same righte wel, and therfore haue they painted here the deuil with the keyes by the pope. Because that all the auctoritie whiche he hath here in earthe, commeth not from god, but from the deuyll. For howe coulde the power of god be with the sworde that kylleth the lambe.

[Page]THe deuill is the father, and the pope the sonne The deuill is a prince of this worlde, and the same hath he geuen vnto the pope, as his heyre, w^t all maner of worldly might and power, the same si­gnifie the keyes, the rodde, and the sworde. And who soeuer obeyeth him not in this his power and dignite, the same doth he scourge first with y^e rodde admonisheth him, and curseth. &c. And yf that wyll not helpe, then muste he dye with hys sworde as an heretike. The sworde of the spi­rite whiche Paule speakethe of, oughte rather to procede out of the popes mouth,Ephes. 6. Hebre. 4. yf he wold be named the successoure of Peter.

But euen suche a mannes seruaunte as he is, such kinde of li­uery weareth he. And the same shewethe the figure fo­lowinge.

❧The pope with his keyes, them kepeth a serpente, in his pon­tificall robes and treasor ful of ducates, and the power lābe is the harde cote of. [Page]

THe deuyll is the wylye serpente, the which yet still by wilynes auaū ceth the popes power, ruleth y^e same and kepeth in strength. Insomuch that by that meane, he hath almost subdued, and broughte vnder his dominion all Christendome, some he seduceth, w^t mony, & so be his ornamentes full of ducates, some againe with his false and fained ypocrisye, hauynge a crosse in his handes. Some by might and power, So that partly by the sence of the crosse and keies, and partely by the deuill and Fraunce he subdueth altogether. And it goeth with the pope, euen as A­poca .xiii. is writen: That as many as will not wor­shyp hym, shalbe kylled. And all his men be mar­ked, [Page] so that no man dare by or sell, saue he that hath the marke in his righthande or in his foreheade.The poeps marke. There falleth the lambe euen to the grounde. The pope headeth him, and he muste dye. In all these doinges he hathe kepte hym selfe with the kocke, that is Fraunce, signified by the kocke, whiche hel­peth him to suppresse goddes worde. And all this vnder a pretence of fained holines. So hathe he obteyned the rule both in spiritualle and temporalle matters ouer all Chri­stendome. And with the assistence of his wolues he trea­deth vnde his fete all rulers & gouernours that they can go no farther then he permitteth them. As the fi­gure folowinge declareth.

¶The pope standeth vpon the emperiall crowne hauynge a rasoure in his hande, and the wolfe the sworde. [Page]

TO be a fotestole, is ouer all y^e world a vyle and abiecte thinge. Neither myghte themperoure come to a lo­wer degree, then that he and all o­ther worldly rulers,Psal. 109. Math. 22. d Marc. 12. d. Actu 2. d. 1. Cor. 15. c. Heb. 1. b. 10. muste lye vn­der the popes fete. Dauid coulde write no greater honour vnto Christ in the Psalter, thē that his enemies shuld become a fotestole vnto hym. And so was it the most paine and spite to the ennemyes to ly vnder the fete of him that ouercame them. Those that be ouercome muste do vnto the conquerer, what soeuer he wyll. And so ruleth nowe the pope themperialle crowne euin as he will, and hath laid it vnder his fete that is, vnder his power. And hathe so vtterly subdued the same, that it is [Page] more to be lamented, then largely described.

IT was not ynoughe that the pope hadde spoi­led thempire both of landes & goodes. But he muste also haue the sworde withall.Sap. 6. a Ro. [...]0.4. c rom. 13. a [...]itū. 3. 1 Pet. 2. b. To thend that euen as the sworde appertaineth to the highe powers hauinge landes and people, for the wealth of the good, and punishment of the euill. He might lykewise defende and kepe all whatsoeuer he had taken from thempire. Neither is it against raison. For a wolfe is a tiranne beast,3. reg. 13 u Iud. 8. c Deut. 13 a Mat. [...]. b 1. Ioh. 4. [...] specially amonge shepe, And therefore muste he also haue weapons to playe the butcher and murderer withall but one­ly amonge the christianes, farther dare he not swel. Concerninge these raueninge wolues hath Christ and his apostles left many warninges behind them to teache vs to beware of them. But the popes ra­soure is so sharpe, that before a man can loke behind hym, (ye and scarsse feleth it) he is wounded with y^e popes mischeif, wickednes, and vngracyousnes. And the same signifieth the rasour.Psal 52. a Psal. lii.

THerfore nowe,Dan. 11. e. Isai. 11. 2. Tessa. 2. 1. Ioh. 2. seinge the pope hath sette hys seate aboue bothe spirituall and temporal po­wers, ye and entreth into the iudgementes of god, rulynge the consciences of men. And soche as heare hym not, he punysheth with the blody sword. Christ thorowe his promise and the glory of his name, wil suffer it no longer, but hathe alreadye thruste hym awaye from hym, as the figure folowinge sheweth.

The angell taketh the keyes from the pope, but yet he remayneth prowde in hys power

A. reg. 13. c. A. reg. 15 [...]. reg. 16. c [...]. reg. 28. HEre it goeth to work with the pope as it did with Saule, whiche was putte downe by god, and another annointed kinge before he was all togither putte oute of his dominiō. Saul thought forasmoch as the prophete had annointed him kyng by y^e commaun­demente of god, that he mighte do what soeuer he wolde, ye and by the lawe. Soche pryde and diso­bedience suffred god for a tyme. [...]. reg. 31. a. [...]. par. 11. a But it was not re­wardide with a meane deathe, for he kylled hym [Page] selfe in despeare. And so the pope now,Iudi. 9. v. beinge nei­ther ordened of God, Christe nor his Apostles, and thinkinge quietlye to lyue the whyles he hath, hathe broughte all thinges vnder him, so sendethe god an Angell whiche pullethe awaye the lions skinne frome the asse, and makethe him a mockinge stocke to all the worlde with his holye woorde. In somoch that he knowith not nowe which way to go oute or in. And althoughe he be suppressid of God, yet, wyll he not shrinke or abash, but kepith y^e rodde still in his hande, therwith to subdue y^e consciences of men, & remaineth pufte vp as a todde or a bolde pecocke in his pryde by certaine people. Whiche to mainteyne againste the wyll of god, [...]. reg 28. [...] Liui. 20. b. Deut. 8. b. Detu. 16 [...] he se­keth counsil (as Saul did by the Phytonissa) not by God but by the deuyll, and by all the deuylyshe people and tyrannes of this worlde. Therfore is he set forthe in the figure folowing withoute any crosse, and his boke shytte vp, and sette aboute with beares.

¶The pope sette aboute with beares. [Page]

THe popes holynes wyl now almost come to lyght. And it is so farre gone with hym, that he saith, yf no­thinge helpe me so helpe me the de­uyll and all his housholde. It was not vnknowen vnto hym, that he mighte not defende him selfe with the holye scrip­ture, whiche is directly againste hym, and therfore hath he shytte his boke and taken it to him self. Commaundynge vpon great paines and the curse, no man to reade in it, leste men shulde perceiue that his dignitie coulde not be proued by the same. And hathe sette him selfe amonge the beares before and behinde, aboue and beneth, that is, with myghtye [Page] prynces and men of warres, whiche helpe hym to maintaine his dignitie, to the ende that thys boke, with also his power be not taken away from hym.

HAth not all this tyranely anoughe continued almost these thirtye yeares? Let them suffre more that lyste. Neither is it come to an ende yet, god helpe vs. And yet wyl (notwithstandyng) these beares, bloudsuppers, and murderers, be the moost Christianes. These beares nede no farther exposi­tion, for we see daily before oure eyes what & which they be. Neither is it greatly necessary to recite the great pitie, in wyddowes, fatherles and motherles children, the destruction and murder of the people. For it is al cleare, as the sonne. The sonne hath not yet clearly lycte vp the bloude of the innocent Abel neither hath the earthe dronke it in: O god, in thy kyngedome hathe the bloud of an Innocente man called vengeaunce vpon Cayne the fyrst murderer. Howe can the innocentes bloude holde his peace, so longe? when the tyrantes haue bathed them selfes almost to the very kne in bloud, neither thinke they as yet to hold vp. Here neded well an Helias, which thorowe the worde of the lorde spake to kyng Ahab in Israell.3. reg. 11. 2. reg. 12. Thou hast killed and taken possession of Naboths vineyarde. Therfore in the place where the dogges lycked the bloode of Naboth, there shal the dogges lycke euen thy bloude also, &c. But it semeth (parauenture) vnto the righteouse and mer­cifull god, as yet to be no tyme. willynge his people to learne to be the more paciente,Psal. 9 vntyll the pytte be dygged vp for the vngodly. Psal. xciiii. when y^e [Page] power of the Tiphones ones shalbe gathered togi­ther euen as Pharao,As these gyauntes cal­led Tipho­nes (throughe the cōfidēce they had in their greate stature) en­deuoured to cōquire the heauens, so dyd Pharo the chyldrē of Israell, through the trust he had in his great multitude. then shall it be sodenly done with them.

¶ An vnicorne thrusteth the popes crowne from his heade.

HOwe be it the pope with his owne falseheade and subteltie hath got­ten the reigne of this worlde by the deuyll (for no christian euer helped another to suche a kyngdome) he, kepeth him self therin, And though god haue putte him downe, he wil not yet auoide, yet shal the righteousenes of god come and iudge, and euen vtterlye destroye the pope, and expel and [Page] driue hym out of his reigne, which is the deuylles, by whome he gotte it, with worldly power. And the same signifieth the vnicorne,

LEt no Christiane be greued thoughe the pope and other tyrannes do yet sticke to their domi­nion before the face of the world. Be it sufficient vnto him to know the iudgement of god, and that the pope muste so longe remaine and walke in the same state and lyfe, vntyll he happen ones sodenlye to come vnder the gallowes, And than must he hange without redemption.

ALthough the keyes, that is the power of absolucion, is taken away from the pope, yet is he sette here in spyte of all faithfull personnes, to for­gyue synne, vntyll suche tyme as the zodomiticall synne be accomplisshed. And then will god (euen as he did send to the Iewes a Titum) sende a Iehu to Baales preistes, and suffre them,3. re. 18. [...] 4. re. 9. 10. [...] one to destroye another.

BVt that the pope shoulde and muste be putte downe from a great dignitie and power. And (the whiles he hathe the deuyll the prince of this worlde to assist hym on his syde) can not so soone be done as we meane, so must his enemies be as strong as vnicornes.

DAVYD calleth vnto the God. Psalm .xxii. Delyuer me frome the vnicornes.Psal. xxii. [...] By them he meaneth doutles his myghty and stronge enemyes of the whiche he fearethe that he shall in no wise be [Page] delyuered, except god helped him, as namely, was Saule with his company. Lykewise the persecu­tours of Christe be named in this Psalme vnicor­nes, by reason of their tirannye, wherein they were lyke to the kynde and nature of the vnicorne. Therof writeth Iob lykewise. cap. xxxix. Thinkeste thou that the vnicorne wilbe so tame as to do the seruice?Iob. 39. or to abyde styll by thy cryble? Canste thou bynde the yoke aboute an vnicorne in thy forow, to make hym plowe after the in the valeis? maiest thou trust hym (bycause he is stronge) or commyt thy laboure vnto hym, that he wyll brynge home thy corne, or to cary any thinge to thy barne? In no wise. For it is to excedynge stronge, fearfull and vnruely a beast.

THe very true horne of saluacion that shal ouerthrow all vngodlynes (yf thou wylte spiritu­allye vnderstande it) zacharias reciteth.Luce. 1. Luc. i. And what soeuer god hath spiritually, that is, ordeyned by hym selfe, that must alwayes procede in y^e world There can he well fynd an assure when his plaisure is, and afterwarde breake the rodde also, and cast it into the fyre.

Seynge the pope wyll haue it so, that no man shalbe able to resiste his power, So muste there ne­des come a more puissant and mightier than he that shall lyft him out of his neste, that must he nedes a byde, and must perish in the meane tyme, let him de­fende him well.Mat. 3.17. luce. 3. Apo. 18. For then is all lost. The axe is put vnto the roote of the tree and the workeman stry­keth alreadye therein, to pul out his roote from the [Page] grounde, in somuch that men shall aske,Apo. 18. where dyd Babylon the great citie stande?

¶By the pope lyeth a stronge oxe pray­enge, and the worldly gouernours beholde it styll.

IN the .xxii.Psa. 22. Psalme complai­nethe Dauid vnto god saieng, manye Oxen are come aboute me, and fatte bulles close me in on euery syde. There signifye the bulles and oxen, doubteles, the stronge enemyes of Dauid [Page] the kynge Saule with his adherentes. But spiritually it appartaineth vnto the death and passion of Christ, these twaine haue thorowe the helpe of god ouercome all their enemies, as hauinge righte, the pope as hauynge no right. The whiche hath almost brought vnder him all princes, landes, cities, and people, for all these muste lye downe at the popes fete and kysse them deuoutly wisshing neuertheles to be disamist of it, if possible were.

SEcondarely is lykewise this Oxe compared to the common poore artificer and husband man. Seinge the Oxe is a common rude beaste, and apt to all rude and hard laboures, in the feldes and villages, but selden in the greate cities, fedde with no delicate meates, but onely with heye and chapped strawe. &c. And is by the popes vngodly and tiran­nishe institutes so farre consumed, that he can no more pul or drawe, and so sore sucked out (ye the very marye out of his bones) that he is no more able to stonde, but lyeth there, wishinge delyueraunce of the popes tyrannye, but all in vayne, for suche as shulde helpe therin, stand styll and loke vpon it. And euery one putteth from hym, as if it appertai­ned not vnto hym.

By raison ought emperours, kinges, and prin­ces here to putte to their handes, and to helpe the poore oxe out of his miserye, and so mighte their owne busines likewise prosper the better afterward And the subiectes shoulde become the more obedy­ent. [Page] For the holy gospell hath taughte them how they shall behaue them selues towarde the potesta­tes and rulers, ye and they wold dowtles do it. But in the reuelacion may we sone see, what they be that worship the beaste.Apo. 13. [...] And then shall we haue the rea­son and cause why it happeneth not. And therfore becommeth of the paciente oxe a grimminge beare, as shewethe the figure folowinge.

Falleth on the pope a griminge beare with her whelpes.

[Page]WHyles nowe the pope and his adherentes euen at this present day wil not retourne vnto the right waye, it is no maruell though euery man be vnwillynge, and both the Oxen and also calues become beares. And is to be feared that if they wyll so procede withoute better hede, that at the laste littell goodnes wyll come of it.Anno .xxv. was there an insurrectiō betwene the commō le of germany and the spirytual­tie. Fewe remembre nowe that which moste pitiousely chaunced. Anno .xxv. God saue vs from soche another fall. I feare me that if it shulde ones againe come to suche a pointe, the beare with her whelpes wolde otherwise vse them selues, and to earnestly set them to worke. But here from wyll god preserue his people, & for al that drowne Pharao in the reade seas neuertheles. what is it, of a longe tyme, with greate pompe and pryde (other abominaci­ons I speake not of) to kepe coun­cels, or parlyamentes, for the worde of god? God the crea­tour of vs all hath not so gloriouselye set forthe his actes, with shepe­herdes and fishers kept he his councels, & breif­ly fyny­hed his matters. But truelye euen as we mind it, euen so doth Christ auaunce it.

¶A foxe runneth awaye with the popes banner.

YE and rather than the pope shulde passe vndestroyed, his owne famy­lye or householde shoulde rather do it. The same signifieth the foxe. Before he swaded hym from god, and nowe seing the pope can reigne no lenger, he departeth from him euen as a maister of a hundreth craftes, as he boasteth hym selfe to be in Esopo. against y^e catte which had but one thinge to helpe her wythall, but when the hounter came with his dogges behynd them bothe, the symple cat [Page] ranne vpon a tree, and the suttel foxe paide for all with his skinne. Euen so feareth here the popes fa­mili lykewise, in manye matters haue they ben hi­therto good enoughe, but nowe in tyme of nede, to kepe them in their nestes, they can do nothinge. Therfore they runne awaye with shame frome the poope, with goodes and substaunce, whiche they haue gotten from hym with their suttelties and falshed, and thus must he stand alone. Neither is it sufficient vnto them, to runne awaye from him them selues, but moreouer take also with them, all that longethe vnto hym, hys possessyons, honoure, and myghte, that is, they can no more helpe him w^t his decrees, for the godly scripture is against them and to stronge for them. And so do both the foxes, & myghte and power runne togither away. Here may the pope rightwell thinke on the poet, where he sin­geth. Donec eris foelix multos numerabis amicos. Tempora si fuerunt nubila, solus eris. When it was well with me, then hadde I manye frendes, but in myne aduersitie they be all fled awaye. But truelye the rewarde is but reasonable. Soche as haue clo­thed saint Peter, be most worthye to spoile him a­gaine. With craft and sutteltie didde the poperye fyrst come vp, and with the same must it come down againe, to the ende that the salte might retourne a­gaine, wheras it was before, to the water. Therfore he sitteth nowe naked and bare vppon his pardon cheste, as a iesting stocke to all men.

☞The pope sitteth here naked vpon his pardon chyste, the husbandman mocketh hym sayeng, his foly to be right well knowen to euery man.

ASmuche as we haue written hi­therto haue we sene in our tyme, but nowe resteth this onely, that he sytteth not naked. But yf we speake according to the holy scri­ptures, we shall lykewise fynd y^e same prophecie to be on a good way toward. In diuers places in the holy scripture is mencyoned, howe god hathe dyscouered Sodo­ma and Gomorra, Iherusalem, and more other [Page] landes, and made them mockynge stockes to al mē, and at last made them naked altogether. Ezechielis xvi. speaketh god in this maner, I wyll gather to­gither all thyne enemyes against the, and wyll dys­couer thy shame before them, that they maye see thy fylthynes. I wyll geue the ouer into their power that they strype the out of thy clothes. All thy faire and beautifull Iewels shall they take frō the. And so let the sytte naked and beare. &c.

THese wordes with more other, witnesse nothing elles, but that god will trouble their worldlye rule and power, and vtterly destroie it. So muste this figure likewise be set forth here. That the pope at the last leseth all hys power, honour, riches, pleasure, hys coffers with monye, and finallye is with­out all comfort or assistence of all the worlde, and syttethe bare and naked, And is so much despysed, that the verye husbandman mocketh hym sayeng. Lo what a goodly pope be you nowe? Lo what a ruler arte thou nowe aboue kynges and emperours? lo, where is thy godlynes? Lo where is thy pardon? Lo where is thy cursynge & banninge? &c. I thinke you be but poore nowe, I thinke you abyde honger and colde, we wyll handell you better yet, thou shalte be burnt in the fyre, euen as thou hast measured vnto other. &c.

To this ende muste it come, and lette no man be abashed,4. re. 24. &. 25 2. Para. 36 thoughe it semyth otherwaies yet to be. The chyldren of Ierusalem muste nedes to Babel and there suffer out their tyme, But what followeth [Page] vpon the same? [...]esd. [...].2.5. Hiere. 3 [...].52 when your tyme then shalbe accom­plisshed, I wyll remembre you, visite you againe, and minister my good worde vnto you, and brynge you home againe. And the landes of that kynge shalbe obediente to many kinges and people. And finally be brought vnder the Medianes. Haue we ben faine to suffre a while? and as yet be? the vngod lye be not shylde quyte of it, as if they were in the righte waye. But they shall paye twise for it, which they haue at once deuoured, as we fynde it to be happened vnto all the vngodlye Emperours, kynges, and princes, and high preistes, in the holy scripture

THe same witnesseth not only the holy scripture wherin they beleue but a lytell,The prophecy of Hylle­garde. but the prophecye likewise of a certaine Nonne named Hillegard, beinge one of their owne marke, saieng. Al world­ly princes and the common people also shal fiersely fall vpon you preistes, which hitherto haue abused me. They wyll turne you awaye from them, & putte you to flyghte. They shall take awaye youre sub­staunce and riches, because that in youre tyme you haue not well kepte the ordre of youre preisthode. These wordes will they speake by you. Let vs caste out these othebreakers, robbers, and people reple­nyshed of all iniquitie out of the holye catholicalle churche, for the holy churche is contaminated and polluted by them. And therfore will god suffer also suche thinges to come ouer you. And the kinges of the worlde shall assiste them that shall auoide you with their earthly power, and myght. Your priest­ly dignitie and annointinge wyl they exteme as no [Page] thinge worthe, And so that propose wil they gather togither in counsell, that they may driue you out of their iurisdictions, because you haue driuen a waye the innocente lambe frome me with your most vn­godly and habominable workes.

THerefore wyll the heauens raine diuers pla­ges, which shalbe against men, as a reuenge­aunce of god. The mist shall couer the whole earth, so that all your grasse shall drye vp, and your ornamentes become paile. The profunditie shall sustre earthequakynge, and then shall appeare the verye anger of god, and smart bothe heauen and earth.

GOd wyll sende a righteouse and streighte iud­gement againste the transgressours of righte­ousnes. And then shall we saye altogether. Howe longe shall we forbeare and suffre these raueninge wolues? They oughte to be feaders of the soules, and they be destroyers of them. They bynd and vn­bynde (which nothinge longethe to them) at their owne pleasure, and as moost fearefull beastes they vtterly cast vs awaye. And thus remaine we styl in oure, and they in their synnes, Insomuche that all Christendome perisheth thorowe them. And what soeuer is right that write they not, but onely it whi­che is contrary to the law. They deuour vs, as the wolfe deuoureth the shepe, they lyue styll in luste & gloutenye, they be very robbers of the church. And what soeuer they cancome by, they take & deuour it. They make vs also with their occupacion poore & [Page] beggarly. They dampne them selues and vs also.

THerefore wyll we iudge them righteouselye, and separate them from vs, for they be rather saducers then teachers. &c. yet care they not for it, and remaine so styll, makynge all kyngdomes sub­iect vnto them. For all this they muste awaye, and leaue behynde them all that they haue, neither shall they afterwarde rule any more ouer the people a­gaine, with landes, possessions, vyneyardes, and o­ther temporall goodes, which the worldly princes be sette for. A pope shulde be a pope, a knyghte, a knyght. A gentilman, a gentilman. And therefore shall be taken away from such thinges as they pos­sede vnrighteousely, and not righteousely. &c.

BVt againste the same wyll rebelle the heades of this worlde, the spirituall people, as the pope cardinalles, byshops, abbates and other pre­lates. Fyrste with their curse, and wyth shyttinge vp of the heauens, but the same wyll men feare but a lytle,An ende of the prophe­cye of the nonne Hillegarde. after that wyll they gette them to theyr har­nashe and weapons, therewithe to defende them selues. But againste the iudgemente of God they can do nothynge, for their tyme is come. &c. This pro­phecied the nonne Hillegarde.

So muste nowe the bloudye hoore drynke of her chalys,Dan. 7. b Mat 25. d. Apo. 19. d and .20. c and the beaste wyth also the false prophetes be caste downe in the botthomlesse pytte where as is no reste, nighte nor daye, eternallye there to suffre paines. And then wyll Chryst [Page] raise vp faithfull shepe herdes to fede his flocke.

WHat these shalbe, we fynde lykewise in the scriptures openly enoughe declared, they that come from hym. And howe maye it faile in suche as god sendeth? God is righteouse, and sendethe also whē he seeth his time, righteouse shepeherdes. And they do righteousely, for euen as they teache, euen so they lyue.

ANd these be the true seruauntes whiche Chri­stus speaketh of,Math. 24. d. and .25. b. Lu. 12. e. 19. b the whiche in due tyme sette forthe the giftes and glory of the father of y^e house holde, and not their owne tradicions, whiche as yet (god amende it) the whole worlde is full of. But god wyll nowe shortlye scume awaye all filthynes, and therevnto helpe Iesus Christe. Amen.