The popish kingdome, or reigne of Antichrist, written in Latine verse by Thomas Naogeorgus, and englyshed by Barnabe Googe

The popish Kingdome The thirde booke. (Book 3)

NOw must we here beholde their fayth, and how the papacie beléeues, bicause of fayth it woulde a Captaine counted be. And of the Catholike Church alone, of Christ to haue the fame, And wondrously they boast and brag, in bearing of this name. Which Church if that it were in déede, and doctrine as they say, Great wickednesse it surely were, from them to fall away. But if it may be plainely prooude, they trust no whit in Christ, Nor worship God alone, nor looke for succour of the hiest. But as the Gentiles Idoles serue, and worship them with care, What kinde of Church it may be calde, a childe may sone declare. How much it alwayes shoulde be shoonde, of such as Christ doe loue, And onely séeke through him to please, th'almightie Lorde aboue. But first t'is méete for to declare, the perfite fayth and right,* 1.1 As hath before béene taught by men, inspirde with holy spright: One onely God we are wilde to haue, and worship euermore, To whose right hande we must commit, our selues and all our store. Abandoning all worldly care, and confidence in man, As he that cares for vs, and guides, and best of others can. This whosoeuer doth, both feares, and him doth truly loue, And puttes his onely confidence, and trust in him aboue: And vnto him alone doth flye, in his aduersitie, And calles to him being sure of helpe, as best for him shall be. We also must in Iesus Christ, beléeue assuredlye: His onely sonne who at his time, came downe from heauens hye, For our offences and reliefe, made perfite man whereby He might redéeme vs all from death, and hell eternally: And with his bloud our sinnes deface, that for his sake alone, The father onely fauours vs, and blesseth euery one: Hath giuen vs life, and all our sinnes and faultes forgiuen quight, And of his mercie made vs heyres, with him of heauen bright. This who so constantly beléeues, and doth with tongue confesse, Is made the childe of God, and heyre of euerlasting blesse.

He neither feareth Deuills force, nor death with cruell strife, Nor all the raging of the worlde, nor daungers of this life. But fastning still his eyes on Christ, in safetie doth he row, Such one is perfite Israel, the Church of Christ doth know. Such Citizens, and such thou mayst call alwayes worthily True Catholikes, and members of the blessed company. For those that dare not trust in Christ, nor in his father hie, Doe quake for feare, and séeke for holes, not knowing where to lie. And of their owne they alwayes séeke, a righteousnesse to haue, Whereby they may content the Lorde, their sinfull soules to saue: Not satisfied with heauenly giftes, nor righteousnesse from hie, And fathers fauour here for Christ, who gaue himselfe to die For our offences great, and made the satisfaction full, And from the handes of death and hell, did vs for euer pull. O Lorde how few doe thus beléeue? how euery where in vaine, They doe abuse the name of Christ, and counterfeytes remaine. Being Christians calde, and both in life, and fayth doe disagree, As in this popishe kingdome here thou perfitly mayst sée. * 1.2For marke what things they doe beléeue, what monsters they do frame I not denie, but euery where of Christ the blessed name Is calde vpon in Churches great, and Créede is dayly songue, And Christ the true redéemer calde, alonely with the tongue, And tearmed Lorde, but farre from him, the heart doth séeme to bée, And with the wide resounding mouth, it doth no whit agrée. Which in so many things appeares, so plaine vnto the eye, That gracelesse must he counted be that will the same denye. And first beholde how earnestly, they séeke in euery thing, The righteousnesse that of themselues, and proper force doth spring. Not to thentent to liue a right, and please the father great, That of his mercie calleth vs, vnto his blessed seate: Or Christ that all our sinnes and faultes, doth cleerely wash away, Nor with their life and ayde to helpe, their brethren all they may. But onely heauen for to winne, and to be frée from blame, And with deserts to please the Lorde, that all the worlde did frame. Where now appéeres the hope of life, by Christ obtained right? And cléere forgiuenesse of our sinnes, and Sathan put to flight?

For who so séekes and searcheth still, thinkes yet he hath it not▪ For no man séeketh for the thing now in possession got. Nor any man that hath his wittes, by merits séekes to winne, The thing that is alreadie giuen, but rather thanketh him: And merily enioyes the gift, of his obtained wealth, With gratefull minde set frée from cares, in quietnesse and health. Therefore since that in euery thing, they righteousnesse desire, And heapes of merites and desertes, they earnestly require. And most vngodly vseth them, vnto so ill an ende, They neyther doe beleeue in Christ, that he doth onely sende, And fréely giue eternall life, nor that he satisfise For all our gréeuous sinnes and faultes, they rather doe despise His merites and his fathers giftes, while prowdely in their hartes They trust vnto their righteousnesse, and to their owne desartes, Hereto it tendes whatsoeuer they doe, in Church or otherwhere, For this such straunge religion haue they framde, and paultrie gere. And this alone of all their life, the marke and ende they made, Supposing not to come to God, by any other trade. A Iewish people sure and such, as at this present day, No better then the Gentiles are, take name of Christ away. For in like sorte through all the worlde, they doe beléeue as well, And lawe of nature doth instruct, and reason doth them tell: That for good déedes there doth behinde, a recompence remaine, And that th'almightie father that doth guide the starrie raine Is to be pleasde with worshipping, good déedes and righteousnesse, And other things whereby we may, our louing mindes expresse. Herewith they couet euery one, to rayse vp mountaines hie, As long time since the Giantes did, for to assault the skie. But sure they shall be ouerthrowne, and driuen downe to hell, For why the Lorde hath long agone, decréede as scriptures tell, Not to forgiue th'offences of the worlde, but by his sonne, By whom the subtile serpents head, is broke and ouercome. The blinded worlde regardes not this, nor séekes to vnderstande Nor trustes the worde of God, but in hir owne conceytes doth stande. And countes hir fancie still the best, and crediteth alway, The fonde deuises of hir braine, vntill hir dying day.

Euen so the Turkish multitude, doe put there onely trust, In liuing as their law commaundes, and in their doings iust. So likewyse doth the Iewe beléeue, saluation for to haue, By kéeping of their auncient lawe that Moyses to them gaue. And euery kinde of people else, the very same confesse, Beléeuing to be saued by their lawe and righteousnesse. None otherwise the papacie, continually beléeues, Nor vnderstandes the righteousnesse, that fayth alonely géeues. Although they reade the scriptures and saint Paule, and doe them sift, Who of the righteousnesse of fayth, and of the Fathers gift, Through Christ doth speake so oft, who is our righteousnesse alone, And raunsome eke. But let vs sée the parcelles euery one. * 1.3Christ when he went from hence did leaue two sacraments behind, Whereby we might continually his goodnesse kéepe in minde, And staye our fayth: beléeuing all our sinnes forgiuen quight, By him alone, and we made heyres, of euerlasting light. The first is Baptisme wherewithall, we washt in water cleane, Being buried in the blessed waues, and plungde in sacred streame: Are made the seruaunts here of Christ, with him continuallye, To suffer what so euer faules, and eke to liue and dye. Which as it plaine and simple is, so is it most of price, And not to be defilde with any toye or mans deuice. But this it here defiled hath, with wicked doctrine plaine, And with a foolish number great of Cerimonies vaine, For thus it plainely teacheth that our sinnes forgiuen arre, Alonely by the déede hereof, not adding any barre. Accounting not the giftes of God, dealt here without desart, Nor sinnes by Christ forgiuen free, but by the déede and part: Of him that well prepares himselfe vnto this sacrament, That merits may haue place, and workes may gaine the firmament. And that which vnto God is due, to vs imputeth aye, Ascribing that to déedes, that fayth doth onely take awaye. And that assuredly before, the font thou commest neare, And ere thou washt and plunged art, amid the waters cleare. Nor here through baptising the sinnes of man forgiuen are, Nor by the déede thereof as plaine, the scriptures doe declare.

But all forgiuen when they doe beleeue we doe confesse, As counted eke among the flocke, and heyres of blessednesse. But such as haue no fayth at all, but vnbeléeuers be, No pardon haue though ten times in the fludde they sowsed be. That of it selfe it profites not, although it here be done, With purpose to amende the life, that after is to come. Wherefore in auncient time it was not giuen any man, Before he had confessed Christ, with mouth expressing than The fayth that in his heart lay hid declaring all and some, And how forgiuenesse here of sinne, from Christ doth fréely come. Ascribing nothing to the déedes, of man and merites vaine, Nor trusting to the fonde deuice, of supersticious braine. But now bicause this Popish state, in Christ doth not beléeue, It doth not teache that onely he, doth fréely sinnes forgéeue. But wanders through the stonie wayes, and ditches blinde to hell, And through the thornes to follow him, the people doth compell, Besides with foolish toyes he hath defilde this baptisme quight, To make the estimation more, of mans deseruing right. A number great of crosses first, he makes and lustilye, He blowes out sprights, commaunding them with cruell words to flye. The foole beléeues the infantes yong, with sprightes to be possest, Whom faythfull christian people here begat, and parents blest, Then thrustes he salt into their mouth, annoynting all the while, The infantes tender eyes, and eares, with stincking spittle vile. This done his oyle and creame he takes, and with discretion small, Annoyntes the shoulders of the Childe, and eke his brest withall. The Crysome then he calleth for, wherein he fast doth foulde The little soule: and makes him in his hande a Taper houlde. And that he may the better grow, he liftes him vp on hie, Herein least that he should be thought to dote and runne awrie. And onely with these trifles to delude the people blinde, Then wondrous signes of holy things, he fayneth in his minde. Who will not now make more account, of these same trifles vaine, The solemne order of the Priest, and toyes of mortall braine: Then of the gracious gift of God, and merites of his sonne, Who with his precious bloud redéemde vs all from death to come.

Especially when all the rowte, that standes about him rounde, Knowes neuer a worde of all that he, in latine phrase doth sounde. But onely heares a babling noyse, and earnestly doe marke, The outwarde shew of all his déedes, and ceremonies darke. * 1.4So playe they with the supper that our Lorde did sanctifie, Whereby we might be mindefull of his death continuallie: Vnto the strengthning of our fayth, and our ascertaind wealth, As pledges of our happie state, and euerlasting health. To shew that with his death he hath our sinnes defaced quight, And with his precious bloud hath made vs in his fathers sight Both cleane and frée from euery spot, and euery crime withall, And made vs righteous here and iust, and frée from deadly fall. Which hope is by this supper still, made new and fresh againe, And by the worde and blessed signe, doth written still remaine, Both in our féeble eyes and heartes, whereby we euermore, May prayse the Lorde and Iesus Christ his onely sonne therefore. And thankefull be with ioyfull heartes, for all these mercies kinde, Vnited all togither with, one heart and friendly minde. To nourish this affection still, and eke in memorie Alwayes to kéepe this great good will, and fauour worthilie. He hath commaunded breade and wine, to be receyude of all, As of his blessed body and bloud, the tokens mysticall. But O good God, what monstrous things, hath here this papacie About this supper fainde? what follyes, and iniquitie? First hath he altred quight the name, and Masse he calles the same, Which what it signifies, if it be Gréeke or Latine name, Or rather from the Hebrue fetcht, himselfe he cannot tell, Nor all his court about the same, are yet resolued well. Then sixe or seauen shamefull things, deuised by his braine, He hath commaunded to beléeue, mistaking scriptures plaine. As that the substaunce here of bread, by force of wordes and might, Is chaungde into the bodie of Christ, and in the selfesame plight The wine is turnd into his bloud that nothing doth remaine, Of bread and wine, when once the Priest his words hath spoken plaine: But onely collour, smell, and taste, and least that any man Vnlearned here perhaps might doubt, himselfe declareth than,

Into what kinde of bodie this breade, is chaunged and transformde, And eke into what kinde of bloud, the blessed wine is turnde. The body as it here was of the Virgine Marie borne, As it with whips was scourged here, and on the crosse was torne. His bloud as from his precious side, vpon the grounde was shed, And though this sacrament be euery day, and houre solemnized, And Christ thus eaten euermore, yet doth he not decaye, But vnconsumde of shape and forme, remayneth one alway. Besides although the little Cake, a sunder broken be, Into a thousande péeces, or as small as small may be: Yet euery little péece is Christ, and that most perfitelie, With skin, and flesh, and bloud, and bones, and all his quantitie. That no vngodly man defiles, this holye blessed thing, And that the wicked man aswell, doth Christ from heauen bring Into the breade, as doth the man that liueth most vpright, Beside that Christ doth not withdraw himselfe from any wight. And that aswell the ill as good and faythlesse people vaine, Euen as the faythfull him doe eate, though not with equall gaine. That this same body goeth not downe, as other meate doth go, But chaunged into him it is, that doth receaue it tho. Besides as soone as in the mouth it comes, so sodainelye Away it goes (not torne with téeth) into the heauens hye. That in this breade which here we sée, and little compasse small, Lies Christ that suffred for our sinnes, and God that filleth all. And that in many places here, at once at that same tide He is, and present therewithall, through all the worlde beside. That this same body vttred many wordes and phrases fit, While as among his well disposde disciples he did sit. And euen there transformde to bread, while as he talking stoode, And eaten of his people strayte, as other kinde of foode. Besides he plainely doth affirme, that euery Priest that is, Doth in his massing offer Christ, and that this sacrifise Is euen as much in weight with him, that all the worlde doth guide, As was his bitter death when on, the painefull crosse he dyde. Moreouer twelue commodities, he also doth resight, That euery skilfull Priest receyues, and euery housled wight.

And euery one that present is, while as the Masse is sayde, And marketh with attentiue eares, how well Sir Iohn hath prayde. Besides he teacheth that the Masse, doth profit equallye, Aswell the men aliue, as those that long ago did dye. And last of all he from the people, pluckes the cuppe away, And vnder one kinde lies as much as vnder both, doth say. Bicause no body here doth liue, but bloud must néedes be there, Nor bloud can any life possesse, without the bodie here. As if that Christ the maister of the worlde knew not of this, But in his owne appoyntment shoulde for lacke of knowledge mis. And are not these same wondrous things, and learnings passing great, When Christ did neuer will the same, nor hereof did intreate? To this he patcheth merites to, the Priestes deseruing hy, And euery one that heares the Masse, and euery stander by. For nothing in the Papacie, without desertes is donne, Nor must be wrought: sith for a rule, it generally doth ronne. That all our health dependeth of our workes and our good déedes, No place hath fayth nor glorie giuen, to Christ From whome procéedes Our happie state and blessed life, nor onely to the grace Of God they haue respect, that doth of mercy vs imbrace. Who causeth Masse or doth it say, doth merite wondrously, The like doe they that doe it heare, and marke attentiuely. Who neyther heares nor vnderstandes a word thereof at all, But standeth onely in the Church, as painted on a wall, With merites great rewarded is, and all his sinnes thereby, Forgiuen quite the hope whereof, doth make him looke full hye. Yea if the bell to sacring toule, and farre from thence thou bée, And cannot come but earnestly doe wish the same to sée. A merite great you gotten haue, thus playne it doth appere, The supper serueth for desertes, with papistes euery where. Their trust is alwayes in the Masse, to this they onely flye, In euery thing that toucheth them, and euery ieoperdye. And is not this a goodly crewe? they are perswaded still, What daye they heare or sée a Masse, to haue no kinde of ill. Thus comes it here to passe that I, did lately say and wright, They put not all their trust in Christ, but in their proper might.

And in their owne good workes, as in their doings they expresse, Being full of incredulitie, and all vngodlinesse. Masse opens heauen gates, and doth deliuer men from hell, Masse healeth all diseases, and doth sicknesses expell. Masse doth relieue the burdned minde, and sinnes defaceth quight. Masse pleaseth him that guides the skies, and giues the heauens bright. Masse pluckes the sinfull soules from out the Purgatorie fire, Masse comforteth th'afflicted sort, and makes them to aspire. Masse washeth cleane the mind, and makes the guiltie conscience cleere, Masse doth obtaine the grace of God, and kéepes his fauour heere. Masse driueth wicked Deuils hence, and ouerthrowes the féendes, Masse bringeth Angels good from hie, & makes them faythfull fréendes. Masse doth defende the trauayler, from daunger and disease, Masse doth preserue the sayling ship amid the raging seas. Masse giueth store of corne and graine, and helpeth husbandrée. Masse blesseth euery such as seekes in welthie state to bée. Masse gettes a man a pleasant wife, and gettes the mayd hir mate, Masse helpes the Captaine in the fielde, and furthereth debate. Masse also doth asswage the heate that in the heart doth raigne, Masse doth defende the pleasant grapes, and vineyards doth maintaine. Masse helpes the hunter with his horne, and makes the dog to runne, Masse sendeth store of sport and game into their nettes to come. Masse molifieth the angrie mindes, and driueth rage away, Masse brings the wofull Louers to their long desired day. Masse doth destroy the witches works, & makes their charmings vaine, Masse causeth good deliueraunce, and helpes the womans paine. Masse makes thy prayers to be heard, and giueth thy request, Masse driues away the gréedie Woolfe, that doth the shéepe molest. Masse makes the murraine for to ceasse, and stocke to thriue apace, Masse makes thy iourney prosper well, whersoeuer thou turnst thy face. Masse ouerthrowes thine enmies force, and doth resist his might, Masse driues out Robyn good fellow, and bugs that walke by night. Masse plague and hunger doth expell, and ciuill mutenie, Masse makes a man with quiet minde, and conscience cléere to die. Masse vseth many slouthfull knaues, and lubbers for to féede, Masse brings in dayly gaine, as doth the Sowters arte at neede.

In Masse is all their trust & strength, all things through Masse are don, In all their griefes and miseries, to Masse they streightwayes ron. Such force hath lewde perswasion here, in teaching men awrie, That our good workes are onely they that gaine the heauens hie. By this so many aultars in the Churches vp did rise, By this the number growes so great of Priestes to sacrifice. From hence arose such shamefull swarmes of Monkes w^t great excesse, Whom profite of this Masse doth kéepe in slouthfull ydlenesse. For this same cause such mightie kings, and famous Princes hie, Ordayned Masses for their soules, and Priestes continuallie, With great reuenues yearely left and euerlasting fée, An easie way to ioy, if it with scriptures might agrée. Streight after these, the welthie men tooke vp this fansie vaine, And built them Chappels euery one, and Chaplaynes did retaine At home, or in their parishe Church, where Masse they dayly soong, For sauegarde of their family, and of their children yoong. Both for their friendes aliue, and such as long before did die, And in the Purgatorie flames tormented sore doe lie. Christ in his Supper giues himselfe to vs assuredly, And all his vertuous déedes on vs bestowes, and doth apply, His merites and his hie desartes with vs he common makes, His grace and mercies euery one, extended for our sakes. We this receyue, and nothing giue, nor can we giue againe, But onely faythfull louing hearts, and thankefull for his paine. These men by meritorious workes, and solemne chaunting chéere, With Masses make him recompence, and satisfie him heere. Thus much the Pope peruerted hath the giftes of God deuine, With dreames and fond deuice of man, and cursed countermine: That no where nowe appeares the hope of sinnes forgiuen quight, By Christ and life obtayned here, and Sathan put to flight. * 1.5To these two Sacraments, that Christ himselfe appoynted héere, They adde fiue others, that more cause of merits may appéere. Which though they neyther tokens bée of Gods assured loue, Which they ne can being not confirmde with promise from aboue: Yet dare he boldly promise here, to such as take them right, The grace and fauour of the Lorde, and eke the holy spright.

He doth confirme the children yong, without examining, Or trayll of their fayth, or of their woonted handling. He teacheth that the holy ghost may be receyude, and had At handes of euery Priest, that is, as well of good as bad. Not putting difference betwixt Christes Legates truly sent, And wicked Simon, damned for his mischieuous intent. With Creame their foreheads doth he mark, the people laughing there, And those whome thus he marked hath he striketh on the eare. Then Godfather or Godmother is readie streight at hande, To binde the noynted forehead, like a wound, with linnen bande. Which he enforced is to weare eight dayes continuallie, With pleasure great to euery one that kéepes him companie. And after taken of againe, his forehead washed cléene, So that no holy Chrisme thereon, for to remaine be séene. What should I here remember now,* 1.6 what crimes & haynous things Confession takes away? and eke what helpe contrition brings And satisfaction for our faultes? to shield our soules from paine, It must buy out our misdéedes all, to their purloyning gaine. For all things still he doth impute, to déedes of mortall men, Not knowing perfite fayth in Christ, nor teaching it to them. But rather doth destroy it quite, accounting wickedlée, Our Sauiour Christ but as a man, and Cypher here to bée. Vndoubtedly the flocke of Christ doth euermore confesse Their sinnes, and for the same repents with griefe and heauinesse: Nor maketh any righteousnesse hereof, nor iustifide Doth seeke to be, no more than in the lawe or death beside. Nor any other raunsome for their sinnes do thinke to pay, But onely Christ, whose precious death doth take them all away. The Pope contrary cleane to this, doth teach in plaine decrée, And doth commaund with dreadfull lawe, all faults confest to bée Vnto the Priest at Easter time, or of necessitie, When as the fatall houre is come, and day wherein to die. And that sincerely here and plaine, what hath bene thought or done, Else can no sinnes forgiuen bée, nor absolution come. Where now appéeres th'unfayned hope of sinnes forgiuen quight By Christ, and euerlasting life, and Sathan put to flight?

Who can declare what harmes the people haue receyude by this, How many it hath drawne from Christ and euerlasting blis? What scruple vnto consciences, and trouble it doth bring: For as they can not call to minde, eche fault and wicked thing That they haue done, whereby they may confessed thereof bée: So can they not beleue, that they forgiuen are and frée. Besides with mumbling in a tongue vnknowne, he pardons all, And hath no worde to beare him out, and stay his faith withall. But blindly will this teacher blind haue all things credited, A guide of all vngodlinesse, with doltishe fansies led. He absolution also giues, by merites for to come, And such as long agone are past, and presently are done. Not onely of their owne, but bought with money other wheare. Vnto the merites eke of Christ, his death and passion deare, He ioynes the merites here of Saints, and makes them all as one, Perswading our redemption, not wrought by Christ alone. In fine a satisfaction for all sinnes it doth suffice, If to the Romish Chest you throw your money any wise. Or vnto Abbeys giue your goods, or else your welth applie. In building solemne synagogs, and loftie towres hie. Or gad about in Pilgrimage, to visite holy shrines, Or say your Aue Mary euery houre fortie times, And bid the blessed Virgin still good morow manerly, Or what soeuer else 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Priest doth bid you orderly. I well remember once at Spires I saw a wondrous sight Of people, in the euening late, with Crosse and torches bright. The Crosse afore them borne, and all their faces couered, With backs all bare they passed throw, the stréetes and market sted, Commaunded for to beat them selues with whips and scourges there, And truely here they trifled not, nor did themselues forbere. The bloud sprang out a pace, and eke their backe did swell and wheale With multitude of stripes, that scarce the Surgeon them could heale. Thus would they wipe away their sinnes, and fully satisfie. Is not this same a madnesse grosse, and shamefull iniurie, Brought in into this world with spéede, and beastly wickednesse, Of this vnshamefast popishe state, that truth doth still opresse?

Thinkst thou that with this doctrine here, they trust in Christ aboue? Or takste thou them for Catholikes, which name they chiefely loue? The godly Ministers at first, did put to penance still, Such as were excommunicate, and openly did yll. That discipline might in the Church be had continuallie, Least that the heathen should suppose that eche iniquitie Might there be done vnpunished, and that the others all, By their example might beware, how they hereafter fall. And also that such punishment might please againe the mindes, Of those that were offended with these former wicked crymes: Not that the sinnes forgiuen were of God with penance such, For lawes of God and mans decrées doe differ very much. And with one sort of penance here, they are not both content, Nor God and man are pleased both alyke with one intent. Mens mindes with punishment are pleasde, and fully satisfide, But God is onely pleasde in Christ, and nothing else beside. Through pure and perfite faith, the Lorde that made both earth & skies, Releaseth euerlasting paynes, and neuer ceassing cries. But of this present life he doth release the punishment, To such as onely trust in him, and vertuously are bent. They bid that men should in their owne good works haue all their hope, And trust to merites of the Saints, and pardons of the Pope. Christ hath not fully satisfide, they thinke assuredly, And doubt not for to preach the same in audience openly. Which serueth surely to their gaine, for hereof doth arise, Their maiestie, their passing welth, and Lordly liberties. So likewise doth annealing last, take veniall sinnes away, While as for helpe vnto the Saints, deuoutly they doe pray. They alwayes are agaynst the Lord, and Christ that here was slaine For our offences, and our faults, with agonie and paine. And with their pompe and prowde desertes they cary downe to hell, The foolish flocke that doth beléeue whatsoeuer they doe tell. What ancor doe they flie vnto in all aduersitie, In famine, pestilence, and warres, and euery ieopardie?* 1.7 Looke well about thée now, and giue attentiue eies and eares, For here the perfite fayth and trust of euery man appeares.

What hope there is in any man, herein is plainely spyde, The heart of euery creature here, by this is truely tryde. Who trustes in God alone, and thinkes him mercifull to bée, And eke almightie, call on him in all aduersitée. And vnto him he onely flies in feare and dreadfull wo, As by his worde he oftentymes commaundeth vs to do. But whither flies this Papacie? in whom put they their trust? In all things rather than in Christ, or in his father iust. Denying him to be their God, and helper at their néede, Nor that all things in heauen and earth, doth from his handes procéede. For if they did not in their heartes this openlye denie, They would in all their troubles here, to him for succour flie. And all their things into his handes they would commit alway, Not séeking Mediators here, nor speachmen for to pray. Contented onely here with one, whose grace and fauour great For vs we may be well assurde, doth euermore intreat. But with one perfite God alone, they can not well away, Their chiefest trust and hope, they in the Virgin Marie lay. * 1.8Shée pleaseth God, and with hir childe, in armes continually Delighteth him, and what she askes, he neuer doth deny. Shée is the Quéene of heauen bright, and with a beck can do Whatsoeuer shée determinde is, and giues hirselfe vnto. Shée is the happie starre on seas, and port of perfite rest, And surest ancour for to stay the ship in seas opprest. Shée is the light of all the world, and mother here of grace, That doth of God forgiuenesse get, and doth our sinnes deface. Shée kéepeth those that worship hir in heart continually, From handes of euery wicked sprite, and deuils tyranny, And with hir gowne shée couers Kings, and Popes, and people all, From wrath of God, and vengeance due, that on their heads would fall. The gate of heauen eke is shée, and euerlasting life, The onely life of all the worlde, and ende of all our strife. Shée is the hope of euery man, and chiefe defendresse héere, Shée shewes vs Iesus Christ, when as before hir we appéere. Shée also in the dreadfull howre of death doth vs defende, Shée blesseth all the life of man, and fortune good doth sende.

Wherefore to hir in euery place, with all their heartes they call, Shée helpeth children at their bookes, and giues them wits withall. Shée helpes yong maides to husbandes both of liuing faire and face, Shée helpes the wofull sutor, to obtaine his Ladies grace. And vnto maryed folkes, shée giues faire children here with ioy, And in their trauaile kéepes the wiues, from daunger and annoy. Shée healeth aged men of coughes, and shortnesse of their breath, And brings them in their latter dayes vnto a happie death. Shee helpes the husbandman with séede, and ••endes him raine ynough, Shée filles his barne with corne and hay, and guideth well his plough. The shipman séekes hir ayde in seas, in daunger great and paine, The wandring Marchant trustes by hir to haue his wished gaine. The gréedie craftes man trusteth still a good successe to haue, By hir that is the Ladie of the worlde, and all doth saue. To hir they doe commend themselues, and all their familie, That get themselues beyond the seas for feare of ieopardie. What should I euery thing resight, in euery matter shée Is callde vpon, and alwayes thought the onely ayde to bée. Shée is all in all, and heares and sées what can be done or thought, And gouernes all in euery place where as this fayth is taught. Right acceptable vnto God, and holiest sure of all The Virgin is, whom euermore the worlde shall blessed call: Yet neuer ought shée for to haue such estimation héere, Nor powre deuine, without the worde of God and scriptures cléere. For if shée haue such force, and can do all that hath béene tolde, What doth remaine to Christ the king, that Scepter chiefe doth holde? Adde more to this that Popish priestes these fansies fonde do faine, Without the Prophets warrant, or the Apostles teaching plaine. Who séeth not here that they ne doe in God put all their trust, That framde the earth and heauen hie, with perfite measure iust? And that they make no account of Christ, who here ascended hie, Whereby he might relieue the worlde and all things here supplie? They rather in our Ladie trust, and still to hir do call, If any daunger them oppresse, or mischiefe great do fall. Hir doe they paint and liuely carue, and giue hir prayses tho, In Churches hie and euery house wheresoeuer you come or go.

To hir they weping, sob, and sigh, and howle, and mourne, and all, To hir they certaine prayers giue, that here the Course they call, And sundrie other seruices, but vsed commonly As most of weight, the Rosaries do flourish wondrously, Deuised first and made by Monkes, a kind of men that bée The authors still of wickednesse, and all iniquitee. They vnder cloke of worshipping the Virgin, haue assignde A certaine foolish felowship, whom wéekely they do binde, To offer vp these Rosaries, vnto the Virgin pure, And neuer faile this seruice great, as long as they indure. An other kinde of Monkes there is, by office sanctified, That nothing haue to doe with Christ, nor any Saint beside, But serue the Virgin Marie here, as onely of hir traine, And wisely sure they are aduisde, for so they more doe gaine: Than if they should account themselues Christes seruaunts here to be, And onely labour to aduaunce his name and dignitie. True fayth continually is poore, and liues in simple case, Vngodlinesse procureth gaine, and wealth in euery place. The Virgin more on solemne dayes appoynted festiuall, Is highly worshipt of hir folke, and shauen Papistes all. Hir Image doe they brauely decke with sumptuous show to sight, Hir aultar set about with bowes, and Lampes, and Candels bright. Eche man his Candle present hath, that burneth thorow the yeare, And Franckensence in euery place doth smoke, and singing cleare With Organs in the Church resoundes, the people brings in pence, And on the aultar offer all with wondrous reuerence. Such honors are not here bestowde on Christ in any place, He is not thought to do so much, nor of so great a grace: Or counted of his nature else for to be more seuere, Than to vouchsafe to looke vpon our deedes and prayers here. Besides they kéepe our Ladyes fast at sundrie solemne tymes, Instructed by a turning whéele, or as the lot assignes. For euery Serten hath a whéele, that hangeth for the viewe, Markte round about with certaine dayes, vnto the virgin dewe. Which holy through y^e yere are kept, from whence hangs down a thred, Of length sufficient to be toucht, and to be handled.

Now when that any seruaunt of our Ladyes commeth héere, And sekes to haue some certaine day by lotte for to appéere, This Sexten turnes the whéele about, and bids the stander by, To holde the thred whereby he doth, the time and season try: Wherein he ought to kéepe his fast, and euery other thing, That decent is, or longing to our Ladies worshipping. Who doth so much for Christ, or who for him doth take such paine, To whome if that they light a syse, his mother hath six againe. The second place in euery thing, he hath or else the last, For no man doth his hole affiaunce here vpon him cast. The popish sorte and people all, by name doe know him here, But all their trust and confidence, they set another where. Nor onely to the Virgin here, they dare themselues commit, Nor vnderneath hir sole defence, they quietly can sit:* 1.9 But vnto other saintes they flye, whom God hath long agone Receyued from this present worlde, vnto his stately throne: That after all their cares and toyles, with misery opprest, Deliuered from the worlde, they might haue euerlasting rest. But these men from the skies doe bring them downe to earth againe, Depriuing them of rest, and putting them to worldely paine. For yet (they say) they carefull are for mortall men beside, None otherwise than God, or Christ, that all the worlde doth guide: And that they mediatours are, and aduocates for man, Before the Lorde and helpe vs here, by all the meanes they can, Deliuering vs from punishment, and our deserued fall, And that they heare the prayers of all such as to them call. As if that Christ vnable were, to doe all this alone, Who made himselfe our aduocate, before his fathers throne. These things they fayne and doe inuent, without both fayth and minde, That stedfast can they neuer stande, nor safetie here can finde. As he cannot that puttes not all his trust in God alone, And in the faythfull sauiour, of all our hope the stone. Therfore they worship saints with hymnes, & songs and musike swéete With Aultars fayre and Churches built, in euery towne and stréete, In fieldes abrode and parishes, in villages about, So that no corner can be founde, nor place appeare without:

But picture painted of some saint, there gorgeously doth shine, Or caruen Image worshipped, with reuerence deuine. And ech one hath his day alowde, whereon they doe beleue, That from the earth departing here, the skies did them receue. An other holy day they haue, when church or aultar here, Is dedicated vnto them, with pompe and lustie chere. The Churches for their sakes are strawde, with pleasant flowers swéete And euery piller garnished with bowes and braunches méete. The aultar also couered is, with clothes of value great, The Tabernacles opned are, and saintes are shewde in seat, Fayre guilt and finely ouerlayde, with siluer sumptuously, The grounde with Turkey carpettes spred, and hangde with tapestry, Perfumed all with franckenscence, and euery pleasaunt thing, That may prouoke deuocion, and money in to bring. * 1.10Their bones they also vp doe digge, and sepulchres destrye, Contrarie quight to mans decrées, and will of God on hye: Whereby a greater gaine may come, and wickednesse aryse, And that they may beguile the worlde, and bleare the peoples eyes, And all in Golde these bones they set, and rounde with siluer binde, And closde in Christall to delude, th'unlearned simple minde. Here faine they many miracles, and of their liues they preache, And all their good and gracious workes, continually they teache. Not to the honoring of Christ, nor that the people might, By folowing of their vertuous life be brought to liue vpright: But for to bring them from the truth, vnto idolatrie, And for to picke their purses here, and them to follies tie. For this they bring them forth abrode, and on the aultar show, For this they carie them about, with many a cursey low: And offer them to any man, for money here to kisse, Nor onely in this wretched case, they are content with this: To haue their bones in siluer closde, and fondely to perswade, Men vnto supersticion, with this same foolish trade: But also forth they shew their clothes, their clokes, their socks, their hose Their napkins, shooes, and sillie shirtes, their heare, their skin, their tose. And eke the Virgin Maries milke, (so farre they be from shame,) And coales whereon saint Laurence lay, while as he broylde in flame.

Yea more than this, they shew the Haye, whereon our sauiour lay, Amid the maunger when he first, was borne with ioyfull day. And eake his coate that cruell souldiours, woulde not here deuide, The nayles and dredfull poynted speare, that perst his tender side. From whence sprange out the watrish bloud, and cartlodes great beside Of that same crosse that long time since was in the riuer spide: Whereof in euery famous Church some péeces doe appeare Besides the sliuers that about their neckes doe many weare: And sundrie other thinges they shew, which here for to resight, Time suffers not, nor leysure doth permit me here to wright. Thou woonder wouldst how these same things, so many yeres should lie And in what place they founde them first, and how they came therebie. But lawfull is it not to aske, to doubt thereof is sinne: For all things are most truly done, and no deceyt therein. Besides they promise pardon here, of faulte and trespasse quight, And merites great of waight to such, as came to sée this sight. So vile deceyuers of the worlde, borne here to faine and lie, To leade the people into hell, and kéepe them from the skie. To euery saint they also doe, his office here assine, And fourtene doe they count of whom, thou mayst haue ayde deuine.* 1.11 Among the which our Ladie still, doth holde the chiefest place, And of hir gentle nature helpes, in euery kinde of case. Saint Barbara lookes that none without the body of Christ doe dye, Saint Cathern fauours learned men, and giues them wisedome hye: And teacheth to resolue the doubtes, and alwayes giueth ayde, Vnto the scolding Sophister, to make his reason stayde. Saint Appolin the rotten téeth doth helpe when sore they ake, Otilia from the bleared eyes, the cause and griefe doth take. Rooke healeth skabbes and maungines, with pockes and skurfe & skall, And cooleth raging Carbuncles, and byles and botches all. There is a saint whose name in verse cannot declared be, He serues against the plague and ech infectiue maladie. Saint Valentine beside to such, as doe his power dispise The falling sicknesse sendes, and helpes the man that to him cries. The raging minde of furious folkes doth Vitu•• pacifie And doth restore them to their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, being calde on spéedilie.

Erasmus heales the Collicke and the griping of the guttes, And Laurence from the backe and from the shoulders sicknesse puttes. Blase driues away the quinsey quight, with water sanctifide, From euery Christian creature here, and euery beast beside. But Leonerd of the prisoners doth, the bandes a sunder pull, And breakes the prison doores and chaines, wherwith his Church is full. The quartane ague and the reast, doth Pernel take away, And Iohn preserues his worshippers, from pryson euery day. Which force to Benet eke they giue, that helpe enough may bée, By saintes in euery place: what dost thou here omitted sée? From dreadfull vnprouided death, doth Marke deliuer his, Who of more force than death himselfe, and more of value is. Saint Anne giues wealth and liuing great, to such as loue hir most, And is a perfite finder out, of things that haue béene lost. Which vertue likewise they ascribe, vnto an other man, Saint Vincent, what he is I cannot tell, nor whence he came. Against reproche and infamy, on Susan doe they call, Romanus driueth sprites away, and wicked deuills all. The Byshop Wolfgang heales the goute, S. Wendlin kepes the shéepe With shepheardes, and the Oxen fatte, as he was woont to kéepe. The bristled hogges doth Antonie preserue and cherish well, Who in his life tyme alwayes did in woodes and forrestes dwell. Saint Gartrude riddes the house of Mise, and killeth all the Rattes, The like doth Bishop Huldrich with his earth, two passing Cattes. Saint Gregorie lookes to little boyes, to teache their a. b. c, And makes them for to loue their bookes, and schollers good to be. Saint Nicolas kéepes the Mariners, from daunger and diseas That beaten are with boystrous waues, and tost in dredfull seas. Great Chrystopher that painted is with body big and tall, Doth euen the same, who doth preserue, and kéepe his seruants all, From fearefull terrours of the night, and makes them well to rest, By whom they also all their life, with diuers ioyes are blest. Saint Agathae defendes thy house, from fire and fearefull flame, But when it burnes, in armour all doth Florian quench the same. Saint Vrban makes the pleasant wine, and doth preserue it still, And spourging, vessels all with Must continually doth fill.

Iudocus doth defende the corne, from myldeawes and from blast, And Magnus from the same doth driue the Grashopper as fast Thy office George is onely here, the horseman to defende, Great Kinges and Noble men with pompe, on thee doe still attende. And Loye the smith doth looke to horse, and smithes of all degrée, If they with Iron meddle here, or if they Goldesmithes bée. Saint Luke doth euermore defende, the paynters facultie, Phisitions eke by Cosme and his fellow guided be. Who can remember all the saintes, to whome the popish sort, In all theyr troubles here with prayer, as vnto God resort? For Christ they doe suppose is madde, and s••outhfully doth liue, Regarding naught but all his minde to idlenesse doth giue. Yet here it doth not vnto them, a thing sufficient seeme,* 1.12 To worship all these saintes at home, that they so much estéeme, Nor that they can in euery place, nor will shew all their might, Though equally they in the heauens shine with glorie bright: But into countries farre they go, as they haue vowde before, Or of their voluntarie willes, to seeke their fauour more: And beare to them their offrings great, with frée and earnest minde, Supposing at their handes therefore, more fauour for to finde. Some thither are constrainde to runne, by wicked sprites and ill, And in their hande a staffe they take, or else some crooked bill: Or whatsoeuer in their handes, they at that howre had, Wherein they were compelled thus, with woondrous rage to gad. Of weapons such at Ratspon are, there thousandes to be séene, As monuments of people madde, whereto all naked cléene With thirst and hunger some haue gone, our Ladie for to sée, Enough cannot this wickednesse, and madnesse called bée. There are that leaue their owne affayres, and businesse that doth fall, To them in common wealth, theyr men, their wife, and children all, And runne abrode on pilgrimage, with daunger great and paine, To purge their sinnes and by desarts, the heauens for to gaine. For why the Prince of errours all, the better to deface True godlynesse hath promised, not here in euery place Forgiuenesse of our sinnes, but in some Churches great alone, Which poore and riche, and yong and olde, doe credit euery one.

Therefore vnto the holy lande, Ierusalem to see, Or vnto Compostel they runne, and passe the Pyrannee, Or else to Rome the Ladie chiefe, of pardons euermore, Who alwayes hath hir coffers stuft with merites great in store: And doth dispence with euery man, that willing is to paye, And for the same hath trauailed, from countrie farre away. The blessed Virgin Marie, is in sundrie places sought, But most at Aquisgran except he better hath it thought: That sinfull is and wearie of Christ, to Englande for to go, Where as shée can doe many things, and rules and raigneth so: That they account it vanitie, to call vpon the highst, And take him for a blockehead here, that trusteth vnto Christ. Likewise hath euery other saint, a countrie of his owne, Where most he showes his miracles, and listeth to be knowne: And where he heares the prayers best, of such as money giue, Vnto the ydle Monkes and Priestes, that in the Churches liue. Ech one for his degrée doth giue, none thinkes he well hath wrought, Except some offring méete for his estate he there hath brought: Whereby such store of precious stones, and costly clothes you spie, And giftes of Golde and siluer great, but Basons specially: And Chalises, and Crosses bigge, beset with pearle and stone, That from the Indians blacke are brought, or got in seas alone. There glisters gréene the Esmerald, that blasing burneth bright, The Carbuncle there swéetely showes, the pleasant Camnes whight: There shines the purple Iacinct fayre, great store of Saphires there, With Diamonds, Iaspers, Chrysolytes, and Agats doe appere: And all the precious stones that in the worlde are to be séene, That long ago the giftes of kinges▪ and Princes great haue béene. There Candles stande as great as men may well in armes embrace, And number great of Tapers small, that burne in euery place, And rounde about hange Images▪ of waxe that likenesse haue, Of Children, women, men, and shéepe, and swine, and horses braue, With sundrie other likenesses, that here were long to tell, As signes of diuers daungers by this saint escaped well. Who can declare the massing wéedes? the ships of franckensence? Their reliques, and their costly shrines, with hie magnificence?

Their Banners and their other things, that in Vestrie lye? The giftes that to these saintes are due, ech man giues willinglye. Nor any man restrained is, by néede or pouertie, So that they be their aduocates, and kéepes them from anoye, And leades, them when their life shall ende, to euerlasting ioye. Who doth not sée that they doe more, in them then Christ beleeue, To whome they scarce in all their liues one halfepeny doe geeue. Few Churches also in the worlde, there are that beare his name, But saints haue Churches swarming thicke, in euerie stréete and lane, Christ still doth kéepe his poore estate, but Paule and Peter there, In wealth doe Craesus farre surmount, and eke in costly gere. The ymage of our Ladie doth King Salomon excell, And painted Iames with Midas may in show be matched well. Yet all their trust is not in saintes, whom though they worship all, Yet dare they not commit their liues, into their handes to fall: So that no ankar holde they haue, but hange amid the skie,* 1.13 And downeward list they not to fall, nor can they vpwarde flie: But tost and tumbled here and there, with blastes of boystrous windes, They haue no place to rest or stay, their wauering doubtfull mindes. By their good déedes they onely thinke, the heauens for to take, And in themselues good hope they haue, if prayers long they make: And tire their tongues with mumbling vaine, and endlesse pattering, Or Coocoolike continually, one kinde of musike sing. A merit great they count it here, to kéepe their fasting dayes, And eate no flesh, nor egges, nor milke, nor whitemeate any wayes. But fill their bellies full of fishe, of euery daintie kinde, For these good déedes they thinke that God will leaue his angrie minde: And places in the heauen giue, whereas he will them blesse, With méete rewardes for authors such, of so great righteousnesse. And if they almose giue and breade, to such as are in neede, Or ragged clothes, they strayte suppose to haue heauen for their méede. If any thing to Monkes they giue, or on the Church bestow, Or of their proper charges builde a Chappell fayre of show: And finde a Prest to sing a Masse, therein continually, Than looke they wondrously aloft, and surely thinke thereby,

Aboue the heauens bright in ioye, for euermore to liue, The Lorde himselfe can scarse deuise a iust rewarde to giue, If they to holy places go, and for religion sake, Vnto the ymage of some saint, they painfull iourneys make, Into the coastes of Syria, or desart places great Of Egipt, they doe sure suppose, that for this worthie feate, They are absolude from all their sinnes, as cléere and frée beside, As is the dogge from duskish Fleas, amid the sommer tide. For to their merites so they trust, and swell so much withall, That no man able is to make, their loftie minde to fall. Thence ioyfully they doe returne, beset with Skallop shelles, Their cloakes and hattes hangde rounde about, as if it were with belles With Images of leade and tinne, which they in euery coast, Doe blase abroade, and of their great desartes and merites boast. All things they here for merites doe, and all that in them lies, They séeke in euery thing to haue, some merite to arise: For by the same they thinke their sinnes, are here forgiuen quight, And that they finde the certaine way, that leades to heauen right. Wherefore if of their owne they want, as they haue little store, They go and buy of other men, that commonly haue more. But specially of Monkes that haue the merites chiefe to sell, Sufficient both to kéepe themselues, and other men from hell. I saw a Gallye painted once, that was both large and tall, That driuen forth with pleasant windes, and happie course withall, The raging seas and waues of this same tombling worlde did cut, And sayled out to heauen gates, that presently were shut. Hir straught was onely Friers and Monkes, and on the spardecks hie, Were all the chiefest members of the wicked papacie. The people with their Saren Priestes, euen at the poynt to drowne, Amid the wilde and wofull seas, were swimming vp and downe, And holding vp their wearie handes, with plaint and pitious crie, They calde vpon the holy Monkes, that in the Galley lye. The Monkes cast ouer borde their ores, and out their Cables threw, And catching diners in this sort, a few to ship they drew, Whereby that none without the ayde, of Monkes are saude you sée, But drowned in the Stygian streames, and hellish waters bée.

All such as are not Monkes or saued by their merites heare, Or in their ship, and this makes fooles to buy their merites deare. Nor yet the minde is satisfide, nor heart in quiet lyes,* 1.14 Of such as séeke to liue by workes, and Christ do thus dispise. Wherfore the Pope them Pardons sels, & graunts them grace at will, And giues for golde the déedes of Saints, to purge away their ill. No foole the Pope that by this fraude such treasure great inioyes, But fooles are they that him beleue, and giue their goodes for toyes. According to the Prouerbe thus, the cloth must still be shorne, Least it should hap to be consumde with mothes, and all to torne. In Christ alone they will not trust, therefore they worthilie Doe buy such lyes, and for the same do giue such prises hie: And know not where to set their foote, but here and there do ronne, And alwayes doubt in euery thing, if they enough haue donne. This birding hath the people spoylde, and euery realme beside, And of the Pope the hungrie mawe hath fully satisfide, Who vseth euermore to sell the reigne of heauen hie, To euery man that offers golde, and willing is to buie. Amid the Church there placed standes a Chest with yron bound, Made fast behinde with Chaynes of force, vnto some Piller round: A narrow mouth it hath, wherein a Testorne scarce will go, Then furnish they the Pulpet with some bawling Frier tho, Or others that are voyde of shame, and care not what they say, Who may extoll their Pardon there, and shewe what men shall pay, Perswading euery man, that hath regard the skyes to gaine, And for to haue their sinnes releast with little price and paine, And for to haue the soules drawne out of flame departed heare, Of father, mother, grandsire, wife, or any kinsman deare: That they remember well the Box, and money fast do bring, For them and theirs, not letting slip so hie and great a thing. Who would not here preserue himselfe, and set at libertie, Both him and his with summes, from wrath of him that rules the skie, If these deceyuers tolde the truth, with earnest minde and will, And did not with these falsehoodes, both the soule and bodie kill? The people thus perswaded all, bring in their pence apace, And giues their money vnto them, that néere the Boxe haue place.

Who, lest suspition might arise of iugling or deceat, Do with their seales and writing both, confirme this pardon great: And take the name of such as buy, and those for whom they 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Both of the men that liue, and such as long before did die. The man reioyceing goeth his way, vnskilfull of the guile, Though both himselfe and eke his soule he therewith doth beguile. They on the other side do laugh, enioying thus their pray, And neyther here the liuing, nor the dead a whit do way. Herein where doth the hope appeare, of sinnes forgiuen quight By Christ, and life obtayned here, and Sathan put to flight? Perhaps thou thinkest now their heartes are fully satisfide, * 1.15And that so many merits bought, no further they prouide. Thou art deceyude: in euery Church are painted Tables founde, That fastned are vnto the walles, or to the pillars rounde. Wherein the Virgin Marie fayre is counterfeyted right, Or else the Sauiour liuely drawne, appeares before the sight. Their Images are also made, and caruen cunninglie, Where written haue the holy members of the Papacie, Whosoeuer doth before this Image here deuoutly pray, And on his Beades the Pater and the Aue Mary say, He hath forgiuenesse of his sinnes, and pardon of his paine, Which pardon doth for many yeares in vertue full remaine. To this on euery side they runne, and worship reuerentlie, While as with bodie prostrate on the ground, in dust they lie. Is not this same the worshipping of Idols very plaine Forbidden, by the worde of him that guides the starrie raigne? * 1.16If that the thunder chaunce to rore, and stormie tempest shake, A woonder is it for to sée the wretches howe they quake, Howe that no fayth at all they haue, nor trust in any thing, The Clarke doth all the Belles forthwith at once in Stéeple ring: With wondrous sound and déeper farre, than he was woont before, Till in the loftie heauens darke, the thunder bray no more. * 1.17For in these Christned belles they thinke, doth lie such powre & might, As able is the tempest great, and storme to vanquish quight. I sawe my selfe at Numburg once, a towne in Toring coast, A Bell that with this title bolde, hir selfe did prowdly boast,

By name I Mary called am, with sound I put to flight The thunder crackes, and hurtfull stormes, and euery wicked spright. Such things when as these Belles can do, no wonder certainlie It is, if that the Papistes to their tolling alwayes flie. When haile, or any raging storme, or tempest comes in sight, Or thunder boltes, or lightning fierce that euery place doth smight: Besides they Candles vp do light, of vertue like in all, And Willow braunches hallow, that they Palmes do vse to call. This done they verily beléeue, the tempest nor the storme, Can neyther hurt themselues, nor yet their cattell, nor their corne. But some there be, and not a few, that dare not well commit Their liues to this, but vnderneath the starres they séeke to sit, For there (they say) the lightning can no kinde of creature smight, Nor fall vpon the féeble corse of any fearefull wight. There are that hide themselues in Caues, and vnder ground do lie, When as they heare the roring sound, and rumbling in the skie. Where here appeares the confidence, and trust vnto the hiest? And hope in all aduersitie cast wholy vpon Christ? Where do they here commit themselues, and all that they possesse, Vnto the will of God, as in theyr wordes they do expresse? Are not these Papistes Catholikes, and men appoynted well, That are defended in the stormes, by sounde of brasen Bell? And steps of stayres, and braunches burnt, w^t flames encompast round, And Candels light, and Caues, & dennes made vnderneath the ground? Such Gods, and such defenders here, the heathen woont to haue, To whom in all their daunger they did flie themselues to saue. Besides they doe beléeue their sinnes to be forgiuen quight,* 1.18 By taking holy water here, whereof if there do light But one small drop, it driueth out the hellishe deuils all, Then which there can no greater griefe vnto the féend befall. Therefore they oftentymes do hurle and cast abrode the same, Both on the people, and themselues, and Papistes chiefe of name: Whose learning is aboue the rest, with willing mindes prepare, To take the drops vpon their handes, and heads, vncouered bare: And euermore amidst the Church, and in the Porch beside, There standes a Sprinckle, and a stocke, wherewith they may prouide,

To driue away the fearefull féende, and to resist their strife, And for to wash away the sinnes, and faultes of wicked life. This water also caryed is into their houses all, Wherewith they sprinckle chambers, beds, and euery rotten wall. No man doth passe his thresholde, but before he goes abroade, Him selfe, and all his garments are, with holy water stroade. The vse thereof is very great, almost in euery thing, And wonder none when as it doth such force and vertue bring. The common people also licke vp salt, vnto this ende, And giue it to their children, and their cattell, to defende And kéepe them, that the Deuill haue no power to do them harme, Nor any mischiefe on them light, nor any cursed charme. What néede haue these same men of Christ, that with so little paine, Can do such wondrous workes, and to such matters great attaine? They driue out sprites, and wipe away eche sinfull crime and fault, With little drops of water cleare, or eating vp of sault. * 1.19Yet fully trust they not to this, nor therewith are content, But desperation many of them doth wretchedly torment, Bicause they finde not here sufficient comfort perfitelie Agaynst theyr sinnes, the paynes of hell, and wrath of God on hie: Therefore to Monkry after all, do flie this people blinde, Supposing that herein consistes the perfite peace of minde, And that our sinnes with foolish Cowles, and déedes are done away, That vnto euerlasting life it is the surest stay. If bound vnto their treble vowe, they kéepe their fasting dayes, And prayers long appoynted them, and other foolish playes, And all their life long from the vse of tender bathes they flie, And in their seuerall Sels, as do the Monkes Carthusian lie. But others in their aged yeares, and readie now to die, Especially the learnde and rich, and kings and princes hie: Do flie vnto S. Fraunces Cowle, as men beside their minde, Whereby of all their sinnes they thinke forgiuenesse for to finde: None otherwise than if at Font they tooke their Christendome, And borne a new to righteousnesse, and perfite life should come. So with this sacred wéede, they thinke most surely to appeare Before the face of God, with hope must vaine deceyued heare.

Though all their tyme before were spent in beastly wickednesse, Without the Lorde and Christ, by whom we onely life possesse. Nowe tell me, doth this fayth and hope séeme Catholike to bée, And with the perfit worde of God and scriptures to agrée? Yet do not all these Saints auaile, nor merits dearly solde, Nor mans good workes, nor Pardons, Masse, nor all that I haue tolde.* 1.20 They doubt as yet if that their sinnes be clearely put away, Or whether God his angrie moode, and furie, doth allay: Euen as the Turkes and Infidels before haue alwayes donne, And euery wicked nation, and people vnder Sonne. For looke howe they doe ende their life, their sinnes they do confesse Vnto the Priest, and are absolude from all their wickednesse: According to their Pardons bought, which if they chaunce to lacke, Their merits and their owne good workes, are cast vpon their backe, And all the paynes and punishments that hath vpon them light, In recompence whereof, their sinnes are them forgiuen quight. Besides the very bodie of Christ, they take into their mawes, Agaynst the Deuill, and of hell the tooth and gréedie iawes: Whereby they also may be safe from that infernall paine Of Purgatorie flame, that they themselues doe falsly faine. Yet more, the Saints being calde to helpe, they are anneald at length, A medcine not to be dispisde, of vertue great and strength Agaynst both sinne and raging death, the rest I ouerslide, That euery man doth for his soule here carefully prouide. Yet quiet are they not with this, nor can they boldely say, That all their sinnes forgiuen are, and clearely done away, Nor that the Lorde is pacifide, and pleased with them well, And they deliuered perfitely, from powre of death and hell. They doubt, they tremble, and they feare, that somthing yet remaines Of their offences, and the wrath of God with dreadfull paynes. Therefore they will that after death, a solemne obsequie Be made, with Dyrge song both day and night continuallie. Sixe hundreth Masses to be sayd, and Tapers burning bright, And Monkes, and Priestes with them to go to graue in doolefull plight, By whose good prayers their hellishe paynes may there released bée, And soules there hence mount to the skie, where naught is else but glée.

They also hier folkes to say the Psalter spéedily, And money vnto Churches giue, and to the pouerty, And vnto Monkes and other Priestes, who dayly haue this gaine, With prayers and merits to set frée the guiltie soule from paine: And bring them to eternall ioy, to this belongs alwayes, That they at euery seuennights ende, and euery thirtie dayes, And at the ende of euery yeare, doe here commaund and will, Their offrings, and their ceremonies, to be obserued still. So little hope and trust they haue eternall life to gaine, Or to obtaine his fauour, that doth guide the starrie raigne. For ignoraunt of Christ they are, and of his office hie, His merits here, and wherefore on the Crosse so painfullie He suffred death, and rose againe, O miserable men, That wauer still, and haue no certaine hope nor fayth in them, What ende is dewe? what recompence doth here remaine behinde But onely iust damnation, for this their doubtfull minde? But all the popishe sort doth doubt, and teach men eke to doubt, If we be righteous, if our sinnes be cléerely blotted out: If that the father fauour vs, and through his onely sonne, Hath made vs heare his heyres of euerlasting life to come. And thinkst thou these are Catholikes? or Church of Christ aright, That hearken not to Christ, but ouerthrow his triumph quight, And eke his death, and rather had to euery creature flie, Than vnto him that hath the rule of euery thing from hie? I had as lieue the Turkish lawe and doctrine to professe, As with the papist to beleue, that teach such wickednesse. What matter is it whether sect thou folowest in thy workes, For papistes do no more beleue in Christ, than do the Turkes. The Fayth of both is fonde and vaine, and both alike in showe, The name alone of Christ and all his doings here do knowe. In worship, life, and fayth, they doe his powre and force deny, And do dispise his benifites, and cast them cléerely by.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Catholike fayth.
• * 1.2

  Popish fayth.
• * 1.3

  Baptisme.
• * 1.4

  The supper.
• * 1.5

  Others.
• * 1.6

  Penance,
• * 1.7

  Refuge.
• * 1.8

  The worship of the virgin Marie.
• * 1.9

  worship of saintes.
• * 1.10

  Reliques.
• * 1.11

  Help••.
• * 1.12

  Pilgrimages.
• * 1.13

  Merites.
• * 1.14

  Pardons.
• * 1.15

  Tables and Images.
• * 1.16

  Belles.
• * 1.17

  Ratio. diuino.
• * 1.18

  Holy water.
• * 1.19

  Munkry.
• * 1.20

  Funerals.