The theater of the Popes monarchie wherein is described as well the vncleane liues of that wicked generation, as also their Antichristian gouernment, and vsurped kingdome : togeather with their horrible superstition, and blasphemous religion, as it is now vsed at this present, where Antichrist the Pope & his members do beare rule / by Phillip Stubbes.

Orders of religion amongest the pa¦pistes.

Stuperius.

THey haue infinite orders of religi∣on, and religious men, as orders of the Basilians,* 1.1 Augustinians, Benedic∣tines, Dominicās, Iacobines, Carthu¦sians, Carmelites, Lady brothers, Ser¦uitors, Obseruants, Conuētnals, Pe∣nitenciaries, Minimers, Capucines, Mendicants, Cluinares, Camaldulē∣ses, Valenbrosences, Cisteriences, Bernardines, Coelestines, Gibertenē∣ses, Milicenses, Castellenses, Moun∣toleuites, Castinenses, Armetes, Regulars, Premonstratēses, Whillia∣mites

to making of filthie bookes, & raylyng pamphlets against thē, therby to discre∣dit both them & the doctrine which they professe. They are also ghostly fathers, & do shriue as wel kings, princes, dukes, & noblemen, as also all others of what de∣gree soeuer they bee of, & haue absolute power (or els they lye) to absolue them a culpa & poena, (as pleaseth them to di∣stinguysh) from their sinnes, and the pu∣nishment due for the same, so soone as euer they haue whispered thē into their eares.* 1.2 This is a deuise, passing all de∣uises, for by this he knoweth and vnder∣standeth the secretes of al both men, and women, of kings & princes, & if they per¦ceiue any thing to bee intended againste the state of their vsurped kingome, they certifie the pope of it, who straight way sendeth out his flashing thunderbolts of excommunication,* 1.3 neuer ceasing til the authours of that practise be cursed with booke bell and candle, as blacke as Hell pitch. These friers cary pardōs through the world, shriue & forgiue sin, certifie y^e pope of the secrets, & estate of euery coū∣trie, & often times return to Rome with

their bags, and their caskets stuf•• full of money like faithfull children of suche a cursed father.

Phile.

Haue these poling friers shauen crownes as the other theyr cousin germans the monks haue?

Stupe.

Yea, their crownes are sha∣uen, but after an other maner. For loke how much holier they be then the mōks or any others,* 1.4 so muche broder are their crownes shorne than any others: and therefore is there no hayre permitted to growe all their head ouer, saue around ring or circle, compassing their pate like a headlace or band, with these shauen seō∣ses they raunge all abrode, despising all others that haue not their heads so shor•• as theirs is.

Phile.

I wonder that they bee not ashamed to put off their hats, or to let their heads be seene bare?

Stupe.

They shame at nothyng. For knowe you not, that they haue bra∣sen faces, and therefore cannot blushe. But if they hadde not, yet woulde they not blushe at this: for say they, hereby is signified great thinges: as namely, that ••

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 infinit or∣••••rs of religō ••mongest the ••apists.
• * 1.2

  Shrifte a brau•• deuise for pa∣pists and such as maketh 〈◊〉〈◊〉 theyr purpos••.
• * 1.3

  The popes curse is Gods blessing no doubt.
• * 1.4

  Friers crownes broder shorne thē any others because they are holier then any others.