A discourse Wherein is plainly proued by the order of time and place, that Peter was neuer at Rome. Furthermore, that neither Peter nor the Pope is the head of Christes Church. Also an interpretation vpon the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Thessalonians, the second chapter. Seene and alowed according to the order appointed.

¶An Interpretation of the place of Paule. 2. to the Thess. 2. which describeth Antechrist. I meane the Pope. (Book 3)

Except there come a departing first.

THEODORET calleth this departing Antechrist, who shall seduce the world and drawe men from the trueth: Who is the man of sinne which vsurpeth all the auc∣thoritie of the diuel, and the operation of whom is the childe of perdition bicause hée destroyeth himselfe and others. He shall sitte in the Temple of God, which is mens myndes, and shall sitte the highest in all assembles, councells, and places, and shew himselfe as a God, and shall call him the God. Moasim, a strong, stoute, and mightie God, some vnderstand this departing too bée when the Romaine Empyre béegan too decaye, in the tyme of the Emperour Heraclius, when the Turkes and Saracenes departed from the Romaine Empyre vnto Mahuemite, and folowed the su∣perstition, vaneties, and subtyle sect of the great Turke. Augusti∣nus confesseth his ignoraunce in the vnderstanding of this place, Notwithstanding saieth hée, some meane by Antechrist, the whole bodye of sinne, the whole malygnant Churche, with theyr Cap∣tayne Antechrist and so sitte in the Church, as though he were the onely Church, and now ye know, what withholdeth and what is the cause of his delaye, and why that this pestilent membre of Satan doth not apeare, euen the Romain Gmpire letteth, for tyll it béegin to deminishe,* 1.1 he shall not vtter himselfe by the misterie of iniquitie, some vnderstande Nero, some Heresies, by him that witholdeth, some vnderstand the Romaine Empire, as Ambrose

and others as I sayd before: some the grace of God, and the might of his spirit, some gods appointment and decrée, who assigned An∣techrists tyme, but Theodoret vnderstandeth it of the Gospell, which must be preached ouer all the world, Christs Religion pub∣lished euery where, adolatrie vanquished, false doctrine detected, superstition abolished, and then shall Antechrist appeare. Christ shall subdue this Tyraunt with the rodde and teath of his mouth: Esai. 11. verse .4. euen by his woorde and by godly men expert in his Lawe. The body of sinne is Antechrist, false prophets, and false Christs. Math. 7. verse .15. cap. 24. verse .24. Théeues and robbers. Iohn the 10. verse .1. Antechrists kingdome cōsisteth in ambition, domination, arrogancie, false doctrine, fables, visions, reuelati∣ons, pardones, and such other abhominations. The abhomination of desolotion is knowen,* 1.2 by notes of Antechrist, false doctrine, in this host, and that host, and in euery Alter with his naturall bo∣dye: He is knowen by Tyrannye, by all manner of myscheife, he is the man of sinne, for he doth not only sinne himselfe, but also causeth other to sinne. For the Pope sayeth that if he sel the whole world, he selleth but his owne, or if he cary innumerable sorte of soules to hell with him, there may no man aske him why he doth so. He is the childe of perdition, and man of sinne, bicause that he is a man in déede, and in mans nature, and taketh vppon him the operation of the deuill: for God elected Christ who in his humain nature should redeme vs, and bring vs to saluation, euen so doth the deuel choose a very man, who should supplant, seduce, peruert, and destroy, calling himselfe Christ and God, and aduouching thē to be false gods, whome before he reuerenced as true gods. The Temple of GOD he calleth Christs Church, and congregation, where he will vsurpe the highest seate and place, boasting himselfe for God.

Antechrist shall neither be deuell, nor féende, but a very man, in whome shall dwell whoie Satan bodely.* 1.3 He sitteth in the Church of God, as God, he shall persecute the godly, chaunge the Lawes of God, and eealt himselfe aboue GOD, and compell all men, all Lawes, all Regions to be subiect to his authoritie. He shal feigne chastetie,* 1.4 and contynencie, to deceiue men withall.

Gregorye the fyrst of that name, calleth him the forerunner of An∣techrist,

who taketh vppon him to be an vniuersall priest,* 1.5 bicause in pride and presumption hée preferreth him selfe before others, but this doth the Pope. Therfore he is Antechrist.

Gregorie calleth him Antechrist who sendeth out his preachers to teache that the Sabboth day or Sunday ought not to bée laboured vppon, and to folowe the Iewes in obseruing the rites of the law,* 1.6 and so cause the Sabboth to bée reuerenced: But the Pope doth this: Ergo the Pope is Antechriste.

After that Iohn in his Reuelation had described the firste beaste,* 1.7 whiche was the Romaine Empire, to bée a defacer of Christe, and a persecuter of the Christians: hée inferreth the second beast too come out of the earth, souoring of earthly things: and hauing two hornes as the Lambe of Christ had: the one horne is the world∣ly kingdome of the Pope, which consisteth in vsurping. For he cal∣led himselfe a king, and not only a king, but also created kings & Emperours and deposed them. The other horne is the priesthode of the Pope. For he hath authoritie in heauen and earth, and ther∣fore hath two keys, the one for Heauen gates, the other for hell gates. Two swordes, the one to subdue the Emperours withall, the other to rule the Clergie. He and his giue the holy Ghost, and grace, and therefore in auriculer confession, in his pardones, in making of priests. He speaketh like a Dragon,* 1.8 euen like the de∣uell, who seduced Adam and made him offend against all the com∣maundements. He doth graunt miracles, hée maketh fire too dis∣cend from Heauen.

By fyer is vnderstanded the holy Ghost,* 1.9 and the Pope promiseth to giue the holy ghost in giuing of orders, saying, Receiue ye the holy ghost.

Moreouer there is no sinne so horrible, no offence so greuous, which he will not forgiue for money. By Fyer, may be vnder∣stand his thundering boult of Cursing and Excommunication, whereby he did strike the Monarches, Princes, and Kings of the earth. He that will not worshippe the Image of the beast which is the dominion, prerogatiue, and authoritie of the Pope, shalbée murthered by him and his proctors.

The Image of the beast is his aucthoritie, ceremonies, candells,

Sacramentes, Hosts, Wafecakes, Housling, Priests, Friers, Nonnes, Monkes, Hermetes, Religious men, Purgatorie, Par∣dones, Penitentiaries, Curtesanes, Masses, Dirges, Abbotts, Beades, Beaderos, Crosses, Coniurings, holy Bread, holy Wa∣ter, holy Salte, Palmes, holy Blood of Hayles, prayers for the dead, Limbus patrum, Limbus puerorum, praying to Saincts, Su∣perstition, Idolatrie, Images, Idolles, Pilgremages, Rosaries, Ladies Psalters, and Regine coelorum, Aue Maria stella, Bulles, Extreame vnction.

I will so plainly declare the nature of Antichrist and in such sorte that you shall vnderstande that the Pope muste néedes bée Anti∣christ. There were onely six Monarchies from the deluge to the ende of the Worlde. The first the Assirians: the second, the Baby∣lonians or the Chaldes:* 1.10 the thyrd, the Medes or Persians: the fourth the Grecians or Macedonians: the fift, the Romains and Germans: the sixt, is the Pope and the Emperour, which were diuided out of the whole Romayne Empyre, before it was diminished.

Daniel doth not touch the Empire of the Assirians, for it was past before his tyme, and this Image was séene at Babilone. What néeded any Prophecie of a thinge that is past. Neither is there any Prophesie of a thing that is past, but of a thinge too come. And therefore sayeth Daniel: God shall shevv to the King things to come. The head of this Image signifyeth the Monarchy of the Chaldes and Babylonians:* 1.11 The siluer breast and armes the Medes or Persians: The Belly and Thighes of brasse the Gresians, or Macedonians: The Legges of Yron were the Romans, who sub∣dued al the world: The foote of Yron signifieth the Pope, who bre∣keth the power of the Emperour as yron doth y^e clay, for the Pope had all Europe, at his commaundement, hée crouned Emperoures, and hee deposed them, he warred against them and subdued them: hée possessed Italy, and thrust the Emperour into Germany. Let vs declare how the Pope, who is signified by the féete of yron, did sub¦due the Emperour, who was named by the foote of claye.

* 1.12Gegory the fyrst Pope of that name in the yeare of Christ .600. wryteth that it had bin offered diuers tymes that the Pope of Rome myght haue called the vniuersall Byshop, but none of them would take it vpon them, or vse that word and title. Notwithstan∣ding

the same Gregory inuehing against Iohn the Patriarcht of Constantinople, who would haue bene called the vniuersall Bi∣shopp, signifieth to the Emperour, Mauritius, and to his wife Au∣gusta, that Rome should chalenge that honor and Superioritie, and that it was iniquitie to depriue the successour of Peter of that ho∣nor, considering that it was sayd to Peter, thou art Peter, Et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam. Wherin Gregorie offen∣ded duble, first in misunderstanding, or rather peruerting y^e place and wordes of Christ, meaning by y^e rocke Peter:* 1.13 when as Christ is the rocke, and Peter but a member deriued from the rocke, as of Christ Christians: secondly that hée gaue occasion to his succes∣soures to chalenge and aspire to that superioritie and dignitie.* 1.14 Cursed Phocas in the yere of Christ .605. killed the good Emperour Mauritius with his wife, and children, and at the request of Boni∣face, made the seate of Rome the cheife seate of all churches, and that the Pope of Rome should bée preferred before all others. And although that Phocas a most damnable Emperour, who killed his Master and Emperoure Mauritius, gaue this preminence to the pope of Rome, notwithstāding he could not be elected without the assent of the Emperour of Constantinople, & the Exarch of Italy, & of the people of Rome. Constantinus, the 4. Emperor of that name,* 1.15 graunted to Benedictus, the second Pope of that name, in the yeare of Christ .685. that the Pope might be elected without the assent of the Emperour of Constantinople, or the Exarch of Itly, only by the Clergie, and people: And in the yeare of Christ .1063. in a coun∣sell at Mantua, where Berengarius was compelled to recant his o∣pinion of the Sacrament, it was decréed that the Pope should bée only elected of the Cardinalles without assent of any others, now began the Popes to do all, to rule all, & compell all Emperoures, Kinges, and Princes, to their orders, and to bée subiect to them. Gregory the 3. Pope of that name about the yeare of Christ .695. re∣sisted the Emperour of the east Leo the .3. who had caused al maner of Images to be pulled downe, and burned,* 1.16 and them that would not do it, to suffer death. This Gregory resisted: this excommu∣nicated Leo: this caused the Images to be more worshipped then euer they were.

Pope Zacharias in the yeare of Christe .743. caused the King of

Fraunce, called Chilpericus to be made a Monke, and placed one Pi∣pin by the meanes of the nobles of Fraunce, and made him king, who enriched the Pope.* 1.17 Thus Zacherias the Pope, with his suc∣cessor Stephen the second Pope of that name, dyd pardon and ab∣solue Pipinus with the rest of the nobilitie of Fraunce, of their othe & obediēce which they ought to y^e king Chilpericus lately deposed. This Stephen did first ordain that he & his successors shold be born of mens shoulders.* 1.18 Carolus magnus succeded his sonne Pipinus, & in the yeare of Christ .800. was created & crouned Emperour by Leo the third Pope of that name. Ludouicus succeded his Father Caro∣lus in the empire of the west,* 1.19 & enriched the pope Paschalis & his suc∣cessors exceadingly. For he with his grandfather Pipinus, & his fa∣ther Carolus gaue to the Popes aboue .60. Ylands,* 1.20 Countries, Ci∣ties, shires, Towns, dominions & prouinces, which are repeted in Campanus & others.* 1.21 Otho magnus the Emperour of the Germains, in the yere of Christ 938. gaue all these that his predecessors had gi∣uen to the pope for his soules health, for his sonnes soule, & for his forefathers souls. After this time the pope toke vpon him al world¦ly dominion & power,* 1.22 also of heauē, hell, & purgatory. No man may iudge the Pope, nor his doings. Causa. 9. quest. 3. C. patet. The pope may iudge all, & none the Pope: Neither may any man dispute of his doings .17. quest. 4. c. si quis suade. Dist. 79. c. extremo. What if the Pope shold corrupt many by his example?* 1.23 Pope Boniface an∣swereth this dist. 40.4. si Papa. If the Pope shall cary innumera∣ble people by companies with him into hell, & there to be plagued for euer, no man may reproue him: bycause that hée that iudgeth all, may be iudged of no man. In eadem dist. c. 2. If the Pope be ac∣cused his predecessor is sufficient. After Pipinus & Carolus the first Emperour of thatname, the Pope ruled al, crowned Emperours, deposed them at his pleasure. In so much that Iohn the .12. Pope of that name, in the yeare of Christ .962. (which Iohn was killed ta∣ken in adultrie) gaue this othe to Otho the first Emperour of the Germains, Dest. 63. To the my Lord Iohn Pope, I King Otho do promise thée and swere by the Father,* 1.24 and the So••ne, and the holy Ghost, and the trée of the liuely crosse, and by the reliquesof saints, that if I shal come to Rome I wil exalt the Romish church & hir gouerner & 12. quest. 4. Clericus,* 1.25 In the time of Otho the third

Emperour of the Germains, it was decréed by perlement that none of the stock & line of the Romans, should euer bée Emperour, but on¦ly some of the Germains.* 1.26 And therfore Gregory a Saxon the first Pope of that name, graunted that the Emperour should be elected by .v••j. electors, which were the Duke of Saxony, County Palatine, Marchio Brandeburgensis: the bishop of Mense, Colonie, & Treuers,* 1.27 & the King of Boemia, as Arbiter, in the yere of Christe .995. Here may you sée how that out of the Romain Empire, y^e Garmains Em∣pire & the Popes are deriued The Pope had the whole in effect & the Emperours were but at the Popes plesure. For the Pope had the marow & the Emperour the bones, the Pope the corn, the Em∣perour the chaff: the Pope was the Sun, the Emperor the Moone, who taketh his light & might of the Pope. The Pope had Italy, Sar∣dinia, Sicilia, Naples, & in a maner al. The Emperour Germany, but alwais subiect to the Pope. Wher it is in Daniel that they shalbe ioyned togither by mans séede, it is meaned that they shalbée as it were both one, but they shal not be otherwise ioyned thē yron can be with clay.* 1.28 By mans séede is meant that vnfaithful knot of ami∣ty which was, & is betwéen the Emperour & the Pope, which was oftentimes, but mere dissimulatiō. For wée sée that the Emperors were compelled for feare to obay the Pope, as in treading of the Henries, and Fredericks with Ludouique & others. How oft did Ho¦norius, Gregory the .9. & Innocentius, take truce with Frederike the ij. & euer brake their promis. This was Humanum semen,* 1.29 and the Popes Empire, as I said before, which rose out of the Romain em∣pire, & began then to be reuiled & made manifest when he toke vp∣pon him to make Emperours & depose them at his pleasure. Not∣withstanding he wrought secretly before in al the Popes in a ma∣ner. And that the Pope is Antechrist Paul proueth,* 1.30 bycause he sit∣teth in the Temple of God, & taketh vpon him to serch mens con∣siencis & for y^e purpose he made auriculer cōfession,* 1.31 to know euery mans thought. And therfore Boniface brought out two swods, on a solemne feast day in the yere of Christ .1030. wherby it is manifest that y^e pope is head both of y^e spiritual & tēporal sword, & dominion. The temple wherin this knaue y^e pope sitteth & reigneth,* 1.32 is y^e hole mēber of thē y^t beare y^e name of christiās though they be y^e church of Anti. whō he gouerneth, & ruleth for to sit in this place, is to rule.

Wherefore here you sée that the Pope doth inuade the kingdome of Christe, as Christe prophecied. They sayeth hée, meaning the Popes, shall come in my name, and saye, I am Christ. That is, I am king and head of the Church. How can Paul call the Church of Christ, the church of Antichrist? How can the Temple of God be called the Temple of Antichrist: If the Pope had called this Temple, the Temple of Antichrist: all men would haue abhorred him. But Paule calleth it, as the Pope doth, the Temple of God, declaring that the Pope would call his Sinogoge and malignant church by a glorius name, to delude y^e people, as he calleth his doc∣trine Euāgeliū Sempiternum et Euangelius speritus sancti. And the Sadduces cal thē selues rightuous men,* 1.33 notwithstāding they were most vnrightuous. And the Popes so altre theyr names to deceue the people,* 1.34 for if he were Impius, they called him Pius: If nocent, Innocentius: If a malefactor, Boniface: If vnmercifull, Clement: and thus they called vice vertue, and twined blacke into whyte. In like maner now the Ievves call themselues the people of God, who are not his people. The Pope vsurpeth that name, as he doth in calling himselfe Christes vice gerate, and that his priestes in confession sit in gods sceate. It may be obiected that Mahumet is Antechrist,* 1.35 whose story and lyfe I haue noted vpon Daniel. I an∣swer that he sitteth in that Temple that calleth it the Temple of God, but denieth Christe, neither doth hée secretly or openly call Christ his God, but onely a prophet: Neither commeth he out of the Romain Empire,* 1.36 but rose onely of himselfe: neither sitteth he at Rome. Neither taketh he vppon him to forgiue sinne. But the Pope seacretly calleth himselfe, in that he presumeth to forgiue sinne, ergo the Pope. No man can forgiue sinne but God only: the Pope presumeth to forguiue sinne,* 1.37 ergo the Pope is he that sitteth in the Temple of God, boasting himselfe, and triumphe aboue all that is God, The Turke began in Arabia: the Pope at Rome. The Pope is a false Christ, that is such one as that bosteth himselfe to haue the same authoritie that Christ had when he was in earth, that faineth himselfe to do all that Christe can do, and more, as to make of iniury, iustice, of nothing, something, to restore a defa∣med man to his name agayne, and such other thinges like vntoo these. Neither is euery euill Christian Antechrist, but hée onely

is Antichrist that fayneth himself to do all that christ can doo, to bée his vicegerent in earth, to sit in his place. As of late ther was one that fayned himself king Edward & said that he was so, who was a false knaue. Neither is the Turk that Antichrist that vsurpeth all that is God: but worshipped of the Turkes as a Sainte: as of late men did worship the Uirgin Mary and other Saintes. Ney∣can the Iewes or Turkes be false christes or Antichristes when they doo not feigne them selues to worship Christ as the sonne of God, he that refuseth Christ, cannot, nor wil not receiue a fein∣ned Christ. Neither is he Antichrist, or a false christ that is an e∣nimy of christ. But he that vsurpeth the power of christ, that ma∣keth himselfe equal with christ, or aboue him in some points, and notwithstanding would seme to be a christian in words, though he deny him in déedes. Is not hée a false christ, a faigned christ, a pseudo christ, that would séeme to defend christ outwardly, and yit peruerteth all his lawes, detracteth them to serue his fantasy, ab∣rogateth ••hem which hée likech not, and maketh new of his own, and dispenseth with the law of nature, with Peter, Paul, Christ and his gospell?

¶ The Pope holdeth some part of euery Heretique that hath bin since the world began.

WIth satan the subtile serpent he perswadeth Eue to eat of the fruit forbidden. I mean he compelleth his church to eat the raw flesh and carnall body, bones and soule of Christ in the sacrament, which is for∣bidden: to receiue his pardons, bulles, decrées and constitucions.

* 1.382 With the Adamians they denied and condemed mariages in priests, this did Leo the .9. pope of that name in the yere of christ 1050. Crantius lib. 4. ca. 43. And pope Pascalis in the yere of Christ 1100. Iohn Til.

* 1.393 With the Adamites they vse women and curtesans in com∣mon, which is declared by their stuehouses, which are lawfull for all men. For the diuines of Louane defend them as good, lawfull, and necessary. Quoniam polluitur sacerdotium matrimonio non meritricibus. For priesthode is polluted with matrimony, but not with harlots. Minus est malum scortari quam nubere. It is lesser euill to go on whorehunting, then to marry. Agrip. art. 22. et art. 16 vt habetur in c. si concubina de sent. excom. et grat. 34. d. dicentes, ho∣mini Christiano qui non habet vxorem, loco vxoris liceat habere cō∣cubinam. A christian man that hath not a wife,* 1.40 it is lawful for him to haue a concubine. Neither, say they do priests and Monkes ab∣iure or forsweare incontinencie, but mariage. Non abiuram incon¦tinentiam sed matrimonium. Sixtus the fourth pope of that name builded stuehouses of both the kindes in the yere of Christ .1474. O horrible Sodomie.* 1.41 Paul the third pope of that name had regi∣stred fiue and forty thousand whores that payed euery moneth a pension or tribute to the pope, which did rise yerely to fortie thou∣sand ducates. Mant. 2. fast.

Si pudor in villas, si non patiantur easdem Et villae vomicas, vrbs est iam tota lupanar.

4 With the Ophites, who sayd that the serpent, which supplan¦ted Eue, inuented the knowledge of good and euill. With Caim

that killed his brother Abel. With Iudas that betrayed Christ, whom their adherents worship bicause that Iudas did wel in be∣traying Christ, or els we could not haue bin saued:* 1.42 no more say the papists we could be saued without the crosse, and therfore we wor¦ship it and make it a saint, and dedicate a day to it, and worship it with the adoration of latria, lutz. cortes. in lib. 3. sent. dist. 3. Th. aqui.

5 With the Pharisies, who seperated themselues in apparell,* 1.43 and religion from others. And they obserued the Sabboth day su∣persticiously, as the papists do S. Sonday.* 1.44 They gaue leaue to a man to put away his wife for any cause, and the Pope likewise for money will dispense, and allegeth at the least twelue causes, and Iohannes de turre creuata many mo. They gaue to the temple rather then too their parents, and so do the Papists.

6 The Saduces denied the immortalitie of the soule,* 1.45 and so did Pope Leo the tenth of that name, and the life to come. Bembus b. The Saduces sayd that it was in our owne wil to do wel or euil: the papists that it cannot bée proued by scripture that a man née∣deth the grace of God to do good. Occam writeth this, Agrip. art. 2.* 1.46

7 The Esses, Manaches, Abelonians, and Agapetes,* 1.47 refuse ma¦riage, and to bée saued by their owne woorks, so do the Popes.

8 Thewdas was a rebel Act. 5. vers. 36.* 1.48 so were the most part of the Popes to their Emperours.

9 Simon Magus was a coniurer, and a nicromancer: so was Siluester the second. Anno Do. 1002. Iohn. 19. 1004. Iohn 20. 1008. Sergius. 4. 1010. Benedict. 8. 1013. Iohn. 21. 1024. Benedict. 9. 1040.* 1.49 Siluester. 3. 1046. Gregory. 6. 1048. Gregory. 7. &c. Simon sold the holy ghost: these the holy ghost, Christ, Heauen, Hell, Purgatory. Mantuan lib. cal. Venalia Romae.

Templa, sacerdotis, altara, sacra, coronae, Ignis, thura, preces, Coelum est venale deus{que}.

10 The Ebionites deny that Christ was before the virgin Ma¦rie, the Papists do the like,* 1.50 for they say that there were none sa∣ued, no not Adam, as did the Tatians, but that all went to hell till Christ came and haried hell. Panth. Thomas, Iohn de tur. ••re, &c.

11 The Nicolaites would haue mens wiues,* 1.51 and adultery and

fornication to be a thing indifferent:* 1.52 so do the popes, who say that single fornication is no sinne, and licet habere feminam semel in mense ad expurgandas renes, si non caste tamen caute, and Sodomi•• too bée diuinum opus, Ioh. a casa cardinal. Petrus Aratinus.

* 1.5312 The Gnostiques had images of Homer, of Plato, of Aristo∣tle, of Pythagoras and such others, of Paul, and Marcellina, and placed these images besides Christs image, and worshipped them: and do not the papists worship the images of Christ, Mary & Iohn, cense them, kisse them, reuerence them, offer to them, knéele to them, say the Lordes prayer, enioyned by their ghostly fathers, which I haue séene and done.

* 1.5413 With the Tatians they say that matrimonie is as euill as whoredom.

* 1.5514 Marcus and Psichicus a folower of Ualentinus, tooke vpon him to forgiue sinnes, to giue grace and the holy ghost: and dooth not the Pope the same?

* 1.5615 The Montanistes and Pristilians gaue libertie for men to forsake their wiues: and so do the Popes.

* 1.5716 They say with Hi••rax that chastitie filleth heauen, and ma∣riage hell.

17 They hold with the Audeans and Anthropomorphites, that God is of like shape with men: and doo not the Papists paint the father an old man with a long white beard, and the holy ghost like a Doue.

* 1.5818 The Donatistes said that the Church was no where but in Afrike, the Papists at Rome, and onely there where the Pope ru∣leth.

* 1.5919 They defend frée will with the Donatists, Pelagians, and Anabaptists.

20 With the Collyridians they woorship the virgin Mary, they offer to hir, they call hir the quéene of heauen.

* 1.6021 They say with Montanus, Apelles, and Cataphriges, that Christ ascended without a body: for they say that he is inclosed in a litle round cake inuisibly, and with Montanus they appoint fa∣sting dayes.

* 1.6122 Seuerus sayd that a woman was the woork of the diuell, and the vpper part of man of God, but from the nauell down of satan:

and therefore they that mary to fulfill the workes of the deuil. Pope Innocent 8. aduouched the lyke saying, that they that were maried could not please God. Qui in carne sunt Deo placere non possunt.

23 Marcellus the Bishop of Ancira affirmed that the kingdome of Christ should haue an ende.* 1.62 Friers in Paris Preached in the yeare of Christ 1255. that Christes Gospell should then haue an end, and the Popes should take place called sempiternum Euan∣gelium, and Christes they compared to the shell, theirs to the ker∣nel, theirs to the sun, Christs to the moone, theirs to light, Christs to darknes.

24 With the Donatistes and circumcellions they burn bookes, yea they burne sacred Bibles and persecute the readers thereof with fier and sweard.* 1.63

25 The Pope like Gensericus, Honorius and Transmundus be∣ing Arians and Kings of the Vandales persecuted the Christians. The Church of Christe neuer persecuteth but is persecuted, the Popes church persecuteth, and was neuer persecuted, Ergo it is not the church of Christ. Hillary

26 With Seuerus bishop of Antioch he curseth al his aduersares.

27 With Anastasius the Emperour hée worshippeth a Quaterni∣tie the father, the sonne, and the holy ghost,* 1.64 and Christes bodie in the Sacrament.

28 Iohn of Constantinople desiring to bée called the vniuersall Bishop is condemned for an heretique,* 1.65 what then shall we cal the Pope who will not only to be called the vniuersall Bishop, but al∣so will be the head of the milittant and triumphant church, to haue rule in heauen ouer the Aungels and archaungels, in hel ouer the damned soules, and ouer the sely soules in purgatory.

29 The Pope Marcellinus was an Idolater.

30 Pope Anastatius was a Nestorian.

31 Pope Liberius an Arian.

32 Many of of y^e Popes were murtherers, ruffians, desperates, coniurers, necromancers, warriers, perricides, blasphemers, A∣theistes, Antichristes, &c.

Fredericus Imperator Innocentio Papae.

FAta monent, stellae{que} docent, auium{que} volatus, totius subito malleus orbis ero. Roma diu titubans longis erroribus acta, corruet, et mundi desinet esse caput. ¶Innocentius Frederico. Fata silent, stellae{que} tacent, nil praedicat ales: solius proprium nosce futura Dei. Niteris in cassum nauem submergere Petri fluctuat, at nunquam mergitur illa Ratis. Fama refert, scriptura docet, peccata loquuntur, quod tibi vita breuis, paena perennis erit. Quod diuina manus potuit sensit Iulianus, tu succedis ei, te te net ira dei. Fre, fremit in mundo, de deprimit alta profundo, ri, mala rimatur, cus, cuspide cuncta minatur. Fredericus Innocentio. Fata monent, stellae{que} docent, auium{que} volatus, lapsurum te mox, ad stygis antra nigrae. Non ratis est Petri, sed Christi, quae natat vndis, fluctuat, at nus{que} mergitur illa ratis. Fama refert, tua scripta docent, peccata nefanda interitum ostendunt, exitium{que} tuum. trangulat Adrian um musc••, annon ira tonantis cogitat et de te sumere supplicium? Carcere suspendit sese Benedictus, et alter, in stupro captus, saucius ense perit. Siluestrum extinguit sathan, sceleratior ipse, ergo tuis factis praemia digna feras. Innocuum te voce notas, cùm sis nociturus orbi terrarum, christiano{que} gregi. ¶ Fredericus de integro. Esses si membrum, non te caput orbis et vrbis iactares, cum sis orbis, et vrbis on••is. Nune membrū non es, sed putre cadauer, et vlcus, ense recidendum, ridiculum{que} caput.

A Deniele bdelygma nefa••{que} caput{que} malorum, diceris a Paulo filius exitij. Nos solum Christum nostrū, caput esse fatemur, totius mundi te caput esse facis. Si caput est vnum, quod Paulus dicit vbi{que}, tu veors balatro, dic mihi quale caput? Corporis vnius caput vnum, si duo,, monstrum, monstra paris, monachos, scorta, nefanda foues. Est tua religio, stuprum, ira, superbia, caedes, error, deliciae, fulmina, turpe lucrum. Ex his ergo liquet, Christū te spernere, Christo hostem esse inuisum, dedecori{que} deo. Rex tandem veniet, coelo delapsus ab alto, tum non defendent te, sacra, missa, cruces. Non in sublimi surgentes vertice cri••tae, Non diploma ponens, non tua sacra cohors. Nec diadema triplex, nec sedes sanguine parta nullus honos, solii purpura nulla tui. Triginta nummis Christum vendebat Iudas, tu Christi vendis corpora plura tui. Corpora tu vendis Christi paruo aere, polum{que}, caelestis genios, sydera, iura, deos. ¶Innocentius Frederico. Semper honos, nomen{que} meum laudes{que} manebūt, quae Christus condit, condere iura queo. Illi succedo, sed plus me posse fatebor, pellere te possum sede, quod ille nequit. Ille nequit, quoniam Pilatum sede nequiuit, pellere solus ego, solus in orbe deus. Est nostrum genus, eximijs spectabile factis, Gregorius magnus, carmina mira canit. Christo pulsanti, patuit vix ianua ditis, sed mihi pulsanti mox patuere fores. Nam{que} ego Traianum tetri de faucibus orci, extraxi, et matrem, dite fremente, meam. ¶ Fredericus Innocentio. Papa quid insanis toties? quid sanguine gaudes?

quid geris imbelli spicula tanta manu? Quo vesane ruis? non te decet ira, nec arma: sed pietatis opus, relligionis amor. Tu similis colubro, quoties grauis ira, venenum suscitat, et mota lumina bile rubent. Sic furis, vt spumis ex ore cadentibus atrox fulmineo quoties dente minatur aper. Sic fremis, vt frendens, cum ferrea vincula mandit Cerberus, et stygias murmure turbat aquas. Tu fratres in bella vocas, in pignora patres, arma mihi extorques, oppida, tecta, domos. Fas et iura negas, homines, et numina fallis, nec Iouis imperium, nec phlegetonta times. ¶Innocentius Frederico. Quid metuā phlegitonta, deūuè aut numina coeli? nec ditis noceat, nec Iouis ira mihi. Est mihi tum barathri, tum coeli facta potestas, caelestes genios, tartareos{que} voco. Christus non potuit mentes deducere caelo nec excire animas ex acheronte nigro. Orci equidem possum cunctas lustrare cauernas, Eruere ex herebi monstra nefanda specu. Quod Deus est, ego sum, nec non mihi vendico plura nam hinil ex nihilofas fabricare mihi Iusticia ex iniusticia faceo{que} ••••eo{que}, te possum solio pellere caesareo. Omnia transformo, muto quadrata rotundis, reges pello, creo, transfero regna, duces. Nunc quis sum? ô medius fidius, te sede mouebo, ad barathrum trudam, praecipitem{que} dabo. Absit si ratio, stat pro ratione ••••••ido, quale meum numen lingua docere nequit. Sum dominus caeli, terrae rex, rectorauerni, prodidit et Paulus me ••uperare ••eum. Nec diuus, nec homo sum: neuter at inter vtrum{que} Ens sum, consistens ex homine at{que} 〈◊〉〈◊〉 At quid plura? meum numen formida•• olympus

me saenus Pluto, tartarie{que} canes. Quos placet, efficio diuos, quos displicet, odi at{que} ad tartareos precipitabo lacus. Nemo mihi in terris agnatus, nemo propinquus. prae me omnes sperno, duco{que} pro nihilo. Prostratis veniam digitis ego porrigo tensis, quod si contectes, id mea sella potest. Calceus expurgat culpas mortalibus aegris, et caligae viduas vs{que} beare solens.

Sic quidam de Papa. Papa stupor mundi, Deus est, numen{que} benignum Europae fasces, orbis, et vrbis habet. At{que} Asiae decus, at{que} Africae splendor, barathri{que}, Inmen, agit furias, imperio{que} premit. Solus ab occasu dominari, solus ab ortu debet, qua{que} notus, quà boreas{que} ruit. Huius sanguineum fulmen formidat Olympus, caelestes animi, caelicole{que} timent. Saturnus metuit ne se detrudere caelo tentet Romani fertilis ira Iouis. Ex erebo manes citat ad subsellia Romae, quas{que} cupit furias, ex acheronte ciet: Troianum è stigiis, inuito dite, lacunis elicit, hoc Christum posse, negare licet. Haec Christus potuit, dum vixit, fotre fatetur: at nunc posse negat Papa, Petri{que} cohors. Christus non potuit damnatos manibus vllam largiri veniam, sed bene Papa potest. Dat veniam tostis flammatis ignibus orci, ille dat eterni gaudia falsa poli. Ille au••o vendit coelum, coelestia cessant, numina tam magnum dinumerare bonum.

De Roma, meretrice Babilonica.

ROMA quid insanis? quid in impietate triumphas? quid nectis fraudes? stupraue faeda colis? Concubitus vetitus cordi est, puerilis amor{que}, impurus cultus, vana superstitio. Dicitur illa quidem meretrix et adultera turpis, agnos••it plures, quae vitiata, viros. Illa vrbs non al••ter, coluit quae numina plura, scortum est. Hoc Babylon, impia Roma facit. Vrbs Romana potest meretrix Babylonia dici, quae coluit, spreto numina plura, deo, Illa deos coluit plures, simulachra, lares{que}, quaest um diuitias, gaudia falsa dapes. Pompas, uxuriam ventrem, pueros{que}, dolos{que}, at{que} malos genios, stupra, venena lupas. Papa fuit quondam meretrix, peperit{que} plataea. quid queris testes? testis imago tibi. Cuius imago tibi Romae stat conspicienda, si dubitas, propter Roma petenda tibi. Sin statuae minime fidas: confide, quod Abbas Verspergensus ait fama{que} vera docet.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lact. 7. c. 25.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 24. v. 24 Mar. 13. ve. 6
• * 1.3

  Hierō in Da∣niel.
• * 1.4

  Hierō in Da∣niel.
• * 1.5

  Lib. 7. dist. ••••▪ Epist. 30.
• * 1.6

  Lib. 11. in dist. 6. epist. 3.
• * 1.7

  Reue. 13. v 11.
• * 1.8

  Reu. 13. ve. 11.
• * 1.9

  Reue. 13. v. 1••.
• * 1.10

  Dan. ••. vi Empires.
• * 1.11

  The head of the Image.
• * 1.12

  Epist. 30. ad Eng••ogum & lib. 6 Epist. 77.80. lib. 7 Epist. 196.
• * 1.13

  Math. 16.
• * 1.14

  Diago. 805 Phoc••e.

  Bonifatius. 3
• * 1.15

  Cōstantinus the fourth Emperour. Benedictus. 2 Pope.

  Sabellicus. En 8. lib.

  The Pope ruleth all.
• * 1.16

  Gregory the thyrd resisted the Emperor Leo. Sab.

  En. 8. lib. 8 Entro. lib. 21. Ursp. in Leo∣ne plat.

  Zachari▪ the Pope.
• * 1.17

  Pipinus Blond. 10. Stephan the 2. pope.
• * 1.18

  polidor. 4. c. 16 Carolus Magius
• * 1.19

  Ludouicus.
• * 1.20

  Uolater. lib. 3 Geogra.
• * 1.21

  Otho mag.
• * 1.22

  The Popes power.
• * 1.23

  The pope may not be controuled.
• * 1.24

  The Empe∣rours othe to the Pope.
• * 1.25

  Otho the 3
• * 1.26

  Gregory the .5 Pope of that name.
• * 1.27

  Electors.
• * 1.28

  Mans seede
• * 1.29

  The pope r••∣utles in Paul is to shew him befor king & Emperoure & Christ.
• * 1.30

  To swordes
• * 1.31

  Crant. 3.8. c. 36. Temple.
• * 1.32

  To sitt.
• * 1.33

  Sadduces.
• * 1.34

  Polyd.
• * 1.35

  Obiect. Mahumet.
• * 1.36

  Pope.
• * 1.37

  Math. 34. a false Christ.
• * 1.38

  Matrimo¦ny condē∣ned.
• * 1.39

  Lutz. in picar••o. stuehou∣ses. A grip art 21

  B••cca. in nouellis.
• * 1.40

  Agrip. Art. 22 Mant. in Alphonso Paule.
• * 1.41

  Euseb. cap.
• * 1.42

  The cros
• * 1.43

  Pha rises
• * 1.44

  Read an homily of matrimo∣ny.
• * 1.45

  Saduces no ly•••• to come.
• * 1.46

  Free will
• * 1.47

  Essees workes
• * 1.48

  Rebelles,
• * 1.49

  ••e••ro∣man••••
• * 1.50

  All we••t to Hell.
• * 1.51

  Nicola∣ites.
• * 1.52

  Fornica∣t••••n a t••i••g in∣di••ferent
• * 1.53

  Images.
• * 1.54

  Matri∣mony.
• * 1.55

  Tert••ll. The pope forgiueth sinn••s.
• * 1.56

  Diuorce.
• * 1.57

  Mariage filleth hel.
• * 1.58

  Rome the Church.
• * 1.59

  Fre wil.
• * 1.60

  Idolatrie
• * 1.61

  Seuerus
• * 1.62

  They de••ny Christ
• * 1.63

  Persecu∣tion.
• * 1.64

  Cursinge
• * 1.65

  Supre∣mus.