Vncle . But , doubtlesse , they will say , that this was with the Dispensation , as they terme it , of the Pope Gods Vicar vpon Earth , and therefore in no wise to be counted an incestuous Marriage . We know it was permitted and that by the Pope , but by what right or authoritie wee see not . For suppose hee bee neuer so the Vicar of God , ( although they shall neuer bee able to proue it , neither from the holy Scriptures , nor authoritie of the Fathers ; ) yet were it not lawfull for him to doe all things as hee list at his pleasure . For who so doth is nothing lesse then a Vicar , whose dutie it is , to frame himselfe after the mind of his Lord , and to see his commands to bee put in execution , and not at his pleasue , either to change them , or to deuise new .

God , Leuit. 18. 12. 13. doth expresly and simply forbid Marriage within the third Degree : but the Pope permits this to whom he listeth . Now if he can doe it lawfully , then he hath right either of himselfe , or from God : but not of himselfe , because hee is a Vicar , all whose authority depends vpon some other not from God , from whose nature it is most free not to contradict himself : now he should contradict himselfe , if hee should permit that which hee hath most straightly forbidden , yea , and that with threatning of death ; we speake of morall Precepts , and those which of themselues are necessary to obtayning of eternall Life . Wherefore , sith the Pope hath this power neither of himselfe nor from God , it is cleerer then the noone day , that he doth it by no right at all . This many of the Papist them selues haue seene , they saw it , I say , & haue professed the same : neither need wee to seeke any further examples : we haue them at hand . Iohn Fox in his Booke of Martyrs , or English Ecclesiasticall Historie , pag. 957 , col . 2. doth tell vs that the Mariage of Henry the Eight with Catharina his brother Arthurs Widow , though permitted by the Pope , was proued to bee simply vnlawfull , and not to bee dispensed with , by the Theologicall faculties at the least of tenne Vniuersities ; to wit , of Orleans , Paris , Tholous , Erford , Angiew , Bononie , Padua , Oxford , Cambridge . And that the determinations of all these faculties , together with the iudgements of other most learned , both Diuines and Doctors , not onely of the Ciuill , but of the Canon Law , also contayned in one Volume were published in the yeare 1532. or thereabout . And that thereupon presently followed the Diuorce and new Mariage of the King . The same is auouched by Nicholas Sanders a most bitter Papist , in his first Book of the English Schisme , p. 58. where he saith thus : The King partly sent certaine men to Pope Clement , to vndertake at Rome the cause of his Diuorce , ( amongst whom was Thomas Cranmer , who after was made Archbishop of Canterbury ) partly he sought out through all the Kingdome of France , Diuines and Lawyers , which vnder their hands and Seales , affirme that his Mariage with the said Catharina , could not possible stand . And pag. 61. This infection ( for so that foule-mouthed Fellow tearmes it ) ouerspred ) not onely the Vniuersitie of Paris , Orleans , Angiew , Tholous , and Erford , but also Padua and Bononie : And p. 62. he complaines that Oxford and Cambridge adioyned themselues to the foresaid Vniuersities . Lo heere we haue the Papists themselues , as it were the guiltie persons confessing : wee haue among the Popes Vassals , and his stout Champions , the iudgements of so many worthy men , & of whole Vniuersities ; Amongst which is euen Bononia it selfe vnder the Popes Iurisdiction , which together with vs doe take this power from the Pope .

Whereupon it is plaine enough , what wee are to thinke of this Marriage of Archduke Charles with Mary , though iudged to bee lawfull by the Popes Dispensation ; as also concerning their Sonne Ferdinand the Second , now Emperour : to wit , that hee is more then a Bastard , borne of more then an Illegittimate , yea of an execrable Mariage : and that therefore neither by the Law of God or man he may possesse by Inheritance , so much as one foote of Land , See ye Princes of Germany ( the honour and ornament of Mankinde ) that you haue committed the Christian World which is to be gouerned by Lawes , to him , to whom God hath not vouchsafed a beeing in this World , but contrary to all Lawes .

Behold ye noble , yea , and meane persons too , that ye are oppressed with his tyranny , whom his very Birth hath excluded out of the society of honest men . Wey well , ye Souldiers , yee valiant hearts , that you spend your liues for the honour and dignity of him whom Nature hath not granted to bee borne , but with the greatest disgrace . Goe to them : rather deliuer your Country the most flourishing Empire of the World , from this ignominie . Onely bee yee couragious , and the Diuine fauour shall be with you . For the Lord is a iealous God which punisheth the sinnes of Parents vpon their Children , vnto the third and fourth Generation : And he doth so accurse incestuous lusts , that for them , he hath subuerted and vtterly defaced the greatest Cities , whole Countries and Nations : as himselfe doth witnesse , Leuit. 18. of the Cananites : saying , withall these things ( now he speaks of Incests ) are these Nations polluted , which I cast out before your face . For because the Land is polluted , I will punish the iniquitie of it therein , the Earth doth vomit out the Inhabitants . The same God ( no doubt ) in his due time will powre out the Cup of his Wrath vpon this man : and the rather , because to the detestable wickednesse of his Parents , he doth adde most horrible crueltie , and the very Gouernment of Phalaris indeed , which the miserable people of Austria haue felt , and still ( alas for wo ) do feele , and ha●e by their iust complaints , made knowne to the whole World . Vpon whom the Lord doth now seeme to take pitie , and to haue raised vp Captaines to tumble downe this Tyrant from his Throne , and together with that whole Family infamous for their monstrous crueltie , vtterly to root out , which we craue and beseech the same . One God in three Persons , speedily to performe : from whom euen to you Readers also wee wish all good successe . Fare ye well .