PARSONS HOWLET , I am muche beholding to you for youre good remembrance , in your flattering , fraudulent & presumptuous epistle , dedicated to our moste gratious Soueraign , the Queenes most excellent Maiesty . Who would haue thought , that after twenty three yeares , in the cleare lighte of the gospell , such an obscure owle as your selfe , whome all the kindly birds of the day must needes wonder at , durste euer haue fluttered foorth in the broade day and skriched oute in her Maiesties eares , suche notable vntrueths and wicked asseuerations , complaining of the harde case and greeuous persecutions , 〈◊〉 of youre Catholiques ( as you call In the Epistle dedicatory to her highnes , Pag. 3. 4. 5. 6. &c. them : ) her highnes being a prince of such knowlege , so setled and confirmed in the truth of Christs 〈◊〉 , that al your deuises , flattering & fawning speaches , conspiracies and traiterous attempts , shall neuer Fol. 2. ( I trust , ) be able by Gods grace , eyther to fear or remoue , from that glorious trueth , which shec hath Howlers causes of dedicating the book to he highnes . Fol 2. professed to maynteine and continue to the vttermost end of her life . The causes that moued youre dedication , ( though the matter were not your own ) 〈◊〉 . was the composition and penning of it , beeing done ( as you say ) in greate modestye and humilitye , with all 〈◊〉 full respect , 〈◊〉 to her Maiesty , her Counsailors , and whole estate : 〈◊〉 ( you say ) to the proceeding of al Sectaries ( his zeal & opinion in religion onely 〈◊〉 , erued : ) the other , the waightinesse of importing her 〈◊〉 soule-health , estate , and Realme , 〈◊〉 the saluation of many : thousandes 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 her confident Children , her highnesse their mother , and 〈◊〉 Princesse , before a 〈◊〉 they lay downe their griefes , as before the Substitute and Angel of God , &c. If these causes were in deede as you pretend , you were the more to bee borne with , but being subtil , slaunderous and false , youre presumption is intollerable . For first , for the maner of conceiuing & penning that treatise , if it had ben done with such modesty and humility you speake of , you woulde not so haue betraied her maiestye Mat. 26. 49. with a Iudas Kysse , crying All hayle and a a Saund. lib. 7 . pag.730 . yet putting her into her enemies handes . You woulde not beare the worlde in hand , as if of her selfe she 〈◊〉 youre Religion , and yet so slaunderously charge her Maiesties Realme and gouernment with such diuersitye of Sectes , contrarye to the truth of God . b b Pref. Fol. 3. you woulde not haue charged the glorious religion of Christe , to bee heresy , and the Churche of God , & it to be the Synagogue of Antichrist from which vppon paine of damnation , al your Cateline Catholiques must 〈◊〉 , and not communicate , but must with all their powers resist and auoyde . You woulde not haue snared and entangled the 〈◊〉 . fol. 5 consciences of the modester sorte of your dissembling , timeseruing Hipocrites , euen as your selfe accompte them , ( who are yet the bane of this lande , hated of you , and to vs as pricks and thornes in our sides ) charging them to sinne against the holy ghost , ( wherin you bewray your slender diuinitie ) a a Brist . Moti . 6. fol. 〈◊〉 , & mot. 12. fol. 〈◊〉 you woulde not so haue 〈◊〉 her Maiestie for a Schismatike , her Nobles for heretikes , her whole Saun lib. 70. pag 130. & eadem . pag. 7. 3. people for departers and sallers away from the faith and true religion . You kisse her , and yet you smite her . you faune vpon her like gentle Spaniels , and 〈◊〉 most cruelly you bite her , ( tanquam canes clanculo 〈◊〉 , as the prouerbe is , like butchers cutres . b b Howlet epileafe . 4 & the 14. fol. 5. you prayse her clemencie and mercy , and yet you charge her maiesties gouernment with vnspeakable outrage and cruelty . And if you meant as you speake , c c Howl . pres . fol. 6 fol. 15. calling her The Lordes 〈◊〉 , the Aungell of God , the Lordes substitute your mother , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you lay 〈◊〉 your 〈◊〉 concerning religion , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of her , Seeing in flattery you acknowledge this to doe harme , why , do not you and the rest to do good , acknoweledge it in trueth , and so denye the pope his forreine iurisdiction within this realme ? And 〈◊〉 shee be the Lordes Angell and substitute ; what hath the Pope to do to entermeddle in her territories and kingdomes ? Or haue you M. Howlet any speciall priuiledge or commission to speake so directly againste one of your owne groundes , to charme the Prince withall , to th end shee may lende a listening eare to youre vniust complaintes ? For that whiche The prince is 〈◊〉 chiefest 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 land , to 〈◊〉 the care of Gods matters doeth specially belong to see Gods 〈◊〉 established . you acknowledge in her , calling her the Lords substitute , would bee condemned as ranke heresie in vs , because it importeth that she hath authority to heare and determine in causes of religion ( as in deede she hath ) according to the worde of God . Such as you call at vnwares Sectaries , more fauourably then you meane , thereby meaning the 〈◊〉 of the Gospel were neuer 〈◊〉 with such outrage and immodestye of Spirite to the dishonoure of their naturall prince , to pronounce her a Schismatique and an heretique , a a 〈◊〉 . mot . 40 vnder the title of obe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 labouring to discharge her subiectës from their dutifull obedience , too iustle her oute of her seate , and to plucke the Crowne from her head , as you 〈◊〉 haue done . If you thinke that I speake partially , let the Bull that 〈◊〉 mot . 15. fol. 72. 〈◊〉 . Felton set vp , sent from your abhominable Father of Rome , be remembred , and the issue that came of it , Let Sanders in his booke b b 〈◊〉 . lib. 2. pag. 78 of the visible monarchie 〈◊〉 d. 〈◊〉 . of the church , be heard to speake , Let c c 〈◊〉 . lib. 7. pag. 130. 734. Harding Dorman and Bristow say for themselues . Let d d 〈◊〉 imprinted of 〈◊〉 a table at Paris , and therein setteth out the Queene crounle . ie , though in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amended . Rosse e e Mor. Phi. his booke of succession . Morgan Phillips , and such like traitours be examined , howe they haue borne them selues together with this popeholy papiste of the 〈◊〉 sorte of Papistes , who can abide no communicating with vs , nor our religion in any respecte . And as for the waightinesse of the matter being Gods cause , importing her highnesse saluation , Estate , and Realme , with the safegarde of Thousandes , it is but a shamefull asking of that whiche yet is in question Howlet pre . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . betwixt vs . This Owle and his Gentleman , should first haue proued their particular churche of Rome , to be the 〈◊〉 Church of Christe . They shoulde first haue set downe wherein our Churche hath departed from the doctrine of Christe and his 〈◊〉 , in what 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Nobles ; and 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 set , and continue in Heresic and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the woorde of God : The papistes are 〈◊〉 , and their seruice and 〈◊〉 idolatry to be 〈◊〉 . and then the consequence had 〈◊〉 playne , that all Christians muste seperate them selues from vs , so they had wonne their cause . For we agree with them , that there oughte to bee no dissimulation in the matters of God , that 〈◊〉 are to bee 〈◊〉 , that their 〈◊〉 is to be auoided : but wee affirme that they are those heretiques in that Apostaticall 〈◊〉 fallen from that wholesom 〈◊〉 of Christ ; and his Apostles : We affirme that 〈◊〉 and Lordship of Rome , and the tyrannous 〈◊〉 thereof ouer the 〈◊〉 , to be that a a 〈◊〉 . in 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . p. 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 . Babylon , August de 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 2 cap. 1. out of which wee are commaunded to departe , that we be not 〈◊〉 of the same destruction together with them . But alacke , this is your olde 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 18. de 〈◊〉 dei cap. 22 〈◊〉 . 17. Howlet , when you cannot obteine youre purpose , 〈◊〉 by the Popes threatning thunderboltes of excommunication , or by your 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 b Excom. Pii 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obteined by 〈◊〉 who was executed in Cornewall . bookes to styrre vp her 〈◊〉 to rebellion , then you fall to your 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 glosing . You file your tongues , and make them smoother then 〈◊〉 , they seeme sweeter then honye , but the poyson of Aspes is vnder them : then your compassion 〈◊〉 out , her highnesse clemencye and mercy is praysed in youre c c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the papists dangerous to rel. gion , and to 〈◊〉 whole 〈◊〉 . wante of punishment , which yet in deede is her greatest daunger , and then she is a mother , whome notwithstanding in deede you 〈◊〉 a stepdame : a soueraigne princessc and yet no Queene of youres , d d Allen in his Apologie of the English Seminarie s. cap. 4. neither her Tawes any 〈◊〉 , because she is not established by your popes authority , your Gods vicar , of whome you woulde haue her hold her crowne in fee 〈◊〉 , eyther as tenant at will , or else as 〈◊〉 by youre treasons king 〈◊〉 was compelled to doe , that hee mighte take it agayn 〈◊〉 your Popc , & pay a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for it , to hee deposed or 〈◊〉 at his 〈◊〉 , e e Chronica 〈◊〉 Mathia ; 〈◊〉 . Math. West . whome you holde not to 〈◊〉 , when 〈◊〉 Harding in his confutation of the Apology . in his Chayre , and aduisedly hee pronounceth any sentence . a a Sun 〈◊〉 . lib. 1. cap. 4. Now he hath aduisedly and 〈◊〉 pronounced her Maiestie a Schismatike Bulla . paspae . pii 〈◊〉 . and an here tique , therefore as in your opinion shee ought to be deposed : b b 〈◊〉 . mot . 40. fol. 154. so are all her subiectes discharged of their duty and allegeance . And yet ( good man , ) besides your general and particuler crosses lying so harde vppon your pore backes , that you seldome or neuer , except in the tyme of your greatest ruffe , lay 〈◊〉 or fared better : example of your fellows at Wisbich , in the Marshalsey , and else where , c c Wood the priest solicited 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to whoredome , and gaue her mony and a comfite to make her mad vpon him . who beeing idle and liuing in no calling , are bent to folly and filthinesse , and yet the poorest of them , who mighte beg , if they were abroade , neuer had more plenty of mony in their liues nor more ease and leasure to followe all delightes , sauing that they are restrained from a little libertye of going abroad : and yet her maiesties gouernmente is accused , if not in respect of her selfe , yet of her counsellors , inferior officers and Magistrates , in executing of her d d If our lawes be vnsupportable , that 〈◊〉 not with life for religion , what 〈◊〉 theirs , that 〈◊〉 none ? Fol. 6. pref. vnsupportable lawes ( as you 〈◊〉 call them ) through which there is such cruelty and souadge dealing as the like was neuer heard of before in any age . These thinges are greeuous , yet they 〈◊〉 nothing in 〈◊〉 of that one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Epistle dedicatory of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of booke to the Earle of Leicester hath accused you 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 to God and to her royall 〈◊〉 . This crabbeth & nippeth you at the very hart root , And I thinke in deede not without 〈◊〉 . For the trueth of the matter beeing so plainely and manifestly 〈◊〉 out , and proued in the learned workes of , our time , it lieth more heauily vpon you , then you are able to remoue : and a man neede not much to stande vpon it . I will not speake 〈◊〉 the other points of your 〈◊〉 Epistle , nor of that booke so highly Howlets impudencye and presumption . commended by 〈◊〉 graue 〈◊〉 , wherwith you haue taken your 〈◊〉 into the light , as with another mans winges , and 〈◊〉 your selfe not as an Owle in this point , but as Esops crowe with other 〈◊〉 fethers : 〈◊〉 forsooth with suche modesty , that it is fit for none but a Queene : and yet the greatest part stollen either out of your fellow a a Gregory 〈◊〉 book of Schisme hath the very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deficit in 〈◊〉 . but he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his minor . Gregery Martyns booke of Schisme , whome you 〈◊〉 not a little , robbing him of his glory , or 〈◊〉 out of a French book , wherin the protestants rendred reasons why they could not come to your 〈◊〉 masse , which you foolishly haue tourned and 〈◊〉 to your purpose , I leaue that to be aunswered by one that wil stand vpon it , & do it more thronghly .

But because it hath pleased you to draw me in aganst my wil , specifying my name , I wil by the grace of God . vndertake the proofe of that which I haue set down in that 〈◊〉 . But before I enter into it , I wold haue this diligently marked of al , that you on ly snatch at those bare words of mine , & neuer answer any iot of the matter : you mention nothing of those same more general and particular 〈◊〉 of treason & 〈◊〉 , plainly set down , in that b b See the examples 〈◊〉 in the epistle . Epistle , by expresse examples , whiche made me to call you papistes by your right names , enemies to God & to her royall maiesty : As for your aggrauation & pelting chafe with that reuerend Father & his officers , For letting passe the book to the print , for that this 〈◊〉 was not onely vttered in speeche , but also let it passe in print to the view of the worlde , and was dedicated to a noble man of her 〈◊〉 priuye counsel , ( Whose honoure like a Katife , you labor to blemish , whilste you insinuate , that I stirre him vppe to cruelty against you ) and by suche a brar sicke fellowe , whom 〈◊〉 possessed a long time for his fantasticall opimous , & yet I think , though he knew your nest and abiding also , with your , companion Carters , or whether it be Parsons , that hath put your name vpon himselfe , for now you are become such honest men that in an euil cause you haue names at commandement : yet you scarcely knowe him by the face , & are not able for your life to name any of those opinions : to whome , you farther attribute such pregnancy ( vpon such honest mens report as your self ) of 〈◊〉 sing any new religion vpon a weekes 〈◊〉 . Fol. 6 Praefat. &c. These circumstances I would a little consider , before I enter into my proofe .

Concerning the vttering of this matter in speech , being the trueth , and vttered by so many before , it should not so much grieue you , and specially for setting it out in print to the view of al men , that it might come euen to your owne owlish sight , what proueth it else ? but that it was done with confidencie , & 〈◊〉 , not fearing the light ? How would you haue complained , if it had bene vttered behind your backs in the dark , as such owlish Howlets as your self are wont to do , who cannot abide the light ? nether loue to come to trial , what good face soeuer you set vpon the matter but your common guise is to eate & drinke men behinde their backs , to slander the truth and as much as lyeth in you , to deface it , to rage against it , & to persecute it . When such as can answer you are driuen away by your tiranny , and you 〈◊〉 the chaires alone : then you fighte with youre own shadowes , either hauing them in your handes & also both sword and fire at your commandement to mainteine your chalenges : then you are strong enough to enter into disputations with them , or being abroad , by your truces and safe conductes . you can whope and prouoke them by your sweete alluring 〈◊〉 , and fawning till you haue them faste , whose 〈◊〉 you haue burnt to ashes , when they haue come to 〈◊〉 the cause of God , & to giue a reason of their 〈◊〉 in a a Conci . Constantiense . 〈◊〉 . 19. your generall Councils . Thus trayterously you hold them in your limed spray , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pata . & as Mantuan pretily describeth . you bring them to Philip. 〈◊〉 . the spit . Iohn Hus , and Hierom of Prage shall witnesse Plat. volater . this to be true to all posterities , to the perpetual shame of al such faithlesse traitors and trucebreakers . This the Concill of Constance shall witnesse during which there were sometimes at once b b 〈◊〉 . RomPla 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Benno . Bucchingerus . thre Blond . lib. 3. popes , somtimes two , one , and none : altogether by Mirandensis . the eares , in whiche that goodly decree was ratified , Concil Constantiense . 〈◊〉 . 19. Quod non obstantibus saluis conductib . &c. that faith is not to be kept with heretikes , c c Nicholas de Clamangis in quadam colatde fut Concil. where in steede of the holy ghost , ( whom they blasphemously said they looked for , ) d d Concil of Constance was begun at Rome where this owle shewed 〈◊〉 selfe which they haue concealed . an vnlucky owle , ( 〈◊〉 ) that same monster of birdes , portending some notable mischief , one of your great ancesters was president that so troubled the Pope and all the company , that two whol sessions were frustrate and without effect , sauing that they murthered the pore owl , with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 and cudgels . Seing therfore it is in printe , you may answere it , make what exceptions you can , & take your best aduantages .

And as for being done to a noble man , a cheefe 〈◊〉 in our Land , what other thing can it argue . but that you are such dangerous enemies , as they haue good cause vnder her maiestie , chiefly to watche against , to haue a diligent eye to the maintenance of the gospell , and to the preseruation of her maiesties royal person the defender of the same , to whom ( as faire shewes as you make ) a a I et 〈◊〉 v. ordes , one . of Saunders chiefe 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 spoken in the parliament house , anno primo of her 〈◊〉 reigne . you wish no good .

Concerning that you attribute to my person calling me a brainsick fellow , and in your popish heate and burning charitie , twite 〈◊〉 with mine imprisonment in Newgate , I will onely saye this vnto it , the woordes of a brainsicke man shoulde not so greatly haue rent your catholike heart . But if you call me brainsick and mad , as the wicked haue called the prophets , and the Iewes haue called Christe and his Apostles , because by the grace of God I 2. Kin. 9. 11. haue and do stande for the trueth , against your Popish Ioh. 10. 20. Act. 26. 24. and Antichristian corruptions , I haue to reioyce in it , and I consider you do but your kinde : you coulde doe little , if you coulde not rayle , and thankes be to God , though you grenne , you cannot byte . As for my beeing in Newgate , the cause was not such , as should fasten vppon mee any suche vile reproche as you obiect . And how b b Howlet fol. 3. pref. standeth this rehearsall of my imprisonment with your complaint made before where you saye , that no punishment in a manner is awarded those that offend against the booke . As for my pregnancy vppon report of sraning new religions : the veriest Owle in the worlde woulde not so publikely in print haue charged a man with such a hainous crime vpon the report of others . In deede this is common with the papistes , whose religion being not grounded vpon the Scriptures , they varie it as euery mans braine and fancie leadeth him . Besides that , fame is an euill lyer , especially when suche are blowers of it , as can breath out nothing but slaunders , and reproches against the trueth , and the true professors of it , yea it deserueth no more credite , Popery a religion patched together of al heresies and variable : A bird of diuers fethers . then 〈◊〉 Howlet should 〈◊〉 and affirme , that the papistes are no traitors . But hereby may plainely appeare what light 〈◊〉 , rashnes , vncharitablenesse and impudencie there is in papists , that receiue credite , blaze , and vtter without all shame , whatsoeuer commeth into their brainsicke heads , againste the true professors of Christs gospell . A man would haue thought that he who praised modesty and humility , in the author of this peking letter , woulde haue put it in botter practise himselfe .

Whereas he 〈◊〉 me Puritane , and to require me , sheweth the doctrine of two of my preachers ( 〈◊〉 , as pleaseth him to call them ) who preached at an exercise of a a The fast at Stamford don orderly , with consent & by authority as shall appeare in the end of this booke . a fast at 〈◊〉 , and that against the B 〈◊〉 , &c. I will not say much in it in this place , because I haue proued that , a lowde and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the end , which as slaunderous and 〈◊〉 as it is , is yet the principal and mayn ground woorke of his vile 〈◊〉 . This is 〈◊〉 , that whereas it was at firste somewhat feared that it woulde not proue orderly ynough : and by the intymation of some 〈◊〉 not best affected to such holy exercises , yet was it afterwards procured both by honourable and worshipfull , and done by suche consent and authority , and with so good 〈◊〉 , that the whole Church was comforted by it . The preachers were suche , and so well knowne to bee godly , learned and wise , as woulde not vtter suche positions as this Momus , and his reporter haue spitefully patched together and blazed abroade . The collector therfore whome hee nameth a minister , must needes eyther be some such nightebyrde as himselfe , not able to abide the light , or else 〈◊〉 carterly misreporter , who giuing them some little endes , those Spiders haue Wouen according to their owne humour , to bring the trueth of God into hatred ( if they coulde ) with her royall Maiestye . But thankes bee to God her Maiestie is wise , not to be carried away with such malitious parties . Her highnes trusteth not ; but with good trial : & wher she trusteth , she will not be carried away by 〈◊〉 In hearing reportes she reserueth an eare alwais for the absent , she is experienced to know 〈◊〉 euill , thinges are made at the second hande , and specially when they are vttered of mallice , by such as are not indifferent but partial , not sincere but spitefull . And thus much for the circumstances . Now to the proof of my matter that pincheth you so sore , to wit , firste that you are enemies to God , and then I saye not enemies onely , but traytors to her royall Maiestye .

That you are enemies to God , the whole truth of God , agaynst which , you papistes do mischiuonslye set your selues , doth manifestly proue . For whosoeuer is an enemy to his word , 〈◊〉 himself against his glory , wrestleth against his wil & ordinance , corrupteth his religion , robbeth him of his greatest honor , & murthereth his people , he must needes be his enemy . That al the papists are such , holding of Anti christ , it shal appeare more plainly hereafter . In the meane while , to proue the pope a a The pope Antichrist and head of all papistes . Antichrist , as the captaine & head of al this band of enemies , althogh it be needles , considering howe it is a beaten argumente in euerye booke ; yet to satisfie the Reader , I will in a fewe lines speake of it . He is the speciall Antichriste that directly 〈◊〉 him selfe againste , Christ , both in doctrine and manners . And besides , that * * Dan. 7. 11. Apo. 17. 1. 18. Daniel and Iohn in the reuelation hath huely paynred him out , * * 2. Thes. cap. 2 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. &c. Paul ioyneth with them , declaring by the effectes , that it must needes bee hee ; with whom the Church was threatned so long agoe . 2. Thes. 2. 4. I am not ignorant that euery heretique , who setteth himselfe against the trueth of Christ , is after a sort an Antichrist , but the pope is this great Antichrist , that must haue his seate in the Churche of God , must vsurpe his place , and must not be in the stie of the heathen , to bee soughte for among the a a This being prophesied of before cannot be intended of any singuler man : but of a company and state of men , because it shal endure till the comming of Christ . Turkes , Iewes or Paganes of the world : but must spring and arise amongst his owne , And this is not any one man of the 〈◊〉 of Dan , as the Papistes would haue vs to dream : but a company and estate of men , and therefore it is further called an * * Apo. 9. 12. 2. Kin. 21. Apostasie , that is to say , a falling away from the Fayth , And thoughe hee bee called the man of sinne , and the Sonne of perdition , yet this is not meant of any singular person , but of the effect or quallity , that shall bee in the whole state and companye of that Apostasie , in the continuall succession thereof , which is not onely borne in sinne , as all other men are , but euen borne and made , to vphold and mainteine sin b b Though this be spoken of al in respect of original sinne , yet by a special priueledge , it belongeth to this troupe of perdition . A man of Belial , who will 〈◊〉 at liberty from all lawes and subiection , who ( as Iob saythe ) hath drunk in vngodlines as the fish hath don water who hath sold himself to sinne , & is the eldest sonne of the Diuel , that as Christe the onely sonne God , ( who was freely giuen for the saluation of al that Iob. 15. Ephes. 4. beleeue in him ) is the head of them to gouern them , Rom. 1. to giue them lawes , and to enriche them with the righteousnesse of fayth reueled by the Gospell . So he might be the head of al the faithles , giuing 〈◊〉 lawes directly contrary against Christ , leading them all to spirituall whoredomes , corruptions and al abhominations , to their vtter 〈◊〉 , as that apostaticall sea hath done .

And though a a Saunders de visibili monar chia Ecclesiae . lib. 8 cap. 3. &c. Sanders labor his hart out , to proue Antichrist to be some singuler man , and no succession of men , and reckoneth vp ( as he saith ) many 〈◊〉 that we hold , strengthening this fly lighte , as a b b Plinie lib. 10. Nat 〈◊〉 cap. 17. hauk , ( because of the old friendship betweene the Owle and the Hauk ; ) yet the apostle Paul shall conuince him , who calleth it ( as I haue said ) an Apostasie Auxiliatur Accipiter colegio quodam naturae , bellumque partitur . a mistery , that albeit it began to work euen in his time , yet must be no otherwise vtterly destroied , them by the comming of Iesus Christe : whose greatnesse must be built vpon the ruins of the Romane empire and c c Aug. lib. 20. de ciuitate dei cap. 19. must giue life to that wounded beast in the reedifying Apo. 13. 15. 16. thereof : which thing besides that , the moste ancient writers do plainly confirm , the practise proueth . For the Romaine empire fell by litle and litle , and this was builded vp and erected . For at the firste Chris. in epist. ad Thes. ca. 2. it was not so euident , it crept more closely like the yuy bush , till it had choked the one and gayned the Apoc. 17. 18. top of the other , which euer since it hath helde and mainteined . And though at the first Rome , was called the cheefe but of courtesy , because it was the seate of the Empire , yet afterwards by Antichriste , it obteined , to be chiefe by tyranny , and this by priuiledge thereof would also be vniuersall byshop in despight of Christ and al his pouerty , For looke how * * Ioh. 14. 1. Tim. 1. God sent his sonne into the world , for the saluation of his , * * Phil. 2. humbling himselfe euen to the death of the crosse , so is he sent into the worlde , for the destruction & condemnation of mankind , , aduancing himself aboue al that is called God . These are such ( as the Apostle sayth ) that withal other here 〈◊〉 turne 〈◊〉 grace of God into wantonnesse , & denie the Lord Iesus the only ruler . They are clouds without water , carried hither & thither by the wind , withered Iude. trees , vnfruiful , twise dead and plucked vp by the roots : this whole body of Antichrist hath an yron forhead , & a brazen brow , a crooked & a poisoned tong . To whom the definition of sinne , Ioh. 3. agreeth in euery point both in false doctrine and corrupt manners ; both being most contrary to the doctrin of Christ & his Apostles . For wheras al our actions that must stand acceptable before god , must flow from a true and liuely * * Rom. 10. faith , without whiche it was impossible to please God : these men hath ouerthrowne the whole doctrine thereof , resisting that righteousnesle , that is made * * Rom. 1. manifest by the gospell , and thrusting in a patched and weake righteousnes , stilted not vpon the law but vppon their own deuised workes . And therfore they want that same principal effect of fayth , which is true loue , & haue in the place of it most sauadge and beastly cruelty . a a Read the spanish 〈◊〉 , and the stories of Fraunce , England , Scotland and other countries . whose chiefe heade in his members , killeth , hangeth , burneth , drowneth , pineth and pincheth Christians with all kinde of vnwonted tormentes , more cruelly then euer did Phalaris or Nero , and that without all couler of Iustice : which is a plaine argument that Sathan the greate Belsire of the Romane Antichrist , whose liuely image he bereth ( for a goose can 〈◊〉 no Owls egges ) hath instructed him and 〈◊〉 him to this office . And therefore sundry of the Popes , in this seat haue 〈◊〉 familiar conference with the diuell their owne damme , and by his meanes they haue had their entrance , 〈◊〉 themselues in magicall and deuilish arts . a a Volater in . Polych onic . For Martine the second in the yeare of Christ . 882. atteyned to his Popedome by 〈◊〉 , and b b Mare histor. Ioh. Marius . Sergius , that 〈◊〉 deuised candles to be born vpon Candlemas day ( as they call it , ) and Agnus Dei to be sung twise at masse , after he had c c 〈◊〉 . lib. 2. cap. 12 〈◊〉 . hegorten Iohn the 12. of that name , of an harlot called Marozia , daughter Anno 928. also to a Harlot I 〈◊〉 , kept by Iohn the 11. ) he was so great with the diuell , that by his power he 〈◊〉 great myracles , & at length by the help of this honest womans husband ; named Guido , her Sonne Iohn was made pope , and the other pitifully smothered with a Cushin at Saint Iohns in the pallace at Lateran . What should I speake of Octauian , called by the name of Iohn . d d Plat Sabellic Luitprand . 13. who was the sonne of Albericus , the son of the foresaid whoore 〈◊〉 , who kept such 〈◊〉 , that vnlesse the Diuell himselfe had bene in his place , hee coulde not lightly haue gone beyond him ; who was a e e Volater Plat. Ioannes Mari us Naucieru . common dicer , a 〈◊〉 , a Theefe , a whooremaster , whome their owne authors call a 〈◊〉 of men , accursed man , that put out the eyes of some of his Cardinals , Chronic. Sigisb . Robert 〈◊〉 . cut out their tonges , cut off their fingers handes and noses , lay with two systers one after another , who in playing at dice desired the diuel to helpe him , deflowred Stephana his fathers concubine , a widow called Rainer , and another named Anne : who warred , 〈◊〉 . lib. 6. burned , brake vp dores and windowes , dranke Capg in catalogo Anglic. drunke and pledged the diuell . f f Volater . lib. 12. Platina . This was hee that Praemonstratensis . did homage vnto Otto , and crouned him . but afterward plaied the Traitor with him : taking part with Albertus Berengatius his aduersary . This was hee that was in such a league with Negromancers , that a a Capg . in Catolo . &c. Dunston that Familiar of the Diuels in Englande , who could hold the diuel by the nose with pinsons , was dear vnto him , whom he made an Archbishop at length , & yet the diuel in the ende gaue this Pope his 〈◊〉 ? for being taken in bed with another mans wife he was by her husoande thrust to the heart with a dagger . Of b b Plattin a seteth out the whole story fully . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 second who was a student of Negromancie , and fetched away by the Diuell , I neede not to speake , the story is more manifest , then that it can be denied . c c Supplementum chronic . mare histor. 〈◊〉 the 8. also appeared after his death on a blacke horse , ( whether it were the diuel or no that carried him ? 〈◊〉 tempor . let Howlet and his companions iudge ) to a Byshop an acquaintance of his , to whom he said , he was that Ioh. Marius . Rob Barnes . vnhappy Benedict , being in great torment , & shewed them of an hidden treasure , which til it was found he could neuer be quiet ( though he had bene Pope ) either in hell or in purgatory . Also d d Bucchingarus 〈◊〉 . Benedict the ninth gaue himselfe wholy to this study , and whersoeuer hee became , alwaies hee carried a booke of 〈◊〉 aboute with him , hee obtained his Popeship by this magical art , he sacrificed to diuels , and made women to follow him into desert places by the helpe of the diuel , who wayted vpon him in e 〈◊〉 the Cardinal Sigebert volat . the likenesse of a sparraw , Ther was nothing done in the world ( as they sayde though they lied ) that was hidden from him : & after he had sold his 〈◊〉 Carranza . as he was coniuring in the woods , the diuell whom he had serued , strangled him for his good seruice : he was seene 〈◊〉 his death in the shape of a beare , sauing that his head and 〈◊〉 were the heade and taile of an asse , because ( as 〈◊〉 yeelded the reason ) hee liued without reason , without lawe , without God . a a This was he who before was called Hildebrand . his life is writ ten by Benno the Cardinall . Marianus Scotus . What should I speak of b b Blondus . Plat Othofr . and others , say that Benedict was in the pallace at Lateran , Syluester and Gregorye , and Clement the second was elected the 4. Caranza . Gregory the 7. c c De 〈◊〉 & obedientia . Vnam sanctam in glossa distinc . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 . of Gregory the 12. that bought his popedom ( for at this time Benedict , Syluester and Gregorye were Popes all at once ; and I wonder which 〈◊〉 the head of the church ) of Ioh. the 21. of Alexander the 6. of Paul the third , and of al the rest of them , it would make a whole book of a great volume , to set out all their villanyes & wickednesse , whereby they beare the liuely resemblance of their father , whom they serue in that 〈◊〉 See of desolation . For they were and so are their successors as proude as the ciuell , liars like himselfe , 〈◊〉 as he is filthy , cruell and tirannicall , enemies to the glorious trueth of God , and to all righteousnesse .