HOwe long at the length wil you abuse our gentle suff●raunce , The vniuersall Churche dooth complain● or expo●●ulate with the Bishopp of Rome . ye Pope of Rome ? Howe long shall your fury and counterfeyte hypocrisie delude vs ? What kynde of inordinate licentiousnes is this , that so much diste●●pereth you ? What doeth your outragious insolencie import ? what doeth it practize ? whether will i● ra●nge● what measure or ende of this your int●llerable 〈◊〉 and tyranny shall we looke for at your handes at the last ●haue you so shamefully shaken off all shamefastnes● all feeling and insight of humanitie and common reason : that knowing both heauen and earth conspired against your destruction , through your monstruous and manifold treacheries , horrible and vnmeasurable murthers , beholding daily with your eyes , so many , so manifest argumentes , and playne demonstrations , as it were fore warnings of your vtter ouerthrowe , and can none of all the same mollifie your mynde any thing at all ? Can they nothing at all restraine you from ●●trage ? what ? doeth not this so palpable lightsomenesse of Christes Gospell , this so glorious maiestie of the trueth glistering as the Sun-shine in midday , manacing , I know not what horrible confusion of your kingdome , the pompe of your tottering Throne already rent asunder , and for the most parte darkened and lef● succourles : doeth not the blood of so many Martyres , the testim●nies of so many Doctours : the 〈◊〉 of the people : The secrete determinations , and foreiu●gementes , yea not onely secrete dete●minations , but the open speaches , and francke voyces of all the godly , wherewith they doe generally all denounce , detest , and condemne you for the very Antichrist : doeth not the apparant gestures and frowning countenances of all sortes of men : doth not the sting of your owne conscience at the least , nor any regard of shame : doeth not the friendly alliaunce of so many Cities vnited in one , with vnseparable hands of mutuall league , apparaunt euen to your face , the dayly protest●●tions of all people , the Launces and Swoordes of princes , sharpened with deadly hate , and ●et an edge agaynst you , and euen nowe bending theyr mayne force to your destruction , the prepared power of people and Nations : the inwarde heart burninges of the greatest dominions of the worlde , yea theyr very nayles scar●ely restrayneable from your present ●aking in peeres , doth nothing of al these , no one of all these ( I saye ) mooue you any io● atal ?

But admit that all the aforesaide threatnings , wherof I haue spoken before , as depending vpon the only pollicie and force of men , may little preuaile with you , who darest proudly presume of your selfe , I know not what Lucifer-like title aboue man , what then ? wyll not the iudgemen● of the mightie Lorde of Hostes , at the least will not the fearefull wrath of that terrible Iudge , being enflamed against you , wyll not the most horrible downefal , and vnspeakeable desolation from aboue , The beast mentioned in the Apocalipse the 13● & 14. Chap hanging ouer your head● the most manifest Oracles of pr●pheticall Scriptures cause you to be appalled● What ? when you reade the down fall of the beast mentioned in the Apocalips , when as be holding the Prophet call Tables , you heare with your eares , & see with your eies , that hellish lake of euerlasting destruction , boyling out vnquenchable flames of fire and Brimstoone : may none of all these force you to trem●le & quake for feare , and can you thinke that no one of the foresayd scriptures do belong to you● but al this notwithstanding , doth this Tragicall Prelate r●ffle on in rage , free in fury , maske in madnesse , nor wil this Apocalipticall beast by any meanes be managed ?

And be it also , that our most merciful father do as yet hold back his long lingering reuenge , shal wee Christian Princes , and nations therfore ( whom this Babylonicall Strumpet hath so long bewitched with her poisoned doldrenche of abhominable fornica●ion ) beholding with our eyes so many Christian Countries , so ●●●iercifully and monstrously rent a sunder , wittingly and w●llingly suffer our selues to bee led thus continually by the lips , & mooseled with such mockeries ? If the aun●ient nobilitie of the Romanes could think it a matter much inconuenient to tollerat the hautines of Luci●s Tarquinius a king yea their natural Liege , lawful Lord & King , raunging somwhat more insolently then was seemely : what shoul● mooue vs kings , and princes authorised in our est●tes by God him selfe too thinke that either wee may , without due remorse of conscience any longer winke at , or without manifest preiudice of the ●●iuersall Churche , behold or beare with this pompous pontificall arrogancie farre exceeding all kingly , The pompe of the Pope . yea chrise more monstrous then Tarquines pride , I say not in a kyng , but in a beggerly Prelate , vnmeasurably vaunting himselfe , not only beyonde the pryde of Tarquine , but also aboue al humane power , nay rather aboue all whatsoeuer is called God ? For what greater arrogancie of any mortal man , since the first creation of mankind , hath euer bin heard of , or what more greeuous iniurie euer offered to the church of god , or Fistula more contagious might be imagined , than that in this equal , & euen esta●e of bishoplike function , one only Bishop so to raise his crest , as the challenging to himself vniuersall Dictatorship , he shoulde so ouercrow his fellow seru●nts , as that all other Bishops and Councels , shuld sweare humble submission vnto him , vnto whose authoritie all humane creature shoulde assubiect it selfe : at whose hecke Princes must yeeld their Scepters and Segniories : yea Emperours also must of fine force , stowys to the grounde , and geue their neckes to bee troden vpon ? Which malaper● saucinesse being of it self no lesse absurde , then execrably haynous , is so altogeather voyd of all feeling of common sense , so also in all respects contrary to the nature and office of Bishoplike Pastorship , as that nothing may sounde into mens eares more detestable , or permitted of vs , more perillous . In this case nowe let any reasonable person iudge , what the due consideration of our princely authoritie may exact of vs , what the present daunger of this our time may require of vs , and what the common calamitie of the distressed Church may commaunde vs to doe heerein .

Surely if one onely Roman Consul , for the dutiful loue he bare to the discharge of his dutie to the common weale , thought it a matter intollerable to beare with the mischiu●us treacheries and treasons of Lucius Catiline a wicked Citizen , Ci●e●o against Catilin● . practizing the subu●rsion of his owne naturall countrey , to wit , one only Citie , and for this cause could with his Counsels preuent his attemptes , with his only authoritie , suppresse his insolencie , and with maine force vtterly ouerthrow his outrage : in what one action may we , wh●̄ the maiestie of the Lorde of Hosts hath ordeined guids of his people , and gardians of his religion , discharge our vocation more princely , or profite the Christian common weale more substancially , then in this so great a calamitie , I say not of one onely Citie , but in this so vniuersal an ouerthrow of the whole world , and general massacre of al Christian religion , that with all expedition we not only seclude , if not at the bestout of al partaking of Christian societie , yet that wee abandon an● vtterly ●●nishe from all our territories and domini●u● this Babilonicall Hydre , so monstruously raging with fyre & sword , so broyling , and imbruyng all places with fa●gottes ●nd goare , so tumbling in the bloody butchery of the godly , not onely exacting humbl● submission of Kynge● and Keysers , but manacing also , and threatening , yea most arrogantly checking and mating them to ●hei● beards● as euen the selfe same , whome by sundry approoued ●n● manifest testimonyes of holy scriptures , wee can not but iudge to be none other than the very vndoubted Antichrist .

But whereof shall I here complayne me first ? Or against what shall I be able to exclaime sufficiently ? O grosse worlde , O blockishe blindnesse of these dayes : I say not drousie slumber of Princes : Undoubtedly it behooued vs long sithens in our Princely authoritie , to haue ransackt this lazy Lacerane lub●er , or ●●●her monstruous myscreaunt , and to haue throwen him quit● ou● of our coastes , into the ●auadge Wildernesse , yea ●●●n ●●to the cruell Caniballes , that so he that can not possibly bee satisfied with mans fleshe , may learne at the le●gth amydst that fleshe cormoraunt crueltie , some sparcke of humanitie and curtesie . If wee had thus done long heer●tofore , many thousandes of innocent Martyres had bene preserued from that tragicall tyranny . And yet hauing so mercilesse a slaughter of Christian blood , the infinite number whereof is not onely extant in Historyes , but also daily and hourely presented to our eares and eyes : This Antichrist notwithstanding liueth ●●ill , and continueth am●ngest vs , not so much by the ben●fite of the ayre that he taketh , as through our owne default , and negligence : what sayde I ? ●ee liueth : naye rather he florisheth , hee reigneth , hee triumpheth : hee is not onely conuersaunt and present in ech places of our Palaces , but also present , and President of our Counselles : He●●nacteth and commaundeth what him listeth : finally he deuoureth our people as his pray , and our selues hee scorneth for do●trelles and fooles . And because hee can not with open attempts worke our destruction , he pursueth vs with couert and craftie vndermininges , beholding with his eyes already the murthering of euery of vs , whom his hart hath appoynted to the sworde : And euen those hath he appointed whomsoeuer he vnderstandeth to be more addicted too set foorth the glory of Christ , then to vphold his pompe . The continuall course whereof doeth euidently bewray him to be the vndoubted Antichrist . Otherwise what may it bee , that shoulde so cruelly teaze him to such beastly sauadgenesse , but that he feareth , least the glorious Sunneshine of Christes renoume , will dazell and darken his counterfaite kingdome . For his monstruous minde beeing enflamed with intollerable desire of superioritie , sithens it hath nowe aduaunced it selfe to that loftinesse of estate , cannot easily suffer to be remoued from that rotten clayme of staring statelinesse . And because he perceaueth that in this gladsome kingdome of the Gospell , he can no longer now reteine the same without bloodshed , and butcherie of thousandes of soules , hereof commeth it , that as many as he perceiueth to be true professoures of the worde , euen so many he recompteth for his open aduersaries , whom he thinketh conuenient to cutte of by practise , and pollicie whatsoeuer .

A defence of the Church of England against the seditious Bulles of the Pope . From hence ariseth all this storme of so greate Tragedies : here hence come those dreadfull thunderclappes , and deadly flashes of scorching curses , & yet not so muche to be feared of any , as to be scorned of all . They call them Bulles : To witte Pardons and Popishe Libelles wonderfull craftily forged too entrappe , and beguyle seelye soules , vnder the visor of Peter and Paules autorities . For this is the very gunshotte wherewith these holy Fathers doe vsually auenge the rancour of theyr heartes , if they chaunce at any time to wexe chole●ike and wroth . And because through suche preatie Buggebeares● they haue heretofore accustomed to be dreadfull , and fearefull too other kingdomes and Monarchies , heereof came it that Pope Pius the fifth not long sithence , like Iupiter Olympius with his fiery thunder boltes ●ut of his Castle of S. Angelo did set vpon poore litle England with a terrible Bull. Pope Pius ●●e fif●h raging against Elizabe●h Queen of Englande . In the which proude presumptuous attempte , hee practised with ●hamelesse slaunders and rayling reproches first too defame the vertuous Lady Queene Elizabeth , thereby to procure her high●esse the hatred of forraine nations : and bey●g not satisfied therewith , endeuoured also to depriue her of her Regall Patrimony , and true inheritable kingdome : and not of her kingdome onely , but to bereaue her also of life , and for that purpose sollicited agaynst her , trayterous treachours both within her owne Realme , and abroade .

There passed not many dayes , before that Gregorie the thirtienth a whelpe of the same litter , Pope Grego●ie 13. enflamed against England and the Queene of Englande . pursuing the platfourme of his Predece●sour Pius , gaue attempte not much vnlike to the first , sparing no trauayle , nor cost , no attempt vnassayed , whereby he might teaze vp the Subiectes to rage against their Queene , to bring al vnto hurlie burly , finally too rende asunder their f●i●h and alleadgeance which by Gods commaund●ment they owe to their lawfull Magistra●e , supposing too haue founde here some suche Asseheades forsooth , who woulde more easily h●ue been induced to reuerence those Apish flashes of Momus smokes , then to derid● them as bab●es . Bu● what successe hitherto hee hath attained ●ith those Fr●ntike vproares , tumbling and tur●oyling all thinges , I meane n●t here to stand vpon . This on● thing would I fain learne of them , whereof I doe earnestly ●raue an answe●re . I mean not heere the answer of any one priuat pe●son alone , neyther of Pius , nor yet of Gregory : But I appeale to all that Romish Sea in generall , which powreth out such Prelates vnto vs : Euen of those reuerend Uicars I demaund this question . What if their power were agreeable to their will , and were able in very deed to preuayle against them , as farfoorth as they accurse them in words● and as they do denounce in those their mu●derous bulles , wherin they belch out against the subiects of that realme , suche horrible exclamatious , and accurse them downe to hell , drowne them in the bottomlesse gulfe of euerlastyng flambes , and throwe them out to bee deuoured with the swordes of the furious . Let them tell vs , would they do it in deede ? Or would they put it in execution , if they were able ? May it be possible , that any suche crueltie coulde euer enter into the thought of any Christian heart , namely against Christians ? If they deny it , what meane they then by those their craf●ie conspiracies , farre exceedyng Catilines currishnesse attempted , yea practized also , to bring suche murders to passe ? But if they confesse it , which indeede they can not couer with any colourable cloake : Certes they doe sufficiently ( lyke Rattes by theyr p●epyng ) bewray themselues by their owne doome , what spirite they bee off● what monster they fo●ter vnder that forged visor of Peter , what Scorpion they shrowde vnder tha● Lyons skynne .

A complaint against the Popes of Rome . But let vs proceede further . Goe too nowe : Admi● that so great force of malice , so greedy rancour of reuenge myght pearce so deep●ly into the Apostolicall breastes , importyng the ●●●er ruyne of the godly . I wo●lde then fayne learne of them , vppon what theyr des●r●e at the length they become so maliciouslye malignaunt agaynst them . For whatsoeuer the offence be , surelye it can not possibly bee matter of small importaunce , that maye prouoke those moste holye Prela●es to growe into suche outrage against their Christian Brethren , seeyng in outwarde semblaunce and behauiour , they doe so cour●giously braue them selues vpon the meekenesse of Christe , vpon the Faith of Peter , and the spirit of Paule . 2. Cor. 1●● Wee doe reade in the Scriptures that the moste holy Apostle S. Paule him selfe doth in the mightie power of the spirit , thunder out , That the weapons of our warrefare be not carnal , but mightie in spirite , to the subdewing of strong holdes wherewith we doe suppresse euil thoughtes , and doe subdewe all power , extolling it selfe against the wil of God , and leade captiue all thoughts and imaginations , to yeelde dewe obedience vnto Christ , &c.

First you see weapons named heere , not of one Paule , What the power of the Church is and how farre it stretcheth . nor of one Peeter , but our owne weapons ( saith he ) that is to say , general weapons , common with the vniuersall Church of Christ : which are then at the leaste to be exercised , not rashly against all persons , nor vpon euery light occasion , but euen when necessitie vrgeth , against those ( if any shall happen to bee● ) which doe waxe insolent and stifnecked against the knowledge of God , and their dewe obedience vnto Christ . Of which sorte if any may be founde faultie in that Realme , that may preiudice the grace of Christ , surely I will not in any respect abridg● condigne correction , according to the censure Apostolique . But nowe , whereas that whole nation , to the vttermoste of their power , doth indeuour to become the Seruants of Christ : whereas there is not one so much , that doth not prostrate him selfe to the maiestie of the Sonne of God , and to his diuine Godheade : that doth not worship him in Spirit and trueth , yea and worship him there where the Scriptures haue enthronized him : that doth not thankfully acknowledge his Heauenly benefites : that doth not yeelde dewe reuerence to his Sacraments : that doth not onely professe all obedience linked togither with faith , to be dewe vnto him , but also repose all their affiaunce and confidence in him : Finally whereas in their churches , all matters , are so orderly administred by them , as that no defect may be founde of any thing apperteining too the duetie of true christianitie : The Pope cruelly raging against the godly without all cause or reason . wherein nothing is admitted , that is not consonant to the sacred authoritie of the Euangelicall institution : I beseech you ( Syr Pope of Rome ) what woulde you desire more ? What ? seemeth it not sufficient in your conceite , that Christ , who alone preserueth the estate of his church be glorified in his owne Church , vnlesse the pompe of the Pope be enterlaced with the glory of Christ , & reuerenced with semblable obedience ? And from whence els come these tumultes , these flashes of lightening , and stormes of of thunderboltes raysed vpp ? Is it bicause they doe yeelde their obedience too Christe , as it behooueth them to doe ? or bicause they humble not them selues to the Pope ? If the glory of Christ be your glory , as of right it ought to be , what needeth any contention then ? why doe you no● cast downe your proud Peacockes tayle , and call your selfe backe againe into the societie of generall obedience ? But if ye thinke it not sufficient , that the sonne of GOD may be magnified without the Romish Bishop , why then surcease from hencefoorth to be taken for the seruaunt of Iesu , and the heire of Peter . For what other thing did Peter or Paule vaunt vpon , but the onely glory of Iesu Christ ? Philip. 1. Whether by occasion ( sayth he ) or in truth , so that Christ be preached , herein do I reioyce , and will reioyce . What say you to this ? That Christ himselfe , whiles hee dwelte here vpon earth , would haue a speciall testimonie lefte behinde him , howe farre he was both in woordes , and deedes estraunged from crauing , or groping after glorie , who embasing him selfe of his owne freewill , euen to the ignominie of the Crosse : by howe much he disclaimed from the title of glory , so much the more ouerflowing aboundance of glorie did ouerspreade him , by onely despising of glory . Io●● .1 . I do not seeke ( saith he ) myne owne glory , but there is one that seeketh and iudgeth . Agayne the same Christ being on a time despised , and cast out from that most churlish city , did not so attempt any matter of reuenge therefore , as that hee seemed very greuously offended with them which did prouoke him to take vengeaunce . O heauenly mildenesse of a meeke spirit woorthie of all reuerence and honour : Luke . ●● You knowe not ( sayeth hee ) of what spirite you bee , The Sonne of man came not for too destroy , but to saue mens liues .

Now let vs compare the one with the other , to witte , the Uicar with his head . You haue heard how the Lord being not entertayned vpon the way , what he did , and what answere he gaue . But what the Pope woulde haue done in this case , if he had beene present , furnished with like power to be auenged , I doe not here discusse . Truely how he behaueth him selfe at this present , little England alone may be a sufficient testimonie : which hauing now ouer many yeares beene plagued with that Romish ruffler , and worne out euen to the bare stumpes , with much adoe shaking from her shoulders , that yoake of intollerable thraldome , durst pr●sume at the last to cast from out her territories , this T●oian horse , and reduce her estate to the auncient iberties . Hereof springeth that Canker , hereof arise these Tragicall furies , wherewith he woulde seeme ready to deuoure , not the bodies of menne onely , but the very soules also , if hee were able . Goe to nowe , and what cause can this ●remshape● Uicar vouch at the length , why hee shoulde thus mingle heauen and earth together , and rake vpp from the deepe , those swallowing Sandes of gaping gulfe ? Let vs nowe see what the mater is .