THe christians hadde but bishoppes vntill the time of Constantine . Anno .ccc. xi . And these byshops did nothing but study the holye scripture , and taught the holy gospell to the people , and exercised the same , & liued soberly . The bishop of rome had no dominion ouer rome as he hathe nowe , he was a curate vnto them , & that was al. And bishops generallye ( according to their vocation ) taught the people the kingdom of god , & comforted and fedde the poore . The communes gaue them mony with other necessary thinges whiche they dealed among the poore people , as the apostles dydde lyke wise . There was moche spite wroughte againste them by diuers great and mightye men . They were there to suffre . Fewe of the magistrates were of their syde , yf by chaunce one were with them tenne were against them : as both th emperoures and popes Cronicles testifie , The persecution of the christen peple & how they came togyther . yet dyd they suffer al thinges for gods sake . Item the commune people labored truelye and holpe one another , and where as they might be sewrest , there did they gather togither . So hathe lykewise the holy Anthony done in egipt , and brought many to christ , and they encreased . Insomuche that there dwelt certaine thowsandes of christians in the wildernesse of Egipt , and liued by the gospell , geuinge them selues to mortify the flesh , & daily labours , This witnesseth s . Ierom. Ierom. x●

BVt when the foresaid Constantinus Magnus had ouercome & subdued cruell Maxentius whiche persecuted al christians , he gaue licence to the christians being scattered abrode , to build chirches & openlye to preache the gospell , geuinge them also certaine greate giftes towards the same , but not the citie of rome , neither yet landes nor people , as the pope alledgeth in his lawes . Constantinus gaue not rome to the pope . Distinct .xcvi. Constantinus , but kept them to him self , his heyres and executors , & Constantius his sonne had the possession of rome euen as Constantinus his father had before him . After Constantius , Iulianus lykewise , Iouinianus Valentinianus , Gratianus , and so forth .

WE read no where that the byshop then inuaded the Romains , neither that he kept anye maner of warres , Suche emperour such byshops . but lyued poorelye . And the byshop with the christians were many times inuaded by the emperoure .

BVt when Iustinianus ( after the birth of christ . v ᶜ .xix. ) became emperour , he redemed the bysshops oute of their miserye , and dydde muche good vnto them . After hym reigned Iustinianus his susters sonne , which was so righteous , that he compiled & set in order all the institucions of th emperours of rome , whiche nowe we name th emperiall lawes , he buylded diuers goodly churches at constantinople , and gaue them greate riches , yearelye fode and sustinaunce . The begynnyng of the popes ryches . And by this meane the bysshops and preistes became somewhat more welthye then they were before .

ANno . v ᶜ .lxxx. was Gregorius Magnus ( the first of that name ) made byshop of rome , and one named Mauricius de Cappadocia ( the first that came out of grecia ) emperour when ( as before ) the byshop of rome was become somewhat myghty and riche , they coulde not agree betwene them : Insomoche that Mauricius became ennemy vnto Gregorye : At the same tyme , were the byshoppes somethinge yet persecuted , as yet being faithfull . And th emperour continuyng in persecution of them , god permitted a plage to come ouer hym , that he was takyn prisoner by Phoca , that was chosen emperour in hys rome , and causyd hym to be headyd .

When nowe Phocas . Anno. vic. & iii. kept hys seate at Constantinopell , And the occidental empire ( that is , Rome , Italy , France , and Germanie ) were withoute a heade , Practise to get londes and people the vice emperoure beinge slaine of the Gottishe kinge Theodorico . The byshop of Rome thoughte in his mynd , what & yf thou hadste the dominion of the vice Emperowre , that rowme neded not to stond open for a preye to euerye man ? For that cause wente Bonifacius the thirde vnto th emperour Phoca , to obteyne of hym , that as in worldly dominion euery man toke th emperoure for the chief heade of all the worlde , lykewyse the byshop of Rome might be the chief bishop within Christendome . Then muste nedes followe that he must haue landes and men .

WHyles th emperowre of Rome , kepte his seate at Constantinople , the byshop of Constantinople wrote hym selfe the chiefe bishop , bicause of the empire . Thys shrodely troubled the byshop of Rome called Bonifacius , when and in what bysshops time this name papa began . who went for the same cause to th emperoure Phoca , praienge hym instantlye to graunte to the seat of Rome hys Imperialle priuilege , from henceforth to be a bishop aboue al bishops , that is Papa patrum . And the byshoprike of Rome to be named the chiefe of all bishoprikes .

ALthoughe this priuilege wolde not so lyghtly be graunted , yet he obteined it by continuall seute and begging . This will they not be a knowen of nowe , but saye that the pope is the supreme head and his romishe byshoprike to be aboue all byshoprikes by goddes ordenaunce .xxi. Quamuis . and Distinct .xxii. omnes . And th emperour Constantinus ( say they ) sholde lykewise haue giuen this priuilege to be pope , and his bisshoprike to be aboue al other which likewise appereth by their own Decret. Distinc .xcvi. Constantinus . They make of the priuilege , whatsoeuer they wil the whiles it is to their profite . And thus haue they writen it in their owne Decrees . Thence commith the name of the most holiest father the pope . The same haue they afterward colored with Christ , his holy worde , and Peter . It sholde haue hadde no lykenesse to truth elles .

BVt how agre these thinges , Constantinus did graunte the priuilege , Gregorius the thirde broughte it to passe by Phoca . And afterward must Christ confirme the same . Haue the faithful olde bisshops before Constantynes tyme bene so ignorante that they vnderstode not the holy scriptures ? then is it no maruail that they were persecuted . Yf they had set forth them selues by tymes , with christes wordes , they myghte haue bene in better case .

YF they hadde suche power of christe , what neded they to entreate and flatter the vngodlye emperours for it ? when christus chose Paule to be an apostle amonge the heithens , he must nedes be it , went also , & did as he was commaunded , neding nether emperours nor kinges confirmacion to the same , And continued vntil such time as th emperour did hed him . After that sorte was Paule made pope , and Petrus was crucified . Therfore hath it another menyng then the pope allegeth . And of the same wordes Tu es Petrus They haue made them a lawe contrarie to the doctrine of christe and the Apostles , & the lyues of faithfull byshops .

THe same Bonifacius the third , when he hadde begged the chief byshoprike of Phoca , immediately after he wrote him selfe pope Bonifacius the thirde of that name . He gathered al his bishops & preistes togither , and kept a concile at Rome . And declared there openly that from that time forward a pope beinge chosen by the priesthode & the common people , shuld be taken of asmuch authorite , as if he were created by th emperour & admitted . Lo there may we se the first thankes or reward that the pope gaue to th emperour for the priuilege graunted vnto him takyng away from him his old rightes which were & had ben th emperours , since the first christen emperour was . That th emperour shuld make no more bysshops , but the pope , & so shuld the bysshops lykewise be more obedient to the pope than to th emperour , & despetch al their matter at Constantinople without th emperour . And thus began he priuily to rule & command his maister th emperour , of whom he hadde begged the priuilege . The same was not done immediatly by rigeur , but the pope suffred th emperour to haue styl for a time his deputie at Rome , which admitted the pope .

NOwe was it come to suche a point , that the popes power wolde breake out , and take vppon hym to be aboue th emperoure . And therfore , when after the birth of Christe .viic. & .xviii. yeares Leo the third of that name , beinge emperoure , dyd put downe Germanum a Patriarche at Constantinople , and in his place set Anastasium . The pope of Rome sent Gregory the third vnto th emperoure , & wrote vnto him , that he shuld putte Germanum into his place againe , whiche th emperoure wolde not do . There beganne all the mischeife at ones . The pope found the meanes that all Italy fel from th emperour and forsoke him ( whiche none other pope hath done , but they paciently suffered persecution ) he cursed also th emperour . Thinking when th empire were deuided within it selfe , he wold be emperour , for he had alredy gotten him a greate name , amonge the princes and gouernours . Reason wold also require that he were not only the cheifhead by name , but also in might and power , and so wolde he kepe Rome and graunt th empire to whom he wolde and listed .

WHen now Constantinus the fifte , the sonne of Leo the thirde was emperoure , and somwhat offended with the pope zacharia , by reason of his father , whome Gregorius suffered to dye vnder his curse in Messambria , and caused all Italye to fall awaye from him . He purposed to haue brought them againe vnder his subiection . zacharius the pope fearing leaste Constantinus might shorten his winges againe , soughte another maner of meane , then super hanc petram , vpon this rocke , that is to saye , Howe the pope came by rome . him selfe . He sent for helpe vnto Pipinus th administratour of fraunce , promisinge to make him kynge of Fraunce , with the fauoure and good will of the Magistrates and rulers . Was not this lykewise done in despite of th emperoure ? And thus was the romishe empire deuided , one toke here , and another there . The pope kept Rome as his owne .

HEre haue you the first kinge made by the popes power , and the fauour of the rulers and gouernours , accordinge to the tenoure of his spirituall lawes .xi. q. i. Te quidem . Pipinus the firste kyng made by pope zachariam But this pope dyed the nexte yeare after , and Stephanus the seconde came in his stede , The whiche hadde muche sorowe and trouble by kynge Astulphum , and likewise called vnto Pipinus to assiste the churche of Rome , Insomuche that the kinge Pipinus toke his parte , and dyd driue kinge Astulphum awaye from rome , and gaue the pope Stephane Rauennam , with dyuers other cities .

ANd so is the pope successiuely become a ruler aboue emperours and kynges , and al christendome vniuersallye . And hath forsaken the holy scriptures , the gospell , the footesteppes of the auncients pouertie , sorrowe , care , and all other kyndes of persecutions and troubles &c. Howe can he then be the mooste holy vycare of christe , and successor of sainte Peter ? we fynde writen , Deare brethern be my followers , as I am the folower of christ .i. cor. xi . yf the pope with his company do folowe Christ , then is it reason that we lykewise followe him . But for their deuylish and abominable rule and doctrine , is ther not one iote in scripture . There is neither Peter , nor Paule that wyl know them , muche lesse wil Chryst hym selfe knowe them . Thus shal they be answered nescio uos . I know you not . Quia operati estis iniquitatem . you haue set forth your own noughtynes in summa ebrietate sicut fortes Ephraim . in all filthynes and diuers other kyndes of vngodlynes ( which be not to be wrytten ) with the myght of this world .

LO , hitherto haue you hadde in wryting the beginninge of the pope , th augmētacion of his state , and thirdly his full power and myght . Nowe shall you lykewyse beholde and se the same in the olde painted figures folowynge .

HOw be it many olde and faithful fathers perceyued , and sawe it well , yet durste they not clearelye sette it forthe , excepte only by fygures . Trustyng alwais , that thorow the mercy of god a tyme shulde come when they myght be brought to lyghte . And so clearly sette forth , that it were impossible more sightlye to paint them . This wyll we now do for the plaisure , and to the profit of suche as can not reade . To proue whether they be able to knowe a lyon by his clawes .

IN this estate began the byshop of Rome to sette hym selfe . Anno .ccc.xi. at the tyme of Constantinus Magnus , the which when he had ouercome , Maxentium graunted the Christianes to buyld churches , and gaue excedynge greate giftes towarde it but neither londes nor people , nor yet the cure of Rome , as they saye he dydde . When they smelled ryches , and daylye coueted more and more , then was goddes worde laide aside . And afterwarde ouercame they all thinges ( as they do yet ) with monney Lordes , dukes , emperours , kinges , landes and people haue made subiect vnto them . They hadde well studied the wordes of Philip the king of Macedonia , where as he saithe , that there is no castell , no towne , ye no land , so stronge , which cannot be won , yf a moyle laden with money maye entre into it . And thus mony ouercommeth all thinges . And so haue they sette a syde the very true rocke , which is Christe , the fotesteppes of Peter , and finally al maner of tribulations and persecutions . Their church haue they buylded vpon them selues , and therefore they may not endure or continue . They haue sought also their helpe by the worldly powers , whiche the beares signifie and represent in this figure . Yf they had continued in their vocation , christe wold neuer haue forsaken them . But when they fell from it , and yet wolde ( notwithstandinge ) maintaine all their doinges with these wordes , vpon this rocke . &c. Christe went from them . And immediatly after thei soughte helpe , wherewith they yet continuallye ( ye and againste Chryste hym selfe ) wyll defende themselues .

And this fall of the byshoppes firste broke oute clearly , by pope zachariam , and Stephan the second against Constantine the fifth , when they persuaded Pipin the lieutenaunte of Fraunce to helpe the pope againste th emperoure , and so doing , the pope wold make him kyng of Fraunce , Italy , and Germanye , with the fauoure and good wyll of the magistrates and rulers .

WHerwith defendeth the pope his church nowe with Christe or with beares ? that is with worldlye powre and strengthe . It hath tyghte well bene perceaued hitherto , and is as clere as the sonne . That the beares sygnifie worldlye myght and cruell people : We fynde it in the seconde booke of Samuell , the seuententh chapter , ii . Sam. 17. where as Eusai reproued the counsell of Ahitophell , Sayeng vnto Absolon , thou knowest thy father and his men , howe they be stronge , and they be chased in their myndes , and are euen as a beare robbed of her whelpes in the felde . &c.

IT suffiseth not to saye , I am the chiefe bysshop I haue the roume of an apostle , I sytte in the Apostel stole , Petrus muste preache , Paulus muste also preache . Whyles the pope nowe followeth not Peter and Paule ( the whiche he taketh for his authores ) in preachinge , teachinge , and feadinge of Christes flocke , as the commaundement specifieth , so sytteth he besides the apostell stole , and the spirit of god shrinkethe frome hym , the whiche more strengthened hym then al the beares of the world . But the chylde of perdicion with also his great tirannye ( euen as Iudas ) must nedes be set forth and be knowen .